Caesars 24/7, Episode 5: Never Tell Me the Odds

Tonight’s episode of Caesars 24/7 opens as usual with a few teasers of the show ahead. Taking risks in roulette, catty prospective ring girls, and pimps and hos. In Vegas, anything goes… so let’s go!

The host of our first story is Chuck Esposito, Caesars Palace bookie. He’s excited about the return of big-time boxing to Caesars at their new outdoor facility. We focus on boxer Jeff Lacey, who fought for USA at the 2000 Olympics. He’s fighting Syd Vanderpool (a Canadian, by the way) for the vacant IBF Super-Middleweight title. Jeff is heavily favored, but upsets in boxing are not uncommon.

Two new ring girls are being hired for the event. Shadow Dancer Brandy Beavers is among the panel charged with this all-important selection. Brandy tells us they’re looking for someone who carries herself well, makes eye contact and has a little “pep in their step.” And there’s even more requirements – long legs, great smile, and charisma. From the look of the prospects, it seems a healthy chest isn’t going to be a drawback, either.

Brandy tells us the two girls selected will get great pay. She also thinks it will advance their modeling careers. Gee, maybe Brandy should do it – a couple of episodes back, she was trying to get into Playboy, remember?

Some of the backstage comments are kind of catty, but we also see two girls meet who compare backgrounds. One just moved to Vegas yesterday, the other has been here for two years and is obviously still trying to break through. Nice moment, that. But then we get back to the catty blondes who offer to put “stickies” in unnatural places. I see this business is populated by some real tough cookies!

We next meet Rocco Zubia, a flair bartender who works in the Shadow Bar. He chats with customers Scott and Lauren, who want to launch a new line of vodkas. They have big plans, but only a hundred dollars. They think that if they can just parlay the hundred into a thousand, then they’ll be set. Well hey, you gotta applaud that wide-eyed optimism, but I’m guessing that even adding another zero on that target is still insufficient.

Scott wants to shoot the works on one play. They meet up with Pit Boss Joe Comastro to learn about various games. As Joe walks them around the casino, he introduces them to some of the games and the payouts. I think they’re looking for 10-1 Joe, try craps or a multi-number play of roulette. But what we hear is real basic stuff and mostly even-money bets at that. Joe leaves them to decide what to do. Boy, are these folks naïve!

They return, and the decision is to play roulette. Scott likes “Black Six.” Should it hit, he’ll win $35,000, but the odds are heavily against him. The bet is made, but just as the wheel is about to be spun, Scott loses his nerve and shifts the whole stack to “Red.” For the uninitiated, that’s one of the “even money” bets. And we go to commercial.

Back from commercial, and we all know where the ball is going to end up – at black six. And sure enough, it happens. They could have won $35,000! Joe feels bad for them, but as they walk away they realize they’ll just have to make money some other way.

The next story is about a bunch of guys who have come to town for the “Pimps and Hos Ball.” The Ball is a large dance where everyone dresses in a costume appropriate for the name of the event. Costumes involve lots of fur, hats with big brims, shoes with tall heels, and tight or revealing clothing. Jewelry needs to be gaudy – one belt buckle says “Playa.” They seem to have great fun getting into costume.

These guys are mostly professionals, such as doctors, and none of them is shy. They take a taxi to the event where they try to meet girls. Instead they kiss a few girls dance a little and consume much booze. It does seem like a fun party, and by 4 AM one of the guys seems to have found two new “friends.” And that’s all we’re going to see of the Ball!

Brandy and her panel have decided which two girls they will recommend as “ring girls.” It seems top execs at Caesars have the final say. At any rate, Magalie and Lisa are the lucky ones.

The scene shifts to boxer Jeff Lacey. It’s 20 hours to fight time, and he’s going through final preparations that are too boring to recap. We do learn that he’s sworn off sex for the last two months. Too. Much. Information!

Pitt Boss Joe introduces the next segment as well. It focuses on Regina Guzior. Regina is one of the best female blackjack players in the world… and she’s blind. She has the assistance of her husband in the role of “a reader,” telling her the cards that are played. She’s come with $700 and hopes to at least double it.

It starts well – she starts playing at 7:30 and she’s increases her money – by 7:45 she’s up to $850, to $950 after an hour, to $1,000 by 9 PM and then to $1,200 after splitting a pair at 9:25. She’s almost reached her goal, when the dealer’s shift ends and a new dealer is brought in. And that changes things. However, we change too – we change stories again.

The next tale centers on the efforts of concierge Julie Sirianni to help sports widow Kimberley. Kimberley and husband John have come to Vegas for their tenth wedding anniversary. Since it’s a Monday, hubby is rooted in the sports bar watching MNF (Monday Night Football) on the big screen TV. “It’s only three hours out of 24,” John rationalizes. Kimberley is not impressed the way things are going, and he doesn’t even see it. This looks like a rocky evening to me!