The Girls Next Door Discussion

[blackcauldron85]

I agree with what you said, jeremy88, about the girls' personalities- that's what had me watching the show...I'm a straight female, and I don't need to see big boobies, but I'm interested in people, and they were entertaining to watch.

[jeremy88]

Well thats cool, it's nice to know someone is interested in other people for personality too, cause I find a lot of individuals very interesting lol.

[Escapay]

I'm assuming that Mr. Hefner isn't married (since he has 3 girlfriends).

From wikipedia, I've taken the liberty of bolding some material.

Hefner married fellow Northwestern student Mildred Williams on June 25, 1949, and had two children, Christie and David Paul (b. 30 August 1955). Christie is Chairperson of Playboy Enterprises. Mildred and Hugh divorced after ten years of marriage in 1959. Before their wedding, Mildred told Hefner that she had had an affair; he has called the admission "the most devastating moment of [his] life." A 2006 E! THS profile of Hefner revealed she allowed him to cheat on her, out of guilt for her infidelity and the hopes that it would preserve their failing marriage.

After his first marriage, Hefner became the world's most famous and envied womanizer. He has said that during some years, he was "'involved' with maybe eleven out of twelve months worth of Playmates." Hefner has had sustained relationships with Donna Michelle, Marilyn Cole, Lillian Muller, Patti McGuire, Shannon Tweed, and Brande Roderick, all of whom were chosen "Playmate of the Year." Others include Barbi Benton, Karen Christy, ex-Sunday school teacher Sondra Theodore, and actress Carrie Leigh, who filed a $35 million palimony suit against him. Benton, who dated him for 8 years, remains a fixture in Hefner's life and a regular visitor to the Playboy Mansion, which she found for him. In 1971, Hefner has acknowledged, he experimented in bisexuality.

On July 1, 1989, he ended a 30-year run as a bachelor and married Kimberley Conrad, that year's Playmate of the Year. They separated in 1999, though have yet to divorce.

After his separation from Conrad, [/b]Hefner began living with an ever-changing coterie of women, ranging in age from 18 to 28. He told Vanity Fair: "And here's the surprise bit—it's what they want!"[/b] Soon, Hefner assembled another coterie of girlfriends, notably Brande Roderick. In 2000 she left to take a role in popular series Baywatch. Hefner soon selected 27-year-old Yazmin King as favorite. Later, Tina Marie Jordan became Hefner's "primary" girlfriend, and he quickly selected more young blondes for a posse of seven, one of whom was Holly Madison who joined in 2001. Shortly after Playboy's 50th anniversary, five of the girlfriends, including Izabella St. James, left, leaving Holly and Bridget Marquardt to tend to Hefner.

Hefner celebrating his 80th birthday with Kendra and Bridget in Munich, April 2006.In 2004 Kendra Wilkinson (also blonde, aged 18) was asked to move into the Mansion to become girlfriend number 3. The 2005-06 E! reality television series The Girls Next Door follows these three girlfriends, Holly Madison, Bridget Marquardt and Kendra Wilkinson in their life with Hef around the Mansion and on travel.

The guy changes girlfriends more than he changes underwear, and they exploit that fact by showcasing three of them in a "reality" series. It's harmful for viewers and for the girls themselves, as they're ALLOWING themselves to be considered his little objects, his playthings, his flavor of the weeks. It has nothing to do with their personalities, their own life ambitions, etc. What do these women have when the show is over? What will they be doing in fifteen years time? Are they really that blind to the Hefner's treatment of them? Sure, it may seem glamourous and fun, but essentially Hefner considers women to be like toys to him and they are fine with it. God help anyone who considers it entertaining on any level. It's not about whether the show is realistic/fictional/etc. It's about the fact that people are finding pleasure in watching the shameful objectification of others.

Scaps

[jeremy88]

Well actually in the show it show's what their goals in life are. Holly would like to get into photo editing or modeling, Bridget is in broadcast journalism and she has two major degrees under her belt so she's fine, and Kendra...well she's still young, but it's not like theyre going to do nothing after the party's over. They even say themselves if they leave or if Hef wants them out it's done, thats it and they have to move on. And it's not like they have to live there or do what ever Hef want's them to do. They are there because they want to be there for whatever reason, if it's love, money, or just a free ride. It's all nothing more then a polyamoric lifestyle(which I myself don't agree with) it just so happens to be a rich one. And really most of the time, it doesn't seem like the other two are in a relationship because when the show even involves the relationship part with Hef, it's mostly just Holly and him.

