[[{{StargateSG-1}} http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/sg1geeks.jpg]]
[[caption-width:330:It's not easy being geeky.]]

->''We pan to a beautiful woman: platinum blonde with a huge rack. She is the Hottest Woman in the World, but she wears glasses because she is the Smartest Woman in the World.''
-->-- Michael Bay's "Rejected" Dark Knight Script

Despite however many typically-sexy female characters are in a series, a common gag is to have the male characters fixate instead on some inconsequential minor female character. The character may only be [[HollywoodHomely cute in a "plain" way]], but the men will all happen to find her [[{{MoeMoe}} uniquely charming]].

Very common with [[{{Meganekko}} girls who wear glasses]]. Different from the HotLibrarian in that the "librarian-ness" ''is'' what makes them attractive.

Incidentally, no putting yourself on this list. This means ''[[MostTropersAreYoungNerds you!]]'' We all know being a troper automatically makes you twice as sexy, no need to further document the phenomenon.

See also HollywoodGeek, HotScientist, GeekyTurnOn, {{Nerdcore}}, and GiveGeeksAChance.

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'''Examples:'''

!![[foldercontrol]]

[[folder: Anime and Manga ]]

* Pretty much any {{Meganekko}} who features predominantly in her series (''ReadOrDie'', ''VictorianRomanceEmma'', etc.) [[LampshadeHanging Lampshaded]] in the ''Emma'' manga omake, which reproduces the scene where Emma takes off her glasses, only for the cast to loudly insist she not remove her CharmPoint.
** Though to be fair an Anime Meganekko does not have to be a prominent character and still often deemed quite attractive. (As [[MostCommonSuperPower Prima/Lorelei]] from {{Pokemon}} is a great example.)
* ''{{Nadia The Secret of Blue Water}}'' featured an entire on-board fanclub for an obscure, plainly cute nurse character.
* Nodoka and Yue of ''MahouSenseiNegima'' tend to fit this, sometimes described as [[{{Pettanko}} flat-chested]] and [[GenericCuteness not attractive in a "Sexy" way]], They're both also two of the series' most popular characters (they may even subvert FirstGirlWins).
** Unless you consider [[UnluckyChildhoodFriend Anya]], Nodoka is the First Girl, due to Asuna being Negi's [[spoiler:aunt.]]
** Haruna could also count, although she's more on the Otaku end of the Nerd Spectrum.
*** Chisame/Chiu also falls under the very deliberately Otaku end (even falling in with Haruna at various conventions.) WordOfGod seems to be pushing her up the ranks of "those who most like Negi", [[{{Tsundere}} much to her chagrin]].
** There are also Chao Lingshen and Hakase (not as popular, but with MadScientist appeal) - with LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters, there's bound to be an abundance.
* In ''SuzumiyaHaruhi'', Yuki seems to have a large "fanbase" ''within'' the story, exactly because NerdsAreSexy. Kyon finds her appealing too, although not at the scale of [[MoeMoe Mik]][[MostCommonSuperpower uru]].
* Jou Kido from ''DigimonAdventure02''. He was really awkward as a 12-year-old in [[DigimonAdventure season one]], but ''damn'' if he didn't grow up well! Also, Koushirou. Not only are [[ShorterMeansSmarter shorter people smarter]], they're hotter, too!
* Matsu from ''{{Sekirei}}'', but then again, it is ''Sekirei''. That, and she wears an outfit similar to a Cheongsam.
* ''{{Bleach}}'''s Ise Nanao, 8th Division Vice-Captain.
** Don't forget Uryu Ishida, ranked #1 in Karakura High in terms of academics. Chicks must dig capes...
* ''{{Fate Stay Night}}'' technically has Rider when she's in her 'at home' mode
*''PsychoBusters'' has Joi.
* Irie Shouichi of ''KatekyoHitmanReborn'' can be considered this, if you get past his light awkwardness when he's not [[spoiler:playing TheDragon]] He's pretty much a [[{{Meganekko}} Meganekko]]. The [[{{YaoiFangirl}} fans]] were pleased when they saw [[http://www.onemanga.com/Katekyo_Hitman_Reborn/239/13/ this]].
** Seems like Verde of the [[{{EnfanteTerrible}} Arcobaleno]] in his adult form was a HotScientist.
* Ami Mizuno[=/=]Sailor Mercury is consistently rated the most popular character in ''SailorMoon'' by a long shot.
** Mamoru Chiba[=/=]Tuxedo Mask is also very popular, and has some decidedly nerdy intrests.
* Even ''{{Dragonball}}'' runs into this trope, as a number of girls in Orange Star High (particularly [[TheCutie Erasa]]) spend much of their screentime trying to undress [[BadassBookworm Son Gohan]] with their eyes. JerkJock Sharpener isn't very pleased to learn that he's runner up to "Nerd-Boy".
*''{{Naruto}}'''s Hinata Hyuuga is a classic {{shrinking violet}}-type nerd and one of the main love interests of the title character. She's also a {{moe}} [[PerverseSexualLust lust object]] for a hell of a lot of fans,despite being terminally shy and always bundled-up in a parka or jacket,because it fails to disguise her MostCommonSuperpower.

