Masters of Sex on Showtime

From Wikipedia:

"From 1968 to 1977, the Masters and Johnson Institute ran a program to convert or revert homosexuals to heterosexuality. This program reported a 71.6% success rate over a six-year treatment period. At the time of their earlier work, homosexuality was classified as a psychological disorder by the American Psychiatric Association, a classification which was repealed in 1973.

In April 2009, Thomas Maier reported, in his biography Masters of Sex (Basic Books) and in Scientific American, "that Virginia Johnson had serious reservations about the program, and she suspected that, at worst, the results of the study may have been fabricated by William Masters"."

I thought it started NEXT (as in, this coming) Sunday?

It does. The pilot is available already online, though. Check Youtube.

I saw the first episode lasdt night. It was good, not great. I will watch another episode before I decide whether to continue.

To be honest, I thought this was a movie, not a 12 episode "event."

It kept my interest but I wasn't wowed but I liked it. I will keep watching, however, Lizzy Caplan is beautiful and appealing; not sure if the real Virginia Johnson is as unique and interesting a character as the show makes her out to be (I really have no idea), but I really like her independence and sexual confidence. Helene York (who is going to play the Jennifer Tilly part in Bullets over Broadway on stage) is hilarious. The period detail is good and I liked Beau Bridges.

The downside is Sheen. He's fine, as usual, but the character didn't hold my attention and I doubt he can carry the show. Of course, this could change with future episodes. But, so far, I think they might have been better off making Virginia the protagonist, rather than it being more a double act.

I can see the Hollywood pitch meeting.... "It's Mad Men about sex. People will LOVE it!"

Sheen has a monster thick cock tucked in his trousers. Hope he reveals it.

It was okay. The naked doctor at the end was hot, but too covered/chaste... all the good bits were cropped out of frame.

While I appreciated the glossiness and glamour of the casting and production design, I'm not sure that a more realistic and even quirky approach might have suited the material far better.

I finally saw the pilot, I agree with the general sentiment that I liked it but didn't love it.

It struck me as odd how out of their way the show went to make sure doctor didn't do any real nudity. Given the subject matter is to be frank about sex it struck me as a little immature of the show to only display breasts.

But anyway, Caplan strong in this. My favorite character was lesbian prostitute, hope she wasn't just a one-off character.

Too obviously an attempt to capitalize on the success of Mad Men, as if the period detail is what will make someone watch a show.

Oh, please. It takes place in the 1950s, not the 60s. It takes place when the real story took place. What were they supposed to do, set it in the 80s?

Not everything is inspired by fucking Mad Men.

Right, R12, before Mad Men networks were lining up to make expensive period shows set in the 1950s. The 18-35 year old demographic LOVES things about their grandparents!

I usually like Lizzy Caplan, but she wasn't very strong in this. It felt like she was "acting" most of the time in a way that was a bit inauthentic. Hopefully she'll warm up a bit as the show goes on. And Sheen was a bit too cold in his performance.

But Nicholas D'Agosto is one hot bastard.

I [italic]JUST[/italic] noticed that the "E" in the "Masters of sEx" logo is a female coochie...

I'm slow.

Did anyone watch tonight?

I did.

I'm kind of meh so far, but there's still potential.

I'm really bored by it. I'm only watching for D'Agosto nudity and there doesn't seem to be much of that.

Maggie from "The Nanny" shows her tits in episode two. She got a little chunky. And Little Gracie showed her tits on "Californication". Who knew both girls would grow up to expose themselves on Showtime!

R12, for all the misplaced superiority, has no fucking idea how Hollywood works. None.

R6 does. That's EXACTLY how pitches are phrased.

A couple of hot gay guys, but you didn't see much. Still... they were cute.

Masters & Johnson weren't as good looking as Caplan and Sheen.

Tonight Masters told his boss, Beau Bridges, that a male prostitutes who was involved in the study unformed him that Beau's character was a client! That Bridges was living a double life. Is this series totally based on facts?

The gist of that scene was Masters basically threatening Bridges character because Masters wanted to get the study back to the hospital and out of the bordello. Masters had dirt on Bridges and was using it.

What's this about Sheen's big cock? No wonder he always has a new girlfriend! Of course, that statement is useless without pictures.

Interesting revelation about the Beau Bridges character.

I'm loving it, by the way. It may have been inspired by MAD MEN but it's far better in my opinion (was never really an MM fan). I hope it's a success.

Michael Sheen is just adorable (if, yes, very cold in his role) and Lizzy Caplan, who I remember from CLOVERFIELD, is really great here. And yes, D'Agosto is fucking hot and needs to get naked a lot more.

It's starting to lose me. I thought the revelation that Masters' boss is gay and uses prostitutes was the only interesting thing about the episode. I don't really care about the prostie and her tied tubes or the wife's fertility problems. Homeland was a bore tonight, too.

"Cloverfield" was on IFC, yet again, before "Masters of Sex".

It was hilarious that the character who kept bothering Caplan's character in the film, the guy with the camera, is now in those annoying phone commercials for IIRC Samsung, which were being shown during "Cloverfield". There was no escaping the actor!

[quote]I don't really care about the prostie and her tied tubes or the wife's fertility problems.

The wife's fertility problems actually are interesting, as she doesn't have the problem, Masters does. He has a low sperm count, he has basically been lying to his wife, making her go through useless treatments.

The good looking young doctor, who fucked Johnson, gave Master's wife the good news that he succeeded in getting her pregnant. You have to wonder if the young doctor used his own sperm!

The flashback scenes with Bridges and Sheen were interesting because Sheen was made to look a bit fey as the younger Masters. Sheen looked a bit like the young Jimmy Page!

Since the revelation about Bridges character being gay, you had to wonder if Bridges character's intention to get Masters into the hospital he ran, was based on thinking he could eventually have sex with Masters!

