Topic: Mgm

An archival clip of Shirley Temple Black features her recounting a disturbing experience at MGM when she was 12 years old. She describes being separated from her mother and sent into the office of producer Arthur Freed, who exposed himself to her. Simultaneously, her mother was dealing with unwanted advances from studio head Louis B. Mayer, leading them both to decide that Fox was a better environment than MGM.

The real estate in Las Vegas has largely been acquired by Vici Properties, a real estate investment trust that leases casinos back to operators like MGM and Caesars. The hosts warn that these leaseback deals often lead to financial meltdowns when rates are raised, as seen with historic retailers in San Francisco. They also discuss the high profitability of "The Sphere" and its residency with Dead & Company.

The Hollywood film industry is facing a significant downturn, with production in Los Angeles down nearly 40% over the last two years. Factors include the aftermath of the 2023 actors and writers strikes and the shift of production to states with better tax incentives like New Mexico. Despite the crisis in traditional studios, streaming entities like Apple and Amazon continue to dominate award shows and high-budget content creation.

Clorox is reportedly facing supply shortages following a significant cyber attack that disrupted its operations. Simultaneously, MGM Resorts is losing an estimated $8 million per day due to a breach that has affected gambling payouts and hotel systems. These incidents are discussed as potential precursors to a larger "cyber pandemic."

A hacking group known as Scattered Spider targeted MGM Resorts and Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, using social engineering to bypass IT help desks. While Caesars reportedly paid a $15 million ransom, MGM's systems remained offline for days, causing massive operational disruptions across their properties.

Fran Drescher's leadership of the Screen Actors Guild is characterized as a "union voice" fighting against greedy entities. However, the hosts suggest that actors and writers should stop relying on major studios like Disney and Amazon and instead use available technology to produce independent, low-budget content. They argue that the streaming math does not work for the studios, creating a gap that independent creators could fill.

MGM and Amazon are launching "Ring Nation," a television show featuring viral footage captured by Ring doorbell cameras. The program is criticized for normalizing neighborhood surveillance and encouraging users to share private footage for entertainment and prizes.

MGM Grand Air was a luxury airline in the late 1980s that featured staterooms and captain's chairs on flights between New York and Los Angeles. During one flight, a passenger shared a stateroom with actor Sean Penn, his brother, and his mother. When asked about his marriage to Madonna, Penn reportedly replied, "Hell hath no fury," before remaining silent for the rest of the trip.

Renowned French chef Joël Robuchon passed away, prompting a discussion about his culinary legacy and his signature "whipped potatoes." The hosts recalled dining at his restaurant at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. They discussed the fate of high-end restaurants after the passing of their namesake chefs, citing Lutece in New York as a historical example.

MGM Resorts International has filed lawsuits against 1,000 victims of the Las Vegas mass shooting in a legal maneuver to move cases to federal court and secure a more favorable judge. The move has sparked calls for a boycott of MGM properties. The segment criticizes the mainstream media for the lack of sustained coverage regarding the ongoing mysteries of the shooting.

Las Vegas security guard Jesus Campos gives his first and only interview to Ellen DeGeneres regarding the Mandalay Bay massacre. The hosts deconstruct the appearance, labeling it a highly scripted and orchestrated event managed by MGM Resorts International. They highlight DeGeneres's business ties to MGM, including her branded slot machines, as the reason she was granted the exclusive interview over traditional news outlets.

Sheriff Lombardo explicitly denied any conspiracy between the FBI, local police, and MGM Resorts. In a technical aside, the hosts discuss the phenomenon of "cooking off," where a rifle becomes so hot from rapid fire that rounds ignite spontaneously in the chamber. They suggest this might explain some of the audio recorded during the Las Vegas massacre.

The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department releases a revised timeline showing that security guard Jesus Campos was shot six minutes before Paddock began firing on the concert crowd. MGM Resorts disputes this new timeline, leading to public confusion and a loss of confidence in the official narrative of the response.

The ownership of MGM Grand is scrutinized for its donations to organizations like CARE and the Southern Poverty Law Center, as well as George Soros's divestment from the company in March 2017. Questions are raised regarding the timeline of security guard Jesus Campos, who was shot in the thigh through a door. The "arms dealer" theory is reinforced by the suggestion that Paddock used cameras on food carts to monitor potential buyers rather than law enforcement.

A personal anecdote describes a flight on the luxury MGM Grand Air service in the late 1980s with Sean Penn, his brother, and his mother. The encounter was characterized by Penn's brother drinking heavily and Penn himself remaining quiet after being asked about his marriage to Madonna.

The hosts exchange stories about luxury travel, including gold toilets on MGM Grand Air and the cramped, uncomfortable reality of flying on the Concorde. One host recalls a flight on the Concorde where a "drunk Liza Minnelli" chattered throughout the journey.

The Airbus A380 has begun service at San Francisco International Airport, requiring specialized gates for its double-decker configuration. This prompts a reminiscence of MGM Grand Air, a luxury airline that operated between New York and Los Angeles in the late 1980s. An anecdote involves sharing a stateroom with actor Sean Penn shortly after his divorce from Madonna.

A visit to L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas resulted in a disappointing dining experience attributed to the absence of the celebrity chef. The critique suggests that high-end Vegas restaurants often suffer in quality because the namesake chefs only visit for short periods every few months. Staff members reportedly characterized Robuchon as a difficult taskmaster, a trait argued to be necessary for maintaining culinary standards.

John C. Dvorak offers advice on navigating the massive MGM Grand hotel in Las Vegas, recommending that guests request rooms near the elevator shafts to avoid long walks. The discussion moves to the influx of world-renowned French chefs in Las Vegas, including Joel Robuchon and Alain Ducasse. Dvorak expresses disappointment at being unable to secure a reservation at these high-end establishments.