I must admit, I’m a bit surprised at the response so far to the “Should Morning Anchor Al Joens keep his goatee?” KTIV Web Poll. As of Wednesday morning, 24 hours into the balloting, 465 people had voted. I figured on a vote total closer to 7 or so.
Here’s the tally thus far in what KTIV Internet Producer Margie Sturgeon has dubbed “Decision Goatee 2009″:
Yes 56.8%
No 37.2%
Not Sure 6%
I think a good number of the yes votes are from friends of my wife. She’s been calling on the troops to log on and vote in favor of keeping the goatee. Apparently one of her friends, a former KTIV reporter who now lives in South Carolina, is twittering about it. I’m not sure if any of this skews the results, but in balloting that takes place on the world wide web, I guess anyone in the world can vote.
Several people have also weighed in with comments on our website or via email. Here’s a sampling:
Female viewer: “Go Al! It’s the new Hollywood look…a good way to keep up with the newest fashion trend.”
Male viewer: “Change is good for all of us! I vote for you to shave, you look like you have a dirty face.”
Female viewer: “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.”
Female: ”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!!!”
In the interest of fair disclosure, that last comment came from former KTIV reporter and good friend April Madison who now works in Tucson, Arizona. She’s not one to beat around the bush. Or the goatee, as it were.
Some people have called in to the station with their opinions. Here’s a sampling of phone call comments supplied by KTIV receptionist Robin Small:
Female viewer: “Yes! Keep it.”
Husband and wife: “No. Looks horrible, like a bum and we will watch another channel if he doesn’t shave it.”
Female viewer: “Al is my favorite news anchor, but shave it off!”
Male viewer: “Keep it if it’s combed and neatly trimmed.”
Male viewer: “Keep it; looks very distinguished, but I’m jealous of his tan.”
Female viewer: “No. Lose the face hair. Makes him look old and scruffy.”
Good comments, all. Thanks to everyone who has participated. Keep the votes and comments coming. Balloting runs through Friday.
Posted under Newsroom
This post was written by msturgeon on June 24, 2009
Please keep it! Everyone on tv looks so uniform so keeping it would set him out for the better. Not everyones face has to be clean shaven to look nice and professional.
Keep the goatee. It is great. And, yes you do look like Brad Pitt. Spike that hair a little and you’ll be a ringer.
No, I will not change channels just because of a goatee. Have to take a lot more than that to change viewing stations.
It’s fun everyday to see how much better it looks.
Keep it — it makes you look more distinguished.
40 years ago my wife wanted me to have a mustache and 40 years later I still have it, so if your wife likes your goatee then you grow a goatee. Keep the little woman happy.