The Girls Next Door
Encyclopedia
The Girls Next Door, also known as The Girls of the Playboy Mansion, is an American
reality television
series broadcast on the E!
cable television
network
. The series was created by executive producer
Kevin Burns
and Hugh Hefner
, founder and editor-in-chief
of Playboy
magazine.
The show was followed by two spin-offs
, Kendra
and Holly's World
.
. Hefner is often on the show along with various Playmates and other celebrities.
The series not only showcases events at the Playboy Mansion (e.g. Fight Night, Fourth of July
celebration, the midsummer celebration etc.), but also sheds light on other Playboy related events such as the Playboy Jazz Festival at the Hollywood Bowl
, Playmate test shoots at Playboy Studio West
, Operation Playmate, party night, birthday parties, and more significantly, the personalities and real lives of each of the Girls.
, Bridget Marquardt
, and Kendra Wilkinson.
In October 2008, Hefner's relationships with Madison ended for unconfirmed reasons (though the final episode of the fifth season discusses her unhappiness at the mansion in not being able to get married or have a family with Hefner) and Wilkinson left to continue her relationship with boyfriend Hank Baskett
. Marquardt also temporarily left at the same time to film Bridget's Sexiest Beaches for The Travel Channel
, but in January 2009 ended her relationship with Hefner and moved out of the mansion permanently.
.
Madison did appear in the first two episodes of the season, and also appeared with Marquardt and Wilkinson in the episode "The Showering Inferno", which focused more on them than Harris and the twins.
In 2009, Burns revealed he was in talks to create two new shows, one for Madison and one for Marquardt.
In 2010, a backdoor pilot focusing on the Playmate House aired on August 8, 2010. As of August 2011, the show has not been picked up.
Crystal Harris called off her wedding with Hugh Hefner and the footage aired on Lifetime as one-hour special titled "Hef's Runaway Bride". Hef confirmed that if the special gets good ratings, another season of The Girls Next Door will be filmed and will air on Lifetime.
The initial success of the show was so great that Playboy published a nude pictorial of Madison, Marquardt, and Wilkinson in the November 2005 issue. This later lead to two more pictorials in September 2006 (to celebrate the premiere of the second season) and March 2008 (celebrating them being voted fourth in Playboys annual "Sexiest Celebrities" online poll).
The final episode starring Madison, Marquardt and Wilkinson was watched by 2.535 million viewers.
Despite starting with the highest rating season premiere in the show's history, the sixth season saw ratings drop from 2.4 million watching the premiere, to only 960,000 watching the fourth episode only three weeks later. Ratings then dropped even further to 919,000 viewers only five weeks after the premiere.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
reality television
Reality television
Reality television is a genre of television programming that presents purportedly unscripted dramatic or humorous situations, documents actual events, and usually features ordinary people instead of professional actors, sometimes in a contest or other situation where a prize is awarded...
series broadcast on the E!
E!
E! Entertainment Television is an American basic cable and satellite television network, owned by NBCUniversal. It features entertainment-related programming, reality television, feature films and occasionally series and specials unrelated to the entertainment industry.E! has an audience reach of...
cable television
Cable television
Cable television is a system of providing television programs to consumers via radio frequency signals transmitted to televisions through coaxial cables or digital light pulses through fixed optical fibers located on the subscriber's property, much like the over-the-air method used in traditional...
network
Television network
A television network is a telecommunications network for distribution of television program content, whereby a central operation provides programming to many television stations or pay TV providers. Until the mid-1980s, television programming in most countries of the world was dominated by a small...
. The series was created by executive producer
Executive producer
An executive producer is a producer who is not involved in any technical aspects of the film making or music process, but who is still responsible for the overall production...
Kevin Burns
Kevin Burns
Kevin Burns is an American television and film producer, director, and screenwriter. His work can be seen on A&E, National Geographic Channel, E!, Animal Planet, AMC, Bravo, Travel Channel, Lifetime, and The History Channel.-Early life:...
and Hugh Hefner
Hugh Hefner
Hugh Marston "Hef" Hefner is an American magazine publisher, founder and Chief Creative Officer of Playboy Enterprises.-Early life:...
, founder and editor-in-chief
Editing
Editing is the process of selecting and preparing written, visual, audible, and film media used to convey information through the processes of correction, condensation, organization, and other modifications performed with an intention of producing a correct, consistent, accurate, and complete...
of Playboy
Playboy
Playboy is an American men's magazine that features photographs of nude women as well as journalism and fiction. It was founded in Chicago in 1953 by Hugh Hefner and his associates, and funded in part by a $1,000 loan from Hefner's mother. The magazine has grown into Playboy Enterprises, Inc., with...
magazine.
The show was followed by two spin-offs
Spin-off (media)
In media, a spin-off is a radio program, television program, video game, or any narrative work, derived from one or more already existing works, that focuses, in particular, in more detail on one aspect of that original work...
, Kendra
Kendra (TV series)
Kendra is an American reality-based television series that debuted on E! on June 7, 2009. The program details model - and former girlfriend of Playboy owner Hugh Hefner - Kendra Wilkinson's life after moving out of the Playboy Mansion, including her engagement and marriage to football player Hank...
and Holly's World
Holly's World
Holly's World, originally titled Planet Holly, is an American reality television series that debuted on E! on December 6, 2009. Initially a one-off special, success in the ratings led to E! ordering an eight-episode season that began airing on June 13, 2010.The show is the second spin-off to The...
.
Synopsis
The series focuses on the lives of Hefner's girlfriends who live with him at the Playboy MansionPlayboy Mansion
The Playboy Mansion is the home of Playboy magazine founder Hugh Hefner. Located in the Holmby Hills area of Los Angeles, California, the mansion became famous during the 1970s through media reports of Hefner's lavish parties.-History:The house is described as being in the "Gothic-Tudor" style...
