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Hugh Hefner in Our Time
9-Jan-2009
Written by: Alistair Dickinson
Playboy founder Hugh Hefner, 82, opens up about his girlfriends and the future of the brand he created.
At 82 years old, Hugh Hefner still refuses to grow up.
The founder of the iconic Playboy magazine and brand still prefers to wears pajamas for most of the day and his newest dates are 19-year-old twin sisters.
In a recent interview with CNN, Hefner says, "Staying young is what it is all about for me." PJs and young blonds aside however, Hefner reveals himself to be a thoughtful man very much in touch with our times.
When asked about the recent election, he is enthusiastic about the results. "I, certainly, [say] this [is] a time for a change," he says, "I supported Obama. . . . I think he's a very good man." He adds that he feels the past eight years were among the worst he has seen in his long life.
He also commented on the ability of the Playboy brand to stay so visible after 55 years in business. He cites several reasons, including the shrewd choice to take Playboy online in the Web's early days, allowing the company to provide content in what would become today's preeminent form of media.
Of course, the other huge reason for Playboy's current popularity is the success of the reality show, The Girls Next Door, which follows the adventures of Hef's three (now former) live-in girlfriends: Holly, Bridget and Kendra. The show, originally aimed at men, has been a surprise hit with women around the world.
"We certainly didn't anticipate it," admits Hefner, revealing that his original motive to have the show focus on the girls instead of himself himself was "it took the pressure off the old man."
But being young at heart, Hefner is not content to rest on the spoils of his success. The sixth season of Girls is in the works and will cover the transitions taking place in the house as old girlfriends move on and new ones join Hefner at the mansion. It is set to premiere sometime in 2009.
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