!![[/folder]]

[[folder: Comic Books ]]

* Gertrude Yorkes of ''{{Runaways}}'' is somewhat chubby and an insufferable nerd. But her [[DumbJock boyfriend]] adores her.
* [[Comicbook/{{X-Men}} Kitty Pryde]]. Nerdy, sexy ninja.
** She had a male counterpart in Doug Ramsey, too. They used to date! [[spoiler:Then he died.]]
* [[IncredibleHercules Amadeus Cho]], the 7th smartest person on Earth (as verified by a soap company - oh, and Reed Richards). Managed to win the heart of a PerkyGoth Amazon Gorgon girl.
* Caitlin Fairchild from {{Gen 13}}.

!![[/folder]]

[[folder: Film ]]

*NotAnotherTeenMovie has Jamie who is supposedly nerdy even though all she really does is paint, wear overalls, wear glasses, and have pigtails.
* There is a scene in a used bookshop in ''TheBigSleep'': Humphrey Bogart spends an afternoon in an antiquarian bookshop with the clerk (Dorothy Malone). An unexpected rainstorm, a bottle of rye, and the line "I'd rather get wet in here", transforms Malone from book-worm to babe, who closes the shop an hour early (and the film fades to black).
* Ben Campbell, played by Jim Sturgess, in the movie ''21.''
* A variation of this was also done in the LifeTimeMovieOfTheWeek ''Where The Heart Is'' where Natalie Portman's character falls for the "library guy".
* Catherine Banning (Rene Russo) in the late 90s remake of ''The Thomas Crown Affair'' starring Pierce Brosnan. She's an insurance investigator who hunts down art thieves. The audience's introduction to her starts with her legs. [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yt4YJhcjz7c Here is evidence of her hotness]], but the video may be NSFW depending on how uptight your coworkers are. Yes, she is wearing ''nothing'' under that dress.
** Youtube think the video is NSFW, as it has been removed.
* In ''HowToMarryAMillionaire'', Marilyn Monroe's character avoids wearing much-needed glasses as long as she can to retain her beauty. When her love interest finally persuades her to put them on, he immediately says, "You're crazy." YourMileageMayVary, but this troper for one agreed that Marilyn Friggin' Monroe looked even hotter with glasses.
* "[[AmericanPie This one time at band camp...]]"
* Maggie Gyllenhaal in pretty much everything she does, but ''Secretary'' in particular.
* This Troper is all about Annie Potts as the secretary, Janine in ''{{Ghostbusters}}''.
** Except she's not really a nerd. However she is attracted to them so I suppose that counts.
* {{Tanguy}} is a nerdy intellectual but he manages to chat up attractive girls ([[MeLoveYouLongTime mostly Asian ones]]) with ridiculous ease.


!![[/folder]]

[[folder: Literature ]]

* In ''TheHuntForRedOctober'', it is stated that Jones, the sonar technician of the ''USS Dallas'', because of his nerdy looks and knowledge, gets enough action on the beach to "wear down a squad of marines".
* Princess Marya in ''WarAndPeace''. Her eyes are described as being most beautiful whenever she smiles, but otherwise she's quite plain and Nikolai has no clue at first why he likes her.
* Spark, the petite glasses-wearing deviser girl at Whateley Academy in the WhateleyUniverse. Even the fact that all she does is obsess about building devises doesn't keep Reach from pursuing her.

