Throughout our site, you'll find we take many stabs at this show we love. We do it in good fun (usually), and despite the sometimes silly storylines, bloopers or even the occasional No!Augh, we still call this show home. Every week, we find something that gives us hope, makes us wonder and reminds us why we love Alias so much. Whether it be Michael Vartan's smile, the leather jacket or even some of the external Alias coverage, here's where we give kudos to the things that make the Hos happy.

Welcome to The All-Stars.

Don't forget to visit our sister section, The Penalty Box.

::Date:: 1.14.03
::By:: Kate, Vartan Ho #1
::Episode Reference:: N/A
::Person We Love: Regina, from TWoP.
::Why?

Every week, the Hos wait with bated breath, not only for the newest episode of Alias, but for the fantastic, hilarious, borderline-genius recaps from Regina at the TWoP boards. Regina manages to find humor even in the most serious of moments on the show, which helps to put everything in proper perspective. While aspiring writers read recaps in utter awe of how well written they are, at once so light and so fiendishly clever, Regina goes right along to the next recap. Each week she manages to top herself, and keeps us laughing all the way.

For that, we thank you Regina!

::Date:: 1.14.03
::By:: Kate, Vartan Ho #1
::Episode Reference:: 1.22 Almost Thirty Years
::Thing we love: Cows
::Why?

Today, we give thanks to all of the cows that gave their lives so that the people on this show could look kick-ass. There are more dead cows in Sydney's closet than you'll find at your local burger joint. But they gave their lives for the greater good. While Sydney is walking around in leather from head-to-toe, looking pretty damn hot, Michael Vartan needs to do nothing more than wear a leather jacket, and we all fall on our knees and thank God that we're women. And while this Vartan Ho is an avid believer in the ethical treatment of animals, I think that even that cow had to be happy when covering Michael's body. In fact, that's how I want to go.

Got Vaughn?

::Date:: 1.14.03
::By:: Kate, Vartan Ho #1
::Episode Reference:: N/A
::Thing we love: Surprise Endings
::Why?

Nothing else on television can quite compare to the Alias conclusion. Never has there been a show that had so many unspoiled folk guessing until the very end, sitting on the edge of their seats in anticipation. Never has there been a show that fulfilled a promise of a good ending, instead of bragging about how good it's going to be, and you've already figured it out ten minutes into the show. Never have so many people hung their jaw's in utter shock when the credits begin to roll. The conclusions are always original and nail-bitingly good, and keep even the Spo-Hos questioning how the characters will get out of the jam they've gotten into. This show has everyone asking themselves, "They aren't really going to do that are they?"

Well, on Alias, they really will do it. And thank God...or J. J.

::Date:: 1.24.03
::By:: Kate, Vartan Ho #1
::Episode Reference:: The Box 1 and 2, The Prophecy
::Thing we love: British Accents
::Why?

A British accent isn't just sexy-as-all-getup, but you can get away with saying anything and still sound classy. Throw in some fantastic fight scenes, a hot Asian chick, and/or a smart double-crossing by James Bond himself, and you've got yourself an electrically charged Alias episode sure to please everyone. If Michael Vartan began speaking with a British accent, my television would simply explode.

So would my head.

::Date:: 1.24.03
::By:: Kate, Vartan Ho #1
::Episode Reference:: Season 2
::Person we love: Patrick M.
::Why?

Michael Vartan isn't the only guy in the Alias world women are thankful for. Patrick M. came to us early in season 2, and offered us the best screen caps the Alias fandom has ever seen. He's generously helped us with every episode since, and he's even helping Spygirl pick out new capture software. A complete gentleman, he's worked with us to get as many MV pics as possible out of an episode, even though we're sure he'd rather focus on Jennifer Garner. ; ) Every picture is like being right up close with the character. You can see the fabric of their clothes, the flicker of color in their eyes. There's nothing quite like a close-up, high-quality shot of Michael Vartan's smile to make you go weak in the knees.

Patrick, we love you madly!

::Date:: 1.24.03
::By:: Kate, Vartan Ho #1
::Episode Reference:: All
::Thing we love: Spoilers
::Why?

There's this feeling you get in the pit of your stomach when you hit refresh on your computer screen, and see that their are new spoilers to be read. Like a rush of adrenaline that makes you all giddy inside. Like Christmas day, when you finally get to open all of your presents. Like the beginning of something new. Sometimes you try to stay away, try to resist the temptation, but it draws you, as if spoilers are the ring from Lord of the freakin' Rings. Very few can resist it. You just can't stand not knowing until 9PM on Sunday night what's going to happen. It's like torture. So you read. And then there's a feeling of being spent, like you should smoke a cigarette afterwards. You finally let out that breath you didn't know you were holding in. It's fantastic isn't it? So thank you to everyone out there that risks their jobs getting the good information out just so we can have that fantastic feeling.

Spo-Hos around the world thank you!

::Date:: 1.28.03
::By:: Mel TM, Vartan Ho #13
::Episode Reference:: Oh, plenty, but especially "The Coup" and "Salvation"
::Thing We Love: Dimples
::Why?

