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CNN Sunday Morning

Interview With Sue Johanson

Aired November 03, 2002 - 11:49   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: In the U.S., sex talk on the tube is not really taboo. The Oxygen Network airs "The Sunday Night Sex Show" with host, Sue Johanson. And it warns, the program does, warns that the program contains sexually explicit dialogue and viewer discretion is advised and same rules apply here.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SUE JOHANSON, "SUNDAY NIGHT SEX SHOW": So there's your answer right there. He's turned off. I mean, he has -- he's literally separated out of this relationship. He's just literally put up barriers and he's not going to let you close to him no matter what. He won't talk to you. He won't touch. He won't hug. He won't cuddle and he's not having sex, so you're there as a housekeeper.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: And that's the gentler side or display of the show. TV host and sex educator, Sue Johanson joins us live now from Toronto. And it's great to see you.

JOHANSON: Nice to be with you.

WHITFIELD: Well, let's talk about this. I mean, gently kind of set up, you know, the show, the concept here. People can call in. They've got questions about sex, life, love et cetera. And you break it down to them, quite frankly, and you even have props sometimes.

JOHANSON: Yes -- oh no, every week we have...

WHITFIELD: Every time?

JOHANSON: Every time. Every time, we have a bag of sex toys and we focus on one every single week. I have a crew of 17 for "The Sunday Night Sex Show" and "Talk Sex" and somebody has researched each toy and given me a report on how it works. So we know if it's good, bad or indifferent.

WHITFIELD: And what makes this interesting too is American viewers who have watched it on the Oxygen Network, some of them may be thinking that they were watching it live. Really, what they were watching was the replay that's live usually on Canadian television. But tonight now, from midnight to 1:00, correct, on Oxygen Network, for the first time, American viewers are going to be able to call in live and see their own version. JOHANSON: Yes, absolutely, ask their questions, ask me anything. You're not going to embarrass me. And I don't know why you would be embarrassed when it's anonymous and nobody is going to recognize your voice, so, hey, go for it. Now's your chance.

WHITFIELD: OK, but you know what, as a viewer and I watch the show, you know, for research for this segment here.

JOHANSON: Oh, of course, for research.

WHITFIELD: You know I thought I was kind of blushing. It was a little embarrassing hearing some of the questions that people were asking. Just about anything goes, it seems. And, you know, you with the straight face are talking about this very matter of factually like there's no need to be embarrassed about it all.

JOHANSON: No, because sex is perfectly normal. It's perfectly natural and it's something that's pleasurable. It's enjoyable and it enhances a relationship. So why don't we learn as much as we can about it and become comfortable with ourselves as sexual human beings because we are all sexual?

WHITFIELD: This show kind of breaks the ice that tells people, you know what, it's not embarrassing to talk about sex anymore. It's not embarrassing to ask questions. And if you don't want to reveal your name, even if you are still a little embarrassed, you can still ask a question on live television.

JOHANSON: Yes, absolutely and you'll get a straight, up front, honest answer. No lecturing, no preaching, no moralizing, no judgments passed at all because you have to make decisions as to what's right for you. What's right for me may not be right for you. You have to decide. But I will outline alternatives that -- have you thought about this? How would this work for you? Could you possibly do this? Talk it over with your partner and then you decide.

WHITFIELD: So I know you get a lot of freaky questions and you know, stuff that is quite eyebrow raising from a viewer's standpoint but you seem to be cool, calm and collected the whole time. Really are there times though when maybe -- now that it's going to be live on American television that you kind of, you know, cringe that it just might get a little too graphic sometimes?

JOHANSON: No, I never worry about it...

WHITFIELD: No?

JOHANSON: ... being graphic, because there have been no complaints about it at all. And if people don't know the proper language, as long as it's not four-letter words, then, hey, it is up for discussion. Let's talk about it. Let's find out what's going on here. And so, no, I never worry about it at all, no.

WHITFIELD: OK, Sue Johanson, the new version is "Talk Sex" on Oxygen. And it will be live for American viewers starting this Sunday, tonight, from midnight to 1:00. JOHANSON: Complete with the bag of sex toys and a book review and the latest information on sex and a whole lot of phone calls from people who have questions. My bottom line is always to make sure you practice safer sex. Never let sex just happen. Know what you're doing, think ahead, plan ahead and never let sex just happen.

WHITFIELD: All right, Sue Johanson, thanks very much. It's been fun talking to you. I appreciate it.

JOHANSON: Thanks, Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: And good luck on your debut, your new debut tonight.

JOHANSON: Absolutely.

