Stephen Randall

L.A. Times op-ed piece.

L.A. Times op-ed piece

L.A. Times op-ed piece

L.A. Times op-ed piece.

L.A. Times op-ed piece.

For fifty years, Playboy has been asking the candid questions, letting the comedians give a straight response. In this collection of The Playboy Interviews, Jim Carrey talks about life in Hollywood, and George Carlin talks about life in the fast lane. Jon Stewart tackles politics as humor, while Jerry Seinfeld takes on the comedy of socks, sneakers, and cereal. Bill Cosby explains his position on race and entertainment, while Chris Rock tells about his big break. The Comedians digs deep into the heart of comedy, one of America's most vibrant art forms, offering a side-splitting chance to spend time with America's greatest wits.

A large number of Playboy's readers do buy the magazine for the articles — specifically the interviews. The Playboy Interview is both incisive and entertaining, and important figures from all walks of life — many of whom honor no other interview requests — have given life- and career-altering interviews in the magazine's pages. The Playboy Interviews: They Played the Game features some of the most revered — and reviled — American sports stars from the past six decades openly discussing controversial issues including race, gender, drugs, and sexuality. More than just a bunch of jocks talking sports, these interviews are a fascinating reflection of the American psyche and evolving cultural perceptions.

The best movies speak in a universal language, communicating effortlessly on both the emotional and the intellectual levels. While there have been many great films, only a few directors have achieved such facility with the filmmaking medium. In this collection of remarkably candid interviews, seventeen of the screen's most widely acclaimed and creative filmmakers discuss what drives and inspires them. These revealing, thought-provoking and highly personal interviews, possible only in Playboy's open forum, range from Roman Polanski's thoughts on the murder of his wife in the Manson Family massacre to Oliver Stone's frank discussions about the challenges he faced in creating his memorable films. Includes interviews with Orson Welles, Billy Wilder, Stanley Kubrick, Clint Eastwood, Francis Ford Coppola, David Mamet, Spike Lee and the Coen brothers, among others.

For decades, Playboy's interviews have set the gold standard for their frank, in-depth profiles of major public personalities. Few celebrities in any field have been able to resist this forum, despite the magazine’s deserved reputation for not pulling punches. This book collects many of the best—dating from the 1960s through the 1980s—some appearing for the first time since their original magazine publication. Several of the interviews catch some of the last century's most influential people at the height of their fame. Others find them looking back on a long career. Interviewees range from Frank Sinatra in his early ‘60s Rat Pack days to the Beatles in ’65 to Hank Aaron and Walter Cronkite in the ‘70s. Bob Dylan and Muhammad Ali appear in two interviews conducted more than a decade apart. The Playboy Interviews: Larger than Life offers a unique look at some of the culture's most memorable moments through the words of those who helped create them.

As Calvin Coolidge once said, the business of America is business. Yet no matter what that business is, only a handful of individuals control it. With vision, determination, and passion, these men and women have bent the world to their wills. Some were millionaires from birth; others have pulled themselves up by their bootstraps. From computers to shoes to cars, their hands have shaped the fabric of everyday life. Here, 15 of the most important men and women of the last 45 years of American business — including Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Donald Trump, Ted Turner, Hugh Hefner, Leona Helmsley, Barry Diller, and Calvin Klein — speak candidly about their rises to power. First published in the no-holds-barred pages of Playboy, the interviews are in many cases the most thoughtful and direct these men and women ever gave. All represent an intimate visit with the entrepreneurs who have moved America forward and have shaken the foundations of who Americans believe themselves to be.