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December 02, 2007
Not good for the image
I'm not a native Chicagoan, as you all probably know. However, I do take a little pride in the city, and certain things about it make me cringe. (They probably make most people cringe.) But, something else is starting to happen that makes me worry about Chicago's image around the country. This Drew Peterson episode has put some regular Chicago guys on TV.
Take, for example, the man himself:
That's Peterson out somewhere, looking suspicious. Now, take a look at Stacy Peterson's uncle, a fellow named Kyle Toutges:
That picture of Mr. Toutges comes from an appearance on the local NBC station, but I first noticed him this morning when he gave an awkward interview on the Today Show.
What's similar about these two men? Mustaches! Big, furry mustaches! Now look, mustaches are allright. They're not for me, usually. I have been tempted to do mustaches for kids, but I don't know if it'd be wise. I'm no Brandon Flowers, or Casey Affleck, for that matter. I simply don't have a mustache face. But I suppose purveyors of a fine mustache will tell you it's a way of life, not just facial hair.
These two guys on TV will have your average latte-swilling East Coast liberal thinking the City of Big Shoulders is actually the City of Bad 'Staches. I see mustaches around town, but not too many. Yet for some reason, the only people from Chicago who get on TV are mustachioed.
It doesn't help that one of the more famous people to be associated with Chicago also was famous for his mustache. My advice: if there is any remote possibility you could wind up on national TV, get rid of the damn mustache. We have to show the world that people from Chicago are at least somewhat fashion-forward.
entry no. 1021
Posted at December 2, 2007 03:33 PM