Lost in Your Thighs

by Cory Frolik

For someone whose lyrics contained not a syllable of vulgarity, Debbie Gibson's new Playboy spread incites plenty of curse words.

Like "Jesus [explicit word] Christ, she's [same explicit word] hot," uttered by more than one male exiting Tower Records last Friday where the '80s pop icon was on hand signing autographs. Gibson, the pop sensation-turned-Broadway singer-turned-"Hello Nurse," was in Philadelphia as her post-pop persona, Deborah, performing in the show Red Hot Broadway, a sultry review of Broadway's raunchier numbers.

While musical theater is nothing new for Gibson, the magazine spread is. According to Playboy publicist Melissa Gorski, "We've been approaching her for years at various times in her career." At age 34, having just released a new single dubiously titled "Naked," Gibson decided it was time to let it all hang out.

How this exposure might impact Gibson's existing fan base was unclear. Vicki Costello of Holland, Pa., was one of 300-plus fans who crowded Tower. She said it's a little weird to look at the idol of her youth so — undressed. Twenty-three-year-old electric youth Shannon Williams of Ridley Park had similar reservations, asking Gibson to sign personal photos instead. "It doesn't disappoint me," Williams said, though she figured the Playboy photos explained all the "creepy old guys" in line.

One of these brusque fellows tried to push his way up to Gibson. Another was escorted from the store after obnoxiously trying to catch her attention. A group of elderly men on Playmate safari had to be told repeatedly that they and their fancy camera equipment were to get no closer.

When asked if posing for Playboy left her vulnerable (to criticism or creepy guys), Gibson said coolly, "It's just another thing."

Having no qualms with the spread — her mother's presence at the signing confirms this — Gibson said, "What's cool is that die-hard music fans are buying Playboy, while die hard Playboy fans are buying the music."