Do Girls Dream of 'Geeky Dreamboats'?
Filed under: Fandom, Comic/Superhero/Geek

I said in my Geek Beat this week that I never receive swag -- but apparently being the authoress of so many "geek" tagged posts gets you a copy of this: a little pocket book called Geeky Dreamboats that's basically a hardcover Teen Beat. I found it in my mailbox yesterday, and after a bit of initial disappointment that it wasn't a pocket sized copy of Clint Eastwood: A Life in Pictures, I gave it the time of day.
I'm actually a little perplexed by it. I thought it was meant as a joke, what with the hearts and lipstick marks and all, but it seems to be fairly sincere. But the selections are bizarre! Some of them seem to be geeky dreamboats purely because they played a character with glasses. Others, like Zac Efron and Shia LaBeouf, seem to be exactly the kind of pretty boy the authoresses rail against. In what universe are Luke and Owen Wilson geeks? And surely guys from geek movies should figure into this? Most geek chicks I know consider their "geek crush" to be the likes of Robert Downey Jr., Hugh Jackman, or Christian Bale.
Seeing as it was a slow news day (and they did go to the trouble of sending me a copy), I thought I'd show it off to the girls out there and we could get all girly about it in the comments. It is kind of interesting because it's one of the first geek things I've seen geared towards women, and acknowledges them as part of this trend. I just wish it reflected our tastes a little better, and wasn't plasted with hearts!
I'm actually a little perplexed by it. I thought it was meant as a joke, what with the hearts and lipstick marks and all, but it seems to be fairly sincere. But the selections are bizarre! Some of them seem to be geeky dreamboats purely because they played a character with glasses. Others, like Zac Efron and Shia LaBeouf, seem to be exactly the kind of pretty boy the authoresses rail against. In what universe are Luke and Owen Wilson geeks? And surely guys from geek movies should figure into this? Most geek chicks I know consider their "geek crush" to be the likes of Robert Downey Jr., Hugh Jackman, or Christian Bale.
Seeing as it was a slow news day (and they did go to the trouble of sending me a copy), I thought I'd show it off to the girls out there and we could get all girly about it in the comments. It is kind of interesting because it's one of the first geek things I've seen geared towards women, and acknowledges them as part of this trend. I just wish it reflected our tastes a little better, and wasn't plasted with hearts!










Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
5-27-2009 @ 6:32PM
Geek Girl Diva said...
I have to say, I hope it was a joke. Otherwise, someone doesn't understand geek girls very well.
::grin:: But then, few people do.
I will admit - along with Hugh, Christian and Robert Downey, Jr., I do crush on Jon Cryer and John Cusack because of Pretty in Pink and Sure Thing.
So, I do
Reply
5-27-2009 @ 6:40PM
Geek Lover said...
Sorry gals. Christian is not a geek. I think this a topic of hot debate!
5-27-2009 @ 6:59PM
Geek Girl Diva said...
@Geek Lover
For myself, I think it was more about the types of guys geeky babes crush on. At least, that's what I took from it.
::grin::
5-27-2009 @ 6:34PM
Geek Girl Diva said...
Hm..cut me off.
Anyway, just adding:
So, I do love geek boys. Maybe it just means we have more expansive crush parameters?
Reply
5-27-2009 @ 6:43PM
Geek Lover said...
Also! I have this book, and it should be noted that there is a geekboat meter that acknowledges that some of the boys are more dreamy than geeky and visa versa. That said, I think the Zac Efrons and Jonas Bros of the mix are clearly ironic.
Reply
5-27-2009 @ 7:26PM
Sera said...
I know Zac Efron doesn't seem like a geek now, but he was definitely a subspecies of geek in high school -- the drama nerd. Not as lowly perhaps as the computer nerd but still geeky. Plus he was in debate club and he had a 4+ gpa. He was also pretty dorky looking back then. He actually has one other thing working for his geekdom - he is into manga and comic books pretty hardcore. Oh and I should mention he used to (and might still) play Dungeons and Dragons.
So all told he's just a nerd who got really, really lucky in the post-adolescent genetics draw.
Reply
5-27-2009 @ 8:48PM
Claire said...
my geek crushes tend to be more character based than actual actors themselves. (hello 10th Doctor!)
Those actors who I do crush on are "out-of-the-closet" about their fandoms. They revel in their geek nature, unlike Zac Efron who apparently hides it too much. Maybe if he signed up to do a solid adult geek movie, like what Shia Labeouf is trying to do, I'd give him more credit.
this is why i want to have Joss Whedon's babies.
Reply
5-27-2009 @ 11:51PM
Maria Stahl said...
I love that Bret and Jemaine made the cover. :o)
Reply
5-28-2009 @ 3:01AM
Josh said...
Shia LaBeouf was a total geek until he buffed up for Indiana Jones. That's when all of the sudden he was hot property and started to be a "heart throb", even though Disturbia and Transformers really made his career. Watch The Battle of Shaker Heights, Holes or Even Stevens and tell me this dude doesn't belong in that book. I guess he's a swan now, and I might not be a girl but I've got serious bromantic mancrush on him, lol.
Reply
5-28-2009 @ 8:17AM
rachael said...
My geeky chrush-the one I am in love with is Robert Downey Jr. He is an unlikely superhero type (with Ironman). A geeky super hero and inventor. As Sherlock Holmes he's even geekier as a detective with intellect and a quirky sense of humor. God! In Kiss Kiss Bang Bang-He was geeky and super sexy Harry Lockhart! Most characters he plays he's geeky yet super sexy. Robert Downey Jr. is probably even a super geek at heart. He has even said that his idea job would be to be an inventor. Now that's my kind of Geek!!!!! I would certainly take Robert Downey Jr. in a heart beat with all of his intelligence, quirkiness, adventureous spirit, sense of humor, god knows that super sexy body and all his other attributes anytime!!! He can be my GEEK anytime he wants!
Reply
5-28-2009 @ 1:25PM
djkorova1 said...
Where's Martin Starr???
Reply
5-28-2009 @ 2:29PM
ML said...
Daniel Radcliffe is a "geek"? Not even his character, Harry Potter, is a geek, unless you define geek as "wears glasses."
Reply
6-23-2009 @ 9:14PM
charles said...
i have to go with Jason Schwartzman, Jason Biggs, John Cusack, Jon Heder, Nick Swardson, Zach Braff, Tom Welling and Michael Rosenbaum(smallville) & John Cho are my favorite hot geeks =)
I agree this looks like a joke, is insulting, and ruins such a great idea for the boygeeks to be exposed and drooled over =( in a less floof-y way!
Reply