It's easy to understand why Wayne Newton is called Mr. Las Vegas. First of all, there are the more than 30,000 solo shows the guy has played here over the last 40 years. (That's an average of 750 a year!!)

Then there's the fact that he's the consummate entertainer. Even if you are seated in the very back of the venue Wayne is playing, he has an innate ability to make you feel like you're in the first row.

And just like Vegas, Wayne has had his share of "not so great" moments. Vegas had that bizarre moment in the '90s, when it tried to become "kid friendly," while Wayne has his recent stint on 'Dancing With the Stars' to answer for.

But, even though he's had some lows, there have been far more highs in the life of Wayne Newton, the man who continues to be the archetype of the Vegas entertainer. The man who has more than earned the moniker Mr. Las Vegas.

DANKE SCHOEN (High)
Wayne Newton releasing 'Danke Schoen' in 1963 is the equivalent of Led Zeppelin releasing 'Stairway to Heaven.' OK, so maybe it's more like Barry Manilow releasing 'Copa Cabana.' Either way, its release was a pivotal moment in a career that is still going strong. More than 40 years later, it's Wayne's signature song, and its childlike enthusiasm still manages to make us smile.

DANKE SCHOEN PART II (High)
By the '80s, Wayne was already a superstar, but the inclusion of his signature song in the movie 'Ferris Bueller's Day Off' -- which Ferris lip-syncs on a parade float -- helped expose him to a younger generation. For the first time, it was not only OK to admit you liked Wayne Newton if you were under the age of 40, it was cool.


USO (High)
Since succeeding Bob Hope in 2001, Wayne has served as Chairman of the USO Celebrity Circle, assisting in the recruitment of other celebrities to entertain U.S. troops. But, he is certainly not new to entertaining our men and women in uniform. In fact, Wayne has entertained service members in every military conflict since and including the Vietnam War. Maybe Mr. Las Vegas isn't broad enough to describe Wayne.

'THE ADVENTURES OF FORD FAIRLANE' (Low)
Always an affable guy, Wayne jumped at the chance to play a villain in this Andrew Dice Clay stinker of a movie. While I'm sure it gave him sick thrill portraying an evil record executive, just sharing the screen with a hack such as Clay has to be considered a low point.

THE UNFORTUNATE MOUSTACHE (Low)
To some people, there's no such thing as a good moustache. (These people obviously don't share my deep appreciation for the upper lip whiskers of guys like Burt Reynolds, Salvador Dali and Rip Taylor.) But, there is certainly a such thing as a bad stash, and Wayne has sported one a few times over the years. Please Wayne, always keep a Mach3 handy.

'VEGAS VACATION' (High)
Seven years after his villainous roll in the bomb 'Ford Fairlane,' Wayne redeemed himself by, well, playing himself in 'Vegas Vacation.' His duet with Helen Griswold (Beverly DeAngelo) is one of the movie's shining moments. It's just Wayne being Wayne, which is fine by us, because that's what he does best.

'DANCING WITH THE STARS' (Low)
Why Wayne? Who Wayne? When Wayne? Why did you decide to dance on national television? Who told you that this was a good idea? When will you fire this person? Wayne is a cool guy, but on 'Dancing with the Stars' he comes off as a stiff caricature of himself. It's sad to watch and it was only fitting that he got KO'd of the competition by Floyd Mayweather, Jr. It's going to take a while to bounce back from this one. But, he will undoubtedly bounce back. After all, he's Wayne Newton.

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Let's start with the facts.

The on again, off again, on again, off again Van Halen reunion tour is on again and the band has announced it will play two shows in Las Vegas in December.

Tickets for the band's two concerts at MGM Grand Garden Arena (Dec. 28 and Dec. 30) go on sale this Saturday, Oct. 6 at 10AM.

The tour will mark the first time since 1984 that the band has performed with David Lee Roth. However, it is not a return to the classic lineup, as bass player Michael Anthony has been replaced by Eddie Van Halen's son Wolfgang in a case of nepotism gone bad. Which brings us to the opinions, of which I have many.

I'll admit that I got misty eyed when the band first announced it was getting back together with Diamond Dave in 1996. But that was 11 years ago. It was prior to Eddie's bum hip and prior to Dave's hair extensions.

Van Halen rocks hard and is rightfully in the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame, but make no mistake about it; image played a roll in the band's success. Go ahead and scream that I'm wrong. I'm still right. Do you really think the band would have been such a juggernaut had it featured a guitarist that looked like Golem?

I'm sorry, but as nostalgic of a guy as I can be, I can't see paying $175 to see a bunch of old men trying to recapture their youth, especially when one of them can't even jog with the devil anymore, let alone run with him. Even the lyrics to 'Panama' will probably need to be rewritten.

Yeah, we're runnin' a little luke warm tonight
I can barely see the road without my bifocals on
Ahh, reach down between my legs and unhook my catheter

So, while the rest of the nostalgic suckers head to the arena in hopes of reliving a moment that can never be relived, I'll be going the cheaper and better route. I'll be at home cranking 'Unchained' to 11.

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The O.J. Simpson "Great Vegas Robbery" is a big, hot alleged mess, isn't it?

