My friend kept bugging me to watch this show... How it's great, how the girl reminds him sooo much of me, etc. Now, I hate TV, unless it's sports or politics. But finally I give in and watch the first 3 episodes.

This crazy character is nothing like me, or any other respectable whore (term used lovingly) I know of. Who charges $1500 for an overnighter? College girls who need rent? There's no way she would be able to afford her condo, wardrobe, taxis to every call (Nikki Avalon must be loving that detail) on the paltry sums the show has her charging. And what lady would dream of ditching her date to pick up another client... much less in THE SAME HOTEL??? Hello, "don't shit where you sleep" is a very good motto, and one I live by.

This show makes us look bad, as providers. Leave it to Hollywood to destroy even the secret, sacred things we thought we held between us as a community. This just promotes another generation of know-it-alls who really know nothing at all, because all they know they learned from TV!

I've got the last two episodes on the DVR, so I haven't watched them yet.  But I agree the show is a disappointment and manages to portray every predictable and, usually unflattering, stereotype about escorts and those who see them.

-- Modified on 8/6/2008 11:36:35 PM

Which TV shows and movies are real anyway?  I'm pretty sure things are not how they are in real life as you see them on Nip Tuck and CSI Miami.

I'll bet she isn't making payments on her tits.

"crazy_Charlie, 8/7/2008 4:39:15 AM


I'll bet she isn't making payments on her tits"



 She has naturals so she must be passing the savings on..

I very recently had a beautiful asian woman (who I have been seeing for over three years on and off), fly up from another area to stay with me overnight.  The total cost was 1/3 of that amount (including the airfare I paid).

..But she has a full-time job now also, so this income is in addition to her real job.

I watched all of the shows. Its TV slop. Shes to short for my taste.

I definitely understand your frustration over the show.  There's a big debate about the show online if you check Salon.com, Fleshbot.com, etc.  I actually find the debate rather fascinating.  There are those (like you) that utterly despise the show and think of it as highly unrealistic.  And, there are others (providers included) who love the show and find pieces of the show realistic.

Ultimately, you can only partially blame the writers/directors/actors of the show.  The show is actually based on a real blog who wrote a book.  Here's the blog:

Wow what a deal, so in $500 you got an overnighter from her. If you throw in airfare, I'm guessing around $200, all she made was $300 for an overnight!

Seems like she just wanted to see you and the cash was really just a tip.

peoples lives  correct - they alter things to provide for an interesting plot line or to heighten suspense.  Take a look at medical or crime scene investigation dramas...  heck - they make procedures that I know take about 18 hr to complete look as if they are done in 5 min or less!!!  Bwahahaha!!!

So to think that they would make an escort look anything close to real - is unrealistic.  Most escorts I know, run this as a business - they have rules they go by, they do marketing, they manage cash flow... etc.  Most even handle customer complaints - that sound like riviting tv?  probably not.  AND MOST try to keep the drama in their lives to a minimum... and that really makes for boring tv.

Some of the best sessions I've ever had would look much like a civie date with sex thrown in - almost as an afterthought.

So it was 1500 pounds, depending on the exchange rate come to $3000 US.  
It is entertainment, and like all entertainment programs it takes some liberties to make it interesting.
I like the fact that the show shows a prostitute that has made a choice to be in the business and not hooked on drugs or exploited by a pimp.

but I watched that same episode last night (thank you TIVO) and I was extremely dissappointed. I think the part about her picking up another date, while on an overnight date with another client was the epitome of bad taste. It makes hobbyists look stupid and providers look conniving. I had Tivo'ed the last several episodes but after watching this one I doubt I will ever bring myself to suffer through any of rest.

Your quote, "This just promotes another generation of know-it-alls who really know nothing at all, because all they know they learned from TV!" pretty much sums it up. Just another waste of airtime and bandwidth.

As pure entertainment, its not too bad. Way better than annoying crap like "Friends".

Sure, it may take some liberties with the truth, but what tv show doesn't? Overall I think a lot of it is fairly realistic and it treats the lady as a human being and is pretty sympathetic to her. The hobbyists are sometimes treated like idiots, but it is all in good fun.
Besides, Billie Piper is hot and there are some cool soft porn scenes.

You have just insulted *many* well reviewed and very lovely ladies by implying that we are not respectable based on our rate.  

I'm not a college girl who needs rent.  I'm a tax paying business woman, a home owner, my car is paid in full, I have no children, and my lifestyle is very nice... yet not extravagant.  I'm not trying to get rich.  I just want to enjoy myself while I live life and to create a bit of financial security for the future.  There are actually some people who feel my rate is slightly on the high end in my local.  

Yes, I do charge $300 hour, and my average appointment is two hours.  My overnight is a steal.  Then again, I only meet one friend on any day and have no children or SO to worry about at home.  The overnights pay me for a couple days of my work, and tend to be absolutely lovely affairs.

As to the ditching a date to pick up another client, that's just low class.

