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After seeing their viewer numbers plummet over the last few weeks, the major networks forced their late night talent back on the air last night. David Letterman took the high road, working out a deal with his writers so they could return with him, but keep in mind that he owns the production company that puts out his program. We suspect neither Conan O'Brien or Jay Leno are too jazzed to return without their writers, but since their shows are owned by the networks, they don't have the same kind of leverage.
But the even bigger news? The beards! Oh sweet Jesus, the beards! In a move sure to set the indie-rock beardo nation a-swoonin', both Letterman and O'Brien returned to the air wearing the big, bushy chin-carpets they had been cultivating while off the air. Honestly, we're torn over which beard we like better. Letterman looks so, um, natural and wise in his, but we have to give O'Brien props, if only because we had no idea he actually had the capacity to grow facial hair.
Who do you favor? We at Chicagoist think it's time for the first beard-off of the year, so cast your votes below! To keep things interesting, we've thrown in a few extra contestants, like Amos the Amish man in front of Zinn's Diner, Grizzly Adams, and, of course, two-thirds of ZZ Top.
Or, feel free to offer write-in candidates in the comments!
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Definitely Letterman. His fits him quite well, actually.
I hate facial hair on most men. These TV hosts look terrible.
I think Liza Minelli's husbands have the best beard.
Letterman's beard looks good but it also makes him look like someone else. I can't think of who. Beards were very in in 2007...Jack Bauer, Nathan from Heroes, Ted's break-up beard on How I Met Your Mother.
Letterman's looks glued on to me. Eeeesh.
Kyle Orton!
Ya know what, with the elections the war, Pakistan, Kenya etc, etc, etc going on I haven't been following the writers strike, but what's up with the fact that the writers get nothing while David Lettermen and Leno, etc get soaking rich? What do you mean they don't have leverage? And Lettermen has his own production company? Why isn't he making speeches in support of the writers and walking picket lines in solidarity? Well I guess more American stupidity and sleep walking. O.K, back to their hair
Spook, here are the deets on that. An argument could be made (and I admit, one could be made against the notion) that this independant deal puts the heat on the networks since their hosts aren't going to like looking bad ... or being forced to be on the air with no material.
I'm sure it's been said before, but I find it hard to believe that Leno has any writers based on how unfunny that show is. Or does he use the Family Guy manatees to write the monologues?
@ Mike Thoms:
You're thinking of Saddam Hussein.
O'Brien looks like a young James Lipton with that ginger beard.
Oh, don't be that cruel to Conan, Chuck!
I was thinking Letterman looks a wee bit like C. Everett Koop.
ZZ Top?!?? That is so not fair to throw them in! If we had a hair-off throw in Crystal Gayle circa '80 or the dude from the Cult! (Out of the two, I say advantage Robert E. Letterman)
Spook: NBC was going to fire everyone if Leno, O'Brien, and Daly did not return, and I think that meant hosts included. Letterman did one better than marching in solidarity: he gave them what they wanted and a platform for the WGA to speak to the rest of the country.
How is ZZ Top not running away with this poll?
Julene: True, expect his glasses aren't crooked as fuck.
As the beard-wearing member of the Chicagoist staff, I will gladly sit on any panel convened in the future dedicated to judging beards.
Both look terrible.
I'm surprised that Neck Beard wasn't a choice in the vote.
The growing of beards by Letterman and O'Brien is a show of solidarity to the Writers. Obviously Leno doesn't think this way. And anyone who grows a beard in the name of indie rock is just an idiot. You're not indie when your beard looks just like the guy in the band your opening for.
World Beard Champion Jack Passion.
See http://beardteamusa.org/btusa/jackpassion.html
Freak: the beards are a sign of the east-coast union (O'Brien/Letterman.) The west-coast chapter (Leno/Ferguson) isn't involved.
Though Leno is a scab for writing his own material (and he's a member of the WGA.)
Leno is a hack. He's the only one who doesn't seem to be on the writers' side. He's always been a corporate shill, appealing to the worst of Middle America. Where Conan and Letterman seem to be resistant in their recent incarnation, Leno seems to go on with (unfunny) business as usual. Shame on him!