[quote]You have to wonder if the young doctor used his own sperm!

I more than wonder, R26, I'm absolutely sure he did exactly that, as revenge against Masters for taking his "big case" away (the woman having the quadruplets). Though I also would not be surprised if, by season's end, it will come to the light that Masters' "boys can swim" and he really is the father of the baby after all.

[quote]Since the revelation about Bridges character being gay, you had to wonder if Bridges character's intention to get Masters into the hospital he ran, was based on thinking he could eventually have sex with Masters!

For just a second I was actually wondering if it was going to be Masters whose true sexuality was going to be brought to light (even though it wouldn't have made any sense for him to suddenly be gay given what's transpired up to this point). It was the moment when, during the flashback, that he told Beau Bridges' character (who was encouraging him to go out and find a woman) that he was "waiting for the right girl," which we all know can be the standard bullshit answer given by closet cases.

Yeah, R27, but it's also something true. And closet-case Beau Bridges probably picked up on that as a subtle hint, even though it wasn't intentional.

What I also noticed in the scene when Beau Bridges' character offered the young Masters the job at his hospital, there was a sketch of a young man on the right wall of Bridges' office.

The man in the sketch looked 'very gay'. It was obvious there was something else going on that scene. The sketch was clear enogh for viewers to notice. It wasn't quickly panned over, the sketch was important to the scene.

The sketch was basically side by side with a shot of the young Masters looking also looking a bit 'gay'. I can't believe anyone here missed that either.

[quote]The sketch was basically side by side with a shot of the young Masters looking also looking a bit 'gay'.

I missed that, R29, but now you've got me wondering if maybe Masters performed some kind of sexual act on or with the Beau Bridges character in the past to help his career. That would certainly explain his utter disgust at witnessing those two young guys have sex earlier in the episode (granted, it was the 1950s but the reaction just seemed a bit over the top for a medical doctor engaged in the study of human sexuality).

R30, I was wondering about that too.

Something might have happened in the past, but from the way Masters later treated Bridges character, the blackmail angle of telling Bridges he knew he was closeted and how he wanted the research to continue back at the hospital, there certainly didn't seem to be anything going on between them any longer.

Masters is portrayed as a cold, stiff, awkward and condescending jerk, to pretty much everyone he comes in contact with. There's not one ounce of warmth, even towards his wife. The sex with his wife was even mechanical and cold. I guess the excuse was that position, from the back, was in order to get her pregnant?

Did you know that Paul Betanny was originally considered to play Masters?

Funny how neither man looks remotely like the real Masters! Masters was bald, had dead eyes and was very attractive.

Paul Bettany? Really? Interesting. Maybe he wasn't available or maybe Michael Sheen just decided to give himself the part (since he's one of the producers).

I did notice that the sketch on the wall was an integral part of the scene. Very Oscar Wilde. And Masters did bear a resemblance to the young man in the picture. I don't think Masters knew for sure that the Bridges character was gay but decided to play a hunch after the young male prostitute brought it up. And of course, it paid off. Masters seems oddly asexual. Perhaps Johnson was the first woman to really get his motor running.

This show needs more male nudity and hot gay sex.

They should have shown a lot more in that gay sex scene...

[quote]I don't think Masters knew for sure that the Bridges character was gay but decided to play a hunch after the young male prostitute brought it up. And of course, it paid off. Masters seems oddly asexual. Perhaps Johnson was the first woman to really get his motor running.

I actually think the male prostitute WAS with the Bridges' character or one of his friends was.

Remember when he told Masters "I know some doctors,"? That perked up Masters ears and he probably found out it WAS Bridges' The prostitute actually telling Masters about Bridges, wasn't shown, because the director wanted to have the viewers be surprised when Masters confronted Bridges with the info.

As for Johnson getting Masters motor running, well, there must have been 'something' about her, her feminism, intelligence and strength? Because she was as plain as Masters was unattractive.

We don't even know what his first wife really looked like, I have a feeling most of the actors and actresses on this show look nothing like the real people they're portraying.

A bit OT, Sheen is currently dating the blond woman playing his wife. Does he always get involved with his female co-stars?

[quote]I JUST noticed that the "E" in the "Masters of sEx" logo is a female coochie...I'm slow.

No, you're severely retarded. Those are pretty clearly breasts.

R35, have you seen the actress playing his wife? Caitlin Fitzgerald is absolutely beautiful. It's hard to imagine any straight guy resisting her. For us, I think Teddy Sears is pretty much Irresisitable, don't you? I have a thing for blonds.

[quote]They should have shown a lot more in that gay sex scene.

I agree (those two young actors were both fucking hot) and bring in Nick D'Agosto for a threesome (just explain it as Dr. Haas is beginning to question his sexuality).

NO, R36, the E in the logo IS clearly a vagina and hips, it's basically the bottom portion of the female form, definitely NOT breasts.

Before you call anyone "retarded" you need to not make any decisions based on your five second attention span.

I am a Creative Director, I know about graphic design.Those are NOT breasts.

The Story Behind Masters of Sex's Racy Logo

Yes, R37 Caitlin Fitzgerald is very attractive, though I wouldn't consider her "absolutely beautiful". As a gay man, I can appreacite female beauty, but she's not breathtakingly stunning.

Her looks were not my point. My point was: does Sheen fuck all his female co-stars?

Not every person feels the need to get involved with person they might be attracted to. I meet tons of attractive gay men through my work, I don't try to fuck them, I have a partner, but if I wasn't involved, I wouldn't use my job as an easy way to meet available men.

If the gossip about Sheen is true, he seems rather immature, a love-em-leave-em type. As if he basically has all these brief on-set affairs. Why don't these types of str8 men simply use call girls?

