HEF-TY ADDITION TO THE LEAGUE OF THEMSELVES

I love the League of Themselves! Toobworld differs from other visions of a TV Universe in that I consider those people who appear as themselves in a fictional setting to be actual characters. And therefore they are legit links for crossovers between otherwise unconnected shows.

(For example, if it weren't for Sammy Davis, Jr. appearing as himself, it would be practically impossible to find any commonality between 'All In The Family', 'I Dream Of Jeannie', and 'Charlie's Angels'.)

In the League of Themselves are those icons, those leaders in their fields, whom producers cast in their shows again and again. They project such oversized images that scenes featuring them can practically write themselves.

Jack Benny, who made his miserly 39 year old violin player into a mythic character of folklore.

Milton Berle, an historic legend as "Mr. Television".

Donald Trump, mega-developer with the super-sized ego and over-inflated hair.

To this group you'd have to add Hugh Hefner, publisher of Playboy Magazine.

For all of those shows that have been set in Hollywood, how can their producers resist the chance to have a few scenes take place at that Xanadu of male fantasy, the Playboy Mansion?

Hef added to his totals this past weekend as hot young movie star Vince Chase and his 'Entourage' were invited to a party. That is, all except for Vince's brother Johnny Drama, who had been banned for life. Johnny blamed Ralph Macchio for the reason; Macchio blamed Johnny; and it turned out that Pauly Shore was the culprit of the monkey cages all along.

With that cleared up, Hef gave Johnny his blessing and a good time was had by all.

Lucky bastards.

Here are stats for Hugh Hefner's membership in the League of Themselves:

TV SERIES
"Playboy After Dark" (1969) TV Series .... Himself
"Playboy's Penthouse" (1959) TV Series .... Himself

TV GUEST APPEARANCES
"Entourage" playing "Himself" in episode: "Aquamansion" (episode # 2.3) 19 June 2005
"The Bernie Mac Show" playing "Himself" in episode: "The Talk" (episode # 3.19) 26 April 2004
"Just Shoot Me!" playing "Himself" (as Hugh Hefner) in episode: "At Long Last Allie" (episode # 5.22) 10 May 2001
"Sex and the City" playing "Himself" (as Hugh Hefner) in episode: "Sex and Another City" (episode # 3.14) 17 September 2000
"V.I.P." playing "Himself" in episode: "Why 2 Kay" (episode # 2.10) 27 November 1999 [possible dream sequence]
"Buddy Faro" playing "Himself" in episode: "Death By Airbrush" (episode # 1.6) 6 November 1998
"Roseanne" playing "Himself" in episode: "What a Day for a Daydream" (episode # 9.3) 1 October 1996 [possible dream sequence]
"Blossom" playing "Himself" in episode: "True Romance" (episode # 4.11) 8 November 1993 [possible dream sequence]
"The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" playing "Himself" (as Hugh Hefner) in episode: "Fresh Prince After Dark" (episode # 4.9) 8 November 1993
"The Larry Sanders Show" playing "Himself" (as Hugh Hefner) in episode: "Broadcast Nudes" (episode # 2.11) 4 August 1993
"The Simpsons" playing "Himself" (voice) in episode: "Krusty Gets Kancelled" (episode # 4.22) 13 May 1993 [This would be the Hef of the Tooniverse]
"Laverne & Shirley" playing "Himself" in episode: "The Playboy Show" (episode # 8.5) 9 November 1982
"The Odd Couple" playing "Himself" (as Hugh Hefner) in episode: "One for the Bunny" (episode # 4.22) 22 March 1974
"Burke's Law" playing "Bunny Club Manager" (as Hugh Hefner) in episode: "Who Killed the Grand Piano?" (episode # 2.31) 28 April 1965

TV COMEDY/VARIETY SHOWS
"Doggy Fizzle Televizzle" playing "Himself" (episode # 1.4) 6 July 2003
"The Man Show" playing "Himself" in episode: "Playboy Mansion" (episode # 2.13) 10 September 2000
"Pink Lady" playing "Himself" (episode # 1.3) 21 March 1980
"Saturday Night Live" playing "Host" (as Hugh Hefner) (episode # 3.3) 15 October 1977
"The Dean Martin Show" playing "Himself" (as Hugh Hefner) in episode: "Celebrity Roast: Hugh Hefner" 20 September 1973
"The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour" playing "Himself" (episode # 3.19) 10 February 1973
"Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In" playing "Himself" (episode # 2.1) 16 September 1968

TV GAME SHOWS
"Beat the Geeks" playing "Himself" (episode # 2.25) 9 August 2002
"Beat the Geeks" playing "Himself" (episode # 2.23) 7 August 2002
"Beat the Geeks" playing "Himself" (episode # 2.22) 6 August 2002
"Whose Line Is It Anyway?" playing "Himself" (as Hugh Hefner) (episode # 4.24) 31 January 2002
"What's My Line?" playing "Mystery Guest" 9 January 1966

TV MISCELLANIA
"The Surreal Life" playing "Himself" in episode: "The Wedding and Goodbye" (episode # 1.8) 20 February 2003
"Cribs" playing "Himself" (as Hugh Hefner) 16 October 2002

BCnU!
Tele-Toby

"Smittyism #6:

You want chicks, you can't chicken out!"
Beatrice Lunt as Smitty
'Newhart'