User Reviews

Paul Shaffer, the great band leader of David Letterman's many TV talk show incarnations (and by way of Saturday Night Live, and Canada no less) gets his one, and so far only, showcase for his natural quick wit and musical styling in the rarely-seen but totally hilarious "Viva Shaf Vegas".

How can you NOT like this...? It'll be an instant cash-out if you aren't juiced into the whole hip late 60s/early 70s Vegas irony endeavor of it's A+ league of co-conspirators - but if you ARE, then the rewards are more than plentiful. This thing plays like 60 minutes of Las Vegas-by-way-of-New York in-joke that maybe only those who truly "get" Shaffer and director-co-writer Harry ("Spinal Tap") Shearer's vicious, ripe satire of Sin City C-list celebrity worship coupled with navel-gazing mock-introspective documentary could provide.

Shaffer plays himself in a gloriously self-involved performance, diddling his way through a post-Sinatra, pre-Mirage Las Vegas with various questionable conquests and wonderful musical interludes that showcase both his wonderful comedic timing as well as his exceptional music chops. The HBO special smartly references Shaffer's NBC day-job (with Letterman himself making a video appearance) as well as his SNL "Blues Brothers" involvement in hilarious ways. It's short running time features many Shaffer performances of great 60's soul and R&B tunes weaved smartly into the storyline.

The punchy script - co-written with second-billed Tom Leopold and director Shearer- is endlessly quotable and fun from beginning to end. What a treat it is to pull this well-worn VHS and watch it with friends who are in on the glitzy, silly joke. Maybe a DVD sometime soon, huh, HBO? Highest recommendation to the "Spinal Tap" and "Best In Show" set. Don't miss it, and I mean that sincerely, from one performer to another.

I had seen this when it first aired on Cinemax and I loved it, so I eventually taped it off the TV. I watched it so many times and showed it to so many friends that I eventually wore the tape out! Then when one of my local video rental stores was selling off some overstock, I was able to purchase this for $3.00, used! Well I still have that tape and I watch it a few times a year when I need a break. I think it is the funniest thing Paul Shaffer has done outside of the Letterman Show. The dark humour and biting wit was way ahead of its time back then. If you ever get a chance to see this, please do. I like it more each time I watch it. The jokes, the characters and the music are all effing great! Watch it with friends and find out who played Donna. She looks so familiar...

EDIT: Donna was played by Kimberly LaBelle (later Kates) and she played Diane on a 1990 episode of "Seinfeld" as a masseuse.

Ever been to Vegas and found yourself attracted and appalled by the glitz? Did you have a mixed reaction to Sammy Davis Jr.'s style ("how can he talk like a parody of himself and still be so cool?")? Have you ever found yourself wondering what it is like to live and work, not in "show business", but in "the business of show?" If you've ever dreamed of being a member of the Rat Pack, this is must-see TV.

The jokes are many and way inside show biz, but funny just the same.

From Gene Pitney's performance of the Shaffer-penned title song, a Town Without Pity parody, to the ending at an on stage Las Vegas wedding, if you laugh at show business's self-seriousness you will love this video. Lots of guest stars too,including David Letterman, and Harry Shearer.

It's not really a comedy special and it's not really a musical special. Simply put...it's not special at all.

The only redeeming moments of this show come when the Checkmates perform a couple of songs. It's a high quality performance that certainly didn't deserve to be sandwiched between the vulgar junk filling up the rest of the running time.

Shaf insists on being a vile, smarmy, unlikeable jerk throughout. His hammy performance is rivaled only by that of Tom Leopold, writer and executive producer of "Shaf Las Vegas". He has prominently placed himself in several scenes and obviously thinks quite highly of himself. I would recommend that he reassess his supposed talent.

If you've always wanted to see Paul Shaffer cheat on his longtime girlfriend, cavort with topless dancers, berate a transsexual and hold a cheesy (even by '80s standards) impromptu jam session in a trailer park then, um, what's the matter with you?!! Just kidding. If that all sounds fun then check this out. Otherwise, you're better off admiring him on "Late Night With David Letterman" and pretending you never heard of this travesty.