So Karina Smirnoff, pro dancer on Dancing with the Stars, will appear nude in Playboy. Here is Playboy founder and publisher Hugh Hefner himself announcing the news via Twitter this week:
@hughhefner Hugh Hefner
The May issue of Playboy is unforgettable with Dancing With The Stars' Karina Smirnoff on the cover & nude inside.
It’s curious that DWTS continually tries to make us believe they are a family show. Not only have they had some celebrities with less than respectable backgrounds appearing on the show, they are now allowing one of their own to pose nude in a Playboy issue that hits stands just as the show enters its last few weeks of its season. The coincidence that Karina and her partner, the wholesome Ralph Macchio, will most likely be heading into the finals at that time is not lost. But, do the powers that be honestly think this will be good for the show? Somebody must, or else Karina would be appearing on a summer cover while the show is on hiatus.
The show’s hypocrisy is not lost either. Producers reportedly chided recently eliminated couple Lacey Schwimmer and Mike Catherwood for being too sexy, yet one of their pros will appear nude in front of the whole country during the season’s run. It seems the show is not all about family programming after all, but rather generating controversy. And yes of course, this is genius, because the show remains one of ABC’s most highly rated programs. As the show continually tries to push the boundaries of viewers’ taste, however, eventually there may come a point when the line is crossed.
It will be interesting to see if mention of Karina's Playboy stint is made on the next show. Will they remain silent, pretending to distance themselves under the guise of "we're a family show" or will they brazenly confront the issue head on?
The next installment of Dancing with the Stars airs Monday, April 11 at 8 p.m. (EST) on ABC. Viewers in Newark, NJ can watch the show on WABC-TV Channel 7.
Comments