Could the Fort Worth Star-Telegram's Life & Arts section become more narcissistic and repetitive than it already is? Of course. That's why the section is dubbed "The Daily Me." Film critic Christopher Kelly wrote an unfavorable review of Gladiator last year, received a few critical letters from readers, and used that as a springboard to launch a tiresome, seven-week "Die, Gladiator, Die!" campaign of articles, photos, and contests designed to promote himself. The lowlight was a color photo of Kelly dressed in gladiator gear.

Recently, Kelly wrote an unfavorable review of Lord of the Rings, prompting a few angry letters from readers and another drawn-out campaign with Kelly in the spotlight. This time, it's called the Chris-Haters' Club. Each week for five weeks, he will take an angry letter-writer to lunch and write about the experience. Kelly is a funny guy and the Chris-Hater columns will no doubt have their moments, but this campaign is hard to embrace because it's just another "Look at me!" crusade by the self-loving features staff.

Last year, readers endured feature writer Catherine Newton's "Are You The Mystery Man?" campaign to find a Valentine's Day date from among those who wrote in, and suffered through the ensuing boring column about her boring dates. (She failed to mention that co-workers secretly chaperoned her by sitting at a nearby table.) The Chris-Hater campaign is a hybrid of the Valentines and Gladiator ideas. Each is more tiresome than the last, although Static is curious about this latest promotional stunt.

Will Kelly ask co-workers to stand guard during lunches? Will photos of him eating spinach crepes appear on the front page? Will he choke on a jalapeño popper and cough until Diet Coke runs out of his nose? Will Life & Arts Editor Julie Heaberlin ever develop an original idea or promote a series of substance? Static can only wait with bad, er, bated breath.

Meanwhile, Static would like to announce to readers its own campaign: Win a Chance to Lance the Boil on Static's Butt.

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