You are here: Home / Archives for vegas

Wynn Las Vegas Hosts Heartwarming Scene in New Will Ferrell Doc

A heartwarming scene in “Will & Harper” takes place at SW Steakhouse inside Wynn Las Vegas. Former “Saturday Night Live” star Will Ferrell and his best friend, Harper Steele, make a stop there while road-tripping  across the US in the new Netflix documentary.

Harper Steele, left, road-trips across the US with his best friend, Will Ferrell, in a new Netflix documentary. (Image: Netflix)

Steele met Ferrell when both joined “Saturday Night Live” on the same week in 1995. Steele was hired as the show’s head writer.

The reason the road trip is Netflix-worthy is because Ferrell used to know Steele by the first name Andrew. Shortly before the documentary begins, he came out as transgender to Ferrell. So the two decided to explore the US, and their new relationship, as they test how accepting strangers are when they meet a transgender person.

Ferrell comes apart at the Wynn. (Image: Netflix)

For their dinner at SW, Ferrell dons a ridiculous disguise purchased earlier that day at a Las Vegas Goodwill store.

The disguise is intended to prevent the two from benefiting from celebrity treatment but also to siphon attention away from Steele, who is not yet comfortable appearing in public as her new self.

“This whole trip, obviously you’re taking the heat off me, and that’s just not the life of a real trans person,” Steele tells Ferrell over dinner. “But when I was in the Goodwill today, I just felt way more comfortable, and that’s a bit of a result of this trip.”

Their server, John, seems to have been tipped off to Ferrell’s presence long before the “Anchorman” star’s fake moustache detaches from his face, however.

“I’m David Abernathy, I managed Bette Midler for a little while, and Air Supply,” Ferrell introduces himself to John, who smiles a little too widely.

After John disappears, Ferrell asks Steele: “Do you think John knows it’s me?”

Steele replies: “John is suspicious, let’s be honest.”

This dinner goes markedly better than one they had at another steakhouse, the Big Texan State Ranch in Amarillo, Tex., which led to Ferrell breaking down and apologizing on the car ride to the next town.

“I feel like I let you down in that moment,” Ferrell says through tears. “I was like, ‘Oh, shit, ‘We gotta worry about Harper’s safety.’… That’s where I just…”

“Will and Harper,” which also stars “SNL” album Wille Forte, Molly Shannon and Kristen Wiig, is currently streaming on Netflix.

The post Wynn Las Vegas Hosts Heartwarming Scene in New Will Ferrell Doc appeared first on Casino.org.

Filed Under: Gambling News Tagged With: , , , ,

Why UFC Vows Never to Return to Vegas Sphere

UFC 306, scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 14, will not only be the first sports event held at the Las Vegas Sphere. It will probably the last, if a lesson is to be learned from UFC CEO Dana White’s admitted mistake.

With production costs mounting and ticket prices in freefall, UFC 306 (aka Riyadh Season Noche) will be the first, and probably last, sports event to be held at the Las Vegas Sphere. (Image: UFC)

Tickets for UFC 306 sported the highest face value of any event ever staged in Las Vegas. They started at $2,500 for seats in the rafters and topped off at $23,437.50 for floor seats to the right of the Octagon.

As of Wednesday evening, only a few hundred of those face-value seats remained on Ticketmaster out of an original allotment of 18,500.

However, this does not mean that the event is nearly sold out. Thousands of tickets are still floating around reseller sites, where their prices have plummeted. StubHub has them starting at $720, Vivid at $502 and Seat Geek at $531.

On Ticketmaster, verified resellers (scalpers, basically) are losing their shirts on full public display. Right behind two of the original $23K seats (FLR3, Row 3, Seats 3-4) are five reseller seats on offer for $5,500 each (FLR3, Row 5, Seats 5-12).

The dots represent all the tickets for UFC 306 still available on Ticketmaster three days before the event. The blue ones are seats that never sold, the pink ones are on offer from verified resellers. These do not represent the only available tickets, however, as thousands are listed only on other reseller sites. (Image: Ticketmaster)

If these seats are still available hours before the event, their prices must be lowered much further if they are to sell at all. That includes the hundreds still listed at face value on Ticketmaster — unless UFC gives them away to VIPs, which is likely.

Why So Much?

