Playboy August 2008

Features 54 THE STRANGE REDEMPTION OF JAMES KEENE Jim Keene was staring at a 10-years-to-life sentence at a federal prison on drug charges when an assistant U.S. attorney offered him a chance at early release. All he had to do was transfer to a maximum-security penitentiary for the criminally insane and get suspected serial killer Larry Hall to confess to his crimes. HILLEL LEVIN tells the tale of one man's harrowing quest for a second chance. 66 THE BIRTH OF THE COOL Everyone knows about the sexual revolution, but people forget that the 1950s and 1960s brought another seismic cultural shift—the birth of the Cool. America's premier coolologist, BILL ZEHME, examines Hef's role as cultural tastemaker and describes PLAYBOY'S part in midwifing this new era. 72 FUNNY HATS, FLACCID BALLOONS AND MAYOR DALEY'S FINGER Whether you lean blue or red, the parties' political conventions leave a lasting impression on voters before a presidential election. PAUL SLANSKY tests your memory of the conventions' most memorable quotes, flubs and follies. 92 THE PERFECT SPRINT "I was privileged to track, if you will, the training, philosophy and motivation of several extraordinary athletes," writes JONATHAN LITTMAN. To find out what it takes to be one of the fastest humans on earth, Littman ran alongside such speedsters as Jeremy Wariner, coach John Smith and his champion Maurice Greene, and Torri Edwards, our best hope for 100-meter gold in Beijing. Fiction 98 NOBODY MOVE, PART TWO In this second installment of a gritty four-part modern noir written exclusively for PLAYBOY, National Book Award winner DENIS JOHNSON has the fugitive gambler Jimmy and his sexy new friend Anita on the lam. As they hide out and get to know each other intimately, Gambol, the bookie's collector whom Jimmy shot, nurses his wound and fantasizes about revenge. The Playboy Forum 39 FORTRESS WASHINGTON President Bush has operated under the theory that he has been free to do as he wished since his election. Not so, says former Republican congressman MICKEY EDWARDS. The public, through its representatives, can and must check the executive. Too often presidents claim the people should be protected from the government, while they spend their time protecting the government from the people. 90 20Q SELMA BLAIR The actress who famously French-kissed Sarah Michelle Gellar in Cruel Intentions doesn't think she has an erotic bone in her body. We beg to differ. STEPHEN REBELLO chats up Hellboy's main flame about her offbeat roles and appeal. Interview 45 BEN STILLER Blockbusters like Meet the Parents and There's Something About Mao/ have made him one of Hollywood's most powerful multihyphenates. Now we reunite the star of this summer's Tropic Thunder with JERRY STAHL, whom Stiller portrayed in Permanent Midnight, to candidly discuss Stiller's on-screen humiliations, his casting Tom Cruise as a bald studio head and how not to house-train a dog. Pictorials 58 THE SURREAL WIFE The Two Coreys' Susie Feldman won't share everything about her private life—including what you see here—with the TV audience. 70 PLAYBOY'S OLYMPIC HALL OF FAME We present our favorite fierce competitors from Games past. 76 PLAYMATE: KAYLA COLLINS Save room for dessert: A hot and sunny Miss August has brought whipped cream. 102 LOVE, ASHLEY World-ranked tennis pro Ashley Harkleroad serves up an absolutely smashing pictorial. Notes and News 11 THE WORLD OF PLAYBOY Hef celebrates his birthday at the Palms in Vegas with Criss Angel, David LaChapelle and an underdressed Pam Anderson. 12 HANGIN' WITH HEF Bo Derek, Michael Jordan and Smokey Robinson raise a glass with the Man at Churchill Downs. 131 PLAYMATE NEWS Jenny McCarthy stars in a web sitcom for mothers. How well do you know your Playmates on the tube? Take the quiz. Departments 3 PLAYBILL 13 DEAR PLAYBOY 17 AFTER HOURS 25 REVIEWS 31 MANTRACK 37 THE PLAYBOY ADVISOR 86 PARTY JOKES 135 WHERE AND HOW TO BUY 138 GRAPEVINE Fashion 88 JOSH PECK The former Nickelodeon star graduates from sneakers to suits for his breakout role in The Wackness. BY JENNIFER RYAN JONES 96 COWBOY UP A pair of pro bull riders show that a sports jacket over jeans is a look that works as well in the ring as in a restaurant. BY JOSEPH DE ACETIS