In celebration of the 20th anniversary run of THE SIMPSONS, PLAYBOY magazine will do a special Marge Simpson November issue of the magazine complete with a special two page centerfold. Reportedly, only the newsstand copy of the magazine will feature a special cover with Marge Simpson in the same pose as a beautiful African American model once did in 1971, peering out from her beautiful head of fluffy flowing hair. The subscription copies will unfortunately have a more conventional sort of cover model like other PLAYBOY issues.

Even 7-11 decided to carry the issue, reversing a 20 year old ban of adult entertainment magazines as a result of some strong-armed extortion tactics by the far right wing antisemitic extremist Donald Wildmon and his American Family Association. An ally of Wildmon also sent 7-11 a threatening letter using Justice Department stationary suggesting that the corporation might be subject to obscenity charges and racketeering laws for selling PLAYBOY, even though PLAYBOY has never been found legally obscene in any U.S. court. Yet, the twin threats resulted in PLAYBOY being pulled from 1,200 corporate owned stores by the parent company of 7-11. PLAYBOY lost lots of sales revenue since.

Like most adult entertainment magazines, PLAYBOY has been in a serious sales funk since 2006, losing many more readers. Sales declined from 3.15 million down to just 2.6 million during that time. With the bad economy, as well more competition from the Internet, adult entertainment magazines only continue to decline in sales. But compared to most magazines of that genre, PLAYBOY has excellent features and writers. And with decidedly softer adult content than most other men's magazines, PLAYBOY has a certain level of respectability that many other magazines don't have. A few years ago, PLAYBOY's main competitor PENTHOUSE was sold, and their material also softened with the new owner as well. For a while, PENTHOUSE was headed down the path of more raunchy pictorials under the previous owner.

PLAYBOY's founder, 83 year old Hugh Hefner, has been a long time fan of THE SIMPSONS and loved the idea of a Marge Simpson cover and a SIMPSON's tribute. Hefner has appeared twice on the show. But like Hefner, PLAYBOY continues to age. The average reader is now 35. And many of the models inside often look like young women tailor made to appeal to older men. But PLAYBOY is hoping to attract more 20 something males with the SIMPSONS issue.

After years of decline, the new SIMPSON'S PLAYBOY just might give the aging men's magazine a little shot in the arm. Now the big question remains whether Peter from FAMILY GUY will do PLAYGIRL.