The Girls Next Door

Welcome to paradise! The series kicks off as you get to know Hef's three girlfriends--Holly, Bridget and Kendra--and how life works at the world's most famous Mansion. Tonight the group is off to the AFI salute to George Lucas, and naturally Kendra is running late. After the event, Kendra wants to watch a movie from Hef's extensive collection and continues to ruffle Holly's feathers--and gets her dogs all worked up, too--while looking for it in the master bedroom. Holly reveals that she'd like to get rid of the other girls. But Kendra's not going anywhere. Who would want to leave this Mansion?

Two aspiring Playmates arrive at the Mansion to stay the night before they shoot test pictorials. Hef's girls greet them with varying degrees of hospitality. After an afternoon of ice skating and a trip to the batting cages, the entire group heads out for a sushi dinner. Since Hef doesn't like sushi, he has his own staff prepare the ingredients for lamb chops--to be cooked by the restaurant chef! Something's fishy, though, when Hef's dinner takes a bit too long. But a night of clubbing with his gals takes the edge off. There's even more good news when Hef announces to Holly, Bridget and Kendra that they'll get a pictorial in the magazine. The girls, and especially Bridget, are ecstatic. After all, this is her life-long dream come true.

When you're one of Hef's girls, your birthday party isn't just a quaint gathering--it's an event. Kendra's 20th is a two-day celebration, which starts off with a trip to the 2005 Playboy Jazz Festival with the gang and her gorgeous pal Destiny. The group travels in a fully-stocked bus and hangs out with adorning fans during the concert. Kendra and Destiny even shake their booty to a bit of hip-hop. The next day brings sunshine (after a questionable, cloudy morning) and some of Kendra's favorite things: gifts based on the Philadelphia Eagles and all things Mafia-related, volleyball, a barbecue feast and a visit from her family (she especially digs her playful grandma). The good times lead to heavy emotions when Kendra is overcome by all of the warmth and love from Hef, the other girls and her family. The love which surrounds Kendra becomes the best gift of all.

This week brings another birthday bash, but this one is for Playmate Carmella DeCesare. And it's in Vegas, baby! After waking up at 4:30 a.m. for the trip, the girls (sans Hef) help Sin City live up to its name. They stay at the exclusive Hugh Hefner Suite at the Palms Hotel, flash a window washer, enjoy some cake and cocktails, hang at the pool and engage in a bit of wet 'n' wild group frolicking in the suite's custom shower. But before they know it, the girls' 9 p.m. curfew rolls around, and it's time to get back to the Mansion--even though Kendra's having a wee bit too much fun. The girls eventually get home (a little late) and unwind--each in their own way--which is something they all need after a lengthy, action-packed day.

Put up your dukes, it's Fight Night at the Mansion! And there's a whole lotta action inside--and outside--the ring. Hef's former girlfriend, legendary Playboy cover girl Barbi Benton, delivers a couple of low blows when she shows up at the Mansion to constantly reminisce about the old days and comment on the age of some of Hef's new girls. Ouch! Then there's a territory controversy when Bridget's newly adopted puppy rubs her cat Gizmo the wrong way. During the big boxing celebration, however, all of the beauties shine--especially Kendra--when they work as ring girls. But it's Holly who gets the knockout of the night when Barbi leaves, and she gets to go to bed with Hef. Holly is, after all, quite a fighter.

Patriotism is in the air at the Mansion on the Fourth of July. The girls begin the holiday celebration with ""Operation Playmate,"" a Playboy tradition of preparing and sending care packages to U.S. troops stationed around the world. The event is especially important to Bridget, whose brother is currently in North Carolina awaiting his next tour of duty in the Middle East. After paying him an emotional visit, Bridget returns to the Mansion for the big Independence Day party. Dressed as the Statue of Liberty, Bridget joins Holly and Kendra for a hair-raising ride on the Mansion's custom-made slip 'n' slide. We'll salute that any day!