Thursday, March 24, 2011
Bobby's Reality Check Exactly how porny is Showtime's new reality show 'Gigolos'?
Posted by Bobby Feingold @senorbobby on Thu, Mar 24, 2011 at 4:43 PM
- Steven and Vin, from Showtime's 'Gigolos'
The show centers around five man-hos in Las Vegas as they please lonely women (and couples, many men simply watch while their wife gets screwed). Vin is the new guy who's half black and half Latino (as he pointed out to me on Twitter). The group was missing out on "black guys," said Nick, so they needed to hire Vin. He's got an odd-shaped head, but he's personable and found himself prostituting because he loves women. "I'm a feminist," he quips in the series opener. Steven is the male hooker with the heart of gold. He has a son from an estranged marriage, so everything he does, including gang bangs and other fetish scenarios, is all for his son. There's something disturbingly off about Steven, his nervous habits and his slightly effeminate mannerisms. His self-hatred for being a gigolo is palpable. The thought of him having sex is mildly uncomfortable, as I believe he might be gay.
All-American Jimmy looks like James Van Der Beek of "Dawson's Creek" fame, and like Steven, acknowledges he is escorting as a means of "survival." Meanwhile, Jimmy's roommate Nick is the affected douche of the century. Out of all the guys, he really has no moral conflict about what he's doing. Sleaze oozes from his pores and out of his giant green spilled-spaghetti tattoo encompassing his entire right side of his body. I'm not sure Nick has a soul at all, just a fuckable vessel body. But most tragic of all is Brace—and not just because his name is Brace.
Brace is truly a tragic figure—he is the oldest of the group and the most groteqsue looking with bleached hair, spray-tanned skin, hulking gym-rat body, and what suspiciously looks like tattooed eyeliner. He convinces himself that he has the best life, he loves what he does, but in fact, it's cost him a lot, including a grasp on reality. He desperately wants real connections in life, but instead fills it with sex for money. Most sad of all, he begins hawking an anti-aging pill that he puts all his hopes into. In a Power Point presentation with the catchy title "Anti-Aging Neutracuticals by BRACE," he tried to convince the other man-hos to get in on his million dollar plan, but they were too busy talking about "cock cages" to care.
The guys go from house to house having sex with sad women, and all these Las Vegas houses look exactly same. It makes me never want to visit Las Vegas. There is a similar vibe to Bravo's "Million Dollar Listing," in that watching self-loving, metrosexual douchebags is oddly compelling. "Gigolos" shows graphic sex scenes—you see it all—but the music remains oddly generic and upbeat, like the acoustic guitar tunes of a yogurt commercial.
But what undercuts the whole show is the sense of family these gigolos have for each other. When Steven can't pay for his kid's posh summer camp, the other four guys gangbang a derranged housewife for $3,000 and give Steven all the money. It is kind of sweet, in a Las Vegas hooker sort of way. But what I don't understand is why these women agree to have sex on camera. What do they gain from it? One of Brace's clients looks like a porn star, so I get that. But one of Steven's clients is a morbidly obese, self-conscious woman. Why would she get pounded on camera by Steven? Moreso, Steven talks about how unattractive he finds her in the confessional.
"Gigolos" is an all-around debasing experience—for me, the viewer. Probably great for the fat girl.
"Gigolos" premieres Thurs., April 7, at 11p.m. on Showtime.
Comments (24)
Showing 1-24 of 24
I tweeted to Steven ( I agree with you BTW) the song Debaser from the Pixies played in my head while I watched this, stunned that I was watching this. You made me laugh, not easy. Good job.
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I watched it and yes they are interesting to say the least. However Steven being gay, hardly. (Aside from the fact that he has a son - which the last time I checked involved a woman = anti-penis)
Annnd to me he seemed to exude sensuality, along with inner torment and yes most definitely a heart of gold. (Which is a lot more than what the other offer as far as actually being human.)
Okay well Vin, seems normal too yet the rest seems spot on save your assement of Jimmy van der Geek.... I think he's the one with sauce in his pants.
I agree with Daisy, Steven and Vin seemed the most grounded and genuine of the bunch. Gay? I don't believe any of them are or else they would have exploited it right?
Personally, I know I'll be watching every episode to see how their lives play out on film.
