Playboy December 2004

COVER STORY It's hard to say what we love most about Denise Richards. She's a Bond girl. Charlie Sheen gave up his playboy ways to make her a permanent part of his life. And she, took part in the sexiest threesome ever seen in an R-rated film. She proves to Senior Contributing Photographer Stephen Wayda that she's still a wild thing. Our Rabbit thinks she's a jewel. FEATURES 86 REFLECTIONS ON COURAGE, MORALITY AND SEXUAL PLEASURE America's foremost family of letters hashes out some of the most important issues vexing our nation today: shrill battles over morality, jostling between the sexes and the future role of literature in society. BY NORMAN MAILER AND JOHN BUFFALO MAILER 100 THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING DINO Dean Martin, the Rat Pack's king of cool, is back. With his impeccable sense of humor and style as relevant as ever, it's time to reexamine the man's life and work—and uncover a little-known secret. BY BILL ZEHME 106 PLAYBOY'S HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE Forget visions of sugarplums. This year it'll be a Harley-Davidson, a Breitling watch and a Ferrari pen dancing in your head. 112 OH, YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE! We broke federal postal laws to intercept holiday thank-you notes written by Michael Moore, Nicky Hilton, Mel Gibson and others. 120 THE INCREDIBLE ADVENTURES OF THE COLLECTOR Think guys who hoard comic books are a bit odd? Wait until you meet men obsessed with buying and selling original comic-book artwork. BY GLEN DAVID GOLD 126 THE PERFECT NIGHT We've got the recipe for a romantic dinner for two. Ingredients include the right flowers and music, and coq au vin preceded by chestnut soup. BY A.J. BAIME 148 IN THE PAINT With our slam-dunk preview of the new NCAA hoops season, you'll be set to make early predictions about March Madness and the NBA draft. BY DAVID KAPLAN 162 PLAYBOY'S MUSIC POLL 2004 Now that the presidential election is over, rock this vote. Tell us what you think ruled and reeked in music this year. Also, we rap with Nas and Kanye West. 168 20Q DUSTIN HOFFMAN The eternal graduate tells us about losing his virginity, talking to Brando and why his libido is a "maniac." BY ROBERT B. DESALVO AND DAVID SHEFF 171 CENTERFOLDS ON SEX: NICOLE WOOD The spa owner explains why you can undress her if you get dressed up. FICTION 130 THE REVENGE OF THE GODFATHER The saga of Michael Corleone and his famiglia continues. This time, after a cold-blooded hit, there's a problem—what to do with the body. BY MARK WINEGARDNER 172 THE OLD BADGER GAME Fur starts flying when a badger falls for a rancher's wife. BY ANNIE PROULX INTERVIEW 75 BERNIE MAC Mr. 3000 inhaled deeply on the oxygen machine he brought along to this Playboy Interview before answering our questions about his difficult childhood, African American stereotypes and his gun collection. BY DAVID RENSIN PICTORIALS 90 SEX IN CINEMA Corn wasn't the only thing popping at the movies in 2004. The year's hottest scenes include Chloe Sevigny in The Brown Bunny, Nicole Kidman in Cold Mountain and Naomi Watts in 21 Grams. 114 REMEMBERING POMPEO POSAR Our eulogy to a legendary PLAYBOY photographer whose beautiful images will never die. 134 PLAYMATE: TIFFANY FALLON Our holiday gift to you: a blue-eyed brunette who loves football. 176 DENISE RICHARDS We're happy to run aground on this screen siren's desert isle. NOTES AND NEWS 17 DREAM A LITTLE DREAM Luke Wilson, Sarah Silverman and Paris Hilton puck around at Hef's Midsummer Night's Dream bash. 65 THE PLAYBOY FORUM Why we need to get the government out of our libraries and bookstores; how cops corral protesters. 217 PLAYMATE NEWS The FCC can't stop Howard Stern from hanging out with Centerfolds. DEPARTMENTS 7 PLAYBILL 21 DEAR PLAYBOY 25 AFTER HOURS 51 MANTRACK 59 THE PLAYBOY ADVISOR 146 PARTY JOKES 204 WHERE AND HOW TO BUY 221 ON THE SCENE 222 GRAPEVINE 224 POTPOURRI FASHION 154 TIME FOR TOPCOATS Keep warm, look cool: The latest trends include leather, fur trim and denim. BY JOSEPH DE ACETIS REVIEWS 37 MOVIES Ocean's Twelve steals the show, The Aviator flies high, and we're pleased to Meet the Fockers. 38 DVDS The rebirth of The Bourne Supremacy, heavenly Hell's Angels and the best DVD gift sets. 44 MUSIC Lil Jon gets low again, John Lennon unplugged and Dennis Brown in dub. 46 GAMES Get trigger-happy in the trenches of Killzone; play like James Bond in GoldenEye: Rogue Agent. 48 BOOKS Book these for the holidays: new page-turners about cars, cooking, cuties and Chicago.