Maxim recently released its 2010 Hot 100 List of sexy women, which means it’s time for me to post my second annual list of nerdy hot guys—men known more for being quirky than chiseled—presented in no particular order. (Check out last year’s list here.)
- Matt Damon. Yes, he’s ultra cool as Jason Bourne but also super nerdy as Mark Whitacre in The Informant and the Ocean’s movies. Rumor has it he’ll be Tina Fey’s next boyfriend on 30 Rock, which means he’ll be bringing the dorkiness. Can’t wait!
- Craig Ferguson. He does the wackiest monologues in late night, and in a sexy Scottish brogue to boot.
- Harry Connick Jr. Sure, he’s a talented musician, singer and actor, but he’s also a giant goofball. Did you see him on American Idol recently? Aaron Kelly thinks Connick should replace Simon as judge next year and I think that’s the best suggestion yet.
- Robert Sean Leonard. His straight-laced Wilson is constantly being abused by House, but every once in a while, Wilson pulls a good prank on the mean doctor and I can’t resist a skilled prankster (as long as the joke’s on someone else).
- Nathan Fillion. Whether he’s playing a space captain or crime novelist, he’s always just a little bit goofy and that’s why he’s on this list.
- Hugh Grant. Good hair or not, he’s so awkward it’s almost difficult to watch him sometimes. But I do, because his discomfiture always makes me laugh.
- Zachary Levi. He plays Chuck, a super nerd carrying a top secret government database in his head, but excuse me, THAT’s nerdy? The only things that make the character believable are Levi’s thespian skills, Chuck’s clumsiness and tendency to talk too much.
- Matthew Morrison. Mr. Schue may lead the glee club and be unlucky with women, but if the glee club teacher in my school had looked and danced like him, I’d be a brilliant singer right now.
- Joseph Gordon-Levitt. He plays outcasts in indie films and pines unrequitedly for Zooey Deschanel in (500) Days of Summer, but the dancing he did to Hall & Oates in the movie and later on Saturday Night Live? Retro sexy.
- Jason Sudeikis. He’s often hidden behind ridiculous wigs & porn ‘staches on Saturday Night Live, but showed up looking perfectly cute as Floyd, Liz’s ex-boyfriend on 30 Rock.
9 Comments
Brams
May 14, 2010 at 8:29 amRobert Sean Leonard…… yesssssss!!! So very much in love with him (or rather, Wilson). I would have Martin Freeman on there, he’s like a bumbling teddy bear and I think he’s brilliant 🙂 He’s well-known for being in The Office and he also played Arthur Dent in Hitchhiker’s Guide (2005). He’s been in loads of stuff but those are the main ones I can think of.
I’d also have Ben Foster on there, not because he’s goofy or nerdy, I just fancy the pants off him!! I suppose he does have a rather goofy smile, and he played a totally awkward (though somehow sweet) misfit in The Punisher. Asides from that he’s known for playing brooding and/or violent characters, so I guess he doesn’t really fit here :/
EIREGO
May 14, 2010 at 2:15 pmAs a straight man, it’s a bit hard to actually ogle these guys. But I have to admit, these are some choice dudes.
Naomi Johnson
May 14, 2010 at 8:19 pmBig thumbs up to Craig Ferguson. A talk-show host who reads. What a concept!
Shell Sherree
May 15, 2010 at 12:15 amPCN, no arguments with me over your choices. Nerdy and mighty fine! Somehow I have a feeling Justin Long has come up for discussion on this subject, so sorry if I’m repeating things ~ but he’s up there on my list of nerdy hotties. Ok, technically because he’s Apple guy, he is perhaps too cool for the list, but there’s still something loveably nerdy about him to me.
jenn
May 17, 2010 at 7:56 amOh my goodness, I thought I was the only one who drooled over Craig Ferguson. I love him! Funny, smart, awkward, and salt and pepper hair. Yum.
Also, yes on Robert Sean Leonard, Harry Connick, Jr. and Hugh Grant.
joy
May 17, 2010 at 5:44 pmnathan fillion is like maple syrup. excellent with pancakes.
Pop Culture Nerd
May 18, 2010 at 12:34 pmBrams—Freeman & Foster would make fine additions to the list.
Naomi & jenn—Nice to know you’re members of the Ferguson Fan Club!
Shell—Long doesn’t quite do it for me but I lust after Apple products.
joy—Pancakes & other edible things.
Jen Forbus
May 20, 2010 at 8:55 am*Dreamy Sigh* I would get my TV re-instated, AND finally watch American Idol if I could see Harry every week on it. OY! He’s so incredibly fabulous…and he is a goofball when he performs in concert, too. He was beyond amazing in THE PAJAMA GAME on Broadway, and can I just take him home with me? Please?
Robert Sean Leonard is wonderful on HOUSE. And I loved him more than anything in DEAD POETS SOCIETY. He was wonderfully nerdy there, too!
Matt Damon’s role in GOOD WILL HUNTING should qualify him for the nerdy award, too!
Could we add Dule Hill? And maybe Hill Harper? Dule Hill definitely has a nerdy role on PSYCH and Hill Harper is the/was the coroner on CSI:NY…would he qualify for the nerd category?
And Michael Weatherly and Sean Murray on NCIS are goofballs to the core. They would definitely be on my list.
R
July 7, 2010 at 9:07 pmI’d also like to mention David Tango (from SyFy’s Ghost Hunters–paranormal research is pretty nerdy) and Michael Cera (for his lovably confused teenage outcast persona). I totally agree on Justing Long–another thing to qualify him would be his role in Live Free or Die Hard in which he portrayed a computer hacker. I also agree with the mentions of Martin Freeman, Dule Hill, and Sean Murray.