Thinking about Erma Bombeck, I’m reminded of the whole “overexposure” phenomenon. Some people get overexposed but it’s still ok. The classic example is Michael Jackson: no matter what, people still think Billie Jean and the rest are cool. And somehow Dave Barry managed to hit the stratosphere without getting that “overexposed” vibe. But Bombeck had more of the classic pattern: at first, she was this exciting new thing–I remember when we got The Grass Is Always Greener Over The Septic Tank out of the library–then, somewhere along the way, she became tacky. I guess it would make sense to go reread The Grass is Always Greener and see if it’s still funny. I think I’d still think Art Buchwald’s old columns are funny, but who knows.

And then there’s Erle Stanley Gardner. I have no sense whether he was “overexposed” or just had his deserved period of popularity which naturally ended.