Reality TV puts the spotlight on Henderson businesses

Ranging from the Food Network to the History Channel, Henderson businesses and people have reaped the benefits of being featured on reality television shows.

The South Point, 9777 Las Vegas Blvd. South, made its introduction into reality television in February with the debut of "Vegas Stripped" on the Travel Channel.

The show follows several employees at the casino, including the director of marketing, Tom Mikovits.

"We originally wanted to make a show about security that would show the surveillance side of the casino," Mikovits said. "But we realized that wouldn't work."

Mikovits said there were risks associated with focusing on just hotel security. Instead, they changed the show's focus and began to follow a handful of employees at the South Point.

The show filmed between October and December 2011.

Mikovits was not only one of the stars but also a producer, which allowed him to add his creativity to the show while keeping the best interests of the South Point.

"We had a casting crew interview 150 people," Mikovits said. "I guided them to some people I thought should have been featured. I think the people they ended up picking were great."

The show aired Feb. 8 with two episodes back-to-back.

"We had a giant launch party with a Q-and-A session with all the cast members," Mikovits said. "It was a lot of fun."

Mikovits is still shocked by the attention he has received from being on TV.

"Three days later after the first episode, I was in the supermarket," Mikovits said. "I will never forget this. I was in the produce section and this woman came up to me and said how nervous she was for me and thought I would get fired."

She explained how she saw the second episode where Mikovits puts on a food truck event.

"In the episode, I attempt to put on an event outside of the property to get people to come inside the property," Mikovits said.

Mikovits wasn't in danger of being fired, but the way the scene was filmed implied that he could get in trouble if the event didn't do well.

In the end, the event was a success.

"It was stressful," Mikovits said. "But it is one of my favorite episodes. At the end we had a celebrity poker tournament, and I got to play in it."

Often when Mikovits or other employees from the show are on the casino floor, people will ask for a photograph.

"It's still funny a stranger would ask for my photograph," Mikovits said.

Mikovits said one his favorite employees to follow was Grace, a security guard.

"She's former military," Mikovits said. "She is small but a very tough girl. People loved her. She was our owner's favorite."

Mikovits still cringes at other on-screen performances.

"There is an episode where I take my shirt off, put on a cowboy hat and ride a mechanical bull," Mikovits said. "I got a lot of phone calls from my family from that one."

The South Point isn't the first casino to be featured on television. Green Valley Ranch Resort, 2300 Paseo Verde Parkway, has been featured on shows such as "American Casino" on the Discovery Channel. Bravo's sixth season of "Top Chef" was featured at the M Resort, 12300 Las Vegas Blvd. South.

Along with hotels, local businesses have been featured on TV, helping them grow in notoriety.

Freed's Bakery, 9555 S. Eastern Ave., has been featured on Food Network shows such as "Roker on the Road," $40 a Day," "Sugar Rush" and "After Midnight." It also has been on TLC's "Fabulous Cakes" and Lifetime's "Top This Party."

Popcorn Girl, 1000 N. Green Valley Parkway, was featured on the Food Network's "Kid in a Candy Store."

Being on TV has resulted in some people, such as Mark Hall-Patton, becoming a celebrity of sorts.

Hall-Patton, the administrator for the Clark County Museum, 1830 S. Boulder Highway, is the go-to history expert for the History Channel series "Pawn Stars," which follows the dealings of the Gold & Silver Pawn Shop, 713 Las Vegas Blvd. South. His advice has also been featured on the History Channel's "American Restoration," which is about a Las Vegas-based restoration shop.

Hall-Patton is brought in when the pawn shop owners have questions about the history or origin of certain items.

"They've yet to stump me," Hall-Patton said. "I am usually able to give them information about it."

Even though he isn't the show's main character, Hall-Patton can't go many places without being recognized for his appearances on "Pawn Stars."

"It's funny; being a museum curator is as invisible as you can be," Hall-Patton said. "I'm the guy in the back."

But Hall-Patton is no longer an invisible face. People recognize him in public and boldly seek his attention.

Hall-Patton was in Reno recently with his family when he was noticed.

"We were out to breakfast, standing in the parking lot, and someone asked if I was that guy," Hall-Patton said. " 'Yes, I am.' My son and daughter had to be in the picture with me and this other family (who wanted a photograph)."

Walking around the museum, people pull him aside to take his photo and ask him questions.

"I get a sense of what the really famous go through," Hall-Patton said.

Hall-Patton said his appearances on the shows have increased attendance at the museum.

"Last Saturday we had more than 200 people for just a normal Saturday with no special event," Hall-Patton said. "But that's what we wanted to do -- increase the presence of what we do."

Contact Henderson/Anthem View reporter Michael Lyle at mlyle@viewnews.com or 387-5201.