View source for The Girls Next Door

{{short description|American reality television series}}
{{About|the television series|the Pat Metheny Group song of the same name|We Live Here|the country music female group|Girls Next Door|other uses|Girl Next Door (disambiguation){{!}}Girl Next Door}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2023}} {{Use American English|date=November 2023}}
{{Infobox television
| image         = The Girls Next Door (E! reality show logo).svg
| caption       = 
| alt_name      = ''The Girls of the Playboy Mansion''
| creator       = [[Kevin Burns]]<br/>[[Hugh Hefner]]
| starring      = Hugh Hefner<br>[[Holly Madison]] (2005–09)<br>[[Bridget Marquardt]] (2005–09)<br>[[Kendra Wilkinson]] (2005–09)<br>[[Crystal Harris]] (2009)<br>[[Kristina and Karissa Shannon|Kristina Shannon]] (2009)<br>[[Kristina and Karissa Shannon|Karissa Shannon]] (2009)
| opentheme     = "[[Come On-a My House|Come on-a My House]]" (remix)
| endtheme      = "Come on-a My House" (remix)
| country       = United States
| language      = English
| company       = [[Fox 21 Television Studios|Fox Television Studios]]<br>[[Alta Loma Entertainment]]<br>[[Prometheus Entertainment]]
| num_seasons   = 6
| num_episodes  = 91
| list_episodes = List of The Girls Next Door episodes
| runtime       =
| network       = [[E!]]
| first_aired   = {{Start date|2005|8|7}}
| last_aired    = {{End date|2010|8|8}}
| related       = ''[[Kendra (TV series)|Kendra]]''<br>''[[Holly's World]]''<br>''[[The Girls Next Door: The Bunny House]]''<br/>''Bridget's Sexiest Beaches''<br>''[[Kendra on Top]]'' 
}}

'''''The Girls Next Door''''' (also known as '''''The Girls of the Playboy Mansion''''') is a [[reality television]] series that focused on the lives of [[Hugh Hefner]]'s girlfriends who lived with him at the [[Playboy Mansion]]. The series was created by [[executive producer]] [[Kevin Burns]] and Hefner, founder of ''[[Playboy]]'' magazine. The series premiered on the [[E!]] cable network on August 7, 2005 and ran for 6 seasons. The first five seasons centered around then-girlfriends, [[Holly Madison]], [[Bridget Marquardt]] and [[Kendra Wilkinson]]. The sixth and final season premiered on October 11, 2009 and introduced Hefner's new girlfriends, [[Crystal Hefner|Crystal Harris]], who eventually went on to marry Hefner, and twins [[Kristina and Karissa Shannon]].

The success of the series was followed by a few [[Spin-off (media)|spin-offs]], including ''[[Kendra (TV series)|Kendra]]'' and ''[[Holly's World]]''.

==Synopsis==
The series focused on the lives of [[Hugh Hefner]]'s girlfriends who lived with him at the legendary [[Playboy Mansion]] in [[Los Angeles]]. Hefner was often on the show along with various [[Playmate]]s and other celebrities. The series not only showcased events at the mansion (e.g. Fight Night, [[Independence Day (United States)|Fourth of July]] celebration, the Midsummer Night's Dream party), but also shed 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.

==Development and production==
[[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.<ref>The E! True Hollywood Story: Kendra</ref>

===Seasons 1–5===
The first five seasons centered around then-girlfriends, [[Holly Madison]], [[Bridget Marquardt]] and [[Kendra Wilkinson]].

In October<ref name="infoaboutbreakup">[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 }}</ref> 2008, Hefner's relationships with Madison ended<ref name="ap-breakup">{{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 }}</ref> 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 [[Travel Channel|The Travel Channel]], but in January 2009<ref name="infoaboutbreakup" /> ended her relationship with Hefner and moved out of the mansion permanently.

