History Main / HappyEndingMassage

'''Josh:''' [[NoYou YOU'RE A HOOKER]] !

* [[PlayedforLaughs Played for laughs]] and [[SubvertedTrope subverted]] in ''Film/{{Somewhere}}''. A male masseuse attends to Johnny in the absence of the woman who usually sees him. Johnny is laying face down on the table in his [[ModestyTowel towel]] when the masseur himself starts to undress. Once Johnny sees the man’s shorts fall to the floor, he jumps up in surprise. The man explains that he thought Johnny was familiar with his technique because it was on his website: if the client is naked, the masseur feels it’s more comfortable if [[NakedPeopleAreFunny he meets the client at the same level]].

* [[PlayedforLaughs Played for laughs]] and [[SubvertedTrope subverted]] in ''Film/{{Somewhere}}''. A male masseuse attends to Johnny in the absence of the woman who usually sees him. Johnny is laying face down on the table in his [[ModestyTowel towel]] and, after beginning the massage, the masseur starts to undress. Once Johnny sees the man’s shorts fall to the floor, he jumps up in surprise. The man explains that he thought Johnny was familiar with his technique because it was on his website: if the client is naked, the masseur feels it’s more comfortable if [[NakedPeopleAreFunny he meets the client at the same level]]. The awkward misunderstanding results in the masseur’s prompt exit.

* Red Grant's masseuse in ''Literature/FromRussiaWithLove'' doesn't go out of her ''way'' to do this with her clients, per se, but... it apparently turns out that way a lot. Grant stands out in that (among other things) he doesn't [[{{Asexuality}} react at all]].

* Red Grant's masseuse in ''Literature/FromRussiaWithLove'' doesn't go out of her ''way'' to do this with her clients, per se, but... it apparently turns out that way a lot. Grant stands out in that (among other things) he doesn't [[{{Asexuality}} react at all]].

* In Irvine Welsh' ''Literature/{{Porno}}'', this is the way college student Nikki Fuller-Smith makes good money: she knows she's not great at the job, but she's a much more conventional beauty than her colleagues and some customers ask for her based on looks alone. Arguably, [[HighClassCallGirl it gets worse]].
* Played with in a ''very'' disturbing way in Creator/TennesseeWilliams' short story "Desire and the Black Masseur": the client finds himself getting a sexual charge from when the masseur hits him too hard. It escalates to broken bones [[spoiler:and eventually cannibalism]].

* Inverted in the German novel ''Gottes Bodenpersonal - eine unwahrscheinliche Liebesgeschichte'': The protagonist has to promise his lover that it will ''not'' be one of ''those'' to get him to accept a massage.[[RapeAsBackstory They are emotionally very close, but sex is a problem.]]
* In ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles'', Gentleman John Marcone, the crime boss of Chicago, owns a fitness center/massage parlor that's blatantly a front for a brothel. He also gives Harry a complimentary Platinum Membership and run of the facility, for two reasons. One, he's hoping to keep Harry DistractedByTheSexy, and two, he's very well acquainted with Harry's reputation as a PersonOfMassDestruction and figures that since Harry's too powerful to be stopped if he decides to break into any of Marcone's properties, it's much cheaper to simply give him free access instead of having Harry blast his way through. Harry, being a ScrewTheMoneyIHaveRules person, never takes advantage of the former benefit.

'''Josh:''' YOU'RE A HOOKER!

* ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine'' makes it clear that the holosuite massage programs offered by Quark are these. Whether the [[GoodPeopleHaveGoodSex main characters indulge is not shown]], but in "The Way of the Warrior", [[BlitheSpirit Jadzia Dax]] enters with a [[FanserviceExtra shirtless and well-muscled]] holographic masseur on each arm, and tries coax a reluctant Kira Nerys into joining her.

* In ''Series/TheFreshPrinceOfBelAir'' Will takes Uncle Phil to a massage parlour so he can get relief for a back injury, unaware of the "special extras" they offer. The police break in just as the masseuses are about to give them their (well, not so much Uncle Phil's) Happy Ending.

* On of George's coworkers on ''Series/{{Seinfeld}}'' was on his way to get a massage. George winks at him in front of his wife, causing her to suspect this trope. In reality, George had grapefruit pulp in his eye and winked accidentally.

