Bunny boiling

I wonder what Hugh Hefner was thinking as he was printing the first issue of Playboy magazine in late 1953. Was he congratulating himself for getting Marilyn Monroe as his centerfold? Or maybe he was having second thoughts about the whole venture? Either way, he certainly has to be patting himself on the back every day now for having built an empire with pieces of men's temptations and boys' curiosities because almost every man in the world would give anything—except maybe pieces of their souls—to live a day in that velvet robe of his. Even more, Playboy is no longer just a magazine, as it has gained the status of a symbol and a corporation that dips its fingers into just about everything. That's why, unsurprisingly, Sin City itself couldn't be without its influence.

Finding work as a comedian in Las Vegas is hard enough without having to compete with all the other "activities" the city offers. So embracing the tenet "If you can't beat 'em, join 'em," comedians Cort McCown and Paul Hughes started a sensational comedy show that combines both laughter and sex (but in a good way). If great comedy can't rope in the hoards, what else will? And thus, PlayboyComedy was born.

But every raunchist has his or her limits (hopefully). Standup comedy is no longer restricted to sexual jokes about how tired the wife is after a day of work. No, now real Playboy playmates will be appearing at the Improv. And after three years of building fame and loyal fans, the show is finally taking itself on the road. Don't miss your chance to see this show—in Brea, no less. And just like how readers of Playboyjustify their subscriptions with "I like to read the articles," you can also explain that you're going to see this show "for the laughs."

Playboy Comedy at the Brea Improv, 120 S. Brea Blvd., Brea, (714) 482-0700; www.breaimprov.com . Wed., 8:30 p.m. $15.