Rumsfeld’s Got It - Rachel Hunter Rates ‘Hot’ and ‘Not’ for New TV Show

ABCNEWS.com ^ | February 12, 2003

[Dont Mention the War]

A contestant in the new Are You Hot? TV show is one of many evaluated by former supermodel Rachel Hunter. (ABCNEWS.com)

Rumsfeld’s Got It

Rachel Hunter Rates ‘Hot’ and ‘Not’ for New TV Show

Feb. 12

— Donald Rumsfeld is hot. Joe Millionaire's not.

So says former supermodel Rachel Hunter, who was on Good Morning America today to promote the new TV contest show Are you Hot? The Search for America's Sexiest People.

Hunter, who is one of the show's judges, ran down a list of who she thinks does and doesn't have sex appeal. She said she values personality as much as looks.

"Sexy and hot come from uniqueness," said Hunter, 33. She'll look for come-hither eyes and quirky characteristics, not "beefcake or Barbies."

Why Rumsfeld Is a ‘Yes’

Rumsfeld, the 70-year-old defense secretary whose bespectacled face is familiar to many Americans from Defense Department briefings, got Hunter's approval.

"I love him," she told anchor Diane Sawyer. "He's just — he's really, obviously really strong."

Vice President Dick Cheney is not hot, Hunter feels, while Olympic cycling champion Lance Armstrong is.

And, though Joe Millionaire, in Sawyer's estimation, looks like the handsome character Gaston of Beauty and the Beast, Hunter said "not."

"No way. Too beefy," she said.

Is Kermit the Frog Hot?

Are you Hot? airs Thursday on ABC, and is the latest reality show from the creators of The Bachelor and The Bachelorette.

From the thousands who tried out, 32 people across the country made the cut and were flown to Los Angeles to be judged by a panel rounded out by actor Lorenzo Lamas and designer Randolph Duke. The show's host is Food Network personality J.D. Roberto.

Hunter said she hopes she won't be compared to acid-tongued American Idol judge Simon Cowell — whom she termed "icky" and not hot — but she doesn't mind cutting contestants down to size. In one clip from the show, the ex-model demonstrates she can be tough on contestants she deems "pretty boys."

"I don't mind pretty faces as long as they have a great attitude behind them. … And who said you had a pretty face anyway, even though it's obvious that you have one?" Hunter tells one bare-chested, smiling man wearing shorts. "Now I will be gracious and ladylike and say that your face is a 9, your body a 9.5 and your sex appeal is a 2."

On GMA, Hunter told Sawyer that Bachelorette star Trista Rehn "has got something. She's got all those guys."

And Kermit the Frog?

"My man. I love Kermit," Hunter said.

[Dont Mention the War]

I think this is a compliment.

[WFTR]

I think it's a compliment also, but I guess I never thought of some of these people in this light. Obviously, a big part of the reason is that I'm a guy, but the "hot" label always seemed to me to imply a bit of shallowness as it is commonly applied. I wouldn't have thought of anyone seeing Mr. Rumsfeld, Mr. Cheney, or Mr. Armstrong as "hot" even though I think all of them are great, courageous men. The positive spin on this development is that "hot" isn't as shallow as I've always seen it. The negative spin is that I'm just getting older. Either way, I think it's a good thing that a celebrity says such good things about a conservative leader.

WFTR
Bill

[Brimack34]

The above picture is a minnesotan. Women are hot here and not all fake like her. But what got me is men judgeing men.
That lost me.

[hotpotato]

Yup, it's 'cause you are a guy :-) Rummy is hot because he exudes self-confidence and strength and extreme intelligence. Joe Millionaire is eye-candy but dull-witted and would not be a constant on raising the female body temperature (though, sort-term, he'd sizzle). A female gets the feeling that ol' Joe is not capable of taking care of himself much less her.

[fporretto]

Ah, but if you reflect on it a moment, something really nice comes out: Courage of conviction and the willingness to follow through on one's beliefs are fundamentally, powerfully attractive. Especially in a man.

Rumsfeld has become as celebrated as he is because he stands foursquare for things everyone can get behind, and he follows through. He doesn't waffle, and he doesn't vacillate.

Norman Schwarzkopf was similarly seen as immensely attractive, despite his barrel-like girth, for his incisive and powerful handling of the 1991 Persian Gulf War. It's not all about looks, friends.

Freedom, Wealth, and Peace,
Francis W. Porretto
Visit the Palace Of Reason:
http://palaceofreason.com

[dennisw]

I think this is a compliment.

And she's been surgically complimented

[hotpotato]

Sizzlin' Joe

[Miss Marple]

UGH.

[hotpotato]

Maybe you will like this better (it's the full image)

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/marriott3.html

Be sure to check out the other two pages (links at the bottom of the above page).

[Miss Marple]

No thank you. I don't even like that guy fully-dressed.

[jejones]

Wasn't it Kissinger who said that power is the ultimate aphrodisiac? Perhaps that is what is involved here.

[JZoback]

I find it hard to believe people actually watch a show like this.

[hotpotato]

No thank you. I don't even like that guy fully-dressed.

The only way to like him is *not* fully dressed. Like I said, great eye candy :-)

[hotpotato]

I find it hard to believe people actually watch a show like this.

I didn't see it so I couldn't say much about what kind of show it is. From the promos I saw, it didn't strike me as something I'd care to watch.

[smith288]

JZoback said:

---

I find it hard to believe people actually watch a show like this.

---

I saw it for 5 min and I was afraid my wife was going to accuse me of watching porn or something.  And this was on at 8, I think

[surrey]

Rumsfeld and CHENEY are both sexy in my book.

[RepoGirl]

Rummy is hot because he exudes self-confidence and strength and extreme intelligence. Joe Millionaire is eye-candy but dull-witted and would not be a constant on raising the female body temperature

Rummy is a mega babe. Cheney is too--I think intelligence and confidence is key. Rummy is just rakish, though. Groarrr...

Joe Millionaire looks like he can't make it through the Pokey Little Puppy without stumbling and asking for help.

[WFTR]

How would you rate Lance Armstrong and Vice-President Cheney?

[BlessedBeGod]

American Idol judge Simon Cowell — whom she termed "icky" and not hot —

She's obviously clueless. No need to watch this show.

[hotpotato]

How would you rate Lance Armstrong and Vice-President Cheney?

Armstrong is *THE* BOMB! :-)

I like Cheney and trust him but he doesn't light my fire. He doesn't have the confidence I see in Rumsfeld. I have a deep appreciation for Rumsfeld's wicked sense of humor. I also like Rumsfeld's quiet aggression.