!![[/folder]]

[[folder: Live Action TV ]]

* ''DoctorWho'' as portrayed by David Tennant, known for his Geek Chic suit, tennis sneakers and glasses. He's the first actor to play the role who has so far been popular enough to challenge Tom Baker for the title of ''Best Doctor Ever''.
** Arguably Peter Davison's Doctor as well.
** Lampshaded in the mini-episode "Time Crash" when the Tennant & Davison Doctors meet. Tennant expresses his admiration for Davison (semi-in character) gushes that he got the idea for wearing glasses he doesn't need to look smarter from Davison's incarnation.
* ''Doctor Who'' spinoff ''{{Torchwood}}'' had Toshiko Sato, who dealt with everything technological, and although she is every bit the awkward nerd, she somehow gets at least as much action as the others in the team. Even Jack. And that's saying something.
*''Project Runway Season 5''. Two words: Leanne Marshall.
**And to kick it up a notch: Diana Eng from Season Two. Girl actually used the words 'rotating polarity' in a dead serious context on a fashion runway. A guaranteed cute nerd girl first.
***Not to mention that when the girl gets liquor in her...she becomes ''Dirty Diana.''
* This is pretty much the entire point to TheBigBangTheory. The boys on the show don't get laid in spite of their geekiness (except Sheldon, for whom sex is less exciting than video games), they get laid pretty much ''because'' of it.
* ''{{Smallville}}'''s Chloe Sullivan definitely falls under this trope. Also helped by the fact that the main LoveInterest doubles as TheWesley and the actress playing Chloe is ''at worst'' HollywoodHomely.
** Seriously, the actress has made it onto one or two "Hottest 100 celebrities," lists. Not bad for a supporting actress on {{Smallville}}.
** Not to mention, she's one of the best characters of the entire show (that says something, trust me). She almost became a CanonImmigrant into the comics, but they just couldn't find a way to fit her in there.
** Allison Mack also [[ActorAllusion does the voice]] for [[MostCommonSuperpower Power Girl]] in the animated Superman/Batman: Public Enemies movie. Hot.
* The ''MythBusters''. [[MsFanservice Kari]] included.
** This troper has been told that someone finds both the ''Mythbusters'' and Alton Brown of ''GoodEats'' sexy, specifically because of their nerdiness. [[http://www.journalfen.net/community/otf_wank/494416.html?thread=33508176#t33508176 Yes, even Grant]].
*** This troper finds Grant utterly adorkable and would happily get HeadTiltinglyKinky with him.
*** Even discluding the robots, Grant is sexily geek. One must wonder how his place on this page could possibly be disputed.
**** What about Jamie? I mean, just ''look'' at that moustache!
* ''BuffyTheVampireSlayer'': Although Xander, Willow, and Wesley are all sexy nerds in their way, it's Giles who's sexy ''because'' he's a nerd. Or, as a love interest put it, "a sexy fuddy-duddy".
** Played with later in the series when Xander comments that smart girls are hot, and Willow who at that point is a lesbian mournfully asks him why he couldn't have figured that out when they were in 10th grade (i.e. during the time Willow had the hots for Xander).
*** 'Cause [[NoBisexuals heaven forfend she not still be interested.]]
*** And actually, they did hook up once in season 3. However, due to [[{{Wangst}} Whedonitis]] they were technically cheating and had to make amends to their partners, which took the rest of the season, in addition to staying separate from each other. This despite the fact that they'd been making "googly eyes" at each other since season 1 and each one's relationship had only really happened because they couldn't admit they were into each other. Thank you, Joss Whedon, for throwing characters the emotional IdiotBall.
* ''{{Angel}}'' also had Fred (Winnifred), the nerdy yet cute science girl who joined the cast late in the second season. During the third season, her sexy nerdiness had two of the male leads fighting over her for half the season.
* ''[[StargateSG1 Stargate SG-1]]'' presents an AlternateRealityEpisode in which Samantha Carter is a frumpy, awkward nerd. Alternate O'Neill still thinks she's hot.
** You mean she's not a frumpy, awkward nerd with a bizarre resemblance to Hillary Clinton in the normal show?
** An earlier Parallel universe introduces Doctor Carter, where she didn't join the Air Force. Being a long haired Nerd not in the military means the USMCJ doesn't apply. So the Cannon Ship goes all the way, with O'Neill and Carter being married. At least till Alternative O'Neill got blown up.
* On ''{{NUMB3RS}}'', Charlie asks Amita on their first date after she solves a particularly tricky mathematical analysis. Later they find out that math is really all they have to talk about, but this doesn't seem to be a problem since they're [[OfficialCouple still together]].
** And FBI agent Megan has a relationship with professor Larry.
** Ahem, "Luckily, I speak l33t," "That's so hot."
* ''[[CSINewYork CSI:NY]]''- Lindsay Monroe has a relationship with Danny. Stella attracts stalkers.
* ''DrakeAndJosh'': One of Drake's earliest [[GirlOfTheWeek Girls Of The Week]].
** And now that Josh Peck has hit himself with the pretty stick...
* ''{{NCIS}}''. '''''Abby'''''. That is all.
**...only if you somehow forgot about '[=McGee=]'!
** Palmer is pretty damn hot too when he's seen briefly [[ShirtlessScene shirtless]].
* Daniel Faraday from ''{{LOST}}'', who even has a fanclub called 'A.D.O.R.K.A.B.L.E'.
* One episode of ''FlightOfTheConchords'' has Murray get a crush on his office's tech support woman. And then sing a song about her, naturally.
* The eponymous character in {{Chuck}}.
** Also his ex, what's her name. The one from Stanford.
* TheXFiles. Gillian Anderson became the pin-up of choice for straight male nerds everywhere. David Duchovny did the same for the ladies.
* Ivy of the {{Dollhouse}}. Subverting [[TheIgor the Igor trope]] since 2008.
* {{Lampshaded}} in ''{{The IT Crowd}}'' when Roy and Moss make a NerdsAreSexy calendar and it ends up being less "hot supermodel with glasses" and more "fat bloke with his shirt off".
* Maybe it's for ThisTroper only, but [[That70sShow Eric Forman]], and his actor, both fit into this category.

