June 28 / Episode Three > The Casino Realty TV Show

In this episode, we the viewer quickly realize that Tom in fact speaks! Yes, co-owner of The Golden Nugget Tom speaks. Just when most of us were getting used to seeing Tim doing most of the narration, Tom gets a little more involved in front of the camera. He's not bad either. He comes across as the low key thinker whereas Tim is a little more brash. This seems to work in their favor when trying to appease the hard to please.

 

Just how hard to please is quite evident when we are introduced to two so-called 'high rollers' John and Michael (Mike) from Jersey. These two breeze into Vegas to gamble. We quickly realize shortly after their check-in and VIP treatment that they clearly seem more interested in The Strip and how they much prefer the glitz that comes with NOT being downtown (which they say looks more like Tijuana) at The Golden Nugget. A prime example to their discontent comes when they are shown to their room and they ask to see their view outside only to comment that it looks like an 'elephant graveyard'. For a couple of big spenders that don't really seem to like their digs, they sure do spend some serious time holed up in it eating, and not gambling. Tim and Tom quickly realize their absence from the floor until they are finally found plugging coins in the dollar slots and flirting with any and all the women in the area. With the clear absence of any high stake gambling Tim and Tom find themselves awkwardly enticing the two downstairs for some blackjack action.

Speaking of Blackjack, in this episode we also get a better look at Tommy (whose father also works at The Nugget as a host). Tommy is a gregarious young dealer who rubs his pit boss the wrong way. Even though it looks like everyone rubs her the wrong way, it is quite evident that Tommy (who also desperately wants to be a host also) has much to learn in the business. We'll see if he has the goods to leave the pit soon.

 

While all this is going on we are introduced to Jenn Nelson (who, by the way, does not look anything like Britney Spears as we were told in last weeks previews). Jenn is a young ambitious new comer to Vegas by way of Portland. She has moved to Vegas looking for a great new job, any job for that matter. Upon checking into The Golden Nugget she quickly asks the front desk if they are hiring. She proceeds to work her way through the entire casino and hotel asking for inside info on potential jobs. With no solid job leads at the Nugget she is then met by a man named Ernie who is in the casino with a small blonde entourage he calls 'Independent Hosts'. Right away Ernie tries to get Jenn to work for him doing 'VIP entertaining'. She thinks about it, but first she runs into Tom at Zax Restaurant (for the first two episodes we thought Zax was a nightclub) and quickly introducing herself to him. At first, it seems that Tom blows her off, but she actually gets a chance to sing with Matt Dusk (the resident singer at Zax) who is clearly irritated once again by the casinos politics of letting just about anyone sing on stage. Matt's ego seems intact after Jenn quickly fails to prove she has enough talent to sing at Zax. It's back to the drawing board again for a still unemployed Jenn. She hooks back up with Ernie who promises her huge amounts of money for merely being 'arm candy', she seems interested in the easy money, and she also seems to believe that all she has to do is simply be 'seen' with the client to make money. It is hard to believe any one is still this naive when it comes to Vegas. Alas, Jenn finally wises up and leaves when her client wants to go up to her room almost immediately. While this is taking place, Tim catches on to the situation that is going down in his casino and has Ernie along with his entourage swiftly removed from the premises. Still unemployed Jenn realizes that perhaps Vegas is not the new home for her.

 

While this weeks episode is entertaining as always, we as the viewer might be thinking this is a more 'scripted' reality TV show. After all we American TV viewers demand more and more drama. Here's to hoping to see a little more actual gambling action in the episodes to come.

 

Check back here next week to see exactly what happens when Tommy the Blackjack dealer is given a shot at hosting (doesn't look good). We'll also get an interesting look at what happens when a psychic arrives at The Golden Nugget. Will she have the betting powers to bankrupt the casino? Stay tuned  - The Casino Reality Show