Caitlin Fitzgerald is also much younger than Sheen, typical. IIRC, he has teenage daughter with Kate Beckinsdale. IIRC, there's another kid or two with eithee an ex-wife or ex-girlfriend.

I think Teddy Sears is WAY hotter than Nicholas D'Agosto.

Michael Sheen only has one child, his daughter Lily with Beckinsale.

What other costars has he fucked besides Fitzgerald?

I agree, R41. I was just making the point that she's beautiful (at least to me).

Which one is Teddy Sears? Is that the married guy who participated in the sex study with that young blond girl?

I've seen the hot blond married guy in some series, he's so familiar.

Lizzy Caplan is dating Matthew Perry?

There was not such a big age difference between Masters and his first wife in real life. More Hollywoodizing, I suppose, to have an excuse to hire an actress under 30.

Well, he likes them younger. He lived with Rachael McAdams for three years after meeting on the set of a Woody Allen movie. He was still involved with Beckinsale when she hooked up with Len Wise. Both of them speak highly of him. McAdams was/is still in love with Gosling. I don't think Sheen is a bad guy for dating a co-star. As long as she's of age and not married what's the big deal?

Anyone else watching this? I'm loving it, slow and dry but it keeps getting better and more complicated.

I'm watching r50 and I completely agree with you. I love it. Do you know how are the ratings? Is the show popular?

It took me awhile to get into it, but now I'm liking it a lot. I really like Beau Bridges and his storyline.

I not only watch it, R50, I fucking LOVE IT. Easily one of the best hours currently on television.

It got renewed for a second season R51 so it must be doing okay. Count me in as another one is is LOVING this show now. Bout to catch up on the latest episode.

I haven't seen last night's ep yet, but I just watched the previous week's. God, I LOVE Allison Janney. She's so good in everything she does. And count me in as another huge fan of this show It's show nice to watch an adult drama - without a serial killer, sociopath, anti-hero - unfold slowly, yet remain compelling.

[quote]It's so nice to watch an adult drama - without a serial killer, sociopath, anti-hero - unfold slowly, yet remain compelling.

Very beautifully said and so true.

R30 & R31 in the latest episode (11/10) Beau Bridges character is talking with Masters and says he's very happy for him and that he would give him a hug but he was afraid it would be misconstrued by him. Masters had a disgusted look on his face when Bridges says that.

To me that made it seem as if Bridges might have made a serious pass at Masters somewhere in the past and when he was rejected claimed it was just a hug and Masters made way too much of it.

Or maybe I'm reading too much into it

I agree with R55 about Allison Janney. Love her in everything I've seen her in.

Any cock in this?

R57 I think you might be right. My bf and I thought the same thing about the hug remark

R58, no cock in this, at least not yet

Michael Sheen is sexy in his pudgy little way, I'd do him.

Love the male prostitute character. He's really hot AND really well done.

And the storyline about the "aversion therapy" was handled really well.

I was a little bored by this show at first, but it keeps getting better week after week, and now I really look forward to it.

Similar here. I was meh at first, but it's really good.

Allison Janney is, typically, pretty brilliant.

I'm not American, and am wondering what US posters think of Michael Sheen's American accent on the show?

It's decent enough. I haven't noticed any major slips or anything. It's believable.

Thanks, R65.

This show needs some cock. Wiggly bits should be everywhere, it is a sex show for gosh sake.

He sounds Amurican to me, r64. No hint of British.

I agree, r57. Masters does appear to find homosexuality repulsive.

Allison Janney actually looked pretty this week, Getting banged took the wrinkles away, made her look younger.

Teddy Sears is HOT HOT HOT.

R57 -- I saw that scene differently. I thought that Masters reacted that way because he knew he had betrayed his friend and mentor to the point that it had ruined their relationship.

Allison Janney deserves another Emmy! Love that broad. And love the gay prostitute.

A lot of twists tonight...

After a slow start, I am liking the series more each week. It is annoying that the nudity is almost all female, not male.

Finn Buttrock caused a bit of a sensation as the younger brother, to Andrew Garfield, in the Broadway's revival of "Death of A Salesman," so it's no surprise that he very good here as well as the male postitute."

I haven't seen the show yet but all the episodes are available on demand.

Should I start watching?

Yes, you should start watching. Stick with it, because the first few episodes are not fully engaging. But as the characters develop, all except Masters himself are intering and likable, including the male prostitute.

And the wife finds out her husband is a homo!!!

I hope there's a Season Two. I almost gave up after the second episode but I'm glad I stuck with it. And, yup, Allison Janney is her usual brilliant self. Beau Bridges is good but he should have gone the extra mile and gotten a haircut to look more period. Also loving Julianne Nicholson.

Allison Janney is truly heartbreaking in this. She's an amazing actress.

Martin Sheen was incredible in the Kenneth Williams biopic. He is nude in that, if people insist on looking.

I have a lot of respect for Allison's workmanlike dedication to character acting. And, of course, she's living Glenn's dream!

I don't know who's hotter, Teddy Sears or Nicholas D'Agosto. How I'd love to see them do a sex scene together.

That aside, this show is television drama at its absolute finest. First-rate writing and acting from all involved.

Michael Sheen is actually sexy in this!

Did Ethan Hawkes character impregnant the wife with his sperm?

I'm completely hooked on this show.

Ethan Hawkes isn't in this show.

Season Two starts shooting Feb/March of next year.

Btw, do y'all know how it all ends...

SPOILER

Later in life, Masters leaves Libby for Johnson. They were married for a number of years.

Great show Need a new thread Who do you think about when having sex and does it help you get there

Sorry 87 meant Ethan Haas

Damn this show is good

Teddy Sears, Finn Wittrock and Nicholas D'Agusto, hope you all will be back next season. But, please take your clothes off more ofter!

