A much more eloquent way to say what I was trying to say earlier. Guess there's a reason she's a paid writer and I'm not.

I will say this though, it is thanks to my viewing of this show that I solidly formed my understanding of this view of sexism. See, cable can be provocative and educational, even trashy cable.

First of all, because this has been bugging me, it's BRIDGET, spelled the Irish way, not Bridgette, the French way. There. I feel better now.


I wonder what his sons make of this. They're teenagers, at the age when guys are probably so busy fantasizing about being with a woman and having posters of Playboy girls up in their rooms, only the pictures they might hang up could be of their extremely old father's girlfriends. My parents are still happily married, but I can only imagine how repulsed I'd be if my dad started dating some 20-year old skank (my dad is 60), to say nothing of 3, and all of their sex life is splashed across the media! It's disgusting- he really should consider his sons. Although he has probably trained them to think what he does is a good thing, worthy of emulation. I bet their friends agree and are dying to get into their social circle. And so the next generation of men who objectify women is born...

Eh, I kind of get the Hef not getting divorced thing. It's what happens when you don't want to be together but you don't hate each other, and neither of you can see any possible benefit to bothering to get divorced. I'm married to someone I haven't lived with in 8 years. I've seen other people do it, it's not all that unusual. A friend of mine growing up had parents who were divorced but lived in two houses on the same property. It's the easiest way to handle shared custody, if you can stand it.

Of course, the other possibility is that Kimberly has all kinds of salacious dirt on Hef that he doesn't want made public, and in return for her silence, she gets to stay married to him and (under CA law) therefore has a better guarantee of half of everything than she would if they got legally unhitched. That's certainly the more interesting possibility! Hef seems to really have issues about the idea of his private life being made public, although honestly I've read Jill Ann's "book" and in the modern celebrity world, he doesn't merit more than a 1.5 on the kink-o-meter. Having sex with more than one girl at a time and having toys involved is, um, a good weekend in high school in modern-day Los Angeles.

I'm pretty sure they do wear those.

Count me in as well. I caught the episode earlier today and couldn't help but gasp when that woman said that her six and twelve(?) year old daughters liked Kendra and Holly.

What kind of young women are these people raising? Taking your daughter to get autograph's from GND and Hef? That is just wrong on so many levels. Is this the type of "supportive" mom Kendra had growing up?

Kendra gets prettier and prettier, and the other two are looking like two unfortunate hags.

Today, I caught an episode of GND in which Bridget and Holly posed for a Captain Morgan ad, while Kendra posed with some guy who was as interesting as cardboard for the cover of a muscle magazine. I had never seen this episode before. Do we know what season it's from?

I'm sure there are plenty of reasons not to get divorced. Even if they've been separated for years, a divorce could still get messy. But I've been wondering if part of the motivation is avoiding negative PR.

GND has been big for Hef/Playboy, and they present a certain image - sweet, avuncular Hef; Hef&Holly soulmates; no sexual tensions except little hints with Holly. I know many watch to snark, but it does seem a lot of viewers really buy into it -- fans who 'ship' Holly and Hef and don't believe he sleeps with Bridget and Kendra (or presumably other women). I know Hef still being married is public knowledge, but I bet lots of viewers (especially the young, female viewers who make up the core audience) don't. I have this (not at all well thought out) theory that the show (or the cast) has created a kind of mythology with Holly as the princess who truly wuvs Hef (the stereotype of the man hurt by failed relationships who needs the love of a good woman to help him love again) and who bravely made it through all the women with an agenda -- like marrying Hef is her just reward and the natural ending. But it's strange because sometimes it seems the show is trying to promote this image, and sometimes it's like the show is laughing at the girls and sort of spoofing them. I find a lot of drama comes from the two colliding. (I also think this image is not just for PR but possibly something they really buy into - a fantasy life.)

Reading posts elsewhere, some fans do treat it like a storybook. But they're real people and I think desperately trying to hide anything that doesn't fit into the mythology -- like Bridget flipping out anytime her marriage is mentioned, or Holly being so cagey in general. A messy public divorce could really hurt that illusion. I don't know, ignore my babbling. I just think it's an interesting way of analyzing the show, and the gap between reality and image is so weird generally but hugely so with this show.

