Married with Children Wiki
Married with Children Wiki
Married with Children Wiki
1,420
pages
in: Key Items, Magazines

Playboy

Edit

Playboy is an American men's lifestyle and entertainment magazine that features nude women along with articles and interviews.

On Married... with Children, it was one of the preferred adult magazines for Al Bundy and other men on the show.

Description[]

It is primarily known for featuring female models in nude or semi nude pictorials, as well as articles, interviews with notable figures such as John Wayne and illustrations. It has also published various special editions of its magazine and videos with certain themes, such as "Book of Lingerie" or "College Girls". It is also less explicit compared to other men's magazines such as Penthouse or Hustler.

The model who is featured in the centerfold of the magazine is referred to as a "Playmate" (either "Playmate of the Month" or "Playmate of the Year"), while those who appeared in the magazine but not as a centerfold or appeared in the special edition magazines and videos may be referred to as a "Playboy model".

End of Physical Print[]

In March 2020, the company announced that it would cease publishing physical copies of its magazine and switch to a digital format. The reason was primarily due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which interfered with distribution. It also decided to publish the content quarterly rather than monthly like it had been since its inception.

At the end of 2020, the titles of "Playmate of the Month" and "Playmate of the Year" were eliminated, due to the publication switching to a quarterly publishing schedule. As of 2021, a newer Playmate is referred to by the quarter she appeared in, such as "Playmate Spring 2021".

Controversies[]

In October 2015, Playboy announced the magazine would no longer feature full-frontal nudity beginning with the March 2016 issue, citing its inability to compete with freely available internet pornography and nudity. Though, the move would not affect PlayboyPlus.com (which features nudity at a paid subscription).

In February 2017, the company admitted that the dropping of nudity had been a mistake, blaming the way that nudity was presented rather than the nudity itself. Cooper Hefner, who took over following his father's death, acknowledged the evolution of gender roles and oversaw the decision to feature Playboy's first transgender playmate in the centerfold for its November 2017 issue.[1]

Following Cooper's departure in 2019, more controversies followed after three millennials (two females and one openly gay male) were hired to lead the company, which led to the publication being labeled as "woke". Some of these controversies include shifting its focus away from a predominately male audience and instead, focusing on inclusion, articles on sexual and gender fluidity, the inclusion of another transgender Playmate, putting a gay male model in the iconic bunnygirl suit on the cover, pictorials featuring pop singers Lizzo (who focuses on body positivity) and Hasley (who identifies as "non-binary") and interviews/profiles featuring activists and controversial figures.[2][3][1][4][5]

Return to Print[]

In August 2024, the company announced that it would return to physical print beginning in February 2025. It was noted that it would once again feature full frontal female nudity, but would only be published annually. It was also aiming to bring in "content creators", as well as included nostalgic content to reach a newer and broader audience with disposable income. [6][1][2][5]

Usage on Married... with Children[]

In the early season of the show, Al is shown to have a collection of Playboy magazines and Bud could be seen sneaking a few of them out from the basement. At the age of 12, Al started collected the magazines, as Al's father collected Playboy magazines as well and that the two of them would bond over looking at the centerfolds while Al's mom was drunk on Singapore Slings. After his father passed away, Al inherited his entire collection.

On Married... with Children, the magazines were mentioned and seen in several episodes during the first six season of the show.

After season 6, the name and magazines were rarely mentioned or seen. Instead, Big 'Uns served as the adult reading material of choice for Al, Bud and the other males on the show.

In addition, many Playboy Playmates and models guest starred throughout the show's run.

