Playboy December 2003

COVER STORY
She's back. Shannen Doherty, who made hearts skip a beat on Beverly Hills 90210 and Charmed, has teamed up with top photographer Michel Comte to deliver a revealing, unforgettable PLAYBOY pictorial. Don't believe the rumors that Shannen is tough to work with—the gorgeous host of Scare Tactics bowled us over. Shannen puts our Rabbit in stitches.

FEATURESs
78 THE LAST DAYS OF JAM MASTER JAY
Last year Run-DMC's DJ was gunned down execution-style near the tough New York City neighborhood where the first true stars of hip-hop got their start. Our writer traces Jay's final moments and sizes up the likely killers. BY FRANK OWEN
96 PLAYBOY'S CHRISTMAS GIFT GUIDE
We tie ribbons on a Fender guitar, a Bentley watch and a Spyder motorbike.
114 WHAT'S SO FUNNY ABOUT PEACE, LOVE AND HOWARD DEAN?
Will Democrat Howard Dean be the next president of the U.S.—or another landslide-losing antiwar candidate like the man to whom he's often compared, George McGovern? For the first time, McGovern speaks out. BY GEORGE McGOVERN
120 CELEBRITY CHRISTMAS CONFIDENTIAL
We paid off the security guards and dived into upscale Dumpsters to give you these PLAYBOY exclusives: Demi's Christmas card to Ashton, Ah-nold's letter to San-tah, Ben and J. Lo's holiday party invitation and Britney's lip-smacking shopping list.
136 SEXPERIMENTS II: CASE STUDIES IN PERVERSION
In June we investigated the world's weirdest sex research. You demanded more. So we donned our lab coats and found these bizarre sexual case histories. Read about a woman who experiences intense orgasms every time she yawns, farmers who fall in love with their tractors, and penis-attacking vacuum cleaners. BY CHIP ROWE
150 PLAYBOY'S ANNUAL MUSIC POLL 2003
Rock this vote. We want to know what sounds made your head bob this year.
156 COLLEGE BASKETBALL PREVIEW
Our experts pick the teams that will storm the NCAA tournament this season.
161 CENTERFOLDS ON SEX: NICOLE NARAIN
Nicole instructs on the oohs and aks of erogenous zones. We're hot for teacher.
162 DAREDEVIL COCKTAILS
As if we're not busy enough looking after beautiful naked women, we test booze infernos with such names as Irish car bomb and the flatliner. BY SARAH PRESTON
164 20Q WILLIAM H. MACY
The gee-whiz antihero of Fargo and Boogie Nights is anything but meek in person. Ile gets hit on by women at stoplights, gambles until his pockets are empty and flunks the Motion Picture Association's rating system. BY WARREN KALBACKER

FICTION
102 OLATH
The man with the hardest abs in the state takes a beating from a roomful of drunks, then falls for a femme fatale who causes even more bodily harm. BY ETHAN COEN

INTERVIEW
71 JOHN CUSACK
Whether starring in indie flicks such as Being John Malkovich or in blockbusters like Runaway Jury, John Cusack is an undisputed master of portraying the angst-ridden everyman. In a self-deprecating Playboy Interview, the man Vogue magazine called "the embodiment of what today's women want" reveals all of his personality flaws—and tells why love affairs with leading ladies never last. BY DAVID SHEFF

PICTORIALS
84 THE GREAT PLAYMATE HUNT
Next month PLAYBOY celebrates its 50th birthday with a special anniversary issue featuring the perfect Playmate. Here are the curvaceous candidates.
106 SEX IN CINEMA
Presenting our annual look at the best sex scenes in this year's movies.
122 PLAYMATE: TELES TWINS
Our gift to you this holiday season is twice as nice.
168 SHANNEN DOHERTY
She left Charmed. Here she leaves behind her clothes.

NOTES AND NEWS
19 DREAM A LITTLE DREAM
Jamie Kennedy, Tommy Lee and the Hiltons Puck around at Hef's Midsummer Night's Dream party.
61 THE PLAYBOY FORUM
One man battles airport security, others declare war on ladies' night.
205 PLAYMATE NEWS
Lauren Michelle Hill makes a sexy video with Justin Timberlake; Pete Yorn's favorite Playmate.

DEPARTMENTS
5 PLAYBILL
23 DEAR PLAYBOY
27 AFTER HOURS
48 PLAYBOY TV
50 PLAYBOY.COM
53 MANTRACK
57 THE PLAYBOY ADVISOR
134 PARTY JOKES
204 WHERE AND HOW TO BUY
209 ON THE SCENE
210 GRAPEVINE
212 POTPOURRI

FASHION
142 THE NEW PLAYBOY AT NIGHT
Get red-carpet treatment at a rock club, a cigar bar and a romantic bistro. BY JOSEPH DE ACETIS
148 THE LUXE TUX
Your classic tuxedo needs a twist. BY JOSEPH DE ACETIS

REVIEWS
39 MOVIES
Master and Commander wants you to come aboard.
41 DVDS
Bruce Almighty is a godsend; Penelope's Cruz missiles in the nude!
42 MUSIC
The Strokes are still smooth; Basement Jaxx move your feet.
44 GAMES
SSX 3 is the Everest of snowboarding games; you'll daydream about Final Fantasy XI.
46 BOOKS
The Slim Shady biography is standup; icons pay tribute to Ken Kesey.