Caesars 24/7, Episode 8: Blowing Your Big Chance

Tonight – canole machines and the return of an old subject, Rapper Johnny B!

We start out by meeting Peter Lepore. Peter is one of a group of entrepreneurs trying to recreate a Ferrara espresso bar in Caesars Palace. A Ferrara’s is the oldest espresso bar in America.

At Caesars palace, there is stiff competition between competing enterprises for business, so Peter wants to be sure that all goes well. However, construction is four weeks behind, the investors have mortgaged their houses for this project, and they estimate losing $35,000 every day they are not open. All things being equal, Peter is not as tense as he has a right to be!

Two weeks before opening, singing waiters are auditioned. The first couple sound pretty good to me! Still, standards are high, and a few folks are found wanting.

Rapper “Johnny B.” (from the very first episode of this series) and his friend Rob are featured again. So is Jazz bandleader Ghalib Ghallab, who reminds us that Johnny showed promise. They’re going to rehearse together to see what can develop.

Johnny’s girlfriend Alicia has come along this time to make it a threesome. No, not that kind of threesome – I just mean three out-of-towners! But neither Alicia nor Rob is happy how things are developing. Rob thinks Johnny is here to further his career, Rob hopes to ride along on Johnny’s coattails, feeling the need to, “Keep Johnny focused.” On the other hand, Alicia just KNOWS they are in Vegas to celebrate her 21st birthday.

Alicia isn’t happy to hear about any music auditions and resents it that Rob is there, making plans that will cut into her Johnny-time. Apparently, Johnny didn’t tell Alicia the true agenda for this visit. Rob correctly dumps the blame back onto Johnny’s shoulders. Johnny’s trying to do too much this weekend and really has no plan, and he’s pissed off both his best friend and his girl.

Let’s leave that one alone for a minute. It’s time for the audition callbacks for the singing waiters. The chaff has been cut and there are some really talented people here. Whatever else happens, the vocal skills of the wait staff will NOT be a problem!

What might be a problem is the espresso machine. It arrives 24 hours before the scheduled opening, and they quickly determine the electrical rating is incompatible. No espresso, and also, we learn, no canoles… not good!

We’re switching scenes quickly in this episode! Back to Johnny. Both Rob and Alicia think Johnny is losing focus of what the trip is about. It’s established that there’s a rehearsal at 3 PM. Alicia is jealous of time taken away from their celebration together (where “together” means, “excluding Rob”).

The next scene is back to Ferrara’s and the arrival of the canoles. After the anxious barking into a phone, “Where are my canoles?” about 12 times, it turns out they’re about 100 yards away. I swear, everyone in Vegas must have blood pressure issues!

Fortunately, just six hours before opening, a second espresso machine arrives. This one is smaller, but it’s the right amperage and it works. Phew! It looks like things are working out for Ferrara’s.

Back to Johnny again. It’s 90 minutes to rehearsal time, and Johnny and Alicia are spending time together, shopping. One hour later (30 minutes to rehearsal time), and they slip up to the room. And… at 3PM, Johnny is still there with Alicia. Rob is wearing out the carpet, stewing about Johnny blowing off his golden opportunity.

Next, we have the story of new Vegas resident Christine. Christine is shoe shopping. So many shoes, and folks, I couldn’t be further out of my element if she was buying bloomers. “They look strappy…” did I get that right?

Oh yes, one more thing, they are expensive – $212 for the pair she finally settles on. Christine doesn’t have $212, and true to the themes of earlier episodes, decides to gamble for it. We’ll come back later and see how this works out.

Meanwhile, Rob is still not happy with Johnny, and he finds him (30 minutes late for rehearsal) watching Alicia play a slot machine. Johnny had lost track of the time. As the boys run off, Alicia isn’t happy that her boyfriend has been stolen. Ghalib is not happy about Johnny’s unprofessional attitude either, and isn’t buying the lame-ass excuses being proffered. “I can’t allow you to waste my time,” he says.

Ghalib thinks he’s scared Johnny into responsibility. Finally working, Johnny has a rap about being “Late for Rehearsal.” Cute, but Ghalib’s parting words are, “You got a lot of talent, man – don’t blow it.” A gig is set for 7 PM.

Rob also tries to drive the point home with Johnny, but Johnny is clueless about it and doesn’t want to listen to Rob, blowing him off unceremoniously. It’s clear Johnny has changed his priorities for being in Vegas, and Alicia is now number one.

As Alicia pulls Johnny away from Rob, Rob asks, “You got a watch?” “She’s got a watch,” replies a disappearing Johnny. Selfish Alicia admits to us, “I don’t care. He (meaning, Rob) is jealous.”