Top Fives and Best Ofs and Most Fashionable /Glamorous/Toasted/Intelligent/Stunning/Suave/Rich/ Awesome Ever! lists are everywhere these days, but why is it - and this goes especially for the ones that skew more toward the superficial - that most of the aforementioned lists are shrouded in estrogen? I understand that women tend to be bigger patrons of clothing and makeup and laser hair removal, but is it really necessary to exclude men entirely? Who's to say that there shouldn't be a list of more male-centric topics, like haircuts that brought about irrevocable change to the world as we know and love it? As such, I thought I would take this opportunity to pioneer that very list, or at least its crowning achievement.

Remember The Rachel? Of course you do. (For those of you who answered 'no', there is no hope for you) Well, The Clooney (or The Caesar - they are interchangeable, as far as I'm concerned) was its smarter, sexier, more cosmopolitan cousin.

Now I admit that I may be somewhat biased due to my sweeping adoration of George Clooney, or maybe I've been hypnotised by his trademark head bobbing, but it is my belief that this haircut single-handedly launched George to superstardom. Some empirical evidence: ER's second season (1995-1996) was its highest-rated to date, routinely drawing over 40 million viewers a week. 1995 also happened to be the year The Caesar made its world debut. Coincidence? You be the judge.

Many actors over the years have tried to replicate The Caesar's magical powers through imitation, up to and including Matthew Perry and Pacey Witter aka George Clooney's Replacement If He Were Ever Inadvertently Killed in a Freak Gasoline Fight Accident, but few also possessed Clooney's mix of sophistication, sex appeal and self-deprecating charisma, all of which banded together to steal the hearts of many unsuspecting women.

So next time Clooney is sunbathing on his yacht on Lake Como or using $100 bills as Kleenex, he might consider sending that loveable military general a posthumous thank you note.

For those of you who remain unconvinced, riddle me this: would Clooney be the man he is today if his hair still looked liked this?

I rest my case.

Posted by KATHERINE