Category Archives: TV

Quote of the Day

Posted on August 20, 2012 by David McKee

It’s history in the (un)making: The fastest transition from winner to “loser” in the American epoch. Even Sheldon Adelson‘s associates at Crossroads GPS are getting the hell out of Dodge.

Posted in Current, Election, Sheldon Adelson, TV | 7 Comments

TV time!

Posted on August 20, 2012 by David McKee

Whilst I’m tinkering with the third edition of Eating Las Vegas by John Curtas, Max Jacobson and Al Mancini, here are a couple of recent episodes from Vegas Video Network. The first features Bally’s Las Vegas lounge singer — and … Continue reading →

Posted in Dining, Entertainment, Harrah's, The Strip, TV | Comments Off on TV time!

Journos muzzled in Sin City

Posted on August 17, 2012 by David McKee

Sheldon Adelson couldn’t do it but Las Vegas Sun Publisher Brian Greenspun could. The hard-money-lending business in Las Vegas is a dodgy, high-risk one at the best of times and close scrutiny of it by Sun-related publications is especially touchy. … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, Current, New York, North Las Vegas, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, TV | 4 Comments

Taylor Hicks: Vegas’ newest star?; Adelson hates on Vegas

Posted on August 14, 2012 by David McKee

Last  night being my wonderful wife’s birthday, I took her out to dinner and thence to Taylor Hicks at Bally’s, now in the 10th week of an eight-week run (and, no, that’s not a typo). Big ups to Caesars Entertainment, … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Cordish Co., Current, Election, Entertainment, Harrah's, Iowa, Marketing, Maryland, Penn National, Planet Hollywood, Riviera, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip, Tourism, TV | 3 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on August 14, 2012 by David McKee

“If a girl is willing to neck with me, she’s liberal. If Mr. Buckley is willing to neck with me, he’s very liberal.” — Woody Allen, in a rapier duel of wits with William F. Buckley. This one-two comedic punch … Continue reading →

Posted in history, Politics, TV | 1 Comment

Opening tonight!; DIY Vdara Death Ray

Posted on August 10, 2012 by David McKee

Hoping to join Evil Dead The Musical and Best Little Whorehouse in Texas in the progression of locally produced musicals to casino showrooms is Summer Camp! The Musical, which opens tonight at the Onyx Theatre, near what used to be … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Current, Downtown, Entertainment, Environment, Harrah's, Planet Hollywood, Sahara, Tamares Group, The Strip, Tourism, TV, Vdara Death Ray | Comments Off on Opening tonight!; DIY Vdara Death Ray

Your father’s Las Vegas

Posted on August 9, 2012 by David McKee

When liberated from his helicopter (he’s on the traffic beat) KSNV-TV‘s Tom Hawley endeavors to educate early-rising Las Vegans on Sin City’s past. Here he takes a look at the lasting influences of architects Martin Stern Jr. and Homer Rissman, … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, history, MGM Mirage, TV | 1 Comment

Nevada: We’re skewed!; Dark Side of the Force

Posted on August 9, 2012 by David McKee

I always hate doing Nevada gaming numbers because A) it’s redundant with the coverage in the local dailies and B) almost every month you have to trot out the caveat that — as was the case in June — the … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, Cosmopolitan, Current, Downtown, Economy, Entertainment, Harrah's, Lake Tahoe, Marketing, Mesquite, Movies, North Las Vegas, Reno, Tourism, TV, Wall Street | Comments Off on Nevada: We’re skewed!; Dark Side of the Force

Get to the polls!

Posted on August 7, 2012 by David McKee

… as in the Las Vegas Advisor weekly poll. Tomorrow’s promises to be a real doozy. The question is,  What was the worst show in recent Strip and Downtown history? The dog kennel hasn’t been completely filled but I can … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Cirque du Soleil, Colony Capital, Downtown, Entertainment, Harrah's, history, MGM Mirage, Planet Hollywood, Riviera, Sahara, Sports, The Strip, TV, Wayne F. Newton | 6 Comments

Starship to Victorville … and sundry curiosities

Posted on July 11, 2012 by David McKee

No, I don’t know who Cobra Starship is but their “#1Nite” (yes, that’s how they spell it) is the sort of bubble-gum pop that ought to stick to the top of the charts. It’s another entry in that can’t-fail music-video … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, California, Dining, Downtown, Economy, Entertainment, Harrah's, Harry Reid, MGM Mirage, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation, TV | Comments Off on Starship to Victorville … and sundry curiosities

