LAist Watches: Forty Deuce

Guess we won't be visiting Forty Deuce Hollywood again. In what mostly can be described as a 44 minute infomercial, the burlesque bar noted for its famous clientele and high energy dance routines (not to mention insanely expensive drinks and tight quarters) began its run as a reality show on Bravo last night. Bravo has taken to Hollywood life like crazy with its reality schedule in the past year with Blow Out, Project Greenlight, and even an LA based version of Queer Eye. Forty Deuce the series takes a look at club creator Ivan Kane's expansion of his signature club into Las Vegas.

If only Zalman King knew what he was doing with reality tv. There's so much real drama going on with and around these people: Carolina (pictured) is being sent back to Argentina to apply for a new work visa and may not return; Tracy is the most responsible of the crew but she's only part time, hoping to make it in other aspects of the business; and, Jade, the red-headed wild child whose drama could carry the whole show. It could and they try to bring it but it all falls kind of flat. It all gets played for yuks rather than played for real drama or real sexy or real inside. For what should be an excellent cast and scenario for a show, it just feels like an empty meal.

And to what end? All it's going to do is bring the tourist crowd to the Deuce and make it lame. How will we be able to see the lovely Carolina when that happens? If one part of the show works it is her. She sizzles on the screen as much as she does in person. Then, on top of that, she's more amazingly sweet and together than you could possibly hope her to be. LAist will watch it again but only for her.

We'd watch Carolina do anything.

sneaky photo taken by me.