“Family Business,” an original late-night series on Showtime, highlights a typical guy who juggles an anything-but ordinary-job, single parenthood and a dismal love life.
Adam Glasser, also known as Seymore Butts, is one of the most common names in the adult entertainment industry. In 12 years, he has produced, directed and acted in more than 70 popular adult films.
One might ask, why is he worthy of a reality TV series? The question is certainly not answered in the show’s pilot episode from the just-released DVD of the first season.
The series is filmed in a documentary style, and, excluding his blind Internet dates, little else is intriguing. The show is noticeably dominated by graphic sex scenes, which are of course Butts’ creations, making this show clearly not for viewers who are easily appalled.
As cameras trail this middle-aged, single dad directing hardcore scenes and seeking a relationship, it is unclear why his life is transposed into a reality series. The premise is simply not enough to make the show entertaining.
The contrast between Butts’ alter ego as a parent and adult film producer are annoying and overdone. As a single father, it is expected that Butts would spend time with his son, but the show purposely highlights his interaction with his son. He wakes Brady up, packs his lunch and takes him to school. Congratulations Butts, you’re a porn producer and a dad. Everyone has moments where they reveal another part of themselves, and a glimpse of Butts’ alter ego is not fascinating enough to merit a reality show.
Anyone employed in the adult entertainment industry must have an on-stage persona. Performers certainly don’t wake up each day wearing a leather thong, hog-tied to a bed with a sock stuffed in their mouth, as might be portrayed on set.
Furthermore, porn is reality television, and the idea of hiding behind the clique of reality TV is pathetic. To put it bluntly, “Family Business” appeals only to viewers who are too embarrassed to go behind the red curtain and rent a porn from a public video store.
The most disturbing part of the series – other than the fact that Butts actually kisses his child with those lips – is Butts’ mother, Lila, who is also involved in the business. When not searching for a love interest for her son, she keeps the company’s books. Worse is that she openly admits to watching many adult films, just not the ones featuring her son. At one point she suddenly finds morals. Something is slightly repulsive about a parent watching porn and openly admitting it.
Butts’ peculiar cousin, Stevie, is his right-hand man and handles the distributing part of the business. His pathetic life consists of shooting photos of prospective performers. Revealing too much about the personalities might ruin the shocking revelation that these are real people.
All in all, the pilot was garbage and not appealing. Besides being a shameless plug for Butts’ next adult film, its point is unclear, monotonous and distasteful. A reality show about a mother and son running a porn company is superficially laughable, but rather nauseating underneath. It is preposterous.
“Family Business,” now in its second season, airs on Fridays at 11 p.m.