Shanshan
After watching the trailer and teaser on the Showtime website, I think I sort of like this guy Steven, for the little I saw didn't think any of them was guy. Vin is not type, Nick is full of himself. Brace talks too much (almot sounds fake) and Jimmy is a bit too shy and too skinny....
I'll wait to see the whole episode... I like idea though... If guys can have escorts, why can't women have gigolos???
Who knows, I may even hire one after all... LOL!!!!
nick hawk ( nic haas) is a gay control freak. he used to go go dancer and scort man in west hollywood for the last two years. hes obssessed with fame, super rude. haha cant believe hes fucking woman for money now what a change.
jimmy is super nice a sweet heart, also gay.
this show is completely fake.
I couldn't agree more, the show is completely fake and if not is still boring and gross.
It's a great show, though admittedly not "Weeds" or "Penn and Teller" or "Dexter" etc. Your review is completely accurate, though you leave out why I suspect many people will be watching it -- beefcake on full display, as if it were the butcher's display case.
And the curiosity of how it will be cooked. I knew there were couples who pay to have someone do one while the other spouse watches. But it will still fascinating to watch the well-to-do African American IT guy (who seemed not too old and not unhealthy and not even very overweight) pay a white somewhat air headed guy to screw his somewhat zaftig but very attractive wife.
I mainly wondered if this husband was gay as he gave directions. (I am gay by the way, and I think gays will be watching this show as the televisual equivalent of flipping through "Playgirl").
As to compelling but painful trainwreck TV, Logo and IFC and Sundance all have much more painful trash shows pretending to be sociology, particularly the gay themed "A List" which makes it clear Chelsea boys in New York can be even more hateful bitches than the New York and New Jersey housewives, and "Girls who like boys who like boys" where slightly silly women put up with way too much crap from their often much sillier gay best friends.
I found the show really interestings and it s about time that women are not judged for been with a gigolo or male escort. my husband and I where in amsterdam and all you see are the ladies in the window in the red light district and no guys for the ladies. Kind of sad to see as I wanted to hire a guy when I searched on google "gigolo amsterdam" I found a few professionals gigolos who travel the world offering services and I had an amazing time with a guy
Sorry to say but just because someone has a child does not make them straight. My friend is living proof. There are alot of gay men and women who have children then come out the closet. Not to say that I'm absolutely convinced but this is my second time watching the show and I started to observe some of Steven's traits especially when he was talking to his ex wife. He seemed like an annoyed 14 year old girl. I think he's gay because he seems like he is so nervous and frightened about something he does regularly. Either that or he hates his job. But who knows he might be,he might now. I thought more guys other than Steven might be as well but I'm not fully convinced. Brace is utterly annoying. The episode I watched the woman hired all four and he just stood around because he didnt want to be naked around the four of them with their skin touching? and she wasnt attractive to him. ha! I'm sure that's not the first time he came about a situation like that he's a friggen gigolo. He was being rude and as wierd as the situation was to watch I was disgusted with how they were arguing in that womans house. Brace makes me sick and he is always talking about physical appearance. I dont think he's attractive at all. He looks so fake and even more disgusting with his shirt off. that typical "old man gut". EKK I also think its sad how they talk about their clients and how the over weight people they are with are typically unattractive. While ofcourse a more fit body CAN BE more pleasing to some I think the woman that was bigger than Steven's other client in the same episode was more attractive! I know guys like what they like but geez for Gigolos that get paid to "hang out" they sure are pretty shallow.
The show is fake. These guys obviously dont make the majority of their money servicing women, and even if they do, most of them will not be the type who show up on camera and are semi decentlooking. Even that fat woman was probably recruited to give the show some reality.
As others have said, Steven looks really gay. About the only real part of the show is Brace who inexplicably comes across as sad and pathetic even in such a carefully managed reality show.
And they certainly wont find enough women willing to pay 500-1000 bucks a pop.
Steven has some really weird vibe going on.
And how lame was the fake banding together to fundraise for Steven. Seriously. What an insult to my intelligence.
I agree with everything you said. I've only watched 1 episode and it was awful, fake, and a waste of a tv show. And just like others have stated I too believe Steven is gay. I've watched a special on gigolos before and I thought it was about making a woman feel good and treating her special, all I watched was these men have sex without romance and being careless. The women on the show seem like paid actress. The gigolos just came across as douchebags looking for fame.
