Eric
Tue, 17 Nov 2009 07:40:23 -0800
Usually I like to take at least a week to digest everything before I write my review, but this year I could spit it all out right away. I just want to say that these events are no longer Playboy centric, or more correctly Playmate centric. I was shocked that a lot of the attendees have little knowledge of the Playmates that showed up, I remember one actually went up to 2000 PMOY Brande Roderick and asked what her name is? Compare this to the other models at the show such as Jasmine Mai and Ashlee Ricci who is a daughter of a Playmate, the Playmates seem to be reduce to a sideshow especially this year with the addition of a runway fashion show. I remember when Playboy use to rule these events especially when Hef and the Girls Next Door would show up.I'm starting to wonder when the car show models and fetish models will totally takeover Glamourcon? The funniest thing I saw at the show was when I ran into Lorrie Menconi when some by-passers had no idea who she is and she has to explain that she is Ashlee's mom. I don't think that there was a shortage of Playmates this year though, in fact I think there was more at least the same as in previous shows. But without an Alison Waite, Lindsay Vuolo, Nicole Voss, Jennifer Walcott or Lauren Michelle Hill it seems to be a bit dull compared to past shows. First of all, I never cared for older Playmates, they rarely age gracefully, however, I have to admit that Cathy St. George still look hot and Laura Misch from the last show was the only one I ever find attractive at her age. I mean maybe when I'm older and Lauren Michelle Hill is older, I would go back to thinking how hot she once was, but she is obviously not going to be the same. This was exactly the reaction I got when I saw Lisa Marie Scott, I thought she still looks good but she just doesn't do it for me anymore. One of the thing that really pist me off was the overcharging by a few of these Playmates. I remember when the economy was better, they use to charge $15 for a signed headshot and 3 for $30 and now they are all $20 each with no discount (except for Grace Kim who charged $30 for 2, but if I recalled she charged 3 for $30 or something the last time). Also, a few of them were charging $20 for a picture with them which is ridiculous. I thought that even $10 was a bit much for the current economy, but most were kind enough to charge $5. I could understand Brande charging a bit more because she is a PMOY, she still looks amazing and she's been in a few movies, but what have Christine Smith done lately? Juliette Frette is always a sweetheart to me, but she charged me $20 a picture with her and she was hunting down people who took an extra shot of her. Kimberly Phillips who came in unannounced and is one of my favorite in 2009 also charged $20. I have to excuse Kimberly though, she had no idea how the pricing at these events work and she sat right next to Christine Smith who I thought was the worst in overcharging, so she thought that was the standard price. I thought if she had sat next to Grace Kim or Kayla Collins instead, she might have charged $5 instead. But hopefully she knows better next time. I remember how outrage I was when Hope D. charged like $30 a picture with her at the last show, she scared everyone away especially when she had nothing to sell too, it shows because she didn't even return the next day. Kelley Thompson the current Playmate charged $15 but she looks great so at least I thought it was worth it. Pennelope Jimenez and Vanessa Gleason both charged $10, which I'm okay with but I thought Pennelope was starting to show some age this time. (I apologize to the Pennelope fans out there, but I'm just saying as it is, because I thought she didn't look her best). Michelle McLaughlin was only charging $5, but she was texting on her Blackberry on both days and it seemed like she rather be somewhere else. I kinda wonder why she showed up if see didn't want to be there. I feel like her attitude prevented her from a lot of business, because everyone avoided her. I walked by a few times and I noticed no one even talked to her as most were either talking to Kayla or her other neighbor. As for Heather Rene Smith, what a good sport, she was sick as a dog and she told me she injured her rips but she still showed up both days. As sweet as she is, I feel like her looks are fading fast tough, everytime I see her she looks worse, even when she's not sick. I feel like she could still look like a doll if she get some rest. I personally think she hasn't slept since she's been Playmate, and it looks like her fading looks is a combination of too much partying and drinking and lack of sleep. If Heather Rene was aging fast then she should get some advice from Tiffany Taylor and Deanna Brooks, the two ageless wonder. Maybe they found the fountain of youth, but these two look hotter than some girls that just pose. Deanna Brooks was also very nice and sweet too, it seems that she looks good and feel fantastic, life must be good to her. As for Kara Monaco, she looked great but I liked her more when she has longer hair. She was nice and she laughed at my jokes when I made a comment about her use to being Cinderella at Disney World. Also she charged only $5 for a picture with her, which makes me wonder if she charged $5 than how could Christine and Juliette think they could charge $20. The highlight of the show for me was Grace Kim. Last year she looked terrible, not her fault though, she was very sick. But what bothered me the most last year was not her being sick but her terrible choice of an outfit. Those tight jeans brought out her skinny chicken legs, but this year she looked fabulous in a loose fitting dress. I was suggesting that she wore something like that in last year's review, maybe she read it and took my advice. (Yeah, in my dreams though.) Not only did she looked stunning, but she was very nice and talkative. As for my thoughts on the rest of the show, I want to say that I am really happy to see that there is finally a table for Cyber Girls and PB Special Editions models. Amanda Corey who was on Beauty and the Geek and featured twice on Playboy and also in the SE magazine was just adorable and she was a sweetheart and easygoing. Tess Taylor who is the current CGOM was also there, I wanted to tell her that I'm not a fan of her tattoos, but she is very sweet and I really think she's a darling and I don't want to be a jerk and say something negative about her to her face. All of these girls charged a very reasonable price, $5 for a picture with them and only charged $15 for a signed photo. I think the Playmates should take a note of this, because Amanda is nothing less than a Playmate, after all she's a semi-celebrity, she's a winner in a reality show even if no one was watching. I hate to pick on Christine Smith, but I want to reiterate the question "why is she worth $20 a picture with her?" Also Sara Stokes from the Hot Housewives edition looked very hot and elegant on the second day with a sexy black dress. I wonder where her husband is, but man is she gorgeous? Andrea Lowell from Playboy Radio on Sirius is always my favorite person at the show, we're like old friends everytime we see each other. She was doing her show on Saturday and I think it will air Monday, but we still found time to catch up and talk in between recordings. She is the most easygoing and the nicest person I've ever met. Finally, a shot out to Hairball and Alfred, good to see you guys again. It's always nice to see the Glamourcon diehards at these shows. Sorry for sounding like a cheapskate for bringing up pricing in these reviews, but the economy is still bad and I want these shows to be more fan friendly by being affordable and let our dollar go a little further.