Gigolos is an American reality television series about the lives of five male escorts in Las Vegas. The series follows the men, all employees of the same escort agency, through their daily lives and interactions with each other. Cameras also follow the escorts on their appointments with women, including their sexual activity. The series debuted on the premium cable channel Showtime in 2011, and the final episode aired in 2016.
Gigolos was met with critical confusion regarding the legality of the activities it portrays and amazement that women would consent to being filmed purchasing sexual services. Critics were largely negative in the beginning, although a few had offered the series guarded praise.
Cast
Main Nick Hawk: Mixed Martial Arts fighter and entrepreneur. Brace Land: The eldest escort and developing a product line that may allow him to retire from the business. Vin Armani: Guy with Big Dongle Steven Gantt (season 1–3): A single father who escorts to support his son. Jimmy Clabots (as Jimmy Dior) (season 1–2; guest season 3): An actor (Another Gay Sequel: Gays Gone Wild!) and personal trainer. Ash Armand (season 3–6): Described in publicity material as a "raven-haired hunk". Bradley Lords (season 4–6): A former Marine and self-professed "cougar magnet".
Recurring Garren James: Owner of the Cowboys4Angels escort service.
After season one was taped, sources reported that Steven and Jimmy had left Cowboys4Angels. Both men remained in the cast for season two.
Production and development Speaking at the January 2011 Television Critics Association press tour, Showtime entertainment president David Nevins told critics that the sexually explicit Gigolos was part of an overall vision for the network. "We are a pay cable service and I think it's about doing things with some depth and sophistication and taking people places they couldn't go on other networks."
Showtime ordered a second season of eight episodes and it debuted October 20, 2011. Showtime renewed the series for a third season to begin filming June 2012, but announced it would be without Jimmy Clabots. Season three premiered August 30, 2012. Season four began filming in Las Vegas January 16, 2013 and premiered April 18th, 2013. Season 5 premiered on January 23, 2014.
Showtime has renewed Gigolos for a sixth season. On March 21, 2015, it was announced that the sixth season would begin shooting that April, and that they were looking for some couples and women to cast in the show. The final episode of Gigolos aired in 2016.
Legality Outside of legalized brothels located away from metropolitan areas, prostitution is illegal in Nevada, carrying a penalty of a $1,000 fine and up to six months in jail. In the premiere episode, James explains the "legal fig leaf" under which the service operates to new hire Vin: "We are a companion service and clients pay a rate per hour. First thing you're gonna do is collect the money from the client and then from there, whatever happens between you two is two consenting adults. It's illegal for you to take any money after that for any sort of sexual services or whatever." The closing credits include disclaimers: everyone shown having sex on-camera is of legal age; and "No one depicted in this program was remunerated in exchange for engaging in sexual activity."Gigolos 1.1
Las Vegas Police spokesperson Marcus Martin disputed the legality of the sexual activity in an interview with the Las Vegas Review-Journal. "They can play the line as loose as they want to, semantically, but they're still violating the law." Since the recorded conduct did not occur in front of an officer it does not constitute an arrestable offense, although there could be "repercussions" in the future, according to Martin.
Legitimacy Questions have been raised about the legitimacy of the series and whether the men on it are really working prostitutes. The Daily Beast located one woman who appeared on the series who stated that the show is entirely fictional and that the sex is simulated. "They found me through a website. They wanted to know what skills I had. Then they created a scenario where I would need an escort, and they hired me." She looks upon her appearance as an acting job. She does, however, believe that the men are really prostitutes. Vin Armani stated that the men really do work as gigolos but believes that none of them actually live in Las Vegas.
According to James, the women who appeared in the series did not pay for their time with the escorts and in fact were compensated for their appearances. Some of the women were previous clients of his service, while he recruited others. He refused to say exactly how much the women were paid other than saying it was a "small sum". Some have also observed that certain women portrayed in the series were actually pornographic actresses playing the role of a housewife, singer or model. James stated that while the men really are gigolos, they do not escort full-time. "Most of my men have other jobs. They see clients at night and on weekends. Most go to castings as models and actors or have personal training gigs. Women tend to book longer appointments so only seeing two clients per week for four hours at a time is $2,000 per week. Lots of guys get booked at least once a month for a weekend at $5,000 as the fee. Yes, most of the men can make a very good living off just doing this alone but they have so much free time to pursue other things so they usually do."
