'Family Matters' Star -- I Wanna Do PLAYBOY!!!
Admit it, you've always wanted to see Laura Winslow NAKED -- well, now you might be able to see the person who played her best friend Maxine on "Family Matters!!!"
TMZ has obtained a photo of Cherie Johnson -- who also played Punky Brewster's BFF back in the '80s -- taken during a nude-ish photo shoot on a beach ... and she's hoping the pics will score her a spread in Playboy.
Johnson -- who's 35 years old now -- tells us, "I have been threatening my family that I was going to do 'Playboy' since I was 18 years old."
Cherie adds, "When my mom said 'Okay' ... and my grandma said, 'Bring me a autographed copy,' I figured I'd make it a goal."
See also
Hef's Gals -- Battery Operated Devices At Disneyland
Playboy kingpin Hugh Hefner spent his Thursday afternoon scootin' around Disneyland with two attractive ladies ... because ... well, because he can.
Hef took his fianacee' Crystal Harris (the one on the right) to the Magic Kingdom yesterday to celebrate her 25th birthday.
Just in case you forgot -- Hef is 60 years older than Crystal.
See also
Michaele Salahi -- You're NO Playboy Cover Model
Alleged White House crasher Michaele Salahi has finally taken her NUDE pics for Playboy -- but TMZ has learned she's just been informed by the mag that she WILL NOT be featured on the cover.
Sources involved with the spread tell us ... The "Real Housewives of D.C." star received an email from Playboy honchos informing her, "There is no opportunity this calendar year to offer you a cover opportunity or place for your pictorial."
Playboy informed Michaele the company would instead feature her on the website -- explaining, "We had hoped an issue would be available to present you in the pages of the magazine first. However, that does not seem likely and we do not want to keep them from our readers any longer."
If it's any consolation -- the Playboy rep told Salahi the pics were, "AMAZING!"
See also
Hef to Fiancee We Don't Need No Damn Prenup!
He's 84 and worth $43 million ... she's 24 and knows he's worth $43 million -- yet sources close to Hugh Hefner and Crystal Harris tell TMZ neither has uttered those dreaded words ... "prenuptial agreement."
Hef's third wedding is just 10 weeks away, but we're told he hasn't raised a prenup convo because he "actually cares" about Crystal and doesn't want to ask her to sign one.
We're told Crystal doesn't think Hef will bring it up before they tie the knot.
What could go wrong?
See also
Hugh Hefner’s Fiancée: I'm Releasing A SONG!
First Paris Hilton ... then Kim Kardashian ... and now Hugh Hefner’s smoking hot Playmate fiancée -- but sadly, we're not talking about another sex tape ... we're talking about a brand new POP SONG.
TMZ has has learned .. Crystal Harris will be releasing her first single "Club Queen" in June ... right before her big wedding to Hef -- but here's the kicker ... she's not doing it alone.
We're told she's pulling out some big guns to make sure her pipes are pitch perfect ... enlisting the help of famed vocal coach Seth Riggs -- who has also helped the likes of Madonna, Stevie Wonder, and Diana Ross.
That's right -- we just mentioned Crystal Harris and Madonna in the same sentence. And we meant it.
See also
Alleged Playboy Outbreak -- Grotto Under Investigation
The legendary grotto at the Playboy Mansion has been targeted in a Health Dept. investigation into what may have caused a respiratory epidemic following a party at Hef's place earlier this month.
TMZ has obtained a survey sent to everyone who worked at the Mansion during the week of an Internet-entrepreneur bash on Feb. 3 -- in an effort to see if there's a connection between the mansion's grotto/pool and the outbreak.
The survey specifically asks if the workers spent time around two party-centric "water features" on the property -- 1) Grotto/pool ... 2) Dance floor near fog machine.
Investigators also want to know how much time employees spent in each environment.
The survey notes that the L..A County Department of Health may follow up with certain individuals depending on their answers.
More Playboy Mansion
Health Dept. Looks At Playboy Mansion After Outbreak
A hundred people may have contracted a respiratory disease similar to Legionnaires', and local and federal health officials reportedly are looking at the Playboy Mansion as a possible source of the outbreak.
Seven-hundred people attended a three-day conference for Internet entrepreneurs in L.A. earlier this month, which ended February 3 with a bash at Hugh Hefner's pad.
Forty-eight hours later ... approximately 100 people began experiencing severe respiratory distress. As one person who was stricken said, "I was wiped out quickly." He said it took a week to recover.
The people who attended the conference attended several other venues as well, and those sites are also being viewed as the possible source of the outbreak.
As for the Playboy Mansion, CBS2 in L.A. is reporting the DJ's fog machine is speculated as a possible source of the outbreak.
The federal Center for Disease Control as well as the L.A. County Health Dept. are on the case.
No conclusions have been drawn.
See also
Hugh Hefner's Son -- I'm a Playboy, Too
Hugh Hefner's son Marston celebrated this week's big announcement -- that his dad bought back control of the Playboy empire -- by partying at STK in Vegas.
But more importantly, he looks JUST LIKE HIS DAD!!!
Our pals at SpyOnVegas.com snapped this shot of Marston out last night with a girl that would make his daddy proud.
And speaking of daddy, Hugh's power move will make it easier for him to pass over control of the company to his sons -- 21-year-old Marston and younger brother Cooper.
More Hugh Hefner
Hugh Hefner -- I'm Taking Back 'Playboy'
Hugh Hefner has sealed a deal to buy back control of his Playboy empire from stockholders -- a deal that didn't come cheap.
