I know that everyone expects me to break the mold with a voice for diversity. But because Obama is president and Hillary is Secretary of State, I feel the freedom to embrace the theme. And so, I announce to you my official, middle aged, Scientology-lovin', white guy nomination with this homoerotic picture (what is more American than that?!?)...

A Shore Bet

Hey guys, sorry I can't really write much, I am so busy. But I didn't want to hold up the nomination process, so I will just post a picture.

Lauren's Official Nomination

(the one on the left!!!)

He's a real blast from the past!

Elizabeth's Official Nomination:

Swayze isn't the only long haired hunk around...give Brendan a chance to flex his acting muscles.

Swayze, the best runner up we'll ever have

The bandwagon is filled to the brim this year. Swayze this, Swayze that. Let me not discount the man, who I officially nominate as the honorary guest for 2009, but don't let the emotion still resonating from his recent passing from this green earth sway-ze you. A fine actor, a hunk, and a hell of a singer to boot, but like the Reinholds of the past, his seemingly bulky shoulders can't carry the weight of a thanksgiving. I ask you to look past his recent vogue status, and realize that there is potential for another T(im)hA(llen)nksgiving debacle.

Below is the man with shoulders strong enough to carry us through this 2009 holiday.

Thanksgiving is an American holiday. We have forgotten that in recent years, with a Canadian man-boy, an Austrian meat-loaf, and a British fancy lad. We need to bring this holiday back to our shores, Keaton-style.

We need a man who screams home grown, but with a silent, sly, reassuring smile. Who lets us know he is a patriot, by the way he stands naked, as a cab drives away with his bath towel caught in the door. We need a man who can not only transcend generations and opinions of our fractured country, but can literally transcend time and death to speak with his son through radio waves. We need a man who can get to the literal heart of the long and Short of it. A man whose goodness and gracious, can ignite the flame that is Thanksgiving.

A man whose career spans the ups and downs of life. From the hunky teenager to the rockin' dad, he truly is a Shark. And what better waters to allow him to troll, than our 2009 Thanksgiving Extravaganza. Ladies and Gentleman, I give you my (Lowell's) 2009 nomination:

A real American hero.

Dennis Quaid

Let's Have A Patrick Swayze Thanksgiving

As much I as absolutely adore Paul Reiser, I can not help but second Brad's nomination of the gifted Patrick Swayze. He has been on my mind all year and believe it or not, I was actually planning on officially nominating Mr. Swayze later this week. The stars seem to be aligning!!!
Here are a few goodies for your consideration...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ZyJCV_dyug

LET'S HAVE A PATRICK SWAYZE CHRISTMAS (THANKSGIVING)

(Michael J. Nelson)

Open up you hear and let the Patrick Swayze Thankgiving in.

We'll gather at the Roadhouse with our next of kin.

And turkey can be our regular Saturday night thing.

We'll decorate our barstools and gather round and sing.

Oh, let's have a Patrick Swayze Thanksgiving this year!

Or we'll tear your throat out and kick you in the ear!

It's my way or the highway, this Thanksgiving at my ba-ha-haar.

I'll have to smash your kneecaps if you bastards touch my car!

I got word that Lowell has been stealing from the till.

I think that that rightly jolly old elf better make out his will, ohh,

Oh, let's have a Patrick Swayze Thanksiving, one and all.

And this can be the haziest...

This can be the laziest...

This can be the Swayziest

Thanksgiving of them allllllll!

Here we go. A breath of fresh air before announcing what's been on my mind for almost exactly one year. A joke to clear my throat:

Joey's Official Nomination

And now the hard part. Close your eyes, would you please, and imagine you are seated in a living room in Hollywood, California. The date is Thursday, November 27th, 2008 and we are all basking in the warm accent + smirk combination of a fresh Cary Elwes. Let me set the scene a little more: a rumble vibrates from the couch cushions and Lowell lights a match; Mr. Fahrenheit, having moments earlier defied the laws of gravity, is zonked out on the recliner in the back row in an embarrassing display of drunkenness. We pop in a movie highlighting our honorable mention, Keanu Reeves (thank you very much Joey), and as it rolls on we are compelled by the pathos, the ethos, the true grit that manifests before our eyes as our man falls into a pit of bank robbery, sky diving, and debauchery. And it's great, the turkey is great, the movie's great, Keanu is great. But there's one man, someone else-- not Keanu, not Elwes-- who we just can't get out of our heads.

Blond.

Body.

Stud.

A chest that refuses to quit.

As I began to scavenge my psyche for a 2009 star, it seemed a no-brainer, almost too easy. I reflected and pondered as the year waned toward the season of thanksgiving (my reason for living). I drew his name over and over in my journal, growing ever more confident in my would-be-nomination. And then suddenly, roughly a month and a half before open nom-season, tragedy struck. After a hard fought battle with pancreatic cancer. My hero died. My heart goes out to his family and friends who stood by his side throughout the devastation.

Fans gathered to pay homage to his beloved, colorful, and decades-spanning career. I admit that in the wake of all this, I feared, selfishly, that so much celebration would in fact weaken the strength of my nomination, since our committee gathers every year to give voice to the voiceless. And so I began to ponder other possibilities. Emmanuel Lewis, Bronson Pinchot perhaps, Cuba Gooding, Jr.... In a moment of weakness I dialed Lowell's number and uttered the words Carrot Top. But still, my mind lingered on another.

Stallion.

Sexy.

Moves.

Excitement.

Sometimes we need to join the crowd to express the true pangs of our hearts.

Swayze

Eight is Great

Well, here are, at the precipice of what will be the 8th year of the greatest tradition ever known to man, at least this man.

The Southern California 'Autumn' air chills us with it's icy 80 degree pockets, and undercast skies. Yes, the smell of freshly cut grass and bus fumes fills our olfactory cells, and we know it is Thanksgiving season again.

Also, I have shed the majority of the weight gained from last year, and my body is telling me it is time again to pack it back on for the long and frigid months ahead, where temperatures might drop in to the low 60's.

This year it has seemingly sprung itself upon us, caught us unawares, as we grow older, and more concerned with everyday lives, careers, and showering. The blog, a ruin on its former self, a wasteland, that has all but been forgotten except for a single week out of the year. The taunting gone, the harmless teasing absent from the months leading into November. So we have a lot of ground to cover in only a few days.

In less than a week, the Pasadena contingency, which amazingly is 4 out of 5 members, will wait for an hour and a half as our good friend Brad Kester attempts to figure out the internet, so that we may video conference. Joey will claim that his nomination is the nomination of all nominations and come in second. Lauren will nominate another female (or a Judge Reinhold), and I will nominate an amazing candidate that will most likely win.

We welcome Elizabeth into the fold, and can't wait to see her nomination, and then tear it to shreds.

And of course, no blog season would be complete without the obligatory leak of Brad's official Nomination. Now I know he wanted to be the one to give it, but I just can't help myself. He called me a couple days ago, in a tizzy, about how great this nomination is. So here it is:

Brad's first official nomination of 2009.

Wow!!! As we can see, Brad is holding nothing back. We are going to really have to work hard to beat the always professional Man in Orange. So let the nominations begin.