The X-Man marks his spot: Super-hunk Hugh Jackman (and reigning sexiest man alive) has been confirmed as the host of the 2009 Oscars, which will be telecast Feb. 22. After I announced this juicy nugget to anyone within earshot, expecting to hear reluctant grunts of manly approval, music critic Wade Tatangelo expressed his displeasure over the cubicle wall. Among the kinder words he had to say were, "He's a hack." And "He kinda looks like [fellow Australian and country music star] Keith Urban." Ouch.
Senior Account Executive Anthony Carbone, our self-styled sartorialist who's like a moth to the flame when he hears the word "handsome," seconded that emotion, "He's just kinda sorry. I have no feeling for him." And "He's a clown." Double ouch.
Puzzled by this antipathy toward our foremost portrayer of grizzled comic-book heroes (Wolverine, Van Helsing) I endeavored to seek out a female perspective (and hopefully a voice of sanity in a wilderness of macho repression and denial). Our heroine: Editorial Assistant Franki Weddington, who gave the most reasoned assessment: "Not only is he a good actor and really fucking hot, he's on Broadway."
Vindication is mine.
This article appears in Dec 10-16, 2008.