12 Nerdy TV Characters And Their Super Hot Significant Others
Television has set a new dating standard for nerdy TV characters. Hit shows such as The Big Bang Theory, Friends and Boy Meets World have shown us that the nerds don't always have to date each other. In fact, the nerdy charm seems to work even better on super hot characters than that of the classically hunky football jock.
And even if we didn't expect nerdy TV characters to have such an allure, we also fell in love with the geeky personas while they discussed paleontology, obsessed over biochemistry, showed off their comic book collections- and even when they lived at home with their Grandmother in their 30's. Besides, nerds seem to have a way of containing their super sexy, suave sides and unleashing it when we least expect it.
Here are 13 of the most memorable nerdy TV characters who worked their endearing dorky magic (probably without even knowing it) to score their super hot significant others.
12 Ross Geller And Rachel Green - Friends
As the smartest member out of his group of friends, Ross Geller (David Schwimmer) takes more than his fair share of flack for being a super nerd. But his nerdy charm eventually won over the heart of his high school crush, Rachel Green (Jennifer Aniston).
Ross's nerdy moments are at their best when he tries to reignite his passion for playing the keyboard, when he corrects his friends' grammar and when he shows up to a Halloween party dressed as a space ship / potato, which he called “Spud-nik”. And as goofy as Ross's nerdy moments can be, we can agree that Friends wouldn't have been as memorable without him, or his on-again off-again relationship with Rachel Green.
11 Leonard Hofstadter And Penny - The Big Bang Theory
Who knew fate would eventually bring together a well-educated science nerd like Leonard Hofstadter, and the beautiful, blonde, preppy, waitress, aspiring actress and college dropout, Penny.
On the hit TV show, The Big Bang Theory, Dr. Leonard Hofstadter is a dorky experimental physicist who lives with his even dorkier roommate, Sheldon Cooper. Leonard and Penny met by living in the same building, but don't end up officially dating until the ninth season of the show. Leonard's dorkiness and Penny's ditzy, valley-girl charm make them one of the cutest and most entertaining TV couples.
10 Liz Lemon And Jack Donaghy - 30 Rock
Liz Lemon is the nerdy main character of the TV show, 30 Rock. The fact that Liz Lemon is an amazing writer, feminist and well-educated woman are admirable qualities of her character that make her appear successful and outgoing on paper. However, she lacks social skills and is clueless when it comes to men and having a social life.
Liz Lemon and Jack Donaghy never made it official (besides accidentally getting married), but that still gives Liz points for landing a super hot significant other. And regardless of Liz and Jack's lack of title, there's no denying the sexual tension between them.
9 Niles Crane And Daphne Moon - Frasier
Niles Crane is the ultra nerdy psychiatrist and successful philanthropist on the TV show, Frasier. He loves the opera, plays piano and loves classical music and French food. His personality shows him to be somebody who is always eager to climb the social ladder.
Niles Crane isn't an overly attractive guy, but he dresses well- usually in double breasted suits. He hit the jackpot with his stunning physical therapist wife, Daphne Moon. But Niles Crane didn't win Daphne over right away. He secretly lusted after her from season one, until he finally won her over in season ten.
8 Willow Rosenberg And Tara Maclay - Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Buffy was one of the first television shows to feature a leading same-sex couple. Willow Rosenberg begins as a shy, nerdy tenth grader with low self esteem, but her dorky character eventually develops into a confident and attractive young adult as she becomes more aware of her magical powers as a witch.
Willow Rosenberg dates both men and women in Buffy, but her on-screen romance with the shy and innocent looking Tara Maclay in the fifth season (who's also a witch) ignites her special powers, which prompts her to continue the relationship.
7 Chandler Bing And Monica Geller - Friends
Next to Ross, Chandler Bing isn't quite as nerdy. But his dorky mannerisms, lame jokes and his awkwardness with women can certainly qualify him as a nerd. In season five of Friends, Chandler was smooth enough to finally land the gorgeous Monica Geller, in what began as a secret romance and ended up in marriage.
