# Fired for not doing sex scenes? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 1, 2010, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fired-for-not-doing-sex-scenes/534615 "2010-04-01T18:35:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2010, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fired-for-not-doing-sex-scenes/534615/21 "2010-04-01T23:49:18Z")
Of course a question I have for McDonough, who claims he won’t do sex scenes because he’s a devout Catholic and a family man, is how he justified being on _Desperate Housewives_. Is it that he’s fine with other actors doing it but doesn’t want to himself or did he leave DW because of it or… what exactly? One thing you have to say for Cameron is he puts his money where his mouth is: he could probably get another network series fairly easily if he didn’t have to exercise complete creative control to make sure it was rated G. McDonough should perhaps take a lesson. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2010, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fired-for-not-doing-sex-scenes/534615/22 "2010-04-02T00:13:04Z")
Here’s what I think. I think TV and movies don’t need sex scenes. You could count on one hand the number of movies that actually needed to include a visual representation of sex taking place. ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2010, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fired-for-not-doing-sex-scenes/534615/23 "2010-04-02T00:19:14Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > Here’s what I think. I think TV and movies don’t need sex scenes. You could count on one hand the number of movies that actually needed to include a visual representation of sex taking place. Yes, but if you count on two hands you miss out on all the fun. Thank you… I’ll be here all week. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2010, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fired-for-not-doing-sex-scenes/534615/24 "2010-04-02T00:19:59Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > Here’s what I think. I think TV and movies don’t need sex scenes. You could count on one hand the number of movies that actually needed to include a visual representation of sex taking place. Nor do they need to show violence on-screen: the Greek classics all made do with off-stage violence. Nor do they need naughty language: great film noir classics have nothing profane or obscene in them. Thing is, sex, violence, and cussin are **fun**. You may not need them in a movie, but they sure can make it more fun. ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2010, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fired-for-not-doing-sex-scenes/534615/25 "2010-04-02T00:32:33Z")
How much detail do _television_ as opposed to film contracts go into regarding stuff like nudity or love scenes? It’s not like a movie where it’s known in advance exactly how much skin will be exposed and for how long. They’ve got to be written in very general terms. The contracts for **Oz** for example seemed to include a requirement that most male actors do frontal scenes on a regular basis. Many network shows (particularly daytime soaps) will still find any excuse they can to get male stars shirtless. The teenage son on **The Middle** spends most of his scenes wearing only boxers. ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2010, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fired-for-not-doing-sex-scenes/534615/26 "2010-04-02T00:41:08Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > Of course a question I have for McDonough, who claims he won’t do sex scenes because he’s a devout Catholic and a family man, is how he justified being on _Desperate Housewives_. Different people have different comfort zones. Maybe he is comfortable with other actors doing romantic scenes but it’s just not something he’s comfortable with. > [@](#): > > One thing you have to say for Cameron is he puts his money where his mouth is: he could probably get another network series fairly easily if he didn’t have to exercise complete creative control to make sure it was rated G. McDonough should perhaps take a lesson. It seems to me that McDonough is putting his money where his mouth is seeing as how he lost his job. ---
**Author:** ![Petey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f1d935/32.png) [@Petey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Petey)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2010, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fired-for-not-doing-sex-scenes/534615/27 "2010-04-02T01:05:44Z")
I was remembering something about Pamela Anderson refusing to do sex scenes and found this on imdb: [Link](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0117037/trivia) [QUOTE=imdb] Trivia for Miami Hustle (1996) (TV) Pamela Anderson was originally cast in the lead role, but backed out after learning how gratuitous the nudity and sex was going to be. She was unsuccessfully sued for $US5 million for breach of contact in 1997. Her role was taken by Kathy Ireland. [/quote] ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2010, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fired-for-not-doing-sex-scenes/534615/28 "2010-04-02T01:12:18Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Change “strikeout” to “del.” Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2010, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fired-for-not-doing-sex-scenes/534615/29 "2010-04-02T04:00:14Z")
> [@Odesio](#): > > It seems to me that McDonough is putting his money where his mouth is seeing as how he lost his job. He cashed the checks from the many shows and movies that he evidently found immoral, however, which seems to me analogous to being a photographer for\* Hustler\* while speaking against smut. ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2010, 7:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fired-for-not-doing-sex-scenes/534615/30 "2010-04-02T07:06:55Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > He cashed the checks from the many shows and movies that he evidently found immoral, however, which seems to me analogous to being a photographer for\* Hustler\* while speaking against smut. Did those shows require him to be in sex scenes? Unless that’s the case, I don’t really see where you’re going with this. ---
