With and Without
As issues go, this one, admittedly, isn’t as weighty as global warming or Mideast peace. But those topics are adequately covered elsewhere on this web site, so here goes:
Do I get to keep the goatee? It’s up to you to decide.
Let me explain. Whenever I take a vacation from work, I give the razor a break and grow a goatee. Or at least as much of a goatee as my face is capable of turning out in a week or so. It’s sort of my way of affirming to myself that, if need be, I could sport facial hair. At least, I think I could. I was a late bloomer in that department. I could not grow any amount of beard or moustache or sideburns worth mentioning until long after college. Last night at my 13-year old son’s little league game, one of the players on the other team had a full, thick beard. And I’m only exaggerating slightly. How does he do that? How come I was 35 before I could get something respectable going on up there? How is that fair??
I digress. Back to the point: My wife likes it when I grow the goatee. After vacation, when it’s time for me to return to the morning and noon anchor seat at KTIV and shave the growth, she gets sad. “Can’t you just keep it?” she whines every time.
That’s the thing about tv news anchors: Hardly any have facial hair these days. 35 years ago, many anchors had moustaches. But that look creeps people out now. Ron Burgundy wore it well. Brian Williams? Not so much. A few older anchors have been on-air with moustaches for so long that they have been grandfathered in and would look strange without them. For the rest of us, it’s the Gillette Fusion seven days a week.
My wife Melissa took matters into her own hands. Melissa, as most of you know, is fellow KTIV newsroom employee Melissa Lanzourakis. We dated six years before getting married last summer. Without really consulting me on the idea, Melissa asked News Director Bridget Breen if I could keep the goatee when I returned from vacation. To my surprise, Bridget did not outright dismiss the idea. She put me under the studio lights and took a look. She saw potential, but had concerns that after a mere six days, said facial hair wasn’t… well… manly enough. She was about to send me home to my razor, when KTIV Creative Services Director Dave Washburn stepped in. Dave is always looking for a good promotion, and the wheels were turning. “What if we let the viewers decide?” he asked.
And that’s where you come in. For the rest of the week, you’ll be able to decide whether I get to keep the goatee look by voting at KTIV.com. I realize that a good many of you might be able to care less about this matter only if you really, really tried hard. Like I said, there are more important things to worry about. But if the voting public agrees to let me keep the goatee, my wife will be happy. So I have a vested interest in the outcome.
There is a bit of a caveat to all of this. I’m not sure that I can even grow a respectable goatee. I’ve never been able to let it go more than 9 days or so before shaving it. At that point, it still looks a bit junior high-ish. And, I’m not 100% sure that I actually want a goatee. But I’m willing to give it a try if Decision 2009 ends with a yes vote.
Balloting runs through Friday. Vote early and vote often. Let us know what you think by leaving a comment!
Do I get to keep the goatee? It’s up to you to decide.
Let me explain. Whenever I take a vacation from work, I give the razor a break and grow a goatee. Or at least as much of a goatee as my face is capable of turning out in a week or so. It’s sort of my way of affirming to myself that, if need be, I could sport facial hair. At least, I think I could. I was a late bloomer in that department. I could not grow any amount of beard or moustache or sideburns worth mentioning until long after college. Last night at my 13-year old son’s little league game, one of the players on the other team had a full, thick beard. And I’m only exaggerating slightly. How does he do that? How come I was 35 before I could get something respectable going on up there? How is that fair??
I digress. Back to the point: My wife likes it when I grow the goatee. After vacation, when it’s time for me to return to the morning and noon anchor seat at KTIV and shave the growth, she gets sad. “Can’t you just keep it?” she whines every time.
That’s the thing about tv news anchors: Hardly any have facial hair these days. 35 years ago, many anchors had moustaches. But that look creeps people out now. Ron Burgundy wore it well. Brian Williams? Not so much. A few older anchors have been on-air with moustaches for so long that they have been grandfathered in and would look strange without them. For the rest of us, it’s the Gillette Fusion seven days a week.