!![[/folder]]

[[folder: Real Life ]]

* Real Life example: Hannah Arendt.
** And TinaFey. She's arguably several times hotter with her glasses ''on'', and I don't know why.
* Kari Byron from Mythbusters.... Mrrrowww!
* [[http://www.angryflower.com/dating.gif Dr. Fotini Markopoulou-Kalamara!]]
* [[http://www.hyreviews.com/Seth%20Myers%20and%20Bill%20Hader,%20cropped.jpg Seth Meyers and Bill Hader]], SNL's resident dreamboats. They write comic books. Case closed.
* After [[strike:helping Oxford's Corpus Christi College win]] single-handedly winning the 2009 series of ''UniversityChallenge'' for Oxford's Corpus Christi College (till they got disqualified for fielding an illegible player in the final), Gail Trimble got asked to do a "tasteful" photoshoot for a lad's mag. She declined the offer.
*Masi Oka. Fluent in three languages, does charity work for One Laptop Per Child, has a BS in Computer Science from Brown, was nominated for an Emmy, is a former programmer/computer animator for Lucasfilm, and, at least in This Troper's humble opinion, pretty darn sexy.
*Carol Vorderman certainly qualifies, but Rachel Riley has killed this troper's ability to think, let alone play along with ''Countdown''.
* [[http://www.filmweb.no/bilder/multimedia/archive/00098/Maggie_Gyllenhaal_i__98612o.jpg Maggie Gyllenhaal]], [[http://www.zooeydeschanel.us/gallery/zooey-deschanel-1g.jpg Zooey Deschanel]], [[http://images-2.redbubble.net/img/art/size:large/view:main/2806844-2-evell-choose-judy-greer.jpg Judy Greer]], [[http://crushingclams.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/amber-benson-31.jpg Amber Benson]], [[http://www.101lifestyle.com/images/celebs/melanie_lynskey/prazzi-melanie%20lynskey%20pics%20001.jpg Melanie Lynskey(Kiwi nerd!)...]]
* [[http://www.feliciaday.com/ Felicia Day]].
* [[TheContributors Us.]]
* Jennifer. Jason. Leigh.
* Seth Green. ''[[HeartSymbol Siiiigh...]]''
* Danica Mc Kellar. Remember Winnie from TheWonderYears? She graduated summa cum laude from UCLA, majoring in mathematics, co-authored a scientific paper and has her name attached to the "Chayes-Mc Kellar-Winn theorem". And judging from the covers for her books "Math Doesn't Suck" and "Kiss My Math"(aimed at middle-school girls to encourage math proficiency), she's still pretty damn attractive.
** [[http://www.imdb.com/media/rm2645395712/nm0005211 Here's a recent picture for any doubters]]

