|
|
Kevin Burns Executive Producer, "The Girls Next Door" Speaks
In an effort to clear up the lies, rumors, gossip and some of the hysteria, here is the real story behind GND -- Season Five and beyond.
We began taping Season Five way back in January so that we could capture the 55th Playmate Search and the Girls trip to Mardi Gras in New Orleans (all to be seen in upcoming episodes). We knew we had 20 shows but thought the season premiere would happen in August (not October). This is why "House Bunnies" -- which we had planned as a Season premiere -- was aired so early.
As the relationship between Holly and Hef became stonger and stronger (and very much exclusive) it was obvious to everyone that Bridget and Kendra might be moving on soon. (These are things we have no control over.) For this reason, when Travel Channel approached me about producing a series called, "Worlds Sexiest Beaches", I suggested Bridget might be a perfect candidate for host. Taping was to begin when production would be completed for Season Five and -- assuming Bridget wanted to return to life at the Mansion -- Season Six would begin filming sometime in February '09.
Then... it happened. Holly came back from a recent trip to Vegas (having been photographed with Chris Angel) and everything came apart. Without warning, she announced to Hef that her feelings for him had changed and that she was no longer interested in their relationship. Wow!
Holly had become the love of Hef's life. His partner. His best friend. His "soul mate" (a phrase he often used to describe her). He was devastated.
For Holly, breaking up with Hef was a very difficult decision. Her feelings for him had been very genuine and intense -- but Hef's reluctance to marry again and the unlikely prospect of a child had begun to wear on her for the past several months. She only hid her feelings because, as she said, she was hoping her feelings would change and that her love for Hef would return. It did not.
With Bridget now away in Europe, Holly began making plans to leave the Mansion. She would continue working for the magazine (a job she loves) if Hef still wanted her to. She also very much wants to continue with GND, although in a different capacity.
Hef, of course, was hoping Holly would change her mind. He still loves her. He also loves having Bridget and Kendra living with him. He never wanted things to change.
Believe it or not, all this has happened within the last few weeks -- fueled by internet rumors and tabloid headlines which, if anything, helped drive Hef and Holly further apart. Very sad.
With regard to Season Five -- we didn't know it at the time but it turned out to be the diary of a break-up. As we edit the shows all of us who work on GND look for the tell-tale signs of unhappiness in Holly's face. ("When did it happen?", etc.) I'm sure you'll see it for yourselves as you watch the next 19 episodes.
Hmmm... 19 episodes? Wasn't "House Bunnies" the first of the new 20? Aren't there only 18 left? Well, for those of you keeping score, we are planning a big one-hour finale at the end of the Season (on March 1st) where ALL WILL BE REVEALED.
And what about the future? Will there be "new Girls"? Who are the infamous "twins"? What about Holly, Bridget and Kendra? Trust me, we're trying to keep up with all this ourselves. We had thought Season Five would end with Kendra, perhaps, leaving the Mansion and Season Six would focus on Holly and Bridget and their lives and careers, etc. Now we expect Season Six to be very much about the unexpected. Bridget, we think, will be back at the Mansion following her taping for Travel Channel. Holly and Kendra will be back, too -- although not in the same relationship with Hef. Hef will be Hef. For the record, he's quite something. Very positive and optimistic about life. For him, the loss of Holly has been a huge blow -- but by no means a mortal one. He's back on the scene. Always looking for new girls -- and now, new girlfriends. The twins are on the scene, too (and you'll start seeing them in November episodes of GND) but there will be others. Lots of new girls and new adventures for Season Six -- assuming you guys are still watching, that is.
As for Kendra, she very much loves Hef -- but with Holly having a pretty much exclusive relationship with him, she started looking beyond GND about a year ago.
For this reason, there have been discussions with E! about a Kendra show. Details have not been worked out -- but it is likely that it will be produced by my company and the same team that does GND. If anything it would be an extension of GND and would feature Kendra living on her own -- and dating -- but still very much connected to Holly, Bridget, Hef, Mary and her family and friends. Should be very exciting -- and a lot of fun -- if this happens.
So there you have it. That's the truth. Not the scandal. Not the spin.
We have 12 of the Season Five episodes edited to date. All will be finished by Thanksgiving. Season Six -- should there be one -- will start taping in February (or sooner). It's going to be very interesting and crazy -- but I, for one, am eager to see how it all turns out.
Until later... thanks for being such great fans of GND!
Best regards,
Kevin Burns
Executive Producer, "The Girls Next Door"
|
