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.
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.