The quick and dirty: 84-year-old Hefner will spend $207 million to buy out Playboy stockholders ... giving him significantly more control of the company he founded more than 50 years ago.
Hefner had previously stated that he intends to pass control of Playboy over to his two sons -- and this move will make it easier for him to execute his plan.
More Hugh Hefner
Toni Braxton I May Show Some 'T&A' For Playboy
Financially troubled singer Toni Braxton may have found a way to scrounge up some extra cash -- Toni claims she's seriously considering a "T and A" photo shoot for Playboy Magazine.
43-year-old Braxton went to her Twitter this morning and wrote, "New Year, New opportunities. So I have been considering taking up Playboy's offer to feature me on their cover this year. What you think?"
She noted the spread would be "tastefully done" featuring "Just a lil T and A."
Braxton insists Playboy has hit her up for a photo spread 3 times before -- but now that she's somewhere between $10 and $50 million in debt, the timing may finally be right.
More Toni Braxton
Playmate Alleged Shooting Victim -- The Bullet Scars
The husband of 1968 Playboy Playmate Angela Dorian -- who she allegedly shot back in October -- now has the ENORMOUS scars to prove it ... and TMZ has obtained the grisly photos.
Bruce Rathgeb snapped the pics earlier this month -- showing the scars stemming from at least one gunshot wound to the back ... courtesy of a Walther PPK .380, James Bond's weapon of choice.
Sources close to Bruce tell TMZ, the large scar above his nipple is where surgeons removed the bullet.
As we first reported, Bruce was rushed to the hospital last week -- due to a life-threatening infection near his heart surrounding bullet fragments still in his body ... but was sent home because he doesn't have medical insurance.
He's currently living with a caretaker in L.A. -- urgently awaiting approval of his Medi-Cal application. His wife Angela is still in custody on $1,000,000 bail.
See also
Playmate Suffering from Serious Staph Infection
Former Playboy Playmate Donna D'Errico is in a bad spot right now -- hospitalized with a VERY serious staph infection ... TMZ has learned.
Sources close to D'Errico tell TMZ the former Baywatch star has been infected with MRSA -- methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus -- which is very difficult to treat because it's highly resistant to antibiotics.
We're told Donna contracted the MRSA from a relative who was hospitalized in ICU.
D'Errico posted a status update on her Facebook page, saying, "Prayer request - this time for me - a serious medical issue has arisen. Thank you for any and all prayers."
We're told Donna is expected to be hospitalized for at least a few more days.
More Donna D'Errico
Playmate's Alleged Shooting Victim -- In Dire Straits
The husband of 1968 Playboy Playmate Angela Dorian -- whom she allegedly shot in October -- has taken a turn for the worse and needs to undergo a risky surgery to survive ... TMZ has learned.
A rep for Bruce Rathgeb tells TMZ ... Bruce was rushed to a doctor today after experiencing "a lot of pain and difficulty breathing" -- and was told he had an infection near his heart surrounding the bullet remnants still inside his body.
According to the rep, the doctors told Bruce he has to have the shards removed via a "risky" operation ... or he will die.
As we first reported, Dorian -- aka Victoria Vetri -- was charged with attempted murder after allegedly shooting Bruce in the back after an argument on October 16.
See also
1968 Playmate's Gun -- Roman Polanski Connection
Roman Polanski was just dragged into the case involving a 1968 Playboy Playmate who recently shot her husband in the back -- we're told, officials believe Polanski may have given her the gun ... 40 years ago.
Here's where it gets creepy -- sources close to the case tell TMZ, it all started back in 1969 ... the night before Charles Manson orchestrated the infamous murder of Sharon Tate ... Polanski's then wife.
We're told Playmate Angela Dorian (above left) -- currently in custody for the attempted murder of her husband in October -- was close friends with Tate ... and they even spent the evening together before the slaughter.
After Tate was killed -- sources tell us the famous director was so worried about Dorian, he gave her his handgun for protection .... a Walther PPK .380, just like James Bond.
Fast forward 41 years ... sources tell us investigators believe Dorian used the very same gun to shoot her husband after an argument turned violent. As we first reported, she faces up to life in prison if convicted.
See also
Playmate Attempted Murder - 'She Shot Me in the Back'
The man who claims the 1968 Playboy Playmate of the Year shot him in October tells TMZ the bullet missed his heart by a quarter inch ... but what hurts the most -- she hit him in the back.
68-year-old Angela Dorian is still in custody for attempting to murder her husband Bruce after an intense argument in their Hollywood apartment on October 16. Bruce tells us ... he had packed up his stuff and was heading for the elevator when she opened fire from behind.
Bruce tells us, "When she shot me, she walked away with no emotion ... she didn't give a s**t."
Bruce -- who says he's no longer able to use his left arm -- explains, "I don't know what I've done to deserve this ... I loved her for nearly 25 years."
He adds, "A divorce would have been sufficient, not a bullet."
If convicted, Dorian could face up to life in prison.
See also
Playboy Twin -- Easy on the Eyes, How Bout the Ears?
Kristina Shannon -- one of the Playboy twins who famously dated Hugh Hefner earlier this year -- is trying her hand at a new career ... that doesn't involve posing naked.
Apparently Kristina thinks she can sing ... cause she's working on a collection of "club hits" due out in February. She says she plans on doing all the singing herself and plans on working with at least one "big surprise" guest.
Hopefully his name is Auto-Tune.