Tonya M. Fleetwood

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Paper:"Use What You Got - Semiotics paper on The Anna Nicole Show"
Year in School: College Junior
Class:Media Criticism
Date written:October 15, 2002

The five (or so) page traffic of this paper shall comprise of a semiotic analysis of the oh-so-brilliant “The Anna Nicole Show.” This show falls into the ‘Reality TV’ genre, featuring the bona fide life of Anna Nicole Smith. Other characters that are also in the show on a regular basis are Kimmy, Anna’s live-in personal assistant, Howard K. Stern, Anna’s lawyer, Daniel, Anna’s blonde son, and, of course, Sugar Pie, Anna’s little black poodle. The proposed hook to this show is Anna’s notorious past. She is from a small town in Texas, began working as a stripper, eventually became a Guess? model, posed a few times in Playboy, and, last but certainly not least, married an 88 year old billionaire.

The opening of each episode features a theme song based on Anna’s life. The theme song goes as follows:
Anna, Anna, glamorous Anna, Anna Nicole!
Was born in Texas, strugglin' savin', tryin' to get to fame
Then you use what you got (and that's a lot!), you became a household name
Married a billionaire, so he was 88, but they didn't date!
Then it all disappeared as fast as it caa-aame!
Anna, Anna, glamorous Anna, Anna Nicole!
Anna, Anna, glamorous Anna, Anna Nicole!
You're so outrageous!

When you read this, you instantly get an idea of Anna’s life up to the present. However, if you were to put the television on mute while watching the opening, you would still be able to get the same idea. It is a cartoon featuring a woman with long blonde hair and bright red lips, very much resembling Anna Nicole. She is also wearing a red evening gown and makes kissing movements with her lips as well as seductive poses, signifying glamour. Next, there is the same blond wearing a cowboy hat with a picture of the state of Texas in the background, showing that she is from Texas. Next we see the blonde cartoon on the centerfold of a magazine, with camera flashes going off in the background. The blonde is wearing a bunny outfit, which represents Playboy since this particular magazine has a bunny as its trademark. After this shot the audience is shown a close up of the blonde’s rear end swaying back and forth, sporting a pair of blue jeans with question marks on the back pockets. This symbolizes that Anna became a Guess? model, since Guess? uses a question mark as its signifier. Next, the viewers are shown a couple getting married, the blonde cartoon (a.k.a. Anna) and a short old man (a.k.a. her 88 year old billionaire of a husband, J. Howard). Above the couple is a shiny diamond in the shape of a heart, and dollar signs are flying out at the audience. Since the heart is in the shape of a diamond instead of a regular red heart, this could be implying that Anna Nicole married the old man for his money and not because it was true love. Finally the spectators are shown the blonde wearing a black outfit and she is crying. This is shown to convey that her husband died and she is upset about it. At the same time we are shown a judge’s gavel and a scale. The blonde is on one side of the scale and a stack of money is on the other side. For a second the scale is balanced, then the side that ‘Anna’ is on goes down. This scene means a few things. First, it means that there was a trial involving the inheritance of her late husband’s money. Second, it means that she lost and did not get her husband’s billions. The blonde shrugs her shoulders, dusts herself off, and jumps off the scale, showing that she is trying to move on with her life since the trial and, thus, the show begins.

The fact that the opening for the show is a cartoon is a signifier within itself. It illustrates that the show is not going to be a serious drama. It is supposed to be fun and enjoyable, like a cartoon.

