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Favorite female geeks: Who's the geekiest of 2007?

the linster

I'm a geek worshipper. It's really a form of positive self-esteem, since I am kind of a geek myself. I always love to find women in entertainment who seem to be geeks, not only in the characters they play, but also in real life. GeekSugar.com shares that sentiment and has kicked off a poll of the most popular female geeks of 2007.

First candidate: Mary Lynn Rajskub, Chloe O'Brian on 24.

The pictures are from her spread in Geek Monthly earlier this year. Although Chloe is an übergeek on 24, always able to hack into secret data just in time to save Jack's life, Rajskub herself is not too technically savvy. But in my opinion, she has geek cred because she does things like appear as a troubadour on Gilmore Girls and volunteer for the Young Storytellers Program. I do have one geekish issue with Chloe & company, though. Are we really supposed to believe that a government agency is smart enough to use Macs?

Next candidate: Jenna Fischer, Pam Beesly on The Office.

Her April Wired cover certainly got our attention this year. And interviews with Fischer reveal that she's as smart and funny in real life as she is as Pam. She also posts regularly on her myspace blog. True, she may be in better shape than standard-issue geeks — she broke her back in four places in May and was back on The Office set 12 weeks later. But no complaints here.

Third candidate: Tina Fey, Liz Lemon on 30 Rock.

OK, I know — AfterEllen.com bloggers have a hard time not writing about Tina Fey. But honest, this is GeekSugar.com's poll, not mine. And you have to admit, Fey is a big reason why geek is chic. But since Dorothy Snarker treated us to a Tina Fey post chock full of adorable pictures just yesterday, I'll restrain myself from prattling on and give you the link. If you've read it, read it again. Because the only thing almost as adorable as Tina Fey is Dorothy Snarker writing about Tina Fey.

Final candidate: Kristen Bell, Elle Bishop on Heroes.

We miss Veronica Mars, where Kristen Bell got her geek credentials. And although her techie ways continue in Heroes as a Company agent with the power to generate and manipulate electricity, Elle's mental instability causes me not to want to classify the role as True Geek. Bell did, however, earn a permanent place in the hearts of gamer geeks by lending her likeness and voice as a character in Assassin's Creed. Here's Bell beside her digitized version. Creepy.

Who's missing? Katee Sackhoff, for one.

Sackhoff's characters couldn't get much geekier — Starbuck in Battlestar Galactica and Sarah Corvus in Bionic Woman. She also voiced a female marine in Halo 3. Sackhoff herself is a self-professed Star Trek addict, an important part of the Geek Code. One of my favorite Sackhoff facts is that she quit smoking because of fan mail from young girls who wanted to grow up to be like Starbuck. Sounds pretty smart to me.

I'd also put Emma Watson, aka Hermione, in the running.

Watson has admitted that she is quite a bit like her Harry Potter character. And this year, in an interview with Parade, Watson said that she's pleased that Hermione was proud of her brains and never dumbed herself down to be accepted. Watson is intelligent enough to keep both feet on the ground despite her early stardom. In fact, she considered leaving the part of Hermione behind in order to focus on her education. I'm glad she found a way to do both.

Who else should be on this poll of favorite female geeks of 2007? And who is No. 1 for you?

the linster's blog

Submitted by

the linster

on December 7, 2007 - 3:31pm.

TAGS ::

How did Katee Sackhoff not

Submitted by

Lizzie24 (32 posts)

on December 7, 2007 - 5:10pm.

How did Katee Sackhoff not make the list. That is just wrong. She would so have had my vote, I mean she had me at growing up watching star trek.

Kristen Bell on Heroes is

Submitted by

GreenBean2 (148 posts)

on December 7, 2007 - 5:34pm.

Kristen Bell on Heroes is hot. Really really hot.I'd let her shock me. Geeky girls are the best.

mmmmmmmm..

Submitted by

sanDy* (38 posts)

on December 7, 2007 - 5:38pm.

tina fey!!

emma watson!

kristen bell!!

gah!!!

