I cannot remember the last time I saw someone above the age of 50 in entertainment. Well, not counting last Sunday’s Screen Actors Guild awards, naturally. However, the pop culture circuit is flooded with young entertainers, most not even old enough to drink.

This is all part of some kind of media phenomenon over the last few years that has put more spotlight on pretty teens than older, more respectable adult performers. Hollywood is no longer about showcasing its greatest adult celebrity achievements, but about finding the next big thing. And these days, the age requirement for the next big thing usually starts around 12 years old.

Unfortunately, many who claim popularity are only big for 15 seconds, so the media is now swamped with all kinds of bright-eyed hopefuls, many gaining and losing their fame before they even reach puberty.

Miley Cyrus and Dakota Fanning are prime examples of this younger media. One of them will make a smooth transition to adult stardom, while the other will eventually wither away as an example of the 2000’s naïve idiocy. No special prizes for guessing which one.

Unlike previous generations, which had a few reliably talented entertainers lasting for years, this generation has too many untalented individuals. These Disney Channel stars are not talented, but their agents surely are, garnering them with enough media attention to ensure at least a couple of years in the spotlight.

“Harry Potter,” one of the defining film and book franchises of our time, is also one of the defining series of this young media phenomenon. Even before “Twilight,” it proved children's entertainment was not just for children. As much as we love and have grown up with the actors of “Harry Potter,” the sad truth is that we will most likely never hear or care about them after the franchise is over. They are just not necessarily good actors. Good for their characters, but not much else.

Another truth is that audiences simply do not want to see old actors anymore. It seems the younger they are, the more beautiful, energetic and entertaining they are. If anyone actually thinks the actors of “Twilight” are talented, they are kidding themselves. They may not know how to read a line unless it is written on their hand by the director, but they sure do have pretty faces and abs. Disturbingly, it is not just young teens swooning over “Twilight’s” sparkling beasts, but adults. Many moms are as infatuated with the neverending Jacob versus Edward debate as their daughters.

Consider three of the top grossing films of 2009: “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen,” “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” and “The Twilight Saga: New Moon.” All three are heavily aimed at children and teens, although I am quite sure that only one of them is actually suitable for children. You will be hard-pressed to find entertainment these days that targets a demographic older than 20.

Those who are unable to acknowledge what I am trying to say need look no further than the newest teen sensation, Justin Bieber. That “One Time” music video is a palpable hit with its cute junior high school cast partying at Usher’s house. The message is all too clear: you do not need to be a good singer to make it big. However, if you can sing in a youthful falsetto, you are in. Viewers are captivated by Bieber’s adorable I-can’t-believe-he’s-16 face, but I cannot imagine his popularity continuing after he reaches puberty.

Every single one of these young teen stars represents an idolized version of youth that has proven to be successful and popular among America’s youth driven culture.

Let me know when they get real talent.