When I was younger, I had my fair share of teen idol crushes. That’s part of why I love all the flashback VH1 shows – full of childhood memories. But my walls are no longer covered with pages from Tiger Beat and J14. I even finally took my Nick Carter poster down from my bedroom door back home in Philly. And I rarely think back to these crushes, mostly because many of them have faded from the limelight.
BUT, the other night I had a dream that reminded me of the boy I loved even more than Nick: Devon Sawa. He made my 12-year-old self swoon.
Who could forget Now and Then? When he proved the “truth” that every mother espoused: boys only tease the girls they like.
Or Casper? Another pairing with Christina Ricci, this time as the friendliest (and sweetest) ghost you know.
And, my favorite, Little Giants, where he has a classic conversation with Becky, aka Icebox:
Junior (aka Devon): You wanna learn how to kiss?
Icebox: No. Why, do you?
Junior: No. Eww I just got that vomit taste in my mouth.
Icebox: Come on, you gotta learn sometime. I mean if you wanna get a job and have kids and stuff.
Junior: You can have kids without kissing…
Icebox: Yeah, but you can’t get a job. You know, for scientific reasons and stuff.
Huh. Is that how it works…
The thing is, I kind of grew up. (Shocking, right?) I don’t love Devon Sawa the way I did twelve years ago, and the only movies I can think of that he’s been in recently are…well…Final Destination? (Which I never actually saw.)
Tastes have changed, for better or worse. But whenever I go back to my childhood bedroom, I can still see the tape marks from where numerous Devon posters hung. Nick may have had the door, and even JTT garnered a tiny portion of wall space, but Devon had my little tween heart. *swoon* And I wouldn’t have it any other way.
If I recall correctly, Lemmonex has asked this question at one point, but humor me: who did you swoon over as a tween/teen?
Or are you still swooning?
Loved Anthony Kiedis.
Also, Garett Ratliff Henson from Mighty Ducks which is weird bc he is SO not my type.
Ah, Guy Germaine…he was a cutie, but I was in love with Charlie Conway. Obvious, much?
Zack Morris… and still going strong.
Were/are you a Zack Attack groupie?
Casper! So adorable.
Now I have the theme song stuck in my head…oops…
Oh so many…hmm…Corey Haim. But then he grew up and ew.
Yeah, sometimes growing up sucks.
Hmmm.. I had a HUGE thing for the kid in Free Willy when I was 10/11 (but only in the first movie). I loved Devon Sawa too (even though he’s blond and totally not my type).
Oh, that’s right! I totally forgot about Free Willy…I can’t even think of the kid’s name…
Alyssa Milano.
She really got me going.
You say that like it doesn’t still hold true today.
Hahaha I love how this guy’s moves good to see he’s still around… wait a minute…
Exactly.
I’m totally drawing a blank on teen swooning.
But I’ve seen Final Destination and it’s no Little Giants.
Let’s be honest – very few movies are.
Oh, Jonathan Brandis. I was sure I was going to marry him someday. I even watched that Sea Quest tv show just because he was in it.
About a year or so ago, he popped back in my mind and I googled him — I almost cried when I saw he had killed himself in 2003.
Oh wow. I haven’t thought about that name in a long time.
TAGARINO!
Yes ma’am! Let me just get my lies in order…
OMG I LOVED him in Now and Then, that scene drinking coke ou on the swing??? i swooned.
actually one of my go-to silly/weird movies stars Devon Sawa all grown up. Have you ever seen Slackers? It’s pretty hilarious, just be prepared for it to be a little odd.
Slackers, hm? Maybe I’ll see it just for research value. You know, compare and contrast.
Youre right. It still holds true.
Andy Gibb. Don’t judge.
Alyssa Milano, Christina Applegate, Tracy Gold (don’t judge, she was brainy) and Holly Marie Combs from her days on Pickett Fences. Ohh, I’ve got two out of the three (four?) Halliwell sisters.
Oh gosh, I was COMPLETELY in love with Devon Sawa from Little Giants!! Definitely watched that movie, like, a million times. I always pretended I was Becky.