Branded as Riyadh Season Noche UFC, for Mexican Independence Day two days later, the 10-bout spectacle promises an excellent lineup headlined by bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley defending his title against No. 1 contender Merab Dvalishvili.

But not $2,500-$23K-a-ticket excellent.

According to Billboard magazine, Dana White felt forced to charge that much to pay for its $8 million production costs — specifically, producing video content for the Sphere’s massive hi-def screen.

“Think about U2,” White told SNY Sports on Sept. 10, referring to the Irish rock band’s Sphere residency last year. “Whatever that cost them, they had 40 nights to amortize those costs. We just have one.”

Now, however, Billboard claims that White’s production costs have ballooned to $20 million — even after UFC partnered with outside producers, including Valerie Bush and Antigravity Academy, who will screen their own 90-second videos between bouts.

Of course, UFC will recoup some of its financial losses via pay-per-view sales, but, as White told MMA reporter John Morgan recently, “We’re not ever doing an event at the Sphere again,”

White Lies

Last October, White told ESPN’s Pat McAfee that “I have become obsessed with the Sphere,” adding that he had his entire production crew check out U2’s residency to conceive of ideas for visuals to envelop the Octagon.

“I’m telling you right now, this place is incredible,” White said.

If the new Billboard story is to be believed, however, White was not being entirely truthful.

According to the trade publication, White never wanted to stage UFC 306 at the Sphere. The Vegas orb only became an option after executives with MGM Resorts signed a deal with boxing promoter Al Hyman to bring Canelo Álvarez v. Edgar Berlanga to the T-Mobile Arena on Sept. 14 — a date White claims that UFC was promised in a 2017 anchor tenant agreement with T-Mobile.

That’s the arena that hosted last year’s “Noche UFC,” whose tickets were priced starting at $120 each.

 

The post Why UFC Vows Never to Return to Vegas Sphere appeared first on Casino.org.

Filed Under: Gambling News Tagged With: , , ,

VEGAS RESTAURANT ROUNDUP: Food Network Star Joins Caesars Palace, Mexican Restaurant Standoff

Celebrity chef Esther Choi will open a M?kbar Korean ramen, dumpling and bun house at the Caesars Palace food hall this fall – in the the former Tiger Wok & Ramen space. Choi, a Food Network fave, operates five Korean restaurants in New York City.

Esther Choi, who made Zagat’s “30 Under 30” list in 2015, has appeared on several Food Network shows, including “Bobby’s Triple Threat,” “Throwdown with Michael Symon,” “Chopped,” and “Iron Chef: Quest for an Iron Legend.” (Image: Instagram/Esther Choi)

“M?kbar will offer a diverse menu for both seasoned Korean food enthusiasts and newcomers alike,” according to a Caesars Entertainment press release. “The fast-casual experience will feature classics like Pan-fried Dumplings, Buns, Fried Chicken, Bibimbap and Dumplings in Broth. Guests can choose from an array of rich ramen flavors and multiple rice bowl options.”

Already in the food court are Bobby’s Burgers by Bobby Flay and Guy Fieri’s Chicken Guy, to be joined later this year by Rick Bayless’ Tortazo and Buddy V’s Pizzeria by Buddy Valastro.

The owner of the Lindo Michoacan Las Vegas Mexican chain claims that this restaurant, which opened in 2016, uses its trademarks and branding. Michoacán is a state in Mexico. (Image: Michoacán Mexican Gourmet Mexican Restaurant)

Battle for Michoacan

The company behind Lindo Michoacan restaurants – which opened its fourth Las Vegas location in May at Palace Station — is suing the company behind the Michoacán Mexican restaurant in northwest Las Vegas for using its trademarks and branding without permission.

“Lindo Michoacan restaurants have received numerous awards, accolades, and favorable media attention since opening its doors,” claims the lawsuit filed by Lindo Michoacan Inc. against Divina Brands LLC, which seeks compensation for damages, profits made by Divina Brands, and legal fees.

The suit also seeks a court order forcing the company to change its name.

Dining Ins & Outs

Retro, the ’80s and ’90s-themed restaurant from “Top Chef” stars Michael and Bryan Voltaggio that closed on June 29, is reopening as The Cove, as per Vital Vegas.

Public School 702 is out forever. The restaurant, which was decorated like a schoolhouse with shelves of old textbooks, opened along with the Downtown Summerlin outdoor mall almost 10 years ago. A sister location, Public School 310, will continue operating in Culver City, Calif.

