Sunday, July 18, 2004
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

NORM: Late 'Casino' exec got viewers riled

Golden Nugget owners Tim Poster, left, and Tom Breitling are concerned about sexy subplots in Fox's reality show. Photo by Jeff Scheid.

The unexplained death of Green Valley Ranch executive Michael Tata has turned the reality show "American Casino" into a reality mystery.

Friday's seventh episode shed more light on what was happening in his life shortly before he was found dead at his Henderson home on July 6.

Tata, the resort's 33-year-old vice president of hotel operations, was shown telling a co-worker that his long-term relationship had just ended.

In another segment, he talked about his feud with hotel manager Ninya Perna, saying that picking on her was "one of my favorite things." Before the episode ended, however, he made peace with her, sort of, when he showed up to help her move out of her apartment.

Because of his often-stormy relationship with Perna, Tata received a significant amount of mail from Discovery Channel viewers taking him to task, sources say.

His death was acknowledged at the end of Friday's episode with the words "In memory of Michael Tata." His autopsy report could be made public this week.

The investigation, sources say, included police interest in surveillance tapes at Green Valley Ranch the night before Tata's death. Sources said Tata partied at the resort that night.

The other 'Casino'

Rumors continue to fly that Mark Burnett's unscripted drama "The Casino," a ratings disappointment, might be in trouble.

Dan Shumny, vice president of marketing at the Golden Nugget, said Fox has paid for all 13 episodes and has no plans to pre-empt any shows during the Olympics next month. They recently came up with a new schedule culminating on Aug. 29, the final day of the Athens Olympics, he said.

Word has it that Nugget co-owners Tim Poster and Tom Breitling were concerned that the early episodes relied too heavily on the sexy subplots. Longtime staffers let it be known, I hear, that they didn't like the way the Grand Dame of downtown properties was being portrayed.

Remaining episodes will focus more on the casino operation, a la "American Casino," and Tom-Tim angles.

Most of the negative feedback I hear has to do with the staged feel of the show.

The Scene and Heard

David Saxe's San Francisco version of "V, the Ultimate Variety Show," on Pier 39 closed on opening night Friday, sources said. Saxe could not be reached. ...

That first media screening of "Father of the Pride" had its critics. "I sensed that boos and hisses were about to break out. ... It's smutty," wrote Larry Bonko of The Virginian-Pilot.

Sightings

Singer Linda Ronstadt, drawing a chorus of boos and a smattering of applause upon dedicating "Desperado" to Michael Moore, director of "Fahrenheit 9/11." A handful of patrons immediately walked out of the Saturday concert at the Aladdin. ... A "Blind Date" film crew shooting gag-filled episodic material at Amazing Johnathan's house in Green Valley with former Ultimate Fighting Champion Tim Sylvia. The episode should air in November. ... A Cher convention, taking over the Riviera on Friday. ... Disney sitcom star Raven Symone ("That's So Raven") at Tony Orlando's show (Suncoast) on Saturday night. ... At N9NE steak house (Palms) on Friday: Whiskey Bar owner Rande Gerber and NFL quarterbacks Jeff Garcia of the Cleveland Browns and Jay Fiedler of the Miami Dolphins. ... At Body English (Hard Rock Hotel) on Friday night: Tara Reid, Blink 182 drummer Travis Barker and Garcia. ... Hard Rock Hotel owner Peter Morton, son Harry and hotel magnate Ian Schrager, dining at N9NE restaurant (Palms), checking out the competition. Peter Morton's brother, Michael Morton, is a co- owner of N9NE and the Palms' nightclubs Rain and ghostbar.

The Punch Line

"I like long walks, especially when they are taken by people who annoy me." -- Fred A. Allen

Norm Clarke can be reached at 383-0244 or norm@reviewjournal.com.