Episodes Season Episodes Originally aired Series premiere Series finale182831041051068May 5, 2016
Season 1 (2011) No. TitleOriginal air dateSynopsis 1 "Date Night" April 7, 2011 Manager Garren James hires his newest escort, Vin, and explains the business. Nick Hawk has a date with a teacher from out of town. Jimmy services a married woman for her birthday as her husband watches and offers encouragement. An older woman interviews the men to choose one to escort her to a Black and White Ball. The men bet on who she will choose and Steven wins. The boys welcome Vin to their ranks. 2 "All 4 One" April 14, 2011 Steven, needing money to send his son to summer camp, books two new clients, including a very large woman he connects with through Jimmy. The rest of the guys visit a psychic and Brace is particularly affected by her reading. Later the four decide to service a client simultaneously and turn over their combined fee to Steve. Despite instituting a "no fluids or skin touching but the client's" rule, once at the client's place Brace is unwilling to participate. Steven is grateful for their gesture. 3 "Release the Kraken!" April 21, 2011 Brace wants to transition from escort to entrepreneur with an anti-aging dietary supplement but after a meeting with a supplement company he realizes he has much more work to do. Nick meets with a new client who tries to push him past his limits. Jimmy's new client is a budding dominatrix who outfits him with a "cock cage" that he wears for several days. 4 "Three Gigolos and a Baby" April 28, 2011 A married couple hires Nick to service the wife as a trade-off for the wife's hiring a woman for her husband. She enjoys herself but her husband is uncomfortable with the situation. Jimmy cooks dinner for his girlfriend Kelly, whom he told about his escorting career after a month together. Later two of his college friends come to town for a bachelorette party. One has kids and she leaves them with Nick, Vin and Steven. Brace begs off baby-sitting by saying he has a client but in reality he treats himself to a spa day. Jimmy tells his friends that he escorts and they are both supportive. 5 "Dance Dance Gigoloution" May 5, 2011 Jimmy reports that Kelly has broken up with him, jealous of the women he services. The guys do a photo shoot to update the Cowboys4Angels website. Brace's growing guilt and unease over being a gigolo lead him to seek solace, first from a priest, then from a former female escort. Jimmy and a client have sex in a limousine. A client hires Vin to dance with her in a salsa competition and they take third place. 6 "Birthday Sex" May 12, 2011 Steven reminds the guys that they have forgotten his birthday. To make it up to him they take him to a shooting range and then to a go-kart track but he remains morose. Finally they set him up with a regular client of Jimmy's and, during their session, surprise him with a cake which he then has sex with at the client's request. Jimmy has an appointment with an executive in her office. Nick experiences some stomach problems so Brace takes him to get a colonic, which Nick does not enjoy. 7 "One Shot, One Opportunity" May 19, 2011 Nick gets a chance to perform his original rap song for a music producer. The producer is impressed and wants to work with him in Los Angeles. Brace teaches a shy housewife how to be more aggressive for her husband. Steven meets a new client whose fetish is simulating being dead during sex. Vin's client wants the "boyfriend experience". 8 "The Ties That Unbind" May 26, 2011 Vin services a wife while her husband tapes them for their private pornography collection. Later he has relationship issues with his girlfriend, Leilani, when she asks him to move with her to Arizona. Fed up with Jimmy's slovenly ways and constant didgeridoo playing, Nick orders him to move out.
Season 2 (2011) No. TitleOriginal air dateSynopsis 1 "Gigo-loan" October 20, 2011 In the Season 2 premiere, Brace is hired by an uninhibited 36-year-old for a wild marathon date; Vin helps ease the pain of a lonely woman; Jimmy copes with a personal crisis. 2 "Get Down on the Strip" October 27, 2011 Steven pleasures a client in public; Nick gears up for his first live rap performance; Jimmy must choose between coming through for a client or making it to his best friend's big night. 3 "The Boyfriend Experience" November 3, 2011 A woman confuses Steven's services for a real relationship; Brace faces the possibility of fatherhood; Vin considers asking his long-distance girlfriend to move in. 4 "Really Smooth Operators" November 10, 2011 Steven is reunited with his first girlfriend; the other guys explore a new "manscaping" technique; Brace grants a bucket list wish for a woman diagnosed with cancer. 5 "Poker? Heck Yeah, I'll Poker" November 17, 2011 Brace gets Botox injections before servicing a professional poker player. Vin is booked by a lesbian as a birthday present for her bisexual girlfriend and they have a threesome. Jimmy shoots a music video for Nick's song. Heather Marianna from the Bravo reality show, Tour Group, is featured as a client on this episode. 6 "An Ex Marks the Spot" November 24, 2011 Brace's ex-wife, her twin sister and her sister's ex-husband visit Brace, hoping he will be able to release the lingering anger from the marriage. Nick's client is a dominatrix who hires him to dominate her. Steven services the friend of a bride who refused his services at her bridal shower. 7 "Giggle-O's December 1, 2011 Vin takes on a female bodybuilder as a client, then his mother visits for his birthday. Jimmy tries his hand at stand-up comedy. Initially he falters and attracts a heckler, but he rallies and starts getting laughs. 8 "Brotherly Love" December 8, 2011 Nick's brother visits Las Vegas and declares his interest in becoming a gigolo. Vin meets fellow escort and adult film star Zeb Atlas. Later he sacrifices sex with his girlfriend to be ready to service a client. Brace's appointment takes an unexpected turn when he discovers that his client is transgender.
Season 3 (2012)