Anderson - Baumbach

No, it's not the name of a white-shoe law firm on the Upper East Side, it's Wes Anderson and Noah Baumbach, Brooklyn's finest purveyors of soul-searching melancholy for the young and the hip.

Wesley Mortimer Wales "Wes" Anderson (born May 1, 1969) is a writer and director who was nominated for Best Original Screenplay for The Royal Tennenbaums (2001).  The Houston, TX native first made a splash with the films Bottle Rocket (1996) and Rushmore (1998), which introduced Owen Wilson and Jason Schwartzman, respectively.  He's known for his quirky art direction, man-boy characters, and mix-tape soundtracks.  His latest film, the stop-motion Fantastic Mister Fox (2009), was a hit with adult and kid audiences alike.

Noah Baumbach co-wrote Fantastic Mister Fox and The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (2004), both of which Anderson directed.  On his own, Baumbach (born September 3, 1969) made his film debut writing and directing Kicking and Screaming (1995) and is best known for the highly acclaimed divorce drama, The Squid and the Whale (2005).  His latest movie is Greenberg, with Ben Stiller.

I am including Wes Anderson and Noah Baumbach on The Whole Skinny because they are both quite slim, and quite cute to me in that overly-intellectual, neurotic, artsy-boy kind of way.  Baumbach is more handsome, but Anderson cultivates a charming eccentricity that seems rather delightful.  They both have great hair, too.  Pix after the jump!

Nick Zinner

I don't really like the band The Yeah Yeah Yeahs, but damn, if guitar player Nick Zinner (born December 8, 1974) isn't a cutie and a half!

The petite, pixie-ish musician is also quite an accomplished photographer, with three collections published.

Lots of nice pix after the jump.  Click the images for larger versions.

David Tennant

Today I'm dedicating time and space to David Tennant, the fabulously energetic and charming tenth Doctor Who.  Tennant (born April 18, 1971) is a Scottish actor who took over the role of the BBC's famous time traveler in 2005, and recently relinquished his post to newcomer Matt Smith, whose first episode airs tomorrow.

I'm a huge Doctor Who fan, and have been since I was a kid.  David Tennant is certainly the most handsome Doctor they've ever cast, with his boyish, angular face, big Bambi eyes, and tall, skinny "long streak of nothing" frame.  However, once the mantle of "The Doctor" is assumed, for me, the sexiness is lost somewhat.  It just seems wrong, somehow, to fancy the Doctor - but try telling that to Rose and Martha.  Sigh.

David's career goes way beyond Doctor Who, however.  He was recently acclaimed for his performance as Hamlet at the Royal Shakespeare Company, and he has appeared in films such as Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (as the dastardly Barty Crouch, Jr.).  Other notable performances include Viva Blackpool and the lead role in the BBC's Casanova.

Anyway, after the jump you'll find a gallery of David Tennant pictures, as my way of saying farewell to his wonderful portrayal of the Doctor.  Thanks David, it's been a wild ride.

Bret McKenzie

For April Fool's Day, I'm posting a gallery dedicated to Bret McKenzie, one half of the hilarious Flight of the Conchords (the cute half, in my view - sorry, Jermaine!).

FOC are New Zealand's very own guitar-based digi-bongo acapella-rap-funk-comedy folk duo, and the stars of the brilliant HBO series of the same name, which followed a fictional version of the band as they try to make it big in New York City.  The show's mix of deadpan delivery, extreme silliness and genius musical numbers made it irresistible viewing.

Beardy Bret (born June 29, 1976) cultivates a quirky persona on the show - quiet, naive, even child-like, in a succession of jumpers and animal-themed t-shirts.  He's more romantically inclined than the more cynical (though no less clueless) Jermaine. Adding to his charms he's slim and lanky, with dark tousled hair and intriguing eyes, pouty lips and a neat beard accenting his geometric jawline.  Adorable.

Like the song says, "Bret, you got it goin' on!"  More photos after the jump.

Gerry Mulligan

Gerry Mulligan (1927-1996) was a jazz saxophonist and composer who is known as one of the greatest sax men in history, and a huge part of the "cool jazz" scene of the 1950s - indeed, he plays with and wrote for Miles Davis on the famous Birth of the Cool album from 1950.

He was well known as an arranger, and played the clarinet and piano as well as mastering the baritone sax, and worked with such greats as Stan Kenton, Chet Baker, Billie Holliday, Count Basie, and many more.

He was also something of a cutie, a 1950s hip-to-be-square beanpole wrangling a gnarled brass bari sax that looks about four sizes too big for him!

Here are a couple of links to performances by Gerry Mulligan on YouTube.  First up, a live performance of his composition "Walking Shoes," which displays a swinging contrapuntal style, and "The Shadow of Your Smile," set to a variety of photos of the jazz great.

(Photo hijacked from the uber-stylish blog Nerd Boyfriend.)

Jay Baruchel

Jay Baruchel (born April 9, 1982) is a Canadian actor I first saw in Judd Apatow's sadly short-lived college show, Undeclared.  His performance as the shy, gawky romantic Steven Karp was instantly endearing, and I've enjoyed watching him ever since. 

He's appeared as some type of adorable spaz in films such as Knocked Up, Tropic Thunder, Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist, Million Dollar Baby and Fanboys.  He  also stars in the current She's Out of My League and the upcoming The Sorcerer's Apprentice.

Personally I think Jay's one of the cutest guys out there, so here's a full gallery, after the jump!