Let’s take a look at the characters. First we have Anna Nicole. In some episodes, she is very natural with almost no makeup, and her hair is not done up or curled. This could mean that she is trying to show to people that she a normal person, and that she is not ‘beautiful’ all the time, and also that vanity does not mean as much to her as what is universally assumed. In other episodes, she is very painted. Her eyes shine like bright blue stars, complete with the intense ice-blue eye shadow and heavy black mascara. When she is made up like this, her hair is almost always huge, with large curls piled on top of her head. This image of Anna contradicts her message of plainness, and one begins to wonder why a person would pile so much plaster onto their face. Maybe she really is narcissistic. Anna’s clothing is another matter. Very rarely will you catch her wearing anything that is not tight and revealing. It is no secret that Anna is a large woman, as well as the fact that she has a big chest. So, the fact that Anna does not like to hide these qualities shows many things. First, it might express a very high level of self-esteem. A person usually has to be really confident to proudly show the world that he/she is fat. Second, it shows that maybe she is not aware of her appearance. Maybe in her mind she sees a small woman. Third, it implies that Anna is trying to be sexy and gives you an idea about her idea of what sexy means. To her ‘sexy’ is large breasts and very blonde hair.

The blondness of Anna’s hair is another signifier. She wears her hair in a shade that is not natural for her skin type and eyebrow color. Obviously her blonde image is acquired and not natural, which could imply that she feels blondes have more fun and possesses the ‘gentlemen prefer blondes’ mentality. Anna’s tone of voice and attitude are other signifying qualities. She sometimes talks in a child’s voice, almost like she is either tired or stoned. She is quick tempered, and the smallest things turn her into a screeching bitch. In addition to revealing Anna’s quick temper, it could also mean that she may be trying to show off to her audience. By yelling at people, this shows that she has power and isn’t afraid to speak up when she is annoyed. However, most of the time, Anna Nicole just comes off like a immature child.

Howard K. Stern, lawyer, is the next main character of the show. His middle initial is the first sign. It differentiates him from the other famous Howard Stern, a notorious radio-talk show host. Howard K. is Anna’s complete opposite. He is the non-trashy, casual businessman with dark hair, and she is the contrary. Howard always has the sensible response. Howard is always on the show, which, honestly is a little weird. He is supposed to be a lawyer, yet every moment he is with Anna. Does he not have other clients? Maybe the producers of the show needed a male character and Howard said he would do it for exposure. Or maybe Howard and Anna are secret lovers. Or maybe Anna is actually his only client, so he follows her around like a lost puppy.

On to Kimmy, the confused employee. Kimmy’s appearance offers many interesting signs. First, her hair is purple, which connotes that maybe she is a bit wild, and is not afraid to try new things, or maybe she just likes the color purple. Second, Kimmy never wears makeup and never does anything special with her hair. This could mean that she does not care about appearances, or maybe she is just always in a hurry and never has the time. Third, she has a rather large tattoo of Anna Nicole on the upper part of her arm, as well as a facsimile of Anna’s signature right underneath the picture of Anna. Anna must mean a great deal to Kimmy for her to forever brand herself with Anna’s mug shot, or maybe Anna and Kimmy are secret lovers. You never know; sometimes there is some weird sexual tension between the two.

Lastly, there is the elusive lad Daniel and the annoying black mutt, Sugar Pie. Daniel is hardly ever on the show. This could be that Anna is trying to protect his identity from being exploited. This could also mean that Daniel thinks the idea of the show is stupid and refuses to be seen. However, since Anna is his mother and he is still a minor, he must obey her and appear every once and a while.

Sugar Pie is Anna’s little buddy. Sugar Pie is the one character that is innocent. He does not know that millions of people are watching and knowing that Anna is exploiting him. Thus, Sugar Pie is probably the one true friend and confidant that Anna has. Sugar Pie is the one that probably understands Anna the most.

A specific episode that will be broken down is about when Anna’s cousin, Shelley, comes to visit. You can tell by Shelley’s southern accent that she is from Anna’s native-state Texas, which Anna later confirms. You also can tell by Shelley’s clothing that she is probably not from California. She is wearing western-style jeans. Anna refuses to see Shelley at the beginning of the episode because Shelley is involved in an unauthorized documentary of Anna’s life, and Anna disapproves. Shelley breaks down and pretends to cry, exclaiming “I love her…I want to see her.” It is so obviously fake, because Shelley keeps glancing at the camera and there is no evidence of real tears. Good ol’ Howard is the person that keeps rallying between the two women. He tries to come to a compromise, like the responsible and mature guy that he is. Shelley eventually leaves, but Anna changes her mind and wants to see her. Anna makes Howard call Shelley to invite her to dinner. This further proves that Howard is more responsible and diligent, and that sometimes Anna is just too juvenile to fight her own battles.

