There was an article in Nylon magazine recently about nerd sex appeal.  I got to thinking about testosterone-challenged guys I know of (celebrities, book characters…um, unfortunately, none in real life come to mind).

I’ve been a fan of Weezer since the early nineties.  Rivers Cuomo may just be the archetype nerdy lead singer.  After all, in one of his songs he sings, “O-wee-o, I look just like Buddy Holly, oh, oh, and you’re Mary Tyler Moore.”  Buddy Holly, at least in terms of modern-day hunkiness, would not rate very high.  But if you’ve ever listened to Weezer’s lyrics and music, you know this is no ordinary misfit…this guy has IT.

In This Lullaby by Sarah Dessen, the main character, Remy, eventually falls for Dexter (the name alone is a red flag-o-nerdiness).  Dexter is clumsy, socially awkward, and loves stupid dares (he ate a 32 oz jar of Miracle Whip in twenty minutes.  Um, yuck).  Dexter is not attractive to Remy in the beginning, but his kind heart, indeed, super sensitivity (one of the most likeable guy characters I’ve read in a long time) eventually wins her over.

Take Michael Cera, Paulie Bleeker from Juno and Nick in Nick and Nora’s Infinite Playlist, among other movies.  A guy who can wear tube socks and a sweat band and still make you want to hug him has something going on.

Dreamy Adam Brody plays self-proclaimed geek Seth on The O.C. who loves comic books and sci fi.  John Krasinski could win an award for cutest homely face in a comedy series.  Once irritating twerp Louis on Even Stevens has become outcast Sam Witwicky in Transformers, but Shia LaBeouf has an undeniable magnetism.  Brett from Flight of the Conchords belies his dorkiness when he sings that “I rap about reality, like me and my grandma drinking a cup of tea.”  Similarly, Andy Samberg is book-nerdy, yet irrisistable when he sings, “the Chroni-what?- cles of Narnia.”  Then there’s Mark Ruffalo, who will never be mistaken for a Brad Pitt or Christian Bale, but who would close the door on him if he came calling?  Ben Gibbard, the sideburn-sporting teddy bear lead singer of Death Cab for Cutie is engaged to Zooey Deschanel, the attractive actress in Elf and Yes Man.  Billy Joel hooked up with cover model Christie Brinkley.

So what’s it all about?  Most nerds aren’t sporting babes on their arms in high school.  Why, then, are the above-mentioned guys so hot?  Is it only celebrities who can ratchet up the nerd-appeal to hottie geek?   It could be that Bettys are only attracted to these guys for their money.  Or does it say something about these women, like perhaps they are searching beyond surface looks for a mate?   Maybe these guys have something that testosterone-overloaded dudes never could.

If dweebs are a hot commodity, should girls be giving D&D lovers a second look?   Beneath the Yu-Gi-Oh exterior, does there lie a heart of gold?  Could the pocket protector-wearing Microsoft-devotee be the man of your dreams?

So let’s hear your thoughts.  What makes everyday nerds unnoticeable, and superstar nerds enticing?  Or are you one who sees the hidden hotness is those misfits already?