Orenthal was held as a flight risk for a few days and then posted a $125,000 bail and flight risked back to Florida. A jailed friend of a local nightlife fixture who was in the same holding cell as Orenthal is saying that he admitted to killing his wife and gave a speech about double jeopardy. Orenthal is alleging that former LAPD detective Mark Fuhrman hatched this robbery conspiracy at retribution.

Now, O.J.'s main accuser and alleged sports memorabilia dealer, Alfred Beardsley, has been outed as a convicted felon and arrested in Vegas for a parole violation.

And to think with the memorabilia, all of this is just for a few bucks and a better feedback rating on eBay.

If He Stole It
If the legal proceedings back in 1994 weren't strange enough, each day that passes in Orenthal's current legal saga gets weirder and weirder. As the facts in the case start to surface, I'm expecting Orenthal to once again be acquitted, but this time it won't be the trial of the century or even decade.

I'm also expecting 'The Onion' or some other respected publication to publish a full, word-by-word parody version of 'If I Did It: Confessions of a Killer' as 'If I Stole It: Confessions of a Sad, Sad Man.'

Conspiracy Theory
TMZ has an audio excerpt that allegedly features Orenthal allegedly going "commando" in an alleged Vegas hotel room, but it's hard for me to tell from just audio if Orenthal is wearing underwear or not. Heck, I can't even tell if the voice is actually Orenthal or someone pretending to be Orenthal. It sounds like a South Park version of Orenthal, but I'm not a forensics expert.

Vegas does have a lot of professional impersonators and honestly, with the poor recording quality and bleeping, it sounds like it could have been anybody.

If there isn't a conspiracy, why does a recording exist anyway? Vegas casinos have a lot of video surveillance, but they haven't started bugging the rooms, yet. Oh Mark Fuhrnam, is your alleged 14-year-old grudge finally being satisfied?

The Other Glove Drops
I expect to Orenthal to be acquitted, not based on the facts of the case, but since exiting football and the demise of the 'Naked Gun' movies, acquital is the only thing Orenthal has been really good at.

For these legal proceedings, Orenthal will have to make a go without the masterful defense strategy and rhymes of the late Johnnie Cochran. The only way that the part showman, part lawyer will be able to aid Orenthal is if Carlos Mencia lends the services of "The Ghost of Johnnie Cochran."

Vegas Alibi Kit
The good news for Orenthal is that the marketing wizards behind the "What Happens in Vegas" campaign developed a Vegas Alibi Kit. If you were naughty in Vegas, you can use the Vegas Alibi Generator 2.0 to create a clean alibi to take home to friends, family and colleagues. There is also a photo faker tool to back up the story. Orenthal can take his Vegas mug shot to superimpose on the available photos.

It's easy, the generator asks you a series of multiple choice questions based on likes and dislikes and then spits out an alibi. One of the examples they use on the site is "I had to unbutton my pants." That is cleaned up to be a dining reference.



Inspired by 'If I did It,' I pretended to be Orenthal and answered the following questions from the Vegas Alibi Generator 2.0. Some of the questions and answer choices were eerie:
1. Before heading to Vegas, I take inventory of my closet.
2. Custom-fit clubs really gets my juices flowing.
3. If given the choice, I'd watch The Home Shopping Network.
4. People tell me that I remind them of Cher.
5. Among friends, I am known for my swing.
6. Second helpings give me the goosebumps.
7. I've been saving up for something leather.
8. When I was a child, I had a tendency to swing sticks at balls.
9. I have this recurring nightmare where the bouncer won't let me in.

The alibi that the machine spat out was "All I did was shop." It doesn't say anything about five-finger discounts, but to back up the story, the Vegas Alibi Generator 2.0 gives the following instruction, also eerie:

Now if anyone asks:

• What's with all these credit card charges?
• Why are you wearing new pants?
• Why are your shoulders so sore?

Your story goes like this:

After buying a few things at Grand Canal Shoppes you were so tired you stopped to eat at Garden Buffet. The next day, you hit Las Vegas Outlet Center and Dillard's and topped the day with Chidos w/ Emery, Scary Kids Scaring Kids, The Devil Wears Prada.

Remember! Keep your shopping bags, receipts, and tags 'cause nothing backs up an alibi like evidence.

Yes indeed, nothing backs up an alibi like evidence.

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Vegas is a great town for coupling. There is something about all of that neon, slot machine noise and being on holiday that make people want to pair up.

There is the legal coupling known as the Las Vegas wedding, which adds weight to the Vegas nickname, "The Marriage Capital of the World," and then there is the unplanned coupling based on random acts of nightlife that bolsters another Vegas nickname, "Sin City."

Vegas is also a great town for celebrities so it is only natural that the two concepts will intersect in the world of celebrity couples. Phyllis McGuire and Sam Giancana were probably the greatest Vegas celebrity couple love story of all time. based on Vegas lore and romanticized treatments like the movie 'Sugartime.'

Beyond the celebs who fly in for quickie Vegas weddings, here are the five current best Vegas celebrity couples:

Britney Spears and Criss Angel

This fresh Vegas celebrity couple should be made the unofficial first couple of Vegas for as long as they're together.

Britney has done more for the Vegas economy over the last few years with her appearances and Criss films his A&E 'Mindfreak' show in Vegas and will star in a Cirque du Soleil Show at the Luxor.

