EW's Most 'Dateable' Small-Screen Players Make Us Swoon And Squirm
Every TV nut (well, isn't that all of us here?) has, at one point or another, spent a little time fantasizing about certain fictional characters on their favorite shows. These fantasies tend to be either soft-focus daydreams (say, dreaming up elaborate schemes in which they "bump" into you at a party) or something a bit more hard-core (picturing them while giving your significant other the old in-out). On that note, the clever list-makers over at EW decided to compile a Top 30 reader's choice collection of the small-screen boys and girls who most frequently make cameos in those illicit fantasies. But, with no offense to the site's readers, we have some serious vetoes to charge. After the jump, our picks for who falls under Strongly Agree (the predictable Jim Halpert) and those we brand as a Vehemently Disagree (four words: Bree. Van. De. Camp), as well as the most erroneous, mind-boggling oversight missing from the group:
Among the most deserving members of the group are, in no particular order:

Jim Halpert on The Office: because laughter is everything. Plus, he's tall.
Ned on Pushing Daisies: Tall, too! And he makes pies. While wearing an apron. With perfect hair and dreamy eyes and that tall, lean frame...let's just say we'd forgive him if he accidentally killed us.
Amanda Tanen on Ugly Betty: If we swung that way, this would be our girl (free clothes!), and from our imagined male point of view, well, same thing: free suits!
Michael and George Michael Bluth from Arrested Development: Best. Threesome. Fantasy. Ever. And afterwards, Michael Cera might bake you cookies, while Jason Bateman played you his favorite records!
Lindsay Weir from Freaks and Geeks: Sure, not Swimsuit Issue-worthy (at least back then, but these days in ER, yum), but in a way, Lindsay was the original Juno MacGuff.
And the incomprehensibles:

Jack Bauer from 24: While we genuflect thrice daily to a poster of the real-life Kiefer, we are going to have to strongly oppose the choice of Jack Bauer. Are we the only ones who happened to catch the fact that his wife was tortured, raped and killed? Yeah, dreamboat for sure.
Jack Shephard from Lost: Yes, Matthew Fox is a fox, there is no doubt. And yes, he's a doctor, and sure, he may have saved, oh, a trillion or so lives. But he's got daddy issues, and we're not into being bossed around, even if it means saving the world (or whatever the fuck they're trying to save this season).
Dylan McKay from Beverly Hills: 90210: Again, hot. But as much as Brenda Walsh infuriated us with her teeth and her moody/wannabe actress/princess-y tendencies, we'd have dumped the too-cool-for-school druggie just on the basis of Squint Addiction.
Summer Roberts from The OC: We've been known to act a little high-maintenance from time to time, but this Cali girl took the term to new heights of offensiveness. Plus, she kinda strikes us as one of those high-school girls who'd pretty much just lay there and blab on her cell while you're pumping away.
Bree Van De Camp from Desperate Housewives: Seriously? Of all the (admittedly impossible-to-choose-from) old frumps on this old frump of a show, EW readers want the shrill ice queen in their sack? Thin lips + bony legs = thanks but no thanks.
And finally, the most crucial void on the list, the most adorable, dateable, loveable visage ever to cross our screens, was inexcusably uninvited to join the list of Effables: Bret from Flight of the Conchords. We don't know about you, but every episode has been permanently saved on our DVR and played repeatedly, from noon to night, to the dismay of our roommate. We'll let you tell us who the EW readers scathingly excluded from the list in the comments!
3:48 AM on Wed Mar 5 2008
by Molly Friedman



View: AU Comments (0) | US Comments (84 comments)
There are currently no AU comments for this entry.
Well, I would say Col. O'Neill instead of Macgyver, but they've got my one celebrity crush on there, so I'm happy.
Mmm, Richard Dean Anderson...
Meiran
Oh man, this is so Jermaine's game I can't stand it. Bret sux, Jermaine 4-eva.
Smackdown
@Coldwine: Steve! Oh, I have developed such a soft spot for sweet-faced car thieves with a glint in their eyes since I fell in love with Steve. He can come throw rocks at my window any time he likes.
