Nuke Sex Reaction Round-up

DAILY BEAST: The Gays Go All the Way in Daytime
Without any warning or drama, AS THE WORLD TURNS took an unexpected turn this week and went where no soap opera—and few primetime shows—has dared: showing two post-coital men.

Note: This article is also linked on the #1 blog in the world, the Huffington Post on both the front page and media page.

AFTERELTON: ATWT's Luke and Noah (Finally!) Get Busy
“It was getting goofy-ridiculous how long it took,” says Michael Logan, a columnist who covers daytime drama for TV Guide. “But it happened. It’s historic, I guess.”

“The scenes in yesterday's episode were a natural progression of their relationship,” says Lisa Lugassy, Senior Publicist for AS THE WORLD TURNS, “and the time seemed right for this couple to reach this milestone.”

“As far as a fully developed, same-sex male relationship, this is certainly unprecedented,” Logan says. “One way or other, [the sexual relationship is] pretty monumental, however they got there.”

The upcoming “Nuke” storyline will be lighter and more “fun” than the last few months, Lugassy says. Starting in February, the boys will be involved in a murder investigation/amateur detective plot that involves Casey, Ali, Reg (another of the town’s gays), Casey's prison roommate Matt, and Luke's arch-enemy, Kevin. Meanwhile, Damien, Luke’s biological father, will be back for the first time on March 24.

OUT/POPNOGRAHY: Noah and Luke (finally -- and without warning) get it on
Nelson Branco writes: "Hell has officially frozen over, so expect to skate home tonight, gays: Uber popular super couple Noah Mayer (played by Jake Silbermann, above right) and Luke Synder (played by Van Hansis, above center) finally did the nasty on the conservative TeleNext/P&G soap opera, As The World Turns. But, if viewers blinked yesterday, they might have missed the most anticipated sex scene in recent daytime-TV memory."

MARLENA DE LACROIX: Spinning AS THE WORLD TURNS’ Luke and Noah — Again!
"In a medium where straight couples normally have sex after a day or at most a week, Luke and Noah’s lovemaking was a year and a half in the making. Last year, ATWT did not even let Luke and Noah kiss for months. And now, with the lack of advance publicity for the lovemaking, Telenext and ATWT are being unfair to their viewers. The way in which this story has been told is beyond curious."

SOAP OPERA WEEKLY: Yup, They Did It!
"After months of fan anticipation for when landmark gay male duo Noah and Luke would hit the sheets, AS THE WORLD TURNS pulled off a good, old-fashioned soap surprise with a little smokin' Nuke-lear energy in yesterday's episode. 'We have been telling Luke and Noah's story in a sensitive and respectful way. The scenes were a natural progression of their relationship and the time seemed right for this couple to reach this milestone,' a rep. for the show tells Weekly. And Nuke fans certainly seem to agree — so far the cleverly unspoiled love scene is garnering rave reviews!"

BEYOND CHRON: Queers Finally Do It on Daytime TV
"Though their moment in the bedroom is tame by heterosexual soap couple standards, it’s certainly refreshing to see that Marland’s groundbreaking efforts were not in vain. TV is growing up."

TOM CASIELLO: Doin' It and Doin' It... and Doin' It Well
"Nuke fans finally got what they've waited years for. Noah and Luke finally lost their virginity! And it was... not mentioned to the press. And it was... after another one of their Oldtown fights over commitment and their relationship - the same fight I've seen a few times this year through various storylines."

LYNN LICCARDO: The Morning After
"Historic, yes; milestone, for sure. From a political perspective, this is a huge step forward. So let's give Procter & Gamble, TeleNext and CBS all the credit they deserve for finally (and finally is the operative word here) taking the plunge. But it's been a long time since a morning after left me feeling as empty, disappointed - and yes, sad - as this one."

MALA BHATTACHARJEE: "The world didn't end"
"AS THE WORLD TURNS' Luke and Noah finally had sex yesterday, and judging by the lack of fire, brimstone, and guys in Hazmat suits when I glanced out my window this morning, the world didn't end! But you know what was a tad off-putting about the boys getting their groove on? That they shared their post-coital afterglow with Lucinda over bowls of ice cream! That's just a little too ooky for me! LOL."

MARK HARDING: A little Nuke and the world explodes
"So, as a sociopolitical act of activism, I honestly believe Nuke is so, so important! Not because it is the first mainstream depiction of gay male sexuality, but maybe because it is the last important one!"

TOWLEROAD: Luke and Noah, Daytime's Most Famous Gay Couple, Have Sex
The breakthrough scene on AS THE WORLD TURNS begins at about 3:03. Of course what we see is simply the before and after, but for a show that took seventh months and an extended internet campaign from fans for producers to have its two main characters share a kiss, the sex, or evidence of it, is a revelation.

SETH IN THE CITY: It Finally Happened!
"This is a huge step for daytime TV, one that is long overdue, but hopefully it will just be the first of many such steps!"

MICHAEL FAIRMAN: ATWT "NUKE" hits the sheets & my two-cents worth
"At times, I don't even like seeing soap opera heterosexual couples having sex on screen. More often than not it seems stilted and awkward. You know, candles lit, arching backs, gripping handlocks signifying 'the deed'. It's all indicating to the audience anyway, that two people slept together. So why are we being that tough on 'NUKE's' passionate moment?"

PATRICK ERWIN: At swim, two boys: Postcard from Oakdale
"Many others are skillfully dissecting how it happened and how that story was told, and they all have valid points to make. But I will be honest: personally, I’m tuning that noise out and am really peacefully celebrating this moment. To me, it fulfills the glimmer of promise that started when Douglas Marland introduced Hank ElLiot two decades ago - a world that more accurately reflected the real world (and my own world)."

SARA A. BIBEL: The First Time Was The Worst Time
"Luke and Noah's surprise sex scene on Monday's AS THE WORLD TURNS will always be remembered. I wish I could say it was because it was the first time two gay men slept together on daytime. Instead, in my opinion, it will go down as one of daytime's great squandered opportunities."

MAMAPOP: Daytime Finally Grows A Pair (And What A Pair It Is)
"Who would have thought that one of the most well-written, well-explored and open gay relationships on television would be on a soap?"

PEREZ HILTON: Nuked!!!!!!
"Luke & Noah finally had sex on AS THE WORLD TURNS! FINALLY!!!!"

Other outlets covering the story:
- Joe.My.God
- Out in Hollywood
- Queerty
- Gus Magazine
- Another Hollywood Story
- Israel TV Blog Tzfanya's twitch (in Hebrew)