I'm Sanctimonious in this Review (but it's my opinion...) (Girls Of The Playboy Mansion - Series 1 (DVD))

Member Name: TheWriter

Product:	Girls Of The Playboy Mansion - Series 1 (DVD)
Date:	01/04/09 (57 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: It's entertaining to see the daily lives of the girls; you see them at press shoots, travelling etc

Disadvantages: It's a typical reality tv series; some parts are not interesting, with parts possibly fabricated

The concept of the show is a reality-tv, behind the scenes look at Hugh Hefner's life. He lives at the Playboy Mansion with his three girlfriends and the show is actually more about them than Hef.

His girlfriends are Holly Madison, Bridget Marquardt and Kendra Wilkinson. Holly is very clever (given that they are all fairly dumb she's the brightest of the three) and she sticks very close to Hef (probably hoping he will leave everything in his will to her). Bridget seems like a nice person but is often disorganised or stressed. Kendra is mad and likes to do crazy things. She's also quite rough. She is uneducated and immature and often acts in a distasteful way (for example bad language, lewd comments and moments of immaturity including flashing the houses of Parliament!)

People love Hugh Hefner (I don't) and think he's "the man" for having three girlfriends (he used to have 7! but he's 80 years old now so slowing down in his old age) but again I think it's disgraceful and I have no respect for him or the girls. even if you have a traditionalist view, watching an episode of this program is interesting because you do wonder how they live given the ridiculous set-up- one man, three girlfriends- how does it all work? Well actually, they live fairly normally, (except for being famous).

The show focuses on the press releases, promotions and daily lives of the girls. This series shows what they do, day in day out and how they have their own rooms in the house. Viewers are also introduced to the staff at the mansion- various chefs, maids and helpers- as well as Hef's personal secretary (who looks as old as he is).

There is a lot of media interest in the girls and as the cameras follow them around you can see just how in demand they are. Other episodes include the girls taking trips with Hef or Hef meeting celebrities.

The girls have done very well out of being Hef's girlfriends. They have all been offered a lot of work. They all appeared in Scary Movie 4 and Nickelback's Rockstar video and have been offered jobs in various tv and film roles. In addition, they have had the opportunity of travelling the world (further series show them visiting Europe etc) and they clearly wouldn't have had the opportunity of doing the many new things they do throughout the series without this rich sugar daddy providing them with the means and money to see the world.

***Spolier Alert***
Fast forward to today and all three girls have broken up with Hef and have moved out of the mansion. Bridget is now filming a show for the Travel Channel, Kendra is engaged to an NFL player, Hank Baskett, and Holly has also broken up with Hef due to his not wanting to get married or have a family. (Or she has realised that his persistent refusal of her suggestions of marriage mean that she will never get her hands on his riches so has given up).

***My Opinion***
I dislike the show because I think it's unethical and promotes poor family values. I hate the idea of young, immature boys seeing Hef and Co and thinking "yeah man, that's big pimping!" Eurgh. What's become of the world?? Of course, there are people in the world who have this situation in a very real way- look at polygamous marriages- but these are not three wives in a polygamous marriage- in their current state they are all disposable (and now they have been disposed of).

At the end of the day they are three girls wanting fame and fortune and the set up suits them because they can get that. But what woman would compromise her self-respect in this way? (Aside from Anna Nicole smith that is...) The set up also suits Hefner because he looks like a big man and is making money from the Tv series and DVD sales as well as the promotions and press surrounding the girls. This is why he's now replaced the girls with twin sisters. Wow that was fast. No grieving period post-break up? Nah, the Playboy way is to discard and replace. Not a show I would want my future kids to watch.

Aside from preaching lol I dislike the typical reality tv aspect; some parts are not interesting, with parts possibly fabricated (as we have heard occurs with reality tv shows). The show doesn't delve into personal issues the characters may be going through- it's just a scene here, a scene there with some Jessica Simpson-style goofy comments thrown in. It's very light viewing and I don't think people would want to buy this on DVD (even if you are not sanctimonious and opinionated like me!) as once you've seen it; what's the point in watching it again? Give this a miss.

Summary: I think the world's oldest profession has a new mask- entertainment.