Hiring An Escort Is As Easy As Ordering A Pizza, And Other Revelations

Last night saw the broadcast of "Dirty Money: The Business of High End Prostitution," CNBC's special on the world of sex work--and, specifically, escorts who cater to rich and powerful men. Over the course of an hour, host Melissa Francis walked us through the ins and outs of modern sex work, explaining things like "girlfriend experience" and The Erotic Review to ordinary families all across America. (And did you know that it's as easy to hire an escort as it is to order a pizza? Can we get our next escort with onions and mushrooms, please?)

All kidding aside, the special was actually worth watching. Though it was--predictably--full of a great deal of sensationalism, it also took the time to interview sex workers and sex worker advocates, filling the the hour with sound bites from women like Veronica Monet and Elizabeth Bernstein. TV actually providing a well-rounded, honest look at prostitution? Amazing!

Most surprising moment of the night? Amid all the shock and awe, he special actually took the time to touch on serious issues, such as decriminalization, even taking the time to interview Carol Leigh, aka Scarlot Harlot, a noted sex worker's rights activist:

We're not sure if this special is a sign of things to come, or just a blip on the radar--but if more networks follow CNBC's lead, that can only be a good thing.

· "Dirty Money: The Business Of High End Prostitution (cnbc.com)