. Hefner is often on the show along with various Playmates and other celebrities.
The series not only showcases events at the Playboy Mansion (e.g. Fight Night, Fourth of July
Independence Day (United States)
Independence Day, commonly known as the Fourth of July, is a federal holiday in the United States commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain...
celebration, the midsummer celebration etc.), but also sheds light on other Playboy related events such as the Playboy Jazz Festival at the Hollywood Bowl
Hollywood Bowl
The Hollywood Bowl is a modern amphitheater in the Hollywood area of Los Angeles, California, United States that is used primarily for music performances...
, Playmate test shoots at Playboy Studio West
Playboy Studio West
Playboy Studio West is located at 2112 Broadway Avenue, Santa Monica, CA. It is one of Playboy's key studio facilities for Playboy photographers to shoot centerfolds and playmate pictorials...
, Operation Playmate, party night, birthday parties, and more significantly, the personalities and real lives of each of the Girls.
Development and production
Kevin Burns approached Hefner in 2005, which resulted in a pilot called "Hef's World" being filmed. This followed "Hef, his girlfriends and friends contrasted with the staff". When presented to E!, they told him to go back and interview each of the girlfriends to "see what you can get", which resulted in the premise shifting from Hefner to life in the mansion from a female's perspective.Seasons 1-5
The first five seasons centered around then-girlfriends Holly MadisonHolly Madison
Hollin Sue Cullen, professionally known as Holly Madison, is an American model, showgirl and television personality. She is widely known for being one of Hugh Hefner's girlfriends on the reality television series The Girls Next Door...
, Bridget Marquardt
Bridget Marquardt
Bridget Marquardt is an American television personality, model, and actress. She is best known for her role on the reality television series The Girls Next Door, which depicts her life as one of Playboy magazine publisher Hugh Hefner's girlfriends...
, and Kendra Wilkinson.
In October 2008, Hefner's relationships with Madison ended for unconfirmed reasons (though the final episode of the fifth season discusses her unhappiness at the mansion in not being able to get married or have a family with Hefner) and Wilkinson left to continue her relationship with boyfriend Hank Baskett
Hank Baskett
Henry Randall "Hank" Baskett III is a wide receiver who is currently a free agent. Baskett has played for three NFL teams, the Minnesota Vikings, Philadelphia Eagles and Indianapolis Colts....
. Marquardt also temporarily left at the same time to film Bridget's Sexiest Beaches for The Travel Channel
Travel Channel
The Travel Channel is a satellite and cable television channel that is headquartered in Chevy Chase, Maryland, US. It features documentaries and how-to shows related to travel and leisure around the United States and throughout the world. Programming has included shows in African animal safaris,...
, but in January 2009 ended her relationship with Hefner and moved out of the mansion permanently.
Season 6
Despite the end of Hefner's romantic relationship with Madison, Marquardt and Wilkinson, all three were contractually committed to a sixth season. Madison indicated to Life & Style magazine, the manner in which their contractual obligations would be fulfilled was still unknown at the time, but that they were still filming material together. However, the focus of the show shifted to Hefner's new girlfriends, 19-year-old twins Kristina and Karissa Shannon, and 23-year-old Crystal HarrisCrystal Harris
Crystal Harris is an American glamour model, singer, and television personality. She was the Playboy Playmate of the Month for December 2009. On December 24, 2010, she became engaged to Hugh Hefner, to become his third wife. Harris broke off the engagement on June 14, 2011, five days before their...
.
Madison did appear in the first two episodes of the season, and also appeared with Marquardt and Wilkinson in the episode "The Showering Inferno", which focused more on them than Harris and the twins.
Episodes
Spin-offs
In 2008, Kevin Burns approached Kendra and offered her a show of her own. She later accepted and the show premiered on June 7, 2009. The show was a hit for E!, averaging 2.6 million viewers in its first season and setting many records - including being the highest-rated premiere since 2002.In 2009, Burns revealed he was in talks to create two new shows, one for Madison and one for Marquardt.
- Holly's World premiered on December 6, 2009 as a backdoor pilot and later received an 8-episode first season that began airing on June 13, 2010.
- Just Add Bridget filmed a pilot in April 2010, but wasn't picked up.
In 2010, a backdoor pilot focusing on the Playmate House aired on August 8, 2010. As of August 2011, the show has not been picked up.
Crystal Harris called off her wedding with Hugh Hefner and the footage aired on Lifetime as one-hour special titled "Hef's Runaway Bride". Hef confirmed that if the special gets good ratings, another season of The Girls Next Door will be filmed and will air on Lifetime.
Reception
The show was an instant hit for E! and quickly had its first season expanded from eight to fifteen episodes. The second season premiere was watched by 1.6 million viewers (which set a 3-year record) and then topped itself by having 2.16 million viewers for the third season premiere - the second highest season premiere ever on the E! network.The initial success of the show was so great that Playboy published a nude pictorial of Madison, Marquardt, and Wilkinson in the November 2005 issue. This later lead to two more pictorials in September 2006 (to celebrate the premiere of the second season) and March 2008 (celebrating them being voted fourth in Playboys annual "Sexiest Celebrities" online poll).
The final episode starring Madison, Marquardt and Wilkinson was watched by 2.535 million viewers.
Despite starting with the highest rating season premiere in the show's history, the sixth season saw ratings drop from 2.4 million watching the premiere, to only 960,000 watching the fourth episode only three weeks later. Ratings then dropped even further to 919,000 viewers only five weeks after the premiere.