**Author:** ![EvilTOJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee59a6/32.png) [@EvilTOJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EvilTOJ)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2010, 7:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fired-for-not-doing-sex-scenes/534615/31 "2010-04-02T07:57:14Z")
Where he’s going with it is that while Neal McDonough is fine playing a character who happily chops up babies to bits even though it goes against his moral fibre, getting naked onscreen is “over the line” :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Cazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cazzle/32/75_2.png) [@Cazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cazzle)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2010, 8:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fired-for-not-doing-sex-scenes/534615/32 "2010-04-02T08:23:59Z")
> [@Markxxx](#): > > So why kiss anyone else when you got that at home waiting for him 🙂 Because he gets paid a metric buttload of money to play make-believe for the camera? ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2010, 10:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fired-for-not-doing-sex-scenes/534615/33 "2010-04-02T10:17:22Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > Of course a question I have for McDonough, who claims he won’t do sex scenes because he’s a devout Catholic and a family man, is how he justified being on _Desperate Housewives_. Is it that he’s fine with other actors doing it but doesn’t want to himself or did he leave DW because of it or… what exactly? What’s so hard to understand? I don’t eat pork for religious reasons, but I don’t mind if my dining companions order bacon cheeseburgers, as they so often do. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2010, 10:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fired-for-not-doing-sex-scenes/534615/34 "2010-04-02T10:27:48Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > What’s so hard to understand? I don’t eat pork for religious reasons, but I don’t mind if my dining companions order bacon cheeseburgers, as they so often do. The difference being that the show itself glorifies doing the thing he himself doesn’t want to do. Would you want to appear in a bacon commercial? I know I’d consider you a hypocrite if you did. ---
**Author:** ![obfusciatrist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/4af34b/32.png) [@obfusciatrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obfusciatrist)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2010, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fired-for-not-doing-sex-scenes/534615/35 "2010-04-02T14:40:54Z")
I don’t see it as a conflict, the way I view it is seeing it this way: “I understand and accept that fiction will portray behaviors I don’t approve of in reality, and as an actor I am fine with it so long as I am simply simulating such behavior. Yes, violence is abhorrent but in portraying a violent character I never actually commit a violent act. Sex isn’t abhorrent but in portraying it I would have to do things I personally consider to be borderline, and maybe actually, adulterous in reality.” If he would refuse to be in a movie if doubles were used for kissing and sex scenes simply because the end result would make it appear he did those things (and maybe he has, I don’t know) then yeah, I’d say there’s a disconnect. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Excellent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f19dbf/32.png) [@Mr.Excellent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Excellent)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2010, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fired-for-not-doing-sex-scenes/534615/36 "2010-04-02T14:47:58Z")
> [@alphaboi867](#): > > Sex and/or nude scenes are usually the very first scenes filmed so if an actor backs backs out at the last moment they can be replaced without having to reshoot alot of scenes. Heh. Yah, I remember Ron Moore mentioning on the Battlestar Galactica podcast that one of the first scenes the actor playing Baltar shot was a romp with Six. “Welcome to the set - now hop in the sack with Tricia over there …” ---
**Author:** ![BubbaDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bubbadog/32/333_2.png) [@BubbaDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BubbaDog)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2010, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fired-for-not-doing-sex-scenes/534615/37 "2010-04-02T15:03:03Z")
Nothing to add other than I got a kick out of sequential posts #22, #23, and the poster in #24. ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2010, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fired-for-not-doing-sex-scenes/534615/38 "2010-04-02T16:01:21Z")
> [@Cazzle](#): > > Because he gets paid a metric buttload of money to play make-believe for the camera? But Mr Cameron probably already has a lot of money. From _the Simpsons_ Smithers) What will you do with another million dollars Mr Burns) I dunno, throw it on the pile. 🙂 I also kind of think TV doesn’t need the amount of sex, it once did. Let’s face it with the Internet sex is just every where. I was once at the gym and I was watching _the Bachelor_, and he was without his shirt, taking and kissing the girls open mouthed. I thought “What is this, porn for people too afraid to go into the video store and rent it?” 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2010, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fired-for-not-doing-sex-scenes/534615/39 "2010-04-02T16:21:37Z")
> [@Markxxx](#): > > I thought “What is this, porn for people too afraid to go into the video store and rent it?” 😃 The same way the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition is porn for people whose mothers/wives won’t let them buy Playboy? ---
**Author:** ![thirdname](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d07c76/32.png) [@thirdname](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thirdname)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2010, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fired-for-not-doing-sex-scenes/534615/40 "2010-04-02T20:34:25Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > The same way the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition is porn for people whose mothers/wives won’t let them buy Playboy? The women in SI are generally more attractive than Playboy (only older washed-up celebrities seem to pose for them these days), the photography is better, and SI doesn’t retouch them to hell. These days looking at a Playboy picture is more like looking at a painting or a computer rendering than a photograph. I don’t even really feel like I’ve seen a woman nude after seeing her in Playboy. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fired-for-not-doing-sex-scenes/534615.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fired-for-not-doing-sex-scenes/534615.md?page=3)