More importantly, they are veterans on the Vegas celebrity coupling circuit. Britney was married and annulled here and she and her second husband were constant companions of the Vegasarazzi. Criss had a Vegas fling with Paris Hilton.

I'm reading they may have already broken up, but I'm staying positive and hope these two crazy kids find a way to make it work.

If they do end up at the Little White Wedding Chapel, they need to be careful who they invite to the wedding.

Siegfried and Roy
While this Vegas power couple's romantic relationship has long since moved to a professional partnership, there is still an undeniable spiritual, magical connection between Siegfried and Roy.

If it weren't for Roy's tragic accident back in 2003, the dynamic duo would still be fixtures on the Strip with their lifetime contract at The Mirage. Well technically, with their statue right on The Strip, they are still a fixture, but only in bronze.

They started performing in Vegas in 1972 and have performed more than 5,000 shows. Roy's rehabilitation gives hope that one day they'll be back on a Vegas stage, but in the meantime they are staying active in the community. My pal Robin Leach has some great photos of Siegfried and Roy tapping the keg at the annual Hofbrauhaus Oktoberfest in Vegas.

Pamela Anderson and Hans Klok
As far as I know, this relationship has not blossomed into a work-based romantic relationship, but the popularity of their 'Beauty of Magic' show at Planet Hollywood qualifies Pamela Anderson and Hans Klok as a couple.

Pamela has constantly been in the Vegas headlines ever since she announced she was buying a luxury pad at the Panorama Towers on The Strip last year. Unfortunately, her ex-husbands Tommy Lee and Kid Rock have also been making headlines. It seems that every time they are in Vegas at the same time, there are rumors of one threatening the other like last New Year's Eve when one showed up at the other's suite to allegedly settle a score. Of course the bravado and threats culminated in the VMA fist fight.

Known as the "World's Fastest Magician," Hans' headlines have only been for his feats on the stage. The only ex situation he had is when Carmen Electra backed out of his first planned Vegas show, but Pamela seems to be a better fit.

Maybe if this couple lasts long enough, they'll also be enshrined in bronze on The Strip.

Pink and Carey Hart
Pink is originally from Pennsylvania, but her extreme sports hubby Carey Hart grew up in Vegas and Vegas is where their relationship started to bloom a few months after meeting at the 2001 X Games.

With their jobs, they obviously travel a lot, but have residences in Vegas and L.A. Carey also has a business in Vegas. The reality show 'Inked' was filmed at Carey's Hart & Huntington tattoo shop at the the Palms.

Jenna Jameson and Tito Ortiz
Jenna Jameson was born in Vegas and Tito Ortiz has made a name for himself slugging it out in the UFC Octagon in Vegas and abroad. When I interviewed the couple at the AVN Awards earlier this year. They seemed extremely happy, but the situation was a little tense, because just off-screen of this photo is Jenna's ex-husband Jay Grdina doing an interview.

Jenna has been picked apart in the tab rags all year and Tito gets a lot of grief for being the "Huntington Beach Bad Boy" and his swagger in the Octagon, but the way I see it, if you can make each other smile the way they do, that's what life is all about.

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On return flights into Vegas during the day, I've often heard some first-time visitors peeking out of the airplane window question, "That's it?" -- as if the Eiffel Tower in the desert wasn't a clue. They can't really be blamed. On similar flights at night, the plane is buzzing with excitement and there is no doubt that collection of fantasy buildings neatly along The Strip is Las Vegas.

The difference is neon. Elvis sang it best when he said "Bright light city gonna set my soul on fire." Neon fuels our dreams and adds some sort of visual evidence to our hopes and expectations. Neon hit the desert in the late '20s, but the first major sign wasn't erected until the '50s and since then, neon has been more important to Vegas than oxygen. Well, scientifically it's not, but there is oxygen in New York City and Paris even sparkles their Eiffel Tower, but the excitement of flying into those cities at night pales in comparison.

The dark side (literally) of it all is that neon will be close to extinction in Vegas by 2012. With the new neon-less casinos going up and the old casinos being imploded between now and then, visitors will only be able to find these tubes in places like the Neon Museum, Downtown and other nostalgic venues. That's not to say Vegas will be back in the dark ages. Casinos will still be lighting the night sky, but using smarter big-screen technology instead of glass tubes filled with gas that can show only one image. There's something organically sexy in the sight and sound of flickering, flashing neon -- like an electric campfire. But hey, who are we to stand in the way of progress?

So let's celebrate neon in Vegas with the Top 10 neon experiences. If you want to get weepy and share your love of Vegas neon, you can leave a comment below.

1. The Vegas Sign -- This certainly isn't the most complex of the neon signs but it tops the list because of its iconic status throughout the world. Every year thousands of tourists risk the speeding cars at the southern end of the Strip to reach the median where this Sin City landmark rests.


2. Neon Museum -- The Neon Museum is dedicated to preserving the neon history of Vegas. Many of the signs are supplied by their The Boneyard where old neon signs created by famed Young Electric Sign Company go to retire. You've no doubt seen the Boneyard in movies like 'Vegas Vacation.' The Silver Slipper sign seen here was taken down a the request of Howard Hughes. It was too bright for him when he stayed across the street so he bought the Silver Slipper casino and had the shoe removed.

Be sure and check out the Neon Museum for Boneyard tours.


