Meet Naked Attraction

Naked Attraction is the reality show that took dating to another level on British television Channel 4. I'm not a die-hard fan of reality TV. Yet, I couldn't resist this raunchy and controversial approach to game shows.

The show that leaves the contestants in a state of undress is rated TV-MA, not for everyone, and surely TV-E. Thus, I'll refrain from going graphic on visual content, as frontal nudity is the show's leitmotiv.

"The body is meant to be seen, not all covered up." ― Marilyn Monroe

Up to this moment, there was only another sentient being on this Earth conscious of my guilty pleasure. She loves to watch the show , sometimes standing on her four or laying flat on the couch. But her all-time favorite position is sitting on my lap while I caress her back : my green-eyed tabby cat, named Mya.

Naked Attraction is one of those TV shows that perform well for humans and cats alike. Thus, when the title sequence starts, Mya hears Anna Richardson's voice, jumps from where she's resting, and takes the living-room catwalk straight to the couch.

Mya loves the flashy decor and the colorful booths. Her green eyes are drawn to the rainbow-like booths going from neon green to fiery orange.

I've only recently discovered Naked Attraction. Before the coronavirus outbreak in late December 2019, I had no idea there was a show like this on public television. However, because of social distancing measures and lockdowns, I had to go back to the traditional habit of sitting on the couch and watching tv.

Curiously, it was a friend that introduced me to Naked Attraction. Horrified by it, she described the absolute debauchery she had seen on a TV commercial. We laughed about the embarrassing awkwardness of the concept. Still, a couple of minutes later, it had already slipped my mind.

"An oasis of horror in a desert of boredom."― Baudelaire

That ship had sailed till one day, when more by accident than by design, I was zapping back and forward, and the same TV commercial grabbed my attention. I have a curious mind; thus, I picked up my smartphone and googled "Naked Attraction." Wikipedia provides all you need to know about the show:

A clothed person is faced with six naked people who are initially hidden in booths. Their bodies and faces are gradually revealed through successive rounds, from the feet up. At each round, the chooser eliminates one naked person until only two are left, when the chooser also takes off their clothes to make the final choice.

Just reading the synopsis takes reality TV 101 to an all-new level. For contestants inside the booths, an inversed guillotine effect will, at each stage, reveal more body parts until they get to full-frontal nudity. From what I know, there's nothing else on free-to-air television that can beat that cringe-worthy effect.

Naked Attraction doesn't come in a bottle like the red wine we have for dinner, as part of our daily routine. The show is like an exotic cocktail served a u naturel to be savored non-stop until the last drop, as our secret little guilty pleasure.

Some might find Naked Attraction ludicrous or loathsome. I find it cringe-worthy, and that's uplifting in some devious way. The pandemic has left us in what I call a stalling state  -  from a physical and emotional perspective. Thus, we are more than ever in dire need of moments when we can just sit back, kick the tires, and light the fires.

Naked Attraction is bubble-gum television at its best. But, if you are an open-minded free spirit, looking for a way to cleanse the bad karma flux emanating from all the daily grizzly news bulletins. You can give it a go.

Strangeness can be an ingredient in beauty. That's why the show doesn't cast the perfect Barbie looking Victoria's Secret type of angel or the bad-boy gentleman looking, male model. You will see the ordinary butt-naked homo sapiens.

"The beautiful is always bizarre."― Charles Baudelaire.

William Blake said art can never exist without naked beauty displayed. Nevertheless, Contemporary art followed in the footsteps of Baudelaire and razed the axiomatic principle of beauty in art. Therefore, we have drifted far away from John Keats's axiom : beauty is truth, truth beauty.

The creators of Naked Attraction believe that there's always beauty in human nudity. Thus, we'll find scarred, tattooed, wrinkled, aged bodies of all shapes and sizes.

"Stand naked in front of the mirror and say, 'I'm f–king sexy.' That's where it starts." ― Rita Ora

Thus, I can foresee why Channel 4 found this concept alluring. There's no denying the binge potential of contestants lining-up in the raw inside six booths; before going on a date with someone who will also be in the buff even before making it to first base.

The show performed well during the COVID-19 crisis. The entertainment factor became an escape valve releasing the pressure from the harsh reality we have been facing for almost a year.

That could explain why Channel 4 decided to go forward with a new season during the pandemic. Health authorities gave the green light for a coronavirus-free set and the cast and crew followed strict Covid-19 social distancing guidelines.

Final Thoughts

Naked Attraction currently leads my ranking on binge-worthy TV shows. Hence, I pledge myself unapologetically guilty as charged of watching it one too many times.

"Why should we think nudity is such a revolting thing in a land where there are so much violence and corruption and racism and hatred? Nudity seems like a welcome relief from all the bullsh*t in life. "― Anthony Kiedis

_________________________

Thanks for reading this article. Please feel free to come back at any time and pick up another thread from my Vocal book of content. Till next time, cheers.

-Rui