I am such a slut for the TV sweethearts.
ASmallTurnip
My absolute number one write-in nominee is Sam Tyler from the BBC's "Life on Mars". Swoon!
But I also like those Antipodean boys: Bret and Jemaine, and "House"'s Robert Chase.
Oh - and Steve McBride, the character James McAvoy played on "Shameless".
(dunno how to do the italics - sorry)
Coldwine
Mmmm.....Bret. Yis.
He's actually a legit musician outside of Flight of the Conchords, and I've been listening to his colossally sexy Prototype album (he goes by the handle Video Kid, not Rhymenoceros), and it's filthy good. Listen to "Slip Away", and you'll get all hot and bothered by the weedy shy guy with the skanking beats.
ASmallTurnip
Goren lured me into the L&O's and Stabler finished me off. Oh, yes, I've had a fantasy or twenty about those men...and boy do I loves me a Jack (M. Fox) and a Charlie (M. Fox, P of 5). So I like to be bossed. mmmmmm...
hack-a-rific
Several of Lisa Edelstein's many TV incarnations. Dr. Cuddy on House is hot, but Laurie on the West Wing might have been more fun. While we're at it, Robert Chase on House. Gorgeous, clever, sensitive, and an Australian accent to boot.
Chuck! From Chuck! Adorable, smart and he can fix your computer. Which, if you're as familiar with the blue screen of death as I am, is a total turn-on.
Datable vs. fuckable is an important qualifier. I sure wouldn't want to date Starbuck 2.0 (Katee Sackhoff), but...oh my.
coodlebump
Fox Mulder *and* Dana Scully. Wait, EW actually means "fuckable," right? Because either X-Files agent would make a lousy date, come to think of it.
@Wendy_Kroy: I would actually love to see Lee Pace hook up with Zachary Quinto, only because of height symmetry. the world doesn't have enough Tall Gays. If, however, the proceedings took place at Akbar, and Quinto's as big a douche as the last Defamer item said he was, I might have to rethink this.
Dwayne Provecho
Oh, and both guys from Big Bang Theory. Rob Morrow and David Krumholtz on Numbers. (My Rob Morrow jones goes back to Northern Exposure, though.)
I feel a little pervy now.
FromTheTulleShed
Bret and Jemaine, yes. Jim Halpert, yes. Dexter, hellz yeah (I think it's the tight shirts and cargos, because I never looked at him that way on Six Feet Under). Any character Jason Bateman has ever played on TV, check.
Omri Katz on Eerie, Indiana. Anyone else remember him? 14-year-old me thought I'd give him my V-card.
FromTheTulleShed
Eric Dane on Grey's Anatomy
regimentkhaki
Don Draper from Mad Men! There is something dreamy about that retro charm. I'd probably even let him smoke. . . sigh.
Jfro
Had I gone to high school with Andrew van de Kamp, he would have totally seduced me as part of an evil scheme and then leave me completely heartbroken.
And after a particular nasty bout of binge-drinking, I would definitely wake up next to The Todd from Scrubs.
whitekidinflatbush
Duh! How could I miss this!
David fucking Addison!
Do flies fly? Do fleas flee?
Desk_hack
Teevee pretend sex is fun!
Top three's gotta be: Kristen Bell (Veronica Mars), the hot girl from Chuck (Yvonne Strahovski, thanks IMDB), and Samaire Armstrong (Entourage).
Assistant/Atlas
@ComicDork: He's doing Hamlet now, I think. But he made a hunky Barty Crouch, it must be said.
Okay: Alex P. Keaton. The only Republican I ever fantasized about.
raincoaster
A Wonderfalls sandwich of Eric, the cute bartender, and Aaron.
Logan Echolls. Chuck Bass.
mmm, Chuck, so wrong, so naughty. And he'd buy you jewelery.
mockingbird
YAY: The Doctor made the list. David Tennant is going to be a HUGE star when he leaves Doctor Who. Bet $$$ on that one.