3. Peppermill -- Some of my best meals in Vegas have been enjoyed at the Peppermill restaurant in the vintage futuristic glow of the pink and red neon snaking throug the interior. The plastic trees and colored sugar crystals at the table add to the festivities. Drunk or sober, the food is good with huge portions.


If you're looking for that "Vegas Baby, Vegas" feel, step into the adjoining Fireside Lounge which combines 20th-century neon technology with old-school fire for a sexy, sophisticated anything-can-happen night.

4. Flamingo -- With the old champagne tower days, the Flamingo has always been a trend-setter in the visual department. I like to stand under this sign and just watch it flicker.


5. Vegas Vic -- Neon cowboy Vegas Vic has been watching over downtown Vegas since 1951. This shot here shows the past and the future of Vegas lighting technology with the massive, neon-free Fremont Street Experience.


6. Circus Circus -- The details of this neon, known as Lucky the Clown, are fairly intricate. Swirling tubes of glass color in the hair, lollipop and costume. In a mix of old Vegas and new Vegas, a giant television-style screen is in his belly that flashes dinner and gaming specials.


7. Binion's Casino -- Even with the Fremont Street Experience and all of the other old-school casinos' neon blazing, I always have to stop for a few seconds and take in the giant aqua wall of neon at Binion's.


8. Stardust (gone but not forgotten) -- So this is one neon experience no longer available, but it's in the list because it represented everything pure and good about casino neon. The garish purple and red neon outlining the floors of the hotel and the classic flashing Stardust sign played a beautiful light symphony.


9. Margaritas By the Yard - Big drinks are famous in Vegas and anyone, in this case the Luxor, that invests in a neon sign to drive the yard-long cocktail business is OK by me. It's not like a chalkboard that lists specials at other places.


10. Riviera Splash - This is Vegas neon at it's craziest and perhaps, most glorious. The neon is essentially a billboard for the long-running Splash at the Riviera. Facing the Strip, it beckons pedestrians with wavy water-like tubes, bright bulbs and starry, starry neons. This sign could easily be one of the 28 modern wonders of the world.

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We as a society love to watch entertainers and athletes rise to the top of their profession. When they get there, however, we love nothing more than seeing them fall from grace. We seem to do that so we can cheer them on as they make a comeback. Once they are on top, it becomes the norm, and the norm is boring. Yes, what we love, maybe even more than watching their rise and fall, is to see someone do it all over again.

Thanks to its ever-changing tastes and international appeal, Las Vegas is the perfect city for an entertainer to make a comeback. So, it shouldn't be a surprise that many of them, from Sinatra to Elvis, have used Vegas to catapult back into our hearts and minds. And while not everyone succeeds in a Vegas comeback, we still cheer them on, while we wait patiently for other long-lost favorites to try again.

Great Comebacks
Sexy Vegas - Thankfully, the lame idea of turning Vegas into a kid-friendly destination only lasted a few years. Whoever thought that was going to work has an open invitation to join my poker game. But, the idea's failure resulted in "sexy Vegas" making a comeback in a major way.

Now the city has all the sexy you can handle. The pinnacle of the sexy comeback was earlier this year when Dita Von Teese set up her bathtub for a run at the Crazy Horse at MGM Grand. And she is just the tip of the pasties. Vegas has Crazy Girls, X-Girls, Babes in Sin burlesque girls to girls kissing girls. From sexy shows, to sexy sexy pools. All I can say is, welcome back, welcome back, welcome baaack!

Elvis - It had been eight years since the King of Rock 'n' Roll swiveled his hips in front of a live audience when, in 1969, he performed at the International Hotel. A few years later Elvis opened a 57-show engagement at the International, which is now the Las Vegas Hilton. The Vegas performances brought Elvis back into the spotlight which, believe it or not, had moved away from him. Sadly, his latter Vegas years conjure memories of a bloated superstar who was finding it impossible to outrun his own excess.

Frank Sinatra - Ol' Blue Eyes actually made his first big comeback in 1953, when he won a Best Supporting Actor Academy Award for his work in 'From Here to Eternity.' But when you think of Sinatra, it's impossible not to think of his Rat Pack days in Vegas, which not only elevated his own cool factor, it actually increased the coolness of Las Vegas. Along with Sammy Davis, Jr., Dean Martin, Peter Lawford and Joey Bishop, Sinatra helped define the archetype of a Vegas player; one that guys still try to emulate to this day.

Carrot Top - This orange-haired prop comic was one 1-800-CALL-ATT commercial away from hanging with Gallagher in the "Where Are They Now Lounge." Instead, Top buffed up beyond belief and landed a sweet gig at the Luxor. You can say what you want about his brand of comedy, but it's undeniable that Carrot Top has a permanent place in comedy history. Given the response to his Vegas show, it looks like he also has a permanent place to perform.

Near Misses
Michael Jackson - Fans were elated and parents were considering embedding GPS microchips into their children when it was announced that Wacko Jacko had moved to Vegas late last year. Once M.J. arrived, there was constant chatter about him doing a huge Vegas production. However, neither the show, nor the rumored plans for a 50-ft Michael Jackson robot on the Strip came to fruition. But, all hope is not lost. It seems that none other than Prince is encouraging Michael to do a series of acoustic shows in Vegas. Now THAT I'd love to see.