ETA: the ep where Bridget and Holly did the Captain Morgan ad was one of the first episodes of season two.

derekevans, I think you're right. The producers (and HH and the 'girls'- how I hate that phrase, they're adult women) have created this fantasy world that goes beyond the fun and sexy Playboy world, straight to happily ever after, fluffy bunnies and hugs and kisses. How anyone actually believes that a senile misogynist and three waring bimbos live a sweet and ideal life is beyond me, but apparently some do.

As to the 'love of a good woman' thing, you are so right! Sidenote: while being hit on last weekend by an extremely hot and sleazy friend of a friend, who is notorious for his whorish ways, I idly pondered if he really was interested in me, and because I am so fabulous, he would stop man whoring just for me, and wouldn't that be great because he's a cool guy. Thankfully, I'm savvy enough to realize this would never actually happen, got him to buy me a drink and then left. Holly, Bridget and Kendra do not seem to have that level of awareness. If a guy's been a player his whole life, and has founded a lifestyle and an empire on being a player, he sure as shit isn't going to stop now.

I know back in the beginning of the "E" GND boards, there were a ton of posters who were just POSITIVE that Bridget and Kendra were hired to bolster Hef's image and never even touched Hef, and no matter who tried to convince them otherwise, they just would not believe it. I can sometimes find myself believing it was innocent even after reading the tell alls, they edit so well on the show.

Last season pre-21st birthday for Kendra. Even if it was post-birthday, she still couldn't have posed IIRC. They don't allow people to pose for them until they're at least 25, correct?

I think his young sons were briefly on that special on Hef and Playboy (can't remember if it was on E or A&E). They seemed nice and well adjusted, and that's probably because of Kimberly. Say what you want about her, but she seems like she's a good and protective mother. And these kids needed to be shielded from Hef's lifestyle until they could somewhat understand it.

Hef must have no sense or ability to be much of a father, so Kimberly has probably provided the stability these boys desperately needed -- and it shows -- because they both seem OK. Of course it's hard to tell because they're not "fully cooked" (as Judge Judy would say), but it doesn't seem like these boys are headed to being f*cked-up messes like Sean Stewart or Nicole Ritchie.

BTW, once GND runs its course (which we all know will be soon), how about a reality show featuring Hef's sons? They're facing problems (?) that no other teenage kid faces -- ever!

I wonder what caused the breakup with Kimberly. I assumed she had another man because Hef talks about being hurt. She obviously must have come up with a lucrative agreement with Hef to remain married to him. I would think it's like putting your life on hold, but she says it's exactly what she wants. Hmmm . . . I don't think we're getting the whole story on this one. I wonder if she had a pre-nup. If she didn't, Hef would have to give her half of Playboy. Something I don't think he'd want to do.

About the picture with Holly looking pregnant - I really hope not, but not because of "these people shouldn't procreate" but because, ew, that means they ARE having sex. I prefer to pretend they don't.

I softened (a bit) seeing Kendra showing Mary around the Hugh Hefner suite ("Mary, Mary. Look at this!"). That was cute. But then I recoiled when I saw Hef on the circular bed with Mary and he kissed her on the lips. I guess he does that with every female.

I wrote about this a few pages back...Hef made his daughter Christie Chairman and CEO of Playboy Enterprises, turning over the entire operation to her before he married Kimberly. This was to ensure Kimberly would never have any part of Playboy - the Hefners are extremely business savvy. Also, even if he were still in charge, he wouldn't automatically have to give her half of Playboy. That's a widely held fallacy about divorce and mutual property, especially property held long before a marriage. The breakup most likely occurred because Kimberly tried to change the Mansion and keep Hef cloistered to herself. She tried to change a lifelong bon vivant and did not succeed. Or maybe she did, she ain't hurting for money and can literally do whatever she wishes with her life.

