The Entertainer, Episode 6: Learn to Play it Right

Last time on The Entertainer, the contestants were randomly placed into teams and sent to make a commercial to promote Las Vegas. Las Vegas Mayor, Oscar Goodman helped Wayne Newton judge the tapes. Ultimately, the Red Team (Delisco, Jennifer, Sarah, and Joe) won the challenge. Nathan, who had advocated a dirty trick of stealing the X Girls so only the Black Team could use them in their commercial, was ultimately told the party was over for him. He was not The Entertainer.

The show starts with Theresa soaking in a huge tub, and Dave talking to her about actually getting married in the last episode (Wayne said they had about 24 hours to pick up a marriage license). He talks about consummating the marriage. From the way he talked last episode about her (about how if she was his girlfriend, he’d have dumped her already), I don’t think it’s going to happen.

As a prize for winning, the Red Team got to go see Danny Gans, who headlines at the Mirage. They watch the show, then meet him backstage. He tells them about being a minor league baseball player, then says the business they are getting into is wonderful. He says there are a lot of negative people in the business, and they have to brush them aside, because this is their dream. He also amuses them with impersonations (his stock in trade).

Jennifer asks him how he keeps his voice, which is important as a vocalist. He says he mostly talks with gestures in the daytime. Jennifer, who had been struggling with hers, is glad to hear what he does. Sarah asks his advice for singers and performers. He tells them not to get into the business because they want to be a star; only get into it if it’s all they can imagine doing with their life. Delisco asks him to do an impression of Wayne Newton, and Danny does a great job What else do you expect from one of the top draws in all of Las Vegas?

Back at the penthouse, Sarah gets news from her mother - her boyfriend has left her. She’s hurt, and Joe tries to console her. He says it may hurt, but it gives her closure, which she wanted. She goes off by herself and sings “Breathe” very nicely as a form of therapy. Later, she asks Dave and Delisco if she thinks Joe really likes her. Somehow I think the fact he sent her roses last week might have been a clue. Dave makes jokes that he might like her if they were staying together all the time and swimming in the same pool - the whole situation they are living in during the competition. Dave notes that drama queens give him a lot of material to work with.

The contestants get a call sheet for 10:00 a.m., telling them that they need to dress in something warm. They arrive in downtown Las Vegas at the Fremont Street Experience. Wayne is there via video marquee and tells them that all kinds of people visit Las Vegas, but all tourists want to be entertained. They’ll be working the streets in two teams in an attempt to raise as much money as they can for Opportunity Village, a local Las Vegas charity. New judges will be monitoring them - the Scintas who perform at the Rio. They’ll be reporting back to him. He wishes them luck and urges them to raise a lot of money for charity.

The Scintas arrive and put six chips in a cowboy hat - three red, three black, the color determining the teams. One of each color has as star on it, which will determine the team leaders. Sarah, Theresa, and Joe are the Red Team, with Joe being the leader. Delisco, Jennifer, and Dave are the Black Team, with Delisco being the team leader.

Wayne tells us that he’s a sucker for street performers; he’s the first to give them money, and to give them respect. He says this challenge will test the performers - if nobody comes to see them, they’ll be out of work.

Joe sets off leading the Red Team, directing how the street performance will go down. He gets out his boom box and does his three tenors routine. He’s done it before on the show, but it’s great. He basically has this thing strapped to his chest that opens up, presenting an image of three people in tuxedos, with flip-up heads to each side, and a pop-up beard and mustache in front of his face. He then lip-syncs opera. People start taking his photo and dropping money in their contribution jar. Sara notes that the people were responsive.

Sarah starts singing, with the others clapping in the background. Theresa starts singing “I Say a Little Prayer for You” inside one of Joe’s props (a large chest), while doing seductive moves and taking off her scarves. Joe says things went great for the first hour, and the money keeps entering the jar. Then the batteries in his boom box die, and they lose the momentum. Joe tries to tell Theresa how to proceed, but the moment he turns his back she disappeared. Sarah is frustrated with her, saying team members don’t do that to other team members. Joe keeps working the crowd, getting tourists to have their photo taken inside one of his props - a shark’s mouth. Sarah collects money as well, but Theresa is missing in action.

Theresa finally returns, explaining that she was cold and had to go inside to warm up. She admits she should have told somebody, but they were off doing their thing. Joe thinks she should have stuck around for the entire 90 minutes of the challenge. Theresa complains about the lack of understanding from her team members. She feels hurt, because she thought they were a team. No Theresa, the other two were doing their job in the challenge. You weren’t being a team player.

The Black Team is having problems getting started. Jennifer says there was no traffic at their side of the street; it was the middle of the day. Delisco is supposed to be in charge, but Dave goes out to grab people, and the whole team starts performing. Delisco realizes that Jennifer and Dave are strong personalities, and he doesn’t know how to handle them. Delisco plays his harmonica and sings “Stand By Me,” but nobody is interested. Jennifer starts singing and getting people to clap while singing “Respect,” but there is no crowd response. Dave tells jokes, but his judges think none of them are focused on raising money.