TV Hotties I’m Crushing On Right Now Who Aren’t Joe Exotic

If you haven’t developed a new TV crush during quarantine or revisited an old one, you’re doing it wrong. Luckily, there are plenty of good shows out there with characters to swoon over, but here are four TV hotties I’ve been obsessing over during quarantine (Joe Exotic not included.)

John B from Outer Banks

I first heard of Netflix’s Outer Banks on my favorite podcast, Chicks in the Office, and I was not disappointed. A teen drama with a treasure hunt and elements of a murder mystery? Sign me up ASAP!

I was immediately obsessed with John B, the main character of the show played by actor Chase Stokes (who is 27 years old, which makes sense because I don’t remember guys looking like that when I was 16). John B is the guy who was every girl’s dream in high school. He’s a bad boy with a heart of gold.

Kayla Cobb of Decider says it best. She writes, “As a character, John B is basically teenage girl catnip. At his core you know he’s a good guy, even when he’s getting involved in crimes. He’s loyal to his friends and a hard worker with an independent streak. And he’s as charming as they come. Several times throughout Outer Banks‘ first season John B is able to soften the ever strict Sheriff Peterkin (Adina Porter) with little more than a shrug and a smile. Yet unlike his best friend JJ (Rudy Pankow) there’s nothing manipulative about his social prowess. Like the girl in every teen pop song who’s beautiful without makeup, he’s a kid dripping with charm who just doesn’t know it.”

There’s something nostalgic about John B. And who doesn’t love a bit of nostalgia every once in a while?

Cosimo de’Medici from Medici

The third season of Medici, starring Daniel Sharman as Lorenzo “The Magnificent” de’Medici, was released earlier this month. Sharman does a great job, but he pales in comparison to the protagonist of the first season, Cosimo de’Medici, played by Richard Madden.

Cosimo de’Medici is basically a 15th-century version of Robb Stark from Game of Thrones (which is fitting because Madden plays both characters) and is a dream come true for anyone who loves historical dramas (or still believes Robb Stark is better than Jon Snow). De‘Medici is good at heart but is forced to give up his dreams of becoming an artist to follow in his father’s footsteps and become the leader of the Medici family, which involves running their bank and maintaining their power by any means necessary.

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Madden commented on the similarities between Stark and de‘Medici. He said, “In a way there are parallels. Robb Stark was a young man when this was thrust upon him, as was Cosimo, his father thrust this upon him. The difference is we see Cosimo much later in life. Robb Stark reacts, has to react to the situations around him, whereas Cosimo molds it, he’s the one that acts out, he’s the one that is creating it, and rather than kind of reacting to these situations he’s the one that’s making other people react and moving the story forward that way.”

The show has been on Netflix for a few years, but I’ve rewatched it twice during quarantine because it’s that good. It also doesn’t hurt that Richard Madden has the most gorgeous eyes of any man in Hollywood.

Johnny “Bananas” Devenanzio from The Challenge

I love ridiculously overdramatic reality shows and sports, which is why The Challenge is one of my favorite shows (especially since no sports are on during quarantine). Contestants compete in athletic challenges and live together in a house (or in this season’s case, a bunker) where all of the drama takes place. It’s basically Survivor meets Big Brother meets The Real World, and it’s reality TV perfection. (The current season of The Challenge airs Wednesdays on MTV at 8/7pm CT.)

Another thing that makes the show great is that cast members from previous seasons return to compete in another season. Some have made a career out of the show, including Johnny “Bananas” Devenanzio, who has won the show six times and is competing in his 20th season.

He’s a fan favorite for many reasons, but one thing that makes him the perfect guilty-pleasure reality TV crush is that he’s a completely different person in real life than he is on the show. His antics on the show are hilarious and sometimes ruthless, but he’s very different on social media. His Instagram shows his devotion to his family and friends, as well as his adorable relationship with girlfriend Morgan Willett, winner of Big Brother: Over the Top. Who doesn’t love a man who’s multi-faced and loves his friends and family?

Jim Halpert from The Office

There are two types of people in this world: those who have rewatched The Office during quarantine and liars. There’s a reason why The Office is considered a modern classic and is one of the most watched shows on Netflix — it’s hilarious and never gets old. One of the best characters is Jim Halpert, played by John Krasinski.

If John B from Outer Banks is the guy we all wanted as teenagers, Jim Halpert is the guy we all want to marry as adults. He’s as gorgeous on the inside as he is on the outside. He starts the show as a prankster with a crush on Pam and ends the show as Pam’s husband and father of two children. He’s fiercely loyal to his family and friends, and his romance with Pam will never get old. Most of all, he’s not perfect, making him much more lovable because he’s one of the most realistic characters to ever grace our television screens.

He’s a regular guy, but he’s also the guy we all want. He’s a loyal husband and loving father, what else could you ask for in a man? To make it even better, John Krasinski is just as awesome as his fictional counterpart, hosting a YouTube show dedicated to good news during the COVID-19 pandemic, Some Good News.

Closing Thoughts

Whether you like dramas, comedies, or reality shows, there are plenty of TV hotties to crush on during quarantine. Some are old favorites, and some are new, but it’s the perfect time to binge a show with your favorite TV hottie.