R.I.P. Sands (1980-2007)

In August 1980, The Brighton was the first casino in town built from the ground up, on the site of its former namesake at Indiana Avenue & Brighton Park. After a healthy opening, financial troubles soon arrived. Some say it was due to the casino’s diminutive size. Others say it was poor management. Whatever the case, it was sold two months later to the PPI Corporation, which also owned the Sands in Las Vegas. To capitalize on the famed casino and to hopefully conjure images of Frank, Dean and Sammy, the Brighton was renamed The Sands the next May.

Tonight the Sands will be imploded to make way for a massive resort ala Borgata.

last November, the legendary carpet joint threw its last pair of dice, leaving only 10 casinos standing in Atlantic City. For now, that is. Before its new owners Pinnacle Entertainment begin construction on their ambitious $1.5 billion megaresort, much had to be done to the Sands building before it's even razed.

Pinnacle CEO and Chairman Dan Lee enlightened the local press on a few post-shutdown procedures. For starters, everything had to be accounted for like slots, table games, chips, cards, dice and other gambling items.



State gaming regulators gave the company approval to recycle the old gaming equipment in their other casinos. In addition, light fixtures had to be removed and there will likely be a salvage sale for such industrial items as copper wiring and windows. A public liquidation of old furniture also was held.

Upon the Sands’ closing, many wondered the fate of The Madison House, a 120-suite boutique hotel operated by the Sands and one of the Atlantic City’s few remaining grand old inns. The snag? It opened in 1930 and is currently listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Interestingly, the Sands had 12 years left on its lease. "We can't tear it down. We'll probably use it to house construction workers. However, we don't know what the future of Madison House will be," Lee said. Pinnacle expects to begin construction on its new resort in 2008 and open it by early 2011.

We'll miss ya! Say hi to Frank at the Big Casino in the Sky...

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DANNY GOIN' NUTS, PART II (VIDEO)

My Danny Bonaduce post from the the other day doesn't hold a candle to this video. If one thing is clear, Bonaduce may need some sort of help. Last we saw him, he was sorta on the right path and even embarking in some kind of weird therapy and Bible study program. What the eff happened?

Now that's he's getting a divorce from him wife, all hope may be lost. In any case, check out this video. It's pretty intense.

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YOU MESS WITH THE BULL ...

... You get the horns.

Former "Survivor" contestant Jonny Fairplay is suing Danny Bonaduce, alleging battery and emotional distress after Bonaduce tossed Fairplay over his shoulder at an awards show.

Actually, it was sorta hilarious. Fairplay, a douche in his own right, pretty much fucked with the wrong guy. And Bonaduce of all people, who, by the way, looked half-in-the-bag. The lawsuit, filed Tuesday in Los Angeles Superior Court, also names the producers of the awards show, the Fox Reality Channel.

Fairplay, whose real name is Jon Dalton, was presenting an award on stage at the Fox Reality Channel "Really Awards" on Oct. 2 when Bonaduce unexpectedly approached him on stage. They exchanged a few harmless words and that's where Fairplay should've left it.

Like I said, he's a D-bag ... The dope jumps onto Bonaduce who looked like he was in no mood. He messed with the wrong guy.

When Fairplay jumped into his arms, Bonaduce tossed him over his shoulder as if he were a baby kitten. Fairplay hit the floor head first and was hospitalized for injuries to his face and mouth. Blood everywhere, tooth left on the stage.

With Fairplay "on the ground and blood and broken teeth on the stage floor, Mr. Bonaduce proceeded to parade around the stage with pride," according to the suit.

THE INCIDENT ...


THE AFTERMATH ...

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I GUESS THERE IS CRYING IN BASEBALL ...

Reporters. They have to put themselves in the situation, cover it, and be stoic. No matter what. Would Edward R. Murrow cry? Gonzo scribe Hunter S. Thomspson? Would Hemingway?

I can fully understand when fans get upset at the notion that their team may be down for the count. But should a broadcaster? And live on-the-air, no less... Yankees radio announcer Suzyn Waldman did exactly that during her postgame show on WFAN when the Yankees lost Monday night. Check it out:



Now that she's the object of scrutiny all over the web, here's what she had to say, defending her weepy coverage.


"This one's getting me angry, because I don't play this card a lot, but this is as sexist as it gets," the Yankees' radio analyst said yesterday. "What's the big damn deal? That I cried for four seconds of a 10-minute postgame? The idea that I can't choke up because a man I went through cancer with 11 years ago is going to lose his job and I was describing his coaches crying? It's absolutely ludicrous."

She's referring to Joe Torre, obviously, who is unlikely to have his contract renewed. (Waldman is a breast cancer survivor; Torre has survived prostate cancer.)

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BURTON'S 'SWEENEY TODD' TRAILER

We're officially stoked. Check out Tim Burton's new trailer for the upcoming musical "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street."