As the sister of the super nerd, Ross Geller, Monica shares some of his dorky qualities- which makes her a great match for Chandler. There are also several scenes that show flashbacks to Monica in high school that suggest she was a little less than “cool” in her adolescence. However, Monica's neat-freak character on Friends is also smart, sophisticated and confident, which makes her seem like less of a dork and more as the super hot wife of Chandler Bing.
6 Phil And Claire Dunphy - Modern Family
It can be both hilarious and painful to witness some of the nerdy things Phil Dunphy says and does on the TV series, Modern Family. As a realtor with a dorky sense of humor, Phil Dunphy plays the loving husband to trophy-wife Claire Dunphy, with whom he shares three children.
Phil Dunphy is mostly considered dorky because of the jokes he makes, and the awkward manner in which he carries himself (although he believes he's extremely smooth and funny, which makes him even nerdier and more entertaining). Either way, Phil knows how to exercise the charm he does have, which landed him his super hot wife, Claire.
5 Cory Matthews And Topanga Lawrence - Boy Meets World
Although he isn't your classic nerd, Cory Matthews still has a few elements of nerdiness in his personality- especially because Boy Meets World portrays his character from his prepubescent days in middle school until he's a grown man.
The love interest of Cory Matthews is the stunning Topanga Lawrence, who he eventually marries and has two children with. Since Cory Matthews isn't 100% dorky, he still manages to lay the charm on other attractive women and initiate new romances throughout the show. But his love for Topanga lasts right up until the end of the show's final season.
4 Seth Cohen And Summer Roberts - The O.C.
Seth Cohen is the perfect ratio of dorky and cute, which is likely the reason he ended up with his super hot and popular high school girlfriend, Summer Roberts.
The unexpected couple attended high school together, where Summer was part of the popular crowd and Seth was bullied for being socially awkward. There were even times when the male jocks would intentionally pee on his shoes to make fun of him. But in the end, Seth's dorkiness worked out for him when Summer Roberts fell for his charm. The couple ended up staying together as high school sweethearts and they eventually married.
3 Spiderman And Mary Jane Watson - Spiderman
Although it started out as a comic book before becoming a cartoon and then a hit movie, Spiderman and Mary Jane Watson (also known as MJ Watson) still count as being a slightly nerdy and super hot couple.
Peter Parker is the identity behind Spider Man. And while he's not that much of a nerd, he suffers from feeling rejected, lonely and like an outcast amongst his peers. His feelings of inadequacy eventually fade away when he turns into the mega powerful superhero, Spiderman. Eventually, he ends up dating his super attractive love interest, Mary Jane (or MJ) Watson.
2 Morgan Tookers And Tamra Webb - The Mindy Project
Morgan Tookers is the extremely nerdy, ex-criminal who plays a male nurse on the TV show, The Mindy Project. His love interest is Tamra, an attractive receptionist in the medical office he works in, where it seem unlikely she'll ever have eyes for him. Morgan uses his best efforts (which are sometimes so nerdy, they're cringe-worthy) to win Tamra over while she's dating her “bad boy” boyfriend, Ray Ron.
But, eventually Tamra falls for some of Morgan's goofy charm and the two end up as an unexpected couple for a brief period of time.
1 Cameron Tucker And Mitchell Pritchett - Modern Family
Mitchell Pritchett may not be your classic hunk, but the cutie-pie, ginger-haired gay character on Modern Family compliments his nerdy counterpart, Cameron Tucker perfectly.
Cameron Tucker is a music teacher, while Mitchell tries his best to be trendy and hip as a successful lawyer. Cam's nerdy charm keeps Mitchell grounded in times of stress and uncertainty, which is an asset in their relationship while they go through the process of adopting a daughter named Lily and enter parenthood together. As he takes on the role of a stay at home parent for Lily, Cam's nerdy mannerisms come out in full force.
