Maybe American men should skip a day of shaving, especially when interviewing for a job. 
     
Sporting a mustache may improve your chances of landing a higher-paying job, according to a study commissioned by Quicken and the American Mustache Institute. 
     
Mustached Americans earned 8.2 percent more on average than those with beards and 4.3 percent more than the clean shaven. 
     
The news is not all good, however, as mustached Americans also tended to spend 11 percent more and save 3 percent less than their collective counterparts, according to the study, titled "Saving and Spending Patterns of Mustached Americans." 
     
"If efficiencies in financial management could be realized in the near-term," the principal research consultant, Dr. Hans Menjou-Bartchen, said in a statement. "It's highly probable that over the next four to five years, we will see mustached Americans' savings rate grow to surpass their bearded and shaven peers." 
     
The study was conducted during the first six months of 2009, examining a random sample of 2,000 mustached American men along with 2,000 bearded and 2,000 clean-shaven peers. 
     
Meanwhile, the mustached among us wait with bated breath for Oct. 30, when the "Robert Goulet Memorial Mustached American of the Year" award will be given to the person who best contributes to the mustached way of life. U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder (above) is one of many nominees.

(Reuters photo)

It was a night of celebration on Fox’s summer hit “So You Think You Can Dance” as the show marked it’s 100^th episode with special guest appearances and the return of Emmy-winning performances.

Familiar faces from seasons past, including Travis Wall, Heidi Groskreutz, and Hawk, performed award-winning routines such as the zombie-inspired group number Ramalama (Bang Bang) and the contemporary gem “Calling You.”

Thursday’s show also featured a new, and perhaps the most eagerly anticipated addition, as actress Katie Holmes performed a pre-taped tribute to screen legend Judy Garland.

Despite the jovial feel, salsa dancer Janette Manrara and contemporary dancer Jason Glover were sent packing as the top eight was cut down to six.

“Janette, you were my favorite too and I really wanted you to win this year,” said executive producer and judge Nigel Lythgoe. “You bring so much to this.”

Lythgoe added he thought America got it wrong, but ultimately elimination is decided by viewers. So do you agree with Lythgoe? Was Manrara’s elimination as much a shock to you as it was to host Cat Deeley?

Manrara faced stiff competition on Wednesday’s performance show, which was filled with a number of memorable numbers.

Tyce Diorio’s contemporary routine, inspired by a friend’s battle with breast cancer, was hailed as a “perfect portrait” by an emotional judge Mia Michaels. Performed by Melissa Sandvig and Ade Obayomi, Lythgoe said the number prompted an overwhelming audience response, including a personal message from Olivia Newton-John, herself a breast cancer survivor.

“I think television at its best can reach out and unite a country with a shared experience and I think that happened last night with Tyce’s routine,” Lythgoe said on Thursday.

Guest judge Ellen DeGeneres provided some much-needed comic relief on Wednesday’s show as Lythgoe dished out biting criticisms before and after the tears, including his contention this season’s hip hop numbers disappointed.

However, both street-inspired performances blew the judges away. Jeanine Mason and Brandon Bryant hit hard on Wednesday with a Laurie Ann Gibson pop-jazz routine, breaking Lythgoe out of his funk. “This is the flattest night I have ever experienced on ‘So You Think You Can Dance’ up until now,” he said of the routine.

Michaels praised the camouflaged-clad couple saying, “you guys danced in a place that was more than dance, you were inside it.”

Kayla Radomski and Glover’s ghoulish Shane Sparks hip hop routine was one of the few numbers to prompt judge Mary Murphy’s coveted bloodcurdling screams. Michaels described the pair as “disturbingly hot” and noted it was her favorite Sparks number to date.

Was the milestone 100th show bittersweet with the elimination of Manrara and Glover or did you have your cake and eat it too?

Captions: (Top) Janette Manrara , 25, is a salsa/ballroom dancer from Miami, Fl. ©2009 Fox Broadcasting Co. Cr: Mike Ruiz/FOX

Jason Glover, 21, is a contemporary/lyrical dancer from Fresno, CA. ©2009 Fox Broadcasting Co. Cr: Mike Ruiz/FOX

Wannabe vampires can now suck up some "Twilight" love -- ummm, read fashion -- at department store Nordstrom. The retailer has announced a deal with Summit Entertainment for an exclusive clothing and jewelry collection inspired by the upcoming film "The Twilight Saga: New Moon."

"Twilight," of course, is the smash hit movie romance ($382 million global box office) about a teenager (Bella Swan) and her forbidden love for a vampire (Edward Cullen) and all the blood-sucking complications that can bring. "New Moon" is its sequel, due in theaters this November.

Shoppers can find their plaid tunics, "Team Jacob" T-shirts or "I love Edward" heart pendants starting October 1. The collection, created by Awake Inc, "reflects the mood and spirit of the film," according to a press release. Prices range from $32 for a T-shirt to $58 for a jacket.

An Entertainment Weekly blog described the line as "supercute" but bemoaned the lack of life-size cutouts of heartthrob Robert Pattinson (Edward) in a suit for sale. That's him at right with Kristen Stewart (Bella).

Nordstrom is also holding events in stores in advance of the release of the second installment of the vampire saga, including advance screening parties, and has launched an online countdown on a special website.

But if you're trying to re-create a bare-chested werewolf look, don't go to Nordstrom -- there's no love there. You're on your own.

(Photo: Reuters)

By Nivedita Bhattacharjee 
 
As Bella and Edward move ahead, Hot Topic is all set to move with them.
 
After cashing in on Twilight's success, Hot Topic has snapped up an exclusive deal for New Moon, the much awaited movie sequel to the star-crossed vampire romance.
 
And in good time too.

Priced at $22, the New Moon T-shirts might just be Hot Topic's trump card for the season, and it looks like the retailer is leaving nothing to chance when it comes to promoting them. 
 
Ads for the T-shirts hold top spots on its website.  The company has also been sending out promotional emails to leverage interest in the items, available months ahead of the movie's Nov. 20 release.
 
Pali Research analyst Amy Noblin received one such mailer, and says this unexpected arrival could benefit June sales results for the company. 
 
Hot Topic had boasted of a solid performance for months on end, but forecast a second-quarter loss, saying fewer people visited its stores after Easter.
 
The usually fashion-savvy company seems to have run into some trouble inventory-wise — its neon-bright jeans aren't selling too well, and its super-successful Twilight merchandise lost some sheen over the months.

While most analysts, including Pali's Noblin, are still upbeat on the company, one confessed in a research note to have "underestimated the impact of the Twilight franchise on the company's overall business."  Yes, it seems the lure of the vampire caught even FBR Capital Markets' Adrienne Tennant a little by surprise.
 
And Noblin says Hot Topic will need the new merchandise to match tough comparisons driven by Twilight.
 
When that is the case, will New Moon make Hot Topic stores shine bright?

(Reuters photo)