Our weekly dispatch from the nation's foremost mustache expert.

It's time. The wait is over.

The American Mustache Institute (AMI) has announced the 19 finalists for its Robert Goulet Memorial Mustached American of the Year, an honor that has been likened to the Nobel Peace Prize by Time magazine, astrophysicist Stephen Hawking and High Times. Voting is now open.

The "Goulet" recognizes the person who best represents or contributes to the Mustached American community over the past year.

This year, there is a robust crop of finalists, including former NBA star and current Sacramento mayor Kevin Johnson, governor of North Dakota and U.S. Senate hopeful John Hoeven, Minnesota Twins pitcher Carl Pavano, UTEP mascot Paydirt Pete, Oscar-nominated documentary maker Morgan Spurlock, media personality Pat O'Brien and a handful of regular Americans who have gone above and beyond the call of Mustached American greatness in 2010.

The winner will be crowned at this year's 'Stache Bash on Dec. 4. Pitcher Clay Zavada of the Arizona Diamondbacks won the 2009 Goulet award, while retired New York City police detective Tim Galvin took home the inaugural prize in 2008.

Indeed, the rich tapestry of the Mustached American community in 2010 offers a compelling and rich selection of finalists. And for better or worse, the voting is now in the hands of the American public, which, of course, includes non-Mustached Americans who have proven to be of lesser intellect.

Cast your vote here, and may the best man behind the mustache win.


For Dr. Abraham J. Froman's mustache perspective, check in every Wednesday on Asylum.