Playboy's first attempt at moving its worldwide brand into a new medium happened in 1982 with the launch of the Playboy Channel, a pay cable network. In extending the print publication to another outlet, Playboy executives were not attempting to translate the magazine to television. Their goal was to understand the attributes of the brand and figuring out how these attributes could best be applied to television. The company realized that to reach the maximum number of users, its content focus must shift away from the traditional audience of single men. Executives began programming shows that appealed to men and women, and the transition was successful: 80% of subscribers to the channel are couples, Hefner said.

I was a regular on for a year was Playboy on the Air, on the Playboy Channel.  I was their intrepid sex news reporter (!), sort of their Andy Rooney of sex.  I did all kinds of amusing stories and my photo was used in all the ad campaigns for the show (me in a hot tub, fully clothed, interviewing two naked girls).  The hosts of the show were Peter Tomarken and Shannon Tweed and Robert Osborne was also a regular.  My makeup woman on several shoots was none other than the glorious Connie Kreski, she who played the titular role of Hiernoymous Merkin in Mr. Newley's film.  I was personally chosen for the job by Mr. Hefner himself, because one of his all-time favorite movies is Nudie Musical, one of the only films to be shown multiple times at the mansion.  The best part of the job was that I was on the "A" list for a year - invited to the mansion weekly for movies and fun and food, and also invited to the two big parties he does every year.  I really liked Hef and had a blast doing the show.

From 06/24/2002 Haines His Way entry

You may be wondering why I would call Mr. Hugh Hefner “Hef” as if I knew him well enough to call him Hef. Well, I’ll tell you why because you, as dear readers, have the right to know. Did you know, for example, that for one year’s time that I worked for Hef and Playboy? No, I didn’t think you knew that because that is a little-known fact. It was, I believe, in 1982 or 1983 or a bit of both, and Playboy was doing a cable show called Playboy on the Air. My agent received a call one fine day and was told that I was being offered a job (offered!) as the Playboy on the Air Sex News Reporter (sort of their Andy Rooney of Sex News). I would write my own stuff and perform it weekly and I had carte blanche to do what I wanted. Naturally being curious, I asked why I was being offered the job, and I was told that I was Mr. Hefner’s personal idea. Yes, Virginia, you heard that right – I was Mr. Hefner’s personal idea. That is because one of Mr. Hefner’s all-time favorite films ever is The First Nudie Musical.

At that time, no film had ever been shown more than once at the mansion, but he used to run Nudie Musical over and over for people. Well, how could I turn that job down? I had a good deal of fun doing it, although it got harder and harder to come up with funny stuff every week – and I really didn’t like the producer I was working with, who I found an officious little prig – so, after a year, I quit. But that year was pretty grand – I had a blast doing my bits, and more importantly I became a regular at the mansion, having achieved “A” list status. Every Friday night I would go to “movie night” and what a fine time was had by all. The first time I went I walked in the front door and felt totally out-of-place, not knowing anyone. Mr. Hugh Hefner saw me and he literally ran up to me like a little kid, and he gleefully shook my hand and told me I’d been his personal idea and how much he liked me and what I was bringing to his show. I thanked Mr. Hefner profusely, and he said the immortal words, “Call me Hef.”

Here are two amusing anecdotes from the mansion: First, every time I would go into the movie room, find a seat and get comfy, here is what happened – Kareem Abdul Jabar would come in and sit in front of me. Every single time. So, I never really saw any movies because if Kareem Abdul Jabar sits in front of you, you can’t see anything. Second, and you’ll love this – after the movie everyone was sort of left to their own devices – some went to the grotto to frolic, some went to private rooms to frolic – I always went to the game room and played Frogger. Can you believe it? I never once had a frolic. I played fershluganah Frogger. I also attended the two major pajama parties, one in summer, one in fall, and those were pretty darn amazing. Hef was a wonderfully kind man, a great host and I have some great photos of he and I from those days.

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