Submitted by

pfl (87 posts)

on December 7, 2007 - 5:40pm.

So hard to choose!! It comes down to Tina Fey & Kristin Bell. How about I inhabit Tina Fey's body (ala 'Being John Malcovich') and seduce Kristin Bell? I think I'm off the subject..... what were we talking about?

Best geek ever.

Submitted by

Tallulah71 (275 posts)

on December 7, 2007 - 5:53pm.

Best geek ever. Kirsten Vangsness a.k.a. Penelope Garcia on Criminal Minds.

Garcia

Kirsten/Penelope = Uber Geek - Yes!

Submitted by

O.M.G. (15 posts)

on December 7, 2007 - 6:18pm.

Gotta agree with Tallulah71. Kirsten is very cool. She could be my geek any time!

As to thelinster's question, "Are we really supposed to believe that a government agency is smart enough to use Macs?" - I don't want to spoil your fun, but where I work - and I work where it is significantly US Gov't - the Macs outnumber the PCs 4:1. Now, mind you, we may be an anomoly (we're in DOE - science, not Administrative crap), but it can happen. And does.

Mac ain't all that

Submitted by

Tallulah71 (275 posts)

on December 7, 2007 - 6:59pm.

That reminds me, I meant to add that Stargate Command is run by PCs. Take that Mac! :)

I just want to agree with you on this one

Submitted by

not without my ... (30 posts)

on December 7, 2007 - 8:10pm.

Penelope Garcia ( Kirsten Vangsness) on Criminal Minds is the Best.Geek.Ever!

For a merrier life, befriend the elephant in your room.

Kelka.

Submitted by

tegaraq (15 posts)

on December 7, 2007 - 6:36pm.

Kelka.

Starbuck a geek?

Submitted by

cosmiccowgirl (1070 posts)

on December 7, 2007 - 7:00pm.

I must be unclear on the definition, because to me Starbuck is the absolute opposite of a geek. Although I suppose she's intelligent enough, she's not the least bit brainy or intellectual or bookish, and her physical aggressiveness is very non geeky. She falls into the "doer, not a thinker" category.

Point taken

Submitted by

the linster (1014 posts)

on December 7, 2007 - 7:35pm.

True, Starbuck's not a geek in the same way that, say, Liz Lemon is a geek. What I had in mind was that Starbuck is an ace pilot but also writes poetry and paints. But she's not awkward and endearing in the way that the other characters are.

I heart all geeks

Submitted by

Natazzz (1113 posts)

on December 7, 2007 - 7:42pm.

I think it is not so much the case that Starbuck or Katee Sackhoff are geeks, but that they are loved by geeks.

I am not sure who to pick, I heart all geeks...Geeks are hot.

Too true...

Submitted by

gypsywee (1052 posts)

on December 8, 2007 - 2:49pm.

Starbuck is way too cool to be a geek. But, she is definitely a geek-magnet!

Christmas? Christmas means dinner, dinner means death! Death means carnage; Christmas means carnage!
-Ferdinand the duck

Geeks are cool too!

Submitted by

gypsywee (1052 posts)

on December 8, 2007 - 6:01pm.

I just want to clarify that I meant "cool" in the non-geeky way... ;)

Christmas? Christmas means dinner, dinner means death! Death means carnage; Christmas means carnage!
-Ferdinand the duck

Abby Sciuto

Submitted by

Mara (1179 posts)

on December 7, 2007 - 7:49pm.

I like this Gothy Geek (or is it Geeky Goth?) from NCIS :)

_ _ _ _ _

"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind." (Dr. Seuss)

I agree!

Submitted by

Pyewacket (1812 posts)

on December 7, 2007 - 7:55pm.

She caught my eye and I am liking her too! I love her attitude.

Continuing the Abby appreciation..

Submitted by

baby_astrolab (63 posts)

on December 10, 2007 - 6:29am.

Abby is the reason for my slightly unhealthy NCIS obsession. I mean, I know the show isn't that great and a lot of the characters are pretty one-dimensional, but... who could resist this?