This show is a fake!!! The women on the show were paid to do these episodes, there are reports that they had to search for women and that they were compensated. Also they used a pornstar named Semmie De Soura to play a busy marketing executive lol....this is very sad! So its not like they are using their real clients and documenting their lives, but instead casting women to act like costumers "too busy" to find a date.
http://www.salon.com/life/feature/2011/04/…
'Gigolos' has really caught my attention. I am fascinated by the gorgeous men and their clients. I am disappointed, however, that the sex shown thus far is porn sex, i.e. female orgasms without clitoral stimulation and the ridiculous number of positions engaged in during the "dates".
The show has to be fake. In the latest episode, Jimmy has sex with his new 'girlfriend' who just happens to be porn star Kaci Starr.
I'm pretty sure Steven is not gay since I saw him this past weekend with a hot blonde and they were into eachother. You can tell when a man is faking it and he was not faking it. I have been wrong before but I saw her and she was digging him too.
I think the show is fake, why would any of these women have trouble finding someone to screw them? Even the heavy woman? I have known guys all my life who love a large woman, and if they were trying to be discrete, why have it filmed? I say that Nick and Steven are definitely at least Bi sexual, Brace might also be, Jimmy is just happy to be there, and Vin....the same, getting paid to have sex with hot women? count me in! The majority of the women on this show are waaaaay to attractive to have to hire a gigalo, the blonde woman with the 48" chest, really why would she have trouble finding a willing partner? and the one that Brace was teaching to talk dirty? again not buying the stories. But I am entertained, and keep watching, if for nothing else to see what superhot, giant breasted woman is going to hire them next, so they can bitch about having to screw her....just dont call it a reality show!
I can't believe some suckers believe any of this is real.
All are actors, Jimmy is from the gay porn world of Los Angeles and ALL the women are hired porn actresses, including the "girlfriend".
Save yourself the confusion, this is a scripted show and not a "reality series".
There is a website u can go to and book them. It's not fake! People act like because they have seen someone on something else it's scripted. The website gives their backgrounds. They prefer actors and models. Good looking men. They are trying to make a living! As far as Steven being gay.. Nada! He is very into women. He just has a softer manner to him. He does seem a little odd at times but not gay! I think Brace is very handsome and has a great sense of humor!! He is hilarious! You people kill me when y'all knock them for what they do and how they act or how old one is! It's their life! U dont like then turn the channel ! Simple as that!!
I have watched every episode, thanks to ONDemand, and I adore all of these men.
I think that they all have other interests and would prefer to be an actor, a rapper, or an entrepreneur, and this is just their vehicle to help them gain exposure.
I think some of the things that are being said about these men is just downright mean and I think some people should learn to appreciate diversity.
I find the show compelling. I can't wait until the next season.
I also think this is a good idea for a show because many women like the thought of having sex under their own conditions. Here is an avenue for women that many or most of us have yet to explore but in the modern world there is more need for straight male escorts.
I must say that Nick is my favorite. He has a lot of talent, a beautiful body, and most importantly a kind and gentle heart. He is more than meets the eye, he is a real treasure.
I hope they all have a chance to make their dreams come true and that we get to see them achieve them.
Fake or not who cares!! Most "reality" shows are only based on what's real anyway. I love Gigolos and would book Vin in a heartbeat! I definitely find all the alleged girlfriends suspicious just because they look so phony. Nick is rude and detached in my opinion. And I hate that no one has told him to leave rapping alone...
I love this write-up, Bobby. Very insightful, funny and genuine. I haven't seen the show yet as I only just found out about it, but it sounds like an interesting show because beyond the veneer of people trying to survive while creating and maintaining some preposterous image of themselves, there are human tragedies and insights into human psychology to be had, I imagine. So, I'll be getting the DVD should it be available.
All of you get a life...
there needs to be a reality show about how the world will get rid of corporate greed, corporate exploitation of people, and how to create a free energy economy. Now that's reality TV I would watch. You can keep your ho's and their ho-lovin clients...I have much much better things to do with my time. Turn off the boob (or penis) tube!
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