Prince - When the purple one opened his show at the Rio late last year, it seemed like a perfect fit. I mean, we're talking about a guy who, like Vegas, is equal parts elegant and gaudy. But, after just a few months of sold-out shows, our pint-sized friend skipped town. It would have been interesting to see what would have happened had Prince stayed. Would he have started his own Rat Pack featuring guys in high-heels and puffy shirts? Would he have talked Mayor Oscar Goodman into painting city hall purple? Sadly, we'll never know.

Britney Spears - The rumors of Britney staring in her own, Celine-like show in Vegas have been around for a while. She originally nixed the idea, citing her desire to keep K-Fed out of Sin City. But once he became Fed-Ex, the talk of a Britney show began again. However, with all the troubles Britney has caused herself, a Vegas show seems to be the last thing on her mind. So, we still don't know what will happen. Will she? Won't she? Will anyone other than those wanting to watch a live train wreck set to music even care?

Comebacks We'd Like to See
Siegfried & Roy: It has been nearly four years since a seven-year-old tiger named Montecore bit Roy Horn, ending one of the most famous shows in Vegas history. Though Roy suffered a stroke and partial paralysis, he has vowed to return to the stage one day. Siegfried & Roy's return would not only be a great thing for their fans, but if it were at The Mirage, it would be a win for all Vegas residents and visitors. Why, you ask? Then we could finally stop looking at Danny Gans peering down from the billboard that originally featured S&R.

Liberace -- Modern day rappers like to talk about being "iced out," but none of them come close to topping the original King of Bling, Liberace in talent or flamboyancy. A classically-trained pianist, Liberace was the consummate entertainer and was flashier than Las Vegas at night. He even opened a museum of himself when he was still alive! How cool is that? All apologies to Burt Bacharach, but what the world needs now is Liberace.

Huey Lewis -- The '80s were filled with huge pop stars. Madonna, Prince and Michael Jackson are just a few that immediately come to mind. But there is a seemingly forgotten '80s pop star that we'd love to see make a triumphant return to the spotlight; Huey Lewis. Not only did Huey have some great hits -- 'I Want a New Drug,' 'Heart and Soul,' 'If This is It,' 'Power of Love,' etc., etc. -- his band, The News, is one of the tightest rock groups you'll ever see. Come back to us Huey. Come back.

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In the spirit of the summer blockbuster, and any excuse to stay out of the heat, Fletch and Tony take a look at the best Vegas movies of all time. They very well could be this generation's Siskel and Ebert, but then again, maybe not.

Here are picks and pansof the top 11 Vegas movies:

11. 'Ocean's 11' (2001)
Tony:
Sure, part of my love for this movie comes from my man-crush on George Clooney, but even without George it would be a slick, caper film that features my lifelong city-crush, Las Vegas.

Fletch:
The 1960 version with the Rat Pack was perfect. Sure the modern version is the only one of the films here to crack the list of top 300 grossing films of all time, but I think that achievement has more to do with today's movie ticket prices and the proliferation of the American multiplex. Props to Clooney for 'Syrianna' (not set in Vegas), but if he would have worn Sinatra's pimp orange sweater from the original 'Ocean's 11,' I might like this one more. The sequels are also on the top 300 list so I'm probably alone here.

10. 'Honeymoon in Vegas' (1992)
Tony:
Flying Elvi and Pat Morita notwithstanding, this movie just bores me. Maybe because I find it hard to watch anything featuring the whiney Sarah Jessica Parker. Unless, of course, we're talking about 'Girls Just Wanna Have Fun.' Now that's entertainment.

Fletch:
When I got this movie free in a box of cereal (seriously), I liked watching it. In retrospect, that's because I like almost anything set in Vegas. James Caan and Nicolas Cage have solid performances, but overall, the movie neither excites me nor disgusts me. It just is.

9. 'Vegas Vacation' (1997)
Tony:
Mr. Las Vegas Wayne Newton couldn't even save this one. Was it as bad as 'European Vacation'? No. Was it as good as 'Vacation'? Of course not. Was it even close? No. Chevy Chase reached his expiration date around the time he filmed 'Caddyshack II' and by 'Vegas Vacation' he was curdled.

Fletch:
While the first 'Vacation' is a classic and the only highlight from 'European Vacation' is a few sultry moments with a sexy German girl, 'Vegas Vacation' has some of the best bits of the lot. The alternate casino scene (the exterior is the old Klondike that is magically a short walk to Downtown) is some of the best gaming-related footage committed to film. The odds at 'Guess Which Hand' seem to be much better than 'Pick a Number.' Funny enough, some casinos do have a version of the card game War.

8. 'Leaving Las Vegas' (1995)
Tony:
Hadn't seen it, rented it a few months ago, realized it was probably not the best thing to watch while going through a divorce. Still haven't seen it. Shame on me and pour me a cocktail would ya?

Fletch:
In my semi-charmed kind of life, this is the second best non-documentary movie at capturing the human condition on film ('Magnolia' being the best). At first, I wondered how many Vegas-based movies can Nicolas Cage be in, but this is different than the others. He deserved his Oscar for the role, but Elisabeth Shue, in all of her 'Adventures in Babysitting' glory, got robbed. If her performance wasn't in the movie, it sucks.

