I have learned that fat men (in particular) have to be funny to be taken seriously.  Irony at it's best, but it's true.

Let's look at some examples: John Candy, Chris Farley, and John Belushi.

<strong>John Candy</strong> had only one leading man role in "Only the Lonely" and everything else he had to be funny.  Would anybody really take him seriously if he were a leading man?  Of course not.  Brad Pitt = leading man.  John Candy = funny guy.

<img src="http://www.mmolenda.com/blogpix/candy.jpg" height="311" width="519" />

<strong>Chris Farley</strong> never had a leading man role.  Most of the time, he was just a goof and even made fun of his own weight to get laughs.  Falling through furniture and breaking it.  Got laughs.  Isn't that what people wanted from him.

<img src="http://www.mmolenda.com/blogpix/farley.jpg" />

<strong>John Belushi</strong> has some serious roles but who remembers those?  We will always remember him from Animal House and The Blues Brothers.  Both of these movies and his performances were very funny.  Is it just because he was funny or because he had to be funny.

<img src="http://www.mmolenda.com/blogpix/belushi.jpg" />

Of course the above three all died relatively young.  Not necessarily due to their weight but their excesses.  Drugs, alcohol, cigarettes.  John Candy died of a heart attack at 44.   Chris Farley died at 33 of basically an OD.  John Belushi died at 33.  Also an OD.

So, then there's me.  Would anybody actually take me seriously if I weren't funny.  If I didn't act goofy and use my sense of humor not only in real life but also in my MySpace surveys.  Who would remember them or even read them if I weren't funny.  This is just something that has been on my mind for a while.

<img src="http://www.mmolenda.com/photos/me_travel.jpg" />

Maybe I am off-base or maybe I am dead on.  But I had to let this out...