End of an era as HBO kills ‘Cathouse,’ ‘Real Sex,’ adult entertainment slate

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EDISON, NJ – NOVEMBER 13: Dennis Hof owner of the ‘Moonlite Bunny Ranch’ and Taylor Lee attend Exxotica Day 1 at New Jersey Convention and Exposition Center on November 13, 2015 in Edison, New Jersey. 

Much like New York purged the porn from Times Square in the 1990s, HBO has banished its adult content from its website and apps.

That’s not to say nudity is no more on the cable network: Original series such as “Game of Thrones” and “The Deuce” will continue to pour on the steam.

But adult movies and shows like “Taxicab Confessions,” “Real Sex,” “Cathouse” – pretty much all the soft-core content that has been part of HBO’s late-night Friday slate for decades, is history, as first reported in the Los Angeles Times and The Hollywood Reporter on Tuesday.

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In a statement to both outlets, a spokesperson confirmed that the channel was indeed consciously changing its programming.

“Over the past several years HBO has been winding down its late-night adult fare,” the statement read. “While we’re greatly ramping up our other original program offerings, there hasn’t been a strong demand for this kind of adult programming, perhaps because it’s easily available elsewhere.”

USA TODAY has reached out to HBO for comment.

Some on Twitter reacted to reports with jest.

“The radio: And HBO has announced it’s getting rid of all adult-themed programming and soft-core porn,” one user wrote. “My fellow lyft rider: Well there goes Thrones LOL”

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“I would bet a million dollars no one was watching the ‘adult content’ on HBO because so many people borrow their parents’ passwords and didn’t want Real Sex 6,000 showing up on their Continue Watching queue,” posted another.

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Another appeared genuinely upset at the news.

“End of an era. And it’s too bad,” a user shared. “Yes, some of these shows and movies were just vehicles for naked people, and meant for masturbating viewers before the arrival of free unlimited porn. But Real Sex was probably the most sex positive show in history.”

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As part of its next era, HBO has curated a Friday night offering that includes late-night shows and unique comedies: “Animals” (11:30 EDT/PDT), which depicts creatures living in New York City, and “Random Acts of Flyness” (midnight EDT/PDT). Recently renewed for a second season, the latter explores themes like blackness, sexuality and police violence.

Contributing: Patrick Ryan