Regarding the show itself - well, it's just entertainment... artistic license and all that.

-- Modified on 8/7/2008 6:18:12 PM

Why is rent different than any other bills that need to be paid, and what is wrong with trying to put yourself through college?

Unless the OP wants to condemn any college girl from providing at all, if they can provide why can't they also do overnights?

College girls who need to pay rent--I think Katie2006 would be pissed to read that.  Nothing wrong with helping coeds pay their bills.

For the majority of college girls I've ever known $1,500 is a LOT of money... Traditional schooling is a very expensive endeavor.  There are many college girls (and women!) providing.  There is nothing wrong with that.  There is nothing wrong with them offering overnights for... oh, let's say... $1,500.  And it certainly does not mean they are not self-respecting.



-- Modified on 8/7/2008 6:27:24 PM

Needs to reexamine their life.

I think this TV show was originally a British show not one made in Hollywood.

Those fortunate enough to meet you are quite happy, as well.

Namaste'.

Long time, no type!
Shoot me a line sometime to tell me how live has been treating you?

xoxo,
S.

well there are a great deal of things wrong with it, not completely realistic and they are trying to hook viewers so there will be some drama where in reality there is none. But it also does not show it in too bad of a light. It shows her as a woman who is in this business as a business. She is not being portrayed as a victim, or as a stupid girl, or an addict, but a business woman that she is, so thats not so bad.I guess we can't have everythig, the worlds not ready for reality here. Actually aside from my "interesting " career choice, my life is pretty boring and not tv worthy what so ever. Its not over the top with glamour or extravigence, its pretty middle of the road, like most woman in this biz. Its entertainment folks and to those not "in the know" it's close enough to keep them tuning in to see a side of the life they don't know. I'm not a huge fan, but it was ok to watch.

Hollywood had nothing to do with this show.  This show was produced in the UK about this time last year.  It is based on a UK bestselling book which is the compilation of Belle's early blog entries - http://belledejour-uk.blogspot.com. The producers and writer are British, and Belle has been involved in the production.

Being that the show was made in England for English TV, any fees mentioned are in British Pounds, not US Dollars.  In the 3 years that I have lived here, the  value of a pound has ranged between $1.77 and $2.03, today it is about 2 dollars to the pound.  £1500, today better than $2900 is about right for a high-end lady in London.  Remember, given the semi-legal nature of the hobby here, and the open border access to citizens of other EU members, the supply side of the equation will lower the price relative to demand.

Taxis to every call?  Here that is often the cheapest, or most practical.  It is rather easy to live here without a car, if you are willing to walk a bit, and use public transportation.  Even if you have a car, the cost of gas makes you choose when you use it.  Today, gas costs about £1.20 per liter, that nearly $9 per gallon!!!  Oh, by the way, if your car travels, but does not "reside" in central London, you are obliged to pay £9 per day when your car enters the "congestion zone".  Of course, there is also the scarcity, and expense of parking.  Sure, you could dress up for a late-night appointment and ride the tube, and/or bus, but I wouldn't recommend it.  A taxi is almost always the best option.

Dumping a client, seeing a second on the sly during an overnight?  Not good, but these are things that Belle has admitted to, and things not that hard to imaging others doing in a similar situation.  

What I like about the show is that it displays the real/provider life and dilemmas I expect many gals experience, but I am just a guy.

For a more comical, hobbyist view of the hobby, you should check out "Respectable", another recent UK TV show.

jazz32

Yes.   She and I have a relationship that goes way beyond "provider" and "client".   We keep up with each other's problems, good times, etc.   I have helped her in many way that I able to (knowledge of computer programming to help her in school, and things like that), and in return she has made me very happy many times.   Hey, she even lets me take some cool photos of her in various states of undress also.  All she wants is copies of them.

In fact the funny thing is that she flew up one weekend to see just me, and the next weekend she flew up again to visit other friends, and we had another enjoyable session in a rented hot tub.

This is the type of woman I like to see.  It is not about the money, it is more about the connection and the fact that we are friends.   If she emails me asking a question, I will answer, and she can email me also.   The type of woman who if you do not email or contact her for a few weeks she wonders where you have been.

Zisk rightly points out that it is better than the crap we get from network TV, but it just isn't up to the standard of Showtime's other original series like Penn & Teller's Bullshit, Dexter, The Brotherhood, or even Californication and Weeds.

I don't think it's particularly well done, and while it doesn't portray providers as victims(a plus) it certainly portrays their customers as rather shallow and not too smart. I watched a couple of episodes, I doubt I will watch it again.

The thing is that Showtime merely imported the show from Britain.  I believe it aired on the iTV station over in England.  Additionally, though everyone may find it unrealistic, it is based on a (supposed) real person and her blog (which later became a book, which became the TV show).

Here's the blog:

Hey, I only play $30 USD for all nighters.  But then, of course, that's when I'm on vacation on Thailand.