Who’s Your Boob Tube Boyfriend?

By Marisa

When real-world guys just don’t do it for us (like when they string us along and make us think they want something only to send us an IM saying they’re not looking for something serious….Sorry, I’m bitter), we love to escape to our favorite TV shows and live vicariously through the ladies with great boyfriends, even with all the baggage and dramz. There’s just something about leading men that makes us go crazy with adoration/jealousy/excitement/OMG-THEY-FINALLY-GOT-TOGETHER!

Oh, and the guys on TV are usually so. damn. cute.

But with all the amazing TV shows out there and their equally amazing hunks, how do you pick one to swoon over? I know, it’s a tough choice, but this guide might help you decide which boy is right for you:

Warning: Possible spoilers ahead if you’re not caught up with these shows!

If you like…a bad boy with a heart of gold:

Jess Mariano (Gilmore Girls)

When Jess first arrives in Stars Hollow, it’s obvious that he and Rory are going to collide somehow. And when they finally do, after a tumultuous season full of romantic tension, it is awesome. I’m extremely biased, but Jess is, and will forever be, the ultimate TV boyfriend. Sarcastic and mysterious, yet intelligent and (in his own way) caring, Jess is simply the ideal man. Who can resist a leather jacket-clad guy with a Hemingway novel in his back pocket?

Ryan Atwood (The O.C.)

At the start of the series, we get a taste of how bad boy Ryan is going to shake up the posh community of Newport Beach, California that leaves us begging for more. He meets Marissa Cooper, the girl next door, and thus begins a whirlwind romance. Ryan eventually steals Marissa from her banal beau Luke, and our hearts sing when they share their first kiss. Although he comes from a troubled past, he’s really a sweet guy with a caring heart underneath it all.

If you like…a loveable geek:

Seth Cohen (The O.C.)

Seth Cohen made being a nerd a cool thing when the show first debuted. From Batman comics to Dynasty Warriors video games, Seth just screams geek. And yet, Summer still falls for him, as do we all. It’s inevitable, really; he’s sweet, sensitive, and is just too damn cute to resist when he starts rambling. Plus, a Spiderman-style upside down kiss? Isn’t that every girl’s fantasy…and not just mine?

Jim Halpert (The Office)

It’s a familiar story: two best friends who have feelings for each other and, after a long, tormented struggle, finally get together and live happily ever after. Somehow, the writers of The Office managed to skillfully weave such a fairy tale storyline into the mockumentary aspect of the show. They also managed to make Jim absolutely perfect while still grounding him in reality. He’s smart, funny, adorable, and a total sweetheart, even if he is a bit on the dorkier side. But, like Pam, we love him that way!

If you like…the artistic type:

Lucas Scott (One Tree Hill)

Whether you wanted him to end up with Brooke or Peyton, you have to admit that Lucas Scott is one fine specimen of a man. He may have been an athlete in his high school heyday, but in his heart he’s always been a writer. He has the brooding artist thing down perfectly – and it never fails to make us swoon! It’s no surprise that three women on the show (plus the millions of fans out there) all want a piece of him for themselves.

Charlie Pace (Lost)

What is it about a boy with a guitar that drives us crazy? Well, if he’s Charlie Pace, we have other reasons to swoon like mad. It’s easier to overlook his troubled past when you see him with Claire, caring for her and for Aaron as if he were his own son. In addition to being a brooding artist, he’s a real sweetheart. And the accent…oh, that accent!

If you like…someone out-of-this-world:

Max Evans (Roswell)

Roswell may have been a short-lived and little-known show, but the romance between human Liz Parker and alien Max Evans was cosmic in scale. Imagine dating an alien with amazing powers such as healing! Not to mention the complex inner-workings of Max Evans that made him a completely human character in a different way. He’s shy and quiet, more of the sensitive type, and completely in love with Liz. If only I had a guy like that! I could watch the pilot’s opening scene over and over…

Bill Compton (True Blood)

The recent vampire trend has graced both the silver and small screens with un-dead hotties. (Editor’s Note: Anyone else think those two words would never be strung together in a sentence?) But the hottest of them all has to be Bill Compton of True Blood. Besides being, well, gorgeous, he’s a well-mannered gent who dearly loves his human girlfriend and will do whatever it takes to keep her safe. Sure, his language is a bit antiquated, but he can’t help it; he was turned into a vampire when he was a soldier in the Civil War. And I happen to think his old-fashioned vocabulary adds to his charm. I don’t know about you all, but he could call on me any time he wants to!

If you like…a guy who’ll make you feel good better:

Derek Shepherd (Grey’s Anatomy)

McDreamy truly lives up to his nickname on Grey’s Anatomy. He’s a charming, handsome, intelligent doctor – and, conveniently, a bachelor (after his divorce goes through, of course!). Meredith really hit the jackpot with Derek, even if she doesn’t always realize it. Their relationship is proof that something good can come of a drunken one-night-stand, although you have to make sure to go to the bar near the hospital where all the doctors hang out.

Christopher Turk (Scrubs)

Turk and Carla’s romance on Scrubs is often overshadowed by Turk and JD’s bromance, but if you look hard enough, you see a sweet love story. Turk may be somewhat of a buffoon (especially when JD is in the picture), but at heart, he’s a great guy and loves Carla. Plus, a sense of humor is an absolute necessity when it comes to a guy. Turk has plenty of it, so if you like to clown around with your man, he’s not a bad choice at all. He can also be quite sentimental when the situation calls for it.

If you like…a party animal:

Chuck Bass (Gossip Girl)

When it comes to Chuck Bass, you either love him or hate him. Although he often is a disgusting pig of a man, you have to admit that he has style. Chuck Bass parties only with the best, so if you’re sole purpose is to have a good time, get on the guest list to one of Bass’s bashes. If he likes you, he’ll make sure you have the time of your life. In fact, he’ll guarantee it. Oh, did you feel that shiver down your spine?

This is nowhere near an exhaustive list of the best TV boyfriends. Who are some of the guys you’d like to steal from their leading ladies?