Sitcoms are definitely getting sexier. Almost 85 percent of all TV situation comedy episodes are now mixing sexual content with jokes, up from 56 percent two years ago. While they are among the leaders, sitcoms certainly are not the only TV programs emphasizing sex.
Overall, sexual content can be found in two-thirds of all shows this season compared to just over 50 percent in the 1997/1998 season, according to a biennial report by the Kaiser Family Foundation. Besides sitcoms, sex is most common in movies (89 percent) and soap operas (80 percent) and lowest in reality shows (27 percent).
While the emphasis on sex is growing, the number of shows overall that include safer sex messages has remained steady. But programs with teens in sexual situations are more likely than other shows to mention risks and responsibilities.
“The bottom line is if you’re watching TV, it’s hard to avoid sexual images,” said Lauren Asher, director of communications for the California nonprofit organization. “Since TV is a top source of information about sex for young people, parents should talk to their children about their own values as well as what they’re seeing on TV.”
In a separate study, the Foundation found that TV can have a positive impact on audiences by providing sex-related health information.
Knowledge of emergency contraception and human papillomavirus, a sexually transmitted disease, increased among “ER” viewers after that show addressed those issues.