Those were the days

Posted on July 2, 2012 by David McKee

From the collection of Charles Phoenix: The year is 1963. The place, Glitter Gulch. Those were the days when “Vegas” was a mythic, unique American place — and gambling was gambling, not “gaming.” About the only thing that hasn’t changed … Continue reading →

Posted in Downtown, history, TV | Comments Off on Those were the days

The face of LVA; Local man curses electricity

Posted on June 28, 2012 by David McKee

Reports of return (by me) have been greatly exaggerated. After knocking off two travel guides, a feature story and a book review over the last week, I’m practically having to prop my eyes open with toothpicks. And then there are … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Dining, Internet gambling, Pets, Steve Wynn, TV | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

Posted on June 20, 2012 by David McKee

It took 72 years but Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV) has finally mastered the art of the soundbite. Congratulations, sir!

Posted in Current, Harry Reid, TV | 1 Comment

Casino John rides again; Mashpee ride to victory

Posted on June 10, 2012 by David McKee

As is my habit, I tuned in CNN‘s Your Money yesterday. No sooner was the TV on but there was Gov. John Kasich (R), taking justifiable pride in Ohio‘s having recently added 73,300 jobs. The inescapable irony — and fact … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Current, Economy, Harrah's, MGM Mirage, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Steve Wynn, Tribal, TV | 4 Comments

Ohio: Let the games begin!

Posted on May 31, 2012 by David McKee

How confident was MTR Gaming that it held a winning hand in the Ohio courts? Pretty darn confident, from the looks of things. It’s also quite impressive how quickly they whipped together that $152 million racino space at Scioto Downs … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Ohio, Racinos, TV | Comments Off on Ohio: Let the games begin!

“Smurf The Musical”

Posted on May 30, 2012 by David McKee

That’s the LVA office nickname for jukebox tuner Surf The Musical, currently in rehearsal at Planet Hollywood. As many as 35 Beach Boys songs have been laid end-to-end to create a midget version of a Broadway musical. The show’s creators … Continue reading →

Posted in Entertainment, Harrah's, Movies, Planet Hollywood, Technology, The Strip, Tourism, TV | 1 Comment

Caesars: Total disrespect; Palms giving up the ghost

Posted on May 25, 2012 by David McKee

Here’s a chuckle as you head into the Memorial Day weekend: Horseshoe Bossier City‘s Riverdome was on the receiving end of an online diss from Kelly Clarkson. During her Stronger tour, the rocker evidently wasn’t too impressed with the sprung … Continue reading →

Posted in Dining, Entertainment, George Maloof, Harrah's, Louisiana, The Strip, TV | 3 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on May 21, 2012 by David McKee

“‘Eleven, the Hard Way’ (1961), about a small town that sends a gambler [Walter Matthau] to Reno to try to win it a return to prosperity after the local mine goes bust, seems like a metaphor for all those states … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Reno, TV | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

SLS Las Vegas: Pretty pictures and propaganda

Posted on May 18, 2012 by David McKee

To celebrate the first anniversary of his cold-blooded, premeditated murder of the Sahara, nightclub owner Sam Nazarian trotted out freshly hired casino boss Rob Oseland, along with some models (no, not of the runway ilk) and even a rendering that … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Archon Corp., Boyd Gaming, California, Cosmopolitan, Current, Dining, Encore, Entertainment, Fontainebleau, Goldman Sachs, Harrah's, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Morgans Hotel Group, Plaza, Sahara, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, TV | 4 Comments

Casino codependency, Chris Christie’s cowardice & other Case Bets

Posted on May 15, 2012 by David McKee

It’s too bad Steve Friess isn’t here to write this next story, because it’s right up his alley. What do you do if your big-name headliner badmouths your casino and CEO on opening night? You re-hire him, what else? Like … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Atlantic City, Current, Donald Trump, Downtown, Entertainment, Harrah's, Internet gambling, LVCVA, Marketing, New York, Ohio, Politics, Riviera, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Tamares Group, Taxes, The Strip, TV | 2 Comments