What is it about those cold wintery months that puts all of us in the mood for romance?
Well . . . most of us, anyway!
Are we simply looking for a warm body to hold close, when the temperature drops to the single digits?
Do we just not want to be alone for the holidays?
Perhaps, the desire to couple in winter is innate and primal, something akin to hibernation or mating rituals.
Or, maybe there’s something more to it than that . . .
In light of the fact that I am VERY COLD RIGHT NOW . . . and, also in light of the fact, that there is currently TWO FEET OF SNOW outside my window, I thought it might be nice to write a post based on the “softer” (and sexier) side of wintery weather . . .
So, get into something “more comfortable” . . .
. . . and grab those warm winter blankets . . .
Because we are about to get started . . .
Winter Helps us to Remember the Good Times . . .
For most of us, most of the year is a blur. We rush around, day-in-and-day-out, maneuvering through work, or school, and our mundane daily tasks. We rarely have the time to stop and take a breath, or think about the things and people that really matter to us.
But around winter time, things slow down. Suddenly, we have all this spare time to think about ourselves and others. We have time to make major decisions about what we want out of life. We have time to . . . FINALLY GET LAID!
In this first clip from Dawson’s Creek, it takes a wintery class ski trip and a conveniently “hidden” wallet condom, to help Joey realize that Pacey’s “TOTALLY-Puts-Every-Boy-On-The-Planet-To-Shame” Boyfriending Skills are MORE than worth the cost of her much-coveted V-card!
Winter Forces Us to Remember the Bad Times . . .
While for many, winter is time of comfort and joy, for others, it’s a time for sadness and severe depression. Because all that time spent alone thinking, can be MIGHTY LONELY. It can also dredge up some painful memories. But just when you feel like all hope is lost, that’s when you come to realize that you aren’t so alone after all. Because the thing you thought you were missing, might just have been by your side all along . . .
In this second clip, from Gossip Girl, Serena’s snowstorm car crash, dredges up some painful memories for Chuck Bass, regarding his father’s untimely death . . .
Winter Makes Things That Would Normally Be Really Annoying, Seem “Festive and Poignant”
You wouldn’t know it from this extremely sappy post, but I’m actually a rather jaded person, when it comes to love and romance. Things that make most women go, “Awwwww” tend to make me roll my eyes, and throw up in my mouth a little bit. And yet, this time of year that all changes.
For a few months, I’m all about those cheesy ABC Family Christmas Specials, mistletoe, heart-shaped boxes, sappy love songs . . . and watching When Harry Met Sally when it airs on TBS for the 85,000th friggin time.
“I’ll have what she’s having.”
I suspect I am not alone in this.
By way of example, I give you yet another clip from Gossip Girl — this one from a couple that usually makes me a little nauseous. And yet, whenever I watch this winter-themed scene of them in action, I can’t help but soften toward the pair a bit, if only for a few moments. Of course, I’m talking about Dan and Serena, and the latter’s “very special” Christmas gift to the former, during the holiday episode of the show’s first season. (And no, I’m not talking about Serena’s body, as that is a gift that’s been given on the show MANY, MANY, MANY times over, to many people!)
Serena is kind of like Santa. She visits ALL THE LITTLE BOYS, during the holidays. (And she’s very TIRED!)
Winter Gives You an Excuse to Make Out with People You’ve Secretly Always Wanted to Make Out With, But Haven’t Yet Had the Guts to Do So . . .
Blame it on the mistletoe! Blame it on too much champagne! Blame it on wanting to make that other guy (or girl) jealous! Blame it on a joke . . . or dare! Tell him (or her) it was just a “friendly holiday” kiss!
The winter months are jam-packed with parties . . . and, perhaps more importantly, BOOZE. This means they are also jam-packed with solid excuses to lay a wet one on the person you’ve been ogling in silence for all those months. The good news, is that, for a limited time only, you can do so, without fear of suffering embarrassment or rejection. And, hey, if the person you’re smooching doesn’t respond in kind, you can always tell him that Santa made you do it! Because NO ONE messes with SANTA on Christmas!
In this next clip from Bones, Temperance Brennan uses the OLDEST holiday trick in the book — strategically-placed mistletoe — to engage in a rousing round of tonsil hockey, with her sexy as hell co-worker, Seeley Booth. You GO GIRL!
Winter is a Time for Bold Romantic Gestures . . .
Helpful tools like mistletoe, a bottle of champagne, or a “spin the bottle,” are fine for those simple sneak-attack kisses. But when you REALLY want to start something special with the object of your desires, it’s best to go au natural. Now, is not the time to be tentative.
Be BOLD! Be ROMANTIC! After all, you’ve got the cold winter weather, and the holidays on your side. And there’s no better aphrodisiac on the planet than those two things, as far as I’m concerned . . .
In this Season 1 clip from Grey’s Anatomy, Alex lays a most awesome Ambush Kiss on Izzie, just when she has completely written him off as a romantic partner, following a VERY LOUSY first date the two recently shared.
Winter is The Time to Tell that Special Someone How You Feel About Them
This one is kind of self-explanatory. And if I give you any more intel, I’ll likely ruin the impact of the next clip, if I haven’t done so already. Suffice it to say, this one features Rory and Jess from The Gilmore Girls . . .
But When You Think About It, Winter is Really Just a State of Mind . . .
Now, where I come from, I get more winter cold than I could POSSIBLY EVER WANT! But that might not be the case for you. Perhaps, you live in a tropical climate, where it’s NEVER cold, and NEVER snows. (Just so you know, I HATE YOU . . . Just kidding 🙂 . . . But not really.)
Well, just because you don’t have excuse to wear big puffy jackets, or drink hot cocoa by the gallon, or cuddle up under down comforters, doesn’t mean you can’t make the romantic spirit of winter work for YOU too! With just a little improvisation on your part, you can be feeling the Sexy Winter Fever, in no time!
Just ask Seth Cohen from The O.C. He lives in Orange County, California. where it NEVER SNOWS! And yet, season after season, Seth made the winter months special with his trademark Christmukkah cheer, and a seemingly endless supply of ugly Christmas Sweaters (most of which, he probably sweat through, within minutes of putting them on. Because, let’s face it, it gets pretty friggin hot on the West Coast!) . . .
In this clip, Seth and his perky girlfriend Summer embody the Romantic Spirit of Winter, by simply putting on those hideous brown caps my mother lovingly refers to as “Schmucks with Earflaps.”
So, there you have it. Seven doses of wintery TV romance from one Freezing Blogger. Now it’s your turn. What’s YOUR favorite Hot Winter TV Moment?
Through these long winter hiatus months, since I can’t watch TV, I tend to spend A LOT of time talking about it. Recently, one television-related conversation, in particular, has been cropping up among my friends on a fairly regular basis. Not surprisingly, the conversation involves my two FAVORITE shows of all time: The Vampire Diaries and Dawson’s Creek, and my two FAVORITE TV Couples of all time, Damon and Elena and Pacey and Joey. Coincidentally, both of these aforementioned shows, and ALL FOUR of the aforementioned characters, were produced and penned by THIS GUY . . .
Basically, what my pals and I have been discussing ad nauseum of late, are the many ways in which Damon’s and Elena’s relationship in The Vampire Diaries seems to be following the same trajectory as Pacey’s and Joey’s relationship followed in Dawson’s Creek. (Truth be told, we are all kind of hoping this means that both stories will have the SAME conclusion. *hint, hint, wink, wink*)
And so, to commemorate the many conversations that have characterized my TV-less month, I’ve decided to put all of our collective thoughts on this topic down on paper screen. But before I do so, special thanks must be paid to three very special folks, in particular, who helped make this post happen. (So, if you absolutely hate it . . . BLAME THEM! ;)). A big hug goes out to the Always Brilliant Amy, who once wrote a post similar to this, and who never fails to catch my random Dawson’s references, whenever they pop up in daily conversation (which is quite often); the Always Awesome Cherie who analyzes TV couples like nobody’s business; and Madeleine, who’s insightful comment to one of my posts caused me to go on a tirade that ended up being the genesis for the post you are reading now.
Howdy, Fellow Fangirls!
