Dead Arts

It's a rare chance to comment on two passings today, and both regarding artists.

The first is LeRoy Neiman (91), who made his reputation painting sports events and athletes, but I know as the creepy moustache guy who hung out with Hugh Hefner and made shitty scribbles of naked women on the Playboy joke page.  I will say that he made pretty good use of color, in an almost psychedelic way, but like much of the art I've seen, I have to wonder who the hell is going to buy and display it.  I get it if you want an impressionist twist on a picture for a game program, but what wall needs a painted Mark McGuire?

The other is for the Life In Hell comic strip, that Matt Groening is ending after three decades.  The strip, which ends after it's 1669th publication, was once in close to 400 publications, but in now in under 40.  Known for anthropomorphic bunnies Binky and Bongo, and fez wearing homosexuals Akbar and Jeff, the comic was serialized in many publications "_______ (Life, Childhood, School, etc.) In Hell", and was key in getting Groening the gig making animated shorts for The Tracey Ullman Show that led to The Simpsons.  The strip stopped being interesting or funny once he shifted to Akbar and Jeff as the focus, but some of his 'toons are gold.

By Your Side, Slow Dancing

Moustaches That Matter

Get On The Bus

WIRED raided Flickr commons - home to such diverse archives like the National Library of Scotland's "Photographs of the South Side of Edinburgh" and Fylkesarkivet's "Lantern Slides of Norwegian Fjords", has found another awesome photo set: the Metro Transportation Library and Archive. And specifically, the "Southern California Rapid Transit District (SCRTD) Operator of the Month."

M For Moustache

Not Participating In Moustache Club

Celebrities Who Must Have Mustaches

Ever since John Oates got rid of his (which is too painful to show), there are faces who should be obligated to keep their soup strainers.

Tom Selleck
"Magnum P.I." minus a mustache equals TV movies and James Caan's sloppy "Las Vegas" seconds.

Burt Reynolds
No mustache was as famous or as important as Burt Reynolds' back in the day. Without it, the eye can't help but be drawn to the toupee.

Alex Trebek
With the 'stache, Trebek actually knows the answers. Alas, a swipe of the blade leaves the quiz show host's bathroom sink covered in a scum of tiny hairs, shaving cream, and intellectual authority.


Jessie Ventura
Can you believe this is the same guy who could be a governor and fight a Predator without a lip cozy?

Chuck Norris
Entering an octogon isn't so bad...as long as there's no lip fur in there.

Eddie Murphy
If Samson got strength from his hair, that caterpiller on his face it must be where he gets his funny.

Cheech Marin
It's hard to imagine getting high with one of these guys...and hard not to with the other.

Carl Weathers
I'm pretty sure Rocky could've beaten the crap out of Apollo in that first fight had Apollo fought 'stache-less.

Stacy Keach
From dirty hippy to gritty detective, with a simple moustache. That's the hammer.

Animoustache

Bo Henry, art director of the upcoming Coraline.

The Curious Case Of Lipfur

Earlier this week, The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button premiered last night, so Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie were on the red carpet. Even though he is shooting a Quentin Tarrantino flick, going method with the 'stache is tough to handle.

TOP TEN SITUATIONS IN WHICH MOUSTACHES ARE ACCEPTABLE:

10. You’re a pizzeria owner with pit stains and domestic abuse record

9. You’re a porn star and it’s 1974.

8. You moonlight as a Yosemite Sam impersonator.

7. You’re a wayfaring stranger who narrates the greatest comedy ever written.

6. You’re a state trooper with erectile dysfunction

5. You’re a Beastie Boys’ “Sabotage” video extra

4. You’re the Baron Administrator of Cloud City

3. You’re the Führer und Reichskanzler

2. You’re a private investigator living in Hawaii

1. You’re the next door neighbor of Homer Simpson. Okely-dokely-doo!

Serious Journalistic Cred

It come from the moustache.

Separated At Moustache

Orlando Bloom and John Holmes.