The media-savvy meat-shunners at People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals revealed the winners of their annual "World’s Sexiest Vegetarian" contest this week, and, well, let’s just say something tastes a little off this year. The world’s most appetizing female vegetarian is evidently multiplatinum Idol alum Carrie Underwood, which seems fair enough. And Carrie’s male counterpart is… drumroll please… Kevin Eubanks from The Tonight Show?!
Look, don’t get me wrong. Eubanks seems like a perfectly nice guy, and he’s served Leno well over the years. (Though, as genial-but-slightly-sarcastic sidekicks go, he’s but a pale shadow of Paul Shaffer.) But sexy? This bald, average-looking 49-year-old dude in a turtleneck? Come on, PETA. Past recipients of Eubanks’ title have included Prince, André 3000, Chris Martin, and Josh Hartnett — you know, legitimate (or at least quasi-legitimate) sex symbols. Sure, I can see how I might want to restructure my diet if it meant that I’d have a shot at being a little more like Prince. Eubanks’ selection, on the other hand, just makes me worry that eating too much broccoli might lead to a lifetime spent sitting on a stool, laughing at completely unfunny jokes like a trained seal.
But it gets worse! PETA’s own press release acknowledges that Eubanks’ victory was the result of rank voter manipulation: "[Leno] mentioned the contest several times during the pastweek and said that he went to PETA’s Web site to vote for Eubanks…. Tonight Show viewers logged on in large numbers, pushing Eubanks ahead of his competitors." Sounds like ballot-stuffing to me. Isn’t this covered somewhere in those campaign-finance regulations? I say it’s time for a recount.
What about you, PopWatchers? Are you cool with Eubanks’ new title? Or who do you think would have been a better choice—and don’t say "anyone."
Comments (1-30) of 39 Add your comment
kristen bell and chris martin for me.
ARE YOU KIDDING? YES IT’S BALLOT-STUFFING, BUT WHO CARES??? IT’S NOT THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE. TAKE A LOOK AT THE CONTEST AGAIN.
Ausiello!
isn’t he a body builder?
i’m just sayin’
Kevin Eubanks? he reminds me of my dad. (in a good way, but still…)
He’s a good looking man. Maybe not a hunk but I applaud the choice.
snore
chris martin and josh unibrow hartnett are not sexy.
Anything to piss off PETA.
Carrie Underwood is a perfect choice. As a performer, she’s about as exciting as a boiled turnip.
I think that Kevin is sexier than all of the guys that you named.
PETA. What’s that? People Eating The Animals? Sounds like a plan. Wendy’s anyone?
I’m absolutely fine with his new title. He’s awesome and deserves more respect.
http://news.myspace.com/entertainment/popculture
I think Kevin Eubanks is adorable! He is comfortable with himself and I admire his wit and sense of humor. Paul Shaffer may be a talented musician but he’s just to much of a yes man for me. My vote would have been for Kevin had I known about the “contest” so that makes one of the so called fixed votes legit! Way to go Kevin!
Eubanks kicks Paul Shaffer’s butt. When he speaks, he actually adds something, and he’s not so annoying. I’ll defer to people who prefer Letterman to Leno, but there’s no way that Shaffer beats Eubanks. Go Kevin!
Isn’t Kevin Like Ridiculously ripped.
I mean they did show him shirtless on the Leno show and he was pretty shredded.
Kevin Eubanks is in great shape, so what’s the problem?
Even though I think the guy’s a complete tool (honestly, NOTHING Jay Leno says is as funny as Eubanks’ overlaughing would lead you to believe…not even close), I actually kinda like this choice.
I mean, there’s like a shortlist of celebrities people think of when you’re talking about “Sexiest Man” (Clooney, Pitt, Depp, or some other flavor of the week). I actually like that PETA kinda stepped outside the box for their choice.
To be honest, I hope I look that good when I’m 49.
The argument of whether or not he’s sexy aside, who are these people who hear Jay Leno say he voted, and then rush to their computers to the peta website to vote themselves? (I challenge one of you to come forward!)
I guess Kevin should win, for getting most people to come to peta’s site. And isn’t it really about who is going to get peta the most attention anyway?
I think he’s pretty damn handsome.
I second Fidler…Ausiello!!!!
He’s not bald because he’s going bald.
He’s bald because he shaves it bald.
There is a difference… at least for a brotha there is…
Kudos to you Kevin!
Simon Vozick-Levinson = Racist!
Sexiness does not equate with wealth or popularity! Get that?!
Kevin? Let me check… exuberant smile, lovely cueball, nice skin tone. Yeah, he’ll do fine.
I just saw that Joaquin Phoenix was a runner-up – I would have a hard time choosing between him and Kevin Eubanks. Congrats, Kevin!
who knew Leno watchers had computers much less were smart enought to actually use them?
This is an easy one. The winner should have been one of your competitors and the unsurpassed master of spoilage – Michael Aussiello.
horrible choice. and David, you are pulling out the race card?! gimme a f**king break! has nothing to do with it. he is average looking. period
I think Milo Ventimiglia should have won… Peter Petrelli from Heroes. Then Ausiello should have taken second! I don’t have a problem with Kevin Eubanks, he’s hot, he’s just not an IT guy. (Neither is Ausiello, but we love him).
Definitely Ausiello