Following her success with Playboy Swings, Patty Farmer looks at Playboy’s relationship with comedians and cartoonists in her new book Playboy Laughs. Playboy Laughs invites readers onto the sets of the organization’s groundbreaking TV shows, Playboy Penthouse and Playboy After Dark. These popular variety series brought top-tier comedians, impressionists, and monologists—as well as the finest musicians—into people’s homes each week. Readers will learn how before he ever dreamed of conquering the magazine publishing world—and along the way establish a worldwide brand—Hugh Hefner harbored aspirations of making his mark in the world as a cartoonist. Playboy Laughs delves into the darker aspects of the time as well, tackling the ways Playboy and its comedy stars helped break down social and racial barriers as well as sexual ones. Known for her devotion to meticulous research and clear, honest storytelling, Farmer has gained the full cooperation of the Playboy organization—and Hugh Hefner himself—making this not only an entertaining read but a trustworthy history of an under-appreciated aspect of American comic culture.

Compiled by a top comedy writer, a rib-tickling collection of sharp, topical one-liners on every subject under the sun, alphabetically arranged by category for easy use.

On the writing of comedy for cinema and television

EBONY is the flagship magazine of Johnson Publishing. Founded in 1945 by John H. Johnson, it still maintains the highest global circulation of any African American-focused magazine.

It was supposed to be one fake date… When sexy-as-sin Harper Henderson launches profanities into the night sky from the balcony below mine, I’m forced to intervene. I may be a professional hockey player with a playboy reputation, but I’m also a good guy. Charming and affable with unrivaled cheekbones and a lack of serious commitments (save for hockey), I make an impressive plus-one. Volunteering to be Harper’s date to her dreaded ten-year high school reunion is easy. Pretending not to fall for her when our innocent kisses turn passionate is a little more challenging. But when Harper returns the fake date favor and accompanies me to my parents’ anniversary party, everything changes. She garners my dad’s respect and effortlessly mingles with my childhood friends. She eases the familial pressure I drown under and makes me crave things I used to laugh off. Tangling up with Harper was supposed to be a fun way to pass the summer. So, why does it feel like she’s the real prize? The elusive, fleeting kind of real I’ve avoided for years? And how can I prove that this playboy wants a different kind of reward? One that sounds a lot like commitment…