So, without further adieu, I bring to you . . . “Where the Falls Meets the Creek” . . .
Elena and Joey – Because Everyone Loves a Spunky Orphan!
Both Elena and Joey grew up in small towns that were rich in tradition, and characterized by WAY TOO MANY community gatherings. At relatively early ages, both girls were orphaned, due to tragic circumstances (OK . . . that was kind of redundant. Extra points to anyone who can come up with a not “tragic circumstance” that results in someone becoming an orphan). As a result of said orphan status, both Elena and Joey were raised (at least through their teenage years) by not particularly maternal (useless) 20-something female family members, who, though “nice people,” would much rather be boinking their current Flavor of the Month Boyfriend than raising a teenage girl . . .
As a result of said parentage (or lack thereof), both Elena and Joey became mature beyond their years, highly self-sufficient, spunky, and a bit moody. Speaking of said moodiness, neither girl is averse to sporting a Poopy PussFace, when things aren’t going her way . . .
Damon and Pacey – Because Black Sheeps have never been so SEXY (or so much fun)!
Both Damon and Pacey are “Bad Boys” in their own right. Though admittedly, Damon’s murderous bloodsucking ways FAR edge out, Pacey’s “bad grades and back talking” in the naughty department.
Pacey . . . being a “Bad Ass”
Damon and Pacey were both Black Sheep in their respective families. Their parents were constantly comparing them to their fairer haired, more well-behaved counterparts. For Damon, that meant being expected to measure up to his brother, Stefan . . .
For Pacey, it was his over-achieving best friend, Dawson . . .
Rather than brood and sulk about these unfair comparisons, Damon and Pacey combatted them with snarkiness, sarcasm, charm, good senses of humor, and matching general “Ughhhh . . . who cares?” attitudes toward life.
The Love Triangles
When both The Vampire Diaries and Dawson’s Creek first began, both Damon and Pacey had to take a romantic “backseat” to the fair-haired boys to which they were always compared, when it came to the female objects of their respective desires. Elena started dating Stefan, around the second episode of The Vampire Diaries . . .
. . . and though Joey and Dawson didn’t actually become a “couple” until the Season 1 Finale of Dawson’s Creek, it was clear, throughout most of the early episodes, that these two had it bad for one another . . .
From Frenemies to Friends (with some SERIOUS SEXUAL TENSION en route)
Though the Blonde Boys had Elena’s and Joey’s hearts, early on in their respective series, the Brooding Brunettes seemed to take up a LOT OF THEIR sexual energy. Elena and Joey each expressed some pretty passionate feelings of anger toward Damon and Pacey, during the first few episodes of their shows. As for Damon and Pacey . . . well . . . they were just acting like HORN DOGS, plain and simple! And yet, it’s possible that our Bad Boys suspected even then, that their time for romance was just around the corner. After all, as Vampire Katherine says, “Hate . . . That sounds like the beginning of a love story. Not the end of one.”
Eventually, Our Boys’ persistence paid off, and they both became friends with their Dreamgirls . . .
They’re Bringing Sexy Back
Now, friendships are great and all, but they don’t keep you warm at night. Our Boys have NEEDS! So, while Damon and Pacey waited for Elena and Joey to come to their senses, they engaged in sexy times with others. First, they each hopped into bed with an “Older” Woman. For Pacey, it was his English Teacher Miss Jacobs. For Damon, it was his former fling, that OLD AS HECK Vampire, Katherine, who, you guessed it, bore a startling resemblance to Elena . . .
But when those sexual relationships fizzled, it was time to move on to the “Friends with Benefits.”
Both Damon and Pacey were “lucky” enough to find female friends with punky haircuts, who were willing to offer them No Frills Sex, while they both waited for the girls they REALLY wanted. For Damon it was the ALSO OLD AS HECK, Vampire Rose, for Pacey, it was gal pal, Jen Lindley . . .
I Get By With a Little Dancing Help from my Hot Friends . . .
Though they may have been “getting jiggy” with other girls, Elena and Joey were never far from Damon’s and Pacey’s minds. And when both females needed a dancing partner in a pinch, each male suitor was right there, and waiting to boogy. For Joey, she needed Pacey’s dancing feet to help her land a ballroom dancing-related college scholarship. And though they both had two left feet, the chemistry between the pair on the dance floor, was simply undeniable . . .
As for Damon, he stepped in as Elena’s dance partner, during the Miss Mystic Falls pageant, while Stefan was off on a bloodaholic rampage . . .
Cue the Sexy Mating Dance . . .
On the dance floor, a technically flawless Damon and Elena circled one another, like a pair of very dignified wild animals in heat. And the highly sexualized way in which they looked at one another, was enough to melt your TV screen . . .
Given the pair’s mad dancing skills, it’s really a wonder Elena didn’t actually win the Miss Mystic Falls competition. Then again, losing the competition put Elena in good company. After all, a certain Miss Josephine Potter ALSO garnered the second place spot in HER race for the Miss Capeside crown . . .
Don’t MESS with the GIRLFRIEND of a Brooding Bad Boy!
When Damon and Pacey weren’t sweeping Elena and Joey off their respective feet, they were kicking the crap out of others, to defend their honor. When some D-bag bully had the NERVE to deface Joey’s high school mural, Pacey THREW HIM OVER A CAR!
(This video may look long. But, fortunately, the fight scene is right at the beginning. So, enjoy!)
As for Damon, he was even willing to beat up a GIRL to defend Elena’s honor! It’s just kind of strange that the GIRL ended up being Elena’s biological mother, and someone with whom he used to do the horizontal mambo . . .
“I love you so much, even the drool on your pillow is sexy!”
Beating the crap out of people to defend your lover’s honor can be tiring. But do Damon and Pacey just get under their covers, and go to sleep when the fighting’s all over? HECK NO! Instead, they simply sit back, relax, and let Elena and Joey do all the sleeping for them . . .
Bad Boys Drink Their Feelings . . .
Despite all the sleep-watching, ass-whooping, and screwing Damon and Pacey do, in hopes of forgetting their respective heartaches, sometimes the pain of unrequited love STILL gets to be too much. And when that happens, Damon and Pacey do what ANY self-respecting Bad Boy would do, in such a situation: They get sh*t-faced, and self-destructively pour their hearts out to the women they love . . .
(Normally, I’d include Damon’s drunken confessional here too. However, as you’ll see in a bit, Damon’s drunk speech to Elena is SO INTENSE that it belongs in another category entirely . . .)
“If at first you don’t succeed, Face Rape again . . .”
Damon and Pacey are both highly romantic creatures, who KNOW unequivocally, when they are in love. For romantic sexual beings like these, it’s incredibly hard to cope, when the object of your affection OBVIOUSLY feels the same way you do, but is blind to her feelings of love, due to circumstances beyond your control. When such situations occur, Brooding Bad Boys like Damon and Pacey take the bull by the horns, and confront the women they love, with a strong and forceful kiss on the lips, thereby FORCING the females to take stock in their own feelings. And yet, there’s a Right and a Wrong way to do such things.
Hint: Drunk and Self-Destructive Damon (see description above) did it the WRONG WAY . . .
But my Main Man Pacey . . . well . . . he’s got Sexy Face Rape down to science!
You GO BOY!
True Love Requires Patience and Self-Sacrifice
Now sober, a contemplative Damon decides to once again, let Elena know how he feels about her. However, in contrast to the selfish Take-No-Prisoners Face Rape we witnessed earlier, this time, Damon’s second declaration is all about patience and self-sacrifice. Wrongly Convinced that Elena is better off with Stefan, Damon speaks to Elena in a manner that is completely and heartbreakingly selfless. After all, not only does our lovestruck vampire tell Elena that, even though he loves her, he shouldn’t be with her, for her own good, he also MAKES HER FORGET what he has said, so that she is not faced with making a choice that he feels may ultimately put her in danger . . .
Pacey’s second declaration of love for Joey is also more gentle than his first, and similarly tinged with self-sacrifice. Rather than going in for a second Face Rape, Pacey actually gives Joey ten seconds to stop the kiss, if she decides that she does not return his affections (well . . . not really . . . but at least he tried).
