Who is to lead sex talk now that Sue Johanson and Dr. Ruth have quieted?

In the 80’s, men and women seeking answers to common and outrageously personal sex questions knew to turn to the famed Dr. Ruth Westheimer, a “psychosexual therapist who helped to pioneer the field of media psychology with her radio program, Sexually Speaking, which began in September of 1980. Her popularity inspired parodies mocking her signature German accent, but her advice was yet valued and undeniable.

Dr. Ruth’s media monopoly faded away by the turn of the century and from 2002 to 2008, American viewers turned to the straight-talking, Canadian grandmother, Sue Johanson and her live phone-in show Talk Sex with Sue Johanson.

With both of these elderly educators shying away from their television, radio and web presences, where are we to turn?

A friend of mine suggested Dr. Drew Pinsky, longtime host of the radio call-in show “Love Line,” but Dr. Drew’s intended audience is much younger. According to the shows web site, it has the primary goal of “helping youth and young adults with relationship, sexuality and drug addiction problems.” Not to say that it isn’t important for adolescents to discuss the embarrassment of being caught having sex at school, but what about more “adult” questions.

To whom are we to turn to for sexual guidance? Who is our new fornication figurehead?

Here are some Sue and Dr. Ruth clips to remind us of times when sex educators were front and center.