The Girls Next Door#Season 4

The series focuses on the lives of Hugh Hefner's girlfriends who live with him at the legendary Playboy Mansion in Los Angeles. Hefner was often on the show along with various Playmates and other celebrities. The series not only showcases events at the mansion (e.g. Fight Night, Fourth of July celebration, the Midsummer Night's Dream party), 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, birthday parties, and more significantly, the personalities and real lives of each of his girlfriends.

Kevin Burns approached Hefner in early 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 woman's perspective.The E! True Hollywood Story: Kendra

The first five seasons centered around then-girlfriends, Holly Madison, Bridget Marquardt and Kendra Wilkinson.

In October[http://omg.yahoo.com/news/bridget-marquardt-moves-out-of-playboy-mansion/17410 Bridget Marquardt Moves Out of Playboy Mansion] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090121005013/http://omg.yahoo.com/news/bridget-marquardt-moves-out-of-playboy-mansion/17410 |date=January 21, 2009 }} 2008, Hefner's relationships with Madison ended{{cite news|url=http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hDJOaKMoWhYgKsblT1QMM5EE-MJQD93MSJDG0 |title=Hugh Hefner opens up about Holly Madison breakup |first=Derrik J. |last=Lang |agency=Associated Press |date=October 9, 2008 |access-date=October 9, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081012172312/http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hDJOaKMoWhYgKsblT1QMM5EE-MJQD93MSJDG0 |archive-date=October 12, 2008 }} 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 new relationship with football player 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.

Despite the end of Hefner's 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.Life & Style Magazine December 1, p.49,{{cite web|url=http://www.tmz.com/2008/10/07/holly-to-hugh-hef-off|title=Holly to Hugh: Hef Off|work=TMZ|access-date=October 7, 2008|date=October 7, 2008}} However, the focus of the show shifted to Hefner's new girlfriends, 23-year-old Crystal Harris,{{cite news|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/gossip/2009/01/06/2009-01-06_meet_playboy_founder_hugh_hefners_other_.html|title=Meet Playboy founder Hugh Hefner's other girlfriend, Crystal Harris|author=Korn Miller|publisher=NY Daily News|access-date=August 4, 2010 | location=New York | date=January 5, 2009}} and 19-year-old twins Kristina and Karissa Shannon.

The sixth season was also originally set to feature Anna Sophia Berglund and Melissa Taylor as Hefner's second and third girlfriends, with the Shannon twins relegated to fourth and fifth position – according to a post by the company responsible for the show's opening sequence, that shows an incomplete rough cut of the new intro for the show.{{Cite web|url=https://vimeo.com/11741526|title = GND Rough Cut}}

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.

{{Main|List of The Girls Next Door episodes}}

{{:List of The Girls Next Door episodes}}

The Girls Next Door 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.buddytv.com/articles/the-girls-next-door/the-girls-next-door-preview-of-14524.aspx|title=The Girls Next Door: Preview of Tonight's Episode|work=BuddyTV|date=December 9, 2007|access-date=August 4, 2010}}

The initial success of the show was so great that Playboy published a nude pictorial of Madison, Marquardt and Wilkinson on the November 2005 issue. This later led to two more pictorials in September 2006 (to celebrate the premiere of the second season) and March 2008 (celebrating them being voted fourth in Playboy{{'}}s annual "Sexiest Celebrities" online poll).

The final episode starring Madison, Marquardt and Wilkinson was watched by 2.535 million{{cite web|url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/sdsdskdh279882992z1/wwe-raw-the-closer-and-president-obama-lead-cable-viewing/13835/|title=WWE RAW, The Closer and President Obama lead cable viewing|work=TV by the Numbers|access-date=April 3, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180216025150/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/sdsdskdh279882992z1/wwe-raw-the-closer-and-president-obama-lead-cable-viewing/13835/|archive-date=February 16, 2018}} viewers.

Despite starting with the highest rating season premiere in the series' history,{{cite web|url=http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/357721-Cable_Ratings_Knocked_Up_New_Girls_Next_Door_Propel_E_.php?rssid=20068|title=Cable Ratings: 'Knocked Up', New 'Girls Next Door,' Propel E!|date=2009-10-12|work=Broadcasting & Cable|access-date=August 4, 2010}} the sixth season saw ratings drop from 2.4 million watching the premiere, to only 960,000{{cite web|url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/ratings/dexter-sets-another-series-high-beats-mad-men/32488/|title=Dexter sets another series high, beats Mad Men|work=TV By the Numbers|date=November 3, 2009|access-date=April 3, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170818010057/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/ratings/dexter-sets-another-series-high-beats-mad-men/32488/|archive-date=August 18, 2017}} watching the fourth episode only three weeks later. Ratings then dropped even further to 919,000 viewers only five weeks after the premiere.{{cite web|url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/cable/sunday-cable-finals-world-war-ii-in-hd-beats-curbed-dexter-prisoner-and-californication/33993/|title=Sunday cable finals: World War II in HD beats Curbed, Dexter, Prisoner and Californication|work=TV by the Numbers|date=November 18, 2009|access-date=April 3, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170818010436/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/cable/sunday-cable-finals-world-war-ii-in-hd-beats-curbed-dexter-prisoner-and-californication/33993/|archive-date=August 18, 2017}}

20th Century Fox Home Entertainment released the first five seasons on DVD in Region 1 between 2006 and 2009. These releases have been discontinued and are now out-of-print.

In March 2011, it was announced that MPI Home Video had acquired the rights to the series.{{cite web|url=http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Girls-Door-Season-6/15140|title=The Girls Next Door DVD news: Announcement for The Girls Next Door - Season 6 |work=TVShowsOnDVD|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130312033600/http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Girls-Door-Season-6/15140 |archive-date=2013-03-12 }} They subsequently released season 6 on DVD in July 19, 2011. They also re-released the first five seasons on the same day.

