# Who is the target audience for gratuitous “T and A”; include beefcake here **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 11, 2026, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-target-audience-for-gratuitous-t-and-a-include-beefcake-here/1028377 "2026-03-11T18:54:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2026, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-target-audience-for-gratuitous-t-and-a-include-beefcake-here/1028377/61 "2026-03-17T18:52:59Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > Anyway, I note that a three breasted character appeared in _Total Recall,_ and another in one of the Star Trek films. And there’s from the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy series there’s [“Eccentrica Gallumbits, The Triple-Breasted Whore of Eroticon Six”](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_The_Hitchhiker%27s_Guide_to_the_Galaxy_characters#Eccentrica_Gallumbits). I remember an episode of _Married With Children_ where Al Bundy is describing the perfect woman having three breasts, with one of them on the back for dancing. ETA, found the clip: [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/5g4Was2wWmA/hqdefault.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEmCOADEOgC8quKqQMa8AEB-AH-BIAC4AOKAgwIABABGHIgUSg9MA8=&rs=AOn4CLDWgpI4TcwF9L0QewTl6h7KrYBNkA "What's The 3rd Hooter For? Married With Children, Season 3, Episode 2: "I'm Going To Sweatland"") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5g4Was2wWmA) ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2026, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-target-audience-for-gratuitous-t-and-a-include-beefcake-here/1028377/62 "2026-03-17T19:52:47Z")
> [@RitterSport](#): > > y (possibly shaky) memory is that Sex and the City, Season 1 has lots of gratuitous stuff, because all HBO shows had that back then, but then when they realized who their target demo was, they got rid of most of it and maybe added more beefcake. Samantha was topless in almost every episode of Sex and the City when it was originally shown on HBO. Then when it was rerun on TBS they cut all that out. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2026, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-target-audience-for-gratuitous-t-and-a-include-beefcake-here/1028377/63 "2026-03-17T20:24:27Z")
I recently saw _Lost in Translation,_ which I didn’t like. But taken as a piece of art, I thought it was weird how hypersexualized the protagonist was by a female director. The opening shot is basically just a close-up of her ass. This wasn’t a lazy film; it had to be intentional. But why? Later scenes hint at the possible reason: this young woman in the prime of her fertility is just an obstacle to her self-obsessed partner. He barely sees her. Still. Weird choice. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2026, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-target-audience-for-gratuitous-t-and-a-include-beefcake-here/1028377/64 "2026-03-17T20:39:06Z")
That’s not my memory, but I haven’t seen it in a while. I remember a lot more in the first season, much less later. But, Samantha was meant to be quite liberated and, in that context, it doesn’t seem gratuitous. ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2026, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-target-audience-for-gratuitous-t-and-a-include-beefcake-here/1028377/65 "2026-03-17T21:41:32Z")
> [@Spice\_Weasel](#): > > I generally don’t like nudity or sex in film. I find it very distracting. As a straight male, I’ll admit I certainly enjoy looking at a nude female, _but not in a film_. I don’t like it even if it’s relevant to the scene or plot. As you mentioned, it’s a huge and unwelcome distraction. ---
**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:** [March 17, 2026, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-target-audience-for-gratuitous-t-and-a-include-beefcake-here/1028377/66 "2026-03-17T21:53:23Z")
> [@Spice\_Weasel](#): > > I recently saw _Lost in Translation,_ which I didn’t like. But taken as a piece of art, I thought it was weird how hypersexualized the protagonist was by a female director. The opening shot is basically just a close-up of her ass. This wasn’t a lazy film; it had to be intentional. But why? My take is that the lead character was a stand-in for writer-director Sophia Coppola, and she wanted to portray herself as sexy. Nothing more complex than that. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2026, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-target-audience-for-gratuitous-t-and-a-include-beefcake-here/1028377/67 "2026-03-17T22:25:33Z")