!![[/folder]]

[[folder: Video Games ]]

* [[HalfLife Gordon Freeman.]] Even ActionGirl [[HotAmazon Alyx Vance]] gets shy around him.
** For that matter, [[BadassBookworm Alyx herself]] - remember Dog, the minivan-sized robot that follows her around? Her father built him as a puppy-sized companion. Everything since that is ''her'' work.
* Most ''Harvest Moon'' games have a librarian or some other girl with glasses as a potential bride. ''Harvest Moon: A Wonderful Life'' is the only one that has a girl with glasses that you can't marry. This editor does not think it is a coincidence that it's also amongst the lowest-regarded in the series.
** Playing as a female, there have also been options such as Rick, Louis (practically a male {{Meganekko}}), and Jin.
*** Don't forget the Doctor (Trent or Alex, depending on the game) -- smart, serious, studious, and sexy. This troper about cried when he came pre-married in Island of Happiness.
* Nerdy to the core, being both an [[HotScientist engineer]] AND an anime otaku, Otacon of the {{Metal Gear}} series is a profoundly [[TheWoobie woobie]] fan favorite. He swaps out his glasses for contacts halfway through ''Metal Gear Solid 4'', but since he does so for such an endearingly nerdy reason (a pretty girl told him to!) this doesn't bother many people (it helps that a big part of his character development is [[spoiler: swapping the contacts back for glasses]]). With his glasses on, it should be noted that [[NotBloodSiblings even his step-sister wants a piece of him]].
** The Sorrow may be a little creepy, but if [[{{Badass}} The Boss]] gave birth to his child, he must be one sexy, sexy man.
*** Yes. Yes he is.
* Lucca from ''ChronoTrigger'' is ''the'' poster girl for sexy nerds in video games. A [[TeenGenius brilliant]] ''literally'' [[FireIceLightning fiery]], [[HairColors purple-head]] {{meganekko}}, [[{{Girls With Guns}} wielding a pistol]] [[{{Drop The Hammer}} and a hammer]]. Complete with a {{woobie}}-ish backstory and a motherly side. Nice!
** In an unusual twist, though, her looks aren't really noticeable until the helmet comes off - not the glasses.
* Shad, the resident nerd in ''TheLegendOfZelda: Twilight Princess'', is as popular with fans of that series who love geeks as Otacon is with fans of MGS.
* Patchouli Knowledge of {{Touhou}}. Being ReallySevenHundredYearsOld and a {{Hikikomori}} in her library for over a hundred years with a penchant for {{Magitek}}, this trope is the entire basis of her popularity.
* [[SuperRobotWars Ryusei Date]] is the epitome of otakuness, having more interest in the features of whichever {{Fembot}} was currently in the hangar than real girls. Nevertheless, Latooni Subota and Mai Kobayashi fall for him, the former going as far as [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75fh1LghX9U imitating his geeky speech out of affection.]] [[CelibateHero Ryusei himself doesn't seem to mind, though.]]
* [[TalesOfDestiny Philia Felice]] is a really nerdy priestess, complete with nerd glasses, who have a penchant of inventing self-made bombs. However, that turns out to be one of her charms ([[LampshadeHanging she also admits that if she's plain looking without her glasses]]), including her nice personality as well as [[KikukoInoue her voice]].
* [[TeamFortress2 If that don't work, use MORE gun.]]
* Naoya from ''DevilSurvivor'' is a programming {{Bishounen}}.
* Morgan [[spoiler:Freeman]] in [[LeisureSuitLarry Leisure Suit Larry: Magna Cum Laude]].