On November 29, 2011, MPI Home Video released The Girls Next Door: Complete Collection on DVD in Region 1.[http://www.mpihomevideo.com/Store/Detail.asp?ProdID=10882 The Girls Next Door: Complete Collection - MPI Home Video] The 17-disc set features all 91 episodes of the series as well as many bonus features.

In 2008, Burns approached Wilkinson and offered her a series of her own.{{cite web|url=http://movieline.com/2009/07/23/ask-an-ep-the-girls-next-doors-kevin-burns/|title=Ask an E.P.: The Girls Next Door's Kevin Burns|work=Movieline|date=23 July 2009 |access-date=April 3, 2022}} She later accepted and the series premiered on June 7, 2009.{{cite web|url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/showatch.aspx?id=kendra&view=listings|title=Shows A-Z - kendra on e|publisher=the Futon Critic|access-date=May 29, 2010}} The series was a hit for E!, averaging 2.6 million{{cite web|url=https://www.nexttv.com/news/kendra-season-finale-es-best-seven-years-364154|title='Kendra' Season Finale Is E!'s Best In Seven Years|work=NextTV|date=4 August 2009 |access-date=July 7, 2010}} viewers in its first season and setting many records – including being the highest-rated premiere since 2002.{{cite news|url=http://blogs.suntimes.com/tv/2009/06/kendra_ratings_highest_series.html|title='Kendra' ratings: Highest series debut since 'The Anna Nicole Show'|work=Sun Times|access-date=July 7, 2010|first=Paige|last=Wiser|date=June 9, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090826235224/http://blogs.suntimes.com/tv/2009/06/kendra_ratings_highest_series.html|archive-date=August 26, 2009}}

In 2009, Burns revealed he was in talks to create two new series, one for Madison and one for Marquardt.

:Holly's World premiered on December 6, 2009{{cite web|url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/showatch/e-special/listings|title=Shows A-Z|work=The Futon Critic|access-date=July 21, 2010}} as a backdoor pilot and later received an 8-episode first season{{cite web|url=https://www.eonline.com/news/162289/who_wants_more_holly_madison_we_do_we_do|title=Who Wants More Holly Madison? We Do! We Do!|work=E! Online|date=15 January 2010|access-date=April 3, 2022}} that began airing on June 13, 2010.{{cite web|url=http://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/hollys-world/episodes/299616|title= Holly's World Full Episode Guides on E!|work=TV Guide|access-date=July 20, 2010}}

:Just Add Bridget{{cite tweet|user=hughhefner|number=25156598341|title="Just Add Bridget" is Bridget Marquardt's own reality show on A&E. When it's set, we'll let you know.|first=Hugh|last=Hefner|access-date=April 3, 2022|date=September 22, 2010}} filmed a pilot in April 2010,{{cite web|url=http://www.hollyscoop.com/tv/bridget-marquardt/bridget-marquardt-and-boyfriend-get-their-own-reality-show_2272.aspx|title=Bridget Marquardt and Boyfriend Get Their Own Reality Show|work=HollywoodScoop.com|access-date=August 3, 2010}} but wasn't picked up.{{cite tweet|user=hughhefner|number=12278140269240320|title=GND spinoffs "Kendra" &"Holly's World" are airing on E!, but Bridget's show hasn't been picked up. Sorry.|first=Hugh|last=Hefner|access-date=April 3, 2022}}

In 2010, a backdoor pilot{{cite tweet|user=hughhefner|number=19714865111|title=Yes, if the ratings on the new episode of "GND: The Bunny House" are good, there will be a full season later.|first=Hugh|last=Hefner|access-date=April 3, 2022|date=July 28, 2010}} focusing on the Playmate House, titled The Girls Next Door: The Bunny House, aired on August 8, 2010,{{cite web|url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/showatch/girls-next-door/listings/|title=Shows A-Z - girls next door, the on e|work=The Futon Critic|access-date=April 3, 2022}} but the series was not picked up.

In 2011, Holly's World was initially given a third season that was due to begin filming in September,[http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2011/may/23/photos-holly-chats-about-empeepshow-hollys-worldem/ Photos: Holly Madison chats about 'Peepshow,' 'Holly’s World' at 'Hangover 2' party] Las Vegas Sun however it was later confirmed the season had been canceled before the production had begun and that the series would not be returning.{{cite tweet |author= Holly Madison |user= hollymadison|number= 193958497501716480 |date= April 22, 2012 |title= @pinkpurple2011 no, working on a new project! :) |access-date= }} The cancellation came about in July when then-new E! president Bonnie Hammer vowed to "get rid of the more Playboy trashy element" from the network{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/bonnie-hammer-e-entertainment-kardashians-nbcuniversal-269692/|title=Bonnie Hammer Reveals E! Rebranding Plans; Wants Up to Four New Kardashian Spinoffs|last=Rose|first=Lacey|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=December 7, 2011|access-date=April 3, 2022}} – a goal that was ultimately achieved as Kendra was also canceled in 2012.

In 2012, a new series titled Kendra on Top that would premiere on WE tv in the summer of 2012 was announced as a follow-up to Kendra.{{cite news|url=http://content.usatoday.com/communities/entertainment/post/2012/03/kendra-lands-new-we-reality-show-kendra-on-top-/1#.T2oA9xE2-uI|title=Kendra lands new WE reality show, 'Kendra On Top'|work=USA Today|date=March 21, 2012}} As with all other spin-offs, this show is also produced by Burns and his production company Prometheus Entertainment.

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