LITTLE ROCK — People’s “Sexiest Man Alive” has been named, people.
And it’s, well, not you, dude. (Consolation: Hey, you still got the “Alive” part nailed!)
It’s actor Channing Tatum. You might not know him. But your wife knows does, intimately enough to call him by a nickname: Magic Mike.
The 32-year-old was chosen to join the magazine’s hall of hunks, which includes the likes of George Clooney, Matt Damon, Brad Pitt, Johnny Depp, Ryan Reynolds and last year’s SMA Bradley Cooper.
The Alabama native’s first response on being selected: “Y’all are messing with me.’”
Aw, handsome and humble!
And there’s another “H”: husband. His wife, Jenna Dewan Tatum, Tweeted: “Well obviously I agree! Good job [People]! Congrats to my ... loving, talented and yes - SEXY - love.”
She says that about him now. But we imagine there will be no living with him a few weeks into his role as SMA. He’ll still be leaving his drawers (we saw his stripper movie - this guy loves taking his pants off. A lot.) on the floor - because after all, the Sexiest Man Alive is still a man after all.
Only now Mrs. Sexiest Man Alive will be completely powerless in domestic negotiations. “You’re seriously nagging the Sexiest Man Alive?” “So what if the Sexist Man Alive left the seat up again?” “Sorry it’s such a burden living with the Sexiest Man Alive!”
Oh, man alive.
People also designated “50 Hot Guys From 50 States,” with one from Arkansas.
And this time, it’s you, dude! That is if you’re Jonesboro-born actor Wes Bentley (Hunger Games) and you’re in town seeing the family for Thanksgiving.
Before you were in American Beauty. And now you’re an Arkansas Beefcake!
So who are the Natural State’s other studs for future lists? Here are some contenders:
Kris Allen. The Conway singer who won American Idol in 2009 is way cuter and more memorable than those other male winners of the Fox singing competition - you know, like What’s His Name and Who’s His Face.
Cody Belew. We like Belew of Beebe - a promising contestant on NBC’s The Voice - because he’s a character who says things like, “I do believe in a past life, I was an elderly black woman.” After watching him perform Tina Turner in a sequin blazer, we believe it too.
Frank Bonner. Remember Bonner (born in Little Rock, raised in Malvern) who played slick-talking salesman Herb on WKRP in Cincinnati? We’re confident he could bring sexy back. Or plaid polyester suits (worn with striped ties) back.
Ronnie Dunn. When it comes to being attractive, the El Dorado native and one-half of country duo Brooks and Dunn just isn’t Dunn yet!
Gil Gerard. We say the Little Rock native and Buck Rogers actor is still a young buck.
Al Green. We’re not sure it would be proper to call the Rev. Green - singer of “Let’s Stay Together” - Arkansas Sexiest Man. So Arkansas’ Soulful-est Man it is.
George Hamilton. Where did the handsome actor get the beginnings of that becoming tropical bronze glow? His childhood home of Blytheville.
Buddy Jewell. The country singer and winner of the first Nashville Star competition, Jewell of Osceola, is one of Arkansas’ man-gems.
Jerry Jones. Not only is the Rose City native who owns the Dallas Cowboys a billionaire, he always has clean glasses. Because he has an assistant ready to wipe them off when necessary - or so a recent viral video on the Web reveals. Speaking of viral, does the assistant wipe Jones’ nose too?
Josh Lucas. The actor from Little Rock has appeared in a good number of films, including A Beautiful Mind. Uh, yeah that’s what we admire about this heartthrob. His mind.
Billy Bob Thornton. Because what’s scarier, er, sexier than a man like this Hot Springs actor who wears a vial of blood around his neck to prove his everlasting devotion to his wife. Well, to one of his previous wives. He’s had five.
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What’s in a Dame is a weekly report from the woman ’hood.
Style, Pages 29 on 11/20/2012