Yes indeed!

Submitted by

Jox (20 posts)

on December 11, 2007 - 4:28am.

Two thumbs up for Abby!

-BE BRAVE, BE BOLD, BE FREE-

Dawn Weiner - Heather Matarazzo

Submitted by

Sorcha (174 posts)

on December 7, 2007 - 8:34pm.

For me the ultimate female geek is the iconic, hilarious Dawn 'weinerdog' Weiner, played by the fantastic Heather Matarazzo <3 in the classic movie Welcome To The Dollhouse. Dawn was actually voted the 4th in a list of the 10 greatest geeks of the silver screen by some film magazine, beating Napoleon Dynamite and managing to be the only female on the list.

I just adore the movie and love love love the character. So funny and crass, yet touching and sad.

Not to mention that Heather Matarazzo is my fave film totty ;-)

The ultimate girl geek!

I know that technically the film was 1994 not 2007, but I think that Heather definitely deserves a mention in this list as she was great as Crutch on Exes and Ohs this year, and I REALLY hope that we can see more of her and Emmy in season 2!!!

What about your mother- your mother earth?

amanda tapping

Submitted by

Bekkah (102 posts)

on December 7, 2007 - 8:40pm.

amanda tapping anyone?

kristen bell makes me feel good. :) she can shock me anytime....

Sam is an ultimate geek...

Submitted by

rowan1879 (33 posts)

on December 8, 2007 - 11:32am.

I agree with you Bekkah. Amanda Tapping's character on SG1 and Atlantis is a major geek and needs to be included in this list. Not only is Sam the smartest woman on the planet, but she is now "the man" (as Amanda says) on Stargate:Atlantis. She's a geek in power! :) Also, if I remember correctly, Amanda Tapping actually won a science fair at school when she was younger. Now, that's hot.

Sam Carter

Submitted by

Quirky Koala (117 posts)

on December 8, 2007 - 11:55am.

Sam Carter would have been my pick as well. She was the ultimate geek - used her brains to save the world, and she had such great UST with Janet Fraiser!

Chemistry

Submitted by

rowan1879 (33 posts)

on December 8, 2007 - 12:48pm.

She did. Have you noticed that she's got great chemistry with the new doctor on Stargate:Atlantis(played by Jewel Staite)? One very memorable moment, was when Sam gave a speech to everyone in the city, during the episode about the killer nightmares, and Jennifer Keller was looking at her so tenderly and adoringly. Then, when her speech was done, they shared a look. I'm not the only one who thinks so. Sparks were definitely flying.

Unforgivable!!!

Submitted by

7OF9 (157 posts)

on December 7, 2007 - 8:41pm.

How could you not include: Emily Deschanel/Dr. Temperance 'Bones' Brennan? Can't think of a bigger and hotter geek

Deschanel

Submitted by

the linster (1014 posts)

on December 7, 2007 - 9:55pm.

I did start to include her, then I thought of her sister Zooey, who also qualified and that led to Mary-Louise Parker, at which point I stopped and figured ya'll would bring them up anyway. So thanks!

Ahh!

Submitted by

7OF9 (157 posts)

on December 7, 2007 - 10:00pm.

You're forgiven :)

BONES

Submitted by

boundtostone (170 posts)

on December 7, 2007 - 10:33pm.

BONES WINS HANDS DOWN. And Emily Deschanel is a pretty huge geek, too. This omission should be rectified.

I'd say Tina Fey/Liz Lemon and KBell/VMars are close seconds, definitely. But Deschanel is awesome. And Tempe is every kind of wonderful geekiness.

Hah, I love Emily Deschanel

Submitted by

fee (1381 posts)

on December 8, 2007 - 7:16am.

Hah, I love Emily Deschanel so much that I didn't even think of her as a geek! To me, she's just plain smart.

Does that make sense? Probably not.

It reminds me of this conversation with Booth, in one of the first episodes ('the man in the bear', or something), when Booth is like:

'You're a smartass, you know that?'

