The Hef’s frail showing causes concern

Proving there’s still plenty of music to be found in this particular fiddle, the one and only Hugh Hefner made a brief appearance last week at the annual Kandyland Masquerade amidst the unique and memorable architecture of the Playboy Mansion. But fellow revelers were reported to be more than concerned by the Hef’s rather fragile appearance, according to Fox News.

Still surrounded by his usual phalanx of bosomy, two-legged bunnies, Hef, now 83, was said to be barely shuffling along while greeting the guests, assisted by his current main squeeze, Crystal, while his previous companions, the Shannon twins, strode boldly ahead of them and bathed in waves of attention from the gleeful, and doubtless inebriate throng.

“I have some aches and pains and I have had lower back problems since the ’80s,” Hef was quoted as saying in an interview last year. “Too much time in bed rustling around with friends.” The discomfort is no doubt inconvenient, but his is still an enviable situation for we mere mortals who can only read of such problems.

For those who may be concerned, a rep for the magazine mogul who is familiar with the big H’s condition assured us the situation is quite under control. In less than a month, Hef has visited the Sanremo Music Festival in Italy, appeared at the press conference for his own ‘Playboy Jazz Festival’ and still maintains a time-honored roster of movie events at the Mansion, and he’s busier and more emotionally vital than ever before.

One former love, who still keeps in close touch with the Hef is Bridget Marquardt, the 35-year old former companion who moved out of the Mansion, but still seeks his approval on Hef’s younger replacements. Currently dating television director, Nick Carpenter, she checked with the Hef, and it seems Chris welcome to visit the Mansion whenever he and Bridget might be in the area.

Although she’s currently engaged in post-production for her new Travel Channel series, ‘Bridget’s Sexiest Beaches’ which starts on March 12, no other engagement can be expected, we hear; But the two new love-birds are reportedly happy, and Nick has met both Hef and all Bridget’s folks, so if he’s got any sense the next step should involve a nice ring.