7. 'Fools Rush In' (1997)
Tony:
I'll watch almost any movie set in Vegas, but when I see the name Matthew Perry, I tend to look the other way. Why in the world would I want to watch Chandler Bing making out with Salma Hayek?

Fletch:
The keyword in the above phrase is Salma Hayek. As painful as it sometimes can be, I'll watch anyone making out with Salma Hayek. Plus, the movie is kind of cute.

6. 'Very Bad Things' (1998)
Tony:
Some people may be shocked by this black comedy, but I'm more shocked it's called a comedy. You are supposed to laugh during this, yes? Face it, Jon Favreau hasn't been funny since 'Swingers,' and it was Vince Vaughn who carried that movie anyway.

Fletch:
This movie made me nervous in a good way. I don't agree with the above indictment on Jon Favreau. 'Swingers' captured a moment in time never to be had again, regardless of cast or budget. They could remake 'Swingers' in 25 years with Alexander Schreiber, Henry Lee White and Suri Cruise as the love interest and it won't be the same.

5. 'Bugsy' (1991)
Tony:
So what if Bugsy Siegel isn't really the man who "started" Vegas and this movie is filled with inaccuracies? It still has Annette Bening and my crush on her is bigger than the one I have on George Clooney. As Virginia Hill, she's beautiful, classy and manipulative. Plus, it's fun to hear Warren Beatty keep repeating, "Twenty dwarves took turns doing handstands on the carpet."

Fletch:
Because of my crushes on Mary-Louise Parker and Phyllis McGuire, 'Sugartime' was a much better biopic of gangster era Vegas than the 'Bugsy' Hollywood fairytale. 'Bugsy' the movie has no soul, but Bugsy the man, as a visionary even predicted the Vegas dominance of Cirque du Soleil with the "twenty dwarves" quote.

4. 'Diamonds Are Forever' (1971)
Tony:
I'm a Bond fan. I love Sean Connery. But I didn't love his last hurrah as 007. It wasn't all his fault, though he sure seemed to be sleepwalking through the movie. No, the worst was the not-so-thinly-veiled version of Vegas-era Howard Hughes. I did love the gay hitmen Mr. Kid and Mr. Wint, though.

Fletch:
My Bond, before I discovered the DVD player, was Roger Moore. Repressed childhood memories and Duran Duran are my only explanations. Going back and watching the Connery Bond, this movie is one of my favorites. This should be in a Vegas time capsule.

3. 'Viva Las Vegas' (1964)
Tony:
I never really cared for Elvis. I didn't like the young, thin Elvis, or the fat, old Elvis. But, I totally understood the King's appeal after watching Viva Las Vegas. The chemistry between Elvis and Ann-Margret is palatable and Elvis oozes charisma.

Fletch:
We literally had a shrine to Elvis in my house growing up (my mom is a big fan). The first movie I remember seeing as a child was 'The Exorcist' and the second was this one. None of the Elvis movies, except maybe 'Love Me Tender,' will change your life, but they are worth the time and money which is all I really want in a movie. A catharsis would be a distant second goal.

2. 'Casino' (1995)
Tony:
A lot of people like to talk about "old-school Vegas," and how things were better then. While that may or may not be true, after watching this Scorsese classic, it's hard to long for the days when the mafia ran Sin City. That being said, the only movie I watch more times each year is 'Goodfellas.'

Fletch:
I know I should like this movie, but when it's on TV, I always wonder when Ray Liotta's character is going to show up before I realize I am not watching 'Goodfellas.' If it wasn't for Scrocese's lifting of Scorcese, I would love this movie. Two highlights for me are that nightclub with the zebra print and the acting talent of Mayor Oscar Goodman.

1. 'Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas' (1998)
Tony:
This movie didn't make me want to be in Vegas as much as it made me want to get a bunch of prescriptions filled and drive across America in a red Cadillac. Either way, it was still a fun trip that was as close to the book as I could ever hope for. Shameless self-promotion: Dig on my interview with the late, great Hunter S. Thompson.

Fletch:
Since the crew was verbotten from filming inside the casinos, they had to recreate Circus Circus. They did such a great job, you'd never know that the rotating carousel bar in the film wasn't the real thing. Of course after a couple of beers going 'round and 'round on that thing, I never know much. Benicio Del Toro rocked and Johnny Depp was a little farcical, but unless you are the real Hunter S. Thompson, others can only interpret.

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The criteria for judging a city's value should include the number of songs written about it. Sure, real estate, job market and schools are important metrics of a city's worth, but a city without a song is a city I don't want to live in. If a city can't inspire enough passion in someone to write a song about it (good or bad), then what is the quality of life like in that city?

Vegas has hundreds of songs written about it. It seems everybody has a Vegas tale to tell.There are tales of lament and tales of triumph, but when the jukebox stops, one thing is clear: Vegas is in the eye of the beholder.