And Brennan is like:

'Objectively I'd say I'm very smart although it has nothing to do with my ass...'

Yes, definitely geeky 8)

I love that everyone seems to love Emily here =)

"Bad juju? Is that a voodoo-thing?"

"Close...but with a 'j'."

- Malinda Lo & Sarah Pecora, 'the Lo-down'

I understand.

Submitted by

Pyewacket (1812 posts)

on December 8, 2007 - 11:18am.

As much as I love Tempe...I never thought about adding her to the list...maybe because she makes so much sense to me...lol...I guess it is a kind of a forrest from the trees type thing...and she reflects my own geek tendencies...which I am quite used to by now.

I know what you mean too...

Submitted by

rowan1879 (33 posts)

on December 8, 2007 - 11:45am.

Bones is just this adorably smart woman.

fee wrote:

And Brennan is like:

'Objectively I'd say I'm very smart although it has nothing to do with my ass...'

That's one of my favorite quotes. :) I love how she takes everything so literally. It's really funny and yet, she makes a good point.

Perhaps Afterellen should make an addendum to the title of the website, that reads "Home of a Tina Fey and Emily Deschanel fan club".

BONES all the way

Submitted by

BeecaBee (90 posts)

on December 10, 2007 - 10:06am.

I was horrified when I didnt see Emily Deschanel on the list. She is by far my favorite geek ever!

So many...

Submitted by

sideofzen (8 posts)

on December 7, 2007 - 10:40pm.

So many hot geek girls, so little time....

Kristen/Tina/Heather

Submitted by

fee (1381 posts)

on December 8, 2007 - 7:13am.

You know, I always fall for dark haired girls but Kristen Bell...OMG. I just think she's SO cute.

But Tina Fey with glasses is amazing too, so it's a tie ;)

(And I have to agree with the girl who mentioned Heather Matarazzo...Welcome to the Dollhouse is a great movie, and Heather sure is kind of cute).

"Bad juju? Is that a voodoo-thing?"

"Close...but with a 'j'."

- Malinda Lo & Sarah Pecora, 'the Lo-down'

yes....

Submitted by

Sorcha (174 posts)

on December 8, 2007 - 1:17pm.

You are clearly a girl with great taste in movies and women, fee!

What about your mother- your mother earth?

yay us

Submitted by

fee (1381 posts)

on December 13, 2007 - 3:01pm.

Well thank you, CrazyBrenda, I could say the same about you! ;)

"Bad juju? Is that a voodoo-thing?"

"Close...but with a 'j'."

- Malinda Lo & Sarah Pecora, 'the Lo-down'

America Ferrera aka Ugly Betty

Submitted by

marnett (15 posts)

on December 8, 2007 - 12:09pm.

I'm not sure if she is a geek, nerd or spaz, but I love her. Betty is smart and we all know that one day she is going to be HOT and rule Mode.

Kari Byron

Submitted by

Forza Roma (382 posts)

on December 8, 2007 - 1:40pm.

On mythbusters:

Kari Byron

Geekiest show on tv and one of the hottest women on tv.

Of course!

Submitted by

Ravyn (10 posts)

on December 10, 2007 - 12:22pm.

Ah now the list just got harder to choose from. I absolutely adore Kari thanks for remembering her!

...Not a bad picture to use either ;)

Oh my...

Submitted by

imthey (552 posts)

on December 8, 2007 - 5:33pm.

Yes please, give me a "Geek" woman any day of the week over those Maxim and FHM ladies.

I frankly love all the Geek magazine cover-girls.

One of my favorite "geeks" (hence my avatar) is Abby Sciuto on NCIS. I'll also add my vote for the women of Bones.

"Think Sideways"

I M THEY

Geek

Submitted by

Keph (76 posts)

on December 8, 2007 - 11:40pm.

definitely the women of Bones for me too.

Ugh.

Submitted by

Pirategrrrl (1994 posts)

on December 9, 2007 - 1:14am.

