There’s little more intriguing than sex. So why not make a show entirely based on the science and evolution of sex in modern culture? “Masters of Sex” premiered last month on Showtime and has already captivated fans of all walks of life. The show is not solely geared towards the more sexually curious of television viewers, although it certainly helps. And now for those interested in the dark, alluring details that drives the series forward, Teddy Sears, who’s Dr. Austin Langham got the green light to cheat on his wife as part of Masters and Johnson’s sex study in last week’s episode, opened up to TV Guide about his character’s sex scenes and issues with women.
"[Dr. Langham] has a little bit of a penchant for extracurricular activities outside of his marriage, to put it very kindly," Sears said. "Masters and Johnson know this, and so they recruit me to take part in the first experiment,” which involved Masters and Johnson watching and taking notes as Dr. Langham and a complete stranger had sex.
No problem for Sears. “My clothes are off a lot in this show. In fairness, most people's [clothes] are, but I didn't have any hesitation because it's Showtime, because the writing is so good, because it's a period thing, mid-'50s, and because the character is fantastic. It was a no-brainer."
"But I have to say, I was embarrassed. It was a little bit scary for me," Sears added. "John Madden, he would say this during shooting the pilot, 'I want to protect your modesty,' which was very great. Having someone like him, sort of the nice grandfather say, 'Grab her bum and put your hand on her nipple,' that was a little bit strange."
Sears is aware of his character’s ‘Don’ persona, but hinted that his insecurities will slowly trickle out as the season moves forward. "He begins to encounter some issues in his life. We see a very small glimpse of his family and his personal life outside of the hospital. The guy has clearly got some issues with women, and how he sees women. Really I think there are some deep-seated issues that I hope we get to play with as the show unfolds."
“Masters of Sex” airs Sunday nights on Showtime.