It's been a disappointing past few months for TV audiences, with cancellations coming fast and furious across both linear television and streaming. One of the latest fatal blows came when NBC cancelled the mystery-driven drama Manifest, and while fans were extremely excited by the possibility that Netflix would put in a Season 4 renewal order, given how popular the first seasons have been since debuting on the streaming service. Unfortunately, Netflix said no to more Manifest, just as it said no to more seasons of Jupiter's Legacy and The Irregulars, but you know what they DID order up? The reality series Sexy Beasts, where contestants dress like animals as part of its central blind-date concept.
Yes, that sentence was a genuine sentiment, and not just a random batch of keyboard jabs. And not only did Netflix give Sexy Beasts the greenlight, but it ordered up TWO seasons in one go, meaning viewers don't even need to be worried about this oddball abomination being cancelled after Season 1 airs. Which is obviously good for everyone involved with the show, including its hilarious host Rob Delaney (Catastrophe), but possibly more than a little frustrating for everyone dealing with TV cancellation fatigue. Especially from Netflix, which also relatively recently pulled the plug on a host of other original series, such as Dad Stop Embarrassing Me, The Irregulars, The Last Kingdom, The Duchess, and more.
For a bit more context about this new project, Sexy Beasts isn't exactly a brand new series. Well, the Rob Delaney-hosted version is, but the concept as a whole debuted in the UK back in 2014, and it's clear that the popularity of over-the-top costumed series like The Masked Singer and The Masked Dancer have led producers to bring the Sexy Beasts madness here to the U.S.
In Sexy Beasts - which presumably won't offer a single answer about Manifest's cliffhanger-filled Season 3 finale, unless time-aged Cal is under one of those costumes - romantic hopefuls go on dates after being fully transformed into various animals and mythical creatures like demons, with the use of legitimate Hollywood makeup artists and effects. (And by all means, prosthetic artist Kristyan Mallet has done a terrific job with these looks.) Sexy Beasts will feature one single person set up with three potential matches in full costume, with the point being that the romance will grow from personalities and natural chemistry, as opposed to physical attraction. Only after two of the contestants have been eliminated will costumes and makeup get removed for the final coupling, so that each person can see who they ended up with.
Because this show has to be seen to be believed, check out the newly released trailer for Sexy Beasts below!
The first season of Sexy Beasts will run for six episodes, debuting on July 21. Later this year, the second season will make its debut, and will also comprise six episodes. The fact that these episodes were apparently already filmed and were looking for a home does make Netflix's two-season order slightly easier to accept, since it's no doubt a smarter move for the execs to cough up funding for a finished product rather than attempting to craft a proper budget for a network TV show like Manifest, whose low-end ratings played into NBC's decision not to justify budgeting out a fourth season.
Clearly, Sexy Beasts' future on Netflix has ostensibly nothing to do with the streaming service's decision to not move forward with a new season of Manifest, and it's just coincidental timing that the reports coincided like this. But the disappointment nonetheless remains. In any case, be sure to check out whether or not Sexy Beasts is worth the effort when it arrives on Netflix on Wednesday, July 21, right in the middle of the 2021 Summer TV season.