WHITFIELD: All right, thanks a lot.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com







Aired November 3, 2002 - 11:49   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: In the U.S., sex talk on the tube is not really taboo. The Oxygen Network airs "The Sunday Night Sex Show" with host, Sue Johanson. And it warns, the program does, warns that the program contains sexually explicit dialogue and viewer discretion is advised and same rules apply here.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SUE JOHANSON, "SUNDAY NIGHT SEX SHOW": So there's your answer right there. He's turned off. I mean, he has -- he's literally separated out of this relationship. He's just literally put up barriers and he's not going to let you close to him no matter what. He won't talk to you. He won't touch. He won't hug. He won't cuddle and he's not having sex, so you're there as a housekeeper.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: And that's the gentler side or display of the show. TV host and sex educator, Sue Johanson joins us live now from Toronto. And it's great to see you.

JOHANSON: Nice to be with you.

WHITFIELD: Well, let's talk about this. I mean, gently kind of set up, you know, the show, the concept here. People can call in. They've got questions about sex, life, love et cetera. And you break it down to them, quite frankly, and you even have props sometimes.

JOHANSON: Yes -- oh no, every week we have...

WHITFIELD: Every time?

JOHANSON: Every time. Every time, we have a bag of sex toys and we focus on one every single week. I have a crew of 17 for "The Sunday Night Sex Show" and "Talk Sex" and somebody has researched each toy and given me a report on how it works. So we know if it's good, bad or indifferent.

WHITFIELD: And what makes this interesting too is American viewers who have watched it on the Oxygen Network, some of them may be thinking that they were watching it live. Really, what they were watching was the replay that's live usually on Canadian television. But tonight now, from midnight to 1:00, correct, on Oxygen Network, for the first time, American viewers are going to be able to call in live and see their own version. JOHANSON: Yes, absolutely, ask their questions, ask me anything. You're not going to embarrass me. And I don't know why you would be embarrassed when it's anonymous and nobody is going to recognize your voice, so, hey, go for it. Now's your chance.

WHITFIELD: OK, but you know what, as a viewer and I watch the show, you know, for research for this segment here.

JOHANSON: Oh, of course, for research.

WHITFIELD: You know I thought I was kind of blushing. It was a little embarrassing hearing some of the questions that people were asking. Just about anything goes, it seems. And, you know, you with the straight face are talking about this very matter of factually like there's no need to be embarrassed about it all.

JOHANSON: No, because sex is perfectly normal. It's perfectly natural and it's something that's pleasurable. It's enjoyable and it enhances a relationship. So why don't we learn as much as we can about it and become comfortable with ourselves as sexual human beings because we are all sexual?

WHITFIELD: This show kind of breaks the ice that tells people, you know what, it's not embarrassing to talk about sex anymore. It's not embarrassing to ask questions. And if you don't want to reveal your name, even if you are still a little embarrassed, you can still ask a question on live television.

JOHANSON: Yes, absolutely and you'll get a straight, up front, honest answer. No lecturing, no preaching, no moralizing, no judgments passed at all because you have to make decisions as to what's right for you. What's right for me may not be right for you. You have to decide. But I will outline alternatives that -- have you thought about this? How would this work for you? Could you possibly do this? Talk it over with your partner and then you decide.

WHITFIELD: So I know you get a lot of freaky questions and you know, stuff that is quite eyebrow raising from a viewer's standpoint but you seem to be cool, calm and collected the whole time. Really are there times though when maybe -- now that it's going to be live on American television that you kind of, you know, cringe that it just might get a little too graphic sometimes?

JOHANSON: No, I never worry about it...

WHITFIELD: No?

JOHANSON: ... being graphic, because there have been no complaints about it at all. And if people don't know the proper language, as long as it's not four-letter words, then, hey, it is up for discussion. Let's talk about it. Let's find out what's going on here. And so, no, I never worry about it at all, no.

WHITFIELD: OK, Sue Johanson, the new version is "Talk Sex" on Oxygen. And it will be live for American viewers starting this Sunday, tonight, from midnight to 1:00. JOHANSON: Complete with the bag of sex toys and a book review and the latest information on sex and a whole lot of phone calls from people who have questions. My bottom line is always to make sure you practice safer sex. Never let sex just happen. Know what you're doing, think ahead, plan ahead and never let sex just happen.

WHITFIELD: All right, Sue Johanson, thanks very much. It's been fun talking to you. I appreciate it.

JOHANSON: Thanks, Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: And good luck on your debut, your new debut tonight.

JOHANSON: Absolutely.

WHITFIELD: All right, thanks a lot.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com