Shelley does not have any upper teeth. When Anna is informed of this, she says that she once helped her cousin get her teeth fixed. They used to be all rotten and black, but then they were white and shiny. Now, it seems that Shelley has ruined them again. Anna could be making this up to make her cousin seem more trashy, for ratings purposes. However, if all this is true, it indicates that Shelley might not have the best hygienic habits.

Later, Anna is on a radio-talk show, and the host asks her if she is on any kind of drugs. The host tells her that she sounds like she is heavily sedated. Howard is, of course, right there by her side, saying that he does not think she sounds any different than a normal person. Anna throws a temper tantrum, saying the host is accusing her of being a druggie. This goes to prove the earlier points that Anna comes off as being stoned, and that she is quick tempered. The next question was directed at her weight gain. Anna cannot take anymore of this, so she decides to leave, not before using a little profanity. The host is just asking the questions that everyone wants to ask. This implies that when Anna is faced with someone else that has confidence, she has to run away. She cannot handle it when someone challenges her.

Next, Anna is shown doing the Jay Leno show. She comes out of stage looking very professional and classy. This is different than she usually looks on her show. Her appearance indicates that she might have thought Jay’s audience was different than her own, so she needed to project a different image of herself. Jay Leno was in almost every shot of this section, before and after. This means definite publicity for him, and good publicity for Anna being connected with such a household name. After the show, Anna went backstage where the gang was waiting, including Sugar Pie. This shows she definitely has a loyalty to her dog, and that Sugar Pie means a lot to her. The dog was the first one that she paid any attention to behind stage.

“The Anna Nicole Show” is definitely one that makes a person slap themselves mentally and think ‘who on Earth ever gave the green light to this project.’ However, even though it’s so outrageous, there is a certain quality that makes you want to watch it. You want to see Anna make a fool of herself. It’s enjoyable. It’s entertaining.



