There is more to Playboy than meets the eye. Hugh Hefner and his Playboy empire are the subject of an expose and documentary, Secrets of Playboy, now scheduled to return for a second season. The docuseries uncovers truths about the Playboy world that are previously unknown to the mainstream public.
Approached with a contemporary viewpoint, it also delves into Playboy’s complexity, scrutinising the extensively profound repercussions it has on our culture’s perspective and stance on power and sexuality, which Hugh Hefner reinvented with his so-called Playboy legacy.
What’s in this Guide?
Secrets of Playboy documentary preview
Hugh Hefner founded the Playboy magazine in the 1950s with the Playboy brand beginning with centrefolds of nude and semi-nude models called ‘Playmates’. Having played a crucial role in the sexual revolution, the publication turned massive and ultimately became Playboy Enterprises, Inc.
Establishing the Playboy legacy, Hugh Hefner expanded the Playboy universe by creating the Playboy mansion and hiring some of the most attractive women. For spectators, it’s a fantasy coming alive – the mansion became Hefner’s signature haven with the ‘Bunnies’ living there as his girlfriends. The mansion also hosted endless bachelor parties and perceived as the mecca for sex, indulgence, and good times.
The Playboy brand also catapulted several names to international stardom. Playmates like Anna Nicole Smith and Pamela Anderson’s meteoric rise to fame inspired aspiring models to achieve the same success, so that young women flock to Los Angeles in hopes of being the next centrefold.
But while the Playboy corporate world is touted as the kind of place that welcomes women, Playboy insiders revealed nothing could be farther from the truth.
Four years after Hefner’s death, A&E released a series that aims to examine the glamorous mythology created by the Playboy brand throughout the years. But while Hefner’s legacy included ushering a new era of sexual freedom and expression, those who were part of the Playboy inner circle are now speaking out about hidden truths and the sinister reality behind it all, finally unravelling the big Playboy lie.
The documentary shed light on issues and allegations of drug abuse, sexual assault, and the toxic environment that perpetrated the manipulation of women over several decades. Full of surprising allegations, Hefner’s former number-one girlfriend Sondra Theodore even sat down for an interview, detailing how the Playboy founder groomed her to be a part of his increasingly abusive sex life.
Secrets of Playboy Season 1 featured interviews of former Director of Playboy Promotions Miki Garcia; Hefner’s personal valet Stefan Tetenbaum; Bunny Mother PJ Masten; Playboy Mansion West resident Jennifer Saginor; and Hefner’s staff like his personal bodyguard and butler. Holly Madison, Bridget Marquardt, and Sondra Theodore, who all dated Hefner, also appeared in the documentary.
Theodore continues to appear in the documentary’s second season, as well as investigative journalist and former Playboy cover model, Lisa Guerrero.
Secrets of Playboy Season 2 release date
The documentary series exposing the dark side of the Playboy empire is coming back for Season 2, which is set to premiere on Foxtel (including Foxtel Now) and BINGE on Saturday, 16 September, with new episodes streaming weekly. Secrets of Playboy Season 2 consists of eight episodes, shorter than Season 1’s 12.
Secrets of Playboy Season 2 | Release Dates | Streaming Services |
---|---|---|
Episode 1 | Sat, 16 Sep 2023 | Foxtel Now / BINGE |
Episode 2 | Sat, 23 Sep 2023 | Foxtel Now / BINGE |
Episode 3 | Sat, 30 Sep 2023 | Foxtel Now / BINGE |
Episode 4 | Sat, 1 Oct 2023 | Foxtel Now / BINGE |
Episode 5 | Sat, 8 Oct 2023 | Foxtel Now / BINGE |
Episode 6 | Sat, 15 Oct 2023 | Foxtel Now / BINGE |
Episode 7 | Sat, 22 Oct 2023 | Foxtel Now / BINGE |
Episode 8 | Sat, 29 Oct 2023 | Foxtel Now / BINGE |
Secrets of Playboy Season 2 trailer
Check out the trailer for Secrets of Playboy Season 2 below.
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How many seasons of Secrets of Playboy?
Playboy is a brand that needs no introduction. Its influence and the way it has affected our culture runs deep and massive. But it’s not as fun and glamorous as it seems and we’re going to find out more about its dark dealings in this documentary series, which have been airing on streaming TV for two seasons now.
Seasons | Episodes | Released |
---|---|---|
Season 1 | 12 | 2022 |
Season 2 | 8 | 2023 |
How to watch Secrets of Playboy on Foxtel Now
To watch the Secrets of Playboy documentary, Australia has Foxtel airing the show on the FOX Docos channel. Fortunately, FOX Docos is already part of the standard Foxtel Plus bundle. Even better, new customers can even save for up to 12 months on plan fees with Foxtel’s latest offers.
You can also watch the new show when you sign up for Foxtel’s streaming service, Foxtel Now. Even easier for new customers, Foxtel still offers a free 10-day trial to access everything on its platform. After your free trial period expires, the Foxtel Now base pack, called the Essentials pack, is only $25 per month.
