A Line of Hobbits, Mobsters And, Surprisingly, ANOTHER Batman

Lassiez les bon temps roulez! Today is Fat Tuesday aka Mardi Gras aka Carnivale aka gorge yourself on whatever you're giving up for Lent day! We'd much rather be letting the good times roll with Hurricanes in one hand and beignets in the other instead of, you know, working.

We'd particularly like to be watching the parade featuring the Krewe of Bacchus's float with none other than the Ice Man himself, Val Kilmer, as King Bacchus XLI. That's right ladies and gentleman, Val Kilmer is alive! Notably absent from public life and notably larger in size, the actor hasn't starred in a hit movie since Batman Forever. Although recently he WAS in a production of "The 10 Commandments: The Musical" as Moses. Awesome.

But apparently the Krewe of Bacchus (the Roman god of wine, our favorite) doesn't mind that Val's star is fading. He's king to them! And as King, "he will be attending costume fittings and a private party in his honor, riding in the Bacchus parade Sunday night and then attending the Bacchus ball." Ok now we really wish we could see the parade after reading that other Bacchus floats include Bacchasaurus (a giant dinosaur), the Bacchawhoppa (an equally large whale) and the Bacchagator (an enormous gator). Dinosaurs and whales and Val Kilmer, oh my!

Having "celebs" in their parades isn't new to the Bacchus Krewe. In fact, they were the first Krewe to have celebrities as Kings of their parades. And we use the term "celebrity" very loosely here, as evidenced by the aforementioned Val Kilmer. Who were Val's esteemed ancestors in the King Bacchus role?

2008 brought us the man himself, Hulk Hogan. Before him were a line of hobbits, mobsters and, surprisingly, ANOTHER Batman. (Watch out Christian Bale!) Elijah Wood, Sean Astin, Michael Keaton and James Gandolfini all held the title in years past. And the King Bacchus role was not just held by current celebrities either -- some of our old favorite title-holders include William Shatner, Charleton Heston, Jackie Gleason and Bob Hope. While we have no problem imagining William Shatner on the throne, we somehow can't wrap our minds around Charleton Heston (whom we always picture as Moses from "The Ten Commandments") as the drunk king.
King Bacchus has been played by a wide range of personalities, that's for sure! Who will hold the title next year? Our votes are for Arnold Schwarzenegger, Mel Gibson or Dog the Bounty Hunter. Or Tom Cruise! Yeah, Tom Cruise.