Sexiest Man George Says He Feels Bad for Matt

By Tim Nudd

11/29/2006 at 02:05 PM EST

In a tongue-in-cheek interview with David Letterman on Tuesday night, George Clooney said the also-rans in this year's competition for PEOPLE's Sexiest Man Alive are licking their wounds – particularly his pals Matt Damon and Brad Pitt.

"I worked hard for that one," Clooney, this year's Sexiest Man, told the host of The Late Show on CBS. "I felt bad for Matt Damon, because he really wanted it. He campaigned hard for it, but he came up short."

The 45-year-old actor, who stars in the upcoming film The Good German, also had some choice words – and pictures – for Brad Pitt.

Clooney revealed that Pitt was the mysterious "Reverend Ted," who had taken out ads in Variety and The Hollywood Reporter congratulating him on the PEOPLE honor – while featuring a comically unflattering photo of Clooney from yesteryear.

Clooney got back at Pitt Tuesday, as Letterman showed a handful of embarrassing old photos of Pitt. Clooney comically suggested they were part of a Sexiest Man Alive campaign gone horribly wrong.

"He ran such a good campaign," Clooney said, "but he got some bad advice along the way."

Asked about the responsibilities of being the Sexiest Man Alive, Clooney jokingly replied, "You tour with the other guys (who've won the award). We've got a bus. It's Matthew McConaughey's bus. You get a sash and a scepter and, well, we don't like to call it a tiara."