File this under market segments you have no sympathy for. Just like the baby industry and the wedding industry, the prom industry plays upon vanity, peer pressure, short time frames and aggressive upselling to make a pleasant experience a real chore for most people.

“There’s an absence of joy in this industry,” said Mike Denton, … president of the National Prom Association. “This year, more than ever before, I’ve heard consumers say, ‘I just want to get this over with.” …
“We are charged with creating the most exciting shopping experience possible. If we’re not doing that, we’re not doing our job,” said Denton. “We need to resurrect the brand of prom itself.” (WWD, August 3)

You know what they need? They need to leverage the notoriety of a “B” list celebrity to make another teen movie centred around a prom. Like Kellie Pickler, who has that small town charm, a little bit of talent, and a slightly embarassing prom history.

For your comment and amusement, the Top 10 High School Characters:

1. Michelle Flaherty (American Pie)
2. Duckie (Pretty in Pink)
3. Olivia Newton-John (Grease)
4. Hard Harry (Pump up the Volume)
5. Screech (Saved by the Bell)
6. Lea Thompson (Back to the Future)
7. Marcia Brady (Getting Davy Jones)
8. Long Duk Dong (Sixteen Candles)
9. Suzette (Absolute Beginners)
10. Jimmy Cooper (Quadrophenia)

[tags] prom, rite of passage [/tags]