Likability-- From RAFAEL NADAL to JAKE T. AUSTIN

RAFAEL NADAL is a monster on the tennis court, a never give up, always improving raging bull, a force of nature dead set on winning. Tune in and see for yourself. Tonight I watched him on TV, from the U.S. Open. Dressed in skintight black, he looked like something out of Marvel Comics, an unsmiling superhero or perhaps a likable villian.

Off the court, RAFAEL NADAL is just about the sweetest guy you'd ever hope to meet, a soft spoken gentleman sincerely interested in what you have to say.

I've been thinking about likability lately, about how important it is for popular people to be likable- not just charming or cute, but really likable.

Over the past twenty years, I've advised, managed, hired (and fired) plenty of performers here in Las Vegas, and I've seen just about every successful star we have and I'll tell you a secret: the best are the ones who allow you to like them. Let the reality "stars" do their thing; their lives-real or otherwise-are likely to be short-lived.

I was so impressed by comic-magician JUSTIN KREDIBLE (JUSTIN WILLMAN) that I co-wrote a TV sitcom around his likable talents. It is rare indeed to find a magician you want to go have a beer with, even after he vanished your wallet. How does he do it? He's got the likable thing down!

I was watching The Disney Channel one night, looking for Justin, who was appearing on The Suite Life on Deck. I left the channel on and really enjoyed The Wizards of Waverly Place. Here's why: JAKE T. AUSTIN

JAKE T. AUSTIN.

Yup, the kid is cool as hell. Now I knew DOM DELUISE and am proud of his son, David. Young SELENA GOMEZ is cute as can be but Jake is the most likable guy on the entire DIsney network for serious. You know, so many sitcom characters come on, do their line just knowing it's funny, and then are followed by more laugh lines and other crazy characters and bla bla bla. By the end of the show, you've forgotten the episode because everything was just so forgettable. TV shows have become disposable, interchangable and forgettable. But not JAKE T. AUSTIN. This guy looks like he's having a great time, like he's liking what he's doing. I know the public is. From the mostly female fans to others who just admire a talented guy cool enough not to act cool, JAKE T. AUSTIN is likable to the max.

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IF WISHES WERE HORSES...

When I was a kid, I'd wish for things. I still do, but, back in the day, I'd talk about my wishes, and my dear mother used to say to me, "If wishes were horses, beggars would ride." That was heavy. I mean, I was just a kid.

Now that I'm bigger, you'd think my wishes would have grown, but they haven't. Not really. When I was a teen, most of my dreams involved Charlie's Angles or The Los Angeles Dodgers. Today, staring into the reflecting water poolside, I find myself reflecting, too, and for whatever reason, I've decided to share.


MY DREAMS:


1. I really want to hang out for at least one evening with TMZ's MAX HODGES. I mean, just to see the world (the bar, the surf, the chicks) through his eyes for one night would be big fun.

2. I so want to sit in the shadows and listen in while a comic genius like NICK THUNE works on new material. To hear him writing songs, fine-tuning his stuff is the stuff my dreams are made of.

3. A regular dream takes place backstage at a major Las Vegas production show and involves G-strings, feather boa's and high heels. And, in case FRANK MARINO won't let me in, CRAZY GIRLS, X Burlesque or CRAZY HORSE will do nicely.

4. I wanna turn on network television and be surprised by a plotline, entertained by variety and excited by something new. JUSTIN KREDIBLE starring in his own original sitcom would be a helluva start.

5. Speaking of TV, most of those limp dicks on the CW can't go away fast enough for me. Young STEVEN McQUEEN (yup, the grandson of one of the greats) is the coolist guy on the CW today. I wish for him to kill all those lame vampires ASAP.

6. THE MASKED MAGICIAN has spent the past few years showing how certain illusions might be performed, entertaining television audiences around the globe. I wish that those other magicians who bitched about these shows would join in a worldwide effort to do some real magic. I say start with the problem of lack of clean water for 900 million people, get cool guys like R.J. CANTU and others involved.

7. I wish that people would shut the hell up about immigration, at least for a while. If they want to get serious, move all of our military bases from the California coast to along the Mexican border.

8. I wish that everyone who ever gave me shit growing up could see me right now, poolside in Las Vegas, surrounded by two very sexy showgirls with no tan lines.

9. I wish Dairy Queen delivered.

10. I wish you a creative week.


-Willie Watters
LAS VEGAS, NV, U.S.A

GAME RIGHTS

I watched daytime TV today. 'The View.' No, really, I did. All those women talking all at once was like some kind of torture. I felt like a guy who lost his voice and found himself locked in the ladies room, with nothing to do but listen. Geez!

