A phrase I've heard on various comedy programs regarding famous people is "[he or she] can't get arrested in this town." It often seems to be in reference to the person no longer being famous, however I've asked native English speakers and they claim it's the opposite, that the person is so famous they cannot get arrested.
Further searching online I've found very few places which define it, Collins Dictionary defines it as:
(informal) (of a performer) is unrecognized and unsuccessful ⇒ he can't get arrested here but is a megastar in the States
This makes no sense, as why would it be difficult for a non-famous person to get arrested? Seemingly popular perception is celebrities are more likely to get away with crimes, rather than actually be arrested.
An example of usage I know if is in the television series 30 Rock, but I've heard it other places:
Jenna: Thank you, but I am a selfless person who can't get arrested in this town!
So, what does it mean and why does it mean it? If it does mean they are no longer famous, what's the logic behind someone being so unfamous they cannot get arrested? If that's case it's rather strange that the phrase is so unclear that native English speakers don't seem even get the meaning.
Best Answer
The struggle to make it in entertainment is a struggle to be noticed. This hyperbolic complaint is that even committing a crime wouldn't be enough to get one noticed.
It's not about no longer being famous. Famous or not, it's about commanding attention.
Read some of the nonsense people get up to in the tabloids and you'll find many people coming very close to getting themselves arrested just to command any kind of attention.
When talent finally is recognized the recognition can be localized. Meaning the performer has to go through the whole promotional struggle again when they go somewhere else. Thus "in this town".
The sad truth is there are many talented people you've never heard of because talent alone isn't what makes people famous. What's behind the complaint is a frustration with this fact.
Failure to command any sort of attention anywhere can leave you homeless. You can see this expression used this way in song here. It's lyrics include: