Masters of Sex is an American period drama television series that premiered on September 29, 2013, on Showtime. It was developed by Michelle Ashford and loosely based on Thomas Maier's biography Masters of Sex. Set in the 1950s through the late 1960s, the series tells the story of Masters and Johnson (Dr. William Masters and Virginia Johnson) who are portrayed by Michael Sheen and Lizzy Caplan, respectively. The series has received critical acclaim. It was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Drama Series in 2013. The series was canceled by Showtime on November 30, 2016, after four seasons.
Premise The series explores the research and the relationship between William Masters (Michael Sheen) and Virginia Johnson (Lizzy Caplan), two pioneering researchers of human sexuality at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. The series begins in October 1956 and ends in August 1969 with the fourth season.
Plot
William Masters (Michael Sheen) is a renowned fertility specialist at Washington University in St. Louis. In 1956, he prepares to initiate a study on human sexuality but predicts opposition from the university's provost Barton Scully (Beau Bridges). He hires Virginia Johnson (Lizzy Caplan), a former nightclub singer, to be his new secretary and help organize his new research program. He quickly discovers that she is extremely intelligent and personable, putting all participants at ease. They begin by observing the physiology of the human body during sexual intercourse and masturbation. Although the study is conducted in secrecy, Scully is informed of its existence and shuts it down. Masters briefly relocates the study to a brothel but it eventually returns to Washington University after Masters discovers Scully's homosexuality and blackmails him. Meanwhile, Masters' wife Libby (Caitlin FitzGerald) wants a baby. Masters, who doesn't want a child, lies to her that she is infertile when in actuality his sperm count is low. Libby discovers her husband's lies and proceeds to be artificially inseminated; she subsequently gives birth to their child Johnny.
After Masters promotes Johnson to be his research associate, the two make themselves the subjects of their own study by having sex with each other and charting their physiology. Both are of the belief that this is only for the work, although the ethics of this begins to pain Masters. He demeans Johnson by offering to pay her for her contributions to "his" study. Johnson is insulted and quits. Masters prepares to present their findings to Washington University. The presentation is a disaster and Masters is fired. Devastated, he tells Johnson he needs her and the two have sex for the first time without wires. They begin meeting regularly at a hotel on the Illinois-Missouri border to continue their affair. Masters takes on several positions at other hospitals but his study continues to face scrutiny. He and Johnson finally open a clinic to continue the work without opposition. Meanwhile, Masters is left impotent for a year after discovering that Johnson has been seeing other men, and they stop seeing each other in secret outside of work. After their reconciliation, together they use this as an opportunity to develop a treatment for sexual dysfunction. After developing a successful technique, Masters and Johnson move on to treating couples and are interviewed by CBS for their work. During this time, Libby becomes aware of her husband's affair. Feeling lost, and incentivized to start focusing on herself, Libby begins her own affair with a black man she's been volunteering with at the Congress of Racial Equality.
In 1965, Masters and Johnson publish their findings in a book called Human Sexual Response. While the public reception is mixed, it increases their recognition and they begin taking on high-profile clients hoping to remedy their sex life. The duo take on an investor to help fund their practice, perfume magnate Dan Logan (Josh Charles). Logan begins courting Johnson romantically as she begins losing interest in her continued affair with Masters. Meanwhile, Masters develops a training program for sexual surrogates for single men and women displaying sexual dysfunctions. The controversial program, dangerously close to prostitution, is objected to by Johnson. Masters uses Johnson's brief absence to launch the program, which incenses Johnson. With Logan's work at the clinic nearing its end, he and Johnson seem to develop true feelings for each other; this devastates Masters. In his desperate fervor to repair his relationship with Johnson, Masters organizes a disastrous dinner with Johnson, Logan, and Logan's wife Alice (Judy Greer). Upon returning to the clinic, both Masters and Johnson are arrested after one of their surrogates comes forward with trumped-up prostitution charges. Libby sees this as an opportunity to protect her family and leaves Masters. After Logan proposes to Johnson, Masters admits his love for her but Johnson instead chooses to go to Las Vegas where she'll be married to Logan. Despite chasing her to the airport, Masters ultimately lets her go.
In the aftermath of Johnson's rejection of his love, Masters is left at a low point. After being forced to attend AA meetings, he attempts to mend his relationship with Libby. Johnson, on the other hand, is spiraling after leaving Logan in Las Vegas under unclear circumstances. With the Masters and Johnson partnership appearing dead, potential investor Hugh Hefner insists they repair their brand. Both Masters and Johnson return to the clinic, but with Masters working with Dr. Nancy Leveau (Betty Gilpin) and Johnson with psychologist Art Dreesen (Jeremy Strong). After an intimate discussion with Dreesen, Johnson realizes she loves Masters. However, he is no longer receptive to her advances. The prostitution charges against the clinic disappear after Masters takes a plea deal to protect Johnson; despite this, he remains steadfast in his rejections of Johnson's advances. Meanwhile, the Masters and Johnson institute begins inspiring copycats spreading false information. They pose as a couple to investigate a clinic in Topeka; during their charade, Johnson tells Masters she loves him. Masters finally reciprocates and the two are engaged shortly after. The series ends with Masters and Johnson getting married and about to set forth on their widely-controversial conversion therapy studies.
