Readers have sweet tooth for TV eye candy

JAMES SORENSON / PARAMOUNT PICTURES We [Heart] Scott! Scott Bakula gets a couple of reader shoutouts as the hunky Capt. Jonathan Archer in "Star Trek: Enterprise."

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Editor's note: Kay McFadden's TV column last Friday raised the alarm that prime-time network shows overflow with "chubby hubbies, craggy cops and creepy moguls." She asked: "When did the classic handsome leading man disappear from broadcast television?" Readers were quick to respond. Here's a sampling of what they had to say.

Amen! I am so tired of seeing these sitcoms with overweight, belligerent male leads paired with slender, codependent wives.
— Sally Gianelli, Seattle

I read your article, "Hot Male Leads Missing from TV Fantasy Land" online and found myself alternately giggling out loud and nodding in agreement. The only solace I have is that for my single hour of network prime-time viewing each week, I look behind the boyish geekiness of William Petersen and watch the sultry smoldering that is Gary Dourdan on "CSI." Yeowza. Five minutes of Gary as Warrick Brown makes up for 30 minutes of, as you so aptly named it, world-weary, emotionally oppressed Gil Grissom (William Petersen).

Now, don't get me wrong: Petersen is adorable and aloofly funny as Grissom, but we women go to TV for escape. I may laugh along with Gil but I go to bed with Warrick, if you catch my drift.
— Mary Sauers, Chesterfield, Mo.

The hot male leads are all on "Hawaii."

Sharif Atkins (recently of "ER"), Eric Balfour, Ivan Sergei and Michael Biehn (still bringing the handsome at age 48) all on one show! It has gotten better since the pilot, and the ensemble cast is "gelling" nicely. All in all, very entertaining!
— Kari Knutson, Sammamish

It would probably be enlightening to get a look at the producers of these shows, who may very well resemble Dennis Franz, et al., and fully believe themselves to be eternal babe magnets, therefore, their shows reflect themselves. At the rate Franz is going, his next spouse (his fourth) on the show should be about 20 years old.

The strange thing is in real life, (John) Goodman, Franz, (Jason) Alexander and others are wealthy enough to hire trainers, chefs and workout partners who could get them into shape again (or for the first time) and give them some appeal. Goodman is dangerously overweight and looks awful. Of course, in his real life, he found a younger, thin woman to marry, so there is no line between reality and fantasy for him.
— Terry Meany, Kenmore
 

You mention George Clooney but forgot Goran Visnjic who plays Dr. Luka Kovac on the same show? For shame.
— Maila Rivad, Burien

I have three key words for you: "Star Trek: Enterprise."

If you are looking for prime-time fantasy eye candy and great acting to boot, you cannot go wrong with Scott Bakula! Scott has everything today's woman could want in a man. He is warm, kind, caring, intelligent, talented, gifted, handsome and for a man who just turned 50 (Oct. 9), he has "the" best body on TV. He has a wonderful attitude about life, he is always positive and upbeat, quick with a smile and a joke, he does benefit work for charities, he goes out of his way to let his fans know that he cares for them and what they want, and he is a man devoted to his family. — Lisa Kelley, Dover, Del.

I agree with your assessment of "CSI NY" Gary Sinise. I have been a longtime fan of Gary Sinise and am thrilled that he has a show of his own.

However, you did miss a couple of other male leads that are certainly hot. Scott Bakula who is one of the best looking men on TV and has been since "Quantum Leap." He can be seen weekly on UPN in "Star Trek: Enterprise."

And did you forget Washington native Connor Trinneer who is also on "Star Trek: Enterprise"? He certainly rates a 10 out of 10 on the adorable scale.
— Gail Taylor, Durbin, N.D.