Go to Documents index Paper:"Use What You Got - Semiotics paper on The Anna Nicole Show" Year in School: College Junior Class:Media Criticism Date written:October 15, 2002 The five (or so) page traffic of this paper shall comprise of a semiotic analysis of the oh-so-brilliant “The Anna Nicole Show.” This show falls into the ‘Reality TV’ genre, featuring the bona fide life of Anna Nicole Smith. Other characters that are also in the show on a regular basis are Kimmy, Anna’s live-in personal assistant, Howard K. Stern, Anna’s lawyer, Daniel, Anna’s blonde son, and, of course, Sugar Pie, Anna’s little black poodle. The proposed hook to this show is Anna’s notorious past. She is from a small town in Texas, began working as a stripper, eventually became a Guess? model, posed a few times in Playboy, and, last but certainly not least, married an 88 year old billionaire. The opening of each episode features a theme song based on Anna’s life. The theme song goes as follows: Anna, Anna, glamorous Anna, Anna Nicole! Was born in Texas, strugglin' savin', tryin' to get to fame Then you use what you got (and that's a lot!), you became a household name Married a billionaire, so he was 88, but they didn't date! Then it all disappeared as fast as it caa-aame! Anna, Anna, glamorous Anna, Anna Nicole! Anna, Anna, glamorous Anna, Anna Nicole! You're so outrageous! When you read this, you instantly get an idea of Anna’s life up to the present. However, if you were to put the television on mute while watching the opening, you would still be able to get the same idea. It is a cartoon featuring a woman with long blonde hair and bright red lips, very much resembling Anna Nicole. She is also wearing a red evening gown and makes kissing movements with her lips as well as seductive poses, signifying glamour. Next, there is the same blond wearing a cowboy hat with a picture of the state of Texas in the background, showing that she is from Texas. Next we see the blonde cartoon on the centerfold of a magazine, with camera flashes going off in the background. The blonde is wearing a bunny outfit, which represents Playboy since this particular magazine has a bunny as its trademark. After this shot the audience is shown a close up of the blonde’s rear end swaying back and forth, sporting a pair of blue jeans with question marks on the back pockets. This symbolizes that Anna became a Guess? model, since Guess? uses a question mark as its signifier. Next, the viewers are shown a couple getting married, the blonde cartoon (a.k.a. Anna) and a short old man (a.k.a. her 88 year old billionaire of a husband, J. Howard). Above the couple is a shiny diamond in the shape of a heart, and dollar signs are flying out at the audience. Since the heart is in the shape of a diamond instead of a regular red heart, this could be implying that Anna Nicole married the old man for his money and not because it was true love. Finally the spectators are shown the blonde wearing a black outfit and she is crying. This is shown to convey that her husband died and she is upset about it. At the same time we are shown a judge’s gavel and a scale. The blonde is on one side of the scale and a stack of money is on the other side. For a second the scale is balanced, then the side that ‘Anna’ is on goes down. This scene means a few things. First, it means that there was a trial involving the inheritance of her late husband’s money. Second, it means that she lost and did not get her husband’s billions. The blonde shrugs her shoulders, dusts herself off, and jumps off the scale, showing that she is trying to move on with her life since the trial and, thus, the show begins. The fact that the opening for the show is a cartoon is a signifier within itself. It illustrates that the show is not going to be a serious drama. It is supposed to be fun and enjoyable, like a cartoon. Let’s take a look at the characters. First we have Anna Nicole. In some episodes, she is very natural with almost no makeup, and her hair is not done up or curled. This could mean that she is trying to show to people that she a normal person, and that she is not ‘beautiful’ all the time, and also that vanity does not mean as much to her as what is universally assumed. In other episodes, she is very painted. Her eyes shine like bright blue stars, complete with the intense ice-blue eye shadow and heavy black mascara. When she is made up like this, her hair is almost always huge, with large curls piled on top of her head. This image of Anna contradicts her message of plainness, and one begins to wonder why a person would pile so much plaster onto their face. Maybe she really is narcissistic. Anna’s clothing is another matter. Very rarely will you catch her wearing anything that is not tight and revealing. It is no secret that Anna is a large woman, as well as the fact that she has a big chest. So, the fact that Anna does not like to hide these qualities shows many things. First, it might express a very high level of self-esteem. A person usually has to be really confident to proudly show the world that he/she is fat. Second, it shows that maybe she is not aware of her appearance. Maybe in her mind she sees a small woman. Third, it implies that Anna is trying to be sexy and gives you an idea about her idea of what sexy means. To her ‘sexy’ is large breasts and very blonde hair. The blondness of Anna’s hair is another signifier. She wears her hair in a shade that is not natural for her skin type and eyebrow color. Obviously her blonde image is acquired and not natural, which could imply that she feels blondes have more fun and possesses the ‘gentlemen prefer blondes’ mentality. Anna’s tone of voice and attitude are other signifying qualities. She sometimes talks in a child’s voice, almost like she is either tired or stoned. She is quick tempered, and the smallest things turn her into a screeching bitch. In addition to revealing Anna’s quick temper, it could also