Here are the top 25 songs ever written about or inspired by Vegas:

25. Sheryl Crow - 'Leaving Las Vegas' - This song should be higher, but when she went on late night TV and said the song was autobiographical (she didn't write it), it kind of just loses some appeal.
24. Stereophonics - 'Vegas Two Times' - If you like sloppy Welsh spelling bees, this is your jam.
23. Jimmy Ray - 'Goin' to Vegas' - Part genius, part fool, Jimmy Ray of 'Are You Jimmy Ray?' fame infuses a lot of excitement in this anticipatory song about a Vegas vacation.
22. Chumbawamba - 'Jesus in Vegas' - Yes the 'Tubthumping' kids wrote more than just that one song. This one isn't as catchy and seems angry more along the lines of their punk beginnings. According to the song, "Andrew Lloyd Weber is doing the lights."
21. Charlie Clouser - 'Let It Ride' - This is the theme song to NBC's 'Las Vegas' as shown in the UK. It has a Vegas sounding name and since Elvis already has two other songs on the list., this beat out "Little Less Conversation' -- the theme for the US broadcasts of 'Las Vegas.' Had there been a song called, 'Nikki Cox Rocks,' that probably would have made the list over these two.
20. Buck Owens - 'Big in Vegas' - Country legend sings about his aspirations to have his name in lights when he "turns 'em on in Vegas."
19. Hootie & the Blowfish - 'Las Vegas Nights' - It's only fitting that H&TBF has a song about Vegas since the band has the Shady Grove Lounge in Vegas at the Silverton.
18. Who Da Funk - 'Shiny Disco Balls' - This is a great dance song and had it been more about Vegas (or at least had more than three lines), it would have easily been at the top.
17. Geggy Tah - '''Las Vegas With the Lights Out' - This ditty is from the same album that had their big radio/TV commercial song 'Whoever You Are.'
16. Southern Culture on the Skids - '40 Miles to Vegas' - Another of the anticipatory songs about the actual journey to Vegas.
15. Gram Parsons - 'Ooh Las Vegas' - Also covered by the Cowboy Junkies and Emmylou Harris, this is a pretty song about the consequences of Sin City.
14. Nico - 'Vegas' - You either love Nico's voice or hate it and with this instrumentation, the same can be said about this song. I love it.
13. Barenaked Ladies - 'Conventioneers' - Alcohol and off-site work functions? Inhibitions don't stand a chance. This song proves what happens in Vegas, does not necessarily stay in Vegas.
12. The Thrills - 'Your Love Is Like Las Vegas' - I've been saying Vegas is getting too expensive. When an Irish rocker equates lost love to a "city that burnt me good," because he can only afford one weekend, I think I may be on to something. Either that, or he was dating an arsonist or a call girl.
11. Frankie Yankovic - 'Vegas Polka' - If accordions don't turn you're on, maybe you're just dead on the inside.
10. Clubstrophobia - 'Vegas' - Dance song with a fun Vegas video - worth the look.
9. Gomez - 'Las Vegas Dealer' - Nice English rock band making a nice English rock song about lost love that's not entirely clear if Lauren Lee's departure is due to her running off to deal blackjack or if there was a nasty incident with a Las Vegas drug dealer.
8. The B-52s - 'Queen of Las Vegas' - The schtick never grows old. This "Momma, rockin' on the roulette wheel" song is from 1983 and can hold it's own with any beehive-inspired new wave songs of today.
7. Size 14 - 'People Get Really Drunk in Las Vegas' - Their big hit was 'Claire Dane's Poster' but this song has a truthness to it that deserves a Top 10 induction on this list. Nothing like alcohol and no cutoff time to drown the sorrows of a busted romance.
6. Tori Amos - 'Don't Make Me Come to Vegas' - Kind of a different take on the Vegas songs. The beautiful read-headed piano chick is threatening to come to Vegas and yank someone out of bed. Nice.
5. Elvis Presley - 'Viva Las Vegas' - I put this in the top five because I had to otherwise my inbox would fill up with hate mail. Since I didn't put it number one, I think there are some anti-Fletch e-mails in my future, but the heart wants what the heart wants. I have to admit, before living in Vegas, this song was the first song I played to get pumped up for a trip to "bright light city" and I shouldn't rag on it too much because people like the Dead Kennedys and Johnny Ramone have covered it, but I guess it's a case of saturation for me and the fact that there's another song on the "Viva Las Vegas" music soundtrack that is better than this one. Yes, I said it.
4. Tom Waits - 'Straight to the Top (Vegas)' - This is a nice pseudo-swinging affair from "gravel throat."
3. Cocteau Twins - 'Heaven or Las Vegas' - Man, most of the time I don't know what she's singing or even what language she is singing it in, but this song (the whole album really) is transcendent.
2. Elvis Presley - 'Night Life' - Taken from the same soundtrack as "Viva Las Vegas," this song wins because of a universal truth that the album's namesake song doesn't have. Both songs do a great job of capturing the moment. 'Viva Las Vegas' is hyperactive just like the action on a casino floor and 'Night Life' slinks around with sex appeal. It all comes down to one lyric. If you adopt it as a mantra, your time in Vegas, and life, could be more successful: "You can't be a quitter when you're caught up in the glitter of the night life."
1. Dean Martin - Medley 'Drink to Me Only' - 'The Rat Pack Live at the Sands' captured probably the greatest live performances in the history of live performances. Even if you don't like this kind of music or have never heard of Dean Martin (or Maybe Frank or Maybe Sammy), this medley captures the essence of old-school Vegas which is the Vegas our collective consciousness longs for. Interestingly enough, none of the songs cobbled together were Vegas songs. Dean Martin added Vegas bits here and there. 'I Don't Care if the Sun Don't Shine' gets a non-Disney twist. 'I Love Paris' becomes 'I Love Vegas' and is the rocking part of the medley.

