Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, May 5, 1995 TAG: 9505050042
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: KATHLEEN WILSON STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Then can anyone explain how a magazine - and a magazine named People of all things! - can put Brad Pitt's mug on its cover and declare him the year's Sexiest Man Alive?
Were you consulted about this?
No.
And while we're at it, did People confer with you - or for that matter, with anyone you know - about Mark Harmon, Mel Gibson, Sean Connery and John F. Kennedy Jr. receiving the title in years past?
No.
Truth is, how People selects these guys isn't democratic at all.
A bunch of the magazine's editors and staffers sit down every year and just willy nilly make their own selection.
Certainly Brad, Mark, Mel, Sean and John-John are appealing guys.
But why doesn't People ask us, the people?
(And while we're it, why doesn't People give an annual cover to the Sexiest Woman Alive?)
``What is it with this Brad Pitt guy?'' asked Betsy Gehman, a reader in Lexington.
She spent her younger years in Hollywood and New York City. Along the way she met a number of attractive men, including William Holden and Robert Mitchum - whom she says she knew when they were at their ``buff best.''
Even that's too limiting for Betsy.
``I think whoever it was who posed for Michaelangelo's `David' was the sexiest man of all time,'' she declared.
During her Hollywood years, Betsy knew Rosemary Clooney, the aunt of one of current television's hottest: George Clooney. He's making temperatures rise on NBC's ``ER.'' Earlier, he made hearts thump as Sela Ward's love interest, Det. Falconer, on ``Sisters.''
``Now there's a hunk,'' sighed Betsy.
She suggested we take this matter out of the hands of People - the magazine - and put it into the hands of people. Real people.
It's a good idea. Lets put it to a nice democratic vote. And let's one-up People by not limiting it to men. Or to those who are still living.
Lets see how Brad Pitt stands up against history's finest.
WHO'S SEXIEST?
Forget People magazine and its undemocratically chosen Sexiest Man Alive!
Vote for the Sexiest Man or Woman of All Time!
To cast your vote, call the Roanoke Times & World-News InfoLine. In Roanoke, 981-0100. In the New River Valley, 362-0600.
Then select category SEXY (7399).
Give us the name of the man or woman you want to vote for, and tell us why. Then leave your name and phone number in case we have questions.
You can vote for any man or woman - living or dead - of celebrity status. It doesn't have to be movie star. John-John's dad and even Henry Kissenger were often described as sexy.
We'll run the results of the poll in a future issue.
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by CNB