Does Janney show boobs?

Is Lizzie Caplan a dyke. she's a pretty girl. She's been seen with matthew perry out and about. is that pr or is she really crapet munching?

Yes, n93, Allison shows her boobs.

[quote]Martin Sheen was incredible in the Kenneth Williams biopic. He is nude in that, if people insist on looking.

Huh? Martin Sheen is NOT in this series. The British actor Michael Sheen is.

The last scene tonight was amazing.

Thanks, R97, for commenting on last week's episode. I've watched it several times, can't get enough of it.

R98, I was actually commenting on the last scene in the season finale, which aired tonight.

Are Beau Bridges' and Alison Janney's characters based on real people? What about Virginia's lover?

I'm assuming this is a fictionalized account about the real Masters and Johnson, but everyone else, they're either composites or totally made up characters.

How about Julianne Nicholson's character?

Just in case anyone is interested, Sheen and Caplan look NOTHING like the real Masters and Johnson, they were both rather plain people, Masters was bald and, IIRC, Virginia was a bit chubby.

My bad r96, although can you imagine Martin Sheen playing Kenneth Williams? I would pay to see that car crash!

[quote]Are Beau Bridges' and Alison Janney's characters based on real people?

I don't know... but I do know they're the best thing about this show. The best actors. The most interesting story-line. I've noticed that in episodes where they're in the background, the show isn't nearly as good.

Alison Janney in particular is just brilliant in this. I hope she gets some recognition for her role.

R88, the show won't be able to stick to the true timeline, but Masters and Johnson slept together for 14 years before he left his wife for her. In answer to R100's question, yes, Johnson was dating a man and almost married him until Masters agreed to leave his wife (and their three children).

Sadly, after 20-22 years of marriage following the lengthy affair, Masters and Johnson divorced, and he immediately remarried.

Johnson was actually married three times before she met Masters.

s

Alison Janney is just heartbreaking in this. I hope they shine up an Emmy with her name on it next year. She deserves it. Bridges is also top notch. Both actors are having banner years. Good for them.

If I could have out the Emmys:

Best Actor, Drama: Michael Sheen

Best Actress, Drama: Lizzy Caplan

Best Supporting Actress, Drama: Caitlin Fitzgerald

Best Guest Actor, Drama: Beau Bridges

Best Guest Actress, Drama: Allison Janney

And of course "Masters of Sex" for Best Drama Series

Well, it won't have any competetion from Homeland. That's for sure.

Lizzy Caplan wasn't nominated for a Golden Globe but Sheen was. There is no show without Virgina Johnson. I like Danes but she didn't stand out this year like the first season of Homeland. Caplan should have her place on the ballot.

Sorry, I meant if I could HAND out the Emmys.

I find it difficult to believe that Masters was so shocked that other doctors were upset about his finding concerning women and sex. He does live in his on little world though...so perhaps I should have been prepared for how out of touch Masters was at his talk & show and tell.

Was the film he showed of Virginia?

[quote]He does live in his on little world though...so perhaps I should have been prepared for how out of touch Masters was at his talk & show and tell.

The big deal about serving martinis was odd, especially at a presentation at 3pm on a weekday. I wonder if that really happened?

R112, they were different times. The 3 martini lunch wasn't unusual.

I haven't followed it.

I'm interested in the nudity.

Has the male nudity been worthwhile?

Sheens (both countries version of same, Martin fils and the UK Tony Blair) are all exposed as poor actors. Hard to believe that Charlie is the best of the bunch. Terrible show, LC is OK and better (no compliment) than the rest of the cast, but it's no Party Down. A limp, flaccid series...and yes, in real life both Masters and Johnson were so homely as to make the idea of sex in any form, even scientific sex research, intolerable cruelty.

"ORGASM!"

115 must be watching a different show from the rest of us, I can't get enough of this series, love every character, every story line and every actor in it.

Honestly lost interest after episode five, I think, but I love Janney. What episode does she come in?

[quote] [R112], they were different times. The 3 martini lunch wasn't unusual.

Agreed, but that wasn't the point I was trying to make. He shouldn't have been surprised by the reaction he got when he chose to make a scientific presentation in an atmosphere resembling a Stag Night, and it wasn't just the martinis or the movie, the whole business of wowing them with some hastily prepared facts on penis size was clearly for impact as well.

I was wondering if that was based on the actual event or not.

I had no idea Julianne Nicholson was in this series. I saw an announcement that she was going to be a part of the cast not realizing that I'd been seeing her for WEEKS as that doctor. I used to watch her on Law and Order all of the time and still didn't recognize her - I just thought her character looked vaguely familiar but never made the connection.

I love this show and ALL of the actors in it. I don't think there's a bad performance in the bunch. Allison Janney, Lizzy Caplan, Beau Bridges, Michael Sheen, Julianne Nicholson & the woman who plays Masters wife are really great.

Is the gay storyline ever going to go somewhere? Or is this show just about the lesbians, like most other shows on tv?

I'm afraid the gay story line is over now that Masters was fired from the hospital. If so, I'll miss all the actors associated with Beau Bridges's character, especially Bridges and Finn Wittrock. I did not like Alison Janney quite as much in the final show. Perhaps her character is better in just a few scenes.

Best line of the season one finale:

"I think your vaginal walls are beautiful."

Said by Lester to Jane

I have a mad crush on both Sears and D'Agosto though if it came right down to it, I would say Sears is hotter and probably has a bigger cock but is probably a self centered himbo.

This show is tops. I am on episode 8 and was hooked from ep 1.

Bump

I tried to get into this show but it's so boring I just can't continue. I find the two leads to be awful, stiff and robotic. Yes, I know they're researchers and so we're supposed to be amused by their robotic approach to sex, but it just doesn't work for me.

