On August 27th, 1996, the first episode of “Homeboys in Outer Space” aired on the United Paramount Network (UPN). UPN itself was relatively new, the channel launched on January 16th, 1995. Notable series which aired on the network include Moesha, Star Trek: Enterprise, and The Sentinel. UPN lasted a little over 11 years and ceased operations in September, 2006, when it merged with “The WB” to become “The CW.”
Homeboys in Outer Space was a comedic science-fiction series centered around two men, Tyberius “Ty” Walker, played by Mark Alexander Knox (better known as “Flex”), and Morris Clay, played by Darryl M. Bell. Flex appeared in many other television shows, most prominently as the lead in the UPN series “One on One.” Flex also played Michael Jackson in the 2004 biography “Man in the Mirror: The Michael Jackson Story.” Darryl Bell had previously appeared in NBC’s “A Different World” (a spin-off from The Cosby Show) and Spike Lee’s 1988 film “School Daze.” In fall 2009 Darryl appeared in Fox’s “Househusbands of Hollywood,” which was his last acting role.
Homeboys in Outer Space episodes center around Ty and Morris performing various delivery missions in their vessel called the “Space Hoopty.”
“El Voyage Fantastico, or I’ve Got You Under My Skin” was the 14th episode and first broadcast on January 14, 1997.
I learned about this episode from a post on the Giantess City forums. This was said to contain footage of an attractive woman picking up shrunken guys and talking to them while they are in her hand. Thus, it sounded like something of keen interest and a potential diamond in the rough!
Unfortunately, my initial efforts to find this show were stymied. To the best of my knowledge, it is not available on any streaming service. Additionally, no effort was ever made to distribute this in DVD or Blu-Ray format. (NOTE: I did find photo stills on eBay though.)
Eventually, I found a copy of the entire series and was able to watch the episode! Albeit, in rough VHS-equivalent resolution. Regardless, let’s check this out!
The premise for El Voyage Fantastico involves the mercenary Amma coming down with a potential lethal disease called “pina colitis.” In order to save her life, Ty and Morris shrink themselves and the Space Hoopty using a device that they just happen to have on site. (NOTE: The series is set in the 23rd century so that’s all the explanation for size-changing technology that you get 😉 )
Special effects consisted of minimum costuming and some early computer-generated imagery (CGI).
Episodes only run for about 22 minutes, so the story has to move along quickly.
It swiftly became obvious that the previous report of interaction between a normal-sized woman and tiny men was incorrect. Amma does not regain consciousness until the two tinies remove the virus and exit via her nostril.
Notably, while researching this episode, I corresponded with endosoma12 from the Giantess City forum. We discussed the phenomenon of “endosomatophilia” and how this episode might serve that particular fetish.
The Urban Dictionary defines it as:
My perspective is that endosomatophilia differs from vore in so much as it involves a sexual fetish focused on one or more people entering another person’s body without being eaten. If people are consumed then the act is classified as vore. Thus, endosomatophilia involves tiny people traveling inside other’s bodies like the characters from 1966’s “Fantastic Voyage” or 1987’s “Innerspace.”
Endosoma12 stated that his preference was for scenarios in which the normal-sized person was awake and aware. Thus, this episode was disappointing due to Amma being asleep while Ty and Morris were inside her. However, the fact that she was a sexy character, the use of the wireframe map of her body, and the fact that Amma mentioned that Ty and Morris went inside her were all pluses.
In my correspondence with Endosoma12 it became clear that endosomatophilia has not been, to the best of my knowledge, properly explored. Perhaps erotic comics such as Giantess Fan’s “A Weekend Alone” and Super-Ego and the Other’s “Skinwalkers” come closest, but the characters in those comics spend most of their time outside of other people, not inside. If the characters do wind up inside they are being digested ❗
I have not previously thought of endosomatophilia scenarios; thus, it could be interesting to imagine situations in which microscopic people pleasure a normal-sized person from inside their body. Accordingly, do any of my readers know of works specifically catering to the endosomatophilia fetish? If so, please let me know!
Overall, El Voyage Fantastico, or I’ve Got You Under My Skin is an interesting bit of history as a snapshot of 1990s American TV. However, only those fans interested in history or endosomatophilia should seek it out.
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There She Grows 