ComicDork
Obviously, Jim Halpert (okay, Krasinski, really) will always be my first and truest love.
But I wouldn't kick that Zach Levi from Chuck out of bed for eating crackers!
DorothyMantooth
In a few, very specific, very special circumstances, Jack Shephard from "Lost" is very, very welcome to boss me around. But next time he has to wear the handcuffs.
picardia
@raincoaster: Thank you.
sonjahenie
Veronica Mars. Laura Petrie. Mallory from Real World: Paris. Jeri Blank
LBJeffries
I'd like to hate-fuck Andy Bernard from The Office.
Desk_hack
And Sawyer kicks the shit out of Jack every day of the week.
DukeLaCrosse
MTV vjs Damien Fahey and former news vj Gideon Yago
regimentkhaki
@whoneedslight: Veronica is MARRIAGE material.
and since i like 'em fake-gay and boring I'd also have to go for Jack McPhee from Dawson's Creek and Will Truman from Will and Grace
Cfredl54
Agreed. What's with all the dudes? I could literally name 20 females on TV that are "date-able" without question.
Top choices:
1. Veronica Mars (Veronica Mars)
2. Robin Scherbatsky (How I Met Your Mother)
3. Serena Van Der Woodsen (Gossip Girl)
The reason I pick these three is because they are the pound-for-pound most easy-going and funny girls on TV. I mean...we are talking about who we'd DATE, right??
UncannyXMan
Scott Wolfe during Party of Five. Those dimples were just asking for a facial.
regimentkhaki
Jordan. Fucking. Catalano. Shame on you, ladies.
DukeLaCrosse
and cause i'm bored at work: in no particular order: Michael Bluth or Gob Bluth (Arrested Development) , Jon Stewart (The Daily Show), David Letterman (mid-80s), Clark Kent (Smallville), Dr. Luka (ER), JIm Halpert (The Office), Dr.Keith (Scrubs), Pie Man (Pushing Daisies), Jamie the coffee guy and Jack (30 Rock).
now i have to get work done...
el smrtmnky
@regimentkhaki: Eh, I'm not really down with that Jeremy Piven Hairpiece (TM) he sports. Though he was eminently fuckable in that Masterpiece Theatre thingy where he played Lord Byron a few years back. And you gotta figure any guy who managed to keep Angelina Jolie interested for a couple of years has to have some mad skillz in the sack.
Wendy_Kroy
@Sweet Panda Love: i agree with the tim riggins observation but if it's gonna be fourgy, let it be with riggins, saracen, and smash. bonus if i can have coach join in.
el smrtmnky
Jonny Lee Miller
regimentkhaki
I may very well be ostracized for my choice... but I do not care
Malcolm McDowell from Fantasy Island
Wicked
Goin waaaaaaay back... David from Roseanne? Anyone? No? Okay, back to my hole.
FemiNuisance
I nominate Rayanne Graf. If only for the "slut potential".
Bizurke
Although he's not really a "TV character" Mike Rowe is THE sexiest TV personality on the air right now.
winniecooper
@Furious George:
Plus, your girlfriend could solve crimes! Best of both!
whoneedslight
No love for Jack Bauer? Fuck you and your alien leaders, you're not fooling anyone: I want my Defamer back! WHAT HAVE YOU DONE WITH IT?
raincoaster
Bret, you really got it going on.
LucySteele
@Kakapo: unf, dylan moran is even hotter in his standup. he's like an irish, skinny, chain-smoking, physical manifestation of everything i've ever found attractive in menfolk.
And I'm glad I'm not the only Goren fangirl. Because I was more excited he showed up for the opening sketch on SNL last week than I was about anything else that's happened in the last two days.
spankhaus
If we can go back a few years, Bernard Black from BLACK BOOKS is my ultimate fantasy and seems to somewhat mirror my real-life choices, as well.
Kakapo
@CrankYank: I could listen to Chris in the Morning drone on all damn day. Yowza!
And wait just a second - having read the full list, Riggins, Veronica Mars and Jemaine all made it. And MacGyver.
