What in the cockadoodle-doo is going on with the amount of male full-frontal nudity on TV? And not just full-frontal. Ahem, erect full-frontal. Late summer has brought two new series Naked Attraction on Max and The Boys spin-off Gen V on Prime as well as a returning Black soap opera called A’ La Carte on The All Black Network.
One’s a gameshow, the other a superhero series and the other a Sex in the City wannabe. Three different genres, but they all have one thing in common – erect male genitalia on screen.
While female nudity has historically been more common on television and in film, there is now a current wave of male nudity that challenges conventions and contributes to a broader representation of bodies and sexual experiences on screen.
In each episode of Naked Attraction, a single-clothed individual is presented with a lineup of six potential partners who are fully nude, but their bodies are concealed behind colored booths that reveal them gradually from the bottom up. The participant eliminates contestants based on their physical appearance until only one potential partner remains. Watch the trailer below:
The show has garnered attention and generated discussions about body image, dating preferences, and the boundaries of reality television. The series has also experienced some backlash in the United States since coming to Max.
Over at Prime, The Boys’ long-awaited spin-off – Gen V made its debut. The hit series is set at America’s only college for superheroes. Gifted students put their moral boundaries to the test, competing for the university’s top ranking, and a chance to join The Seven, Vought International’s elite superhero team. When the school’s dark secrets come to light, they must decide what kind of heroes they want to become.
Since the series, from Eric Kripke, exists in The Boys‘ universe we would expect over-the-top violence. But we never saw what Kripke calls, “The cockplosion” coming.
In Episode 4, main character Marie, portrayed by Jaz Sinclair, finds herself in a disturbing encounter with a classmate named Rufus, played by Alexander Calvert. Marie seeks Rufus’ help in locating her missing roommate, Emma, who has undergone a mysterious transformation as part of the Woods “supe” program.
During the episode, viewers witness a shocking and explicit scene in which Marie is trapped in Rufus’ room. The tension escalates as Rufus appears naked and initiates an assault on Marie. With the situation spiraling out of control, Marie unintentionally deploys her unique blood-bending powers, leading to a jaw-dropping climax involving Rufus’ genitals.
Executive producers Eric Kripke (Supernatural) and Michele Fazekas have defended the show’s bold choices in a recent interview. They explained that Gen V aims to explore uncharted territory within the superhero genre and provoke discussions about sexual dynamics and boundaries.
This is not the first time the uber-violent Gen V has made headlines. In the series premiere, there was a notable scene involving the character Emma, played by Lizze Broadway, where she shrinks down in size to fulfill a unique request from a classmate named Liam, portrayed by Robert Bazzocchi. The bizarre encounter, which features a super-small Emma climbing on a gigantic penis, left viewers both shocked and entertained. Watch the trailer below:
Fans of the hit series À La Carte are well aware they are in for a rollercoaster ride during this second season. The show a mix of drama, comedy, and friendship has gained a dedicated following, continues to explore the lives and relationships of its dynamic characters.
While viewers grapple with their intertwined ‘ships, viewers have to grapple with a dick pic that was sent to one of the cast members that featured another cast member sliding his hand up and down, well his member.
A New Wave?
Shows like The White Lotus, And Just Like That, Pam and Tommy, Normal People, Scenes from a Marriage, Sex Education, Succession, Game of Thrones, Minx, and many others have embraced the trend, creating quite a stir among viewers.
Pam and Tommy actually featured a character that was Tommy Lee’s (Sebastian Stan) talking member.
REELated:
One notable aspect of this newfound fascination with male nudity is the emphasis on showcasing penises that are well above average in size. It appears that cable networks and streaming platforms have entered into an unspoken competition, often described as an “arms race” or, humorously, a “baby’s arm race,” to feature the most generously endowed male actors in their casts.
One standout example of this trend is the Netflix series Sex/Life, where star Adam Demos made headlines for his seemingly John Holmes-inspired appendage, which many viewers felt defied the laws of physics.
This bold exploration of male nudity is not merely for shock value but often serves to enhance storytelling and character development. It can contribute to the authenticity of a scene or character, challenging traditional norms and stereotypes.
The Factors
The increasing prevalence of full-frontal male nudity on TV shows in recent years can be attributed to several factors, according to media experts. These factors include the influence of online pornography, the freedom of premium cable and streaming networks from federal regulations and advertiser pressures, and advancements in technology like prosthetics and intimacy coordinators.
Online Pornography Influence
The proliferation of explicit content on the internet, particularly online pornography, has made sexual imagery more prevalent and desensitized viewers. As a result, TV content creators are more willing to include explicit scenes, including full-frontal male nudity, in their shows.
Freedom of Premium Cable and Streaming Networks
Premium cable and streaming networks like HBO, Showtime, and Hulu are not subject to the same federal regulations as network television. They can depict nudity, sexual content, and explicit language without constraints. This freedom allows them to explore more explicit content, including male nudity.
Advancements in Prosthetics
The use of prosthetics in TV production has enabled filmmakers to create realistic and customizable male genitalia for scenes. This allows them to present characters with varying physical attributes, including larger-than-life depictions influenced by pornography.
Intimacy Coordinators
The rise of intimacy coordinators on TV sets, beginning around 2018 due to the #MeToo movement, has made actors more comfortable with nudity and simulated sex scenes. Coordinators choreograph and facilitate these scenes, ensuring that actors’ boundaries and consent are respected.
Creative Inspiration from the Adult Industry
TV creators have been inspired by the adult industry itself, leading to shows like The Deuce and The Girlfriend Experience that explore themes related to pornography and sex work.
Shift in Buzzy Entertainment
While blockbuster films have increasingly become part of intellectual property franchises that are more family-friendly and sexless, prestige TV shows have pushed boundaries and embraced explicit content. This shift has made TV sexier than blockbuster movies.
Diverse Body Representation
There is potential for TV to evolve and show more diverse bodies and types of sexual expression, moving beyond the limited focus on penetration as the main sexual activity.
The line between porn and mainstream TV is becoming blurrier, with both industries influencing each other. However, the future may hold opportunities for more inclusive and diverse representations of sexuality on television.
Of course by having one large penis after another on TV, can also run the risk of making men feel inadequate or lead to women wanting only a certain size of penis.
As audiences continue to demand more diverse and inclusive storytelling, the portrayal of male nudity is expected to remain a prominent and evolving aspect of contemporary entertainment.
And that’s about the size of it.
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Colin Costello is the West Coast Editor of Reel 360. Contact him at colin@reel360.com or follow him on X at @colinthewriter1