Perhaps they stay married so none of Hef's "girlfriends" would feel they had a chance to be the third Mrs. Hugh Hefner if they "accidentally" got pregnant (if that's still possible with him). They live in separate houses and lead separate lives except for their mutual interest in their sons. Kimberly hasn't put her life on hold; she's dating Quincy Jones and has been for a while. Guess she got used to the smell of Ben Gay, DentuCream and Depends.

I'm fairly certain they were on the Cribs episode about the mansion back when there were seven girlfriends. I remember the monkey girl, a lot of pink bedrooms and juicy sweatsuits, and a boy around 10-12 or so surfing the net in the background. It seemed so normal and yet so creepy at the same time to have a kid there.

I agree. I think in this day and age, the majority of people are pretty sophisiticated viewers of realty televison. I mean, who didn't see the cracks in Nick and Jessica's marriage or realize Ashley couldn't sing? But then the episode with the young autograph seekers shows you that some people aren't laughing at the mythology; they consider these woman role models. (I just threw up a little in my mouth at the thought of those words). This show is so odd because the editors seem to be snarking at the mythology while they're showing it to us.

[quote]I wrote about this a few pages back...Hef made his daughter Christie Chairman and CEO of Playboy Enterprises, turning over the entire operation to her before he married Kimberly. This was to ensure Kimberly would never have any part of Playboy - the Hefners are extremely business savvy. Also, even if he were still in charge, he wouldn't automatically have to give her half of Playboy. That's a widely held fallacy about divorce and mutual property, especially property held long before a marriage. [quote]I think Hef is pretty concerned about the Playboy legacy. He seems pretty concerned with reviving the empire and having it survive him. I'll bet he personally owns almost nothing, and the mansions, cars, planes, whatever are all owned by the corporation. He probably pays himself a small salary, just enough to keep him in lambchops, bananas, corn flakes, and pajamas.

I wonder what his vision is for his sons, whether he hopes to live long enough that they're adults and he can see them become the new figureheads of the corporation, all while their half-sister runs the show.

In the interviews I saw, the oldest of his younger sons has plans to someday take over, and he is extremely concerrned with keeping things classy and retaining Playboy's integrity. He comes across as handsome,intelligent,and very well spoken.

Like Richard Dawson! Anyway, I finally just saw the Vegas episode this morning, and count me in as being completely horrified with the kids at the autograph signings. I was also horrified at the other people in line, especially that one brunette woman that was SO EXCITED! to see them. I don't remember exactly what she said, but they showed her a few times, and I remember thinking that she was kind of creepy.

Oh and Bridget looks older with every episode. I think they're laying the makeup on a bit heavier since she's starting to show signs of age and it's just making it more apparent, in my opinion. OH! And Holly's hair also gets worse. Her extensions are a hot mess and there's something weird about the way her hair is laying on the top of her head. Ok done trashing on the appearances.

This made me think: if the main part of the reason the show exists is HH's desire to prove that PB is still culturally relevant and still is the embodiment of fun sexiness, then why they hell does he agree to air footage that shows him as a pathetic old man? He is a pathetic old man, but showing him playing dominos, eating only special foods, and in general doddering around like a senile old letch does NOT fit with the image they're trying to get across. The promotion of the brand is better acheiving by showing things like Kendra's b-day in Vegas, with tons of young people and no HH. If he's so business savvy, I wonder why he doesn't realize this.

He's an elderly man. That's the image I see and I don't buy that the E! network is trying to show us something else. I don't see someone who has beautiful women at his fingertips or someone who wields an insane amount of power. I see someone who reminiscent of the people I've worked with in a nursing home. A man who will be struggling, without a doubt, in the coming years to understand what's going on around him, who will eventually need more than a butler and the ladies to care for his medical needs (seeing as he has had two strokes reportedly), a man who is a few years away from having drool wiped from his lips.

The more and more I think about it, the more astounded I am to see Holly stick by him. I was watching Season 2, and when Hef was reading something Holly had written to him for him to read at the anniversary party, and she began to weep, it was just...wow. It felt genuine. I would never commit myself to someone Hef's age, ever, but I think Holly really loves him. She isn't guaranteed ANYTHING following his demise and she probably understands such, but there she is, with him every single day.