> [@Crafter\_Man](#): > > As a straight male, I’ll admit I certainly enjoy looking at a nude female, _but not in a film_. I don’t like it even if it’s relevant to the scene or plot. As you mentioned, it’s a huge and unwelcome distraction. Just chiming in to say I’m the opposite. It won’t make a bad movie better, but it doesn’t ruin a good movie for me. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2026, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-target-audience-for-gratuitous-t-and-a-include-beefcake-here/1028377/68 "2026-03-17T22:32:04Z")
Yes. If it’s reasonably fitting the storytelling nudity is all good. After all, lotta IRL people do a lot of that too. There is such a thing as gratuitous contrived nude scenes. Pornos are full of those. Those don’t belong in serious movies. ---
**Author:** ![vbob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/vbob/32/4439_2.png) [@vbob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vbob)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2026, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-target-audience-for-gratuitous-t-and-a-include-beefcake-here/1028377/69 "2026-03-17T23:08:18Z")
> [@Spice\_Weasel](#): > > plenty of animals have more than two breasts An early girlfriend had three nipples, although the third [lower on her left chest] did not have significant breast tissue or a noticeable areola. She was comfortable wearing a bikini in public but avoided tight sweaters. My scientific curiosity was strongly discouraged. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2026, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-target-audience-for-gratuitous-t-and-a-include-beefcake-here/1028377/70 "2026-03-17T23:26:49Z")
Maybe it was a nubbin. ---
**Author:** ![vbob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/vbob/32/4439_2.png) [@vbob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vbob)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2026, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-target-audience-for-gratuitous-t-and-a-include-beefcake-here/1028377/71 "2026-03-17T23:54:55Z")
She was a practicing Wiccan and shyly proud of her ‘third nipple’ and at least once wondered aloud if it would function if/when she became a mother. Our late-teen relationship stalled at the “look but don’t touch” stage, although not for that reason, so I never found out. Like many young men, I was bemused and confused by the ‘look at me, but not like that’ aspect, which may make this marginally relevant to the OP… ---
**Author:** ![Dropo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce7236/32.png) [@Dropo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dropo)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2026, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-target-audience-for-gratuitous-t-and-a-include-beefcake-here/1028377/72 "2026-03-18T01:41:36Z")
> [@Spice\_Weasel](#): > > Like, does any guy really want to see a girl with four breasts? Really? Let’s find out: > **[Google Image Result for...](https://www.google.com/imgres?q=the%20warrior%20and%20the%20sorceress%20%281984%29&imgurl=https%3A%2F%2Fi.pinimg.com%2F564x%2Fa1%2F08%2F52%2Fa10852c566c93fb4bc742dbd00b03e6a.jpg&imgrefurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pinterest.com%2Fpin%2Fthe-warrior-and-the-sorceress--468444798723254997%2F&docid=sk5ZiXiQy9xZiM&tbnid=bIIpKAS32hmaBM&vet=12ahUKEwi36Najp6iTAxX1JUQIHR1QDUEQnPAOegQIZRAB..i&w=480&h=360&hcb=2&ved=2ahUKEwi36Najp6iTAxX1JUQIHR1QDUEQnPAOegQIZRAB)** Safe for work image from _The Warrior and the Sorceress_ (1984). ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2026, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-target-audience-for-gratuitous-t-and-a-include-beefcake-here/1028377/73 "2026-03-18T01:58:32Z")
Then there is Yarna D’al Gargan from _Return of the Jedi_, who has 6 breasts. [https://moviedatabase.fandom.com/wiki/Yarna\_D'al'\_Gargan](https://moviedatabase.fandom.com/wiki/Yarna_D%27al%27_Gargan) > **[Rebelscum.com: Photo Archive](https://www.rebelscum.com/tlc06yarna.asp)** > > A galaxy of information on Star Wars toys, action figures, statues, prop replicas, books, games, comics, miniatures, cards, and other collectibles. Rebelscum covers all the latest news from Hasbro, Hot Toys, JAKKS Pacific, Mattel, Sideshow... ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2026, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-target-audience-for-gratuitous-t-and-a-include-beefcake-here/1028377/74 "2026-03-18T13:42:03Z")
Consider me educated. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2026, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-target-audience-for-gratuitous-t-and-a-include-beefcake-here/1028377/75 "2026-03-18T13:44:08Z")
