The past few decades have seen an increase in celebrity engagement with politics, symbolized in the election of Donald Trump. At the same time, commentators such as Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh have also generated controversy through repeated assertions that fictional films and television shows might be delivering ideological messages to us or our children. This volume successfully connects the celebrity politics and fictional media literatures with eleven theoretically and methodologically diverse essays that greatly advance our understanding of Hollywood's impact(s) on American political behavior. Together, these studies 'set the agenda' for the celebrity politics and fictional media literatures for years to come.

Jeremiah J. Castle, Central Michigan University

I think this a fantastic text for students and researchers alike. It is an extensive treatment of the state of the research in politics and entertainment media. The variety of theoretical and methodological approaches used by the researchers in this volume really show students of politics and media how much opportunity there still is for discovery in this growing and important field.

Jeffrey M. Glas, University of Georgia

Drs. Yates and Hill’s volume adds important nuance to the entertainment and politics literature. Looking at several components of this complex research area, the authors assembled here use a variety of methodological tools to deal deftly with issues like corporate ownership, issue framing effects, and the implications for celebrity on politics and political attitudes. Anyone who studies entertainment politics—or even has an interest in understanding how popular media affect American politics—should own this book.

J. Benjamin Taylor, Kennesaw State University