Parents Television Council: There's not enough sex on TV! (sort of)

Chose Fri, Aug 22, 2008 at 11:08 AM EST

I agree with Susan. Nathan and Haley from One Tree Hill are the most platonic married couple ever !

Sara Thu, Aug 7, 2008 at 03:31 PM EST

I agree with most people here: depictions of a happy married sex life on TV are very rare and scarce. TV writers and most journalists, like Annie, all seem to think that once a couple gets married, sex stops. Well, I know plenty of married couples, and that is definitely not the case. As with all long-term relationships - married or not - it just depends on the couple. I wish Hollywood would wake up to that, but I doubt it - married sex just isn't "hot" enough for them.

DJ Thu, Aug 7, 2008 at 02:46 PM EST

Tom and Lynette have sex all the time!

But I have to agree in that I do wish we had more portrayals of strong, sexy marriages. It seems a lot of writers feel the love story ends at the proposal.

David Thu, Aug 7, 2008 at 01:56 PM EST

What about "Married with Children?" I loved their sex scenes!!

Lise Thu, Aug 7, 2008 at 01:39 PM EST

Well, Sun and Jin on Lost have over the past four seasons developed a very good marriage, and are clearly having sex as Sun is pregnant.... And Rose and Bernard are happily married (not that I want to think about their sex life). But I agree, these are all exceptions, not the rule.

purplegirl247 Thu, Aug 7, 2008 at 01:26 PM EST

The Cosbys were also adorable and a pretty good portrayal. Made married sex life look like a blast! (You never saw anything, obviously, but you knew it was coming!)

But that was twenty years ago. Where's the love gone?

Ted Thu, Aug 7, 2008 at 01:22 PM EST

There is not more "married" sex on TV because THAT IS reality!!

Anjeliki Thu, Aug 7, 2008 at 12:25 PM EST

Oh, giggling. I read "jiggling" the first time through, and wondered how that could be considered adorable.

Susan Thu, Aug 7, 2008 at 11:59 AM EST

It is totally sad that sex cannot be shown in marriage. I'm not saying it should just be shown in marriage all the time, cause that's not realistic, but I do agree that married sex is a rare occurrence. For example, on One Tree Hill, Nathan/Haley have been married for six years and they are only 22. You would think they'd be doing it like bunnies all the time? Nope. Instead the show finds ways for Nathan to reinforce his sexuality around other random sluts (like this past year's "psycho nanny" storyline) because the show has decided that his wife (who is now a mother) cannot be possibly sexy (which is crap). They made only 2 references to their sex life at all this year and the year before that, there was like a hint of one. It's totally crazy when even a young married couple can't be shown to have a healthy sex life (but I pretty much blame it on show creator Mark Schwahn who tries so hard to ruin Nathan/Haley, but can't because of the actors' undeniable chemistry).

kat Thu, Aug 7, 2008 at 11:43 AM EST

I think their report mentioned it, but Friday Night Lights represents a great, realistic portrayal of marriage. And sex, while not at the forefront, is mentioned. They had a whole episode about their first time after the baby was born.

Snarf Thu, Aug 7, 2008 at 10:40 AM EST

Said it before and I'll say it again, the PTC is made up mostly of a bunch of sex obsessed prudes whose only outlet is to "have-to" watch "smut" so they can warn the public how amoral it's becomming. Lame.

LisaMama Thu, Aug 7, 2008 at 10:31 AM EST

This is one of my pet peeves with television -- marriage is never portrayed as the amazing and complicated relationship that it really is. I can't think of any other happily married couple on TV right now besides the 3 already mentioned (HIMYM, Earl, and Medium). Can anyone think of another one?

Nick Thu, Aug 7, 2008 at 10:03 AM EST

Roseanne is the shizz.

www.thelittlestwinslow.wordpress.com

Nix Thu, Aug 7, 2008 at 09:49 AM EST

I dunno, Annie, you can oppose the PTC's fascist leanings, but some of the findings are hard to explain away. I mean, clearly, the current crop (last 2 years) of network TV has featured a lot of grasping by the networks to be hip, and thus, aside from general crap, there's attempts to be catch attention, thus cheap sex. I only read the wire report on the PTC's finding (how DO they get this much attention? it's amazing) but they also pointed out that heretofore taboo sexual practices were becoming mainstream. Anecdotally, I have noticed that young boys as sexual objects for men, and bestiality, have become pretty mainstream topics for discussion lately. Maybe this is a good thing. But I doubt it.

EP Sato Thu, Aug 7, 2008 at 09:40 AM EST

I just wish the PTC would straight up go away! Do we really need someone else to determine what's okay for our kids to watch on tv?

RedAngel Thu, Aug 7, 2008 at 09:20 AM EST

I'm with RayT...I already complain about what's on my TV, why not make a living out of it?

RayT Thu, Aug 7, 2008 at 09:06 AM EST

I just want to know how I can get a job where I watch TV for 9 months straight and get paid just to count sex scenes! Granted, I'd have to fake being a right-wing Evangelical Christian (and pretend to be appalled when Bette and Tina start going at it on "The L Word") but it'd still be worth it!

Michelle Thu, Aug 7, 2008 at 09:03 AM EST

Everybody Loves Raymond always had jokes about sex in a marriage. There were even episodes built around the subject (Ray and Debra get "injured" during sex, they get a sex game board, their condoms get accidently handed out with the Halloween candy, etc.). And Sex in the City (while celebrating the single gal) also had great moments of sex in a marriage (Charlotte and Harry, Miranda and Steve). But current shows today - I can't think of any (except "HIMYM", "Medium", and "My Name is Earl" - Joy and Crabman) that showcase marriage sex (or even mention it). Maybe Hollywood (and the writers) just need some marriage counseling of their own.

wildecat Thu, Aug 7, 2008 at 07:35 AM EST

I haven't read the report, so I don't know if the PTC's issue is that there's too much unmarried sex portrayed, or just not enough married sex (or both), but I believe they have a point that TV, for the most part, acts as if everyone stops having sex once they're married. With the exceptions of Medium and Lily and Marshall on HIMYM, shows play up the "sterlile marriage" trope to no end. Married with Children, 'Til Death and Rules of Engagement base their entire premises on it. Look at your own post, Annie. Obviously your view of sex in marriage is that there isn't any ("we were both just really tired"). You mentioned Tell Me You Love Me - wasn't the entire story arc of the married couple about how they WEREN'T having sex? It just annoys me. As someone who's been married 17 years, with 3 kids, I'm still madly in love with my hubby and life in the bedroom is still pretty awesome, thankyouverymuch. I wish more shows reflected that, instead of falling back on the sexless marriage cliche.