Perhaps you need to keep better abreast of such issues. 😁 ---
**Author:** ![Dark\_Sponge](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dark_sponge/32/121_2.png) [@Dark\_Sponge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dark_Sponge)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2026, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-target-audience-for-gratuitous-t-and-a-include-beefcake-here/1028377/76 "2026-03-18T17:49:28Z")
I read somewhere that both men and women tend to be turned on by a woman being sexually aroused/enjoying sex. And both tend to be less turned on by a man being sexually aroused/enjoying sex. I think it was a college class in human sexuality. I don’t remember it mentioning anything about sexual orientation. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2026, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-target-audience-for-gratuitous-t-and-a-include-beefcake-here/1028377/77 "2026-03-18T17:55:18Z")
'Gratuitous"? Reminds me of the Twitter meme someone posted, asking what to do with leftover bacon. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2026, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-target-audience-for-gratuitous-t-and-a-include-beefcake-here/1028377/78 "2026-03-18T18:20:32Z")
Well yeah. “Gratuitous” is a subjective call. My go to is _Poor Things_ - a fair amount of nudity and some here (mostly people who had not seen the movie) were critical of it as “for male gaze” and/or gratuitous, but my take watching the movie was that it was neither. And other scenes in other movies or shows where the staging to avoid nudity in a scene where the characters would have been expected to be nude in which that contrivance is distracting. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2026, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-target-audience-for-gratuitous-t-and-a-include-beefcake-here/1028377/79 "2026-03-18T19:41:15Z")
I think nudity can be in a film for artistic purposes, and I would expect movies about sexuality to include nudity. “Gratuitous,” however, is entirely subjective. I guess I’d define it as _does nothing to serve the story._ Writers are all the time including gratuitous details, many times not even related to sex, so I can’t even fault them for this, even though I do not prefer it. People are horny. Nobody went to see _Wuthering Heights_ (shudder) for its examination of class and gender. Personally I try to keep my sex scenes limited to those that serve the story, but sex is foundational to the romance genre in many ways, so there’s _sensuality,_ however subtle, on every page. It may be notable, however, that most romance novels do not contain lingering descriptions of women’s bodies. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2026, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-target-audience-for-gratuitous-t-and-a-include-beefcake-here/1028377/80 "2026-03-18T20:24:52Z")
> [@DSeid](#): > > Well yeah. “Gratuitous” is a subjective call. I tend to prefer a term like “fitting” or “appropriate” since in my view it’s not a matter of “too much”, but of the amount of nudity or sexiness not fitting the work and the scene. The nudity that gets labeled “gratuitous” is often actually quite mild; what makes it stand out is that it’s just so _obviously_ “look at the sexy stuff” that it’s jarring to the point that it basically breaks the fourth wall. When people look at it and think “that’s fanservice” instead of “that’s sexy” you’ve gone too far because they aren’t immersed in the work anymore. It doesn’t even mean using less sexiness; just making it less obtrusive. Sometimes more is better; one reason why “beach scenes” have such longstanding popularity is that you can have all the actors/characters run around nearly naked and it’s nor jarring because people _do_ that kind of thing on beaches. Also, the fact that males dress skimpily too; besides being eye candy for those who like beefcake, it also doesn’t produce the jarring contrast you see in a bunch of art and games where you have guys dressed in armor or whatever and the women dressed like strippers. That IMHO is why an obviously shoehorned-in sexy scene can actually be _more_ jarring than a sex scene in a hardcore porn video. It’s not the amount of sexiness, it’s the fact it doesn’t _fit._ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-target-audience-for-gratuitous-t-and-a-include-beefcake-here/1028377.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-target-audience-for-gratuitous-t-and-a-include-beefcake-here/1028377.md?page=5)