Hugh Hefner built an empire built on glitz, skin and bunny tails. But Playboy hasn't always had the easiest time staying relevant and in the black.

Last night's premiere of NBC's The Playboy Club—complete with a voiceover from Hefner himself—aimed to shore up the brand's icon factor.

It smartly hearkens back to Playboy's most glamorous era—and it's almost enough to make us forget about the company's ups and downs.

Almost.

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