Today, Explained (Vox) – "Sexy TV is Back" – January 18, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode of "Today, Explained" dives into the cultural phenomenon of "sexy TV" making a comeback, with a spotlight on the Canadian series Heated Rivalry, currently streaming on HBO Max. Hosted by JQ (Jon Glen Hill) with guest voices including Popsugar editor Emma Glassman Hughes, TV writer Michelle Gannon, and intimacy coordinator Chayla Hunter, the discussion uncovers why “spicy” shows like Heated Rivalry have captured the popular imagination, explores the broader concept of yearning in media and life, and examines how sex and intimacy are created, performed, and received on modern television.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Obsession with “Heated Rivalry” and the Return of Sexy TV

• Main Premise: The show revolves around closeted queer professional hockey players balancing romance, secrecy, and lots of explicit, vulnerable, and frank depictions of sex.
• Impact: "The show Heated Rivalry has taken over my group chats, my scrolling, my brain. Maybe it's taken over yours too." (B, 02:02)
• Tone: Hosts and guests express both nostalgic and fresh excitement for romance-driven, sensual television.

2. Why Now? The Cultural Moment of Yearning

• Universal Yearning: Emma Glassman Hughes discusses how Heated Rivalry taps into a widespread desire or “yearning”—for romance, hope, and connection—even beyond the screen.
• Social Examples: TikTok’s trending “1,000 rejections” challenge (putting oneself out there and embracing vulnerability) and a yearning for better political options (e.g., the momdani campaign) reflect a need for hope and risk-taking during challenging times.
• Quote: "I think yearning could be seen as sort of a distraction from that. But I actually think it's sort of a grounding force… like yearning is really located in the body and it's this like, deeply bodily, like, human experience to despair over, like, not having what you want and to feel the pain of being like, so close yet so far." (C, 06:09)
• The All-Consuming Crush: There's a collective nostalgia for “simpler” teenage crushes—a longing for feelings that take over your entire world (C, 07:16).

3. Who Gets to Yearn? Gender, Queerness, and Representation

• Queer Yearning Center Stage: The fact that Heated Rivalry is about queer men is significant. Typically, women are portrayed as the objects of yearning and not the actors of it.
• Desire for More: Emma notes, "I think there is a difference between the sort of passive wishing and the real like gut level yearning. The latter is what I want to see more of from women and queer people this year. Not just like wistful stuff, but like the tornadoes and the storms and the like shattered glass of it all." (C, 09:18)

4. The Evolution of Sex on Television

• From Tame to Explicit: Michelle Gannon draws a timeline from the “sneak and watch HBO” era through to today’s streaming landscape where explicit sex is abundant and censorship has shifted from broadcast to streaming platforms.
• Historic Shifts: Early sex on TV had shock value (e.g., Sex and the City), while today’s shows like Heated Rivalry and Sex Life push boundaries further—often tied to increased creative freedom and less censorship.
• Changing Tastes: Audiences, especially younger viewers, have mixed feelings; some research notes that “a lot of young people say they aren't interested in seeing sex in movies and TV, and yet there's all this explicit sex on TV.” (B, 17:07)
• Quote: "Sex and intimacy can be a place of discovery that is isolated... I think in terms of building really compelling characters, those scenes can be really pivotal and important. And that's how it is in Heated Rivalry and in some of the best shows that I've watched." (A, 17:37)

5. Joy and Escapism in Queer Romance

• Heated Rivalry stands out because it defies the usual tragedy narrative for queer characters; instead, it indulges in joy, hope, and escapism.
• Straight Audiences Welcome: The importance of broad appeal—especially among straight women—helps queer-centered shows succeed. “I think the show wouldn't be successful without its straight women audience. So I thank them. I'm like, thank you. I get more of this.” (A, 21:49)

6. Anatomy of Onscreen Sex: The Role of the Intimacy Coordinator

• Chayla Hunter’s Perspective: As the intimacy coordinator for Heated Rivalry, Chayla describes her role as ensuring all intimate acts are fully consented and choreographed with performers’ boundaries respected.
• Quote: “My main priority is to ensure that any intimacy, nudity or hyper exposure… the way that that action plays out is being fully consented to by anyone who's participating in it.” (D, 25:22)
• Process: “We always have like a private rehearsal and blocking before we actually film any simulated sex or nudity or anything like that.” (D, 29:01)
• Craft of Choreography: Chayla explains the details behind creating the show's long sex scenes, emphasizing that everything is meticulously scripted and practiced to make the performances feel natural and ensure everyone is comfortable.
• Why Include Sex?: “Sex is a part of the human experience. And as long as it feels relevant to the story, then it belongs there.” (D, 30:13)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "There's not a moment that I'm awake that I'm not thinking about the gay hockey show." (A, 02:10)
• “Yearning can provide this sort of like, masochistic joy... We all need more joy in our lives right now.” (C, 06:09)
• “I think there is a difference between the sort of passive wishing and the real like gut level yearning. The latter is what I want to see more of from women and queer people this year. Not just like wistful stuff, but like the tornadoes and the storms and the like shattered glass of it all.” (C, 09:18)
• “When I see a love story, it involves marginalized people. I'm like, oh God, when is the hate crime coming? When is the bad thing happening? When is the... and it doesn't. And that's admittedly really nice.” (B, 21:11)
• “I think that says a lot also about queer media and marginalized stories. It's like, we are, like you said, you. You brace for that impact of, like, the hate crime or the horrible thing that's about to happen. So I think it was nice to take a break from it.” (A, 21:49)
• “The sex in the story for these characters is such a huge part of their relationship, and it's so important to the narrative, and it moves the narrative forward.” (D, 27:38)

Important Timestamps

• 02:10 – Obsession with “Heated Rivalry”, why the show resonates
• 03:19 – 06:04 – Yearning as a cultural force, both romantic and otherwise
• 09:18 – Gender and yearning; the need for more depictions of active yearning in women and queer people
• 13:38 – 18:45 – The evolution of sex on TV, from broadcast taboos to streaming freedoms
• 21:11 – The relief and novelty of queer joy and happy endings
• 23:43 – 27:38 – Chayla Hunter discusses intimacy coordination, consent, and choreography
• 29:58 – The value of showing sex and intimacy on TV

Concluding Thoughts

Heated Rivalry’s success is both a barometer and an engine for changing attitudes toward sex, yearning, and representation on TV. The show’s explicitness, vulnerability, and joyful queer romance are embraced because they reflect a deep longing for connection—across identities—and a hunger for narratives that offer both escape and authenticity. The thoughtful work behind intimate scenes, including the growing role of intimacy coordinators, signals that the modern era of “sexy TV” isn’t just about titillation, but about telling fuller, richer human stories.