* "Film/CouplesRetreat" includes a scene where a bickering couple gets massages. The husband is aroused by his female masseuse and hints to her that he wants her to finish the job. She tells him, "I'm sorry, but THAT will not have a happy ending."

* ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine'' makes it clear that the holosuite massage programs offered by Quark are these. Whether the [[GoodPeopleHaveGoodSex main characters indulge is open to question]], but Jadzia Dax tries to coax a reluctant Kira Nerys into [[KissMeIAmVirtual joining her with a couple of hunky male masseurs]].

'''Josh:''' [[NoYou YOU'RE A HOOKER]]!

* ''Horribly'' subverted in ''Series/OneThousandWaysToDie''. An American tourist in Thailand goes to a massage parlor to get one of these... and ends up stung to death by [[BeeAfraid a bunch of Asian Hornets]].

-->"Sometimes there's no better solution than intensive full-body massage with hand relief. Your body is crying out for release!"\\

* ''[[Series/KolchakTheNightStalker The Night Stalker]]'' (1972). Kolchak is investigating the murders of several women, including a masseuse/prostitute. He goes the massage parlor to interview one of the girls and ends up being arrested when the woman (actually an undercover vice cop) thinks he's asking for one of these.

* In the ''Series/StarTrekVoyager'' parody "The Voyorgy Conspiracy", this is one of the routine tasks of the Emergency Medical Hologram, with a spoof of the Doc/Janeway massage scene in "Scientific Method".

* Parodied in a ''WesternAnimation/RobotChicken'' sketch where the customer tries to decline the "happy ending" and ends up being chased all over town by his [[ImplacableMan overenthusiastic masseuse]]. Even snapping an officer's neck. It turns out [[spoiler:the "happy ending" was actually a free egg roll.]]

'''Josh:''' YOU'RE A HOOKER!

* One episode of ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitans'' ends with Raven getting one from a bunch of aliens. Three-inch tall HiveMind aliens. One of the more pleasant endings, but no "happy ending". [[GettingCrapPastTheRadar Not that it didn't sound like it...]]

[[JustForFun/IThoughtItMeant Not to be confused with]] a hero who gets a massage as a reward for his hard work of saving the day. Also contrast MiserableMassage, where the massage is anything but pleasurable.

* In ''Full Frontal'', Gus (played by Creator/DavidDuchovny) asks for a happy ending to his massage -- and wonders if he can wear a plastic bag on his head while doing it. The masseuse refuses but blames herself later [[spoiler:when he's found asphyxiated in his room]]. And this is all played for laughs.

* "Couples' Retreat" includes a scene where a bickering couple gets massages. The husband is aroused by his female masseuse and hints to her that he wants her to finish the job. She tells him, "I'm sorry, but THAT will not have a happy ending."
* In ''2 Days in the Valley'', Vice Officers Strayer and Taylor are busting "happy ending" massage parlors. But Taylor doesn't have the heart to subject the nice and clearly uncomfortable Asian girl doing his latest massage to a police raid, even though she grips his member and asks if he wants more.

* Creator/CraigFerguson has a bit on this in one of his standup routines. He says that every time a man goes to get a massage, he knows it's not going to be a HappyEndingMassage... but in the back of his head, he always thinks it might turn into one. He logically knows it won't. But it miiiiiight.

* They tried to bust one of these in ''Series/{{Reno 911}}''. The Masseuse gave him a very painful and entirely non-sexual massage, and he determined that this place is not a HappyEndingMassage. After he left, we find out that it is.

* In the ''{{Series/Supernatural}}'' episode "[[Recap/SupernaturalS03E06RedSkyAtMorning Red Sky At Morning]]", Dean mentions having a HappyEndingMassage because, in his opinion, the supernatural object that he and Sam are looking for, a HandOfGlory[[note]]A hanged murderer's severed, preserved hand which is used as a macabre candelabra[[/note]], sounds like a euphemism for one.

Not to be confused with a hero who gets a massage as a reward for his hard work of saving the day. Also contrast MiserableMassage, where the massage is anything but pleasurable.