# John Basedow's chest freaks me out **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 2, 2005, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-basedows-chest-freaks-me-out/282754 "2005-01-02T23:44:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Rufus\_Xavier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eada6e/32.png) [@Rufus\_Xavier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rufus_Xavier)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2005, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-basedows-chest-freaks-me-out/282754/21 "2005-01-03T22:34:12Z")
I can think of very few people on earth that I wish to resemble less than John Basedow. Gag. ---
**Author:** ![audiobottle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bc8723/32.png) [@audiobottle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/audiobottle)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2005, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-basedows-chest-freaks-me-out/282754/22 "2005-01-04T00:24:48Z")
I had no idea who John Basedow was until I read your post, specifically the part about his neck, and suddenly I thought, “I think I know just who (s)he’s talking about!” And sure enough, I was right. Brrrr… that guy gives me the willies. If he ever threatened to mug me, I’m not sure if I would laugh or cry. Does anybody else get the idea that he’s super short? ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2005, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-basedows-chest-freaks-me-out/282754/23 "2005-01-04T03:49:18Z")
I work in Photoshop every day, and yes - that head does not belong on that body. Whenever I see his commercial I can’t help staring, like at a bad accident. Why would anyone want to look like that? ---
**Author:** ![moriah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b2d939/32.png) [@moriah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moriah)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2005, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-basedows-chest-freaks-me-out/282754/24 "2005-01-04T05:18:48Z")
> [@Mr. Blue Sky](#): > > [His website](http://www.fitnessmadesimple.com/) > > Mr. Basedow has been on TV for some time advertising his _Fitness Made Simple_ videos. There’s something about his chest (or, at least, his upper torso) that weirds me out. > > I don’t know exactly what it is. Maybe it’s the way he stands. Or perhaps his long neck. Either way, he’s creepy There are two things wrong with his pectoral development: 1. He works out his lower pecs too much compared to his upper pecs. Though rock hard, it gives more of a female breast shape than a more masculine chest shape. 2. He works out his pecs too much compared to the rest of his upper body muscles. If he had more mass on his upper arms, shoulders, back, and lats, then his chest would be in better proportion. Peace. ---
**Author:** ![GargoyleWB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gargoylewb/32/199_2.png) [@GargoyleWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GargoyleWB)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2005, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-basedows-chest-freaks-me-out/282754/25 "2005-01-04T05:19:44Z")
I just know that when I hear his name, Zap Rowsdower pops into my head. ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2005, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-basedows-chest-freaks-me-out/282754/26 "2005-01-04T05:23:34Z")
> [@JustPlainBryan](#): > > As far as I can see, he’s a phony-bologny celebrity. I did an IMDB search, and he has bupkus film/TV credits. I did a Google search, and his name comes up only in conjunction with his “Fitness Made Simple” product. > > I think he’s marketed as a “celebrity” only because he’s appeared in his own commercials to hawk his own product. > > I call Shenanigans. Uh, technically, what does IMDB have to do with being a _fitness_ celebrity? The Google thing might be a lot more relevant, but I guess it depends. My guess is that it has something to do with magazine modeling. ---
**Author:** ![Savannah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b3f665/32.png) [@Savannah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Savannah)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2005, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-basedows-chest-freaks-me-out/282754/27 "2005-01-04T05:34:59Z")
> [@Fear Itself](#): > > I know what you mean. I think it is his weird posture, kind of slumping, slouching with a half turn to the side. It’s unnatural, like a mannequin in a department store. I want to just slap him and say, “Straighten up there, Boy!” It’s [catching!](http://www.fitnessmadesimple.com/images/jonathan2.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![JustPlainBryan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/57b2e6/32.png) [@JustPlainBryan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JustPlainBryan)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2005, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-basedows-chest-freaks-me-out/282754/28 "2005-01-04T16:24:09Z")
> [@Leaper](#): > > Uh, technically, what does IMDB have to do with being a _fitness_ celebrity? > > The Google thing might be a lot more relevant, but I guess it depends. > > My guess is that it has something to do with magazine modeling. I wanted to cover my bases on the “celebrity” portion of “fitness celebrity”. For all you and I know, he could have been “Carlos the Mad Armenian” in some cheesy 70s flick, and that is his claim to being a celebrity (rightly so, in my opinion). Nope, nothing. I don’t think one can enjoy “celebrity” status unless you truly are known for something other than hawking your own product. Just like I wouldn’t consider Ron Popeil a celebrity either. He’s not even a “cooking celebrity” IMHO. Now, if it were magazine modeling, and if someone could maybe reference a magazine he may have been in **other** than just to sell his product, then perhaps he may have some legitimacy in calling himself a “celebrity”. A very thin one, though. Until then, I continue to maintain he is a phony celebrity. ---
