May 15, 2007: Making Friends with "Friends"

Tonight on CNN"s Showbiz Tonight, there's a segment on how our brains are wired to connect, including with celebrities. Showbiz Tonight's A.J. Hammer report uses the example of how the cast of Friends do seem like friends, and how our brains are full of these characters, both those we know personally and those we feel we know through media.

This faux connection with celebrities is a huge part of the reason why we celebri-spiral.

The science and psychology behind this concept is fascinating, isn't it? Basically, were we ever really meant to live and experience life outside of what psychologists call our "realm of influence;" I.e. those we know personally and can see and hear live instead of on a TV show or in a magazine?