'HOT TAMALES(R) Report on What is Hot in America'
Thursday February 9, 8:30 am ET

BETHLEHEM, Pa., Feb. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Candy maker Just Born, Inc. may be sweet but its HOT TAMALES brand has just issued the first "HOT TAMALES Report on What is Hot in America." From hot stars to hot issues, HOT TAMALES is reading the pulse of America.

 WHO IS HOT TAMALES HOT?

 HOT TAMALES FEMALE CELEBRITIES...

Pregnant mothers can be hot with Angelina Jolie receiving 32.6% of respondents' votes as the hottest female celebrity. Halle Berry came in second with 14.1% followed by Jennifer Aniston who drew 11.2% of the hot votes.

These three hot choices beat tough competition such as Julia Roberts, Eva Longoria, Reese Witherspoon, Paris Hilton, Jennifer Garner, Katie Holmes and Nicole Richie.

HOT TAMALES MALE CELEBRITIES...

Brad Pitt is America's choice as the hottest male celebrity with 15.1%, but watch out because Jamie Foxx is hot on his heels with 12.2%. Matthew McConaughey is a serious third place Hot Tamales hot contender with 11.7%.

Other hot choices such as Orlando Bloom, Will Smith, George Clooney, Tom Cruise, Ben Affleck and Chris Rock each drew 7% or less.

HOT TAMALES MUSICAL ARTISTS...

It's no surprise that Mariah Carey was voted the hottest HOT TAMALES musical artist with 9.3% of the votes followed in hot pursuit by Kanye West and 50 Cent, both with 8.6%.

These HOT TAMALES hot musical artists beat out Eminem, Beyonce, Usher, J. Lo, Jay-Z, Jessica Simpson, and many others.

HOT TAMALES FAMILIES...

This is the hardest category to win since a whole family needs to be HOT TAMALES hot! In a resounding first place victory were Ozzy, Sharon, Kelly and Jack Osbourne with 21.2% of respondents' votes.

In second place was the Douglas clan including Catherine Zeta-Jones, as well as Michael and Kirk Douglas, drawing 11.7% of votes.

In third place for HOT TAMALES hot families were the Hiltons including Rick, Kathy, Paris and Nicky with 10.3%. Following closely behind in 4th position was Goldie Hawn, Kurt Russell, Kate Hudson and Chris Robinson.

HOT TAMALES POLITICIANS...

Former President Bill Clinton is the hottest politician with 19.6% of respondents' votes. President Bush and Arnold Schwarzenegger are hot too with 16.3% and 15.3%, respectively. In a close fourth position is Hillary Clinton with 12.3%. Rounding out the top five are Condoleezza Rice and Barack Obama.

HOT TAMALES BRAND MANAGER...

Donald Houston commented, "We are excited to issue our first 'HOT TAMALES Report on What is Hot in America.' As the maker of HOT TAMALES brand candies for over 50 years, we are well aware that HOT TAMALES is an everyday phrase. Our brand will be the source on 'What is HOT TAMALES hot' in American culture. We look forward to sharing these results with fans of our candy and to taking the country's pulse periodically on what people and issues are hot."

 WHAT IS HOT TAMALES HOT...?

HOT TAMALES HOT BUTTONS...

When asked what HOT TAMALES hot buttons cause Americans to lose their tempers, "stupid people" won hands down with 51% of respondents. Also pushing buttons are "bad drivers" with 38.3% and "bills" with 22.1% of those surveyed.

At the other end of the spectrum, it seems that Americans may have become so technologically savvy that only 10% indicate that "computer problems" is their HOT TAMALES hot button.

HOT TAMALES ISSUES...

What are the HOT TAMALES hot issues on Americans' minds? "Money" is a hot issue nationally with 21.6% of respondents. Concerns about money reach as high as 30.1% in the North central region and dip as low as 12.8% in the Northeast, where perhaps people are feeling the most confident financially.

The issue next on the HOT TAMALES scale of worries is "careers" with 20.5% per those surveyed. "Education/School" came in third as a hot concern with 16% of respondents.

HOT TAMALES PURSUITS...

When Americans have free time, 24% choose to spend it with "friends and family." Ranking second is "sports/exercise" with 12.8% of respondents. Not surprisingly, "video games and online pursuits" come in third with 10.7% of those surveyed. While this may be concerning to some, take heart because "watching TV" with 3.7% has fallen to the bottom of the list of preferred free-time activities. It may be the first time that the only pursuit less popular than TV is "cleaning the house!" (0.8%)

ABOUT HOT TAMALES BRAND CANDIES...

HOT TAMALES brand candies are America's favorite cinnamon-charged candy with HOT TAMALES FIRE as the newest addition to the HOT TAMALES brand line. Just Born produces over 4 billion pieces of HOT TAMALES candies each year and as many as 30 tons of HOT TAMALES candies each day. Each chewy candy piece has only 7.3 calories and zero grams of fat. HOT TAMALES brand candies are kosher.

Many celebrities enjoy the HOT TAMALES candy brand such as Madonna, Lindsay Lohan, Marcia Cross, Lara Flynn Boyle, and Mariah Carey, who even calls her fans "Hot Tamales."

ABOUT THE SURVEY...

The survey was an Excel Omnibus Study conducted by INTERNATIONAL COMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH. It was executed between January 4-19, 2006. In order to participate, respondents were between 18-29 years of age.

Participants were males and females representing all regions of the country, a range of household incomes, educational levels and races.

ICR is located in Media, Pennsylvania and can be reached at 484.840.4451.

ABOUT JUST BORN, INC...

Candy maker Just Born, Inc. is a privately owned company founded in 1923 and located in Bethlehem, PA. Just Born also makes PEEPS brand marshmallow candies, MIKE AND IKE brand chewy fruit-flavored candies, ZOURS chewy sour candies, PEANUT CHEWS candies, and TEENEE BEANEE jellybeans. The company employs over 600 associates and markets its candy in over 50 countries.

 Please also visit http://www.hottamales.com or http://www.justborn.com.

Source: Just Born, Inc.