“I have to protect her. No matter what the cost”
Lest we forget how all this got started, I call your attention to Season 3, Episode 1 of Dawson’s Creek, during which Dawson, who has just rebuffed Joey’s sexual advances for some ridiculously moronic reason that I don’t recall, asks Pacey to “look out for her” on his behalf. Pacey, being the loyal friend that he is and not nearly as big of a Mental Midget as Dawson “reluctantly” agrees to the request . . .
Later, in that same episode, Pacey and Joey share an exchange that we now know marked the beginning of their official courtship . . .
By the way, you know who else, aside from me, is a HUGE Dawson’s Creek fan? Vampire Katherine.
This is probably why warning bells went off in HER head for Stefan, when he made THIS bonehead (but brilliant, as far as Delena fans are concerned) move at the end of Season 2, Episode 11 of The Vampire Diaries . . .
If Dawson’s Creek is any indication, Delena fans will one day look back at Stefan’s request as the genesis for more or THIS . . .
and this . . .
. . . which will, hopefully, eventually lead to some of THIS . . .
. . . and THIS . . .
. . . and EVENTUALLY THIS . . .
(Only THIS time, Elena will be on the bottom, NOT Katherine ;))
Sorry Boys! One thing we’ve all learned about history, is that it’s doomed to repeat itself . . . And one thing we’ve learned about True Love . . .
. . . is that it conquers all!
Well, that’s all I’ve got. See you on the flipside, my fellow Delena and PJ fans!
So, did you guys see that new episode of True Blood?
You know, the one where Sookie . . .
dumps Vampire Bill . . .
. . . and runs off to marry some guy who works in upper level management at this fancy Las Vegas casino . . .
. . . a guy who can take his shirt off IN THE SUN . . . without getting burned?
Unfortunately, Vegas Casino Guy might still be in love with Joey Potter . . .
Because, who ISN’T still in love with Joey Potter? We all know HE is . . .
. . . and THIS GUY definitely is . . .
So, why not Vegas Casino Guy too?
Also, during this episode . . . Sookie finds out she has a FAIRY Godsister . . .
But the little fairy just keeps whining about having to give up Puck’s baby for adoption . . .
. . . and about losing Sectionals to this TOTAL A -hole, Jesse James . . .
. . . Sorry . . . I mean Jesse ST. James . . .
It’s a pretty bizarre episode. You see, not only has Sookie dumped Vampire Bill. She’s also kicked to the curb, her two best friends, Tara . . .
. . . and Sam . . .
. . . and replaced them with TWO NEW best friends: Frodo Baggins . . .
(who promised he’d lend her a ring to use for the wedding, but hasn’t been seen or heard from since ) . . .
and Seth Cohen . . .
(who’s deathly afraid of vampires, but REALLY wants Sookie to join his Comic Book Club) . . .
Oh, and that mean girl from 27 Dresses is there too . . .
She knew that Sookie really wanted to wear Gram’s old wedding dress to her wedding . . .
. . . but thought the fabric would look much better as a TABLECLOTH for her apartment . . .
So, she STOLE it from Sookie’s closet, and had it “altered.”
And I have NO IDEA what heck Murphy Brown was doing in this episode!
* * * *
So, basically, there’s this movie coming out this weekend, called “The Romantics.” It stars ALMOST all of the people I just mentioned (Anna Paquin, Josh Duhamel, Katie Holmes, Dianna Agron, Elijah Wood, Adam Brody, Malin Ackerman, and Candice Bergen). In other words, it has the BEST CAST IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD!
Unfortunately, the trailer for the film is kind of dull . . .
So, I’m more than a bit torn as to whether I am willing to pay the price of admission, to go see it. The film is actually based on a book of the same name, by a guy named Galt Niederhoffer. (Try to say THAT name three times fast!)
The book (which I haven’t read yet) is about a group of friends who attended Yale University together.
They reunite, six years after graduation, to attend the wedding of TWO members of their elite social circle: Lila (played by Anna Paquin) and Tom (played by Josh Duhamel). Tensions quickly rise within the wedding party, due to the fact that the Maid of Honor, Joey Potter Laura, ALSO used to date Tom. Obviously, these two still have some unresolved feelings for one another.
OMG! Really? Because I TOTALLY never saw that one coming . . .
The rest of the film’s cast will play Lila’s mother (Candice Bergen), her little sister (Dianna Agron), and her various friends (Elijah Wood, Adam Brody, Malin Ackerman), respectively. Rounding out the cast are Jeremy Strong , who actually attended Yale in real life (probably around the same time his fictional character did) . . .
On the surface, The Romantics has a pretty promising premise . . . an indie film mashup of The Big Chill . . .
St. Elmo’s Fire . . .
. . . My Best Friend’s Wedding . . .
. . . and every chick flick ever made . . .
Yet . . . I don’t know. Something about the trailer just seemed a little . . . dry . . . to me. But, perhaps, I should let you judge for yourself . . .
Were you as underwhelmed by this trailer as I was (DESPITE the overwhelming awesomeness of the cast)? Or did you catch something in it that made you want to immediately gorge on the film, like a hungry vampire chomping on a fairy?
The Romantics walks down the aisle September 10th, in New York and L.A.. However, it will “honeymoon” in wide release, shortly thereafter. Will YOU see it?
One of the fun things, for me at least, about having read Charlaine Harris’ Sookie Stackhouse Books . . .
. . . prior to watching the True Blood series on HBO (which is more or less based on those books) . . .
. . . is the added insight it gives me into these complex television characters, and the fictional lives they are destined to lead in the future. Sometimes, it makes me feel downright telepathic . . .
Well . . . maybe not telepathic, but at least like someone who has the “inside scoop” on things.
And while Alan Ball has certainly exercised his right to CHANGE a few things from the books, in creating the show . . .
Not DEAD!
Not a mild-mannered, girly-girl clothing store owner.
Will not GO AWAY!
. . . one thing he HAS adhered to pretty faithfully, is author Charlaine Harris’ colorful cast of characters, and the various ways in which they impact Sookie’s universe.
For this reason, I predict that it won’t be too long, before a certain hunky personal trainer, named J.B. DuRone, graces our television sets on Sunday nights. (Because, lets face it, Alan Ball LOVES his sexy men!)
For the uninitiated, J.B. DuRone is Bon Temps townie, born and raised in Louisianna. He was friends with Sookie and Tara back in high school, and even took Sookie to her senior prom.
“Like my pretty prom dress, y’all? My Grams bought it for me!”
Now, J.B. works as a popular personal trainer at the local Bon Temps gym, and lives in one of those apartments behind Merlotte’s that Sam rents out. J.B. has always been a loyal friend to Sookie, and even harbored a little crush on her for a short time. (What guy didn’t in this series?) Later in the books, he functioned as an unusually healthy and well-adjusted love interest for Perpetual Dater of Losers and Nutjobs, Tara . . .
“It’s about DAMN TIME!”
In terms of character traits, J.B. has a little bit of Jason . . .
. . . a dash of Hoyt . . .
. . . and a dollop of Sam . . .
. . . all rolled into one glorious package.
Like Jason, J.B. has the looks of Hollywood Heartthrob, and the body of a male model. He also shares Jason’s not-so-keen intellect. J.B. isn’t exactly the sharpest crayon in the box . . .
And yet, like Hoyt, J.B. is charming, and sweet, and polite, almost to a fault. He is the quintessential Southern Gentleman.
With Sam, J.B. shares a protective, almost paternalistic, relationship with Sookie (and later with Tara). He is always ready to help her out of a jam, even if he doesn’t always no HOW to help, or what the heck is going on.
So, of course, all of this begs the question, who should Alan Ball CAST in the role of J.B. DuRone. Well . . . I’ve got a few ideas . . .
Below you will find my Top Five casting picks (in no particular order) for Bon Temps’ Favorite Bodybuilder.
Where you’ve seen him before: the romantic comedy She’s the Man (starring alongside Amanda Bynes),those Step Up dance movies, the action flick, GI Joe, the anti-war drama, Stop Loss, and that chick flick, Dear John.
