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UPFRONTS 2013: The Overachievers 
EXCLUSIVE: Actor Jeff Hephner just got his big break, landing the lead role in NBC’s drama pilot Playboy. The project, from 20th TV, Imagine TV and writer-executive producer Chad Hodge, is set at the Playboy Club in Chicago in 1963. Hephner went through rigorous auditioning process, beating a number of better known actors for the role, the last major part in the pilot to get cast. And he certainly has the right last name for it that sounds exactly like the moniker of the king of the Playboy empire, Hugh Hefner.
Playboy centers on Nick Dalton (Hephner), described as “the ultimate playboy.” He is an attorney in Chicago and a Keyholder at the glamorous, exclusive Playboy Club. A fixer who knows how to make problems disappear, he has mysterious ties to the mob. The pilot, directed by Alan Taylor, co-stars Laura Benanti, Amber Heard, Naturi Naughton, Jenna Dewan-Tatum, Leah Renee, David Krumholtz and Wes Ramsey. Hephner, repped by Paradigm and the Group Entertainment, is recurring on CW’s Hellcats and has also done arcs on NBC’s Mercy and Fox’s The O.C.
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Excellent – congrats to Jeff!
First Marc “Webb” lands Spider-man and now Jeff “Hephner” lands Playboy. At this rate, I’m changing my professional name to Jamesbond Batman.
You beat me to the punch! Well-played, Donnacha
Good one
Just watch, Nathan “Lumber” will land a directing gig on that MRC LOGJAMMERS project..
I hope I get a meeting on that Logjammers project. Heard Jerry Martin is doing a rewrite.
I bet Paradigm is pretty happy tonight that they snagged Chris Highland!
This sounds….somewhat promising, actually.
Playboy has a great cast.
Oh nice! Definitely time he got his big break. Handsome, talented, good choice! Playboy is definitely looking a lot better.
his name is ironic.. hephner-hefner
That’s not irony…
So, Mad Men…at the Playboy club…though they already did that.
This was in development long before that episode.
Gold.
Great choice! This Jeff Hephner can act! Wait two years and watch how a real person. Who can act with the best of them, stays real, but finally gets some props. He deserves it.
Jeff deserves it. He is a family man and he’s a fantastic guy. I don’t care if he is a Giants fan via Detroit. The guy is a solid talent.
I think Jeff was also up for the lead in Limitless coming out with Bradley Cooper.
Wow! Wait until you see that pile of crap. Good thing Jeff didn’t fall into that. The script is one of the worst I’ve read in years. It’s a mess. The VO is ridiculous. And if you happen to read the script check out the use of adjectives. This is hands down a bomb. They will end up doing a lot of quick cuts, flashy BS on screen to make up for a terrible piece of writing. Oh yeah, there is a magic pill that gets into the hands of a dud named Vern. The pill is so magical that you become a genius when on it. And the guy who holds the keys to it is a dud named Vern. Jesus, I just wrote something about a guy who drinks spoiled milk and gets the power to fly from it. The drug companies chase after him to find the chemical in his body that allows him to fly. And yeah, the guy who drank the spoiled milk looks like Paul Giamatti.
Crap is crap folks. Congrats Jeff. You slid by a big sucker with this.
Actually, Playboy pilot is one of the rare occasions when I am anticipating broadcast pilot like from cable, I must say well played NBC.
Cast looks great, talent attached to this project is solid. Let’s hope that script is good and Taylor can do his mojo.
Jeff Hephner is THE MAN! An even better person than he is an actor. That pilot needed a don draper…and they got one.
Read the pilot. Great work. But watch NBC blow it the way Fox
ruined Lone Star–marketed as sleezy story about a smart suave guy with the morals of a lamprey. Lone Star would still be on the air
if the promotional campaign didn’t go for the obvious–a hot guy
who gets away with having a hot wife and even hotter girlfriend.
Women were turned off by the first promo.
There’s not much to mis-market about this one though. Hephner’s role is incredibly likeable, it’s a sexy show with a ton of fun moments to promote.
Love this WENDY HALL photo.
Obviously he is a working actor, but I really think its wonderful that NBC and the producers and castings team did not go with a branded “name” for the lead. I’m so sick of the same old actors anchoring pilots. Congrats to all involved – hope this show is a hit. It really has the potential to be a cool, sexy escapist soap/drama.
It is pronounced “hep-ner” so no need to hate.
Yeah, Debra Kevani don’t they have a new team running NBC with Bob Greenblatt and Ted Harbert running marketing?
I love Jeff Hephner. His work, along with Laurie Metcalf’s, was sorely underappreciated on Easy Money two seasons ago.
Really like him on Hellcats, and hope that he’ll be able to juggle both shows. This is a very solid casting move. Sounds like Jeff is universally admired.
Hephner did a pretty good job in the O.C. Congrats to him.
Congrats to Jeff! Great guy and family!
Hep is great. This is well deserved. He can act
Congratulations to Jeff! He is from my hometown and representing us well! Can’t wait to watch your new show!