I heard the phrase in a thing written by one of the writers of Leverage. They said they always worried about eps where the felt nothing happened because there was too much explaining and going over the case. But then reading the 'net they realized that viewers *adore* scenes of very smart people who are really good at what they do bantering back and forth as they plan what to do. He called it competency porn. People are sexy because they're competent and it's also just great to watch people being competent. I've since applied it to a lot of shows I watch like Top Chef or Project Runway where I just love watching talented people do what they do well. I can't do it but I love watching them do it!

I have definitely seen it in canon too, but thanks so much for that note about the Breakfast Club. I had never even considered that before! Yup, people do love the Outsider. I remember some article where the actors were all asked which character they would be in that movie and of coures they all said Ally Sheedy---the total outsider.