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When I write about the concept of 'Sin City,' it usually sparks a debate as subjective as puh-tay-toe vs. puh-tah-toe. Half of the e-mails condemn Vegas for easy-access sinning and enabling addictions while condemning me to the fiery abyss of hell for some of my recommendations. The remaining e-mails celebrate the freedom that Vegas represents while praising me for other recommendations.

Depending on who you ask, or who sends you an e-mail, the Vegas Strip can be a primrose path or a highway to hell.

The freedom of Vegas doesn't enable addictions. The way I see it, addiction ignores geography. An addict will find the supply for the demand regardless if he/she is in Vegas, Texas or New Jersey.

One addiction Vegas hasn't catered to is e-mail addiction. Sure, e-mail seems like a soft addiction, but in a new study from AOL, Vegas didn't crack the Top 10 of e-mail addicted cities.

It's understandable. Due to cheat concerns, Vegas hasn't exactly embraced the whole Internet thing until recent years. Vegas.com has been, is and will always be the top of Vegas Webdom. Clustered behind them as far as popularity are sites like this one, the Las Vegas Review-Journal and the official tourism board sites.

When you talk about the heat in Vegas, the first jokes are always about the "dry heat." Sure, you don't instantly sweat when you step outside like you do in the humid, "wet heat" of a Houston or Manhattan summer, but hot is hot.

When it's 120 degrees at 6PM and you go to the store and every square inch of the parking lot is radiating heat and your lungs are cursing you, the dry heat jokes are not so funny.

For some reason, this last Vegas heat spell has been making national headlines with the issuance of an "excessive heat warning." Not all of Vegas is tropical and lush like the Secret Garden at The Mirage. This is the desert and deserts tend to be on the hotter side, especially during the summer.

If you dare leave the climate-controlled environs of your hotel room or the blackjack tables, here are five ways to beat the scorching, angry and yes, dry Vegas heat:

1. Snow Day Is Every Day
If Keegan-Michael Key were to describe Caesar's new luxury spa Qua, he would say that they have taken "luxuriating to a whole 'notha level."

Sure, there are the obligatory fitness rooms and spa treatments, but their unique, not-so-obligatory offerings include Roman Baths, a tea sommelier and the Arctic Ice Room (pictured) where snow falls indoors every day -- yep, snow inside. Somebody should issue an "excessive cool warning."

As you may have experienced, casinos usually keep the air conditioning cranked in the summer so when you come inside from the heat, you risk pneumonia going from one heat extreme to the other. Not here -- the glass-tiled interior promotes the cool vibe, but the floor and benches are comfortably heated so you don't freeze your but off, literally. The room is kept at 55 degrees, which on some days, can be a 60 degrees jump from the outdoor temperature.

What better way to beat the heat than relaxing in a chilled room catching snow flakes on your tongue while folks outside are caught in a solar flare?

2. Night Golfing
In a town filled with golf courses and 24-hour bars, night golfing just makes sense. For decades, the casual Vegas golfer has had to decide between staying out until 6AM at a club or waking up at 6AM to catch a tee time. No longer my friends.

The Cloud Nine short course at Angel Park Golf Club lights nine of the holes for night golfing. There are some interesting layouts, but as in any short course, it's not very challenging and not for serious golfers. But then again, serious golfers are hitting the early bird buffet, going to bed before 'Letterman' and waking up pre-dawn to make their $500 tee time.

3. Flying Inside
For adrenaline junkies, the heat doubles the dilemma. Unless you're into indoor activities like glow-in-the-dark paintball or disco bowling, you're often forced into the great outdoors during the heat of the day to find the adventure you so desperately seek.

At Las Vegas' Flyaway Indoor Skydiving, you can have the best of both worlds: the adrenaline-releasing sensation of flying without the risk of paralyzing sunburn.

Suit up, take a short training class and then fly indoors on top of a column of air pushing speeds of 120 MPH.

4. The Vodka Locker
Fueled by body heat, even Vegas clubs and bars can feel like small ovens. Given the fleshy scenery, the club heat is a little more pleasant than street heat when crossing the Strip on a foot bridge.

The Russian-themed Red Square at Mandalay Bay addresses the issue with a frozen ice bar and a vodka locker. The ice bar has a frozen top so when you set down your cocktail, it stays nice and chilled. If you have a small group and you're looking to beat the heat, grab a coat and book the vodka locker, a Siberian-esque storage facility housing vodka and a Lenin statue head.

5. Don't Be a Fool, Stay in Pool

So I saved the obvious for last. While emotionally hot due to the sexy atmosphere, Vegas pools are physically still one of the best ways to beat the heat. I'm not a doctor, so the last statement is not a scientific fact. It just seems with the cabanas, frozen specialty drinks and all of that water, the pool is a good way to stay cool.

Golden Nugget's pool (pictured above) is the perfect example of an aquatic paradise with waterfalls, sharks, a water slide, an outdoor bar and outdoor blackjack. Check out the Vegas Pool Guide for more pool info.

If you go to one of the topless pools (politely known as "European style sunbathing"), just be sure you bring the SPF 125.

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Vegas has many "capital" titles and one of the more popular distinctions is "Wedding Capital of the World." As far as weddings and the pre-matrimony events (pa