The Andrew Ridgeley Syndrome

Imagine this: you are one-half of the biggest international recording music group. Your concerts are always sold out, girls are throwing themselves at you, and you are making phenomenal amounts of money. Then the other half of the group decides he can do better without you. And in the blink of an eye, it’s all gone. Just like in the rapture to come, you’ve been left behind. That’s the Andrew Ridgeley syndrome.

Anyone remember Tina Yothers, the girl who played the wisecracking little sister to Michael J. Fox’s character in Family Ties? Well, when that show went off the air Michael J. Fox had a successful movie franchise, other hit movies, and eventually a new hit series. And Tina Yothers? She hit that slippery patch a lot of child actors do, and by the time she picked herself up, it was too late to parley her acting role into a career. Last seen, she was playing for a metal band, deep underground. Left behind.

Or how about the Jackson brothers? Michael went on to become the king of pop, selling over 100 million albums. Janet also became a megastar in her own right. But what about Tito, huh? What happened to Tito, and Jermaine, and Randy (not the one from American Idol), and Marlon, and Jackie? They didn’t stop releasing music, but no one really cared once the Jackson Five was done.

Then there’s Scottie Pippen, an interesting figure to consider. He was instrumental in all six of the Bulls’ championship runs, but he was the second man on the list, behind the incomparable Michael Jordan. Everyone who is a basketball fan remembers him, though, so how does he fit on this list? Easily enough. Who can tell me what he was doing in the two seasons when Michael Jordan was chasing his baseball dream? And what happened to him after Michael Jordan retired the second time? Exactly.

Those poor Pips got no respect without Gladys Night, no one knows who the other Blowfish were, Hootie, and who knew Art Garfunkel was still releasing records? And I can’t seem to get my hands on either one of Mr. Ridgeley’s solo albums, for some reason. That’s the Andrew Ridgeley syndrome.

Sam