mean that she may be trying to show off to her audience. By yelling at people, this shows that she has power and isn’t afraid to speak up when she is annoyed. However, most of the time, Anna Nicole just comes off like a immature child. Howard K. Stern, lawyer, is the next main character of the show. His middle initial is the first sign. It differentiates him from the other famous Howard Stern, a notorious radio-talk show host. Howard K. is Anna’s complete opposite. He is the non-trashy, casual businessman with dark hair, and she is the contrary. Howard always has the sensible response. Howard is always on the show, which, honestly is a little weird. He is supposed to be a lawyer, yet every moment he is with Anna. Does he not have other clients? Maybe the producers of the show needed a male character and Howard said he would do it for exposure. Or maybe Howard and Anna are secret lovers. Or maybe Anna is actually his only client, so he follows her around like a lost puppy. On to Kimmy, the confused employee. Kimmy’s appearance offers many interesting signs. First, her hair is purple, which connotes that maybe she is a bit wild, and is not afraid to try new things, or maybe she just likes the color purple. Second, Kimmy never wears makeup and never does anything special with her hair. This could mean that she does not care about appearances, or maybe she is just always in a hurry and never has the time. Third, she has a rather large tattoo of Anna Nicole on the upper part of her arm, as well as a facsimile of Anna’s signature right underneath the picture of Anna. Anna must mean a great deal to Kimmy for her to forever brand herself with Anna’s mug shot, or maybe Anna and Kimmy are secret lovers. You never know; sometimes there is some weird sexual tension between the two. Lastly, there is the elusive lad Daniel and the annoying black mutt, Sugar Pie. Daniel is hardly ever on the show. This could be that Anna is trying to protect his identity from being exploited. This could also mean that Daniel thinks the idea of the show is stupid and refuses to be seen. However, since Anna is his mother and he is still a minor, he must obey her and appear every once and a while. Sugar Pie is Anna’s little buddy. Sugar Pie is the one character that is innocent. He does not know that millions of people are watching and knowing that Anna is exploiting him. Thus, Sugar Pie is probably the one true friend and confidant that Anna has. Sugar Pie is the one that probably understands Anna the most. A specific episode that will be broken down is about when Anna’s cousin, Shelley, comes to visit. You can tell by Shelley’s southern accent that she is from Anna’s native-state Texas, which Anna later confirms. You also can tell by Shelley’s clothing that she is probably not from California. She is wearing western-style jeans. Anna refuses to see Shelley at the beginning of the episode because Shelley is involved in an unauthorized documentary of Anna’s life, and Anna disapproves. Shelley breaks down and pretends to cry, exclaiming “I love her…I want to see her.” It is so obviously fake, because Shelley keeps glancing at the camera and there is no evidence of real tears. Good ol’ Howard is the person that keeps rallying between the two women. He tries to come to a compromise, like the responsible and mature guy that he is. Shelley eventually leaves, but Anna changes her mind and wants to see her. Anna makes Howard call Shelley to invite her to dinner. This further proves that Howard is more responsible and diligent, and that sometimes Anna is just too juvenile to fight her own battles. Shelley does not have any upper teeth. When Anna is informed of this, she says that she once helped her cousin get her teeth fixed. They used to be all rotten and black, but then they were white and shiny. Now, it seems that Shelley has ruined them again. Anna could be making this up to make her cousin seem more trashy, for ratings purposes. However, if all this is true, it indicates that Shelley might not have the best hygienic habits. Later, Anna is on a radio-talk show, and the host asks her if she is on any kind of drugs. The host tells her that she sounds like she is heavily sedated. Howard is, of course, right there by her side, saying that he does not think she sounds any different than a normal person. Anna throws a temper tantrum, saying the host is accusing her of being a druggie. This goes to prove the earlier points that Anna comes off as being stoned, and that she is quick tempered. The next question was directed at her weight gain. Anna cannot take anymore of this, so she decides to leave, not before using a little profanity. The host is just asking the questions that everyone wants to ask. This implies that when Anna is faced with someone else that has confidence, she has to run away. She cannot handle it when someone challenges her. Next, Anna is shown doing the Jay Leno show. She comes out of stage looking very professional and classy. This is different than she usually looks on her show. Her appearance indicates that she might have thought Jay’s audience was different than her own, so she needed to project a different image of herself. Jay Leno was in almost every shot of this section, before and after. This means definite publicity for him, and good publicity for Anna being connected with such a household name. After the show, Anna went backstage where the gang was waiting, including Sugar Pie. This shows she definitely has a loyalty to her dog, and that Sugar Pie means a lot to her. The dog was the first one that she paid any attention to behind stage. “The Anna Nicole Show” is definitely one that makes a person slap themselves mentally and think ‘who on Earth ever gave the green light to this project.’ However, even though it’s so outrageous, there is a certain quality that makes you want to watch it. You want to see Anna make a fool of herself. It’s enjoyable. It’s entertaining.