The Rise of the Tall, Blond Viking

Have you noticed how many male celebrities are tall, blond and handsome? I have. It's scary how much they look alike. Since I have journeyed from adolescence into womanhood, there have been several hot male stereotypes- such as...

• The Pirate

• Hipster Lumberjack

• Abercrombie Model

• Boy Band Member w/Frosted Tips 

• Prepster 

• Grungy/Dirty Hipster 

As you can see, I have no shortage of examples of male hottie trends. But now, it is time to move on to the look de jour and one I personally feel is timeless. 

The Tall, Blond Viking

The Viking stereotype, as I am defining it, is a man who is tall with broad shoulders, a ripped body, long, blond hair, and blue eyes. He has to be handsome, but rugged and not a "pretty boy". So someone like Chris Pine would be out because of that. 

The characters they play have to be rugged as well. They also have to be natural leaders, strong on the battlefield, faithful to their people, and a hot lover.

Let the dreaming begin, right?

Below I have three current actors who fit the bill. The idea came to me when I thought about just how similar they all look.

Chris Hemsworth

It is no surprise that this actor actually plays Thor, god of thunder. 

Charlie Hunnam

Jax Teller! He definitely looks like a viking and is featured in a King Arthur flick as, you guessed it, King Arthur. He has that not-of-this-time vibe and looks that can kill.

Travis Fimmel

This actor actually PLAYS a viking. I don't know what came first, the chicken or the egg, but Travis could be Charlie's twin. The similarities are out of control.

I AM SERIOUSLY hoping that this trend is here to stay. Give me long blond hair, a great body, and piercing blue eyes ANY DAY.

Shemp's Favorite Sci-Fi & Supernatural TV Shows w/ Best Episode

10) Black Mirror-- "The Entire History of You"

This show creeps me out so much. The episodes start out with these far-fetched ideas that don't really seem like they could happen. But just when you think it's gone too far to be relatable, they reveal aspects of the human condition that hit too close to home. I usually end up watching The Eric Andre show after to cheer myself up.

9) Merlin -- "The Tears of Uther Pendragon"

Merlin, I wish we could go back! Emrys is the cutest, young hipster Merlin to ever exist. This show is family friendly and is not for anyone who is an Arthurian purist. Lots of liberties are taken with this show, but it is just so entertaining, heartwarming, and diverting. Bingeworthy!

8) Stranger Things -- "The Upside Down"

Perhaps the coming of Season 2 will up my ranking of this show. What a pleasant surprise in the TV world, especially with GOT currently on hiatus. I totally dig what the creators and directors are doing to give the viewer a throwback to 80's styles and they have such a good balance of great characters with quirky personalities and truly scary alien encounters. The acting is incredible.

7) Buffy The Vampire Slayer -- "Passion", "Killed By Death"

This is a nostalgic show for me. I spent years of my life watching this show, laughing at Joss Whedon's quirky jokes, having the pants scared off of me, and being completely obsessed with the love lives of these characters. Mr. Pointy!

6) Star Trek: The Next Generation -- "Best of Both Worlds Parts I & II"

Another show that has been in my life forever. I love all of these characters and the worlds they go to. TNG for life! 

I wanted to pick an episode with Q... but there is nothing more terrifying than the Borg.

5) True Blood - "Let's Get Out of Here" or "Cold Ground"

Sexy, campy, and full of every kind of creature! We've got vamps, shifters, witches, fairies, brujos, you name it! Despite the supernatural cast of characters, it is usually the humans that are the most terrifying of all. The show is over-the-top, but a lot of times it ends up making fun of/calling attention to social issues in society. Best seasons are definitely 2 and 4.

4) The X Files -- "Home"

The original binge-worthy show. I caught some of these when they had originally aired, but our love was rekindled with Netflix. The tension between Scully and Mulder, the aliens... I want to believe! I could watch this show for days.

3) Game of Thrones -"Winter is Coming", "The Lion and The Rose", "Watchers on the Wall"

No words needed. This show is up there on almost everyone's list. There are so many plot points, families, foreign lands, and theories to explore and contemplate. I hate waiting for the next season and yet it gives me plenty of time to re-watch the entire series up until that point. My favorite character has been dead for a very long time now, but I still can't peel myself away from the couch on Sunday nights. #EddardForvever

2) The Twilight Zone, "Eye of the Beholder", "Hitchhiker", "Monsters Are Due on Maple Street"

I have always loved this show. Like many others on this list, it is eerie and intelligent. I look forward to the marathons on holiday weekends, it's like an extra treat on top of an already wonderful time. You can definitely see how Black Mirror was inspired by this show as it implores the same supernatural, far-fetched story lines that ultimately leave you questioning your existence and humanity.

1) Twin Peaks, "May The Giant Be With You", "Beyond Life and Death"

I am a huge David Lynch fan and cannot stop myself from making Twin Peaks number one... it is my favorite television show of all time. Much like my first post about the Top Ten Hottest Actors from the 50's to the 90's, I picked a number one that encompasses the best aspects of 2-10. This is the weirdest, scariest, funniest, and most stylish show I have ever seen. It opened up the flood gates to TV and cinema in a way I had not experienced before. The dry humor Cooper uses slays me. 

