The Ten Spot 3/3

Top 15 Career Salvaging Playboy Shoots

Although being a Playboy Bunny is an elite achievement and has catapulted many actresses into stardom (Pamela Anderson, Jenny McCarthy), sometimes the title is abused by ladies that have lost their way. Fifteen minutes of fame is far too quick for these girls and as long as they still have the goods and a fat cheque signed by Mr. Hefner they are determined to get naked. Some of them needed money, some needed a career boost, and some just wanted a record of what their body looked like before it was un-air-brushable. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. See you soon Britney.

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5. Shannon Elizabeth - August, 1999

Again, not on the cover. What the shit? Shannon's actions in the late 90's were almost unheard of. She burst on the scene by getting naked and masturbating in her first major film role and then jumps to the pages of Playboy weeks later to let us revisit the goodness. In a world where no-nudity clauses still exist, Shannon is a hero. It's almost as if the timing is all wrong though. Shouldn't we be seeing her posing naked now, when the scripts are drying up and the breasts are still standing? This isn't over.

4. Kristy Swanson - November, 2002

This is one of my favourites. Just as 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' was completing it's run of seven ridiculously successful years on TV, Kristy shows up with a vengeance to remind the geeks who started the phenomenon. Sadly, the extremely hot shots did nothing but send her directly to TV and a title on 'Skating with Celebrities'. In funnier news, Kristy was arrested this year for beating down her husbands ex-wife after stealing him from her (he was her partner on said shit show) while she was pregnant.

3. Charisma Carpenter - June, 2004

Speaking of Buffy. As spin-off, 'Angel', came to a close Charisma thought she might send out a resume package to all those interested in the form of high quality nudes. Amazingly, that ass hasn't really gotten her a big break yet. Her hopes of landing WONDER WOMAN seem slim lately and 'Veronica Mars' recently died a horrible death but neither would have been a reality without this issue. She shows up in one more family TV movie and I'm going to sue Playboy for her.

2. Tricia Helfer - February, 2007

This is the way to do it girls. Don't even wait for your flame to fade. She knows 'Battlestar Galactica' is ending next year. She knows it's one of the most under appreciated shows of all time. If this doesn't get you to watch, nothing will. It's this strike while the iron's hot attitude that should be noted by all young bouncy women with contracts that won't last forever.

1. Drew Barrymore - January, 1995

Nobody has ever used Playboy more perfectly than this. During a stretch of her career that sported titles such as THE AMY FISHER STORY, DOPPELGANGER, and WAXWORK II: LOST IN TIME, Drew had nothing to lose by showing everything she had. She's never looked back. Hit after hit have followed her for the past twelve years. Thing is, she's still that sweet little girl from E.T. How a Playboy shoot turns around a career highlighted by being a pre-teen alcoholic and drug abuser is beyond me but somehow it made her more innocent. Kudos to your nudeness Drew.

Source: JoBlo.com's Cool Columns