Diana Ross. Stevie Wonder. Alex Trebek. Brian Williams. Sebastian Copeland.
Sebastian who?
Yes, it's that time of year. Top-name celebrities -- plus a contingent of more obscure stars -- are in Vegas for CES. The reason, of course, is to attract attention and build buzz for vendors. You can bet that if the company is big enough -- think Sony, Sharp, or Monster Cable -- it will be hiring more than just a leggy model or two to hawk its wares. And while you might not recognize some of the lesser-known names in the celebrity derby, this year there will be no shortage of superstars on hand.
This is despite the troubles afflicting the global economy. The world is in the midst of a deep recession, and attendance at CES is expected to be about 130,000 this year, compared to last year’s 141,000 attendees -- a drop of 8%.
But even though attendance may be down, the stars are still out in full force. "In the last four years we’ve attracted more big celebrities than ever," said Tara Dunion, Consumer Electronics Association spokesperson. "You can expect at least one surprise walk-on during one of the big four keynotes by Microsoft, Sony, Ford and Intel."
Celebrity appearances at CES typically include respected personalities from the music, television and film worlds. In years past, Robert Redford and Joan Jett have made appearances. Once again, this year's lineup is designed to appeal to a wide variety of tastes. Soulja Boy Tell’Em was featured at the Billboard Digital Music Live! Conference Session on Wednesday. But rap is not everyone's cup of tea, and there are plenty of other acts for attendees to ogle. Here are some of the celebrity highlights from CES 2009:
* News junkies: Catch live broadcasts from the show floor of The Today Show, the NBC Evening News with Brian Williams, Access Hollywood and CNBC’S Maria Bartiromo.
* Oprah Winfrey Show: No, the Big O won’t be there, but head for the Sony Pictures Television booth to see Dr. Oz, a frequent medical guest.
* Jeopardy! Know-it-all host Alex Trebek will tape daily episodes of Celebrity Jeopardy! (featuring more celebrities!), also at the SPT booth
* Sports fans: Thursday and Friday hang out at the Sharp booth, LVCC, Central hall, 11024, to catch appearances of Prince Fielder, Big Papi, David Ortiz, John Maine and other hot sports stars.
* Fast woman: Indy 500 driver Sarah Fisher will be at the SimCraft booth, LVCC, South Hall 2, #25311 on Thursday.
* Niche celebrity corner: GQ-cover-worthy environmentalist and photographer Sebastian Copeland will be at the HP Booth, LVCC, South Hall 3, #31112, to autograph photos
* Music legend: Meet Stevie Wonder at the Sands Expo Convention Center, Sendero Group booth.
And last but not least, Monster Cable will be presenting Diana Ross at 9 p.m. on Friday at the Paris Hotel. Unfortunately, the appearance is invitation only.
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