Category Archives: TV

Err Trump

Posted on March 15, 2011 by David McKee

Failed gaming mogul Donald Trump appears to be running his presidential quasi-campaign with the same business acumen that made his casino empire what it is today. The incident is more funny than anything else because Trump’s wouldn’t-fool-an-infant scheme is lifted … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Donald Trump, Iowa, Politics, Regulation, TV | 5 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on March 15, 2011 by David McKee

“Schumer is Stewie.” — former Providence, R.I. mayor, convicted felon and frequent Family Guy reference point Buddy Cianci in re Sen. Charles Schumer (R-NY). Damn! That’s the best endorsement I’ve ever heard, bar none.

Posted in Current, New York, Politics, TV | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

What makes Sammy run?

Posted on March 14, 2011 by David McKee

Scarcely was the ink dry on Sahara owner Sammy “The Naz” Nazarian‘s announcement of the property’s May 16 closure than rumors began to fly about his endgame for the old gal. At S&G, we’re pretty certain that “The Naz” (™ … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Boyd Gaming, California, Carl Icahn, CityCenter, Colony Capital, Columbia Sussex, Cosmopolitan, Current, Economy, Fontainebleau, Herbst Gaming, M Resort, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Regulation, Riviera, Sahara, Sheldon Adelson, Tamares Group, The Strip, Tourism, Tropicana Entertainment, TV, Wall Street | 9 Comments

R.I.P., Sahara (1952-2011)

Posted on March 11, 2011 by David McKee

Once the Riviera changed hands, the Strip casino for whom mortality seemed most imminent became the Sahara. The ‘death by a thousand cuts’ regime of nightclub impresario and absentee owner Sam Nazarian bled the place to the extent that there … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, CityCenter, Colony Capital, Columbia Sussex, Current, Dining, Economy, Entertainment, Fontainebleau, Goldman Sachs, history, International, James Packer, Macau, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Morgans Hotel Group, Pansy Ho, Plaza, Regulation, Riviera, Sahara, Stanley Ho, Station Casinos, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation, TV, Wall Street | 10 Comments

Boyd: The rest of the story

Posted on March 9, 2011 by David McKee

There’s a bit of scuttlebutt going around about Boyd Gaming retracting coupon offers. To wit, from the S&G mailbag: “There’s this story going around, Suncoast/Boyd advertised in the [Las Vegas Review-Journal], and gave 10x points coupons for every Wednesday in … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Current, Downtown, Lake Tahoe, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, TV | 5 Comments

“V”

Posted on March 8, 2011 by David McKee

That’s about the extent and substance of the campaign of Las Vegas mayoral aspirant Victor Chaltiel, a suddenly ubiquitous, Peter Lorre-like figure who has manifested himself as major civic figure as suddenly as if he’d been beamed down from space. … Continue reading →

Posted in Archon Corp., Boyd Gaming, Current, Don Barden, Downtown, Economy, Harrah's, International, Marketing, North Las Vegas, Pennsylvania, Politics, Station Casinos, The Strip, TV, Wall Street | 4 Comments

Pay no attention to the man behind the bow tie

Posted on March 7, 2011 by David McKee

While high-speed rail might be no more than a partial solution to expediting access to resort cities like Las Vegas and New Orleans, at least one of its naysayers used to be a vocal advocate. Who? Why none other than … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Transportation, TV | 2 Comments

Banzai, Caesar!

Posted on March 7, 2011 by David McKee

Although it will be putting its noble name to on the soon-to-be-ex-Centurion Tower at sprawling Caesars Palace, Nobu Hospitality will only pony up an (unspecified) portion of the (unspecified) cost. Actually, the Associated Press and Las Vegas Review-Journal differ on … Continue reading →

Posted in Dining, Harrah's, International, The Strip, Transportation, TV | 2 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on March 3, 2011 by David McKee

“[President Obama has] doubled down on a lot of things, going back to education … the idea that we’re testing kids and we’re tying teachers salaries to how kids are performing on tests, that kind of mechanized thinking has nothing … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Movies, TV | 8 Comments

Hooters in default; Rio robbed; Morgans out, Warner in?