Also - whenever anybody says "sausage fest" all I can envision is some kind of Polish kielbasa-themed street fair.
Sweet Panda Love
@whoneedslight: Yes, yes, a thousand times, yes. Veronica Mars is possibly the most fuckable TV character of all time.
Furious George
I'm madly, madly in love with Lee Pace as the Pie Man. I read The Time Traveler's Wife recently and was kind of bored, but then decided to cast Pace as Henry in my mind-movie of the book, and suddenly I couldn't wait to curl up under the covers with it.
If I ever read a PrivacyWatch report of him hooking up with LiLo at Hyde - or Zachary Quinto at Akbar - I will retreat into my apartment with a pint of Coffee Heath Bar crunch, a vial of Prozac, and a lake of bitter tears.
Wendy_Kroy
$.02
- Jon Stewart totally counts, if only in that his seed must be spread. No Colbert love?
- inter-Bluth threesomes ARE creepy
- glad I'm not the only one to find Goran hypnotic, if ill-groomed and probably smelly
- Blast from the past - John Corbett as Chris Stephens from N. Exposure, yummy hippie
Long live the sausage-fest.
CrankYank
@jungle: Thanks for reminding me. Even better than Claire would be Maggie O'Connell. She's got more life experience and you know all that frustration would translate to la tigré dans le boudoir.
impalpable observer
@winniecooper: Nate has way too many issues. And so self-involved. No can do.
Bret, (Brit? Bret) absolutely.
Fuzzy_duffel_bag
Dirty Jobs' Mike Rowe used to be a saleman on QVC.
Bear Grylls is another babe that is missed.
regimentkhaki
@Furious George:
Veronica Mars!
whoneedslight
@spanktastic: [imdb.com]
Any questions?
SteamyMcFirecrotch
This list is a) a sausage fest, and b) pathetic in its scant selection of females.
Bree fucking van de Kamp? Are they serious? I don't even watch that crazy excuse for a show, but in that cast alone, I'd fuck Eva Longoria and that slutty blonde who's married to Michael Bolton long before I'd settle for Stepford Ice Queen.
Sorely missing from this list:
- Dr. Allison Cameron (House)
- Dr. Lexie Grey (Grey's Anatomy)
- Dr. Juliet whateverherlastnameis (Lost)
etc.
So many hot, female doctors (i.e., $$$) to "date" from within the TV universe, and those whackjobs at EW avoided all of them. What planet do they live on? Some mystical, fairy-tale planet where money and hotness aren't looked upon as desirable qualities?
Furious George
@spankhaus: I too am obsessed w/ Det. Goren (at least the first THREE seasons) cf. the alarming, alarming contents of my DVR.
@whoneedslight: I never got the Creepy Jesus love when Jeremy Sisto was on SFU, and I have only seen the first 2-hour L&O since he joined the cast. He was okay. Not Goren hot. Not Jesse L. Martin hot, either, I don't think.
EugenieRose
I'll have Business Time with Jemaine before Bret any day.
And Josh Charles is on In Treatment? I might have to reconsider watching that.
Jack Bauer can be reserved as a fuckbuddy.
Desk_hack
The babies from 90210, which aired 18 years ago, should be ruled out as ineligible unless they are hot today. Brian Austin Green is all grown up on Sarah Connor Chronicles.
spanktastic
My sweetie has a hot thing for Bree - she's got that dominatrix undertone thing going on. He just loves good girls that are probably really nasty in private. Plus the red hair.
they couldn't include Clooney from ER? Or my all-time hott man from tv, Mike Rowe from Dirty Jobs. *fans self*
JustZoot
And since we're talking Six Feet Under, while brother Billy wasn't all that "dateable" really, unless you're into schizophrenia, he was certainly doable. So I also nominate Jeremy Sisto in his current role on L&O.
whoneedslight
Sam Page on "The Shark" is a hottie and Yalie.
regimentkhaki
Oh! Also, forgot Josh Charles on "In Treatment". Peter Krause but only during his "Sports Night" and "Six Feet Under" years. Seth Gabel on "Dirty, Sexy, Money" also should be on the list.
regimentkhaki
I'm probably the only one on here who DVRs NUMBERS, but I just love Don (Rob Morrow is so much hotter now than he was on Northern Exposure) and my roommate adores Charlie/David Krumholtz! Win/win!
