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Even when you get pterodactyl-size butterflies in your stomach with a guy, nothing really compares to the feeling you had for your first love.

We're not talking about your high school boyfriend, either. We're talking about James Spader. Or Malcolm-Jamal Warner. Or Westley from "The Princess Bride." The '80s were chock-full of hot dudes -- but are they still hot? (Plenty of the hottest women from that era are still smokin')

Click through below for the boys of summer (of, uh, 1986) and see if your favorite is still pillow-make-out-worthy. If not, never fear ... Check out our list of old-school summer dates for inspiration on how to get old-timey butterflies with your present-day crush.
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80s Crushes: Old School Love
Oh Chad. Is there something you'd like to tell us?
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80s Crushes Then & Now

    THEN: Andrew McCarthy Whether falling for Molly Ringwald in "Pretty in Pink" or for an inanimate Kim Cattrall in "Mannequin," McCarthy was the romantic soul of the '80s. And, as it turns out, the sparks in "Pretty in Pink" were real: Ringwald later confessed to having a serious crush on Andrew during filming.

    Zuma Press

    NOW: Andrew McCarthy After recent stints on "Law & Order Criminal Intent" and "Lipstick Jungle," McCarthy is returning to his roots: playing Lily's father in an episode of "Gossip Girl" set during the '80s. We hear the episode is actually a backdoor pilot for a potential series called "Valley Girls." A TV series set during the '80s and starring Andrew McCarthy? Where do we sign?

    THEN: Cary Elwes As "The Princess Bride"'s dashing Westley, Elwes melted hearts merely by uttering the words, "Inconceivable." We kid, that was Wallace Shawn. "As you wish" is what Westley said to melt Princess Buttercup's slightly prickly heart. (He was also able to yell it while tumbling down a hillside.)

    Everett Collection

    NOW: Cary Elwes Post-"Bride," Elwes made a career out of basically playing Westley over and over in movies like "Robin Hood: Men in Tights" and "Georgia Rule." In 2005, Elwes filed a lawsuit against the makers of "Saw" for not allowing him to share in the colossal profits from that torture-fest. You can soon see him scanned as a 3-D character in "A Christmas Carol" and "The Adventures of Tintin." Even awkward motion-capture Elwes is still pretty darn smooth.

    THEN: Chad Allen Allen first came to fame for his role as the young autistic boy Tommy Westphall on "St. Elsewhere." (Turned out the whole series took place in his mind. Which explains all the Howie Mandel antics.) But it was his role opposite crotchety old Wilford Brimley, and a young Shannon Doherty, in "Our House" that scored him a place in Bop and Teen Beat.

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    NOW: Chad Allen Allen spent a good part of the '90s on the swoony "Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman," and met with controversy when tabloids outed him in 1996. Since then, he's been a steadfast activist for gay rights, produced and starred in socially relevant projects like 2007's "Save Me" (co-starring Angela from 'Who's the Boss" as a crazy Christian!) He recently turned up on the "General Hospital" spin-off "Night Shift," and also auctioned off his underwear for charity. Ladies? Guys? Crazy "Our House" fans?

    THEN: C. Thomas Howell Howell first demonstrated his tough guy persona as Ponyboy in "The Outsiders," and then proceeded to milk it for decades in action roles ranging from the sublime ("Red Dawn," "The Hitcher") to the highly forgettable (pretty much everything after "Red Dawn" and "The Hitcher").

    Everett Collection

    NOW: C. Thomas Howell C. Thomas continues to be the king of direct-to-DVD action fare, recently starring in his own version of "War of the Worlds" (and directing the sequel, co-starring Christopher "Kid" Reid of Kid 'n Play). If you're up late watching a B-action movie, chances are C. Thomas Howell is the star. He's also on the new show "Southland."

    THEN: Fred Savage Just like his TV alter ego's undying love for Winnie Cooper, scores of young girls fell for Savage on his hit series "The Wonder Years." Whether starring in movies like the Nintendo classic "The Wizard," or appearing opposite the Church Lady on "SNL," Savage was one biggest young stars of his day. Though we're still bummed that Kevin and Winnie didn't end up together in the final episode.

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    THEN: Fred Savage Believe it or not, Savage is still working in kid TV-behind the scenes as a director for shows like "Ned's Declassified" and "Hannah Montana." Recently, he's branched out into comedy, helming episodes of "Ugly Betty" and the cult hit "It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia." On the acting front, Savage made a memorable appearance as Number Three in "Austin Powers in Goldmember," and starred in the pilot "Single White Millionaire." TV could really use a good Fred Savage vehicle right about now.





Just because your wallet is as thin as your clothing these days, your love life shouldn't suffer for it. Try these nearly-free ideas that will make you giddier than the "Summer Lovin'" scene from "Grease."

1. Take a blanket to a local production of Shakespeare in the Park or an outdoor film series.

2. Make a day of lazy tubing on a nearby river with a packed cooler.

3. Climb to the highest place you can find -- the roof of your apartment, a big hill in a city park, or just the top of your car -- and admire the view. Add a six-pack and a pizza for sheer bliss.
4. Lay in the grass and read the entire Sunday paper together.

5. Comb flea markets or garage sales for the tackiest stuff you can find under a buck.

6. Head out to a horse track on a free-admission day (usually Mondays) and place dollar bets on the ponies.

7. Check out an outdoor poetry reading. Bring along a mini notebook so you can pen your own overwrought prose back and forth when the speakers get way sappy.

8. Have a sexy picnic. Bring aphrodisiac foods like licorice, honey, nuts and berries, and non-alcoholic wine sodas in rose, chardonnay or pinot noir.

9. Stay up all night to take in an early morning meteor shower. The spectacular Perseid is on August 12 this year.

10. Sit out on your deck or patio and have this badass dessert dinner.