Is There A Doctor In The House?

Alpha, Beta, Gamma...we've all heard the hero "types". Let's look at them in way that makes them easier to understand:

THE ALPHA

Dr. Mark "McSteamy" Sloan (actor Eric Dane) is about as Alpha as you can get. He's a lover and a fighter, full of machismo and swagger. A bad boy with a bad attitude and sex appeal you can't deny. There's a mystery about him. (Why would a guy sleep with his best friend's wife?) He seems wounded and in need of fixing, if only he could find the right woman. When it comes to work, he's the boss. His rules apply because he demands perfection. He is not the boy next door, which is why you shouldn't expect him to be there when you wake up in the morning.

THE BETA



Dr. George O'Malley (actor T.K. Knight) perfects the Beta hero. He's everyone's best friend. He's sweet, sensitive, not afraid to show his emotions - or confess them, regardless of the outcome. There's a bit of the underdog in him - we root for him to get the girl and feel his pain when he doesn't. Although he doesn't seek out confrontation, when pushed (enough) on a subject that means something to him, he'll eventually rise to the fight and defend what he believes in without even the slightest hint of arrogance. He is definitely the boy next door and the kind of guy who will always be there for you.

THE GAMMA


Surprised Dr. Derek "McDreamy" Shepherd (actor Patrick Dempsey) is the Gamma? You shouldn't be. He combines some of the best elements of the Alpha and the Beta. He falls into the role of best friend easily, displaying his overload of charm, but confront him with a situation that requires action and you'll see his Alpha side come spilling out. He is strong and vunerable...probably the only thing he can't handle is the heroine. McDreamy might be the boy next door, but only if you're living in a romance novel or television show.

So...who's your favorite hero?