Vegas relying on tried and true

There was Joel Murray, his tux as authentic '60s Rat Pack as the drink and smoke in his hands. "Vegas has changed," he joked. "You can't use corporate credit cards for hookers anymore."

But just before the "Mad Men Live Revue" at the MGM Grand, two real hookers hovered daringly close to the Hollywood Theatre, making discreet offers. Just another sign that the dire, desperate state of the Strip is becoming ever more visible.

Tuesday night at 10 p.m. might as well have been 5 a.m. on the cavernous and lonely casino floor. That is, except for the well-dressed people bunched up in front of the showroom, where the "Mad Men" cast staged a retro Vegas revue for the National Association of Television Program Executives convention.

This was no slapped-together affair. The AMC drama's set designers and costumers worked lovingly on the vintage mics, hep-looking music stands and swanky period outfits for the 15 supporting cast members. Julie McNiven was quite the prom queen in her pink dress and tiara; Alison Brie the vamp with camp.

Downtown, we have a standing Rat Pack tribute show where people imitate Frank, Sammy and Dean. And in it, Sandy Hackett dresses up in comic drag to milk a laugh as Joey Bishop. So did Rich Sommer in the "Mad Men" revue. But somehow it all seemed more original, and captured the old-Vegas spirit in bigger-budget detail.

This night could serve as a lesson, offering some timely reminders. As the casinos start to turn out empty trouser pockets, it's no surprise the three "new" shows opening this month are just a reshuffling of established players. And it's no shock that Danny Gans, Terry Fator and Gordie Brown are all impressionists, doing variations of the same act.

They're tried, they're true. They all pencil out and make sense. But choose your cliche here: Nothing ventured, nothing gained. You have to spend money to make money. If you build it, they will come.

The "Mad Men" revue reminds us there's a creative energy in Hollywood that isn't finding its way to Vegas. There might even be TV promotional money seeking new outlets. Remember, down at the other end of that lonely MGM is a whole storefront devoted to test-marketing TV pilots and selling logo merchandise for the hits.

Remember too, people like to see people they see on TV. Granted, "Mad Men" is a culty kind of hit and may not be the best example of what regular tourists would buy a ticket for when TV executives aren't in town. But it's a reminder that most actors pay their musical-theater dues on the way up.

And also, Vegas may have tapped the promotional ability of reality freak-show TV, but it's snubbing the genuine talent.

Contact reporter Mike Weatherford at mweatherford@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0288.