Let's face it: we all love when our favorite handler shows a little skin. But until Shirtless!Vaughn becomes a mainstay on our television screens, we can content ourselves with basking in the glow of those exquisite dimples. While (I can only assume) they've lit up faces since time began, dimples have never been put to better use than on Michael Vartan. And when Vaughn and Sydney have one of their adorable grinning conversations, the wattage is enough to make you giddy. (You thought they were wearing sunglasses because, what, they're in L.A.?)

So here's to smiley, happy dimples--when you see them, you just can't help but break out your own.

::Date:: 05.26.03
::By:: Kate, Vartan Ho #1
::Episode Reference:: All
::Thing We Love: The Alias Music/Michael Giacchino
::Why?

So a show of hands: How many people here can listen to 'Hate To Say I Told You So' without thinking of the Vatican break-in? How many of you can hear 'No Man's Woman' on the radio without flashing back to that red bozo hair from the pilot? Do you spend more time with Kazaa than you do with your family? You're not alone, my friends. That's right, welcome to your Tuesday night AA meeting (Audio Anonymous). There's no use denying it. From 'Angel' to 'Dragula', from ACDC to Coldplay, Alias thrives on the great soundtrack behind it. The music doesn't just fit into the show, but instead enhances and moves each scene forward, creating moods and developing the characters without the use of dialogue. This show has always had a kick-ass soundtrack with excellently composed songs fueling it, thanks in most part to Michael Giacchino, the show's music producer/composer.

So thanks to that other Michael for the hours of Kazaa induced stupors... and for all the inspiration.

::Date:: 12.9.03
::By:: Mel TM, Vartan Ho #13
::Person We Love: Jinnie
::Why?

We here at the Safe House would be nothing without all the news, images, and information sent in by our visitors. That's why we want to give a special thanks to Jinnie, who has come through for us with all kinds of great articles and exclusive images. She's also always got something great to share with the members of the VHoChat discussion list. We would have missed out on a lot of cool stuff without Jinnie's kindness, and we're so lucky to have her on the team.

Thanks, Jinnie!

::Date:: 02.19.04
::By:: Souris, Vartan Ho #4
::People We Love: Executive Story Editor Chris Dingess and Story Editor Kevin Etten of "Ed"
::Why?

We think they deserve serious kudos because of what they said at Stuckeyville.com against the tired, brain-dead "Moonlighting effect," in which seemingly everybody in a position of power in television is too scared or void of creativity to break out of the "couples can't be interesting together" mindset. "I don't buy into that view at all," Dingess said. "It's really a slap in the face of the viewers." // "Very cynical," added Etten. // "The characters have to be allowed to grow and change. The reality of a new relationship rather than the fantasy -- it's fun to think of different ideas," said Dingess.

Amen! We could not agree more, and we love them for thinking outside of the juvenile box -- and saying so. If only more television writers, producers and executives could share their mature and fan-respecting view on this topic and realize that consummation should not be considered the end of drama; it should be considered only the beginning.

::Date:: 03.22.04
::By:: Souris, Vartan Ho #4
::People We Love: Writers Who Get It
::Why?

In an interview at Stargate SG-1 Solutions, writer Joe Mallozzi had this to say: "A good script is one that engages the viewer from start to finish. It tells a great story, presenting elements that invariably come together at script's end to create a nice, neat little narrative. It is driven by character and strong plotting, its development free of silly complications, conveniences, and contrivances that mark a lazy writer and demonstrate a complete lack of respect for the viewing audience. Sorry, that one's a pet peeve."

For us, too, Joe! Actually, "pet peeve" sells it short, as it makes it sound like it's not that important, and it SO is! Writers should have the proper respect not only for their story and characters but also for their audience. Resorting to "silly complications" in order to build a story is flat-out bad writing. It's so refreshing to hear a TV writer acknowledge that contrivanced writing, which I think we have all seen and can easily recognize, ultimately shows a total disdain for the viewers. It's like having important guests over and deliberately serving them burned food on dirty, chipped plates. It's rude and lazy. Fans deserve to be served more than dreck. So, you rock, Joe! Thanks for Getting It!

::Date:: 3.24.04
::By:: Souris, Vartan Ho #4
::Person We Love: Lori from vartanetc
::Why?

When we first became aware of Michael Vartan, vartanetc was THE place the find information about him -- pictures, articles, screencaps, the latest news, whatever. And, of course, there were what Lugia and I refer to as "those damn vidclips," because once we watched a couple of her clips of his interviews, we had to immediately watch ALL of them. They were like instant-addiction crack and went a long way into making us into the Vartan Hos we are today. Lori provided an invaluable service to Vartan fans and also helped create new ones, and she did it all in a professional, respectful manner. She represented Michael so well once vartanetc became his official site, and the Vartan fan community is the poorer without it. We really miss that site.

As if that were not enough, soon after we made the decision to cut back drastically on our Alias content, Lori provided an unexpected boon with the offer of her content for us to use. It was such a wonderful gift.

Thank you for everything, Lori!