"Mad Men" Director Hops Over To NBC's "Playboy" Club

Emmy award winner Alan Taylor ("The Sopranos"), who also directed the Emmy award-nominated pilot for AMC's "Mad Men" will return to the 1960's, to direct the NBC drama pilot "Playboy", written by Chad Hodge.


The potential, one-hour episodic dramatic series will be set in the world of owner Hugh M. Hefner's 1960's 'Playboy Clubs'.

Hodge's script follows a group of women working as Playboy 'Bunnies' in the original, and first Chicago club.

At the time, Bunnies wore a costume called a "bunny suit" inspired by the tuxedo-wearing Playboy Magazine rabbit mascot, consisting of a corset, bunny ears, a collar, cuffs and fluffy cottontail.

The Playboy Club chain of nightclubs owned/operated by Hefner's Playboy Enterprises, opened up @ 116 E. Walton in downtown Chicago, Illinois, February 29, 1960, as a cocktail bar with entertainment, featuring Bunnies serving drinks to keyholders and performances by big names in comedy and jazz music .

There were different types of Bunnies, including the 'Door Bunny', 'Cigarette Bunny', 'Floor Bunny' and the 'Playmate Bunny'.

To become a Bunny, women were selected from auditions, then trained to identify 143 brands of liquor and 20 cocktail variations. Dating or mingling with customers was forbidden.

A Bunny also had to master required maneuvers including the 'Bunny Stance', standing with legs together, back arched and hips tucked under. When the Bunny is resting, she must do the 'Bunny Perch', sitting on the back of a chair, sofa, or railing.

The most famous maneuver was the 'Bunny Dip', gracefully leaning backwards while bending at the knees, left knee lifted and tucked behind the right leg. This maneuver allowed the Bunny to serve drinks while keeping her low-cut costume in place.

Strict regulations were usually enforced at the clubs by 'special workers' in the guise of patrons.

Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek the "Playboy Clubs"...