I know I am way behind, but this show was absolutely beautifully done. I just finished the first season tonight. I am so looking forward to next season.

[quote]I've seen the hot blond married guy in some series, he's so familiar.

I had to look up Teddy Sears, who was blazing hot in all of his insecurities and huge masculine chest and body on this show. He actually played gay in American Horror story first season. He was Zachary Quinto character's ghost boyfriend. He has major Big Dick Face.

It's funny how there are 3-4 threads on LOOKING, which the DL seems to loathe and love with great passion.

Is anyone watching this show? The initial reviews were pretty good, but there doesn't seem to be any buzz about it at all.

That's because it ended before Christmas R128

More Finn Wittrock!

I've never see this show but from the commercials, it looks like it's desperately trying to mimic Mad Men with lots of 'tense drama'.

Is it as cheesy as it looks?

Does anyone here watch this?

I just discovered it, R132, when Showtime ran a marathon last weekend. It is not a copy of Mad Men, but like Mad Men, it is a thoughtful look back on how things used to be. I agree with other posters that the storyline about the closeted provost is the most compelling, but I enjoy all of them. One of my favorite scenes is when Margaret (Allison Janney's character) "interviews" a hooker for sex tips and discovers her husband is gay.

Love this show and thought the season two opener was stunning. So sorry to learn that the Beau Bridges and Allison Janney characters will be leaving the show. Hope it's not permanent. I will also miss Bill's mother.

Thanks for spoiling that R134. This season is already a lot better than last season. Hope it doesn't go the way of basically every drama on Showtime ever.

Loved it and I find Sheen so damn sexy, even as cold as his character is.

My apologies R135. It had been reported in the press, so I thought it was common knowledge. They are both appearing as regulars on other shows, as is Bill's mother.

I didn't know BB and AJ were leaving, I'm so disappointed. They were one of the best storylines, just started watching the show and it's intriguing. R136, I'm with you. I never though MS was that attractive but he cleans up well and is very sexy on the show for some reason, even though he such a cold character.

[quote] I agree with other posters that the storyline about the closeted provost is the most compelling,

That was great but I ended up being touched more by the Teddy Sears/Allison Janney affair. Too bad it didn't go anywhere.

I'm not too wild about Sheen. I find his coldness really off-putting but I guess it's mostly because I don't find him hot at all. Sears on the other hand, oooh, he really does have a BDF. Maybe him and D'Agosto should do gay sex scene together for the science. I'd probably have to wank for that.

the poor man's Mad Men mediocre to the core, but Caplan is quite pretty

[quote]the poor man's Mad Men mediocre to the core

I don't think this description suits Masters of Sex at all.

hi Michael Sheen at R141, you are especially annoying!

I'm bummed out that Beau Bridges and Allison Janney will be leaving. Any idea how many episodes they will be in?

Geez, a thread asking people if they liked "Family Ties" or "The Cosby Show" is more popular than the thread for this amazing show. I thought this week's episode was as good as the very best episodes of "Mad Men," with amazing work by the two leads. AND a nice shot of Sheen's bare ass.

Where is the love for this show?

Brilliant episode the other night. This will be one that it's remembered for.

last episode was a heavy handed snoozefest and you know it

I admire that they tried something different, but I tend to agree with R146, it was a bit tedious. It was like filming a stage play.

Besides, I miss Ethan and his boyish hotness.

Oooo gurl! I thought that I was the only who missed the hotness that is my man Ethan. Virginia was a big fool to leave that for Masters. Masters better be packing massive meat is all I can say.

we don't have ethan anymore, beau bridges and allison janney left, sarah silverman is coming: that's a recipe for disaster!

Who's Silverman playing? I couldn't believe how long that fight lasted. They did all that, and then on her way out the fight was still going. WTF?

Silverman's gonna play the lesbian prostitute's GF, if you can believe that

Just tried to watch the most recent episode. I'm sorry, but the scenes are endless. Zzzzzzzzz

Some of you have very short attention spans.

i wanna add, i'm one of the poster who thinks that las episode was a snoozefest and i'ma big fan of Mad Men: never felt bored once with that show. Because Mad Men is actually well written.

All those people left??

Silverman is Sheen's girlfriend IRL but I hoped she would not be in this show. Shit. I don't hate her, but no.

losing bridges and janney is especially awful, they were the best thing happening on this show

.

R156, I guess they could not do this and those shitty sitcoms they are on for CBS.

I really liked the most recent episode. Libby Masters truly is a Betty Draper cunt, is she not? Poor Coral.

I don't think Libby is doing it because it comes naturally to her. She seems uncomfortable even speaking to her that way, almost as if she feels it's expected that she be the supreme domestic goddess of the household in order that Bill with return her love. I think she feels bad about treating Coral that way and will make it up to her soon. The scene where she forces Coral to submit to a hair washing was just cruel.

I think the lice came from Bill- either from the hotel pillow or from Virginia (who got it from her sloppy looking son.)

MUCH better episode than the fight. I feel for the DePaul character.

Looking forward to the scene they previewed at the end of this week's episode: in their hotel room, Virginia tells Masters to strip naked! Can't wait to see Michael Sheen take it off.

I heard Terry Gross interview Allison Janney on Fresh Air and it renewed my interest in MOS. I was about to stream it via Amazon. Worth it? It looks compelling and really interesting. I'd be new to the show, so I guess, specifically, is Season 1 worth it?

[quote]Silverman is Sheen's girlfriend

WTF? In real life? On the show, she's the lesbians ex-lover.

Well, if this is true that Sheen is dating Silverman, he was dating Caitlan Fitzgerald, the woman who plays his wife on the show. It must be damn awkward, having to continue acting and doing sex scenes with your ex-girlfriend, while your new girlfriend is on the set.

