Nip/Tuck (debuted July 22, 2003) is a drama television program created by Ryan Murphy for FX Networks. It follows the lives of two Miami plastic surgeons, Sean McNamara (Dylan Walsh ) and Christian Troy (Julian McMahon), as their lives fall apart under the stress of greed, envy, lust and crime.

The show, while not strictly a soap opera, has many things in common with the genre, most notably the somewhat unrealistically dramatic themes of the series and the use of numerous story arcs, many of which are very complex and would be hard to follow for a viewer who has not seen the show from the beginning.

In 2005, Nip/Tuck won the Golden Globe for Best Drama Series. The third season is set to debut in the U.S. in September, of 2005.

Main cast

• Sean McNamara – Dylan Walsh
• Christian Troy – Julian McMahon
• Julia McNamara – Joely Richardson
• Matt McNamara – John Hensley
• Liz Cruz – Roma Maffia
• Gina Russo; Jessalyn Gilsig
• Grace Santiago – Valerie Cruz (2003 only)

Controversy

The show has addressed numerous controversial issues while creating some of its own. Plastic surgery, and many of the reasons for people requiring it, is itself a topic of much debate and it is natural that the show would attract criticism from many quarters. In 2003 a parents' organization, the Parents Television Council, declared the program objectionable due to its sexuality, violence, and language, and it began a campaign to try to drive advertisers from the transmissions of the program in the US. The effort was at least somewhat successful, and the campaign is presumably still in force with the second season. [1] However, the show still has sponsors; the largest would appear to be XM Satellite Radio, which has many commercials during the program, product placement, and which even sponsored the commercial-free premiere of the second season.

Issues addressed

• Hypersexuality and swinging
• Lesbianism and transgender issues
• Multiple personality disorder
• Self-circumcision
• Paternity and adultery
• Breast cancer
• Drug smuggling
• Incest
• Quackery
• HIV and AIDS

Broadcast details

The show has been broadcast on the following networks:

• Australia – Nine Network
• Austria – ATVplus
• Brazil – Fox
• Canada – CTV
• Catalonia – TV3
• Estonia – Kanal 2
• France – Paris Premiere
• Germany – Pro 7
• Hong Kong – TVB Pearl
• Ireland – TG4
• Italy – Italia 1
• Malaysia – 8TV
• New Zealand – TV2
• Spain – Calle-13
• Switzerland – SF DRS and TSR1
• Turkey – CNBCE
• United Kingdom – Sky One and Channel 4
• United States – FX

In its debut season, Nip/Tuck was the highest-rated new series on basic cable, and the highest rated basic cable series of all for the 18-49 and 25-54 age demographics ([2], [3]). The first season averaged about 3.25 million viewers an episode, and was released on DVD in the US on June 15, 2004.

Episode List

Season One

1. "Pilot" - July 22, 2003
2. "Mandi/Randi" - July 29, 2003
3. "Nanette Babcock" - August 5, 2003
4. "Sofia Lopez" - August 12, 2003
5. "Kurt Dempsey" - August 19, 2003
6. "Megan O'Hara" - September 2, 2003
7. "Cliff Mantegna" - September 9, 2003
8. "Cara Fitzgerald" - September 16, 2003
9. "Sofia Lopez Part II" - September 23, 2003
10. "Adelle Coffin" - September 30, 2003
11. "Montana/Sassy/Justice" - October 7, 2003
12. "Antonia Ramos" - October 14, 2003
13. "Escobar Gallardo" - October 21, 2003

Season Two

1. "Erica Noughton" - June 22, 2004
2. "Christian Troy" - June 29, 2004
3. "Manya Mabika" - July 6, 2004
4. "Mrs. Grubman" - July 13, 2004
5. "Joel Gideon" - July 20, 2004
6. "Bobbi Broderick" - July 27, 2004
7. "Naomi Gaines" - August 3, 2004
8. "Agatha Ripp" - August 10, 2004
9. "Rose and Raven Rosenberg" - August 17, 2004
10. "Kimber Henry" - August 24, 2004
11. "Natasha Charles" - August 31, 2004
12. "Julia McNamara" - September 7, 2004
13. "Oona Wentworth" - September 14, 2004
14. "Trudy Nye" - September 21, 2004
15. "Sean McNamara" - September 28, 2004
16. "Joan Rivers" - October 5, 2004

External links

• Nip/Tuck on FX Network's website
• Nip/Tuck on CTV's website
• Nip/Tuck on the Internet Movie Database
• Nip/Tuck on TVTome
• Nip/Tuck on ProSieben (Germany)
• Nip/Tuck Fans, Info and news on the show and a good amount of info, including an extensive soundtrack listing
• South Beach Interview with Jessalyn Gilsig (Gina Russo)