Bug Hall Always Undressed

"Bug Hall was nine years old when he won the role of scrawny Alfalfa in Little Rascals" (1994), a modernization of the 1930's shorts, but heavy on heterosexual romance. He was asked to appear in his underwear (and he loses it, off camera).

Then, after some minor girl-gawking in "The Big Green" (1995), "The Stupids" (1996) and "The Munsters' Scary Little Christmas" (1996), he starred in "Safety Patrol "(1998), an unusual teen nerd comedy in which The Girl is an ally rather than a goal.

After transferring to a new school, Scout (Bug Hall) instantly acquires a girlfriend, cheerleader cum valedictorian Hanna (Alex McKenna). His heterosexuality established, we can get on to the main plot arc: a desire for homosocial fulfillment. Bug joins two all-male gangs, a lunch-table full of outcast Barneys, including the gay-vague "Walt Whitman," and the school's Safety Patrol, a goose-stepping paramilitary organization involved mostly in extortion and bullying. Its leader is the evil Kent (Philip Van Dyke), the principal's son.

When the Safety Patrol frames Scout for a series of petty thefts, he realizes who is true friends are, and sets out with the Barneys and Hanna to catch the real crook. In the process he remakes the Safety Patrol. No significant buddy bonding, but gay characters, sort of.

Becoming less awkward as he moved through adolescence, Bug took roles reminiscent of Mark Lester's twenty years before, as naifs who nevertheless are swept up by strong, unconscious heterosexual passions. He played a fourteen-year old who gets his girlfriend pregnant in the indie film "Skipped Parts" (2000), a high school journalist who begins to "notice" the brainy girl-next-door in "Get a Clue" (2002), a fan obsessed with an older writer (Candace Bergen) in "Footsteps" (2003), and a high schooler struggling to lose his virginity in "American Pie Presents: Book of Love "(2009).

He was usually asked to appear in his underwear, or in a skimpy swimsuit.

"As an adult, Bug had a lean physique, with a tight ribbed chest and ball-shaped biceps (not to mention rugged good looks). He also did quite a bit of buddy-bonding, in Arizona Summer "(2003), in "Fortress "(2012), and in some of his television appearances; it's actually hard to find a movie or tv appearance where he DOESN'T hug a male friend.

No gay characters, but in "Mortuary "(2005), he played the homophobic bully who harasses Grady (Rocky Marquette).

And lots and lots of shirtless, underwear, bulge, and swimsuit shots -- it's hard to find a movie or tv appearance where he DOESN'T display his fine physique.

So it was interesting to see the "evidence" of Bug taking the next step, allegedly posting nude pictures of himself on the internet. Tattoos, Prince Albert, the whole nine yards. (Though they're probably fakes).

Next stop: frontal nudity in a movie?

Credit: pickup-techniques.blogspot.com