Television Characters My Younger Self Would Have Married

While talking with someone last week about Claire Danes and her impressive performance in Homeland, I mentioned that I still see her as Angela from My So Called Life – the first thing I think I ever saw her in – which made me think of of Jordan Catalano (her character’s love interest in the show) and how much I wanted to date him when I was that age. Which led me to think of other TV characters I was in love with in my youth… ahh, the good old days.

Ricky Stratton (Silver Spoons) | Mostly because I wanted to live in that mansion and have someone cater to my every need – apparently I was dreaming of a life of leisure as a child.

Mike Seaver (Growing Pains) | This is kind of a given for any child of the 80s… that smile was just irresistable.

Charles (Charles in Charge) | I was always a sucker for an authoritative man, and his appeal was further highlighted by his playing opposite of his complete doofus of a best friend.

Zack Morris (Saved by the Bell) | That impish smile and effervescent charm… who wasn’t cheering for Zack and Kelly to end up together forever (when they weren’t hoping Zack would materialize in front of them and propose)?

Will Smith (Fresh Prince of Bel-Air) | Though I didn’t realize until I Googled his character name, that it is/was the same as his actual name – does this mean I actually wanted to marry the real Will Smith? I probably wouldn’t have turned him down but considering I’m no Jada Pinkett, I don’t think it would have worked out. But he was so cute and he was sent away from home, which made me just want to give him a big hug.

Jordan Catalano (My So Called Life) | Oh yes, my bad boy phase, perfectly epitomized by the brooding and dark Jordan Catalano with the killer eyes. I believe I watched, rewound and rewatched Jordan and Angela’s first kiss more times that I should ever admit (which was quite a commitment back in the days of VHS). The nerdy girl got the bad boy, strange that I would relate to that.

Noel or Ben (Felicity) | As different as they were, either of the leading men on that show would have worked for me… solid, sweet Noel or exasperatingly unreliable but totally forgiveable Ben (simply for the way he whisper-said “Hi”) – I think Felicity picked the right one for her but until the end, I loved them both (though if forced, I’d totally pick Scott Speedman – which is okay since he was in Underworld with Simon’s celebrity crush, Kate Beckinsale and in some convoluted way, I’m going to say that absolves me of any guilt).

Dawson and then Pacey (Dawson’s Creek) | Unlike my shared attraction for both Noel and Ben from Felicity, my likes when it came to Dawson’s Creek inititally were 100% with Dawson and then switched completely over to Pacey (perhaps my affections can be easily manipulated with good writing but once Dawson did the ugly cry on the docks while Joey ran away from him for Pacey that was it for me, no looking back – my apologies James Vander Beek, but that was not your finest acting moment).

And last, but not least:

Vaughn (Alias) |  Oh Michael Vartan… that show… the perfect mix of volnerability, intrigue, adventure and intensity and Vaughn. Sigh. [And then I remember that Alias also brought Bradley Cooper onto my radar. Thank you very much for that one J. J. Abrams and Bad Robot.]

And again, it should be noted, I love my husband who embodies all the best things about the characters listed above, plus he’s Australian (and I love accents, right, Jonna?).