Sweeney Todd is a fictional villain/antihero whose actual existence, whether under a different name or not, is disputed. A barber and serial killer, the character appears in various English language works starting in the mid-19th century. His weapon of choice is a straight razor, with which he cuts his victim's throats; in some versions of the story his lover, friend, and accomplice, Margery (sometimes Nellie or Claudette) Lovett, bakes the carcasses into meat pies.

In two books, the horror and crime story writer Peter Haining argues that Sweeney Todd was a historical figure who committed his crimes around 1800. However, other researchers who have tried to verify his citations find nothing in these sources to back Haining's claims

As with most Tim Burton projects (we'll forget the awful "Planet of the Apes"), the period piece looks Gothic, comical, creepy and lavish all at once. Bravo and enjoy ...

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PARIS DOES DAVE ...

... Or rather, Dave does Paris.

David Letterman is one of the best interviewers in TV history. Bar none. For proof, check out this hilarious clip of the TV funnyman interviewing a squirming Paris Hilton, who wants nothing more than to drop the whole Paris-in-jail-conversation.

Priceless.

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MY FAVORITE REALITY SHOWS (with video)

Face it, reality TV is here to stay. It ain't goin' anywhere.

Being a writer, I'm a natural voyeur and I must admit, reality TV for me, is like crystal meth to a junkie. When done properly, it can have me sitting in front of the TV for hours and I can just feel my brain fading away along with the prospects of writing something of worth.

As if anyone cares, here's a list (in no particular order) of some of my favorite reality shows and a brief explanataion as to why, followed by a video or two.

AIRLINE
This is an odd show, indeed. This A&E reality program follows the trials and tribulations of a national airline. Sounds boring? Think again. It's completly riveting. That said, though, if I've never flown before and watched this show, I'd probably never get on a plane. What's more, it's an awful advertisment for the Southwest Airlines, who never winds up looking rosy.





THE REAL WORLD
The grand dame of reality shows that, depending on the cast, never seems to run out of conflict. The recipe is simple - seven kids, throw them in a sweet crib, watch them fight. Keep Big brother. Gimmie my MTV kids who drink too much, fight too much and all look like supermodels.



COPS
I'm gonna be honest. I'm praying to the gods above that someone somewhere makes an all "COPS" TV channel. Loop the friggin' show 24/7. On the air since 1986 or thereabouts, this is a raw-as-shit look at what life is like being a cop. No host. Just a camera and sound tech. To see what life is like behind bars, check out its sister show "Jail" that debuted a few weeks back. Equally as awesome.



BREAKING BONADUCE
An offshoot of the reality show genre seems to be the "celeb-reality" show. While most of the shows featuring K-List personalities are bullshit ala "The Two Coreys" (which btw gets my vote as the suckiest reality show ever), this VH1 account of Danny Bonaduce trying to get back on the straight-and-narrow with his family, life, sobriety and career is as "real" as it gets. A close second is the former VH1 show "Shooting Sizemore."



THE CONTENDER
What self-respecting "Rocky" fan wouldn't love "The Contender," which by the way, leads us to another ofshoot of the genre - the competition reality show. Just the same, when done well, competition brings out the best in people and gives us the best TV watching experience.





HELL'S KITCHEN
I love this show, even if it is a little cheesy. Keep "Top Chef," this competition show with gonzo chef Gordon Ramsey is addictive if only for his insane screaming at everyone.



BLOW OUT and WORK OUT
Lifestyle reality. That's what I call shows that are basically about people we don't know, but TV people want us to. Hence, "Blow Out" and "Work Out," two shows that take place in Southern Cali. I don't live in La La land, but if I did, shit, I'd want to live in the realm of either clearhead hair stylist Jonathan Anton or uber-hot trainer Jackie Warner.



JONATHAN WITH BRUNO




THE OSBOURNES
You gotta love the Osbourne clan. They practically invented the celeb-reality genre with their groundbreaking show. Seems tame now, but they were the first TV framily to invite camera into the home.



MIAMI INK
These dudes at the Miami tattoo shop are rad and give us great stories each week through the conflicts in the workplace - another reality subgenre - and through their incredible tattoo work.

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BILL MAHER 'NEW RULES' 9/21

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MY FIRST LIST ...

... of sorts. In a homage to my blogger buddy Stephen at Sand and Cotton, who comes up with the quirkiest Top 10 lists around, here's my lame attempt at compiling something just as odd:

My Top 10 list of Arabians getting jacked

This guy annoys me. I think it's that dopey smile. I'd smack him, too.


Maybe they didn't like his singing...


I don't know what to say... The weirdest shit ever.


Crappy quality, but still, a good slap


This little kid could hit. Watch out, infidels!


Not a smack, but, damn, hurts just the same. Or worse.


More foot action, but with no sound


An Arab and a Turk rumble HARD. too bad I can't tell who is who.