My wife Melissa took matters into her own hands. Melissa, as most of you know, is fellow KTIV newsroom employee Melissa Lanzourakis. We dated six years before getting married last summer. Without really consulting me on the idea, Melissa asked News Director Bridget Breen if I could keep the goatee when I returned from vacation. To my surprise, Bridget did not outright dismiss the idea. She put me under the studio lights and took a look. She saw potential, but had concerns that after a mere six days, said facial hair wasn’t… well… manly enough. She was about to send me home to my razor, when KTIV Creative Services Director Dave Washburn stepped in. Dave is always looking for a good promotion, and the wheels were turning. “What if we let the viewers decide?” he asked.
And that’s where you come in. For the rest of the week, you’ll be able to decide whether I get to keep the goatee look by voting at KTIV.com. I realize that a good many of you might be able to care less about this matter only if you really, really tried hard. Like I said, there are more important things to worry about. But if the voting public agrees to let me keep the goatee, my wife will be happy. So I have a vested interest in the outcome.
There is a bit of a caveat to all of this. I’m not sure that I can even grow a respectable goatee. I’ve never been able to let it go more than 9 days or so before shaving it. At that point, it still looks a bit junior high-ish. And, I’m not 100% sure that I actually want a goatee. But I’m willing to give it a try if Decision 2009 ends with a yes vote.
Balloting runs through Friday. Vote early and vote often. Let us know what you think by leaving a comment!
Posted under Newsroom
This post was written by msturgeon on June 23, 2009
Erik always grows a goatee when we go on vacations or on a super long weekend!! He even tried to air one too a couple months ago, but I think they made him shave it.
Too Funny!! I like the goatee Al, but you need a better picture. It’s hard to see it and it needs to be a pic where you are smiling and not talking!! 
I think I’ve seen a good one or two on facebook!! Good-Luck, Melissa and Al!! Bethel Tyger
Ok Joens,
You got my vote to keep the critter on your face. However, if after a month you still look like that high school kid that wants so much to grow facial hair… but simply can’t… SHAVE.
Meantime… at least you still have hair where it counts!!!
Go Al! It’s the new Hollywood look…a good way to keep up with the newest fashion trend.
Dear Al,
From reading your article, I can see that YOU really want to have this for yourself, so even though this is a “fun” topic at the moment, please do what YOU want to do in the end. I believe that in this stage of my own life, if it doesn’t go against my morals and values, then it would be ok to do something for yourself. By the way, you look great with or without it, so in the end, do what you like! P.S. My husband too has been in a similiar situation, but he has about 3 weeks to grow one and then shave right before his weekend for the National Guard at the 185th in Sioux City. Just have fun with this and try not to take anyones’ comments to heart, people can really have an opinion. Take care and best wishes to you and the rest of you at Channel 4. Julie Clouse
Al you are a handsome man and with the goatee I think it makes you look drawn and older. Without it you look young and much more happier. My husband also sports a goatee and when he shaves it he looks much younger and much older with it. But if they allow you to keep it then you need to do what gives you good self image.
Keep it Al. I think it would be funny if when it grows out you just shave the left side off. lol.
I vote YES. Have to keep the girls happy!
Al, Please shave it off !! You look so much younger and business-like with it off.
Al
If you like it that all it matters. People will just have to get use to it.
Good Luck !!!! Deb
I’m loving every minute that Al gets to keep his goatee. Honestly, I think Decision 2009 should be left up to me alone! lol
Al~
Keep the goatee it does make you look like Brad Pitt!By the way KTIV is the best!!!!
I think it looks tacky and definately makes you look older. Will they allow tatoos and piercings next? Shave it off.
Honestly, it doesn’t look good at all. Sorry Al but I would not keep it. Well, first of all, you can barely see it. And yes I know you’ve told us it takes time. But really you looked a whole lot better with a clean face. Get rid of it!!
IT MAKES YOU LOOK OLD; SHOULD JUST GROW A MASTAGE NOT A GOAT TEE; LOOKS AWFUL BY ME *_*
It’s Friday morning and a moot point now. Al shaved it off! Also, they figure the King Of Pop is more important to vote on than AL’s goatee. Anyway, the one chance I did get to vote I voted no. Good Choice.;