Sunday, October 10, 2004
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

MIKE WEATHERFORD: Charo's career goes 'Surreal'

Who could guess? Charo has a hit show. Unfortunately, it's on VH1, not the Strip.

"The Surreal Life" makes you ponder the funny timing of life and show business. You wonder what would have happened to the Blue Man Group at Luxor without the prime-time exposure of an Intel commercial.

Likewise, you wonder what might have happened with Charo's "Bravo" -- which jumped to three venues before closing last year -- had it coincided with "The Surreal Life." Would the diverse endorsements of Public Enemy's Flavor Flav and "American Idol" singer Ryan Starr have made a difference?

The third season debut of the comic reality show attracted 1.7 million viewers, making it the most-watched show on VH1 this year. About 1.3 million were age 18-49.

The show is a hoot, thanks to the Type-A personalities of Charo, Flav and "Red Sonya" star Brigitte Nielsen, all forced to live with more acquiescent B-listers in a Hollywood mansion in a pop culture twist on "Big Brother."

Charo takes modest credit for the show's upbeat vibe, saying Nielsen "wanted to take it a porno direction, and I put my foot down" insisting it be "fun with class."

Taped last summer, one "Surreal" episode had the gang taking a Winnebago to catch Charo at Harrah's Rincon near San Diego. As anyone who saw "Bravo" will attest, Charo's guitar skills usually surprise audiences. "Her timing was immaculate," former New Kid on the Block Jordan Knight noted.

Flav found it "the bomb." You can't get better free advertising.

But so far, the promoter of a Charo date at the Riverside in Laughlin Nov. 9-14 says snowbirds and VH1 viewers haven't proven to be an overlapping demographic.

Time will tell if the Once and Future Cuchi-Cuchi Girl turns out to be a successful example of out-of-the-box marketing. Will we see George Wallace, David Brenner or Marlene Ricci -- all basically working for ticket revenue in open-ended gigs -- trying to get on "Renovate My Family" or "My Big Fat Obnoxious Boss"?

For now, Charo's experience serves as a reminder that settling on the Strip isn't a free ride. You trade the hassles of the road for the hassles of promotion.

"The dancers and the variety acts were the reason why I took the stupid punishment," Charo says of a deal that went south within four months at the Desert Passage's Sevilla nightclub, ending in litigation.

"Indian casinos put out the red carpet," she says of traveling without the burden of being the boss. "I am doing good and I have more time for recording and television."

"It will never happen again," she says of the Sevilla. "I will not take abuses because I will not have that big show with me."

At least, no abuse from anyone who isn't named Brigitte.

Mike Weatherford's entertainment column appears Thursdays and Sundays.