Roma Kitchen will open at 10420 S. Decatur Blvd. in Southern Highlights in September. The restaurant is the creation of executive chef Ricardo Romo and hospitality exec Steven Kennedy, the team behind Chef’s Roma Kitchen in Henderson.

The post VEGAS RESTAURANT ROUNDUP: Food Network Star Joins Caesars Palace, Mexican Restaurant Standoff appeared first on Casino.org.

Filed Under: Gambling News Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

VEGAS MUSIC ROUNDUP: Bruno Mars Fans Go Gaga, Tickets on Sale for Life is Beautiful’s Sad Consolation Prize

Fans of Bruno Mars got what they wished for this week when the singer introduced his sold-out Dolby Live crowd to his partner on the new single, “Die With a Smile.” The two top-grossing Park MGM headliners performed the ballad twice during Mars’ encore. Released Aug. 16, “Die with a Smile” debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard singles chart.

Bruno Mars and Lady Gaga dance while dueting at the Park MGM on their new single, “Die With a Smile,” on Tuesday night. (Image: Instagram/@BrunoMars)

Life is Beautiful Pitiful Tickets on Sale

Tickets went on sale today for Life is Beautiful’s consolation prize this year — a thoroughly unexplained, much smaller festival with smaller acts called A Big Beautiful Block Party.

The downgraded festival that no one asked for will take place Friday and Saturday, Sept. 27-28, in a parking lot behind the Plaza Hotel instead of on 18 city blocks along East Fremont Street — as it had been presented since launching 11 years ago.

The lineup for A Big Beautiful Block Party.

Headlining the new festival will be French electronic music duo Justice, South Korean DJ Peggy Gou, English DJ Jamie XX, British dance band Jungle, pianist James Blake, and American rock band LCD Soundsystem.

And if you suspect us of having to Google every single name other than LCD Soundsystem, Justice and Jungle, your suspicions are correct.

Tickets and VIP passes, starting at $178 each, are available through StubHub, which is normally a resale distributor.

Cold on Playing Sphere

In an interview with Audacy Check In, Coldplay frontman Chris Martin said that seeing U2 open the Sphere scared him off the idea of performing at the orbital concert venue behind the Venetian.

“I’m a big, big U2 fan,” Martin said. “It was among, if not the, best thing I’ve ever seen them do. It took me to this place of being a total fan again. It made me so inspired, but unfortunately, it made me swear to not play the Sphere for a long time because they nailed it and I don’t want to compete with that!”

Though the singer denies it, a case can be made that he had been mulling the booking before catching the old Dubliners. Coldplay’s 2021 album was titled “Music of the Spheres.” And the Madison Square Garden Company first announced the name of its future venue in February 2018.

In other Chris Martin news, he has been added to the list of names — along with A$AP Rocky and The Weeknd — scheduled to play the annual IHeartRadio Music Festival, happening at the T-Mobile Arena on Sept. 20-21. Already committed are Gwen Stefani, Dua Lipa, the Black Crowes, New Kids on the Block, Keith Urban, Halsey, Doja Cat, Camila Cabello, Hozier, Paramore, Shaboozey, Thomas Rhett, Big Sean, and Victoria Monét.  Ryan Seacrest returns as host. 

Tickets are on sale now.

The post VEGAS MUSIC ROUNDUP: Bruno Mars Fans Go Gaga, Tickets on Sale for Life is Beautiful’s Sad Consolation Prize appeared first on Casino.org.

Filed Under: Gambling News Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

LOST VEGAS: The Frank Rosenthal Show

“The Frank Rosenthal Show” has gained legendary status since airing on local Las Vegas TV from 1977-79.

Frank Sinatra appears on the first episode of “The Frank Rosenthal Show,” filmed at the Stardust Resort and Casino in Las Vegas on Aug. 27, 1977. (Image: Las Vegas News Bureau)

In fact, the mind boggles that there was ever such a thing as “The Frank Rosenthal Show.” Taking the idea of hiding in plain sight to the height of WTF, a mafia associate not only refused to hide from the spotlight, but hosted his own TV talk show?

A Frank Assessment

Frank “Lefty” Rosenthal is photographed following a March 19, 1971 Vegas arrest for illegal gambling. (Image: Clark County Sheriff’s Department)

Frank “Lefty” Rosenthal ran the Stardust from 1974 to 1978 — as well as the Fremont, Marina and Hacienda casinos in Las Vegas — without possessing a gaming license.

