Hef looks forward to up close and personal reunion with Holly

Leila Navidi

Hugh Hefner, from right, greets former girlfriend Kendra Wilkinson as Hefner’s other former girlfriend Holly Madison greets Hefner’s brother Keith Hefner during Hugh Hefner’s 83rd birthday party at the Palms Place pool in Las Vegas Saturday, April 4, 2009.

By Melissa Arseniuk (contact)

Thursday, July 16, 2009 | 8:22 a.m.

While Hugh Hefner is coming to Las Vegas to check up on his ex, he doesn’t think the visit will be awkward.

In fact, he said his former main squeeze Holly Madison invited him to come see her.

“Holly called me a few days ago wondering whether I was going to come and see the show,” Hefner said yesterday during a phone interview, “so we made arrangements.”

The 83-year-old will have a front-row ticket to see Madison as she stars in “Peepshow” on Saturday.

Naturally, Hefner won’t be alone.

“I’m taking (current main girlfriend) Crystal (Harris) and the rest of girls,” he said. “We’ll be flying out on Saturday and all of us together will watch ‘Peepshow.’ ”

Later that night he will catch the late show of Playboy Comedy at the Palms, where his two younger girlfriends, July-August Playmates Karissa and Kristina Shannon, are hosting. (Meanwhile, “MADtv’s” Bobby Lee and fellow funnyman Cort McCown will perform.)

In addition to seeing Madison onstage, Hefner said he will have her at his dinner table on Saturday, too, between “Peepshow” and “Playboy Comedy.”

“We’ll also be having dinner in my suite at the Palms,” Hefner said.

The iconic playboy said it will be more of a family style meal than an intimate dinner for two.

“All of us together will be having dinner in my suite with Holly,” he said.

He said he has been wanting to come see his former flame headline at Planet Hollywood for some time.

“Quite frankly, I had originally intended on going in for the opening week and there was a feeling that that might take some of the excitement about the opening away from it, and that we should separate the two, in other words, that I should delay my visit,” he said.

The ever-uninhibited Hefner said there is “certainly nothing weird about” taking his current trio of girlfriends to see the woman he once loved onstage and topless for all to see.

“We’re looking forward to the trip and we always have a good time,” Hefner said.

He said he is glad to see Madison, 29, succeed away from life at the Playboy Mansion.

The 83-year-old dated Madison and her fellow “Girls Next Door” co-stars, Bridget Marquardt and Kendra Wilkinson, for several years until the four went their separate ways last fall.

He admitted that he was worried about Madison after the split, even though the break-up was amicable.

“Both Bridget and Kendra have made such very nice transitions and, you know, I was kind of concerned in terms of Holly,” he said.

The “Peepshow” star dated “Mindfreak” magician Criss Angel during the months immediately following the split, though the two performers have since called it quits.

Madison appeared as a contestant on the most recent series of “Dancing with the Stars” and is rumored to be working on a new reality TV show of her own.

Hefner said he approves of Madison’s post-Mansion choices.

“I’m very happy that she’s making this transition in a way that works for her,” he said. “I’m very pleased.”

Melissa Arseniuk writes about Las Vegas entertainment and celebrity events. She can be reached at 702-948-7823 or by e-mail at melissa.arseniuk@lasvegassun.com.