Posted on February 24, 2011 by David McKee

From the “Could mean something, could mean nothing” File comes a Notice of Default, filed by the Bank of New York against Hooters Casino Hotel. The lenders are calling in a $130 million note on the 332-room hotel (arguably making … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Detroit, Downtown, Economy, Entertainment, Harrah's, Harry Reid, Massachusetts, Morgans Hotel Group, Station Casinos, Tamares Group, Technology, The Strip, Tribal, TV, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Sheldon Adelson, Man of La Mancha

Posted on February 17, 2011 by David McKee

Life’s being pretty good these days to Las Vegas Sands, thanks in part to better-than-expected convention traffic at Marina Bay Sands (offsetting tepid meeting/expo biz in Macao). In addition to eyeballing Florida, Texas, Massachusetts and Japan, CEO Sheldon Adelson has … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Atlantic City, Current, Downtown, Economy, Florida, Genting, International, Macau, Massachusetts, Oscar Goodman, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Texas, The Strip, Tourism, TV | 2 Comments

How to save $10

Posted on February 11, 2011 by David McKee

Anyone besides me remember Foster Brooks? Nothing reminds me of him so much as Jeff Bridges‘ unintelligible reinterpretation of Rooster Cogburn in True Grit, the main difference being that Brooks is far easier to understand. Seriously, just watch two hours … Continue reading →

Posted in Entertainment, history, Movies, TV | 5 Comments

A different Bellagio

Posted on February 9, 2011 by David McKee

“Moderation’s the first step on the role to failure,” says Jack Lord‘s character, sounding not unlike Steve Wynn himself in this excerpt from the third and (alas!) final season of Twelve O’Clock High.

Posted in Steve Wynn, TV | Comments Off on A different Bellagio

Hard Rock in foreclosure

Posted on February 1, 2011 by David McKee

Update: Taken by surprise, the Hard Rock’s owners swung into action with a countersuit. If you’re in New York City next Monday and have a little “mad money” in your pocket, like a hundred grand or so, you have the … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Current, Genting, Harrah's, International, MGM Mirage, Morgans Hotel Group, Pansy Ho, Regulation, The Strip, Tribal, TV, Wall Street | 9 Comments

The gospel according to Sheldon

Posted on January 25, 2011 by David McKee

“People like to blame somebody,” he says. Exhibit A: Sheldon Adelson, whose operative motto is clearly, “When in doubt, find a scapegoat.” If you’re looking for accountability, the executives offices of Las Vegas Sands are the wrong place in which … Continue reading →

Posted in Macau, Pennsylvania, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, The Strip, TV | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

Posted on January 17, 2011 by David McKee

“All that happened was some of [the Hollywood Foreign Press Association] were taken to see Cher in concert. How the hell is that a bribe? Really. ‘Do you want to go and see Cher?’ ‘No.’ ‘Why?’ ‘Because it’s not 1975!’” … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Entertainment, Harrah's, The Strip, TV | 2 Comments

Nevada’s November: rough sledding; Sunny Sheldon

Posted on January 11, 2011 by David McKee

If pressed for a prediction, I’d say 2011 will be a good year for the Strip, not so much for the rest of the Silver State. Just when I was feeling a bit queasy about November’s gaming revenues, Dr. David … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, California, Cretins, Current, Downtown, Florida, Horseracing, Laughlin, LVCVA, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, North Las Vegas, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Tourism, TV, Wall Street | 4 Comments

Deal ’em up in Cleveland

Posted on January 11, 2011 by David McKee

A Las Vegas dealer moving to Cleveland to teach prospective casino employees? That’s putting the blackjack shoe on the other foot. Used to be that people came to Vegas in pursuit of their dreams.

Posted in Current, Harrah's, Ohio, TV | Comments Off on Deal ’em up in Cleveland

Palms: Maloof out, Loveman in?

Posted on January 6, 2011 by David McKee

Now that Las Vegas has fallen about as far as it can, private equity firms are picking over the city like vultures sampling carrion. Don’t get me wrong: It’s a much smarter strategy than those PE bozos who bought in … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Carl Icahn, Colony Capital, Current, Donald Trump, George Maloof, Harrah's, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Regulation, The Strip, TV, Wall Street | 9 Comments

I knew the NFL was bad this year …

Posted on December 30, 2010 by David McKee

… but not to the point of having 0-0 teams in the playoffs, as this ESPN graphic would have us believe. Thankfully, the Kissing Suzy Kolber blog archived this great moment in TV sports, so we can be assured that … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Sports, TV | 1 Comment