The show is excellent. I guess some viewers have a problem with a show about sex which features very little sex. Not to mention, so many people today have short attention spans and simply cannot watch a show where they have to pay attention and actually listen to the dialog.

Also, peoples viewing habits have been ruined by trashy 'reality' shows.

bumpy

I know it will never happen but if HBO ever decided to do a mini-series of Herman Wouk's novel MARJORIE MORNINGSTAR, Lizzie Caplan would be perfect for the lead.

I was surprised how much I enjoyed Sarah Silverman in this episode. I thought she did a nice acting job.

This season has been hit or miss with some pretty boring sequences. Some of the racial themes are extremely tedious, especially the whole lice issue.

I miss Teddy Sears and want to see that man naked some more. Too bad they don't show cock in this series.

[R166] Great idea! Lizzie Kaplan is very watchable.

Another great episode. I love this show.

This show is developing too many plots which I don't care about. Dr. Master's wife's racism is a snore, as boring as her character.

There has not been enough sex lately. Bring back Teddy Sears to bang some non-white women.

How about studying homosex?

Dont want to see Sarah Silverman's breasts ever again. Really.

I suppose the racial plots are intended to be edgy but they tend to be sanctimonious. Where are all the horny bad black people?

[quote] I suppose the racial plots are intended to be edgy but they tend to be sanctimonious. Where are all the horny bad black people?

I know! They need to get to work researching that whole "Mandingo" theory they were talking about.

It's really turned into a wandering mess. I think they ran out of story in season one, and now they're just trying to figure out how to fill episodes.

You do realize that she isn't racist, right? She's jealous of Coral's relationship because her relationship is so horrible. The whole lice thing started because Coral knew more about taking care of the baby than she did.

It's all about her insecurities, not racism.

[R173] I disagree. She obviously feels that her husband working in a "Negro hospital" lowers her social standing. She corrects the babysitter's English and humiliates her. This woman has race issues.

this show is finally getting interesting! last episode was quite heartbreaking, i must say. Bravo!

When are they going to do things like water sports and rimming?

Would Masters ever allow Johnson to have sex with anyone else in front of him? Would he t ake copious notes while she was pleasured by a black man or woman? Never gonna happen.

That young girl who is getting ready to play CINDERELLA on Broadway is adorable. I assume her storyline is done now that Mrs. Masters fired her.

I did not understand at all why Libby felt the need to follow Coral to her home to fire her. Why not just do it at her home the next day? And did it look to anyone else like the baby basket she was carrying was empty?

Yes, she felt that working in the Negro hospital lowered their social standing, but that doesn't necessarily make her a racist. She was lashing out at Coral due to the unhappiness in her own life. She would have done the exact same thing if Coral were white. It has nothing to do with Coral being black, in her mind she thought that Coral was somehow happier and more fulfilled and more knowledgeable about babies than she was. Libby is an insecure, unhappy, sexually unfulfilled woman. Coral represented something that she wasn't getting. So like everything in her life she didn't want to deal with it, so Coral had to go.

When she corrected Coral's speech, it was almost directly after the whole swaddling thing to stop the kid from crying. She didn't know that. Coral did. Bill complemented Coral on it. Inside Libby was seething and looking for a way to get her back.

Libby is truly a pathetic character. What does she have going for herself?

She is not someone you learn to hate. She is just uninteresting and irrelevant. Her sole display of initiative we have seen is when she went behind her husband's back to get pregnant and when her efforts to keep him employed.

Libby was getting swoony watching Coral's brother/bf or whatever he is to her through her window and when she was at their home and he was rubbing her leg. She hates herself for being attracted to the black man and has to punish Coral for it.

I loved the sad, sweet final scenes between Virginia and Lillian, with Virginia trying to get Lillian to see that she was the 'warrior princess' in the stars.

Libby wants to be plowed by Coral's brother.

This is such a good show, with a fantastic cast. I think my favorite character is Betty. I love what Annaleigh Ashford is doing.

"I loved the sad, sweet final scenes between Virginia and Lillian, with Virginia trying to get Lillian to see that she was the 'warrior princess' in the stars."

Me too. Julianne Nicholson was wonderful.

I love her too. She has come completely clean now. Maybe now she and her husband can build a life.

The need to pick up the pace and get back to the sex. The heavy emphasis on politics and marital drama are dragging them down.

When does Coral take over in Rodgers + Hammerstein's CINDERELLA?

It would be interesting to know which of the plots are based on real events and which are just soap opera filler. I know Masters and Johnson wind up married to one another, but are the Bridges character or the lesbian hooker, or the nanny, or the black hospital administrator all complete fiction or not? What about the doctor with cancer who killed herself last week?

[R188] I've been wondering the same thing. Wikipedia did not help much.

I love the show but do think it's sexist how Lizzy Caplan is always required to show her naked body whereas Michael Sheen rarely if ever has to take his clothes off. Granted, I'm a gay man who'd just like any opportunity to see a sexy guy like Sheen in the buff but genuinely do feel it's very unfair to Caplan.

I have no desire to see Sheen nude. However, seeing Teddy Sears back last night, even fully clothed, was good. He is a very handsome man. Can't wit to see him naked again.

R188, I found this page which supposedly has some facts regarding the real-life Masters and Johnson compared to what we are seeing on the show:

So this one episode took place over the course of three years, according to the Showtime website. Kind of daring to move so quickly.

Libby is so going to fuck Coral's brother.

[R195] Wait til she finds out what sex can be!

This series needs to get back to the study.

[quote]It would be interesting to know which of the plots are based on real events and which are just soap opera filler. I know Masters and Johnson wind up married to one another, but are the Bridges character or the lesbian hooker, or the nanny, or the black hospital administrator all complete fiction or not? What about the doctor with cancer who killed herself last week?

