More on the Strike

Today's topic: Strike Beards.

I don't know if any of you have been watching late night television since it returned, but if you have, you know what I mean when I say Strike Beard.

Letterman returned last week with a strike beard, but has since shaved it off. Rather, he had some National Guard members come and shave it off on his show. But Conan still has the beard going in full force. In fact, it's really creepy.

The idea of a strike beard is just one of those guy things. If a guy wants to grow facial hair, all he has to do is formulate a valid excuse. And, in the eyes of other guys, almost any excuse is valid. "Facial Hair February"? Of course it's valid, Facial and February both start with F. Cinco de Moustache? Hilariousness ensues! Jerry has been known to grow a hockey playoff beard, only to shave it off the day the Stanley Cup finals are over, whereupon he begins growing his offseason beard. This sticks around until the season starts, then he's baby faced again until he decides to start his regular season beard. Okay, I may be exaggerating, but you get my point.

I guess the reason that Letterman shaved his beard is because in his world (Worldwide Pants, that is), the Writer's Strike is over. His company has independently signed a deal with the WGA, so he gets to have scripted comedy bits, a regular monologue, the Top Ten list, actual real celebrities, and a smooth baby face. Conan, on the other hand, has taken to wasting time with visual gags, unscripted off the cuff commentary (which he is usually good at when he's got enough scripted material to pad out the rest of his show...), he's stuck with people who aren't technically crossing the picket line to be there (like politicians and sports stars but no actors), and he's got this creepy Irish Man beard.

Now, why even bring up the strike beard? Well, because those who know me might remember that I have this very strange facial hair growth pattern which has truly scared me off from going too long without shaving. I went for two weeks in January of 2006, and on me, a beard just looks...um...I guess terrible is the right word. So I have not been showing my support for the WGA with a beard. In fact, when I really think about it, I haven't so much been showing support to them, other than joining a facebook group and mentioning it in my last post.

So what? The strike has been going on for two months and then some, right? Well, fair reader(s) (oh, and any unfair readers I may have), the point is that while I know the basics of why the writers are striking, I want to dig a little deeper. And what better way to dig than to post what I find on my blog?

So, if you know nothing of the strike at this point, or a little bit, and want to know more, stay tuned. I'm sure for some of you it will be a delicious change of pace from my political ranting or my mundane lapse in posting.

So for now, I say farewell, I'm back to work (now that I am done with lunch), and in my spare time, I will pursue the facts of the WGA strike. And you'll be the next to know. Until then...

Write On.