OK, NKOTB hit the year after I graduated from High School...There really was no equivalent--they definitely started something.
Anyway-a couple of you mentioned Joey McIntyre, but I didn't see any mention of his current status as the hottie teacher on the Fox show "Boston Public." Gotta admit-he was a sort of a cute kid, but he grew up rather nicely.
http://www.fox.com/bostonpublic/faculty/index.htm?n=8