Playboy Playmates who appeared on MWC[]

Playboy Models who appeared on MWC[]

  • Patty Breton (Pilgrim Girl) - Playboy's Nudes (January 1995), Playboy's Book of Lingerie (March/April 1996), Playboy's Wet and Wild (1996), Playboy's Sexy Latin Ladies (1997), Playboy: Women Behaving Badly (Video) and Playboy: Cheerleaders (Video).
  • Tonya Lawson (Salome) - Playboy (June 1992), Playboy's Book of Lingerie (January/February 1995).
  • Rhonda Shear (Brenda Kostrowski) - Playboy (April 1977, June 1991, October 1993)
  • Vanna White (Coco/Helen Granowinner) - Playboy (May 1987)
  • Sandra Taylor (Naomi) - Playboy (July 1995, February 1996). She was also in Penthouse, as Pet of the Month, March 1991 (Credited as "Sandi Korn")
  • Jessica Hahn (Ricki) - Playboy (November 1987, September 1988) Playboy Celebrity Centerfold: Jessica Hahn (Video)
  • Lisa Saxton (Girl Vendor / Bathsheba) - Playboy (February 1990, October 1991), Playboy's Fast Women (Video), Playboy: 101 Ways to Excite Your Lover (Video)
  • Michele Smith (Bunny) - Playboy (February 1989, August 1991)
  • Cindy Margolis (Beer Girl #1) - Playboy (May 1990, December 2006, July 2008) Playboy's Garters and Laces (1992)
  • Tonya Poole (Beer Girl #3) - Playboy (October 1990), Playboy's Garters and Laces (1992), Playboy's Erotic Fantasies (Video)
  • Kim Anderson (Jackie) - Playboy (May 1990, August 1993)
  • Terri Wilgren (Mindy) - Playboy (July 1991)
  • Tina New (Debbie/Woman #1) - Playboy (June 1994), Playboy's Bathing Beauties (Spring 1995), Playboy's Book of Lingerie (July/August 1994, September/October 1994, November/December 1995, March/April 1996, May/June 1996, January/February 1997, March/April 1997)
  • Beckie Mullen (Yvonne) - Playboy (December 1990, January 1994), Playboy's Book of Lingerie (January/February 1991)
  • Lisa Boyle (Bubbles Double Dee / Fawn) - Playboy (April 1992, February 1993, September 1994), Playboy's Book of Lingerie (March/April 1995, July/August 1995, March/April 1997, March/April 1998)
  • Heather Elizabeth Parkhurst - Playboy (August 1991, January 1992 (as part of the Swedish Bikini Team))

References on MWC[]

In the season 2 episode, "Impo-Dent" during Al's speech to Marcy about why men would even need women, he mentions the founder of Playboy, Hugh Hefner and refers to him as "The world renowned social scientist".

In the season 3 episode, "The House That Peg Lost", during Kelly's sleepover, Bud comes downstairs dressed as Hugh Hefner to flirt with her friends. He wears a maroon colored smoking jacket and ascot tie, while also carrying a smoking pipe. He also dyed the sides of his hair grey, similar to Hefner's hairstyle during the late 1980s.

In the season 4 episode, "Desperately Seeking Miss October", the episode revolves around Al and Steve meeting Brandi Brandt Playmate of the Month October 1987 and looking for the issue she appeared in. Al talks about his Playboy collection and later, Marcy shows part of Brandi's centerfold when she tells Al and Peggy about what she did to Steve after finding her centerfold posted on the headboard of their bed. By the end of the episode, Peggy brings his Playboy magazines back in a wheelbarrow. Besides showing off the October 1987 issue to Peggy, one of the Playboy covers that is prominently seen in the wheelbarrow is the September 1988 issue featuring Jessica Hahn who later appeared on MWC as Al's shoe groupie, Ricki.

In the season 5 episode, "And Baby Makes Money", Peggy tells Marcy that Al is out buying issues of Playboy, Penthouse and Biker Babes to get him in the mood for sex.

In the season 5 episode, "Married... with Who?", Al tells Peggy about Captain Hank, the sea captain who is going to officiate Marcy and Jefferson's marriage and says that "You give him a bottle of Red Eye and a Playboy, and he'll marry your mother to a cow!"

In the season 5 episode, "Look Who's Barking" Buck begins to wonder if Bud was "done sifting through his Playboy collection" so he could finally feed him.

