Luxe Life Blog
Exclusive: Holly Madison reveals secrets of Vegas-based Planet Holly
Holly Madison stands in front of the newly transformed "Planet Holly."
Photo: Denise Truscello/WireImage
“It will be a guilty pleasure with a lot of eye candy.” That’s how Peepshow star Holly Madison described her new reality TV series Planet Holly to me in an exclusive interview. Holly will film it entirely on location here in Las Vegas starting Oct. 12 -- one day after E! Entertainment launches a two-night premiere of the new season of The Girls Next Door.
Those two debut episodes have Holly’s former love Hugh Hefner leading his new three-pack of blonde beauties to reunite with her to watch her perform in the topless burlesque cabaret here at Planet Hollywood! Holly will continue to make several guest appearances on The Girls Next Door this season as a continuing ratings booster -- and great cross-promotion for her own new series.
Holly told me: “There will be elements of GND in my show because there is such a fan following for it. It’s all good-natured and not mean like other reality shows. I’m really excited about the new series because I am also getting a legitimate co-producer credit for all the work I do behind the camera. It’s not a vanity credit. I’m super excited to learn from the best and take on new responsibilities.”
Holly turned executive and even negotiated with me to sign up to appear in the pilot episode! She’s also recruited her best GF Angel, who was born and raised in Las Vegas, plus her roommate here, Playboy Playmate beauty Laura Croft. “She has a crazy sense of humor and epitomizes all the girls who come to Vegas looking for a wild time,” Holly said of Laura.
Holly Madison in the kitchen of Pink's Hot Dogs at Planet Hollywood.
“I fell in love with Vegas since moving here. So I want to show a lot of the Vegas few people know about, it’s hidden treasures away from the Strip. Yes, you’ll see my quirky day-to-day life of living in a casino with a dog, but it will show the side of the valley many people never know existed.
“It will have some docu-drama, but it’s the perfect excuse for me to be normal in a lighthearted comedy romp. Think Mary Tyler Moore. In fact, I just hooked up my DVD player so I can look at all the episodes of her old TV show. But Planet Holly also will have an empowering message for women showing that however crazy the ideas you might have, they can be achieved.
“Growing up in Oregon, I had crazy dreams. I’d see Pamela Anderson or Jenny McCarthy on TV and say I’d like to do that, too. I wanted to go off on the adventure. I dreamed of being a sex symbol as a showgirl in Las Vegas -- and it all came true! We’ll show that journey on Planet Holly, and I think it will inspire other girls to always follow their dreams -- whatever they might be.
“And then dream some more! Just because I‘ve wound up in Peepshow on the Strip, I’m not stopping, and I’ve set myself five more things to achieve in life. I will never stop setting new goals because I’m having fun living life.”
Holly has already become a permanent star fixture on the Vegas scene, boosting the city and supporting local charity events. She has become a real showbiz presence at openings, parties and premieres. If it’s not the new Pink’s Hot Dog at Planet Hollywood, it’s the new Sugar Factory at The Mirage!
Kevin Burns, who produces The Girls Next Door, also will be in charge of Planet Holly. “ I loved working with him on GND,” said Holly, “and we’ve already had a lot of fun planning my new show. We’ve discussed what characters will be in it on a regular basis and what we should have more of and less of. We are now ready to start the filming for the first show.”
Holly’s convinced that her pet dog Napoleon will become a major star on the series. She’s also hoping to reshoot the opening video of Peepshow so that instead of the anonymous dog there now, Napoleon will grab the screen time!
“I’m so excited and so happy about the new one-year contract renewal I won for Peepshow,” she told me. “I love the cast and crew. I love doing the show, and I love Planet Hollywood and Las Vegas. Originally, it was only going to be for three months, but that’s hardly time to unpack, so the long, unexpected renewal gives me time to really brand me. The continuation of my Peepshow role and the new reality series are both steps in the direction of strengthening the Holly Madison brand.
“I’d be very happy if I go longer than the new 12-month contract. I’d like to stay here a long time. The show is doing really well and has long legs for the future. I get to work three hours each night, which leaves me lots of time during the day to work on the other goals.”
Holly Madison and her dog Napoleon.
Holly said she’s welcomed the new Peep Diva, singer Aubrey O’Day, to the show. The Danity Kane star debuted Monday and although -- per my exclusive Twitter report -- she was KO’d last night by “Vegas Throat” from our harsh air last night, she will be back to normal for tomorrow’s official premiere. “She’s a lot of fun to work with,” Holly said. “She’s much closer to me in age and style.”
Check back here tomorrow for our full advance photo preview of Aubrey’s premiere, and click HERE for our original exclusive interview with her.
Last week, Peepshow’s first Peep Diva Scary Spice Mel B was back in town for a reunion visit with Holly. “I’d like her to come back,” Holly said, “if only for a guest appearance. We really connected. She has this amazing body and really inspires me to work harder and succeed even more.”
Aubrey O'Day and Holly Madison are flanked by castmembers of Peepshow.
Holly hasn’t been linked romantically with anybody since the headline breakups of her long relationship with the Playboy mogul -- and then followed by Mindfreak magician Criss Angel, who also stars on the Strip at Cirque du Soleil’s Believe at the Luxor just half-a-mile away.
“The time for a proper romance and marriage will hopefully come one day when it’s really right,” she summed up. “For now, my focus is on work and fulfilling that goal. I’m going to be very busy and working hard doing Planet Holly by day and Peepshow by night. But it’s worth it, so you sacrifice a little somewhere in order to gain something else. I am just at a very happy stage right now, and I want to keep going in that direction.”
Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.
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