My Virtual Reading Room

"...Now, ever since the ear-touching incident with Maura McGivney, it had not escaped my attention that the majority of Mr. Spock's fans were women. And, for some mysterious reason, they found the Vulcan compellingly attractive. There was a lot of amusing speculation about this--including theories about Spock's "satanic" good looks--but one of the most entertaining articles was written by the famous science-fiction writer Isaac Asimov and entitled, "Mr. Spock is Dreamy." (Coincidentally, it appeared in TV Guide the very same month the fateful 1967 Pear Blossom Festival took place.)  The humorous essay's premise was that Spock was sexy to female viewers precisely because he was smart (while Dr. Asimov bemoaned the fact that he'd been playing dumb all these years, based on his observation of television sitcoms, which always portrayed a stupid husband who was loyally adored by his smart wife).

In the article, he said:

For years and years, I have done my best to be a stupid husband....But it hadn't occurred to me that Mr. Spock was sexy...that girls palpitate over the way one eyebrow goes up a fraction; that the squeal with passion when a little smile quirks his lip. And all because he's smart!

If only I had known! If only I had known!

(From Leonard Nimoy's book "I Am Spock")