Bradley Cooper or Ryan Gosling?

When People Magazine unveils its highly anticipated Sexiest Man Alive issue each year, it is generally a celebration of one of Hollywood's most debonair stars that everyone is invited to share in — and stare at. But when became the newest member of this exclusive club earlier this week, his coronation was marred just a bit by disgruntled fans of one Ryan Gosling. The Internet that adored the "Hey, Girl" meme rushed to Gosling's defense, and a group of about 15 self-promoters even showed up on the sidewalk in front of People's offices, chanting "Bradley Cooper is just fine, but Ryan Gosling is divine!" Even George Clooney, Sexiest Man emeritus, admitted that he had been rooting for his Ides of March co-star, saying "It's gotta be Ryan, don't you think?"

People's executive editor Liz Sporkin, though, is not second-guessing herself. "We stand by our man!" she said. "Bradley Cooper is the whole package. He's gorgeous, talented, brainy, loves his mom, can cook up a storm, and speaks fluent French! Who can argue with that?"

In a sexy-man contest between two uber-handsome actors, there can only be one winner. And that is us. So, in light of the "controversy," let's look at the Tale of the Tape:

Cooper……………………………….Versus…………………………………….Gosling

36……………………………………………Age………………………………………………….31

Philadelphia……………………………Hometown…………………………….London, Ontario

Caribbean Azure………………………Eye color……………………………………..Blue Steel

Georgetown…………………………….Education………………………..Mickey Mouse Club

Wedding Crashers……………You first noticed him in …………….Remember the Titans

The Hangover………………….You fell in love after…………………………The Notebook

$1,342.0………………………..Box-office gross (in millions)………………………$332.4

Speaking French……………………..Heroic skill…………………..Breaking up street fights

Renée Zellweger……………….Notable ex-girlfriend…………………….Rachel McAdams

Limitless (at the beginning)……….Played ugly in…………………………….Blue Valentine

Not PhotoShopped……………………Six-pack…………………………..Not PhotoShopped

Devilish…………………………………….Smirk…………………………………………..Impish

To be fair, People did just have a Canadian named Ryan as its Sexiest Man Alive 2010 (Reynolds). And there's no arguing with Cooper's bona fides. U-S-A! U-S-A!!

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