Celebrity Skin
October 31, 2009
Back when I used to own a television, it wasn’t uncommon for me to watch the “late shows” which came on just before midnight.
I remember watching the Leno Show, and his guest was (if I remember correctly) Ben Affleck.
Somehow the subject of celebrities came up, and probable Ben went on to express his opinion on the matter. He said that being a celebrity was strange because it didn’t take any skill or talent to be one. He said that if you were to take a grapefruit, put it in a movie, put it on TV, and show its pictures in magazines … people all over the country would pay good money and stand in line to see the grapefruit.
Downtown Las Vegas Fremont Street
I thought this was a rare moment of brilliance from the Hollywood community.
Of course, the guy went on to shatter the perception of his insightfulness with the whole Jennifer Lopez debacle, but that just went to underscore another point.
It’s hard to be brooding and introspective in the presence of a perfect female ass. Were it not for attractive females, I am convinced that we would all be driving around in flying cars, and commuting to Mars … which we would have fully colonized by now. Cancer would be cured, world peace would reign, and all casinos would pay 100:1 on Blackjack.
It sounds facetious, but I am not kidding. 90% of the world’s problems would be solved and productivity would go through the roof if males could simply shut off their sex drive when it was inconvenient.
Again, I’ve proven that I am unable to stay on-topic for three consecutive paragraphs. I don’t even know why I try anymore.
My primary topic is that of “celebrities”.
The first one or two years I started blogging from Las Vegas, the most common questions I used to get were “Do you ever see celebrities?”, “Why don’t you ever tell us when you see celebrities?”, etc.
I explained a couple of times that I didn’t understand people’s fascination with the concept. When I do see people that I recognize from television or films, I might say “that person looks familiar for some reason”. When I get closer to satisfy my own curiosity, I might remark “Oh it’s XYZ” … and that’s about it. Once I’ve solved the puzzle of putting a name to a face, the interest is over for me.
Unless I know them personally or we have close friends in common, I generally don’t approach these folks, nor do I try to speak with them, or otherwise stop and alter my day in any way. I likely won’t write anything about them or mention their names unless they have done something interesting.
The only exception to this rule is sightings of Steve Wynn, George Maloof, Oscar Goodman, etc. If you have a Vegas blog then you kind of have to acknowledge the people that run the town. For better or worse, these people are directly part of the LV experience, and much like construction photos, Vegas geeks get a particular kick out of seeing them.
Oddly enough, the place in which I have seen the most “mainstream media famous” people in Las Vegas is at the Adult Entertainment Expo. Make of that what you will. I typically crop them out of photos and purposefully do not mention them for obvious reasons. I’m not a stalkerazzi, and I don’t want one of my photos showing up on a fan site, or worse … in a tabloid.
“Rex, that was soooooo interesting! How about twelve paragraphs detailing your favorite color you self absorbed ass? Do you have a point beyond your own pointless narcissistic ramblings?”
First of all, go to hell. Your mother seemed to enjoy my pointless ramblings while I was splitting her like a piece of lumber last night.
Second, yes I do have a point.
I happened to read the Las Vegas Weekly this morning, and Robin Leach revealed some news that I found to be somewhat curious.
Apparently, part of Downtown Las Vegas’ revitalization going forward will hinge on … celebrities.
Dan Akroyd and Jim Belushi will be hanging out at Binion’s this weekend, and more actors are planned for the future … among them Jack Nicholson.
Said Leach “The plan is to use Hollywood star power as part of the attraction as they take over one hotel property after another and then link them all together in a massive makeover.”
This seems like a page out of the nightclub/lounge playbook. If you book celebrities, tourists will come.
Frankly, I’m not sure what to think about the plan.
My first instinct is to scream “Noooooooooooo! Leave Downtown to the dirtbags, outcasts, and the middle class. Don’t douchify the place.”
If this ploy actually works, I’m not sure that it would be a good thing. The relative lack of a celebrity culture is what makes Downtown different from The Strip. Well, that and an abundance of places to score methamphetamine.
On second glance, however, it doesn’t appear as though Downtown is aiming for Paris Hilton, Britney, or the dude with the lisp from “That 70’s Show”. They seem to be aiming for a slightly more mature audience which is old enough to be past the groupie and hanger-on stage in their lives.
I’m still not completely sure why they would come to gawk at actors, but some things are not for me to understand.