Why he’d make a great J.B.:
Like J.B., Channing Tatum is a native Southern boy, having grown up in a small Alabama town. So, not only will Channing be able to effortlessly pull off the Southern charm necessary for this role, he will also be able to provide fans with a remarkably authentic Southern accent, (something which, honestly, is hard to come by on this show). In addition to all that “Southern stuff,” Channing clearly has the physique of a bodybuilder, and the chiseled looks to match. A very young-looking 30-year old, Channing is also “age appropriate,” in that he is believable as someone who would have gone to high school with Sookie and Tara.
What you’ve seen him in: the WB sitcom, What I Like About You (also starring Amanda Bynes) and the ABC show, Cougar Town
Why he’d make a great J.B. :
Not to typecast or anything, but the character of J.B. DuRone is remarkably similar to Vince, the character Zano played on What I Like About You. Both are charming ladies men, who are capable of being disarmed and “tamed” by the right woman. Both have startlingly beautiful bodies that are painstakingly well-cared for. And both aren’t too bright, at least in the traditional sense of the word. Then again, maybe I’m just shamelessly angling for a chance to see Nick on my TV screen again . . .
Where you’ve seen him: the teen drama The O.C., as Bad Ass Bully, Kevin Volchok, the film Never Back Down, as Bad Ass Bully, Ryan McCarthy, and Twilight, as Bad Ass Vampire, James. (Notice a pattern here?) Cam will also be featured in the upcoming movie / musical, Burlesque and the upcoming teen comedy Easy A.
Why he’d make a great J.B.:
Under that douchey exterior, and penchant for bad boy roles, there’s a heartthrob inside Cam Gigandet, just waiting to get out. And this is the perfect role to bring it out of him. True, Cam would probably make for an edgier J.B. DuRone than the one mentioned in Charlaine Harris’ books. But, then again, to be a believable match for someone as edgy and abrasive as True Blood’s Tara, maybe he will have to be. I can just imagine the chemistry between Rutina Wesley and Cam Gigandet, and it would SIZZLE!
In terms of physical appearance, Cam has the body of fighter — someone who spends hours and hours at the gym, just like J.B. DuRone. In fact, I’ve never seen a film with Cam Gigandet, where he WASN’T throwing a punch, or exposing those enviable abs in some way! To top it off, Cam is EXACTLY the same age as Anna Paquin and Rutina Wesley, which would work out perfectly for the J.B. character. Seriously, how often do actors actually get to PLAY characters their own age, anymore?
No modern day male actor exudes more inherent masculinity than Tom Hardy. Ever word out of his mouth, and every inch of his body just screams “MAN!” This is exactly the type of guy Tara needs in her life. He is strong, and a protector. But he is also remarkably stable, and lighthearted. This is a guy who can soften Tara’s rough edges, and make her laugh. Yet, when it is necessary, he can also give a royal beatdown to any evil vampire or werewolf stupid enough to get in her way.
What you’ve seen him in: the long running teen drama, Dawson’s Creek, as the loveable hopelessly romantic, Pacey Witter, the sexy teen film, Cruel Intentions, the teen slasher pic, UrbanLegends, and currently, the sci-fi mystery-of-the week show, Fringe
Why he’d make a great J.B.:
Joshua Jackson is the ideal TV Boyfriend. End of story. In his role as Pacey Witter, we saw Joshua’s ability to melt girls hearts with a single crinkle of the eyebrow, or a knowing smirk, or a gentle touch. Pacey, though never particularly ambitious or “wise,” in the traditional sense of the word, was a true believer in true love. And he would sacrifice anything to protect the object of his desire and make her happy. These are innocent motives he shares with J.B. DuRone, who is also somewhat of a hopeless romantic, with an inherent need to “care” for the women he loves.
In his more recent roles, Joshua Jackson has had the opportunity to exhibit a manly side. Sure, he can be soft and cuddly, but he can also be tough. This is a guy, who’s not afraid to throw a punch, if the recipient truly deserves it. And I’m pretty sure, J.B. has thrown a few punches in his day too.
So, there you have it. My casting choices for Charlaine Harris’ loveably lunkhead, J.B. DuRone. Alan Ball, if you’re reading this . . . take note!
A couple of days ago, I came up with a list of the top ten plotline cliches featured in teen-oriented television dramas. In the first installment of this blog entry, I posted the first five of these cliches. That list included: (1) the Pregnancy Plotline; (2) the Death of a Peripheral Character Plotline; (3) the Student / Teacher Relationship Plotline; (4) the Cheating on a Test / Plagiarism Plotline; and, finally, (5) the “Bad Influence” Plotline.
This installment will focus on the following popular Teen Television Cliches: (1) the Love Triangle; (2) the Summer in Europe; (3) the Love / Hate Relationship; (4) the School Ski Trip; and, of course (5) the Prom. So, without further adieu, what do you say we take off our creative thinking caps, embrace conformity, and get started?
1) “Can’t we all just . . . have a threesome, instead?” – The Love Triangle Plotline
The Storyline: Girl meets boy. Boy is attractive.
Boy is also nice and sweet, albeit a tad boring (and, sometimes, a bit of a whiny b*tch).
Or, conversely, Boy is total douche;
but Girl’s parents love him;
He looks “good on paper.”
and Boy is sure to make Girl a very wealthy, but very bored, housewife, some time in the not-so-distant future, if she plays her cards right.
But then . . . Other Boy magically appears.
Unlike the original Boy, Other Boy is a little dangerous . . .
Maybe he’s from the wrong side of the proverbial “tracks” . . .
Or, perhaps he has a reputation for being a bit of male slut . . .
. . . or a criminal.
Or maybe he has a bit of a mean streak, so Girl isn’t sure she can really trust him.
But there is just something about the way Other Boy makes Girl feel . . .
She smiles and laughs more when she’s around him.
(Click the internal link to watch.)
He makes her more fun!
And Other Boy continues to believe in Girl, and support her, long after everyone else has seemingly abandoned her (including the original Boy).
So, what’s a Girl to do, when she wants them both?
Who does she choose? Well, that depends on the season . . . the Television Season, that is . . .
Examples: Joey, Pacey, and Dawson (Dawson’s Creek); Veronica, Logan, and Duncan (Veronica Mars); Marissa, Ryan, and Luke (The O.C.); Elena, Damon, and Stefan (The Vampire Diaries); Rory, Jesse, and Dean (Gilmore Girls); Blair, Chuck, and Nate (Gossip Girl); Peyton, Lucas, and Nate (One Tree Hill); Emma, Sean, and Peter (Degrassi: The Next Generation); Felicity, Ben, and Noel (Felicity); Casey, Cappie, and Evan (Greek); Lyla, Tim, and Jason (Friday Night Lights)
Why it’s a cliche? Three words (One of them is a contraction). Because . . . It’s . . . AWESOME!
When it comes to successful teen drama plotlines, The Love Triangle, is a surefire WIN! After all, what girl wouldn’t want to have two totally hot guys, who are complete opposites of one another fighting over her! Aside from allowing female fans to vicariously fulfill their deepest fantasies, Love Triangles provide the added benefit of making Teen Television watching a TEAM SPORT! Boys have football and basketball. Girls have THIS . . .
Yes, boys and girls, choosing sides in a Love Triangle War is SERIOUS business! (Girls have been shot over WAY less!) Don’t believe me? Check out the sheer intensity of THESE fan-fueled debates . . .
(The above video debate between these two twenty-somethings kind of goes off the rails, after the first five minutes. But I love their obvious enthusiasm for a show that’s been off the air now for nearly a decade! I also love their accents . . . and the very impressive “Portrait of Ben” one of them created. Scott Speedman, himself, would be proud!)
2) “Go to Europe . . . because no one could possibly ‘find themselves’ in the States!” – The Summer in Europe Plotline
“When in France, do as the French do . . . French kiss!”
(Here we go again! Internal link clicking time!)
The Storyline: It’s close to the end of the Season. Our female protagonist’s life is a mess! It’s just jam packed with unresolved love triangles, family issues, and massive blowout fights with former friends. And what better way is there to deal with all of your problems, than to run away from them? So, our female protagonist jaunts off to Europe (usually Paris), leaving pining boys and cliffhangers in her wake . . .
