Let’s be honest, the annual crowning of PEOPLE’s Sexiest Man Alive is less a cultural touchstone and more a reliably amusing bit of fluff. But amusement is amusement, and Stephen Colbert is expected to bring his particular brand of wry entertainment to the proceedings when he reveals the 2024 honoree on Tuesday’s Late Show.
Will he subject the winner to a series of absurd “tests” as he did with Paul Rudd? Will he feign indifference, subtly undermining the inherent silliness of the whole affair? Or will he play it straight, allowing the absurdity to speak for itself? One can only hope for some lightly mocking banter.
The speculation, predictably, has reached a fever pitch online. Names are being tossed around, wish lists compiled, and long-forgotten heartthrobs resurrected from the pop culture graveyard. While everyone has their favorites, the winner often coincides with a current project release. This year’s victor joins a storied lineage that includes Chris Evans, Patrick Dempsey, and other men whose attractiveness is, I suppose, objectively verifiable.
Beyond the big reveal, legendary director Francis Ford Coppola is also scheduled to appear, presumably to discuss his highly anticipated film, Megalopolis. He may even share some behind-the-scenes insights into the making of this ambitious project. Either way, it’s a bonus feature that adds a bit of actual substance to the evening.
So, if you’re curious to see who’s inherited the Sexiest Man Alive mantle (and to witness Colbert’s inevitable ribbing), tune in to CBS at 11:35 PM ET/PT or catch it on Paramount+. And don’t forget to join the online chatter using #SexiestManAlive.
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert airs Tuesday, November 12, at 11:35-12:37 AM, ET/PT on CBS.
