On the surface, Seth Cohen is not the type of guy a TV fangirl, like me, normally “goes for.” In fact, when I watched the pilot episode for The O.C., I was very ANTI- Seth Cohen! He just seemed so “sweet” and protagonist-y.
This wasn’t a guy who was going to be broody or uncommunicative, like my previous TV boyfriends. He wasn’t going to kick people’s asses for the fun of it . . . or do morally ambigious (read: “sexy”) things on a weekly basis . . . or walk around shirtless, constantly, just because he could. In short, I didn’t think Seth Cohen and I were going to get along, AT ALL . . .
But then, something strange happened. As I continued to watch The O.C., gradually, Seth Cohen began to win me over with his refreshingly uncool ways . . .
He wasn’t like the shallow, superficial high school characters you typically saw on teen dramas, who only seemed interested in who they were dating at the moment, and whether they’d win prom king and queen. Seth was smart and sarcastic, but not in a pompous or self-righteous sort of way. His unique brand of humor was goofy, charming, and self-deprecating.
He was also unapologetically “meta.” This was a Guy On a TV Show who ABSOLUTELY KNEW he was a Guy On a TV Show. And he was loving every minute of it . . .
Given all that, it should be no surprise to you that Seth Cohen ended up being somewhat of a STUD on The O.C. And though he did have his pick of the ladies, throughout the seasons, there was only ONE woman who truly had his heart . . .
That’s right, boys and girls! Seth Cohen was a firm believer in the ever-evaporating concept of Monogamy. (Granted, he did date two girls simultaneously for a good portion of the first season. But we are going to let that one slide, for the moment . . .) Seth Cohen gave the entire Nerd Population hope, when he managed to overcome his social awkwardness, unpopularity, and love of comic books, to win the heart of pretty, popular alpha female, Summer Roberts.
Seth and Summer. Summer and Seth. It just doesn’t get much more adorable than these two brunette cuties . . .
For all the aforementioned reasons (and some others I will share with you in just a bit), on this Memorial Day 2011, I would like to create an Unofficial Memorial to my favorite TV GOOD BOY Boyfriend. This memorial will feature video clips, screencaps, GIFS, and . . . well . . . not much else, because I’m feeling particularly lazy today. (I’m hungover! SUE ME! 🙂 )
What follows are TEN REASONS (in no particular order) why Good Boy Seth Cohen has what it takes to go head-to-head with even the darkest of Bad Boys in the battle for your heart . . .
(1) He is “stealth.”
(2) He’s kind to ALL animals (even the plastic ones).
(10) He will (quite literally) sweep you off your feet.
There you have it: a video and pictoral representation of 10 reasons why Seth Cohen fully deserves TV Boyfriend status, despite being an unrelentingly GOOD BOY. So, thank you, Seth Cohen, for showing us TV watchers that sometimes the LIGHT can be just as sexy as the DARKNESS. That being said . . . TAKE YOUR DAMN SHIRT OFF, ALREADY!
THANK YOU!
(For more shots of Shirtless Seth Cohen, feel free to head HERE!)
See ya in The O.C., Seth. And in the words of Phantom Planet, “California, HERE WE COME!”
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?
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 . . .
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