Once there, our female protagonist sees the sights . . .
and miraculously FINDS HERSELF! When she comes back, she’s a COMPLETELY different person, than when she left. Who knows? She might even have a new completely random, doesn’t belong on the show at all boyfriend!
Examples: Serena and Blair (Gossip Girl); Joey Potter (Dawson’s Creek); Brenda and Donna (90210); Holly (What I Like About You)
Why it’s a Cliche? The main character’s temporary departure from his or her home base is a great way to bring about a Teen Television Drama’s summer hiatus. If us fans are forced to spend an ENTIRE summer away from our beloved gang of characters, at least we can sleep better knowing that they aren’t hanging out with one another EITHER! Plus, filming a scene or two “across the pond” makes for a great excuse for the show’s writers to say to their producer, “I’d like an all expense paid European vacation, please. What! It’s for THE SHOW!”
A summer in another country is also a pretty good excuse to suddenly change the entire personality and demeanor of a character, without any rational explanation whatsoever . . .
“I got my new girlfriend and a frontal lobe lobotomy in Prague. Doesn’t everybody?
3) “He Loves Me . . . He Hates My Guts . . . He Loves Me . . .” – The Love/ Hate Relationship Plotline
The Storyline: He’s a playboy, and a real ladies man. But he comes across as mean, and kind of shallow. She’s a Type A personality, who comes across as cold and a bit uptight.
They butt heads from the moment they first appear on screen together. They fight, and call eachother names. They insult one another, and play nasty tricks on eachother.
But there is a passion boiling beneath the surface, that both he and she are trying desperately to deny.
At the time, he and she are both involved with other people. Their significant others notice the sexual tension laced beneath their supposed hatred, and try in vain to ignore it. But the tension only grows. Jealous and longing looks become prevalent. Lingering touches, and moments of out-of-character “niceness,” between the two make each member of the pair begin to question their feelings.
The guy in this scenario typically recognizes his feelings for her first.
(You know the drill . . .)
But he usually keeps this to himself, out of fear of being ridiculed by the new object of his desires. Then the two are placed in a dramatic situation. Suddenly their mutual passion for one another overtakes them. And they both give in to their desires.
Examples: Joey and Pacey (Dawson’s Creek); Buffy and Spike (Buffy the Vampire Slayer); Veronica and Logan (Veronica Mars); Seth and Summer (The O.C. – sort of . . . well . . . she hated him); Elena and Damon (The Vampire Diaries); Blair and Chuck (Gossip Girl)
Why it’s a Cliche? You know how everyone always talks about how hot Makeup Sex is? A couple fights, and then they make up. All that angst and sexual energy, built up from all that red-faced arguing, is just kindling for the inevitable Orgasmic Fire of “Getting Back Together.” And THAT’S from a fight that might last a day! You can just imagine how hot Makeup Sex would be if the couple fought nonstop for TWO SEASONS!
4) “When the temperatures get COLD, the action gets HOT!” – The Ski Trip Plotline
The Storyline: I’m going to be honest, this one was less of a “storyline” and more of a “plot convention.” (Hey! YOU try to come up with ten of these things . . . It’s not as easy as it looks.) But did you ever notice how virtually EVERY teen drama features at least one ski trip? BIG THINGS always happen on ski trips too! People get drunk, get laid, get raped, or cheat on their significant other! And someone ALWAYS hurts their foot, and conveniently can’t ski!
Examples:
Dawson’s Creek:
Jenn hurts her foot, gets wasted, and almost screws Gay Jack.
Pacey and Joey do it for the first time!
Boy Meets World:
Cory hurts his foot too! And makes out with Linda Cardellini!
Other fabulous shows featuring wild and crazy teen ski trips include Degrassi: Next Generation (Darcy gets date raped), and What I Like About You (Holly comes to terms with her feelings for Vince).
Precisely NONE of these characters were ever shown ACTUALLY skiing . . .
Why it’s a Cliche? There’s just something about being away from home and your parents . . . about sleeping in a log cabin, right next to the fire. You relax. You let your guard down. You get a little slutty and make bad choices. (Except in the case of Pacey and Joey . . . that choice was GOOD!) Plus, it’s WAY cheaper to film on location in some fake ski lodge than say . . . taking your entire cast and crew to Europe.
5) “Question: What happened at Prom? Answer: EVERYTHING!” – The Prom Plotline
The Storyline: It’s the event of the WHOLE season! The entire cast will be in attendance! But not everybody is going with the person they WANT to be going with.
A couple will break up. A couple will get back together.
Someone will win prom queen.
Someone’s heart will be broken.
A couple will finally do it.
Another couple will ALMOST do it, but decide to wait . . . Oh, and someone will get wasted and make an ass of herself.
Examples: Dawson’s Creek, The O.C., 90210, Veronica Mars, Gossip Girl
Why it’s a Cliche? For every high school girl, the Prom is the culminating social event of her entire pre-college academic career. Even the most jaded of high school students (and I, myself, was already pretty jaded by that time) can’t help but dream of having the perfect dress, the perfect limo, the perfect Prom date, and the perfect slow dance. For most of us, with all that build up and preparation, Prom itself ends up being pretty anti-climactic. (The Post Prom Beach Trip, on the other hand . . . now, THAT ROCKED!). But if we CAN’T have the perfect Prom, at least we can get the joy of seeing our television friends experience it for us.
So, there you have it – Ten Trashtastic Teen Television Cliches for your viewing pleasure! Doesn’t it all make you feel OLD?
It is probably no secret to anyone who has ever stopped by this blog before (or even just examined the above “collage”), that I am a sucker for Trash-tastic Teen Television. I have been a fan of these types of shows since the age of eight. That was when I first decided that I desperately wanted to be a teen. And I have no doubt that I will remain a fan, long after I have cruised past “old age,” and am forced to squint through my coke bottle glasses, and smile through my dentures, at the sight of some pipsqueaks (who bear a suspicious resemblance to my grandkids) attending prom on my small screen.
“That is one hot threesome. Oh, when I think back to my first threesome . . . ah memories!”
Having been around the “teenage television” block quite a bit since my eighth birthday, I have come to notice a few patterns among my favorite teen dramas. Over the years, I have watched in wonder, as certain storylines traveled across decades, time zones, and networks, just to reach my lowly television set, over and over (and over and over) again . . . So I’ve decided to investigate these storylines, in hopes of FINALLY figuring out what makes them so “gosh darn special!”
1) “Hit me with a baby, one more time!” – The Pregnancy Scare and/or Actual Pregnancy Plotline
The Storyline: Our teen female protagonist has sex . . . usually for the first time. Her partner is either a long, LONG time boyfriend, with whom she has been discussing doing the deed for the ENTIRE season . . .
Or, conversely, he is a one night-stand, who she (a) barely knows; or (b) seemingly despises. There is never any in between.
In the very next scene, our protagonist learns that she has missed her period. She is FLIPPING THE F&CK OUT!
She keeps her discovery a secret from everyone, except for her best friend. And the best friend is inevitably the one who convinces the protagonist to take the pregnancy test.
Regardless of the pregnancy test’s ultimate result, inevitably there comes a time when our protagonist has to have “The Discussion” with “The Maybe Baby Daddy.”
Sometimes, he takes it well . . . usually, he doesn’t . . . at least, not at first.
Now, if the protagonist ends up not being pregnant . . . well then . . . THAT’S IT! Our protagonist is RELIEVED! She feels brand NEW! She’s CHANGED!
She will pretend this whole little sweeps week episode never happened (or, in the case of Manny Santos, and Degrassi, the U.S. will pretend this whole episode never happened . . . by NOT AIRING IT, until about 3 years after it was actually filmed). However, if our protagonist IS pregnant . . . we get stuck with a baby storyline for ALL ETERNITY (or at least it will seem that way . . .)!
