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.
Who Wants to Be a Playboy Centerfold
Contestants share their experience which changed them and how being associated with Playboy fulfilled dreams and also caused heartache.
The Era of the Seven
After a divorce in the late 90s, Hugh Hefner became a bachelor again, and the era of the seven girlfriends emerged. For some, being one of the seven girlfriends was a highly coveted position that was as much a job as it was a relationship. Hef's girlfriends were not only supported by him, but they were used to publicly promote the Playboy brand during lavish events and club outings. But being a girlfriend was not all glitz and glam. The inner-drama that ensued among the girlfriends played out on the public stage.
Playboy on Campus
In 1977 Playboy introduced pictorials featuring often barely-legal college women. Playboy went to university campuses across the country and hosted auditions for female students to pose and represent their school. While some of these women jumped at the chance to audition, others protested the magazine's presence on campus. For those that were selected, the choice to pose for Playboy sometimes resulted in unanticipated, far reaching consequences, in their personal lives and their careers.
The Truth Hurts
Sondra Theodore and her daughter Katie explore their dramatically different versions of life at the Playboy Mansion as they work to heal the trauma in their complicated relationship.
My Body My Choice
Posing for Playboy seems like a dream come true for many young women, but the allure of fame and fortune comes with a steep price: their bodies become commodities, their choices are restricted by a company that seeks to profit from their sexuality, and sometimes instead of opening doors for the women, it closes them.
Athletes Exposed
The sports world is often criticized for not only underpaying and undervaluing female athletes, but these women are also notoriously sexualized. It is something investigative journalist and former Playboy cover model, Lisa Guerrero has personally experienced during her time as an NFL cheerleader and sports reporter. Lisa talks with three athletes who made the controversial decision to pose for Playboy, and the backlash they received from appearing in with the magazine.
