In the recent “Luxury Lounge” episode of the HBO series The Sopranos, one of the perks of being a celebrity was revealed, that the people who are best able to afford life’s luxuries often get them for free. In the episode we are given a guided tour of how stars are offered the latest in phones, eyewear, cars, clothes, and beverages for just showing up. Sir Ben Kingsley (Gandhi) mentions that a presenter at a major awards show can get up to $30,000 in gifts. For the mobsters involved, this turns out to be an offer that they couldn’t refuse. You’ll actually be glad you’re not a celeb after you see how things play out. Listen to the E! Online - Answer B!tch to learn about Luxury Lounge culture.

This gets me thinking, what are the perks for being a pod-lebrity? Are there goody bags for Leo Laporte and Amber MacArthur? Is RocketBoom pursued by Prada? Is Adam Curry stalked by groupies waving free Video iPods (probably in his dreams)? What about the rest of us? It seems like the threshold to stardom is being lowered all the time. If that’s the case, maybe the rewards are lower too. I guess a six-pack of Diet Coke and a box of Twinkies wouldn’t be half bad.