===Final season===
Despite the end of Hefner's relationship with Madison, Marquardt and Wilkinson, all three were contractually committed to a sixth season.<ref name="ap-breakup" /> 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.<ref>''Life & Style'' Magazine December 1, p.49,</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref> However, the focus of the show shifted to Hefner's new girlfriends, 23-year-old [[Crystal Hefner|Crystal Harris]],<ref>{{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}}</ref> and 19-year-old twins [[Kristina and Karissa Shannon]].<!-- The twins' age at the time of production was stated to be 19 in the season 6 premiere. -->
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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://vimeo.com/11741526|title = GND Rough Cut}}</ref>

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.

==Episodes==
{{Main|List of The Girls Next Door episodes}}
{{:List of The Girls Next Door episodes}}
<!-- To edit the table in this section you must edit [[List of The Girls Next Door episodes]]. -->

==Reception==
''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.<ref>{{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}}</ref>

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<ref>{{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}}</ref> viewers.

Despite starting with the highest rating season premiere in the series' history,<ref name="ratingsS6premiere">{{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}}</ref> the sixth season saw ratings drop from 2.4 million<ref name="ratingsS6premiere" /> watching the premiere, to only 960,000<ref>{{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}}</ref> watching the fourth episode only three weeks later. Ratings then dropped even further to 919,000 viewers only five weeks after the premiere.<ref>{{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}}</ref>

==Home releases==
[[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.<ref>{{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 }}</ref>  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.<ref>[http://www.mpihomevideo.com/Store/Detail.asp?ProdID=10882 The Girls Next Door: Complete Collection - MPI Home Video<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>  The 17-disc set features all 91 episodes of the series as well as many bonus features.

==Spin-offs==
In 2008, Burns approached Wilkinson and offered her a series of her own.<ref name="movieline1">{{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}}</ref> She later accepted and [[Kendra (TV series)|the series]] premiered on June 7, 2009.<ref>{{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}}</ref> The series was a hit for ''E!'', averaging 2.6 million<ref>{{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}}</ref> viewers in its first season and setting many records – including being the highest-rated premiere since 2002.<ref>{{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}}</ref>

In 2009, Burns revealed he was in talks to create two new series, one for Madison and one for Marquardt.<ref name="movieline1"/>
:''[[Holly's World]]'' premiered on December 6, 2009<ref name="pilotdate">{{cite web|url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/showatch/e-special/listings|title=Shows A-Z|work=The Futon Critic|access-date=July 21, 2010}}</ref> as a [[backdoor pilot]] and later received an 8-episode first season<ref>{{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}}</ref> that began airing on June 13, 2010.<ref>{{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}}</ref>
:''Just Add Bridget''<ref name="bridgettitle">{{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}}</ref> filmed a pilot in April 2010,<ref>{{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}}</ref> but wasn't picked up.<ref>{{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}}</ref>

In 2010, a backdoor pilot<ref>{{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}}</ref> focusing on the ''Playmate'' House, titled ''[[The Girls Next Door: The Bunny House]]'', aired on August 8, 2010,<ref>{{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}}</ref> 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,<ref>[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</ref> however it was later confirmed the season had been canceled before the production had begun and that the series would not be returning.<ref>{{cite tweet |author= Holly Madison |user= hollymadison|number= 193958497501716480 |date= April 22, 2012 |title= @pinkpurple2011 no, working on a new project! :) |access-date=  }}</ref> 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<ref>{{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}}</ref> – 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''.<ref>{{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}}</ref> As with all other spin-offs, this show is also produced by Burns and his production company [[Prometheus Entertainment]].

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* {{IMDb title|0468424}}

{{Girls Next Door}}
{{E!}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Girls Next Door, The}}
[[Category:2000s American reality television series]]
[[Category:2005 American television series debuts]]
[[Category:2010 American television series endings]]
[[Category:2010s American reality television series]]
[[Category:E! original programming]]
[[Category:American English-language television shows]]
[[Category:Television series by 20th Century Fox Television]]
[[Category:Television series by Alta Loma Entertainment]]
[[Category:Television shows set in Los Angeles]]
[[Category:Playboy]]
[[Category:Women in California]]