This list was like the "cool" list from a few weeks ago (I'd link it, but I'm way too lazy). There's no rhyme nor reason to why those 4 are chosen candidates. In NO WAY do I think Kristen Bell is a big enough Geek to be on there ... Quirky, sure. Scary lighting powers, definitely. But NOT an over-all super geek.

This being said, are these being chosen for the actual person? or the character? I didn't read of any kind of delineation, but that's quite a stretch ... even in their respective magazine spreads, it looks like they were all dressed up as their chracters, or various forms? Except Tina Fey. She'd win for both categories.

For example, what about America Ferrera as Ugly Betty? Or Sandra Oh as Cristina Yang? Both are TOTALLY geeky characters, though I wouldn't say the actresses are, necessarily. Maybe they were on last year's list??

But seriously - can you get much geekier than this?

And what’s he then that says I play the villain,
When this advice is free I give, and honest

Yes!

Submitted by

notl33t (125 posts)

on December 10, 2007 - 8:58am.

I would totally vote for America Ferrera of Ugly Betty. Because she's geeky, but also hot! In that incredibly nerdy way.

AE Rocks!

Submitted by

ShawtyTiger (40 posts)

on December 10, 2007 - 12:23pm.

This is why I love this site, these are kinds of women that we gravitate toward. Luckily, we have an abundance of "geek" hotties to pick from.

For me though, I've gotta say that Tina Fey wins ~~pants~~ hands down. With Jenna Fischer as a close second.

I have a HUGE thing for

Submitted by

Lindsay (Scout) (745 posts)

on December 10, 2007 - 10:31pm.

I have a HUGE thing for geeky girls as well.
Don't know if anyone has mentioned her (or even watches G4 for that matter) but

Blair Butler (comic book geek)

Those vintage tees she wears, that crooked grin of hers. Let me count the ways. But...the topper...

blairtrooper

I can't resist a girl in a trooper uinform *swoon*

I used to also like another host on G4, her name was Sarah Lane. Amazing girl. But she went off to travel the world with her husband or something. Lucky fellow. At least I we still have Blair. She's more my type anyway. I wonder if she plays for the same team?

Kristen Bell is a major hottie. So flippin' cute. I don't know if I'd call her a geek though. Maybe geek friendly.

hmm..

Submitted by

angel winters (228 posts)

on December 11, 2007 - 1:00am.

tina fey and kristen bell....thats all you needed.

Alison Mack

Submitted by

Rabbit317 (63 posts)

on December 11, 2007 - 2:00am.

The Number One reason I still tolerate Smallville. If only Chloe was a lesbian. *sigh*

Though we choose between reality and madness, it's either sadness or euphoria.

-- Billy Joel

Emma Watson is not a geek

Submitted by

csoki631 (27 posts)

on December 11, 2007 - 2:09am.

Maybe she's smart enough to think about her education. But that does not make her a geek. Or a nerd. And there is a distinction. But, actually, the Hermione character really is more of a nerd than a geek... The point is that Watson is neither. If you've read the books, you know what Hermione's really like. Watson has turned her character in the movies into, not a girl who throws her into her studying, but one who throws herself into every boy's arms. Just watch the third film, the one based on the book in which Hermione almost kills herself with the stress of an over-the-top academic load. Notice the way Hermione looks and acts. Is that nerdy? Geeky? More like superficial and boy-crazy, I'd say...

How about

Submitted by

BijouxIce (48 posts)

on December 12, 2007 - 4:24pm.

Katharine Isabelle and Emily Perkins as Ginger and Bridgette, respectively, from the Ginger Snaps movies? Those girls helped me through some really tough times.

"Never explain, never complain." - Katherine Hepburn

I'm totally with you on

Submitted by

Lindsay (Scout) (745 posts)

on December 16, 2007 - 11:40pm.

I'm totally with you on Allison Mack rabbit! She is like on my top 3 list of who I'd come out for. Is that the most contagious smile or what?! She's also the only reason I watch Smallville.The writers are so hung up on Lana there to selfish with the love stories. Oh how I would want some hottie journalist to sweep Chloe off her feet.

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