Side note: I bingewatched this entire show while living in the Midwest. I had gotten pink eye from some children I was nannying for and watched the entire first season with my right eye swollen shut with puss. Good times! Wouldn't have made it through without Audrey and Coop! <3 Audrey and Cooper forever, Annie sucks!

Agree? Disagree? Agree to disagree? Leave a comment below!

Top Ten Hottest Actors from the 50's to the 90's

Shemp's Top Ten 

Hottest Film Actors 

50's to the 90's

Sometimes you just need to sit back in your favorite spot on the couch, dip your french fries in mashed potatoes with gravy, and appreciate some old-fashioned, Hollywood handsomeness. This list is my ultimate ranking of manly, sexy actors of yesteryear. It's cliche, but they don't make them like this anymore! Well, maybe that's not entirely true... check out the bottom of this blog post for Shemp's Five Honorable Mentions from the 2000's to now!

10) Patrick Stewart 

This British theatre veteran was once told that he would never find love because of his baldness, but boy were they wrong! Stewart has been the object of every SciFi girl's fantasy since the first episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation aired. He exudes class and sophistication, has an incredible sense of humor, and that accent! He could engage me any day!

Notable Films: X-Men, Hamlet, Star Trek

9) Rock Hudson 

The name alone makes me excited! Hudson was the heartthrob that America loved and every woman went to bed fantasizing about...even though he wasn't so interested in them. If you really want to swoon, catch him in All That Heaven Allows (1955) with Jane Wyman.  

Notable Films: All That Heaven Allows, Pillow Talk, Giant

8) Denzel Washington

Denzel has been a resident hottie since he hit the scene and has only gotten better with age, like a fine Merlot. He may not be the best actor of our generation, but his capability and versatility make him a Hollywood A-Lister - from action flicks to biopics. I think he may have sold his soul to the devil for those good looks and unyielding youth.   

Notable Films: Malcolm X, Glory, The Hurricane, Training Day

7) Cary Grant

"Everyone wants to be Cary Grant. Even I want to be Cary Grant." 

-Cary Grant

This classic leading man is one of my favorites. What can we say about Cary Grant? His transatlantic accent, refined masculinity, and his body (the perfect combination of fit and not too too fit) make one flawless individual. He's the kind of man you would take home to meet mom and he would charm the pants off of her. It's a crime that he never won an Oscar.

Notable Films: North By Northwest, Charade, An Affair to Remember

6) Patrick Swayze

The day he died, the world cried... and I was no exception. His dance moves, those rugged good looks - a truly remarkable specimen. His acting was never something to write home about, but his je ne sais quoi jumped off the screen. I am unashamed to admit that he was the first celebrity that ever made me tingly downtown.        

     Notable Films: Dirty Dancing, Roadhouse, Ghost, The Outsiders  

5) Jeff Goldblum

Goldblum has achieved cult status for his films, but to me he is just the finest, quirky actor. When he asks Gina Davis in Earth Girls are Easy, "What is sex?", I die every time with sheer envy. I would love to teach him! I have to admit, Goldblum is an obsession of mine. He will pop up in this blog again, mark my words!

Notable Films: Jurassic Park, Independence Day, The Fly

4) John Travolta

You should be dancing... with me, John Travolta of 1977. He might not have aged so well and Scientology may have gotten to him, but you can't dispute the obvious! Travolta's moves, voice, looks and swagger made him a 1970's dreamboat. 

Notable Films: Grease, Saturday Night Fever, Pulp Fiction, Face Off

3) Will Smith

Another actor that only gets better with age/does not age. He stole hearts as a young stud on the small screen from West Philadelphia and went on to be the cleanest rapper ever to exist and a talented film actor. His career shows no signs of slowing, being featured in the summer blockbuster Suicide Squad. For me it's all about his smooth voice and smooth moves... 

Notable Films: Bad Boys, Independence Day, Ali, Men in Black

2) Michael Douglas

I feel like an 80's/90's Michael Douglas could put me in my place and make all of my wildest, secret fantasies come true. Plainly, he'd make Christian Gray look like Mickey Mouse. This man is talented, with a long-lasting career to prove it- not to mention Catherine Zeta Jones as his on-again-off-again main squeeze. Even Kanye West gave him a shout out in I'm In it. 

Notable Films: Romancing the Stone, Wall Street, Fatal Attraction, Basic Instinct, Falling Down, A Chorus Line 

1) Harrison Ford

How could Indiana Jones, Han Solo, Rick Decard, Jack Ryan, and the President of the United States himself not be on this list? Harrison Ford embodies all of the best qualities of actors 2-10, although perhaps his acting chops fall a bit short of some of the other contenders on this list (never won an Oscar). Good looking, funny, adventurous, and that smirk! I could melt just now. 

Notable Films: Star Wars films, Indiana Jones films, Blade Runner, What Lies Beneath (Spolier- He is evil!), The Fugitive, Patriot Games, American Graffiti, Frantic, Presumed Innocent

Honorable Mentions from 2000's to Today

5) Javier Bardem

4) Michael Fassbender

3) Chris Hemsworth

2) Idris Elba

1) Tom Hardy

Tom Hardy even makes Bane attractive...

Stay tuned for more posts, lists, and generally a good time!