Cast and characters
Main Michael Sheen as William Masters Lizzy Caplan as Virginia E. Johnson Caitlin FitzGerald as Libby Masters Teddy Sears as Dr. Austin Langham (seasons 1–2, recurring seasons 3–4) Nicholas D'Agosto as Dr. Ethan Haas (season 1, guest season 2) Annaleigh Ashford as Betty DiMello (seasons 2–4, recurring season 1)
Recurring Beau Bridges as Barton Scully, medical school provost and longtime friend of William Masters (seasons 1–4) Allison Janney as Margaret Scully, Barton's wife (seasons 1–3) Rose McIver as Vivian Scully, Barton and Margaret's daughter (seasons 1–2) Heléne Yorke as Jane Martin, a hospital secretary and participant in the sex study (seasons 1–3) Kevin Christy as Lester Linden, the archivist of Masters and Johnson's work (seasons 1–4) Julianne Nicholson as Dr. Lillian DePaul, a doctor working in the Obstetrics Department of Washington University Hospital (seasons 1–2) Ann Dowd as Estabrooks 'Essie' Masters, William's mother (seasons 1–2) Mather Zickel as George Johnson, Virginia's ex-husband and father of her children (seasons 1–3) Cole Sand (seasons 1–2) and Noah Robbins (season 3) as Henry Johnson, Virginia's son Kayla Madison (seasons 1–2) and Isabelle Fuhrman (seasons 3–4) as Tessa Johnson, Virginia's daughter Greg Grunberg as Gene Moretti, Betty's husband (seasons 1–2) Finn Wittrock as Dale, a male prostitute whom Barton Scully patronizes (season 1) Garrett M. Brown as Chancellor Doug Fitzhugh, the head of a Washington University (seasons 1, 3) Brian Howe as Sam Duncan, chief of police (seasons 1–3) Elizabeth Bogush as Elise Langham, Austin's wife (seasons 1–2) Betsy Brandt as Barbara Sanderson, Masters' new secretary, and later a patient of his clinic (season 2) Artemis Pebdani as Flo Packer, the owner of a diet pill company (season 2) Keke Palmer as Coral, the Masters' African-American nanny (season 2) Jocko Sims as Robert Franklin, Coral's brother and a civil rights activist (season 2) Sarah Silverman as Helen Schiff, Betty's lover (seasons 2–4) Christian Borle as Francis 'Frank' Masters Jr., the younger brother of William Masters (season 2) Marin Ireland as Pauline Masters, Frank's wife (season 2) Danny Huston as Dr. Douglas Greathouse, the head of a hospital's Obstetrics Department (season 2) Courtney B. Vance as Dr. Charles Hendricks, the head of an African-American St. Louis hospital who seeks integration (season 2) Adam Arkin as Shep Tally, a PR expert hired by Masters and Johnson to help them present their work (season 2) Jack Laufer as Herb Spleeb, a lawyer (seasons 2–4) Josh Charles as Dan Logan (season 3) Jaeden Martell as Johnny Masters, Bill and Libby's son (seasons 3–4) Alyvia Alyn Lind as Jenny Masters, Bill and Libby's daughter (seasons 3–4) Ben Koldyke as Paul Edley, Master's neighbour (season 3) Susan May Pratt as Joy Edley, Master's neighbour (season 3) Colin Woodell as Ronald Sturgis (season 3) Emily Kinney as Nora Everett, a woman fascinated with Bill and Virginia's work who later becomes part of Bill's surrogacy program (season 3) Michael O'Keefe as Harry Eshelman, Virginia's father (seasons 3–4) Frances Fisher as Edna Eshelman, Virginia's mother (seasons 3–4) John G. Connolly as Hugh Hefner, editor-in-chief of Playboy (seasons 3–4) Danny Jacobs as Bob Drag, a publisher (seasons 3–4) Jeremy Strong as Dr. Art Dreesen, a psychologist who is brought in to help lessen Bill and Virginia's workload (season 4) Betty Gilpin as Dr. Nancy Leveau, Art's wife and a doctor who is brought in to help lessen Bill and Virginia's workload (season 4) Niecy Nash as Louise Bell, the head of Alcoholics Anonymous (season 4) David Walton as Bram Keller, Bill's lawyer (season 4) Nick Clifford as Guy (season 4) Kelli O'Hara as Dody Oliver, Bill's first love who did not answer his marriage proposal (season 4)
Development and production Showtime ordered the pilot for Masters of Sex in August 2011, and greenlit it for series in June 2012, with the first season consisting of twelve episodes. Paul Bettany was originally cast as William Masters and had a say in the casting of the female lead which had reportedly stalled the process. After his exit, Michael Sheen replaced him and Lizzy Caplan was cast as Virginia Johnson.
Writer/producer Michelle Ashford serves as showrunner for Masters of Sex. She assembled a majority-female writing staff, although she says this was unintentional.
Ashford created the character of Barton Scully out of a combination of several men whom Masters knew. One of them was gay, but was not the man serving as provost during Masters' initial study.
Prop master Jeffrey Johnson noted the difficulty of obtaining accurate information about sexual devices from the time period. "They were so taboo it was hard to find research drawings. People didn't even put them in writing." He obtained some vintage vibrators and dildos for use in the series along with acquiring condoms manufactured in the era (which did not have the reservoir tips of modern condoms). He designed "Ulysses", a transparent dildo with attached camera first seen in the pilot episode, from scratch, along with a diaphragm sizing kit seen in later episodes.
Annaleigh Ashford, who has a recurring role in the first season as Betty Dimello, was promoted to series regular in season two.