How to watch Secrets of Playboy on BINGE
Another option to stream the documentary series is BINGE. Fortunately, they still offer a 14-day free trial, so new customers can explore heaps of shows and movies before signing up.
You can then choose from three streaming tiers to watch the best BINGE shows on demand. A Basic with Ads plan costs $10 per month and allows you to stream in HD on one device. An ad-free Standard Plan is $16 per month and enables you to enjoy standard or high definition on two devices.
The BINGE Premium Plan ($18 per month) is the last alternative, allowing you to stream on up to four screens/devices in SD or HD. All BINGE plans come with no lock-in contract so you can cancel anytime.
How to watch Secrets of Playboy with Telstra
Foxtel and Foxtel Now can be added through Telstra; hence, customers can access these platforms by simply adding their preferred service to their accounts. Foxtel from Telstra offers the exact same programming as a standard Foxtel service, but is often available at a reduced monthly cost.
Meanwhile, the Foxtel Now from Telstra offer gives customers signing up to Foxtel Now via Telstra one month free of streaming. You can also enjoy 2 months free BINGE Standard plan when you sign up via Telstra!
Who appears in Secrets of Playboy?
Directed by Alexandra Dean (Bombshell: The Hedy Lamarr Story), the docuseries includes compelling interviews and shocking statements from the following:
Other shows on Foxtel Now and BINGE
The Foxtel Now and BINGE libraries offer a wide range of classic films, the latest blockbusters, and the best shows on TV, which you can explore by checking out what’s on BINGE.
When it comes to streaming awesome content, you can find similar titles when exploring what’s on Foxtel as well, since both streaming services mostly have the same TV shows and movies for streaming.
Moreover, new titles are added each and every week so the choice is never an issue. These include trending hits like House of the Dragon, Happy Valley, and The Walking Dead, just to mention a few. We have made a few more suggestions if you’re wondering what to watch now. Check them out below.
Streaming devices for Foxtel Now and BINGE
Here is a list of compatible devices that you can use to stream Secrets of Playboy on Foxtel (Foxtel GO), Foxtel Now and BINGE.
Devices supported on Foxtel/Foxtel Go
- PC/Mac: Yes – Web browser only (Chrome for PC; Chrome & Safari for Mac)
- iOS: Yes – Devices with iOS 9.35 or above
- Android: Yes – Devices with Android 5.0 and above (Android 13 beta versions are not supported)
- Google Chromecast: Yes – Via casting (only on Multiroom service)
- Google Nest: Yes – Via compatible Chromecast device connected or built-in to your TV
- Apple TV: Yes – Via AirPlay (only on Multiroom service)
- Smart TVs: Yes – Via casting only (only on Multiroom service)
Devices supported on Foxtel Now
- Foxtel Now Box: Yes
- Sony Android TV: Yes – OS Android 8 – Android 12
- iOS Mobiles/Tablets: Yes – Via Foxtel Go app (iOS 9.35 or above)
- Android Mobiles/Tablets: Yes – Via
native app (Lollipop 5.0 or above) - PC/Mac: Yes – Windows devices running Windows 7 and above. Mac devices running OS X Yosemite 10.10 and above
- Google Chromecast: Yes – Via casting
- Google Nest: Yes – on Foxtel Go via a compatible Chromecast device connected or built-in to your TV
- Apple TV: Yes – Via AirPlay
- Gaming consoles: Yes – PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 4 Pro (Foxtel Play on PlayStation 3)
- Samsung Smart TVs: Yes – Select 2017 models and above, running on Tizen 3.0 or above. (Foxtel Play on 2015 and 2016 models)
- LG Smart TVs: Yes – Select 2017-2022 models, running webOS 3.5 or above
- Hisense Smart TVs: Yes – Select 2019 – 2020 models
- Shield TV: Yes – on Shield TV and Shield TV Pro
Devices supported on BINGE
- PC/Mac: Yes – Web browser only (Chrome, Safari, Firefox and Edge); supported on
MacOS : 10.12+ & Windows: 10+ - iOS Mobile Devices: Yes – iOS15+ including Apple iPhones/iPads
- Android Mobile Devices: Yes – Android Phone/Tablets OS 8+
- Google Chromecast: Yes – Chromecast Ultra, Chromecast 3rd Generation + & Chromecast w/ Google TV
- Google TV Streamer: Yes
- Apple TV: Yes – 4th Gen or higher; tvOS 15+
- Hubbl small device: Yes
- Hubbl Glass: Yes
- Amazon Fire TV Stick: Yes
- Android TV: Yes – OS version 8.0+ and above on selected devices
- Samsung TV: Yes – 2017 models or later
- LG TV: Yes – selected 2018 models or later
- Hisense TV: Yes – selected 2020-2024 models
- Gaming Consoles: Yes – PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox (Series X, Series S, One S and One X)