"d abston" writes…
Maybe you can go into this a little if the opportunity arises, but just how does one get a "star" on the Walk of Fame? I was always under the impression that the process wasn't exactly "pure" — i.e., if a studio, for example, put on some pressure and put up some case, a "star" would become available. Is there a nominating committee or is my first impression right?
Your first impression is generally correct, although there seem to be limits. I actually wrote about this back here and I don't think anything has changed. The honoree, if alive, still has to agree to show up before they'll consider the nomination and someone has to be willing to pony up the $25,000 it costs to install the star. And it still helps a lot to have a major studio or company behind you.
If there's someone you want to nominate, do it soon. They entertain nominations and decide the next year's worth of honorees in June.
By the way: In that posting from 2007, I noted that Stan Lee had been selected to receive a star. This has not happened yet and next time I see Stan, I'll try to find out why. As I understand it, once they vote to give one to someone, that person can pretty much decide when they want to have the installation and ceremony, and they have five years to get around to it. Guess Stan's been kinda busy with all those cameos he does. Three more and I believe he beats Hitchcock's record.