Examples: Brenda on 90210 (not actually pregnant);Andrea on 90210 (actually pregnant / had baby / raised baby); Summer on The O.C. (not actually pregnant); Manny on Degrassi: The Next Generation (actually pregnant / had abortion); Liberty on Degrassi: The Next Generation (pregnant / had baby / gave baby up for adoption); Emma on Degrassi: The Next Generation (not actually pregnant / feeling left out because EVERYONE else on her show actually was); Blair on Gossip Girl (not actually pregnant); Georgina on Gossip Girl (To Be Determined?); Amy on Secret Life of the American Teenager (actually pregnant / had baby / is raising baby); Quinn on Glee (actually pregnant / had baby / gave baby up for adoption).
Why it’s a cliche?
“Hey there, boys and girls! I’ve got a message for you! Premarital sex is BAAAAAAAAD!”
Teen television programs tend to be written by adults. And even the most hip and forward thinking adults, don’t like to think about their 15-year old kids f*c*ing eachother’s brains out like bunny rabbits on acid.
So they ever so subtly try to scare the crap out of their kids, by showing them how having sex once can RUIN THEIR LIVES FOREVER! It doesn’t really work . . .
This storyline is SO overdone that precisely NO ONE is shocked or dismayed by the prospect of a female protagonist . . . missing her period. Hey writers, want to REALLY scare your kids celibate? Give your television characters crabs.
That will permanently glue your teen’s legs shut for sure!
2) “OH NO! You killed . . . what’s his name again?” – The Death of the Peripheral Character Plotline
The Storyline: There is this recurring character on your favorite show that has becoming increasingly annoying, of late.
You can’t quite put your finger on it, but you just think the character really sucks.
And you can’t wait for him or her to leave your television screen ALONE!
You spend WAY too much time bashing this minor character on online message boards, and in snarky recaps of the show. In those messages, you may or may not beg the show’s writers for said character’s untimely demise.
Then the character actually DIES.
And you’re secretly happy that you got what you wanted.
But NOW you’re convinced you are very sh*tty person. Because, REALLY, what kind of nice, normal person is HAPPY when someone dies, real or fake? Even though very few of the characters on your show seemed to like this character any more than you did, while he was alive, they all make a big show of mourning and /or having a funeral for him or her.
Your favorite character will inevitably give the eulogy for this character. And it will be all warm, and fuzzy, and heartfelt . . . and, of course, totally depressing.
And YOU will surprise yourself by crying like a baby when you watch it (probably out of guilt for openly hating the character so much . . . or . . . maybe the scene just reminds you of a dead relative). After the episode airs, the show’s entire cast will COMPLETELY forget that this dead character ever existed . . .
Examples: Scott on 90210, Abby on Dawson’s Creek; Rick on Degrassi: The Next Generation, Johnny on The O.C., that dude Serena supposedly “killed” on Gossip Girl, Percy and Reed on Grey’s Anatomy (not technically a teen show, but still . . .), Vicki on The Vampire Diaries
Why it’s a cliche? The “Very Special” Dead Person episode of any teen show is sure to be a ratings grabber, no matter how unlikeable the soon-to-be dead character was before he met his demise. Plus, killing any character on their show (even if it’s just a one-episode guest star) allows producers to run that oh-so-original . . . “SOMEBODY WILL DIE!” promo the week before their episode airs, and you know how ALL producers LOVE that promo!
3) “Hot for Teacher!” – The Inappropriate Student / Teacher Relationship Plotline
The Storyline: The protagonist has a crush on his or her very attractive (yet obviously lonely, and very desperate), teacher.
The teacher makes a lame ass attempt to rebuff the protagonists affections, but fails miserably.
Soon the student and the teacher are doing the horizontal mambo together in secret.
Someone always finds out. Someone always exposes them for the sluts they both are.
It always ends badly . . .
Examples: Pacey and Miss Jacobs on Dawson’s Creek, Paige and Mr. O on Degrassi: The Next Generation, Dan and Miss Carr on Gossip Girl, Aria and Mr. Fitz on Pretty Little Liars
Why it’s a cliche? Forbidden love is HOT! And cougars are all the rage! Plus, who HASN’T had a crush on one of their teachers and indulged in a naughty fantasy, or two (or twenty) involving same?
Mine was my freshman history teacher in high school. He was pretty young, compared to most of my teachers at that time . . . probably in his mid-to-late twenties . . . and single. Actually, he kind of looked like this . . .
. . . only he was a wee bit older . . . and he generally wore shirts (unfortunately). Coincidentally, Mr. Devlin, if your reading this . . . 😉
4) “Cheaters never win, and winners never . . . whatever.” – The Cheating on a Test / Plagiarism Plotline
Storyline: The protagonist REALLY needs to pass a particular test or ace a certain paper. He or she is under a lot of external pressure to do so.
But something happens, so that he or she doesn’t have time to do the appropriate amount of studying and /or research. He or she is tempted, upon receiving answers to the test or a pre-written paper, to . . . CHEAT!
The protagonist struggles with whether or not to enter into the dark evil world of “school crime,” but ultimately does.
Because the character cheated, he or she does so well on the test or paper that his teacher inevitably wants to enter him or her in some national competition of some sort related to the aforementioned paper or test. Smothered by guilt, the character eventually comes clean. He or she then gets in trouble . . .
But not in nearly as much trouble as the character would, if caught, in . . . say . . . the REAL WORLD . . .
“It can’t possibly be worse than when I got that awful haircut . . .”
Examples: Felicity on Felicity, Andie on Dawson’s Creek, Rusty on Greek, Lindsay and Daniel on Freaks and Geeks, Spencer on Pretty Little Liars
Why it’s a cliche? One word: schadenfreude. You see, here’s the thing . . . every teen show has that one uptight overachieving character, who always gets A’s, is super judgmental of all of her “less brilliant” friends, and never seems to do anything wrong. Admit it! It’s kind of fun to see tight asses like that crack under the pressure . . .
Make that VERY fun!
5) “I’m gonna do real bad things to you . . . and make you DO real bad things!” – The “Bad Influence” Plotline
The Storyline: Our protagonist is going through kind of a “rough patch” in his or her life. He or she is therefore looking to let loose, and have some sort of emotional and/or physical release. In walks a character who is fun, adventurous, and more than a little dangerous.
Our protagonist starts hanging out with the “dangerous” character a lot.
(Click the internal link to watch!)
Before you know it, he or she is behaving just like the “dangerous” character, and getting into all sorts of trouble as a result.
The protagonists other friends are jealous of all the fun their typically boring protagonist is now having. But they are also worried. Inevitably, the moment comes when protagonist is about to get into a cr*p load of trouble with the “dangerous” character.
The friends stage an intervention of sorts.
It works!
The dangerous character rides away on the evil broomstick by which it came. All is, once again, right (and boring) with the world . . .
Examples: Abby influencing Jen on Dawson’s Creek, Georgina influencing Serena on Gossip Girl, Damon influencing Caroline on The Vampire Diaries, “The Freaks” influencing Lindsay on Freaks and Geeks, that character Paul Wesley played on Everwood influencing Hannah on Everwood, that character Paul Wesley played on The O.C. influencing Ryan and Seth on The O.C.
Why it’s a cliche? Everybody’s got a dark side. Secretly, we all want to be a little “bad” sometimes. The good news is that we can do it safely and vicariously, by watching our favorite “good” television characters “go bad,” albeit temporarily. They have fun while doing it . . . and so do we, at least until their lame friends bring them back to earth.
Well, that’s all the teen television cliches I have for tonight. But please tune in tomorrow, when I tackle love triangles, love-hate relationships, prom, the ever enlightening “trip to Europe,” and, of course, the dreaded ski trip . . .
What good girl doesn’t secretly want a bad boy by her side to rescue her from the monotony of a life spent being well-behaved? Now, in the real world, dating a guy like this is the quickest way to a broken heart — if you’re lucky — and a black eye, the slammer or the morgue — if you’re not. But in TV land, the girls who win the hearts of the baddest baddies fare quite well, actually (not to mention have the best sex lives)!