I agree, but yet it seems to be working. For the last 20 years, the empire has been on the decline. All the clubs were closed, and the magazine and parties were pretty much it. But now the show is a success, and suddenly he's opening a new club in Vegas, the magazine is selling better, there's bobble-heads and blankets, and a bunch of crap presumably selling. Hundreds of people lined up to get their autographs. The hell? If I were Hef's business advisor I would have advised him against the show for the reasons you mentioned: senile old man in depends and three delusional, stupid bimbos doesn't seem like a recipe for success. Maybe it's just the last dying gasp of a terminally ill enterprise or maybe the empire is on its way back up.

I don't get it, but then again, I could care less about the latest hot club in Vegas or buying bobble-heads so what the hell do I know?

I think she does too, but it's a weird kind of love. I'm kind of disturbed by the celebrity worship in our society, and I kind of attribute it to that. People act like celebrities are gods and they knock themselves out just to be near them and reflect in their glory. I think there may be some of that. There was a book that came out recently that I only read the reviews of, and it talked about how some people have unhappy childhoods and they think that fame will fill up the void, and when it doesn't work out for them, they just want to be around fame, either as significant other or personal assistant or hanger-on. That kind of notion seems to explain a lot about Holly and Bridgette. They both seem to think that the fact that Hef keeps them around is some kind of accomplishment. Bridgette seems prouder to be a girlfriend than of her degrees.

Garrrrrrrrrrgh!!! Why is it a rerun?! They're playing a rerun of Charm School, too, dammit! Ruined my Sunday, fo real.

I just read the newest Gabriel Garcia Marquez novel, Memories of My Melancholy Whores (stick with me, I swear this is relevant). It's about an elderly bachelor writer who decides to celebrate his 90th b-day by buying the services of a virginal 14 year old prostitute. She's too tired from working in a factory all day, so she sleeps the whole night, and he randomly falls in love with her and won't ever wake her up to consumate their 'relationship'. Their relationship then procedes to improve his life and writing, and then...read the book, it's great, and it's a love story.
The point is, it is way less skeevy and sketchy than HH and Holly et al. This is a book about a 90 year old and a 14 year old prostitute, and it is less disturbing than HH's relationship with his girlfriends. That is wrong on so many levels.

Tonight's reruns underscored why I think Bridget's education is for shit- if education is her 'first priority' and she cares so much, she wouldn't be begging her professor to reschedule her FINAL, a few HOURS before it starts, just so she can flash her aging cooch for the camera. And then she cries. Which I found pathetic and funny, but only because I'm evil.
Holly also looks horrible and white trashy in her commentary.

I know how you feel, it doesn't feel like Sunday night, if there isn't a new episode to talk about on Monday at work. I do believe there is an hour best of episode tomorrow at 8 Central

I saw the boys on that A&E special as well. They were ADORABLE. So, so normal and innocent--I remember one of them saying shyly "I think I would like to have just one girlfriend..."

It is public record that Hefner no longer owns the mansion, he pays rent to live there and pays rent for each of the gf's as well. It is owned by Playboy corp. and it's stockholders. In fact, you or I could rent it out for a party at the pool right now for around 10,000.00. Which includes a meet and greet with Hef.

Ah, sweet relief. Thanks for the heads-up!

During the loathsome clip show that was on on Memorial Day, if you keep an eye on the alarm clock behind Hef's head, you can see the time fluctuating between 630 to 4 and back around again throughout the taping. I can't believe they left the clock up there! Is that just laziness, or a nod to the complete bullshit of a clip show?

And you could see Hef's enormous hearing aid!

That's probably for tax reasons and Hef still owns 70% of all the voting stock.

Man, that clip show bored me to death! They seemed to spend more time explaining their stupid behaviors and trying to make it sound like they were doing a Simpsons clip show!

YAWN!

And Holly twirling her hair the whole episode, drove me crazy.

Did anyone see the preview for next week's episode?

