What was the rationale behind this photoshoot?

Sarah Michelle Gellar, Alyson Hannigan, Nicholas Brendon
Sarah Michelle Gellar, Alyson Hannigan, Nicholas BrendonSarah Michelle Gellar, Alyson Hannigan, Nicholas BrendonSarah Michelle Gellar, Alyson Hannigan, Nicholas BrendonSarah Michelle Gellar, Alyson Hannigan, Nicholas Brendon
Or perhaps the better question is what was the rationale behind Nick Brendon's striped pants? And why is Alyson Hannigan shoved into the background in almost all of the photos?

All of them are trying for the mysterious, sexy pout that American mags seem to like, but none of them are entirely succeeding.