For girls like me, who are desperate to experience the thrills of the darkside, without any of the risks or guilt attached, TV Brooding Bad Boys are our salvation. And because I am so grateful to these fictional bad asses, who’s mere existence has managed to keep me on the straight and narrow all these years, I have decided to pay tribute to some of the best ones in this post . . . 10 to be exact. (They are in no particular order. although I may have saved the best for last. After all, playing favorites with bad boys is the surest way to get burned . . . literally.)
1) Don Draper – Executive Bad Boy
TV Show:Man Men
Who plays him? Jon Hamm
What makes him a Bad Boy? Let’s see. He accidentally killed the REAL Don Draper, and then stole his identity. Now, he smokes and drinks like a fish (and usually drives afterward). He also cheats on his (soon-to-be ex) wife . . . ALOT, sometimes with married women, sometimes with coworkers and/or his kids’ teachers, and sometimes with random flight attendants he meets on business trips.
Why he’s broody? On occasion, Don actually feels guilty about all the sleeping around he does (It’s rare, but it happens). He also had a miserable childhood, with a drunken dad who abused him mentally and physically, and a prostitute biological mom who named him after a private part. To top things off, Don’s wife can be a real cold b*tch sometimes. And despite being model gorgeous, she actually strikes me as a kind of snoozy lay.
Why we love him anyway? Don Draper is nothing, if not flawed. But he is also a brilliant ad man, with a keen sense of business acumen. When he wants to be, Don is actually a pretty great dad to his kids. But Don’s “parenting” goes beyond the walls of his home. The advertising executive’s paternal nature extends to his younger colleagues, particularly Peggy Olson, whose ambition and intellect he encourages, and whose career got a jump start, thanks to his willingness to put his own job on the line for her.
2) James “Sawyer” Ford – Castaway Con Artist Bad Boy
TV Show: Lost
Who plays him? Josh Holloway
What makes him a Bad Boy? Sawyer made his living as a con man who bilked little old ladies out of their pension checks, and slightly younger ladies out of their inheritances and hard-earned dough. On the island, he initially kept to himself (aside from the occasional fist fight). Left to his own devices, he survived by hoarding his fellow castaways possessions (including some very pricey drugs, and quite an impressive weapons stash). He also used Shannon’s painful and highly traumatic asthma attack as an excuse to get Kate to kiss him for the first time. It was hot, but kind of heartless too . . .
Why he’s broody? Like Don Draper, Sawyer had a pretty f-ed up childhood. When Sawyer was a little kid, a con man bilked his parents out of their life savings. Sawyer’s father became so depressed as a result, that he killed Sawyer’s mother before turning the gun on himself. To make matters worse, Sawyer is stranded on a deserted island where he is constantly fending off the unwelcome advances of Polar Bears, sadistic birds, black smoke, and those wackadoo Others. Oh, and did I mention the object of his desires keeps ditching him to make out with this lame ass pompous doctor? You’d be pretty pissed off too . . . I bet!
Why we love him anyway? Sawyer may be a con artist, and a thief . . . and he sure likes to beat the sh&t out of people! But he looks GREAT with his shirt off!
As the seasons of Lost progressed, Sawyer also proved himself to be an excellent leader, and a staunch protector of those he loved, most notably, Kate, Juliette, and, yes, even Hurley. He even stopped beating people up so much. (Well, at least he was more selective about it.) Oh, and the nicknames! I loved all those nicknames!
3) Noah “Puck” Puckerman – Mohawk-Wearing Bully Bad Boy
TV Show: Glee
Who plays him? Mark Salling
Why he’s a Bad Boy? At the start of the show, Puck was your basic jock bully (with a mohawk, of course). He LOVED tossing slushees in the faces of the Glee kids, and tossing nerds in the dumpster. He also got it on with a quite a few of his mom’s friends. But Puck’s worst offense, by far was screwing “Celibacy Club President Quinn,” while she was dating his friend. He also kept their rendezvous a secret, even after Quinn became pregnant, and Finn agreed to take responsibility for Puck’s baby . . .
Why he’s broody? You know, I could explain it to you. However this video says it better, than I ever could . . .
Why we love him anyway? Ummm . . . did you WATCH that video? Did it not make you fall in love with Puck, and make you want to give birth to all of his mohawk-wearing babies? By the end of Season 1, Puck came a long way toward redeeming himself. Not only did he stop throwing nerds into dumpsters, he also became really close with the Glee kids, most notably Rachel and Mercedes. And when it came down to it, Puck really stood by Quinn, and supported her throughout her pregnancy, even going so far as to stand by her side, as she gave birth. Now if that’s not a Redeemed Brooding Bad Boy, I don’t know what is!
4) Chuck Bass – Upper East Side Bad Boy
TV Show: Gossip Girl
Who plays him? Ed Westwick
What makes him a Bad Boy? Oh, Chuck! How are you a bad boy? Let me count the ways. Before you met Blair Waldorf, you bedded so many random women, that you made Don Draper, Sawyer, and Puck look like priests.
You tried to date rape Jenny Humphrey in the pilot episode (an incident we ALL wanted to forget about, and almost did, until you repeated the feat during the Season 3 finale.) Along with Blair Waldorf and the rest of your Scooby gang, you have schemed (and succeeded) to ruin the lives of MANY of Manhattan’s elite, sometimes even those in your own social circle. And you’ve callously broken Blair’s heart a few more times than us fans would have liked . . .
Why he’s broody? Despite being born into privilege, Chuck hasn’t had the easiest life. His mother died giving birth to him (or so he thought). And Chuck’s father blamed him for his mother’s absence all his life, constantly denigrating the young man’s worth and ability. Then his father died, which always sucks.
On the romantic side of things, particularly in the earlier episodes, Chuck constantly found his love for Blair unrequited or blatantly ignored. And once he FINALLY got her, Chuck had to keep screwing things up. So he lost her, over and over again, due to his own insecurities, hubris, and fragile ego.
Why we love him anyway? He’s Chuck Bass! The only man who can refer to himself in the third person constantly, without it ever becoming annoying. And as cold and callous as he may sometimes seem, Chuck LOVES Blair, possibly more than any television character has ever loved another. He loves her unconditionally, despite her flaws and idiosyncrasies. Chuck is always willing to sacrifice his own happiness for Blair’s, as he does in this adorable scene.
(Click the internal link to watch.)
5) Ryan Atwood – “Bad Boy from the Wrong Side of the Tracks”
TV Show: The O.C.
Who plays him? Benjamin McKenzie
What makes him a Bad Boy? Ryan hails from Chino. Based on what the show’s writers would have you believe, growing up in Chino makes you automatically bad news. During the pilot episode of the show, Ryan got himself involved in a teensy bit of grand theft auto. (It wasn’t really his fault, but still . . . .).
Oh, and believe it or not, Ryan likes to beat the sh&t out of people EVEN MORE than Puck and Sawyer! In fact, I’m pretty sure he did it at least once during every single episode of The O.C! If I recall, toward the end of the show’s run, he even got into cage fighting for a while, so that he could get PAID to beat the sh*t out of people. Smart business move, Ryan!
Why is he broody? NOBODY does broody like Ryan Atwood! Don’t believe me? Check out this clip from the show’s pilot episode . . .
This guy is the epitome of the strong, silent and ANGRY type. And with good reason! Growing up poor with an absentee father, a drunk mother, and a delinquent brother, Ryan didn’t have many opportunities growing up. At least, that is, until saintly public defender, Sandy Cohen, took him into his home and under his wing . . .
Why we love him anyway? Grand theft auto and butt-kicking notwithstanding, let’s face it, for a bad boy Ryan wasn’t . . . all that bad. He was sweet and protective of his friends, particularly Seth and Marissa, the latter of whom he got out of more jams than I can even count. He also had this staunch code of honor and integrity, that he never seemed to waver from, no matter how far he got from his Chino roots.
Sure, Ryan could be a little stiff and quiet at times . . . . OK . . . most of the time. But every once and a while, he would let loose and show his sweet side. And when that happened, no heart was safe . . .
6) Alex Karev – Dr. McBad Boy
TV Show: Grey’s Anatomy
Who plays him? Justin Chambers
What makes him a Bad Boy? OK. I’m not going to lie. A lot of times Alex Karev can be kind of a dick, both literally and figuratively. There was that one time, when he posted all those pictures of Izzie in her undergarments all over the hospital. And that other time when he unwittingly gave George syphilis, by sleeping with the nurse he had a thing for. Giving of STD aside, Alex was kind of mean to George in general. He was always calling him names and denigrating his manhood, whenever he got the chance.