The series is based on a book, which is listed in the credits. That would shed some light on whether or not this series is based on real events or if the other characters are composites.

The real Masters and Johnson looked nothing like Sheen and Caplan, that's for sure. The real Bill had crazy eyes.

[quote]Libby is truly a pathetic character. What does she have going for herself?

I cannot stand Libby, when she is ranting at Bill, I want to yell at the screen and tell her to get a fucking job, stop depending on a man and your babies to make your life fulfilled.

Then I realize, this was the 50s/60s, when most women, even the educated ones, got married and became housewives. She is really annoying and grating, she doesn't even seem to have a hobby or any friends, her socializing was based around Bill's job.

I can't wait until she finds out Bill is fucking Virginia. thought, I'm not sure if they divorce for another reason. Supposedly Bill and Virginia's affair went on for 12 years.

As for Coral's boyfriend/brother, I don't know what's going on with that, why did she tell Libby he was her boyfriend and going into how great he was in bed etc? The promo for next week's episode showed Libby talking to Coral's brother again, is she going to have sex with him? This woman is aching for some attention, she's gets none from Bill. They sleep in separate beds and haven't had sex in a year.

The show was picked up for a third season, despite the lack of sex, people are watching and enjoying the acting and storylines, imagine that.

The people here complaining there's not enough full frontal male nudity, you need to watch porn, this is show about sex, but with very little of it. Too bad.

I really like this show. All actors are great. Masters is not a very likeable character, but Michael Sheen is amazing. Libby seemed a bit out of character this season, but maybe it was the new baby and changes in their relationship.

I find Michael Sheen so damn sexy

Remember in the first season Libby was interested in another black guy, the repair man. They danced together and he ended up driving her to the hospital when she had her baby.

last synday's episode was a bit of a mess: they basically started a whole new season in the middle of season 2! it was a bit too much, like a cop put. what do you think, DL?

[quote]Remember in the first season Libby was interested in another black guy, the repair man. They danced together and he ended up driving her to the hospital when she had her baby.

Since Libby appears to from an upper middle class background, dating a black man, even if he was a successful surgeon or the head of the hospital like the man Bill worked for, it would have been taboo back then for a while woman from the upper classes to get involved with a black man.

I'm sure interracial were out there, the public simply didn't know about them. The only interracial couples I remember as a kid were usually showbiz couples like Sammy Davis and his wife Mai Britt.

Perhaps Libby is so uptight and comes from such a cloistered background, she finds black people fascinating?

She sure must be horny, Bill hasn't touched her in over a year, yet he was shown getting blowjobs by street hookers? What's his problem? How ironic, there Bill is researching others sex lives and his is an absolute mess.

Remember when they were fucking to get Libby pregnant with their first baby, Bill lied that it was her, yet it was his low sperm count? Bill would only fuck her from behind? It seems as if he despises her, perhaps it was a marriage of convenience to help his career, they are mismatched on so many levels.

Does Bill hate his mom because she allowed his father to beat him or was Bill a victim of sexual abuse by his father? I don't quite understand why he hates his mom so much.

i'm "Oh, dear-ing" myself for the typos in my post:

*sunday* *cop out*

Good question 202, think it will be revealed later. I thought Libby got pregnant form her Dr. not her husband.

I was thinking a lot of people need to proofread their posts. Some are so bad, entire paragraphs make no sense at all. Then trolldar showed me it's all mostly one person- and not r201, who so diligently apologized for easily transgressed and pretty harmless typos (Synday actually makes for good MichFestspeak:)

But someone else needs to get their shit together,

so none of you was bemused by the constant flash- forwards? discuss!

I liked flash-forwards because I thought the first couple of episodes in this season were different, with strange pace, going in weird directions. I was disappointed with those first episodes, but I liked the last one. Although it seems a bit as if they didn't know what else to do, so they decided to just ff. But I really don't mind.

BTW I apologize if I'm the one whose posts don't make sense. I'm not a native English speaker. I'm trying.

R207, you're doing just fine.

[quote]so none of you was bemused by the constant flash- forwards? discuss!

Perhaps these episodes were filmed before the show got the green for a third season? The producers might have wanted to get the story moving.

As for R206, go teach your grade school pupils or whatever you do for a living, why so snarky? Sometimes a person's thoughts come faster than their typing, while others simply don't proofread what they've typed before posting. This is an anonymous forum, not a writing class or an English class. You sound like a schoolmarm!

WHY so anal about anonymous posts at a forum? At least this thread is more interesting than seeing yet ANOTHER thread about the minute details of a pornstar's life or about a pop singer whose shelf life already expired many years ago! Get a life.

uh, what?

[R205] [quote]I was thinking a lot of people need to proofread their posts. Some are so bad, entire paragraphs make no sense at all

And your post is a perfect example of a post in need of proofreading.

Last night's episode was good. It was well-paced. They even gave Teddy Sears some screen time! Now he needs to get naked again.

I loved seeing Christian Borle as Master's new "patient". He looked tall, handsome, and mature - certainly older than his appearance on SMASH and in PETER AND THE STARCATCHER on Broadway. And his acting was excellent.

I hope that he and his wife take part in the study. Humping for the TV audience is a public service.

I just realized that Masters' mother and the head of the cult on The Leftovers are played by the same actress, Ann Dowd. It kind of blew my mind, they are such different characters and she plays them both so well.

After their adventure last night, will boss lady start pimping out the good Dr. Langham? Or will she keep him for herself?

The boss lady/Dr. Langham storyline is the first one on this show that I really dislike. Although any chance to see him in bed showing off his nipples is okay by me.

OMG Paulie J form the Comeback was on the last episode of MOS!!

This series just gets better each week.

Me, too, R217. I hate hate hate that storyline. But agree Teddy Sears is fucking gorgeous and needs to be naked as much as possible.

