Today, Explained Sexy TV is back
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Jan 18, 2026 
Join Emma Glassman-Hughes, a culture reporter from PopSugar; Michelle Ganim, an insightful columnist from The Cut; and Chayla Hunter, a skilled intimacy coordinator as they dive into the phenomenon of Heated Rivalry. They explore how the show taps into cultural yearning and the evolution of TV sex, tracing its journey from censorship to the intimacy that resonates today. Chayla shares her choreography process for sex scenes, highlighting consent and safety, while Michelle discusses the appeal of queer storytelling for diverse audiences.
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Episode notes
Yearning Is Cultural Currency
- Heated Rivalry taps into widespread yearning by centering crushes and longing as primary emotions.
- Emma Glassman-Hughes says that yearning right now feels like a grounding, bodily response amid global distress.
Yearning Extends Beyond Romance
- Yearning shows up beyond romance in political energy and personal risk-taking trends.
- Emma links New York's campaign enthusiasm and TikTok's '1,000 rejections' trend as examples of yearning-driven action.
Vulnerable Masculinity Draws Viewers
- Heated Rivalry appeals partly because it depicts vulnerable, less toxic masculinity that queer women and others crave.
- Emma notes the show's depiction is a return to intense, all-consuming crushes that evoke nostalgia.
