Because it's nice to see fanservice men once in a while

Let me say something about Illya Kuryakin.

We can start with his partner. The show they're on is called The Man from UNCLE. The main character is named Napoleon Solo. That is the name of a man who was never intended to have a partner. But they went and cast David McCallum for a bit part and he did it a bit too well to leave him on the sidelines, so before the show even aired for the first time, they raised him to co-star status.

The first episode of the show is a very basic, typical spy show. It is not bad, deals with a tiny new African nation without any obvious racism, and shows only the tiniest bit of sexism in the form of the main character tricking a girl into leaning over so he can look down her blouse... not bad for 1964. But it also isn't terribly interesting yet.

What makes the show good is twofold: they stop taking themselves so seriously, and they elevate Mr. Solo's pretty Russian partner to become what I have dubbed Mr. Fanservice Man. I mean, he's played by an excellent actor and gets most of the best jokes, but I can't help but notice how very well they make use of the man's physique and smooth delivery of lines that are full of the writers getting crap past the radar.

So it's really no surprise that he was a bit of a sex symbol back in the day.....

http://www.thejennifers.com/The_Jennifers_-_Illya_Kuryakin_Looked_At_Me.mp3

"I am Illya Kuryakin. I am also an enforcement agent. Like my friend Napoleon, I go and I do... whatever I am told to by our chief." That pregnant pause is all his.