This show... I have never seen anything with two lead characters who are so consistently unlikable.

Mrs. Master's finally got what she wanted.

Agree with R217 and R220.

Even though unrealistic, I really like the Libby storyline. I'm scared something bad is going to happen to him. I agree, I hate the Teddy/Flo storyline.

On another note, I hate the way Virginia speaks.

R221, do you really find Virginia Johnson unlikable? I agree that they are going out of their way to make Masters a jerk, but I find Johnson to be quite likable. What do you dislike about her?

I don't see how anyone could hate Austin's storyline with the Cal-o-metric chick. It's perfect payback for him being a douche. And, quite frankly, it's a little sad, sweet that these two sad, lonely people have found each other.

Last night's season finale gave us a lot to ponder about so many unhappy people struggling to find each other.

I don't like the Masters & Johnson relationship. it is fundamentally unhealthy and he's not a very likeable man.

The mixed race couple has given her character room to grow.

I liked the former hooker and her wealthy hubby.

It is so sad to see Dr. Langham being used but he deserves it. Those two remind me of so many couple I have known.

R224... it's hard to explain. I guess it's because she's such a smart woman making so many dumb choices, not the least of which is lugging along that sad sack of Masters. She's lost everything to work with him and now fuck him. I also find her painfully earnest and emphatic. Maybe it's just the show this year... it's horrible. You can't really care what happens to anybody except maybe Libby. And last year's great characters are lost. In the end I was watching for the diet peddler and the Dr. Hot Dick and the secretary.

[quote]Maybe it's just the show this year... it's horrible.

The viewing public appears to agree with you. The season two finale garnered 889,000 viewers, down 25 percent from the season one finale.

Compare that to its lead-in, Ray Donovan, which had 1.4 million viewers, up 40 percent from last year's finale.

I'm not surprised, R228. Ray Donovan really stepped up its game this year. I was a half-hearted watcher in S1, but the show hit the ground running in S2 and didn't let up.

I watched S1 of Masters of Sex when Showtime ran a marathon right before S2. I was immediately hooked and added it to my DVR schedule. S2 has been a big disappointment. The loss of Allison Janney and Beau Bridges left a huge hole in the show. Bill's annoying brother (unmentioned even by their mother in S1!) was certainly no substitute.

The time jump in mid-season was jarring. One of the things that bugged me about S2 is that they talk about "the work" all the time, but we don't see much of it. I feel like we saw too much of Bill and Gini. I know, the show is about them, but there were too many hotel scenes of just the two of them.

I did like Dr. Langham and Cal-O-Metric lady. Also the nerdy guy and his girlfriend. Libby and Robert are hot but boring.

I would like to see where 'the work' is going. I know that it evolved over time.

Their shyness with nudity is silliness....it is a show about sex, show a cock or two.

Here's a long and interesting interview with the producer of Masters of Sex on the Hitfix site where she talks about the difficulties of season two and (best of all) hints that Beau Bridges and Allison Janney might be back for season three!

Michael Sheen looks like a rodent.

Way late to the game on this show. Just started watching it. Spent this rainy day binge-watching seven eps.

It's OK, but while Lizzie Caplan is lovely, her speech pattern annoys the living the shit out of me. She has an affectation when she speaks and I never forget she's an actress playing a role; she's unconvincing to me. Still, I love her on "The League" as Nick Kroll's sister.

Nicholas what'shisname is adorable.

Oh, and of course, Allison Janney is fucking fantastic as always. What a great actress.

The second season of this show veered way off track into uninteresting cul de sacs, after a first season variable quality. Annaleigh Aehford was the only reason to tune in.

However, they do talk about the work and have advanced to the stage of trying to cure sexual dysfunction. Quite a lot of the season was devoted to that through supporting characters and Masters himself. Quite explicitly. You can't fault the show for that.

As much as I love Far From Heaven, shoe horning it in here to give the lovely actress who plays Sheen's wife something to do kind of minimises the civil rights movement. Hers is too small a PoV from which to view it.

Not sure I'm interested in a Season Three.

bump

I really liked the first season of this show, but it's awful now. I'm giving it one more episode and then I think I'm out for good.

Love this show, just wonder how Libby produced such ugly children, she and her husband are both good looking.

Who is that woman the photographer guy (Lester?) is married to? I thought the last time we saw him with anyone it was with the chick from Breaking Bad who's pussy wouldn't open.

There has been a time jump of several years. It hasn't been explained why Lester and Barb broke up.

Who saw the episode with Necar Zadegan playing the Queen of Iran?

Bump this thread.

The time leaps are huge this season, like they are trying to wrap it up.

I miss the hot blond doctor and the fat chick.

Well the season is over and not a moment too soon. What a mess of a show now. I don't understand why Showtime gave it an early renewal given how unwatchable it's become.

This season really was a mess and not even a hot one. Here's a great article articulating its missteps

at least teddy sears showed his ass

I wanna see his penis. The pubes are nice, but that doesn't count.

Do we still hate this show here? I was ready to bail after last season but this season has uprighted the ship in a lot of ways. Sheen is still fugly and unappealing but we still have lots to like surrounding him.

I love Sheen. He was the reason I started watching this show, but now my favorite character is Libby.

[quote] I love Sheen

He looks like a rat.

This season has seen the show make a nice comeback. There are more characters to care about, and good story arcs for all of them.

This season has seen the show make a nice comeback. There are more characters to care about, and good story arcs for all of them.

I love Sheen as well, very sexy man. Last week when Sarah Silvermans character died was heartbreaking.

It looks like they are about to embark on gay research next.

I'm not sure what happened, but this show is back. It broke my heart when Sarah Silverman died. Libby has been wonderful this season.

I hate Libby and her stupid baby obsession.