Sexiest Man

People magazine knows its audience.

Women.

Straight women.

Straight white American women.

I was reading some information about a guy named John Krasinski who, I've learned, is an actor on The Office. Apparently, the early parts show his character having an unrequited longing for another co-worker. I don't know. I haven't watched the series.

John Krasinski, much like, say, Dean Cain (of The Adventures of Lois and Clark) or Christopher Reeve, for that matter, is an Ivy Leaguer that's been making a living acting. Krasinski, however, is a lot funnier, and in real life, plays the part of the good looking, funny guy.

As I was reading background stuff, I found he was selected as one of the sexiest men alive in 2006.

Each year, People selects 15 men (or so) that they deem the sexiest men alive, and designate one of them as the sexiest.

I decided to compare the 2006 list to the 2007 list to see the differences. Basically, the list usually consists of white actors. There are no sports figures, or political figures, or anyone much outside the US. Of the 15, 2 are African American, 1 is Asian American (they probably have to work really hard here), 2 are Latino, or really Spanish. The remaining 10 are white, and usually 1 of the 10 is Brad Pitt, who seems to have a permanent spot in the lineup.

In other words, People would like to have 15 white guys, but they realize that would look kinda bad, so they keep it racially diverse to keep its readership happy. It also knows its a magazine about celebrities in movies or television, and so it's not about to select athletes. It mostly picks reasonably well-known celebrities, but it will throw in 2-3 unknown that usually make their one appearance once, unless they suddenly become really big.

The funny thing about this issue is how men react to it. They kinda laugh that so-and-so is the sexiest man alive, and even those who are picked laugh at the idea. Most guys don't even realize there's a list after the top choice, that there are 15 people selected (it's even more, because you also get people submitting photos of their boyfriends, or there's an Internet list).

Even if the list gives a skewed view of who's "sexy", it gets discussion, and that's what People wants.

You know how it goes: it doesn't matter whether it's good news or bad news as long as they are talking.