Television today sucks. It is unimaginative, tedious and trifling. But when I was growing up, it was better.

I tuned-into 'The View,' to catch the always likable JUSTIN WILLMAN (AKA JUSTIN KREDIBLE) promote his Food Network show 'Cupcake Wars.' He was good... he always is.

Less and less people are watching television and the reason is television is less and less good. Programs are worse as commercials get better. If this keeps up, it'll be just one big colorful smear. But I can fix it, if you'll let me.

Dear Hollywood:

May I suggest: MATCH GAME '10.

'Match Game' was a nice gameshow, a 'Hollywood Squares, Lite,' that ran on CBS and later in syndication. I say bring it back.
Gene Rayburn was a pleasent, affable host and guests like Charles Nelson Reilly, Brett Somers and especially Richard Dawson made for a fun half hour of televsion.


MATCH GAME '10 should be hosted by JUSTIN WILLMAN, with newer versions of the 70's stars. Instead of CNReilly, maybe Andy Dick. Brett Somers was fine, and today, Kathy Griffin would be great. As for the always clever Dawson? Well, NICK THUNE would do nicely, mate.

Hey TV executives, here's an idea: ENTERTAIN US! There is no lack of talent, personalities with whom I know America would love to spend some daytime.

If you guys ignore my suggestion, then you are (BLANK) heads.

.

JASON MRAZ

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Here's a great quote from JASON MRAZ:

"Life isn’t waiting for you when you get there. It’s happening right now."

I love it, him.

HOLLYWOOD IMAGES

Here are some images from Hollywood and beyond.


I'm coming out of the men's room at The Magic Castle. On the wall just to my right is a well framed photo of a magician and his beautiful and buxom assistant. I look over from the picture and see her, in the flesh, talking to my best friend. She is the owner of the World Famous Magic Castle and my friend is one of the most famous magicians in the world, VALENTINO, The Masked Magician. His television specials and series air all over the globe.


I'm backstage of the main room in the Magic Castle introducing VALENTINO to another magician who has figured out TV, an impressive young star who continues to impress. JUSTIN KREDIBLE, the #1 act on college campuses is also a television favorite, hosting this summer's fresh hit 'Cupcake Wars,' on the Food Network.


The next day, in West Hollywood, where the paparazzi never miss a thing, I'm stopped and asked why I'm in a lunch meeting with a few famous people. One photographer, ready snap me, pauses and asks if I am anybody. "What do you do?" he asks. "I'm a writer," I tell him. He frowns, lowers his camera and heads off to find someone who is somebody.

Later that night, VALENTINO and I pass by The Body Shop, you know, to say 'Hi' to the girls, girls, girls, and then, at a classy joint on Sunset Blvd, have a Caesar salad with R.J. CANTU, a cool young guy who divides his time between acting and magic. This photo could have been called 'The Young and the Rest of Us.'


I'm in Palm Springs, at the grave of a great man. Then, not far from there, I find the headstone of JILLY RIZZO, who was FRANK SINATRA's right hand man and my good friend. I look up at the mountains and decide that I really don't like Palm Springs anymore.


I'm back home in Las Vegas this morning and thought I'd share some of the images of the past few days.

Maybe that Hollywood photographer was right, maybe pictures matter more than words, but, I'm betting the other way.

I wish you a creative week.

CALIFORNIA IN THE SUMMER

I'm not sure I'll ever be able to fully explain to you what Las Vegas means to me, but I"ll keep working at trying to describe the most unique town America has to offer, a place you can call 'magicial' and mean it. I love Las Vegas.

LV wasn't always my home, LA always will be.

I'm heading to California for a week of meetings and, maybe, somewhere between the PR lunches and show business stuff, something real might happen. In fact, I'm betting on it.

I am an angel, originally, and I make a point to do what I can, when I can, to shake the desert dust that tends to build up on my wings. Nothing like Los Angeles to fluff-up your feathers and as for flying too close to the sun, well, I don't worry about such things.

I'm looking forward to visiting a magic Mountain and a Castle that's always been magic for serious. I have some words to say and flowers to lay at the resting place of family and there are a few friends alive and well who could maybe benefit from a little more laughter I might bring their way. I have so much to say. Some can no longer hear, others may not want to listen but here's the thing: ever since I overcame a childhood speech impediment, I've not stopped talking. Teachers shushed me, opponents shouted me down and judges have shut me up, but, only briefly.

I hope to update you and my Facebook friends from time to time. I don't think I can visit Southern California without picking up the BEACH BOYS' vibrations. And after the sun sets, I always hear JACKSON BROWNE carried down the wind from some radio.

California in the summer. It might be a holiday from real. Or, maybe, it'll be more than that.


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