HILARIOUS -- This little kid gets rocked... HARD


and finally ... not a smack at all, but just as funny. I don't wanna know how this dude wound up on a treadmill, I just thank Allah it was captured on video.

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OK, I'LL ADMIT ...

... This is just a blatant excuse to get Jessica Alba's new trailer for "Good Luck Chuck" up on the blog.

I'll further admit, I don't care of it's good, bad or ugly, it's Jessica and that's all that matters.

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BILL MAHER - HILARIOUS NEW RULES 9/14

Get some java. Take the time... Check it out.

All the riffs are hilarious, one better than the next!

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COPPOLA'S BACK - NEW TRAILER!

A teaser trailer for legendary director Francis Ford Coppola's new film "Youth Without Youth" has been released. It's an odd trailer, certainly. A love story wrapped in a mystery, the film is based on the 1976 novel by Romanian-born religious historian Mircea Eliade.

It's set in Europe before WWII and centers on a timid professor who is changed by a cataclysmic event and thus, explores the mysteries of life.

According to Wikipedia:

It's Coppola's first directed film since 1997's "The Rainmaker." It will be distributed through Sony Pictures Classics in the United States and Pathé in the UK and France.

Coppola made this film after a decade-long hiatus from directing. The movie has been screened in front of friends and fellow directors after the 79th Academy Awards Ceremony (in which he was a presenter). Martin Scorsese, Dennis Hopper, Andy Garcia, Matt Dillon, Danny DeVito, Rhea Perlman, Spike Jonze, John Singleton, the Hughes Brothers, Alfonso Cuarón, Gus Van Sant and Fred Roos attended the screening. It has been said that overall the film is "Good, but very difficult."

Coppola has gone on record as saying that the movie is very personal, and not a standard Hollywood film. Originally the movie was to be distributed by United Artists, which is now partially owned by Tom Cruise (who worked with Coppola on "The Outsiders"). However, Sony Pictures Classics is going to handle a limited US release of the film on December 14, 2007.

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AND HERE IT IS ...

Man, Marvel finally got it right. Aside from their "X-Men" franchise, the films based on their comics pretty much blew chunks. "Daredevil" anyone??

In any case, the upcoming "Iron Man," directed by Jon Favreau and starring Robert Downey, Jr. looks downright amazing.

Check it out ...

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I'M NOT A COMPUTER GEEK ...

... Nowhere near. But, that said, I am cheap, certainly when it comes to computers, software or anything that will make my computing life easier.

I hate huge, blocky programs that weigh down your computer. Norton AntiVirus, anyone?

So, please enjoy this post that the blogger at Live Slick has come up with that tells us about the Top 10 Freeware applications. Click HERE.

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LET'S ALL BOW OUR HEADS ...

... And take a moment of silence at some point today and quietly honor those who perished on September 11, 2001...

Never forget.

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AHH ... THE GREAT CARTOONS

They just don't make 'em anymore, huh?

Sponge-Bob, Barney and all you other whimpy kiddie shows out there, take a load of this...

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DAYYYUM ... POPEYE CAN SCAT! (FUNNY)

If he wasn't the hardest working sailor in the World War II-era, our favorite one-eyed, corn-pipe smokin' cartoon hero could have an awesome career scatting (which isn't easy by the way)

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TV INTROS? WHERE'D THEY GO?

Ever notice TV shows don't have kick butt opening credits anymore? Why not?! They set the tone of the show, and let the audience know what they were in for. Here are some of my favorites...

THE SIX MILLION DOLLAR MAN - These credits still hold up, cool as all hell


THE ROCKFORD FILES


PLANET OF THE APES - used to freak me out as a kid


MIAMI VICE


LAS VEGAS - retro


LAS VEGAS - present


ALIAS


SWAT - one of the best themes. Ever.


MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE - 'nother great theme


BARETTA - Sammy sings the theme. How cool!


HAPPY DAYS


NYPD BLUE - with David Caruso, obviously

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BILL MAHER LOVES THE TABLOIDS

Props to Bill Maher last Friday when he ranted on why we need the tabloids during his "New Rules" segment on HBO's "Real Time with Bill Maher."

Admit it, the rags serve a purpose. While this entire "New Rules" clip is hilarious, fast forward to 02:44 to view Maher's rant against those of you who say, "We all killed Lady Di because we read the tabloids." Ugh, no, we didn't kill her...

He has the perfect retort. Enjoy!

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GUILTY PLEASURE VIDEO ...

Props to my buddy Steve at Sand & Cotton for first posting this hilarious video of some little bitch-boy getting his little cry-baby ass kicked.

Be warned ... funny after repeated viewings.

Absolutely Hilarious Ending to a Skatepark Fight

It's only a 10 second fight, but it's the most perfect 10 seconds ever.

Get humor videos at NothingToxic

CLICK HERE

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