That’s because the secret owner of these properties was the Chicago branch of the mafia. Its bosses installed Rosenthal because he was also in charge of the illegal skim operation that netted the mob at least $1.6 million — and probably many times more.

In the ’50s, Rosenthal purchased contracts to fix sporting events, earning multiple sports-bribery indictments. In 1963, he pleaded no contest to bribing a New York University basketball player to shave points. And, he was a suspect in multiple business and car bombings in Miami in the ’60s, which is allegedly why he fled to Las Vegas in 1968 in the first place.

Actually, there was a method to the madness of Lefty’s TV hosting gig. He used the show to prove to the Nevada Gaming Commission that his presence at the Stardust, where his show taped, consisted of something other than running it for the syndicate.

This is portrayed accurately in Martin Scorsese’s 1995 film “Casino,” which shows Sam “Ace” Rothstein (Robert De Niro’s character, who was based on Rosenthal) interviewing the real Frankie Avalon for his TV talk show, “Aces High,” shortly after being denied a gaming license.

For several reasons, however, “The Frank Rosenthal Show” — which aired on KSHO-TV, the ABC affiliate that became today’s KTNV-TV — didn’t fool anyone.

A Whole Host of Bad

Frank Rosenthal, his wife Geri (portrayed by Sharon Stone in “Casino”), O.J. Simpson, and “The Frank Rosenthal Show” announcer Judy Angels pose on the set following Simpson’s interview. (Image: frankleftyrosenthal.com)

First off, Rosenthal was the worst talk show host who ever lived.

This isn’t just an opinion. Stiff, uninformed and uniquely unfunny, Rosenthal never failed to achieve boredom immediately out of the gate. Go ahead — try to watch one of the show episodes uploaded to YouTube in its entirety. We’ll wait…

See? We tried warning you.

“Wokay, now what do you want to do, Frank?” Don Rickles said during the first of many lulls on Rosenthal’s Nov. 27, 1977 episode. Turning to the crowd, the legendary comic then offered, “I’ll give you 500 dollars to get me off of this!”

It wasn’t only Rosenthal’s cardboard personality, but also the show’s high school AV club production values that made New York’s similarly unprofessional yet charming “The Joe Franklin Show” look like Carson in comparison.

Even the talk show that Kramer hosted in his living room on “Seinfeld” was better.

Famously Suspicious Guests

Rosenthal interviews Liberace with, for some reason, the “Lido de Paris” showgirls as a backdrop. (Image: frankleftyrosenthal.com)

It was the incongruously high profiles of this literal shit show’s guests that kept its viewers coming back for more each week.

Somehow, Liberace, Bob Hope, O.J. Simpson, and Sammy Davis, Jr. all ended up granting Rosenthal interviews.

The “somehow” part no doubt was another reason gaming officials — who by 1988 included Rosenthal in their “black book” of people banned from every Nevada casino for life — didn’t buy the charade.

Especially since Rosenthal’s choice of a first guest for his very first show was Frank Sinatra, the man whose friendship with Chicago mob boss Sam Giancana cost him his relationship with John F. Kennedy and his casino license for the Cal-Neva Lodge.

By the way, anyone who tells you they saw Rosenthal interview Sinatra on that show is either mistaken or lying. The only witnesses were the couple of hundred people who attended the taping on Aug. 22, 1977.

And that’s because, seconds after the opening, the VCR that was playing the prerecorded tape broke.

All viewers saw for most of the hour was a “One Moment Please” sign, according to Mike Weatherford’s 2001 book, “Cult Vegas.” And no attempt was ever made to replay the episode.

Sinatra did appear on a later Rosenthal show — alongside Rickles in the very same episode from which we quoted the comic earlier. The clip is actually hysterical, but not because of Rosenthal.

“Just do what you’re told,” Rickles laid into the host. “Read the lines, what it says on the sign: ‘Help me, I am a dummy.’”

“Lost Vegas” is an occasional Casino.org series spotlighting Las Vegas’ forgotten history. Click here to read other entries in the series. Think you know a good Vegas story lost to history? Email corey@casino.org. 

The post LOST VEGAS: The Frank Rosenthal Show appeared first on Casino.org.

Filed Under: Gambling News Tagged With: , ,