Today he consider's Holly "the love of his life" and the other two are just there, just because. So if he suddenly wants to bring in another girlfriend Holly herself says: "If he added more girlfriends, I wouldn't even stick around, because that would a step in the wrong direction for me, cause then I know he's out for other things, and thats not cool with me."

So at the end of the day, no one's really watching it because they're entertained by finding pleasure in a "shameful objectification of others". Cause apparently in the viewers eyes, the show is about the girls goals and life ambitions, and not how Mr. Hefner treats them.

But ah well, I guess The Girls Next Door is definitely something you have to watch more then one episode, or simply reading a synopsis of what its about, cause that could instantly give you the wrong idea.

I am finding it funny though how people are using the little knowledge they have of the show and trying to stem it out into something completely different from what the show is even about. It's kind of ridiculous actually, you can't just have read something or seen a random episode and assume the show is based around that entire theme, cause that's not what it's even about. It's like if I went into the Depserate Housewives thread, sure I know what it's generally about in a summary, but I'm going to start discussing about it because I don't have the full on knowledge of it and I could easily make it sound like something completely different thats not even true at all and that's just kind of uncomfortable.

[blackcauldron85]

I don't agree with their lifestyle, and I'm definitely not a bimbo type. But, sometimes mindless fluff is good. (And, thanks for the info on Mr. Hefner, Scaps!) As I said earlier, I wouldn't want younger people watching the show unless their parents or a teacher talked with them first, since it definitely can alter people's perceptions.

[Lazario]

Nothing that anyone else has said here has changed the fact that this show is wrong and harmful.

[jeremy88]

Same as the other 80% of trash on television. Really, what t.v show non TVPG isn't trash these days? But whatever, I think I pretty much proved my point already, which is why you ran in loop.

[Escapay]

Really, what t.v show non TVPG isn't trash these days?

Ever watch Playhouse Disney? They've got some good non-trash non-TV-PG shows.

"Doctor Who" is TV-PG, so I can't include it in the "excellent non-trash non-TV-PG" category, but we do have all those "Law & Order" shows that are TV-14 and above and are pretty good. Not to mention one of my favorite medical shows: "House, M.D."

And, of course, reruns of "Coupling" are brilliant.

Scaps

[blackcauldron85]

I guess what jeremy88 is trying to say is that shows like "Laguna Beach" and "The Bachelor" (maybe...I don't watch that), and "The Flava of Love", etc., focus on women being objects and all that stuff. I don't watch any of these reality shows often at all, but I've seen them a few times (I've only seen "The Girls Next Door" less than a handful of times). Men who already think that it's okay to treat women as objects will surely continue doing so after watching these shows. That's why I said that, if a person is educated and knows that women are not objects, then watching a show like this shouldn't be anything more than mindless fluff, a way to pass an hour.

You guys on the forum, for example. I don't know much about you, but I'm assuming you're good, decent, respectful people. If you watched these shows, surely you wouldn't start bringing home 3 girlfriends and bringing them to your bedroom, right?

Again, I don't agree with their lifetyle, and the shows are definitely more harmful to younger people, since they're still forming their own ethics and values.

[littlefuzzy]

Woah! Is this the Barbie Collector's Society thread??


I saw that pic with all the lifeless blonde, overly made-up mannequins and felt like I had wandered down the wrong toy aisle (the "pink" one...)
You're perusing board games or something, and turn the corner without paying attention, all the sudden there are a bunch of dolls staring at you in pink boxes!

*SHUDDER*

[Lazario]

I think I pretty much proved my point already, which is why you ran in loop.

I guess you may have proved that you're not a sexist. But that makes you 1 out of millions of other viewers. You still can't say that it doesn't mess a person up to watch shows like this.

[DisneyRoyalty]

Well, i'm also a straight female who enjoys watching this show. I don't think that just a TV show can be something that harms a person. If somebody is watching this show and decides "Wow, I wish I was somebody's third girlfriend who is just there to please an old rich guy!" then I think they might have had some problems that stemmed from something other than watching this show. I'm a young (20 years old) female and I enjoy watching this show, for it's entertainment value. Yes, the girls do each have personalities and the show isn't all about Hef gettin' some good lovin' from beautiful girls (like other shows, like the Flavor of Love) but rather it does showcase how the girls are using their experience and fame from Playboy to further their future careers, and it shows the fantasy that they live in that is their day to day lives.

