James Cameron is Number 3?

Here's the top ten from the Forbes Celebrity 100 List:

1. Oprah Winfrey
2. Beyonce Knowles
3. James Cameron
4. Lady Gaga
5. Tiger Woods
6. Britney Spears
7. U2
8. Sandra Bullock
9. Johnny Depp
10. Madonna

There are two notable things: Six of the ten are women, and, James Cameron comes in at number 3.

That there are six women is fine. Good. Perceptions are changing. That's wonderful. You go girl! But, what's Cameron doing at number 3? How is his celebrity comparable to that of Oprah or Sandra Bullock's? Oprah is all over TV all the time. 24/7 Oprah. Bullock wins an Oscar and dumps Jesse James (the divorce was finalized within the last few hours). She's been top-drawer news for months. Go Sandra! She gets 8th place?! And, James Cameron...made 'Avatar'.

What bearing does being the director of 'Avatar' have when it comes to general celebrity? Does the public -- the average Joe -- know or think about James Cameron the way they do Madonna or Lady Gaga? Even Johnny Depp seems to have a higher profile these days, and he placed a lowly 9th. Isn't Cameron's 'celebrity' more of a cinefile thing? Maybe it's because Cameron has been outspoken about the BP oil spill -- maybe that earned him the coveted #3 spot? Whatever the reason, it's kinda dumb.

If you asked a hundred people on the street who directed 'Avatar' how many would come back with a snappy answer? Out of the ones who got it right, how many would say something like, 'Wasn't it that guy? Cameron something'?

Conversely, if you asked the same group what movie made the most money how many would say, 'Oh! It was the one with all the blue people! What was that called? The one directed by that guy?'

I just don't see James Cameron as a mainstream celebrity. At the very least Tiger Woods should have placed higher. Everybody knows Woods' song and dance. Everybody. Even people who don't care. We've all been hit by the carpet-bombing media coverage about that guy -- whether we wanted to know the details (or see those pictures) or not. Woods got 5th...

James Cameron number 3? My day is ruined.