@whoneedslight: And I totally second Timmy Riggins!
jungle
Dexter definitely should have been on the list!
And I'm surprised Shane from the L Word didn't make it.
Katastrophe
Lee Pace is so the poster child for this whole idea! *sigh* Pie Hole me Pie Man!!
BrutallyHonestBabes
@regimentkhaki: Just ask Nazhghalia
Sweet Panda Love
Another vote for Dexter and what about Nate Fisher on Six Feet Under? Yum.
winniecooper
Hottest member of the Bluth family was Will Arnett as Gob. I'm surprised the Law & Order SVU guy Chris Meloni wasn't included. Joel McHale of the Soup is yet another hottie. Adam Brody as Seth on the O.C. was hotter than Dylan of 90210.
regimentkhaki
I would totally date Michael Cera, even though I'd be robbing the cradle.
I have to admit though, even now I still want to get with Fox Mulder.
layladylan
Does Jon Stewart count?
whoneedslight
I'm with you on Goren. He's creepy-hot.
missdotparker
I'd probably sleep with any member of the Bluth family.
Also good call on Dexter!
Gangee
Claire from Six Feet Under. Sure, she's a whinny bitch most of the time, but those big browns framed by the red-hair just melt a middle-aged loser whose last great love had the red and brown working for her.
impalpable observer
when i started to watch "conchords" i assumed i'd be all about jemaine. i wasn't expecting to fall for bret. now the only way i can resolve it is by being the meat in a conchords sandwich.
silkyjumbo
@eraserheadpixies: I'm stunned Dexter's not on this list. He can kill Zack Morris (hello? Zack Morris?) and take that spot.
FancyInk
Really, honestly, I'd take Detective Goren over any of these guys. Well, first season. What? Just me?
spankhaus
@whoneedslight: Tim Riggins is do-able, not date-able. He'd forget your birthday and you'd find him the next day with a black eye in a pile of empty beer cans.
Sweet Panda Love
@tailfeather:
Jinx.
eraserheadpixies
I'm with Sweet Panda Love on this one - Brett and Jemaine both. My other telly crushes include Sean Lock (Vince) off of 15 Storeys High and Nigel Bates off of Eastenders. My other half says that he saw Nigel playing the trumpet in a park years ago and once he'd finished playing, he turned on his heel and ran off into the horizon. Love him...
NancyDraws
I so don't care. I want to get inside Jack Bauer's pants.
And Dexter's, what about him?
eraserheadpixies
Can we write in candidates?
Carly Pope (Guest spots on 24 and Dirt)
Kathleen Robertson (If we're going back to 90210 days)
Christina Applegate ("because laughter is everything.")
SteamyMcFirecrotch
Tim Riggins, Friday Night Lights.
whoneedslight
My new boyfriend looks like Dylan from 90210 and it cracks me UP. I have to tease him. haha.
crushdmb
I remain completely obsessed with Brian from "Queer As Folk." We're meant to be together, even though I'm a woman. He just doesn't know it het.
I also have a thing for Dexter, the sexually repressed psychopath. Jesus, even my fantasy TV boyfriends are unobtainable and poorly chosen.
tailfeather
jess from gilmore girls! swoon!
nikaoh
Bret has got it goin' on. I like his beard. And he's very good at finding shortcuts in this neighborhood. I told him that just before I shipped out as a sniper with Delta Force.
But don't leave out Jemaine! He can certainly do something special for all the ladies of the world - and the girls.
Also - the Bluths are individually adorable but a father-son threesome is downright creepy.
Sweet Panda Love
I agree with the veto on Matthew Fox. I just don't get it. Although he has a lot of hot attributes, he comes across as more than a little dopey if not borderline retarded.
NoReally