In the season 5 episode, "Route 666 (Part 1)" Bud is caught sneaking up some of Al's Playboy magazines from the basement. When Bud lifts up his shirt and hands over the Playboys to Peg, the issues he hands her appear to be from February 1989, January 1991 and February 1991. Later, after the family decides that Al will take all of them to Los Angeles, Bud asks "Can we drop in on Hef?", in reference to Hugh Hefner and the Playboy Mansion.

In the season 5 episode, "Route 666 (Part 2)", as the group discusses what they plan to do with their gold, Bud tells his father that he'll get a place for himself right next to the Playboy Mansion. He then says "Hef's parties might have died down by now, but, uh, he can still sneak over the fence and get some young stuff at 'Club Bud'!".

In the season 5 finale, "Buck the Stud", Al reveals to Peg that Buck shredded his Playboy magazines in the basement after being kept in there for two weeks, in order to prepare him to breed with the briard of Mr. Lovejoy for $10,000.

In the season 6 episode, "Hi I.Q.", it is revealed that both Al and Bud are subscribers to Playboy magazine and received the latest issue as Kelly sorts out the mail for the family.

In the season 7 episode, "The Chicago Wine Party", after thinking he's been called a virgin by the poll worker, Bud says "Are you kidding? Why does everyone look at me and just assume I'm a virgin? 'Cause I'm not! Could a virgin tell you the name and the last book read by every Playboy centerfold in the last ten years?!"

In the season 7 episode, "Christmas", during Al's flashback to 1974, an infant Bud gleefully tells Peggy for Christmas that he wants "Playboys! Hooters!" and she then wipes his mouth. Later in the present day, Peggy asks the family what they want for Christmas and the now adult Bud gleefully says again "Playboys! Hooters!" before Peggy wipes his mouth again.

In the season 8 episode, "Luck of the Bundys", after Al comments on Peggy buying a dress because of her horoscope and that he doesn't believe in them, she quips "And yet you believe in a 19 year old in 'Playboy' pouring honey on her tush is really interested in saving the environment".

In the season 8 episode, "The Legend of Ironhead Haynes", Bud throws a paper plane into a NO MA'AM meeting , claiming it is Miss January to distract them while he goes to the hidden refrigerator. Al then picks it up and opens it up for the guys to see, revealing a sexy blonde woman. The image is the actual centerfold for Playmate of the Month for March 1994, Neriah Davis. The image was edited with a fake bikini covering the nude bits from the original version.

In the season 9 episode, "No Pot to Pease In", Al orders the "Playmate of the Month" figure set from the Shop-At-Home Network.

In the season 10 episode, "Al Goes to the Dogs", Bud comes out of the basement with a baseball bat after hearing Al come back inside with Lucky. Al then notices Bud's blue silk pajamas and sarcastically calls him "Hef".


Gallery[]

References[]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Playboy Returns to Fit Females, Nudity, After Woke Rebrand Fail. Breitbart (February 17, 2025). Retrieved on February 19, 2025.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 ‘Gutfeld!’: Old Playboy is BACK!
  3. ↑ Woke Joke: Former Playmate Says ‘Woke’ Playboy No Longer Relevant. Bleeding Fool (October 7, 2021). Retrieved on February 19, 2025.
  4. ↑ Playboy gets 'woke': Millennial editors relaunch the infamous men's magazine with a new inclusive tilt - but still put NAKED women on the cover, which is meant to represent 'sexual fluidity'. Daily Mail U.K. (August 2, 2019). Retrieved on February 19, 2025.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Playboy returns to its roots after woke rebrand featured a Lizzo centerfold, transgender Playmate and NO nudity. Daily Mail U.K. (February 17, 2025). Retrieved on February 19, 2025.
  6. ↑ Playboy To Bring Back Its Print Magazine With Annual Edition. Forbes (August 08, 2024). Retrieved on February 19, 2025.
Community content is available under CC-BY-SA unless otherwise noted.