Oh, and Alex cheated on Izzie . . . like A LOT!
Why he’s broody? Alex had an abusive father, who beat the crap out of him regularly. (Anyone else noticing a pattern here?) He also has really bad luck with the ladies. His girlfriend Rebecca went all crazy and bipolar on his ass. The other love of his life, Izzie, cheated on him with a ghost (Oh, I am serious!). She also got cancer . . . and he married her, thinking she was dying. But then she went into remission . . . and then she inexplicably dumped his ass. I think Alex has a right to be a little pissed off at the world? Don’t you?
Why we love him anyway? Alex is a fighter. He speaks his mind, and tells the truth, when no one else has the guts to do it. Plus, he’s an amazing doctor, who has a fabulous way with kids and teens, in particular. Unlike some of the other doctors at the hospital, Alex speaks their language, and doesn’t talk down to them. For that reason, they often trust and respect him. And for a D-bag, he can be surprisingly sweet and romantic, as illustrated here . . .
7) Eric Northman – Immortal Viking Bad Boy
TV Show: True Blood
Who plays him? Alexander Skarsgard
What makes him a Bad Boy? Eric is a very old, and very powerful vampire, who always gets what he wants. To him, humans are food to be consumed, and toys to be used for his amusement. Eric is currently involved in the shady and underground business of selling highly addictive vampire blood to humans and other assorted creatures. He’s betrayed his colleague Bill more times than I can count, in order to get what he wants. He kidnapped Lafayette and beat him into submission, until the latter agreed to become one of his blood pedaling minions. Eric also tricked Sookie into drinking his blood so that she would have hot sex dreams about him all the time. (And that’s a BAD THING?)
Why he’s broody? In truth, Eric’s not all that broody. And if he was, he probably wouldn’t admit it. But he does have a very soft spot for one Sookie Stackhouse, which has heretofore remains unrequited. And Eric is not a man used to not getting his girl. At the end of Season 2, we witnessed a vulnerable side to Eric that we hadn’t seen before. He lost his beloved maker, Godric to the sun, and cried tears of blood to mourn the loss. Thus, proving that even a “cold blooded” vampire like Eric can suffer from a broken heart.
Why we love him anyway? Let’s face it. Eric is just super sexy! His witty banter with Sookie never fails to make me drool. Eric also has a great sense of humor, and can lighten even the darkest of moments with his wit and charm. Plus, Vampire Eric is a really good guy to have on your side, when you are faced with a group of evil supernatural creatures who wish you dead. And you never know when that might come in handy. Did I mention he would be an excellent accessory to any bathtub?
8 ) Logan Echolls – Spoiled Little Rich Bad Boy
TV Show: Veronica Mars
Who plays him? Jason Dohring
What makes him a Bad Boy? Logan Echolls takes the term juvenile delinquent to a whole new level. Like many on this list, Logan enjoys giving a good ass whipping, but that’s not anywhere close to the worst thing on his rap sheet. Let’s see, during the show’s three seasons he (1) bashed the headlights on Veronica’s car; (2) brought GHB to a party; (3) blew up the local community pool; (4) orchestrated and videotaped “bum fights” for profit; (5) screwed his good friend’s mom and his girlfriend’s enemy; and (6) got himself arrested so he could beat up a known criminal who hurt Veronica. (I’m sure there’s more, but I only have so much blog space . . .)
Why he’s broody? Logan’s dad was a famous actor, but also a sadistic psycho killer who slept with and then murdered Logan’s girlfriend, Lily. Then his mother promptly killed herself. Logan soon found himself to be a suspect in Lily’s murder. Once he was cleared of that rap, he became a suspect in some gang member’s murder. Then, later, he was a rape suspect.
In fact, every time something bad happened in Logan’s general georgraphic vicinity, he became an automatic suspect. After just a couple of episodes spent hating her guts, Logan fell in love with Veronica. The problem was, there almost always seemed to be another guy (Duncan, Piz), another girl (Hannah, Kendall, Parker), another dead body, or another one of Logan’s bullheaded actions, standing in the way of the couple’s happiness.
Why we love him anyway? Logan and Veronica were made for eachother! Their witty banter was timeless. Logan alone had enough one-liners to fill a Joke Bible . . .
The sexual tension that emerged from Veronica’s and Logan’s once mutual hatred of one another could power cities. No matter what the current state of their relationship was, Logan was always willing to risk everything to save Veronica, be it his happiness, his future, his life, or his freedom from legal prosecution.
And what girl wouldn’t want that dedication in a guy?
9) Pacey Witter – Bad Boy from the Creek
TV Show: Dawson’s Creek
Who plays him? Joshua Jackson
What makes him a Bad Boy? Pacey was pretty much the worst student ever! It was a wonder he even graduated! He was also in many ways the ringleader of the Creek crew. For the most part, they were pretty straight laced to the point of being kind of boring (I excuse Slutty Jen Lindley from this list of course). But Pacey was always the one trying to lure them over to the darkside, with parties (gasp), and drinking (double gasp), and ditching school! (OMG!)
OK . . . so maybe he isn’t that much of a bad boy. But I couldn’t imagine doing a “boy list” without including the boy that officially started my TV fangirl career. And, of course, there was that time he banged his English teacher in the bushes and ended up inadvertently making a sex tape from it . . .
Why is he broody? Like many of the boys on this list, Pacey is a product of a dysfunctional family — a drunken dad who abuses him, a brother who verbally berates him, and a mother and sisters who ignore him completely. Due to his poor grades and upbringing, Pacey believes himself to be destined to a life on the Creek, doing menial labor for minimal wage. To make matters worse, he spends a good portion of Season 3 head over heels in love with Joey Potter, a woman who he believes to be completely out of his league, and who also seems to be very hung up on his best friend, Dippy Dawson.
Why we love him anyway? Pacey is by far, the kindest hearted, most romantic, sweetest, and most loyal boy on this entire list. Not only did he beat up boys for his lover, Joey ( most of these guys did that at one time or another), he also took care of her when she needed a friend, taught her to drive, saved her family’s business, bought her a wall, picked her up from a bad date in the middle of the night, and took her on a three month voyage without ever pressuring her into sex. In short, this man is MY HERO!
10) Damon Salvatore – The “I Like to Bite” Bad Boy
TV Show: The Vampire Diaries
Who plays him? Ian Somerhalder
What makes him a Bad Boy? What doesn’t make this guy a bad boy? He’s a VAMPIRE! He controls humans’ minds and drinks from them regularly. He breaks peoples necks for no apparent reason at all. He made Caroline his feeding vessel and sex slave for a couple of episodes.
(Click the internal link to watch.)
He tortured Vicki and made her think his brother, Stefan, was doing it. Then he killed her.
(No embedding on this clip either. You know the drill.)
After that, he turned her into a vampire and she went nuts. So he had to dispose of the body. He also continually tries to steal his brother’s girlfriends. (But we actually really like him for that . . .)
What makes him broody? Damon has been pining over the same girl for a century and a half! (How’s that for dedication!)
So, he risks his undeath to find his dream girl, only to learn that she doesn’t want to be found. His own brother basically tricked him into becoming a vampire. And now that same brother is dating a woman who looks exactly like the girl he fell in love with all those years ago. Did I mention that Damon is in love with this new girl too?
(Here we go again, click away . . .)
Why we love him anyway? Damon is beautiful and sexy. He is also strong, intensely masculine, and hilariously funny. The elder Salvatore Brother really does try to protect Elena in every way he knows how. Damon knows that Elena can redeem him. And deep down, he truly wants to be redeemed. Oh, and he looks really hot with his shirt unbuttoned. . .
So, there you have it, Ten Brooding Bad Boys viewed from the perspective of the blogger that loves them all. In every life a little darkness must fall. And if you have to have darkness, at least let it come in the form of a hot sexy man who loves you, like no one else will . . .
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