Bubblegum bonanza: Top 5 '80s teen idols

When it comes to drooling over the teen heartthrobs of the '80s, Sherrie Williams admits she has no shame. So she was drafted to write today's guest blog entry. Please, no kissing the computer screen.

Female fans of ‘80s nation may remember waiting breathlessly for the next issue of their favorite teen poster magazines to arrive so they could paper their bedroom walls with the smiling (and sometimes snarling) faces of their beloved heartthrobs. 

Alarmingly, photos exist of myself and friends at a sleepover subjecting a completely innocent Rick Springfield poster to some inappropriate touching. We’re sorry, Rick; we were under the influence of Tiger Beat glossy pinups and Jolt Cola! Here are my ...

TOP 5 '80s TEEN HEARTTHROBS:

5. TOM CRUISE: While we may not want to fess up to adoring Tom Cruise now that he has crossed over well into the land of pure crazy, he was red hot in the mid to late ‘80s. Tom Cruise highlights include the Old Time Rock and Roll dance in Risky Business and the ultimate cinematic moment of ‘80s bubblegum culture - the volleyball scene in Top Gun. 

4. JOHN STAMOS: John Stamos was on the cover of dozens of teen magazines in the early ‘80s during his run as Blackie Parrish, the tough street kid with the heart of gold on General Hospital. While he may have become more famous as Uncle Jessie on Full House near the end of the decade, his picture was plastered on millions of teen girl’s walls as Blackie Parrish. 

3. ROB LOWE: First hitting many of our radars as Soda Pop in The Outsiders, Rob Lowe just got bigger as the decade progressed. A 1988 sex tape controversy dimmed his appeal as a teen idol, but he will always be remembered as member the Brat Pack. His highlights in the decade include About Last Night and St. Elmo’s Fire. 

2. PICK THE DURAN DURAN MEMBER OF YOUR CHOICE: Simon Le Bon and John Taylor seemed to lead the heavily moussed and eyeliner clad pack back then, but each member of DD had their loyal supporters. 

1. RICK SPRINGFIELD: I declare Rick Springfield the number one teen heartthrob of the ‘80s; even as he speeds toward 60 he makes many hearts go into palpitations when he appears on stage. Between his television role as Dr. Noah Drake on General Hospital, a handful of hit albums and top 10 hits and the forgettable (but totally inspiring at the time) film Hard to Hold, Rick was the king of all media to ‘80s teen girls.

Those just missing the list include Matt Dillon, Ralph Macchio (and the most of the rest of the cast of The Outsiders), John Schneider, Val Kilmer and the wretched but once loved Coreys, Corey Haim and Corey Feldman.  Do you have other suggestions?  Take a trip back to those bubblegum days and remember these and other ‘80s teen heartthrobs.

Comments

[blah]

Michael Jackson was so damn fine in the 80s...with his voice that melts and his provocative dance moves....and his military outfits and those damn shades. YUM.

[blah]

Michael Jackson was so damn fine in the 80s...with his voice that melts and his provocative dance moves....and his military outfits and those damn shades. YUM.

[Gayle]

For me...

Michael J. Fox
Sting
Jake Ryan from Sixteen Candles

[Jay]

What about long duck dong?

[Kevy Metal]

Some investigative discussion with the girlfriend reveals teen crushes on Erik Estrada, Menudo, John Schneider, Ricky Schroeder, Chad Lowe and Kirk Cameron. Surprisingly not Rick Springfield or Rob Lowe.

As for me, I only had eyes for Paulina Porizkova.

[Cat]

I also have lots of pix of Antonio Sabato Jr. -- my Italian boyfriend.

[Michelle]

One of my friends noted her love of Adrian Zmed and his poster with the strategically placed towel.

[AutumnW.]

Kirk Cameron.

And Patrick Swayze. I adored North & South and his role as Orry Main. The rest of his work was just icing on the cake. :)

[Karen]

Pick a member of Duran Duran definitely. I'd put either John or Simon number one. Also what about George Michael, pre step out of the closet. He was pretty prominent on my wall and I remember being snowed in at the University of Georgia in Jan. 88 and all the girls glued to Mtv to get a glimpse of his asset.

[Sherrie]

Michelle, that's not warped at all- in addition to the '80s crew of pretty boys, I had posters of Clark Gable, Tony Perkins and (most of all) James Dean up in my room circa '86-'87. There were poster worthy heart throbs in most recent decades, not just our beloved '80s.

[OldSchool]

Solid post. From what I remember, those would definitely be in the top 10 for girls.

I know that Michael J. Fox was big with the girls in my class. I also remember Jon Bon Jovi coming on strong in the late 80s.

[Michelle]

My sister loved Kirk Cameron. And I was so warped by high school that I had a door-size Clark Gable poster instead of Tom Cruise or any of the others.

[Marissa]

I feel compelled to throw JASON BATEMAN into the mix of contenders. That boy still makes my heart beat faster (while I'm laughing my tuchus off)

[Cat]

ALL OF THEM -- STILL SO F'ING HOT!!!

[Marissa]

Sherrie, my sister and I were just drooling over Rick Springfield on Mother's Day. The entertainment insert of the newspaper (I think it's Parade) has a mini questionnaire with RS. She was shocked that he's 59. She commented that his 25 year marriage to wife Barbara made him more appealing. I looked at her and said, "yeah OK, he's f'ing hot!! Have you seen his guns? Have you seen the sweat drip from him during a set in concert?" ::drool pool::

[DerekT]

You didn't mention Sean Daly, the heartthrob of Maryland.