Zach Woods in the Woods for GQ

June 1, 2018 11:07 AM

Woods is what women would have called an "Internet boyfriend" a few years ago [...] Woods, of course, is not aware of his effect on the Internet because he doesn't read anything about himself, but the news delights him. [via nikkuneko on mltshp ]
posted by ellieBOA (25 comments total)

Hee!
posted by infini at 11:09 AM on June 1, 2018

Great article, and quirky, excellent photos.

also he fucks
posted by a halcyon day at 11:21 AM on June 1, 2018 [3 favorites]

"Startup barnacle" is a really unfair and unhelpful description of Jared's character on Silicon Valley. I've watched the show from the beginning and that's about the furthest description I'd use to describe him.
posted by sardonyx at 11:32 AM on June 1, 2018 [6 favorites]

Awesome! I've liked Woods' acting since I saw him play a sycophantic twerp in In the Loop. He's so talented in making his characters totally believable, and is my favorite character on Silicon Valley. He uses his 'ghostlike features' to great success!
posted by but no cigar at 11:34 AM on June 1, 2018 [1 favorite]

Also, the phrase isn't "the guy who fucks" it's "that guy fucks." There's a difference, subtle though it may be.
posted by sardonyx at 11:35 AM on June 1, 2018 [11 favorites]

As dorky as those photos were, they were refreshing to see. It was a photoshoot with a point and a sense of humour, not to mention a subject who was willing to go along with the joke and play it up to the full degree it required. There are so many bad and angsty photo spreads these days that this was an unexpected, but welcomed, change of pace.
posted by sardonyx at 11:42 AM on June 1, 2018 [5 favorites]

Zach Woods Tells an Embarrassing Web Browser History Story.
posted by Pendragon at 11:46 AM on June 1, 2018 [3 favorites]

mlkshk

Wait, who did I just renew with, then?

mltshp s th nw mlkshk
posted by zamboni at 11:53 AM on June 1, 2018 [2 favorites]

He looks awkward and uncomfortable in every picture, just like on Silicon Valley. We have a lot in common.
posted by tommasz at 12:06 PM on June 1, 2018

Much has been made, for instance, of the fact that Woods has a girlfriend.

Let me tell y'all something: When I was in NYC improv in the mid 00's, all the young women had a crush on Zach Woods, it seemed like. He indeed had that true non-alpha male confidence that is attractive, and what so many people want for themselves. And he's really funny!

When his house team would emerge from behind the black wall at the old UCB on Harold Nights and people saw him, there were squeals of delight from the audience.

George Basil was around at the same time. I wish I had higher profile work to give him as well, because he's another one who I knew to be kind, friendly, and EXTREMELY talented and funny.
posted by droplet at 12:41 PM on June 1, 2018 [6 favorites]

"I think in movies, in television, and in advice columns, often there's this idea that what people are really attracted to is confidence. And I think people, especially young men, sometimes misinterpret that to mean being brash, or trying to be an alpha. That's what's attractive to the opposite sex, or to the same sex. But in my experience—and I feel bashful pontificating on the nature of attraction—I guess I feel like what's actually attractive is confidence that doesn't manifest as, like, silverback-ape behavior. Internal confidence."

Shout it from the rooftops.
posted by everybody had matching towels at 12:50 PM on June 1, 2018 [23 favorites]

Zach Woods is sooo great in one of my favorite sitcoms of the last few years, Playing House. If you haven't checked it out, I highly, highly recommend it.

(Also, I don't normally read GQ admittedly, but 2 grand for a jacket!?!? Like a windbreaker jacket?!?)
posted by cottoncandybeard at 1:18 PM on June 1, 2018 [4 favorites]

Woods appears for like, extremely brief roles or one line parts in so many seemingly random shows and movies that I suspect people just want an excuse to hang out with him.
posted by The Whelk at 1:51 PM on June 1, 2018 [7 favorites]

(Also, I don't normally read GQ admittedly, but 2 grand for a jacket!?!? Like a windbreaker jacket?!?)
posted by cottoncandybeard at 3:18 PM on June 1 [+] [!]

Luxury items are not in any way related to the cost to produce them. I've seen $400 t-shirts.
posted by OnTheLastCastle at 2:05 PM on June 1, 2018 [2 favorites]

an "internet boyfriend"
word has it that nikkuneko is single, ladies
posted by thelonius at 2:36 PM on June 1, 2018 [2 favorites]

tldr; looked at the pictures. swoon.
posted by OrangeDisk at 2:44 PM on June 1, 2018 [2 favorites]

He is such a delightful comedic actor. I've been selectively re-watching The Office over the past few months, and while the second half of the seasons are not as good, he is such a standout. His line readings are amazing (and got even better on Silicon Valley) and the way he uses is body for full, awkward comedic effect is just so good.
posted by lunasol at 3:30 PM on June 1, 2018 [1 favorite]

He's been so good in everything I've seen him in that I half expect him to Milkshake Duck.
posted by rhizome at 3:39 PM on June 1, 2018

If I was going to disappear in Joshua Tree in my Audi listening to U2, those are the clothes I'd wear.
posted by klanawa at 4:01 PM on June 1, 2018 [4 favorites]

The girlfriend referenced in the article is sex columnist Karley Sciortino/Slutever (link to her website but possibly NSFW). I am very jealous of her but also very delighted at the pairing.
posted by thebots at 7:38 PM on June 1, 2018 [1 favorite]

I guess I feel like what's actually attractive is confidence that doesn't manifest as, like, silverback-ape behavior. Internal confidence.

That's what I was going for with my robin's-egg-blue leather, bell-bottomed, three piece suit that I picked up at a thrift store.
posted by StickyCarpet at 8:34 PM on June 1, 2018 [1 favorite]

Mod note: Corrected mlkshk to mltshp; placed bulk order for vowels on Prime with two-day shipping
posted by Eyebrows McGee (staff) at 10:54 PM on June 1, 2018 [9 favorites]

Says Woods, explaining why it is that this guy fucks: "Jared is empathetic, he's a good listener, he loves women, and he's discreet."

Personally I wouldn't have picked Jared before, if I had to pick anyone in that Silicon Valley house (and I ADORE that show, it's so full of male hysteria), but I certainly would now.
posted by goofyfoot at 11:35 PM on June 1, 2018 [1 favorite]

Oh my. I'm exchanging hot texts with a friend and that was... delightful.
posted by bendy at 11:45 PM on June 1, 2018

Woods is what women would have called an "Internet boyfriend" a few years ago. An Internet boyfriend was a man who, while not objectively, Hemsworthily attractive, was a subjective smokeshow. Rami Malek and Benedict Cumberbatch were Internet boyfriends, and Woods is a sort of Internet boyfriend-regent.

"Hemsworthily" is doing a lot of work here.
posted by grandiloquiet at 7:38 PM on June 2, 2018 [3 favorites]