Coolest of the cool: Spock, the Fonz, or Gibbs?

[Skald the Rhymer]

Because the polls running right now are insufficiently stupid.

I wanted to include the coolest TV character from each decade, but I couldn't think of anybody from the 50s or 90s who was actually cool.









Forgive me for my heresy, Xena.

[OneCentStamp]

I didn't know who Gibbs was until I scrolled down to the pix, but Spock wins either way.

[dread pirate jimbo]

Well, obviously Spock is the coolest of these three (although Xena would most likely kick my ass for saying that...).

[Skald the Rhymer]

Well, obviously Spock is the coolest of these three (although Xena would most likely kick my ass for saying that...).

Obviously, Xena would not care whether you thought Spock, Fonzie, or Gibbs was coolest.

Just as obviously, you would not dare to impugn Xena's ultimatositiness in her presence.

[Taumpy]

I'm not sure I'd go as far as to say Xena is cooler than anyone with a penis, but certainly more than these guys.

Have any of them fought off the entire Spartan army themselves in time to get the antidote to their poisoned secret lover right after destroying a ghost version of the son of their mentor (who was in fact just a metaphor for their own hate) in a magical land where everyone sings about their emotional problems? Or outwit and outfight the God of War on several non-consecutive occasions? Not to mention defeating the God of the Sea while teaching a cursed mariner to love again? No, I didn't think so.

But if forced to pick between those three men, I'm going with Spock.

[Orual]

Your mancrush on Gibbs is incredibly bizarre, Skald.

[eleanorigby]

Spock, no question, no contest, hands down. The Fonz? Seriously? <picks self off floor>


Spock makes the Fonz look like Potsie.

Who' cooler: Col. Robert Hogan, Kirk, James West or Jim Rockford?

What about Tom Magnum, Starsky, Hutch, Hawkeye Pierce or Mr Rogers?


This is fun!

[Laughing Lagomorph]

I'm not sure I'd go as far as to say Xena is cooler than anyone with a penis, but certainly more than these guys.

Have any of them fought off the entire Spartan army themselves in time to get the antidote to their poisoned secret lover right after destroying a ghost version of the son of their mentor (who was in fact just a metaphor for their own hate) in a magical land where everyone sings about their emotional problems? Or outwit and outfight the God of War on several non-consecutive occasions? Not to mention defeating the God of the Sea while teaching a cursed mariner to love again? No, I didn't think so.

But if forced to pick between those three men, I'm going with Spock.

I admit to knowing squat about Xena.

But I've lost track of the number of times Spock saved the universe as we know it. Plus he actually, you know, died, and came back to life. And he mind-melded with a sentient rock. And now he's traveled back through time and mentored his younger alternate-timeline self.

Not a bad resume.

[Laughing Lagomorph]

...

Who' cooler: Col. Robert Hogan, Kirk, James West or Jim Rockford?

I have to say Kirk or Jimbo will kill me. But Jim Rockford gives him a pretty good run for his money.

...What about Tom Magnum, Starsky, Hutch, Hawkeye Pierce or Mr Rogers?

Was Starsky the blonde, or was that Hutch?

Doesn't matter, in this crew the answer is Mr. Rogers.

Heck, Higgins was cooler than Magnum.

[What Exit?]

Spock is so completely the definition of cool that his rare lapses of emotion are major events. The others are sad jokes in comparison.

Who' cooler: Col. Robert Hogan, Kirk, James West or Jim Rockford?

What about Tom Magnum, Starsky, Hutch, Hawkeye Pierce or Mr Rogers?

Hogan is too swarmy too be the coolest. Jim Rockford is cool but not quite on the same level. Kirk has to were space pajamas and as much as I love Star Trek, I have to give it to James West. He was nearly as cool as the Cooler King himself.

I just saw a classic episode of Taxi with Selleck on as a guest before he was famous but Magnum was not as cool as the 4 above. Actually same for the rest. Hawkeye has far too much Woody Allen going on to be cool. Starsky and Hutch were not really cool. Can't be Mr. Rogers. I'll give it to Selleck.

Who is the Coolest of Cool actors:
Steve McQueen or Clint Eastwood or Cary Grant or Humphrey Bogart or John Wayne or Paul Newman or Marlon Brando or Henry Fonda or Harrison Ford?

