Why Your Girlfriend Loves: Cory Monteith

Glee is back tonight, after a months-long hiatus. If that’s news to you, you’re not alone. The backlash was predicted even before the first season ended, and now that guest stars outnumber actual glee club members, well..I’d argue it’s teetering on shark-jumping territory.

That said, the show’s popularity continues, seemingly unabated. If you don’t count yourself a Gleek, I’m definitely not holding it against you. Your girlfriend, on the other hand? She’s can’t wait for the show’s return tonight. She just posted something on Facebook about “Finchel,” and you don’t even want to know what that means.

A big reason for the ladies’ fervent loyalty? Cory Monteith, who plays the show’s football-playing, singing, terribly dancing heartthrob Finn Hudson. If your girlfriend has a thing for the perma-teen (Monteith joins Luke Perry, James Van Der Beek, and a long line of other twenty-somethings playing teens on TV), but you just can’t understand what she sees in him, read on:

Style Point: Boyish Charm

Monteith has that gangly “still waiting to grow into my body” thing going for him. Which works out well for a 29-year old playing a high school senior. Does he remind me of a knock-kneed camel because of it? Yes. A llama maybe? A little. I just want to feed him carrots out of my hand and stroke his hair while making a calming “tsch-tsch-tsch” sound. I may have gotten off track here, but the point is, he reminds us of the awkward, gangly boys we loved in high school, and there’s power in nostalgia.

Style Point: He’s definitely not trying too hard

Chicks like Monteith because he does not seem cooler than them. He dresses like he bought all of his clothes at your hometown mall. Note: that is not a bad thing. That makes him accessible. With what he wore to this year’s Emmy awards, I’d argue he might not be trying at all. I’d be shocked if he had a stylist, actually. If he did, they’d have convinced him by now to try leather pants, or jeans tucked into combat boots, or some crazy fedora with peacock feathers coming out of it. Instead, he looks very comfortable in his “regular guy” wheelhouse.

Style Point: He doesn’t mind looking like an idiot

I admit it: I watched the show in its first season, and I was always baffled by Monteith’s awful dance skills. I mean, he had to show off his moves when he tried out for the role, right? But no matter – he tries, and he’s not afraid to look a little dumb (or a lot dumb) in the process. The takeaway? Dance. Sing, even if it’s just in the kitchen making dinner. Your girlfriend will like that you don’t take yourself so seriously..

Style Point: Enthusiasm

Not to get all name drop-y, but I met Monteith at an event awhile back, and we chatted for a bit. I was with a friend who worked at Twitter, and when he said so, Monteith replied, “Oh man, I love Twitter!!” like, two exclamation points worth of excitement. And it’s true – he does. Another thing he’s enthusiastic about? Being from Canada. Why I don’t know, I mean, it’s Canada. But here he is, at a sad little excuse for a parade (really Canada? Your biggest export since maple syrup, and all you could spare was a truck? no float? c’mon) Show your enthusiasm for things. Twitter. Hockey. Art. Music. Whatever. You’ll seem engaged. Engaged is good. Having a passion for something – anything – is always attractive to us ladies.