**Author:** ![gobear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8dc957/32.png) [@gobear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gobear)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2005, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-basedows-chest-freaks-me-out/282754/29 "2005-01-04T16:53:34Z")
OTOH, Basedow was interviewed on Penn & Teller’s Showtime program. They trashed him and his products, but still. . . he’s a celebrity. ---
**Author:** ![JustPlainBryan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/57b2e6/32.png) [@JustPlainBryan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JustPlainBryan)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2005, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-basedows-chest-freaks-me-out/282754/30 "2005-01-04T17:41:39Z")
> [@gobear](#): > > OTOH, Basedow was interviewed on Penn & Teller’s Showtime program. They trashed him and his products, but still. . . he’s a celebrity. Now wouldn’t that be funny. His only claim to celebrity is a Penn and Teller razzing. Ha! ---
**Author:** ![NicePete](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ee7513/32.png) [@NicePete](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NicePete)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2005, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-basedows-chest-freaks-me-out/282754/31 "2005-01-04T19:04:58Z")
> [@Lyllyan](#): > > And, while we are at it, who really believes that Bowflex woman is a 50 yr old grandmother? GILF! ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2005, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-basedows-chest-freaks-me-out/282754/32 "2005-01-04T19:18:47Z")
Damn. That is one UGLY man. He looks like a Ken Doll. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2005, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-basedows-chest-freaks-me-out/282754/33 "2005-01-06T19:13:22Z")
> [@adam yax](#): > > Just what is a ‘fitness celebrity’ anyways? Jane Fonda, 1990-'95. ---
**Author:** ![Edward\_The\_Head](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ce73a5/32.png) [@Edward\_The\_Head](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Edward_The_Head)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2005, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-basedows-chest-freaks-me-out/282754/34 "2005-01-06T19:43:44Z")
Actually I saw his name in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom the last time I saw it a couple of weeks ago. He was credited as being the fitness person. Come to think of it maybe it was Body by Jake. one of them anyway and I thought it was pretty interesting. ---
**Author:** ![Monkeypants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecd19e/32.png) [@Monkeypants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monkeypants)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2005, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-basedows-chest-freaks-me-out/282754/35 "2005-01-08T03:24:34Z")
You know something, you people are all very insensitive. He’s dead. :dubious: [http://www.prleap.com/pr\_3189.html](http://www.prleap.com/pr_3189.html) Although I heard his John Ritter mop did soak up some of the tsunami, saving thousands. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2005, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-basedows-chest-freaks-me-out/282754/36 "2005-01-08T03:38:46Z")
:eek: ---
**Author:** ![WeRSauron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f19dbf/32.png) [@WeRSauron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WeRSauron)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2005, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-basedows-chest-freaks-me-out/282754/37 "2005-01-08T04:46:38Z")
> [@Savannah](#): > > It’s [catching!](http://www.fitnessmadesimple.com/images/jonathan2.jpg) [Hijack] Well, he’s hot! [/hijack] WRS ---
**Author:** ![Talon\_Karrde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Talon\_Karrde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Talon_Karrde)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2005, 7:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-basedows-chest-freaks-me-out/282754/38 "2005-01-08T07:19:25Z")
Does it make me a bad person when the first thing I did when I clicked that link was think “hee hee, the place is called Phucket”? ---
**Author:** ![WeRSauron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f19dbf/32.png) [@WeRSauron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WeRSauron)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2005, 7:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-basedows-chest-freaks-me-out/282754/39 "2005-01-08T07:38:37Z")
> [@Talon Karrde](#): > > Does it make me a bad person when the first thing I did when I clicked that link was think “hee hee, the place is called Phucket”? Hehehehehehe. Well, you won’t be alone. Thanks for the laugh. WRS ---
**Author:** ![tarragon918](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d26b3c/32.png) [@tarragon918](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tarragon918)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2005, 10:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-basedows-chest-freaks-me-out/282754/40 "2005-01-08T10:30:54Z")
**YIKES!** :EEK: That was the first I had seen that Basedow was missing in Thailand after the Tsunami. I’m very sorry if the man is dead, but … he still had a freaky body. Oh yeah, the first time I saw Phuket, I too thought … fucket. 😛 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-basedows-chest-freaks-me-out/282754.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-basedows-chest-freaks-me-out/282754.md?page=3)