The Entertainer Episode 8: Entertaining the Troops

Last time, on The Entertainer, Wayne Newton introduced the contestants to Paul and Kelly, whom they needed to incorporate into their acts. Everybody got ten minutes to rehearse, then it was time for the show. What Wayne didn’t tell them that everybody in the showroom was out to ensure things went wrong. Comic Paul Rodriguez provided the heckling, their partners messed up the act, and even the crowd was in on the gag – getting up and walking out in the middle of the performances. While most contestants handled the challenge fairly well, it was Theresa, who forgot her lyrics while getting heckled, that had the party end on her.

Dave, who always managed to one-up the heckling, was declared the winner and awarded a helicopter trip over Lake Mead and the Valley of Fire, then dinner with Wayne and one of the other contestants on Wayne’s yacht. Dave picked Joe to share the prize.

This episode begins with Joe and Dave joining Wayne on his helicopter, a first for both of them. Wayne is the pilot, and takes them over Lake Mead, then to the marina where his private yacht is located. Both enjoy the luxury ship, and Joe tells us he wouldn’t mind having one of them. They are served dinner on board and listen to what Wayne has to tell them about show business. Joe is particularly pleased to hear that Wayne thinks Joe is a true original act.

Afterwards, the contestants have their own party in the pad, where Sarah and Joe are getting pretty cozy together. Dave thinks Joe has a crush on her, and Sarah is eating it up. However, they might regret the late night when soldiers invade their penthouse and haul them out of bed. After some physical training, they are given one hour to get their passports and luggage. The soldiers march them out of the hotel, and they wonder if they are being sent to boot camp.

Wayne tells us that he does USO shows because it’s the least he can do. Americans enjoy their lifestyle because of the men and women of the military, and bringing them a piece of home is a great morale booster.

The contestants are put onto a bus and issued dog tags. Delisco overhears somebody talking about landing and thinks they may be going over to Iraq. However, they end up at Fort Irwin, a military base located in the Mojave desert in California. They are told to line up outside the bus and Wayne pulls up in a hummer.

Wayne tells them it won’t be fun and games today. He introduces them to General Honore’, who will be in charge of them. Wayne explains that he believes that nobody has the right to live unless at some point they do something good for mankind. His way is to bring a touch of home to the military that serves our country.

Fort Irwin is the last stop for troops before deployment to the Middle East. They’ll be taken on a tour to see how troops prepare for combat. On the other side of the base is a stage where USO performers are setting up to entertain the troops. From here on out, every move they make will be monitored and those who pass will continue – the others might be packing and going home.

The contestants are given demonstrations of various combat operations and drills. They are shown mock demos of sniper attacks, with ultimate capture of the perpetrators. The gunfire is loud and the scenes realistic. Jennifer tells us her cousin has been sent to Afghanistan for nine months, and is very happy to see a huge U.S. flag and stage on the other side of the base.

Suddenly the troops appear – these men and women have two weeks before they are being deployed, and it’s the contestants’ job to entertain them. Wayne tells them it is a big honor, and a big responsibility. He also introduces them to other acts such as the Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders, Brittany Murphy, and Neil McCoy. It’s time to prepare for the show. Joe says it takes a lot of connections to get into a USO show, and it’s something he’s always wanted to do.