As a little more of my interest has shifted Downtown in the last year or so, I would welcome anything that keeps it alive and attracts more tourists. I think the superior gaming odds and walkability are already meeting that objective to at least some extent.
The fact that Binion’s and their neighbors continue to aggressively try out new concepts is evidence that Fremont Street is making a real bid to be the go-to place for entertainment in Las Vegas.
Whether the celebrity angle works or does not work remains to be seen, but at least they are trying something new.
Now if you will excuse me, I am off to Fremont Street to see if Jack is already hanging out.
All work and no play make Rex a dull boy.
You want the truth? You can’t handle the truth?!
The more I think about it, the celebrity thing may not be such a bad idea.
It’s been a lifelong dream to get kicked in the nads by Mr. Nicholson for relentlessly doing bad impressions to his face, and that goal may soon be within reach.
Written by Todd from Sconnieland on October 31, 2009 at 1:41 pm
The voices in your head are particularly combative today.
Written by Chuckreis on October 31, 2009 at 1:50 pm
Instead of celebrities downtown should try a theme to be carried out all summer long. Like a sixties theme. Tie Dye shirts. Peace symbols and a painted bus.
Written by Rex on October 31, 2009 at 1:57 pm
Instead of celebrities downtown should try a theme to be carried out all summer long. Like a sixties theme. Tie Dye shirts. Peace symbols and a painted bus.
It would never work.
Written by Double Down Now on October 31, 2009 at 2:32 pm
Downtown should just hire lots and lots of hot chicks to walk around, play blackjack, give out free drinks,etc.
Written by philipj on October 31, 2009 at 3:05 pm
I like being one of the labor class tourist gamblers that stay and play downtown. Clean always makes us want to come back to decent room prices. Set the hold at 2 1/2, and pay back of slots at 97 1/2% Give’em a good gamble, dress the female staff like we have to take a second look whick we will open do after a couple of the free drinks for players. Stuff the area downtown with STRESS cops who only work violence(leave the hookers alone for us to hire or oogle) and make us feel totally safe, secure, and let us enjoy spending our money in downtown Las Vegas.
Keep the plastic people on the strip!
Written by MagnumDF on October 31, 2009 at 8:03 pm
It was Dana carvey that said that about the grarefruit. I totally agree. I have never understood the whole concept of celebrities. I remember when I was 15 I went to the movies with my friends. we were standing in the ticket line and Michael Bolton walked up behind us with his daughter. He just had a hit “Fools Game” on MTV. My friends all started to kiss his ass, telling him he was awesome…then they asked for his autograph. His daughter, who was prob 6 or 7, reached into her little purse and took out a pen and notebook and said “Here we go again Dad”. He asked their names and wrote them an autograph. He asked me if i wanted one, and I said “No thanks”. He looked totally stunned, but just said “OK”. I understand if a person inspires you in some way, or moves you to make an improvment in your life, but just the fact that they are on TV or whatever does not make them better than anyone else.
Written by vegasvoodoo on November 1, 2009 at 9:56 am
that is an orange in your pictures not a grapefruit.
Written by dpo on November 1, 2009 at 10:18 am
Favorite Nicholson….
(From Easy Rider)
Ni Ni Ni Ni NI Ni Ni Ni……Ahhhhhhh, INJUNS!
Written by Limey on November 2, 2009 at 6:28 am
I can see vegasvoodo hasn’t been out with too many oranges and can’t seem to tell the difference…..Limey
Written by tully on November 3, 2009 at 3:21 am
Not sure what to make of this celebrity thing either, but will say this: whomever is in charge of promoting Fremont Street has shown more creativity in the past year than LVCVA has shown in a decade. Granted, the latter has shown as much creativity as, well, a bag of grapefruit, but Downtown is obviously trying. It’s the nature of the creative process that some ideas work well, others are duds. But FSE’s promotional track record this year—in an awful economic climate—has been pretty good.
Written by mad dog on November 3, 2009 at 1:56 pm
A pink grapefruit actually:
http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:Sdy37BryNU7QjM:http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z168/cybershadowmoon/WajaProf/PinkGrapefruit.jpg
Written by Ed on November 5, 2009 at 10:08 am
I vaguely remember seeing Ben Affleck on the Tonight Show making some grapefruit remark, maybe he got the idea from Dana Carvey. Either way, the whole infatuation with celebrities thing is just crazy, perpetrated by bored people with no lives of their own.