Sept. 14, 2007 * THE STRIP SENSE

A 'Strip Sense' Sampler

By STEVE FRIESS

I'm in the process of transitioning to becoming a weekly columnist for the print edition of Las Vegas Weekly beginning with the Sept. 20 issue, so rather than a normal entry to this space, I figured I'd offer a bit of a Strip sampler:

Smutty or sexy? We report, you decide!

I can't decide if this one is brilliant or low-brow. This being Vegas, both is always an option. MGM Mirage has launched two online games tied into the Cirque adult production "Zumanity" at New York-New York and the burlesque "Fantasy" show at Luxor. In the "Zumanity" case, players must follow a yellow ball with their cursor as it traces each letter of the title, a woman in the background doing some sort of hoop tricks. If you succeed in keeping up with the letter you're on, she removes an article of clothing until, ostensibly, she's nude. It's not as easy as it sounds; I lost on the "m" and it seems that the only people who have made it through all the way were beta testers, at least from what I can tell from the Hall of Fame rankings and the fact that their date-time stamp was before the site went live.

The "Fantasy" game is more straightforward. They give you 50 spins with 100 credits for a slot (slut?) machine and if you line up symbols, you win different amounts. There's a "peep show" and the number of credits you've earned relates to how much of the writhing woman you see. The obvious question is, why only women in these strip teases? What about amusing the women and the gays, both markets these companies are constantly pursuing. Where's the "Thunder From Down Under?" Or, better yet, Carrot Top!!!

The Hilton's brilliant idea

Here's a hearty kudos to the Las Vegas Hilton for the absolutely ingenious show concept they just announced. And I am totally, completely serious. The Hilton launches a twice-daily regular live game show "The $250,000 Ultimate Game" on Oct. 8 with -- get this -- legendary game-show hosts Chuck Woolery, Bob Eubanks and Jamie Farr! OK, Jamie Farr isn't a legendary game-show host but he's appeared on a lot of them and he's a former wacky sitcom sidekick who has not gone on a vicious racist rant, so that's fun!

The three of them will rotate as hosts for the show, which will cost $42 per ticket and will run at 1:30 pm and 3:30 pm with a total of nine shows. I know, that math doesn't add up right, but I'm going by what they sent me and more details aren't on LVHilton.com as I write.

Also unclear is what the game itself will be, but the release promises that an audience member will have the chance at each show to win $250K. If he/she does, all the audience members also get $100. They're also promising more than 50 winners per show and at least $50,000 given away each week. That works out to an average of at least $111 per winner.

This is such a terrific idea. I knew that "The Price Is Right Live" at Bally's has been doing decent business, but it's amazing that nobody's figured out until now that there's nothing Vegas visitors like more than to WIN MONEY. And that's a pretty decent gamble when you break down the numbers: $42 to be in an audience of, let's say, 300 people, 50 of whom will leave with an average of $111? Not to mention, $42 to see a live game show with a reasonable chance of winning something and with these guaranteed-to-be-fun stars? That's even a good entertainment bargain.

Now why don't they do this at night, too?

Bits and Pieces…

At the annual convention of the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association over Labor Day in San Diego, Cirque du Soleil was handing out condoms in "Zumanity" wrappers. It's interesting they have such swag, but I wonder where, outside of gay events, they would give them out. … Continuing the Hans Klok "Beauty of Magic" death watch, it's worth noting that until Dec. 8, tickets are $25 each for students and teachers in Nevada. Dec. 8 is, probably not coincidentally, the end of Pamela Anderson's contract. … As you may know from last week's column, I've been consumed by covering the Steve Fossett disappearance since it began. And since I predicted as much, I figured I'd share with you some of the strangest kook/conspiracy theory leads that have come my way. So far, I've heard from a psychic in Ohio who can sense his presence, a blogger in Utah who wonders if an earthquake the day after Fossett vanished is related and a pastor in El Paso who is sure that Fossett pulled out in front of him in a late-model black Ford Mustang with Nevada plates. Imagine what they'll say if he's never found.

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