Family Business (TV series)
Encyclopedia
Family Business was an American
reality TV series produced for the cable network Showtime. Based in Los Angeles
, the series focused on the pornography
industry and the life of Adam Glasser
, a reality porn
star and video director who uses the stage name
"Seymore Butts
". Also featured on the series were his son, Brady, along with his mother, Lila Glasser, and his older cousin, Stevie Glasser, both of whom help Adam run the eponymous "family business" of the series, which in this case is a successful porn video production and distribution house in the San Fernando Valley
, known for the "Seymore Butts" line of videos.
The series first aired in 2003. In Canada
it is broadcast on The Movie Network
, Movie Central
, and Showcase Television
, in the UK on Channel 4
, and in Latin America on FX
. The first two seasons are currently available on DVD
in North America. The series ran for four seasons.
The series won the 2005 AVN award for 'Best Alternative Release'.
Much of the show's comic relief is provided by Stevie, a cantankerous character who often gets into mischief and, as the series progresses, becomes a video director in his own right, as does Bishop, Glasser's camera operator and video editor.
The series is sexually explicit as it also goes behind the scenes of Adam's video shoots, and it also looks at the life of other porn stars away from the camera. For example, in one episode the series follows Herschel Savage
, a performer whose career dates back 33 years, as he tries to establish a second career as a stand-up comedian. Another episode sees Adam and Stevie going to great lengths in order to convince a young woman, who works as his assistant, not to enter the porn industry. The show follows the young woman as she decides to go in front of the camera and creates the porn actress persona Mari Possa
. In the second season, an episode features Stevie and Adam trying to convince Mari not to get breast implants. Another episode follows Stevie as he experiences a cancer scare, spending several days waiting for test results from his doctor.
The second season also includes an episode that follows Glasser's efforts to mount an Internet
-based telethon to raise money for freedom of speech causes; this event was in response to his nearly being jailed on obscenity charges several years ago and, according to the episode, was sparked when Glasser discovered a shipment of Seymour Butts tapes that was about to be inadvertently mailed to an American state where importation of pornography is illegal.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
reality TV series produced for the cable network Showtime. Based in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, the series focused on the pornography
Pornography
Pornography or porn is the explicit portrayal of sexual subject matter for the purposes of sexual arousal and erotic satisfaction.Pornography may use any of a variety of media, ranging from books, magazines, postcards, photos, sculpture, drawing, painting, animation, sound recording, film, video,...
industry and the life of Adam Glasser
Seymore Butts
Seymore Butts is an American pornographic film director, producer and occasional star who has produced hundreds of films in the "gonzo" genre of pornography .-Life and career:...
, a reality porn
Reality porn
Reality pornography is a genre of pornography where staged scenes, usually shot in cinéma vérité fashion, set up and precede sexual encounters. These scenes may either have the cameraman directly engaging in sex or merely filming others having sex. The genre presents itself as "real couples having...
star and video director who uses the stage name
Stage name
A stage name, also called a showbiz name or screen name, is a pseudonym used by performers and entertainers such as actors, wrestlers, comedians, and musicians.-Motivation to use a stage name:...
"Seymore Butts
Seymore Butts
Seymore Butts is an American pornographic film director, producer and occasional star who has produced hundreds of films in the "gonzo" genre of pornography .-Life and career:...
". Also featured on the series were his son, Brady, along with his mother, Lila Glasser, and his older cousin, Stevie Glasser, both of whom help Adam run the eponymous "family business" of the series, which in this case is a successful porn video production and distribution house in the San Fernando Valley
San Fernando Valley
The San Fernando Valley is an urbanized valley located in the Los Angeles metropolitan area of southern California, United States, defined by the dramatic mountains of the Transverse Ranges circling it...
, known for the "Seymore Butts" line of videos.
The series first aired in 2003. In Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
it is broadcast on The Movie Network
The Movie Network
The Movie Network is a Canadian English language Category A premium television service, owned by Astral Media. The service is licensed to operate east of the Ontario-Manitoba border, excluding the territories...
, Movie Central
Movie Central
Movie Central is a Canadian English language Category A premium television service. Movie Central is designated to operate west of the Ontario-Manitoba border, including the territories...
, and Showcase Television
Showcase Television
Showcase is a Canadian English language Category A specialty channel owned by Shaw Media. Showcase is a predominantly fiction-based service centred around scripted television series and films....
, in the UK on Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
, and in Latin America on FX
FX Networks
FX is the name of a number of related pay television channels owned by News Corporation's Fox Entertainment Group...
. The first two seasons are currently available on DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
in North America. The series ran for four seasons.
The series won the 2005 AVN award for 'Best Alternative Release'.
Overview
Episodes usually follow a day or two in the life of the Glassers: Many episodes focus on Adam, a single father, raising his young son, Brady; as well as keeping his professional life separate from his private life. Other episodes focus on his difficulties in establishing relationships (finding Miss Right) outside the porn industry. Adam's mother, Lila, adds to the mix by setting her son up on blind dates or with a speed dating service.Much of the show's comic relief is provided by Stevie, a cantankerous character who often gets into mischief and, as the series progresses, becomes a video director in his own right, as does Bishop, Glasser's camera operator and video editor.
The series is sexually explicit as it also goes behind the scenes of Adam's video shoots, and it also looks at the life of other porn stars away from the camera. For example, in one episode the series follows Herschel Savage
Herschel Savage
Herschel Savage is an American pornographic actor and porn movie director.He was born Herschel Cohen to Russian Jewish parents in New York City....
, a performer whose career dates back 33 years, as he tries to establish a second career as a stand-up comedian. Another episode sees Adam and Stevie going to great lengths in order to convince a young woman, who works as his assistant, not to enter the porn industry. The show follows the young woman as she decides to go in front of the camera and creates the porn actress persona Mari Possa
Mari Possa
Mari Possa is a pornographic actress and reality TV personality.Her family moved from El Salvador to the United States when she was nine...
. In the second season, an episode features Stevie and Adam trying to convince Mari not to get breast implants. Another episode follows Stevie as he experiences a cancer scare, spending several days waiting for test results from his doctor.
The second season also includes an episode that follows Glasser's efforts to mount an Internet
Internet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
-based telethon to raise money for freedom of speech causes; this event was in response to his nearly being jailed on obscenity charges several years ago and, according to the episode, was sparked when Glasser discovered a shipment of Seymour Butts tapes that was about to be inadvertently mailed to an American state where importation of pornography is illegal.