This lawsuit filed on September 18, 2008 by Terri Hughes, a former producer of Night Calls, against Christy Canyon and Playboy executive producer Farrell Hirsch is something else.

And I can particularly relate to when Hirsch, in this suit, is quoted as saying that too many men were appearing on the shows at Playboy.

Because that’s exactly what happened to me. I was considered one of the sausages in a party that, in Hirsch’s opinion, had too many cocktail weiners as it is.

I was booked to be on Night Calls on July 22 to talk about what was happening with the Ron Sullivan shoot because Amber Lynn had turned that into a major fiasco. Then, several hours later, I received an apologetic call from Hughes informing me that my spot had just been cancelled. The reason given was that I had nothing to do with porn. But I suspected other treachery afoot.

Now that I see that Hughes has both Hirsch and Canyon named as co-defendants in her piece of legal doings, I see all this as somewhat poetic since Canyon often referred to Hirsch as “Farrellina” behind his back. Whatever she meant by that, I don’t know. That he’s gay? That he has swish mannerisms? What else could she have been implying? Now Christy and “Farrellina” will be Swayze and Grey in the porno version of Dirty Dancing.

That being neither here nor there, Hughes is suing for unspecified damages on grounds of alleged racial and sexual discrimination and harassment.

Hughes is also charging intentional infliction of emotional distress. From reading this thing, which could have been written by Jackie Collins, you’d also get the impression that Hirsch got tired of the fact that Playboy had become a minstrel show where he’s quoted, in one instance, as saying no more “Negro shows”.

Well there goes Hefner’s Holmby Hills revival of Showboat, I guess, and we’ll never get to hear Hirsch reaching deep down for those basso blood chilling Ol’ Man River notes. To boot, Hughes had also filed a complaint against Hirsch and Canyon with the Department of Fair Employment and Housing.

Hughes was hired by Playboy this past January to be a producer. When Ginger Lynn left the Night Calls show in March over a contract dispute, Playboy elected to give Kevin Daulton a “Caucasian” the job as producer of the show when the current producer Marie Lanza transferred to another show called “Afternoon Advice”.

Then, on April 2008, Vanessa Blue, an African American, was transferred from “Private Calls” to Night Calls” and suddenly I’m getting a migraine trying to follow this. Alana Evans then apparently made what could be interpreted as a snide remark to Blue by saying they were adding “color” to the show. Let me know when Keenan Ivory Wayans shows up, will ya?

The lawsuit goes on to describe the fact that Blue and Canyon- and this is hard to imagine- didn’t get along as co-hosts and that Canyon allegedly created a sexually and racially hostile environment. The lawsuit goes on to describe how Canyon supposedly altered Blue’s photo in an unflattering way on the website, www.christycanyonauctions.com

The photo supposedly featured six white hosts of various Playboy radio shows along with Blue. The lawsuit gets a bit more descriptive by saying the photo was altered to intentionally deface, demean, humiliate and cause ridicule to Blue.

On June 25, Hughes was then asked by Playboy to replace Daulton as the producer of Night Calls. Hughes began working in that position around June 30. That same day, Hirsch told Hughes that Playboy didn’t want to lose the services of Christy Canyon and that Hughes should show Canyon “special attention”.

About the beginning of July, Playboy also set a policy that producers would all get their own desks. Despite the policy, Hughes, according to the suit, was forced to share a desk and a phone line with an “Hispanic” employee. The suit also includes the fact that no other “Caucasian” employees were required to share desks.

Hughes complained to Hirsch and claims the problem was never rectified. Hughes after becoming a producer of Night Calls also requested business cards but Hirsch supposedly told her it would be eight months before cards would be made for her.

On or about July 14 of this year, during a live broadcast of Night Calls, Canyon demanded that Hughes enter the studio to wax Canyon’s ass. Canyon supposedly repeated this demand throughout that three hour show, forcing Hughes to repeatedly refuse.