[Skald the Rhymer]

Your mancrush on Gibbs is incredibly bizarre, Skald.

Why? Rhymers are open about liking some dudes. Or have you missed my praising Taye Diggs all those times?

[Taumpy]

Plus he actually, you know, died, and came back to life.

Xena did this twice. The second time she came back from a crucifixion, and of course while she was dead she took over hell.

[Skald the Rhymer]

Spock is so completely the definition of cool that his rare lapses of emotion are major events. The others are sad jokes in comparison.


Hogan is too swarmy too be the coolest. Jim Rockford is cool but not quite on the same level. Kirk has to were space pajamas and as much as I love Star Trek, I have to give it to James West. He was nearly as cool as the Cooler King himself.

I just saw a classic episode of Taxi with Selleck on as a guest before he was famous but Magnum was not as cool as the 4 above. Actually same for the rest. Hawkeye has far too much Woody Allen going on to be cool. Starsky and Hutch were not really cool. Can't be Mr. Rogers. I'll give it to Selleck.

Who is the Coolest of Cool actors:
Steve McQueen or Clint Eastwood or Cary Grant or Humphrey Bogart or John Wayne or Paul Newman or Marlon Brando or Henry Fonda or Harrison Ford?

It depends on what you mean by "cool." I'll go with Bogart.

[Skald the Rhymer]

Xena did this twice. The second time she came back from a crucifixion, and of course while she was dead she took over hell.

That is a filthy lie. I am shocked that you would utter it and ashamed of you for doing so.

Xena came back from the dead FAR more than twice. Even if you're ignoring the first season episode when Gabby masqueraded as her while she was poisoned, there's the Groundhog Day bit to consider.

[eleanorigby]

Who is the Coolest of Cool actors:
Steve McQueen or Clint Eastwood or Cary Grant or Humphrey Bogart or John Wayne or Paul Newman or Marlon Brando or Henry Fonda or Harrison Ford?

In descending order:

Bogie
Cary Grant
Paul Newman
Clint Eastwood
Steve McQueen
Harrison Ford
Henry Fonda
John Wayne
Marlon Brando

[Taumpy]

there's the Groundhog Day bit to consider.

I think my statement works. Xena only came back from the dead mostly due to her own will to not be dead twice. And those are really the only ones that should count toward coolness. She only died in the repeating day because she already knew it wouldn't be permanent. Even Joxer could manage that and no one would mistake him for cool.

[Oliveloaf]

Who' cooler: Col. Robert Hogan, Kirk, James West or Jim Rockford?

Need I vote?

Of course, there is Bret Maverick...

[What Exit?]

Lets bump this. I saw two guests looking at it and it deserves more posts. Especially the follow up "Who's Cooler" questions.

[Oliveloaf]

Sticking with: Jim Rockford, Bret Maverick, Spock. I'll throw Worf in as a kicker.

[What Exit?]

Sticking with: Jim Rockford, Bret Maverick, Spock. I'll throw Worf in as a kicker.

Fine but what about:

Who is the Coolest of Cool actors:
Steve McQueen or Clint Eastwood or Cary Grant or Humphrey Bogart or John Wayne or Paul Newman or Marlon Brando or Henry Fonda or Harrison Ford?

[Oliveloaf]

Sticking with: Jim Rockford, Bret Maverick, Spock. I'll throw Worf in as a kicker.

Fine but what about:

Who is the Coolest of Cool actors:
Steve McQueen or Clint Eastwood or Cary Grant or Humphrey Bogart or John Wayne or Paul Newman or Marlon Brando or Henry Fonda or Harrison Ford?

You bastard. That's a pretty good list of really cool guys. Bogey ,may win on that list, and Ford lose...but even Harrison Ford is pretty damn cool.

[Oliveloaf]

I once wrote in an article that James Garner and Clint Eastwood were the two coolest living humans. No one argued. Makes it easier that most of the other really cool actors are dead.

[Panther Squad]

I was seriously considering these options until I saw XENA.

Then all consideration was finished. I will automatically vote for her.

[Clothahump]

MacGyver beats the hell out of all of them.

[Elendil's Heir]

Spock in a walk.

[parzival]

Gibbs, but only if he gets residual coolness from Mr. Shoop.