!![[/folder]]

[[folder: Webcomics ]]

* After finding out about this, [[FoxTrot Jason Fox]] once tried to make himself as least nerdy as possible because GirlsHaveCooties.
* Alice from ''{{Loserz}}'' thinks so. See [[http://bukucomics.com/loserz/index.php?comicID=217 this]] strip.
** And Adam from the same strip actually ''is'' a sexy nerd (although he usually hides it - being a gaming nerd, not being sexy). See [[http://bukucomics.com/loserz/index.php?comicID=397 here]].
* ''TalesOfMU'' takes this to the logical extreme -- Amaranth is a physically perfect nymph, naked except for her glasses, who believes in science in a world of [[{{Magitek}} magic-based technology]]. Beyond the mere nudism, nymphs in MU follow the more ''open'' version in regards to sex and sexuality (the ultimate origin of the term ''nymph''omania) -- although Amaranth treats it as an enjoyable part time job / chore more than anything.
** It's later discovered this is because of a teenage geek messing with the process that created her, creating the ultimate geek fantasy girl -- a confident, polite nudist who will put up with ANYTHING and literally can't get enough sex. Oh, and she's a geek, too. Unfortunately, he was too shy to talk to her afterwards, which left her in the dark about the whole thing.
* TheCyantianChronicles: Chatin and Twinky.

!![[/folder]]

[[folder: Western Animation ]]

* Velma from ''ScoobyDoo''. Played with in {{The Movie}}s (...not what we meant).
* Also,Edd from {{Ed Edd N Eddy}},well..[[http://fc46.deviantart.com/fs21/f/2007/250/5/2/EddEdd___For_Chidoriashi_by_Yami_Shin.jpg In]] [[http://fc78.deviantart.com/fs20/f/2007/282/f/3/EEnE___Dork_by_Yami_Shin.jpg the]] [[http://fc69.deviantart.com/fs39/f/2008/318/b/c/EEnE_Eat_the_chocolate__Undone_by_chidoriashi.jpg eyes]] [[http://fc56.deviantart.com/fs38/f/2008/357/1/6/i_love_you_double_D_XD_by_mick_kun69.png of]] [[http://fc02.deviantart.com/fs20/f/2007/247/3/d/EdEddEddy_Doujin___Page28_by_Yami_Shin.jpg yaoi]] [[http://fc43.deviantart.com/fs23/f/2008/011/8/5/EEnE_Don__t_leave_here_by_chidoriashi.jpg fans]]..
*GhostWriter from ''DannyPhantom''. He only appeared in one episode, but remains one of the most popular character with the fangirls.
* In the episode of ''BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'' where the Riddler reforms (or rather, [[ChronicVillainy attempts to]]), he ends up with quite a few women fawning over him. Unless that's an example of AllGirlsWantBadBoys.
** There's no reason it can't be both, we like combos
* In {{Totally Spies}} Sam the red head is the nerdiest one of the bunch and considered by a lot of fans to be the sexiest one of the group.
* Dexter of the Oh Boyz from Kim Possible. Doubles as the TokenMinority of the group.

!![[/folder]]

[[folder: Web Original ]]

* Marina Orlova, host of the popular YouTube channel [=HotForWords=]. In her videos she explains the etymology behind English words and idioms while exploiting the fact that she's a blonde bombshell for all it's worth. Her videos begin with the tagline "Intelligence is Sexy".
* Male version: [[DoctorHorriblesSingAlongBlog Doctor Horrible]].
* ThatGuyWithTheGlasses. Whether you like [[HollywoodNerd hot, geeky girls]], [[{{Meganekko}} cute guys in glasses]] or just have a [[RuleThirtyFour taste]] for [[DeadpanSnarker snark]], there's a little something for everyone.

!![[/folder]]

[[folder: Music ]]

* Lupe Fiasco. Just listen to some of his songs.
* John Linnell of TheyMightBeGiants, for some.
** ffffffffff ''yes''. He may be old enough to be my dad, but that wouldn't stop me floating along after him with hearts percolating from my head.
* [[TheWhiteStripes Meg White]]

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Other ]]

* [[http://www.flickr.com/photos/kishimoto/1344394896/ This T-shirt.]]
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<<|CharactersAsDevice|>>

Film: "Candy", the English nickname of the mousy main character in the little-known, cute Korean film "Please Teach Me English!." She even wears her glasses when she's in the bathtub! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_mIcrC2xbMs&feature=related