UPDATE, 7/5/07:

Holy shit. He totally won. Never underestimate the power of jowly, unfunny latenight “funnymen”, would be today’s lesson. Or something.

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Kevin Eubanks:
Big zucchini, or world’s biggest zucchini?

———- Forwarded message ———-
From: DawnWatch - news [at] dawnwatch.com
Date: Jun 20, 2007 7:59 PM
Subject: DawnWatch: Jay Leno nominates Kevin Eubanks as sexiest vegetarian 6/15 - 6/19/07

Perhaps you have heard of PETA’s “sexiest vegetarian” contests. They are in line with PETA’s general attempts to put an animal friendly message wherever there is public attention — and for as long as anybody can remember there has been plenty of attention on sex. The competition has leagues for sexiest vegetarian celebrities and also for the tofutti cuties and sultry soy boys next door.

The contests get a lot of press, and thanks to Jay Leno, millions of Americans heard about them over the last week. On the Friday, June 15th Tonight Show, Leno introduced the topic telling us that People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals is asking folks to vote for the sexiest vegetarian. He said, “I guessing the winner will be the guy with the biggest zucchini.” Then he said to the Tonight Show’s band leader, Kevin Eubanks, “Hey, Kev, you’re a vegetarian, I should nominate you. We should get people to vote for you.” Then he started teasing Kevin about having photos he shot of him at Pismo beach.

On Monday, June 18, Leno reminded viewers that PETA is looking for the sexiest vegetarian of the year and he said that he had nominated Kevin. And he said, “I want people to go to the PETA website and vote.” (The competition is at www.GoVeg.com )

Last night, Tuesday June 19, Jay asked Kevin if he had heard from the PETA people. Kevin said that he had received a letter from PETA, which he read outloud. It said,

“Thanks for being in our contest, but remember, it isn’t the size of the zucchini that makes you sexy.”

Again, Jay told Kevin he wants him to win the contest, “to bring honor to our stage”, and Kevin said he was going to try.

The banter is thoroughly good natured and reminds people night after night that the talented and well-liked Kevin Eubanks is vegetarian.

As Leno often makes jokes demonstrating disgust for the fast food industry, his enthusiasm for Kevin’s sexy vegetarian nomination is in character.

Why not let Leno know how delighted we are that he is backing Kevin Eubanks for PETA’s sexiest vegetarian contest (and thereby publicizing the contest and sending people to the PETA website)? Feedback matters — shows need to know which of their features are popular.

The Tonight Show takes feedback at www.nbc.com/Footer/Contact_Us/

Select “Tonight Show With Jay Leno” from the pull-down menu.

Yours and the animals’,
Karen Dawn

(DawnWatch is an animal advocacy media watch that looks at animal issues in the media and facilitates one-click responses to the relevant media outlets. You can learn more about it, and sign up for alerts at www.DawnWatch.com. You may forward or reprint DawnWatch alerts if you do so unedited — leave DawnWatch in the title and include this parenthesized tag line. If somebody forwards DawnWatch alerts to you, which you enjoy, please help the list grow by signing up. It is free.)

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Tagged: animals animal rights animal welfare action alerts dawnwatch peta people for the ethical treatment of animals vegan veganism vegetarian vegetarianism jay leno sexiest vegetarian contest Kevin Eubanks late night talk humorous the tonight show sex sells animals and women sexism misogyny no status quo ecofeminism feminism