Masters of Sex
Masters of Sex is an American period drama television series that premiered on September 29, 2013, on Showtime.[1] It was developed by Michelle Ashford and loosely based on Thomas Maier's biography Masters of Sex.[2] Set in the 1950s through the late 1960s, the series tells the story of Masters and Johnson (Dr. William Masters and Virginia Johnson) who are portrayed by Michael Sheen and Lizzy Caplan, respectively. The series has received critical acclaim. It was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Drama Series in 2013. The series was canceled by Showtime on November 30, 2016, after four seasons.[3]
Masters of Sex
United States
English
4
46 (list of episodes)
- Michelle Ashford
- Sarah Timberman
- Carl Beverly
- Amy Lippman
- Judith Verno
Michael Sheen
Lizzy Caplan
Thomas Maier
55–60 minutes
- Round Two Productions
- Timberman/Beverly Productions
- Sony Pictures Television
- Showtime Networks
September 29, 2013 –
November 13, 2016
Premise[edit]
The series explores the research and the relationship between William Masters (Michael Sheen) and Virginia Johnson (Lizzy Caplan), two pioneering researchers of human sexuality at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri.[4] The series begins in October 1956 and ends in August 1969 with the fourth season.
As noted by the Los Angeles Times television critic, the series "hangs on bones of fact"; "it's more useful for the viewer to think of it as all made up. Because, mostly, it is, and because to the extent it tells the story of two real people, it also adorns the telling with dramatic practicalities, invented characters and narrative detours. Indeed, it's down these side streets, casting a brief light on a passing character (patients, prostitutes, a provost's wife), that the show finds many of its best moments."[2]
Other than principal characters, which are partly fictionalized, adults are significantly fictionalized, and children are entirely fictionalized. In real life, Masters and Johnson each have two children, but in the series, they have three children each. Episodes featuring the children include a disclaimer stating that their storylines are "entirely fictitious". Series creator Michelle Ashford explained: "We are telling a non-fiction story and one where there are people who are still alive out there, and those people need to be protected. We were advised to add [the baby] to protect the people that are still alive. It wasn't a storytelling prerogative. It had to do with protecting living people."[5]
Development and production[edit]
Showtime ordered the pilot for Masters of Sex in August 2011,[14] and greenlit it for series in June 2012, with the first season consisting of twelve episodes.[15] Paul Bettany was originally cast as William Masters and had a say in the casting of the female lead which had reportedly stalled the process.[16] After his exit, Michael Sheen replaced him and Lizzy Caplan was cast as Virginia Johnson.[17]
Writer/producer Michelle Ashford serves as showrunner for Masters of Sex. She assembled a majority-female writing staff, although she says this was unintentional.[18]
Ashford created the character of Barton Scully out of a combination of several men whom Masters knew. One of them was gay, but was not the man serving as provost during Masters' initial study.[19]
Prop master Jeffrey Johnson noted the difficulty of obtaining accurate information about sexual devices from the time period. "They were so taboo it was hard to find research drawings. People didn't even put them in writing." He obtained some vintage vibrators and dildos for use in the series along with acquiring condoms manufactured in the era (which did not have the reservoir tips of modern condoms). He designed "Ulysses", a transparent dildo with attached camera first seen in the pilot episode, from scratch, along with a diaphragm sizing kit seen in later episodes.[20]
Annaleigh Ashford, who has a recurring role in the first season as Betty Dimello, was promoted to series regular in season two.[21]
The opening credits sequence was created by design studio Elastic. The sequence, which includes suggestive, tongue-in-cheek sex metaphors and symbols, received a mixed response from critics; it placed on both best and worst lists for opening credit sequences. It was also nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Main Title Design.[22]
International broadcast[edit]
In Canada, the series debuted on September 29, 2013, on The Movie Network.[23] In Australia, the series premiered on SBS One on October 3, 2013.[24] In Ireland, the series premiered on October 4, 2013, on RTÉ Two.[25] In the UK, it debuted on Channel 4 on October 8, 2013.[26] In New Zealand, it debuted on SoHo on October 23, 2013.[27] Virgin Media acquired the UK rights for Masters of Sex and it started airing on September 21, 2018.[28] In the UK, the series was available on STV Player until February 2023.[29]