Jack Satin’s Calculations of the Bill from The Hangover
When it comes to Vegas comedies, they don’t get much better than The Hangover, which follows the adventure of four friends who are desperately trying to piece together their wild night in Sin City. By the look of their Caesars Palace suite the next morning, this was a party I would have enjoyed. From stealing Mike Tyson’s tiger to marrying a stripper at a classic Vegas wedding chapel, the film certainly captures an all too familiar side of the Vegas experience.
Facing studio pressure for bigger name talent in the cast, director Todd Phillips stuck by his guns and remained true to his vision. He did this despite having his initial pay cut in exchange for a larger percentage of the back-end profits – a big gamble. Since the film is now the highest grossing R-rated comedy of all time, it looks as if Todd’s rolling the dice has more than paid off, proving once again that if you’re going to gamble you should always bet on yourself.
What’s great about the movie is that any man can relate to the situation these characters find themselves in. I have had many a friend walk down that exact wedding chapel isle only to regret it the next day — and annulments don’t come cheap.
That got me thinking, if four guys were to attack Vegas as hard as the characters from The Hangover did, what would it have cost? Then, bang! It hit me. I should use this hilarious movie as a road map and see just how much coin they had to throw down. I all too often get asked, “How much does a bachelor party in Vegas cost?” Besides, it was a great excuse to visit old partners in crime. I won’t name names but you know who you are.
Below you find the actual cost of The Hangover, which I calculated with approximations. Enjoy, and use the comment section to let me know if I forgot anything.
Michael Jackson’s “This Is It” Stolen from Paul Anka
I thought it sounded familiar. Story goes, Michael and Paul wrote a song together in the 80s called “I Never Heard.” The demo was recorded at Anka’s studio and then taken to a Hollywood session where Michael grabbed the tapes and later used the track with his voice and changed the title to “This Is It.”
Lawyers have swarmed in, and Anka will be getting his cut.
Way before stumbling upon this pot of gold, Paul Anka wrote the lyrics to a little Sinatra song you might know called “My Way.”
Here’s my friend Paul doing it his way:
Paul’s got old world charm, smooth vocal production and music in his blood. He’s a dedicated showman who lives music, 125 albums, 900 songs to his credit, and still on tour – out there with the people, giving it to them night after night.
If you need some new material for your next cocktail party, try using this, “What do Paul Anka and Kurt Cobain have in common?”
Here’s your answer:
I salute you Paul. And Paul, you can pay me back for this plug by covering my bar tab this month, deal?
As for Michael, I respect the spirit of his music, stage presence, footwork. Speaking of footwork, if you look at the following clip there’s no doubt you’ll notice he has clearly been to my show, or at least sent his spies. After all, stealing is in his history.
Michael clearly had some issues, as do most major talents including myself. He drank the ‘Cool Aid” of celebrity… It’s tragic his hair caught on fire shooting that Pepsi commercial, and there started the heavy meds… If that hadn’t happened, I imagine things would be cosmically different. Why weren’t the music, his voice and dancing enough? Did he really need that Pepsi commercial and those fatal pyrotechnics?
Is Kanye West Really "Heartless?"
A lot of people have been asking me lately about my thoughts on Kanye West. His decision to steal the spotlight from Taylor Swift at the VMA’s wasn’t exactly a classy move, and certainly not something I would ever do, but that doesn’t change the fact that, at the end of the day, Kanye is a talented performer.
Does he depend too much on technology to enhance his voice? Probably. Has he become a little too fixated on his celebrity and strayed a little too far from the music? Again, most likely he’s guilty on both counts. But the man has a gift, and as any gifted performer can tell you, sometimes a gift makes you act in ways you can’t predict, and sometimes, can’t even control.
Below is the music video of Kanye West’s 2008 song “Heartless.” It’s a work of art.
Jack Satin’s Las Vegas Movies Since Swingers: By The Numbers
At its core, the 1996 cult classic Swingers is much more then just a Vegas movie. The film is extremely successful in capturing the charm and many savory nuances of the City of Sin. And as a guy who has spent his entire life in Vegas, I can talk with considerable authority on the subject.
Vegas Baby: Vince Vaughn and Jon Favreau heading into town
But what’s the hottest thing to me about Swingers? It defies the Hollywood norm and calls back to a time of simpler storytelling – when it wasn’t about the money and the star power associated with a project, but with the story itself, the performance, a unique voice that could not be replicated.
The infographic below, which my buddy (a talented graphic designer) helped me create in honor of Vince Vaughn’s Couples Retreat coming out this past weekend, demonstrates the sheer awesome power of Swingers, how the little engine that could outplayed subsequent Vegas films from a financial growth perspective, and many would argue trumps them all as entertainment.
Vince Vaughn is one of my favorite actors working today. There’s no mistaking why he’s on top – talk about an artist that works without as safety net. So, I’m happy to throw him and Swingers this timely tribute. Check it out, and let me know what you think.
25 Years of Growth in Vegas
More than a few things have changed in Las Vegas in the past 25 years. The people, the music, and of course, the landscape, have all underdone dramatic transformations. The images below, very much an “outside looking in” perspective on Vegas, are courtesy of NASA’s Earth Observatory. For an “inside looking out” perspective, come to any one of my shows.
Acquired October 22, 1984
Acquired May 29, 1989
Acquired June 28, 1994
Acquired May 9, 1999
Acquired June 7, 2004
Acquired January 12, 2009
Britney Spears' Real Voice
I was one of fortunate many who saw Britney perform when she came to Las Vegas in 2001. I say “fortunate” because the girl, love her or hate her, is a cultural phenomenon, and I believe it’s extremely important to understand one’s culture. That said, the girl’s voice isn’t exactly something I’d listen to in the shower, and to be honest, I don’t even think I’d want her opening for me at any of my own shows.
The clip below captures her voice without any technical manipulation. Completely naked and unrefined.
I didn’t post this video to hate on Britney Spears. I posted it simply to illustrate the difference between a performer with true musical talents and a performer who sustains himself/herself only through the act of performance. When Jack Satin performs, it’s like a tiger jumping down your throats and touching every inch of your soul.
The Las Vegas Strip in 1954
Las Vegas has a long and storied history.
When most people think of Vegas today, they think about bright lights and glitzy entertainment. But it wasn’t always that way. No, it was once a much simpler place. In the early 1900s, the completion of a railway which linked Southern California to Salt Lake City established Vegas as a railroad town. And the availability of water made it an ideal refueling point and rest stop. In the late 1950s Nevada established the Nevada Gaming Commission, and then in the 1960s, Howard Hughes led an entrepreneurial boom that brought gaming to a new level.
In honor of the days of old, and to kick of this blog, check out this terrific picture (below) I found of the Vegas strip in 1954. Do I love the Vegas of today? Absolutely. But it’s always important to remember your roots.
Click the image to enlarge it.
Las Vegas Strip in 1954
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