We finally get to see Holly's mysterious family!

Just don't talk about Holly's hair looking dry -- she might bite you!

Didn't notice, I kept looking for the econo-size bottle of baby oil!! :)

I thought the show was mildly amusing, until, at the end when Hef asked the girls, "What do you want to do now?" and Kendra said, "You!"......ewwww! Haven't they figured out that the ONLY reason this show is as popular as it is, is because we all try to block that part of the reality out. Oh yeah, and Kendra talking about how their reality show is really real, as opposed to the other reality shows out there!!

" If she wants to keep her home at the mansion she had better say something to that effect (no matter how gross it is to the rest of us).

Has anyone noticed that on Kendra's myspace page Hef is nowhere on the top 22 or however many friends on her top list? What's even more interesting is that theres another guy in her number 1 spot and she is in his. Bridgett and Holly are on her page as afterthoughts, towards the very end. Quite interesting. Perhaps K-Dub has found herself a little boyfriend.

Maybe Kendra's #1 guy on her myspace page is her brother?

This review episode was so utterly predictable and boring that I kept clicking away. But I have to comment: in earlier posts the comment was made how bitchy Bridget was to Anastasia when they went to the airport to pick up Wednesday. Remember how B. shooed A. away from the puppy? They showed that clip last night and I could clearly see B. glance at the camera, realize A. was blocking her in the scene, and then shooing her away. Then giggling to try to cover up how bitchy she sounded.

Also, what's everyone's interpretation of the weird pouty mouth face Holly made at the very end of the show? This was after Hef asked the girls what they wanted to do next and they were all kind of snuggling down under the covers and cuddling (eewww, I cannot believe I typed the word "cuddling"). What was that about?

I was the one who previously mentioned Bridget's nastiness toward Anna, when she got the dog that looked like her cat. And I only noticed it because it was THE only time I ever saw Bridget break out of the phoney-baloney sweetie-pie personality. Oh-oh, I better not say that 'cause it seems like many posters on here really do believe Bridget is sweet and wonderful. Interesting that maybe she also got pissed off at Anna 'cause she was blocking the camera's view of her. So Bridget's a camera-ho too? Hmmm . . .

I don't remember seeing Hef cuddling with Bridget. Did that happen in this ep? I don't remember seeing her have any contact with Hef except a very, very quick peck with her making the "mwah" sound that you're grandma makes when she kisses you. That's hot!

I'll tell you what I did find interesting, at some point in this weekend rerunathon I saw that ep where Bridget had to leave for her final and they did the shower shoot without her and she cried about it. She didn't go directly to Hef, she was crying in her room and he came in all by himself, granted someone may have told him to go in there. (But I can't imagine it was one of the girls.) He was very sweet and gentle to her and got down on the floor with her.

She describes him asking her what was wrong and when she was reluctant to tell him he said 'what kind of relationship do we have if you can't tell me when something is wrong?'. On camera she explains to him and he is very understanding and gentle and tells her its not a problem and he can fix this. So then at what I assume is a pretty considerable cost, and some irritation from the other two, they reshoot.

It was one of the few times I felt like Hef had given her some special attention and there really was something genuine to their relationship.

I'd like it if there were a few episodes that showed each of the girls getting solo time with Hef. That would provide some interesting insight.

The thing I was left wondering about after watching the clip show was, do they ever fight? The girls (especially Holly) are so insistent that they have a normal relationship with Hef - they do everything boyfriends and girlfriends do. Everything is so saccharine-y (or really, because it's so fake, Splenda-ey) that I wonder if Holly and Hef ever have big arguments - not that they would ever put it on the show, but I just have to wonder whether they actually DO act like a regular couple.

My guess is "no". You don't hire a harem so that they'll disagree with you.

It sure would go a long way towards making them look normal if they had a fight here and there or at least a little, 'well Hef and I are disagreeing right now'.

I'm surprised they haven't staged some cutesy fights with Holly and Hef, where they both end up apologizing and going out of their way (in a cutesy fashion) to make it up to the other person.

