A few weeks ago, I wrote about my disappointment with the lack of Hollywood bad boys or troublemakers that we have nowadays as opposed to the good old days of Christian Slater, Robert Downey Jr., Johnny Depp and co. regularly making the front page with their wacky antics. I asked for our readers to suggest an actor or two that might have potential to take over this title and I got a few interesting responses. Before I reveal whom I foresee as the next “one”, I’ll go through a few of the suggestions I received...

First off, I got the obvious choice of Colin Farrell whom I dismissed in my previous article because drinking and swearing just doesn’t cut it anymore. Our expectations are way too high these days. Vin Diesel was another wise suggestion since he’s so secretive and odd, but he doesn’t get into enough fistfights or controversy to hold the title. Also, he seems like a very decent guy who has no drug or alcohol problems...for now.

The next batch of candidates were a little more interesting but unfortunately they fell into the “too old to be bad boy” category. I mean, after a certain age you’re considered more of a “bad man” and that’s just not as fun or amusing. It’s actually quite scary and sad. I’m talking about Tom Sizemore, Woody Harrelson and that goddess Lindsay Lohan’s dad - Michael Lohan. Lohan is a good choice as any, as rumor has it that he’s been arrested for beating up his brother-in-law, busted for skimping on some hotel bills and apparently even smacked a sanitation worker around for blocking his car. A real class act, eh?

Anyway, he’s a great nominee to take over the overbearing, unprofessional and out-of-control celebrity dad title that Kit Culkin held for much of the 90’s. I’m a big fan of Sizemore’s and it’s just unfortunate to see his downslide lately. I guess hooking up with an ex-Hollywood Madame has its drawbacks after all. Harrelson is harmless, as he just likes to smoke and promote hemp and cares about the environment. He’s like a cool version of Ed Begley Jr. in that sense. My “bad man” choice would be Val Kilmer, but he’s more of an asshole than anything else. Anyway, these dudes don’t make the cut because they’re men...not boys.

Which brings me to the three finalists. Thanks to Evan, Greg and Jean Seb for these 3 great recommendations as well as for elaborating on the reasons why they chose them:

The second runner-up is: Freddie Prinze Jr. Jean Seb. theorized that eventually Prinze will read what his critics have said and that coupled with a likely breakup with Sarah Michelle Gellar will send him off the deep end. Personally, I think if his dreams of writing don’t pan out, that will be what sets him off. Time will tell, I suppose...

The first runner-up is: Macaulay Culkin. Evan’s feelings were that this guy just doesn’t give a shit, which I totally agree with. The marriage at 17 years of age was a sign of things to come and it would be very funny to see this dude go apeshit on the media. Plus, his father is Kit Culkin. The apple can’t fall too far from the tree. I actually hope this doesn’t happen as I saw SAVED! recently and was impressed by Culkin and happy to see him on the right track again.

And the winner of the next hopeful bad boy is: Heath Ledger!! Greg’s reasoning was so precise and brilliant that’ll I’ll just quote what he wrote to me directly:

“So this is a bit of a reach, but if you’re looking for that young, good looking, smooth sounding pimp of a brother to turn bad boy I think Heath Ledger would be a good candidate. Ok, so have you picked up your jaw and scooped your popped out eyes back into your movie-watching skull? Here’s why:

1: Young, good looking, and only marginally successful. Does this not beg for him to push that "I’m a effing bad ass pimp with a smooth accent so look at me as I coke and whore my way around until someone gives me a quality lead based on the publicity I’ve stirred for myself" look?

2: He’s Australian. What country would be more supportive of a rugged, ass kicking, accent-spitting bloke than them? Besides, they need a good front man in Hollywood, automatic fan base support from that alone.

3: Shannyn Sossamon. Homegirl is fine, and she’s been in two films with him already. What would be a better image to throw on JoBlo, than the side-by-side mug shots of Sossamon and Ledger looking like 10 different kinds of ass, after a night of high impact defilement. Heath just needs to call homegirl up and get her to jump on the bandwagon, literally. This way you get a two-fer out of it!”

Thank you all for your contributions and in helping me find the next Hollywood bad boy! Maybe we’ll revisit this column in a few months and see how everyone has chalked up. Go Heath, go...!