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That's ... not how he used to look
There might be some room for argument about the best, worst and weirdest moments from Fox's live-but-not-really-live rendition of Rent, which aired Sunday night, but there's one thing everyone seems to agree on right about now: Jordan Fisher's version of Mark Cohen had a jarring amount of swagger and sex appeal.
With no disrespect to Anthony Rapp, who originated the character on Broadway in 1996 and reprised his role for the 2005 film adaptation, audiences are used to seeing Mark Cohen as pretty much a Grade-A weenie clad in glasses and a sweater. Mark has been a lot of things, but hunk is not usually one of them.
In this new iteration, though, Fisher arrives as a hip-swaying hottie.
Just look at the guy.

Jordan Fisher in Rent
When Fisher was first announced for the role, we expressed our concerns that the actor might just be too hip to play the adorkble auteur we know and love so well.
As we hoped, though, Fisher ultimately brought something new and fun to the role, capitalizing on his experience busting all those moves on Dancing With the Stars.
Still, the singer and actor's striking good looks left the folks on Twitter in a tizzy during the telecast. Some were on board with Mark's sudden desirability, while others were a little more conflicted.
It's throwing me off that mark is hot
— Caroline Moss (@CarolineMoss) January 28, 2019
Hot Mark is the Hot Archie of 2019
— Dana Schwartz (@DanaSchwartzzz) January 28, 2019
Just realized a whole generation is going to grow up thinking Mark is the hot one. #RentLive
— Nikki Goldwaser (@NikkiKnacks) January 28, 2019
Wild to know that the kids for whom this is their first Rent experience are gonna have a completely different relationship to this show than I did because Jordan Fisher is too sexy as Mark.
— Sarah Kay (@kaysarahsera) January 28, 2019
This Mark Cohen is much too cool #rent
— Kimberly 📚🤓 (@missberlyreads) January 28, 2019
I'm so old, I remember when Mark wasn't sexy when he gyrated his hips. #Only90sKidsWillRemember #RentLive #SorryAnthonyRapp
— 𝔠𝔢𝔯𝔱𝔦𝔣𝔦𝔢𝔡 𝔫𝔦𝔠𝔢 𝔩𝔞𝔡𝔶 ™️ (@SpiderThan) January 28, 2019
Same, guys, same.