I saw it once. It was Holly's birthday episode when she went to see the golf cart. While she was looking it over she was looking downward. I don't think she realized the camera was still on her. Her pharmacuetically fueled facade cracked. Her face and her smile totally disappeared and had turned into a full on sneer. She looked downright irked. It only lasted a couple seconds, but I noticed it. She suddenly recognized she didn't have her happy face on and jumped back into character.

Ya know, I rented the first season on DVD this weekend as suggested by some of the other posters and I noticed that he seemed to share quite a few more sincere moments with Bridget than Holly. Holly seemed to really smoother him with nicknames before she settled on Baby Puffin and shower him with kisses. Hef and Bridget seemed rather sincere in their breif kisses in interactions.

For example, Hef asked Bridget questions about her classes, the new dog, how it was getting along with Gizzy, etc. Granted those are kind of small talk topics but Holly has isolated herself so far from her interests and completely engulfed herself in all.things.Playboy. that Hef can't even make that effort with her other than to ask how her day was.

I would also point out Hef's obvious attention to Kendra, but it's already been discussed.

In the deleted scenes, there was a birthday party thrown by Holly for Bridget that included a Passion Party and a male stripper. I kind of wonder if Holly didn't do that to maybe try to get Bridget in trouble. "See, Puffin, she's obviously not satisfied with you alone. I bet she wants out."

Also, to add to the conspiracy theory, in the deleted scenes, Bridget said that Anastasia has always spent the summers with her, even before she lived in the mansion... almost like a teen mother who's daughter was able to visit her for the summers at the halfway home! Dun Dun Dun!!

(P.S. I don't think halfway home is quite the right word and by no means do I mean teenage motherhood is a bad thing - I just mean it as like in one of those really small town situations where the family sends away the pregnant teen daughter while she has the baby.)

And Hairymango nails it in one.

Maybe she was trying to make her "sexy face."

I was left wondering which one will put Nair in the others' shampoo bottles first.

And Holly - I know she thinks she can still get away with the "natural" look when she does scenes in Hef's bed but she has aged past being able to skip makeup...at least on TV. She looked like a corpse with pig tails during the clip show. I am actually surprised she even takes her makeup off - considering her need for Hef to choose her above the others. Despite the fact that she has appeared on TV several times sans makeup, she always stuck me as the type of girl who sets her alarm for 30 minutes before her boyfriend/husband is going to wake up so she can put on makeup before he wakes.

And Kendra, your little show will be "real" as soon as they show you all giving yourselves enemas to get ready for sex night. Or the "very special episode" of GND where Kendra learns that Hef has given her some disease that has rendered her infertile.

Hmmm... this was one those scenes that felt particularly scripted to me. How convenient for him to stop by her room just then. The only part that felt real to me was how Bridget completely manipulated him into getting what she wanted.

Also, I don't think Hef even likes Holly anymore. I think she annoys him, and it is slowly dawning on him how fake and horrible she is. Or maybe that is just wishful thinking.

While watching the clip show, you can tell Holly couldve give 2 shits about the other girl's clips. And when she did have something to add or say about them, she had this sneer to her. Also when Kendra, Hef and Bridget were talking about a particular clip, they were all looking at one another- but Holly? She was too busy twirlin her hair and obviously uninterested.

And eww wee Hef probably bombed in that bed in another way ordering those eggs- what's with the Hard-boiled egg fixation?

I'm dying to know when the new season will be announced. I'm crossing all my fingers and toes that it'll be a big, fluffy, creepy as hell Dineeland wedding in the finale. Puh-leeeeease, Reality TV Gods??!!!!!! And dammit, my TiVo somehow didn't pick up the "best of" clips show.



I don't buy into this conspiracy theory. To me, it seems pretty obvious that Bridget is from her mom's first marriage, and Anastacia is from her newer, rather obese second husband. We all know him - he's the one who THOROUGHLY enjoyed watching his stepdaughter strip down to her skivvies in her creepy pink bedroom! ACK!

Though Anastasia and Bridget look similar, I'm sure that the first/second hubby explains their extreme age difference.