Yes, this show is mindless fluff. But if somebody is going to think that that is the life they should be living when they watch this show, then I think there is something wrong with the person. Not the TV show. There are worse things on TV, like Jerry Springer or Flavor of Love (which the latter I admit to watching, even though I know it is trash). But I just don't think that a TV show would be the reason for altering a persons views, or sabotaging their health and well-being, unless that person were younger. In that case I don't think that young children should watch a show about Playboy and that the parents should better monitor what their kids watch. But I am a perfectly healthy young woman, and I don't try to compare my life to the lives of The Girls Next Door.

I originally thought, just like most people who haven't watched the show, that they were just some blonde bimbos who ran around the Playboy Mansion giggling and having pillow fights. But when I found out Kendra was in it, I was intrigued since I went to High School with Kendra. So I watched it a few times and found out that although it does have the parts that can be pretty dumb, it was more than just a few pretty girls. They were enjoying their life, having fun, and making a future for themselves. Do I think they are a good role model for young girls? Not at all, I don't think that any little girl should aspire to pose nude. But I find it entertaining, and not at all damaging to my health and well-being as a woman.

[jeremy88]

Another fan of TGND on UD? Woohoo lol! Wow you went to Clairmont High with Kendra? That's awesome! I live in San Diego too but I went to Patrick Henry. Anyways thanks for your post, it again shows that people aren't really affected by t.v wheather its trash or not heh...it just depends on everyones mindset and their capability of watching t.v with out taking it seriousley(which should be the case for most television shows anyway). And yeah shows like Jerry Springer and Flaver of Love are much more worse then this show (though I admit aswell I've watched those shows before, but it's nothing more mindless entertainment).

[DisneyRoyalty]

Yep, I went to Clairemont High. I didn't actually know Kendra personally. My cousin did though, they played softball together. But I still can honestly say that we were at CHS for some of the same time! Then when people don't believe me, I just show them my yearbook. Ha ha, it's a fun thing to share.

But TGND is not meant to be taken seriously, at all. I watch other shows that are great shows too that wouldn't be considered mindless, like CSI and Law and Order. But sometimes mindless entertainment can just be fun to watch. TGND and Flavor of Love are like my guilty pleasures shows. I know they aren't great award winning TV shows, but they still entertain me. Maybe if all I watched were these shows, and throw in some other mindless shows, like Laguna Beach, or Sweet Sixteen and have those be the only television person watches.. and all the time, then I see how it might in some cases become a problem. But as long as a person doesn't think that this is how real life should be, there shouldn't be a problem with it.

And, if you don't agree with a particular TV show.. then DON'T WATCH IT. That's your choice and your opinion. Don't criticize other people for their choices in entertainment. Let people choose what they like. If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all.

[QueenRahel]

im also a female that loves tgnd....i just take its for its entertainment....to see what the crazy rich do with their money whoring it around all the time....its not right in my ethics....but again its just television.....no one should buy into any silly reality show and judge it by the shows morals....if you think its degrading to women or hate it for other reasons simply turn the channel....otherwise watch it and take it for whats its worth....

[blackcauldron85]

For those of you who watch the show, here's some info that you might care about:

http://community.livejournal.com/ohnoth ... 69448.html

[jeremy88]

Wow I can't believe I missed that link! Thanks for posting Amy!

But yea, now I myself,Jeremy88 is about to eat one GIANT slice of humble pie

As much as I love these 3 gals, since I've followed this "reality" tv show since the begining...its sad to see that they've crumbled, but like many said before, it was something that was going to happen very soon. So I shouldn't be that surprised lol.

I've heared since Holly left the mansion Hef moved two um...I use this word lightly since I don't know them, skanky pair of twins into the mansion. But Holly had about an 8 year relationship with him, so I suppose thats a long while...in celebrity years anyway.

At least Bridgets going to be doing her own thing now, shes such a smart girl, I knew she would do something with her major, all those years of schooling did good for her!

I hear there is going to be a sixth season of The Girls Next Door, but I will NOT be watching that one. It just won't be the same with out Holly, Bridget and Kendra since I've gotten to know them so much.

Ah well, I wish all four of them the best where ever life takes them.