How to explain fanservice to the uninitiated

A college-aged non-otaku co-worker who is a reader of comics and graphic novels saw a manga with a warning label that said excessive fanservice.  Knowing I am a huge manga-nerd, he asked, "What's fanservice?"

"What series was it?" I countered while trying not to blush. 

He told me. 

There is, indeed, excessive fanservice for many audiences in it.  (It is well-nigh incomprehensible in the "plot" department as a result and is not my cup of tea, though it has one more strike to go.) 

"In this case," I said, "it means both cheesecake and beefcake are part of the menu."

There was a long, embarrassed pause.  "Are those euphemisms for something?  If so, I'm unfamiliar with them."

I tried again.  "Are you familiar with the term 'T&A'?"

"Nope."

"Ummmmm . . ."  I gave him a more spelled out description that embarrassed us both because we're both pretty shy and conservative. 

Later that day I figured out a perfect way to explain it:  The first live-action Transformers movie: Megan Fox. 

"She has no purpose other than the 'purpose' she has," I said, hoping that a shared pop cultural reference would do the job I obviously couldn't do.

He started to say something a couple of times and then smiled and laughed.  "I was trying to come up with something to defend her, but really, there isn't any reason."  Now he understood!

Transformers also has ridiculously detailed transformation scenes for the mechs.  There are gadgets and government conspiracies and stuff blowing up galore!  Lots of fanservice.  (Also, from what I understand, excessive fanservice at the cost of plot and stuff may have contributed to the stench it emitted.)

So, next time one of the uninitiated asks you embarrassing questions you can't go into a sociological essay to answer, remember Transformers.  Let American pop-culture work for you!



Do you have any good pop culture examples of fanservice that might help explain how broad the term is?