The next day, during a meeting called by Hirsch, Hirsch indicated to Hughes that there was a lawsuit involving Blue and that Blue had made allegations that Canyon’s behavior was creating a hostile work environment.

Hirsch requested Hughes’ thoughts on Canyon’s behavior. Hughes told Hirsch that Canyon’s behavior was sexually harassing, that Canyon had harassed Hughes the previous day and that this behavior was problematic.

The suit says Hughes was of the belief that Playboy was forced to implement a no-penetration policy because of Canyon’s behavior. But Hughes witnessed Canyon continue that behavior by exposing her genitals and breasts to guests and co-workers. Canyon also supposedly made requests that guests and co-workers touch her breasts and genitals. And Canyon was also supposed to have masturbated and played with sex toys in front of people.

On July 16, Hughes held a meeting with Canyon and Blue to request that Canyon respect others’ personal boundaries regarding sexual conduct. Hughes stressed that because this was a radio show, actual sexual conduction wasn’t necessary and that the hosts could act or improvise for dramatic effect. Hughes told Canyon that no means no.

Hirsch then complained to Hughes that there wasn’t enough sex in the show, and followed it up with an email dated July 16, taking her to task for booking too many male guests. The email stated that it was becoming a problem.

Several days later, Hughes found it necessary to call another meeting with Canyon and Blue to further discuss Canyon’s behavior and her violation of the personal boundaries code. Hirsch, at the meeting now demanded, that hosts- meaning Blue specifically- were not to vocalize the word “no” to the request for any sexual acts while the show was being broadcast.

From July 21 to July 23, Canyon didn’t show up for broadcasts in protest. Hughes then contacted Sinnamon Love, another black performer, to fill in for Canyon. On July 24, Lanza approached Hughes and accused Blue and Love of soiling and staining three chairs in the Night Calls studio. Lanza said the room smelled awful and that there were brown stains on the chairs. When Hughes went into the studio to investigate she allegedly found a bongwater filled with Marijuana.

But Hughes was of the belief that the bong belonged to Playboy employee Kevin Kline, the host of a morning show that shares the studio with Night Calls. Meanwhile Hughes emailed Hirsch and requested that she be taken off Night Calls as a producer and be re-assigned to two other shows. Hirsch allegedly told her it was all or nothing, that she accept present conditions or be demoted and have her pay reduced.

Hughes told him she was no longer comfortable with present arrangements but Hirsch remained firm.

Hughes had also seen that Daulton was granted a transfer with no repercussions, primarily because Daulton’s girlfriend didn’t like the fact that he was working with porn chicks. On August 1, Hirsch demanded that Hughes fire Vanessa Blue. Hughes refused because Blue was under contract with Playboy and explained that fact to Hirsch and that the contract had been forwarded to Playboy’s legal dept.

On August 8, Hirsch removed Blue from Night Calls. On August 12, Hirsch gave Hughes a list of potential replacements for Blue. Everyone on that list was “Caucasian”. On August 13, Hirsch told Hughes that Blue could be getting her own show and that Blue had requested her as the producer. In discussing the new format, Hirsch allegedly said, “I don’t know to say this, and it might offend you, but I’m just going to say it anyway- no Negro shows.”

On August 28, Playboy sent Hughes a memorandum offering to transfer her from Night calls if she’d agree to be demoted to a lower position for less pay. The memo- included in the lawsuit- further admits that Hirsch used the term “Negro” to describe a show that was inappropriate.

The suit contends that at all times Hughes was an exemplary employee, outstanding, dedicated and loyal. The suit contends that Hughes was subjected to intolerable work conditions and suffered severe emotional and physical distress from continuous harassment, retaliation and discrimination by Hirsch and Canyon.

There were also alleged epithets and derogatory comments and slurs. Hughes contends that on multiple occasions she notified Playboy and Hirsch of Canyon’s continuous pattern of sexual harassment. Playboy and Hirsch failed to remedy the situation, according to Hughes. Playboy, Hughes also contends, failed to curtail Hirsch and prevent his harassment of her with apparent intent of forcing her to resign.