We're back at the Rio. We're getting serious here. We have a new set. You wouldn't really notice, it's just an inner proscenium of red metal, but to us it's a big change. The checkerboard floor comes right out to the edge. We're 8 o'clock now because there's a topless show called "Showgirls" that does an 11:30 show. It's a drag sharing the stage. We need cages backstage to protect all our props, the piano has to be moved and all the props have to go back there. It adds a LOT of work for the crew. We also have less space to hang and stuff like that. I guess it's a real pain, but because the crew is so great, there's not much for me to notice. There's a "showgirl museum" on the way to our theater and that's also goofy. It must confuse a bit, but then you come into the theater and there's Jonesy, with some bass player, classing up the joint. He's got a new really big Kawai grand and he sounds great. The bass is sounding better all the time too.

Since we may be doing a bit more in Vegas, we're getting very serious. We used to do a little more "Vegas" stuff in Vegas then on the road, but we're trying to really do the best, smartest show we can, even in an environment that doesn't ask for it. We're opening the show here with Honor System, and man, that ain't Vegas. It's hard. It makes the patter really hard, and the energy I have to put in to force our vibe on the town is exhausting, but . . . I think we can do it and how cool is that? Last night we followed Honor with Needles, but we think that's a bit too quiet so tonight it'll be Liftoff. I mean, it's cool to go against the vibe a bit, but let's not be perverse. I didn't think, at first, it would make that much difference, but Teller is better at this stuff, and he convinced me it'll be a big change. We'll see tonight. I bet it'll rock.

Jonesy just makes the show so different and the crew has made the stage look great. It's a good show. It's a really smart show that goes all over the place emotionally, and we're doing it in Vegas. I'm very proud of what we're doing. So, "Showgirls" ruins our lobby look, it makes a lot more work for the crew, it cuts down our backstage area but . . . there is an upside - the backstage is lousy with topless women. Hey now. What's wrong with that . . . ? Let me tell you - nothing. Not a damn thing. There are 12 topless women in the "Showgirls" show, and that's I'm guessing 24 breasts, but I'll have to count them to make sure.

So, we're in Vegas and we have a good show. It'll be nice for a while. We're selling well, we were on "Hollywood Squares" last week, so that's helping. It seems good.

And there are topless women backstage.

Penn

<back