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Could something like this work on TV?

Joe Washington

Joe Washington

Fleet Captain
Fleet Captain
You know how certain TV shows explore different aspects of society. Like Big Love being about polygamous life, Six Feet Under delving into the inner workings of a funeral business, and Sons of Anarchy showing us what it is like be in a biker gang.

Well, I see all these shows and begin to wonder if will there ever come a day that a TV show about BDSM will be made to go on the air.

For those who don't know what BDSM is, it's a sexual lifestyle in which BD stands for Bondage/Discipline, DS Domination/Submission, and SM Sadism/Masochism.

And when I mean a show about BDSM, I mean a character drama with a realistic, human portrayal of the lifestyle and not a porn series with a stereotypical, cartoonish version of it.
 
Maybe on HBO or Showtime. I am not sure if the big 4(CBS, ABC, FOX, The CW) and NBC are there yet. FOX did have a series called SKiN about the Porn industry.

I want to see a sitcom about 5 female strippers and their gay male friend.
 
this seems unlikely to happen, however there are shows like Secret Diary of a Call Girl (ITV 2 / Showtime) and Satisfaction an Aussie show that "centers around the lives and loves of a group of women who are involved in prostitution."

im sure both shows have had some element of BDSM from time to time.
 
I don't think that it would be on any mainstream channel. Probably something like HBO, Showtime, etc might try their hand at it, but still not sure how you go about promoting a show like that.

And i agree, that the Lady Heather episodes of CSI were very well done and mature in their depiction of that lifestyle(at least as much as the show could 'show' on that subject)
 
I was going to say what wamdue said, with the added sentence that if those shows can be produced and maintain an audience, then it seems it would be possible.

My caveat would be that it wouldn't be a show for a BDSM audience (as it would be tiny) but for those who like to watch. :)
 
Australis said:
I was going to say what wamdue said, with the added sentence that if those shows can be produced and maintain an audience, then it seems it would be possible.

My caveat would be that it wouldn't be a show for a BDSM audience (as it would be tiny) but for those who like to watch. :)
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a good drama is a good drama no matter the subject matter. That said im sure some people would not like THIS subject matter, but this is true for any other subject matter you care to name.
 
Well, I see all these shows and begin to wonder if will there ever come a day that a TV show about BDSM will be made to go on the air.
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That is a remarkably good idea! :bolian: Perfect for Showtime or HBO. Surprised nobody's tried it till now.

But the focus should not be on prostitution. It should be on the people who choose that lifestyle for reasons other than getting a paycheck. Maybe they could have a Dominatrix character - that's not really prostitution anyway since from what I understand, sex is usually not part of their services.

My caveat would be that it wouldn't be a show for a BDSM audience (as it would be tiny) but for those who like to watch.
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People watch Big Love without being polygamists, or Dexter without being serial killers. :D The BDSM series would fit in perfectly with HBO and Showtime's current lineups. The big trend in cable seems to be doing topics that should make you cringe (meth dealing chem teacher; violent bikers as the good guys) but instead are fascinating.
I'll sell them my sex tapes, would make a great series!
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That is a remarkably bad idea! :rommie:
 
Temis the Vorta said:
That is a remarkably good idea! :bolian: Perfect for Showtime or HBO. Surprised nobody's tried it till now.

My caveat would be that it wouldn't be a show for a BDSM audience (as it would be tiny) but for those who like to watch.
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People watch Big Love without being polygamists, or Dexter without being serial killers. :D The BDSM series would fit in perfectly with HBO and Showtime's current lineups. The big trend in cable seems to be doing topics that should make you cringe (meth dealing chem teacher; violent bikers as the good guys) but instead are fascinating.
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Oh, yeah, Dexter isn't made for serial killers, and Big Love isn't made for polygamists, who would probably throw their hands up and say, "They got it WRONG!" Just like Trekkies, really :D.

What I meant was making it for the watchers. Kinky, but not too kinky. Pervy, but not too pervy. Violent, but not too violent. And as wamdue said, a god drama is a good drama, and that's more dependant on the characters than the situation.

Or, I suppose, the situation will get them in, but the characters will make them stay.
 
What I meant was making it for the watchers. Kinky, but not too kinky. Pervy, but not too pervy. Violent, but not too violent.
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I watch Dexter, Sons of Anarchy, Big Love and Breaking Bad while having zero pre-existing interest in serial killers, motorcycle gangs, polygamous Mormons and meth dealers respectively. I have no pre-existing interest in BSDM, but I'd watch a show that was as good as the ones I named - and that's how cable gets an audience. They make shows for people like me, who are just looking for well-written, well-acted drama on a topic that hasn't been completely run into the ground on TV. Any topic I've never seen in a TV show is automatically better than yet another cop/doctor/lawyer show.
 
So, let's just say HBO, FX, or Showtime does decide to do a show like this, what specifically you would want to see in a show like that? Some of them have said good characters that could carry the show and its subject matter. But what else?
 
That is a good idea. I suppose BDSM is still too vilified by the mainstream culture to get that kind of treatment. But that's exactly why it would be interesting and taboo-breaking.

Temis the Vorta said:
But the focus should not be on prostitution. It should be on the people who choose that lifestyle for reasons other than getting a paycheck. Maybe they could have a Dominatrix character - that's not really prostitution anyway since from what I understand, sex is usually not part of their services.
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I would argue prostitution when it includes sexual services for money, whether they include penetration or something completely different - it is still sexual.

How about, the show not about the prostitution at all? When TV shows based around sex are made - like Sex and the City - they do not need to include prostitution, why would one about BDSM need to be? It can be about people who are into it because they like it, not for money.
 
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