Secrets of Playboy

TV-14

20 episodes2 seasons

US Release

~ A legacy up in smoke? ~

Overview:

Explore the hidden truths behind the fable and philosophy of the Playboy empire through a modern-day lens. The documentary series delves into the complex world Hugh Hefner created and examines its far-reaching consequences on our culture’s view of power and sexuality.

Created by:

Alexandra Dean

Status:

Returning Series

Language:

English

First air date:

1/24/2022

Last air date:

8/14/2023

Key words:

perversity
sexual revolution
sexual fantasy
sexual harassment
perverse sex
sexual sadism
sexual desire
sexual favor
substance abuse
sexual exploitation
playboy mansion
sexual perversion
social scandal
abuse of power
social & cultural documentary
playmates
abused woman
narcissistic abuse
sex abuse

Seasons

Season 1

12 Episodes

Season 2

8 Episodes

Cast

Hugh Hefner

~ as ~

Self (archive footage)

Sondra Theodore

~ as ~

Self - Hefner's Girlfriend, 1970-1981 and 1 more

PJ Masten

~ as ~

Self - LA & Chicago Bunny Mother, 1972-1982

Miki Garcia

~ as ~

Self - Playmate & Head of Promotions, 1973-1982

Jennifer Saginor

~ as ~

Self - Author

Stella Tetenbaum

~ as ~

Self - Hostess at Playboy Mansion West, 1978-1979 and 1 more

Holly Madison

~ as ~

Self - Hefner's Girlfriend, 2001-2008 and 2 more

Joel Berlinder

~ as ~

Self - Hefner's Friend. and 1 more

Stefan Tenenbaum

~ as ~

Self - Hefner's Valet, 1978-1981 and 1 more

Richard W. Bann

~ as ~

Self - Hefner's Friend

View full cast & crew

Reviews (1)

Unknownian
Written 3 year(s) ago
1
This show has only had 3 episodes at this writing, and I'll return after the documentary is complete to make any adjustments. Also, I want to mention that I knew Hef, and had many fun times at Playboy Mansion parties throughout the 80s.

The first major flaw of this series is its title. There are no secrets of Playboy here so far, just personal attacks on Hefner from previous girlfriends. It sounds like any interview may sound, with ex-wives or girlfriends of most wealthy men in America: "Bitterness". No one likes moving back into their apartment after living in that mansion, and enjoying the best life has to offer. (duh!)

To be fair to Playboy, we must separate Playboy Enterprises from Hugh Hefner. What activities Hefner engaged in at his home behind closed doors with women that decided to walk up those long stairs to find themselves in Hef's bedroom, is a completely different subject and shouldn't reflect on the Playboy Corporation or the magazine itself at all.

Many 'wanna be' Playmates were shot at the mansion for two reasons: The Corporation owned the mansion, and the setting there was perfect for variety, and beauty to enhance a test shoot. The tweak in that scenario, and the reason this series exists at all, is the fact that by contract Hugh Hefner was allowed to live in the Playboy mansion.

Hefner rarely wandered down to gaze at the test shoots or the actual Playmate centerfold shootings. The models from out of town (which were the majority), where housed in the Guesthouse about 1,000 feet away from the mansion. Their food was delivered, and they had no reason to visit the inside of the mansion unless they decided to wander over there and do a walk through on their own. Once they decided to climb those stairs, we now have to separate Playboy from Hugh Hefner. We now enter a man's private life.

Please keep that in mind when viewing this series.