An ode to Jim and J.D.

Claire Burke is a senior majoring in journalism.

As I was coming up with ideas for this week’s column, I went through the normal “let’s find ideas” routine (which actually just consists of asking my very creative roommate for ideas), and decided it would be best to just make a case for why Jim Halpert and Dr. John “J.D.” Dorian are simply the best male characters (at least they’re my favorite) on television.

Let’s start with Jim from “The Office.” Ah, Jim Halpert, every gal’s dream guy: so smart, sensitive and wonderfully sarcastic, all rolled into one mop-headed bundle of dreaminess. Added to the greatness of the character is Jim’s unwavering devotion – but not in a creepy way – to his true love, receptionist and resident hottie Pam Beesly.

Jim is also the perfect antithesis to office boss Michael Scott, who just outdoes himself with ridiculousness each week. Every time I watch the show, I can’t believe the things Michael says and does, but then again, that’s kind of the point, right? Anyway, Jim’s character is just the perfect antidote for Michael’s, giving the audience a real dose of comedy injected into the awkwardness. And really, who can resist when he gives the camera that fake “I’m so confused” look that he does so well?

As for John Dorian, better known as J.D., from the medical sitcom “Scrubs,” he is wonderful simply because he is so ridiculous.

Whether J.D. is letting his mind wander off into some crazy daydream or facilitating his bro-mance with his best friend Chris Turk, J.D. is just weird enough that I never get tired of him. Maybe it’s the fact that underneath it all, he really is a great guy, or the fact that he is such a dork and totally alright with it, but every time I watch an episode of “Scrubs” (which, believe me, is pretty often), I love J.D. more at the end of the episode than I did when it started.

J.D.’s charm is heightened because he is fine with who he is. He’s fine being an odd, doughy doctor who has severe commitment issues and endlessly searches for the approval of the one person who will never give it to him. J.D. is irreversibly weird, but he’s 100 percent OK with that.

So, there it is: a quasi-love letter to my two favorite fake people. Sure they have their flaws, but who cares about that when they’re totally not real people? Both are a little dorky and completely charming.

Now, if only someone like Jim/J.D. existed in real life.