I wrote this piece for my mp3 blog about how the Late Night bloodbath that ensued earlier this year was more of a generational battle than a choice between Coco or The Chin. They won, we lost. Give it a read: http://tinyurl.com/ya4myda

What's the first hot trend of 2008? Duh! The Strike Beard!

So hot, even I joined the ranks!

When the late night shows made their return to the fray last week, Conan O'Brian and David Letterman out-headlined Jay Leno by sporting some beards they had grown on the handful of months they were out of work due to the American Writers Guild strike. Letterman, of course, came back on air with his writing team because they struck a part time deal with his production company, Worldwide Pants. NBC however (and Comedy Central's Colbert Report and Daily Show as well) came back writer-less.

Now why would these guys grow these iconic beards? Unlike your average beard, it has more meaning than proving their testosterone levels. It also represents the solidarity of the writers union. And what symbol holds more power than a BEARD? Nothin.

And as a bit of a writer myself, I felt it necessary to join the ranks of the bearded faces who represent the faceless writers. And now that Letterman has already shaved his off, we need all the support we can get. So join Conan, Abe Lincoln, Billy Gibbons, and I in growing history's proudest beards. Support our writers, you razor-wielding entertainment lover! Put the blade down! And grow that beard out!

And how can you non-facial hair growing females help? You could stop shaving, uh, your legs... but that would be kinda wierd. Or you could buy fake beards and wear em around town. Or atleast, stop watching those bad reality TV shows like Tila Tequila's Shot At Love. That sort of thing does not support writers. It tells TV reps that substanceless programming works.