1 00:00:11,077 --> 00:00:12,811 [crowd cheering] 2 00:00:16,016 --> 00:00:18,050 [Nick] Women go to see a strip show. 3 00:00:18,052 --> 00:00:19,918 As soon as a woman takes off her bra, 4 00:00:19,920 --> 00:00:22,021 we're dirty-minded little boys. 5 00:00:22,023 --> 00:00:24,089 With women it's not that. They'll get turned on 6 00:00:24,091 --> 00:00:26,425 by a man but they have to know that personality. 7 00:00:31,965 --> 00:00:34,099 That's why our guys are not sex objects. 8 00:00:34,801 --> 00:00:36,201 We can't have sex objects, 9 00:00:36,203 --> 00:00:38,070 we have that total human beings, 10 00:00:38,072 --> 00:00:39,738 or the night doesn't work. 11 00:00:41,141 --> 00:00:44,209 [Bruce] Nick De Noia first came into my life 12 00:00:44,211 --> 00:00:47,146 when I was introduced to Nick by Steve. 13 00:00:47,148 --> 00:00:48,881 [Nick] What the hell are you doing? 14 00:00:48,883 --> 00:00:50,883 Nick was an accomplished choreographer. 15 00:00:50,885 --> 00:00:52,885 You know, about two weeks now I've telling you, 16 00:00:52,887 --> 00:00:55,687 damn it, Bob, this is slow. 17 00:00:55,689 --> 00:00:58,791 [Bruce] He understood who we were. 18 00:00:58,793 --> 00:01:01,760 And he certainly had the charisma necessary 19 00:01:01,762 --> 00:01:03,896 to fund a sexy brand. 20 00:01:03,898 --> 00:01:05,564 [Nick] There's a big audience out there, 21 00:01:05,566 --> 00:01:07,366 let's figure out what the women want. 22 00:01:07,368 --> 00:01:08,500 And let's give it to them. 23 00:01:08,502 --> 00:01:11,537 - [man] What do the women want? - You got me. 24 00:01:11,539 --> 00:01:15,374 [Bruce] Steve was convinced it was time to expand to New York. 25 00:01:15,376 --> 00:01:17,009 Nick was a New Yorker, 26 00:01:17,011 --> 00:01:19,878 he had the connections in New York, it seemed perfect. 27 00:01:19,880 --> 00:01:24,883 Please welcome Pecs on Parade, The Chippendale Dancers. 28 00:01:24,885 --> 00:01:28,620 [Bruce] And then Steve told me that he and Nick 29 00:01:28,622 --> 00:01:32,191 had written on a napkin a deal that said 30 00:01:32,193 --> 00:01:35,327 if Nick found us a New York club, 31 00:01:35,329 --> 00:01:37,496 then Nick would have the license 32 00:01:37,498 --> 00:01:40,866 to take Chippendales on tour forever. 33 00:01:43,703 --> 00:01:46,472 But when Steve signed that deal, 34 00:01:46,474 --> 00:01:49,641 he had no conception about how valuable 35 00:01:49,643 --> 00:01:52,044 those rights would become someday. 36 00:01:52,812 --> 00:01:54,680 [women screaming] 37 00:01:55,915 --> 00:01:59,318 That agreement led to a lot of trouble. 38 00:01:59,320 --> 00:02:02,254 Give a round of applause to Nick De Noia. 39 00:02:02,256 --> 00:02:04,790 [woman x] There was no love lost between the two of them. 40 00:02:04,792 --> 00:02:06,158 They clashed plenty. 41 00:02:06,160 --> 00:02:08,794 [Bruce] And that agreement is what led 42 00:02:11,064 --> 00:02:13,799 to the demise of Chippendales as I knew it. 43 00:02:14,434 --> 00:02:15,701 [man speaking] 44 00:02:36,789 --> 00:02:38,390 [cheerful music playing] 45 00:02:40,760 --> 00:02:42,761 [man] What do you want him to do? 46 00:02:42,763 --> 00:02:44,530 [women] Take it off! 47 00:02:44,532 --> 00:02:48,267 [woman] It's no secret they're popular, and they're in demand. 48 00:02:49,569 --> 00:02:52,104 The Los Angeles Ladies Only club 49 00:02:52,106 --> 00:02:55,374 has been so well received, they'll soon open in New York, 50 00:02:55,376 --> 00:02:59,044 and then Director Nick De Noia hopes to move them on to Paris. 51 00:02:59,046 --> 00:03:00,746 Enjoy yourself. 52 00:03:00,748 --> 00:03:03,248 [Nick] It seems to me that New York is capital 53 00:03:03,250 --> 00:03:04,883 of all kinds of entertainment. 54 00:03:04,885 --> 00:03:06,518 The one thing they didn't have 55 00:03:06,520 --> 00:03:08,754 was super entertainment for ladies only. 56 00:03:13,459 --> 00:03:17,863 The napkin deal required Nick to find us a New York club. 57 00:03:19,666 --> 00:03:22,801 He went out, he found a club by the name of Maggie 58 00:03:22,803 --> 00:03:25,637 at 61st in 1st in New York, 59 00:03:25,639 --> 00:03:28,707 who would be interested in hosting us. 60 00:03:30,210 --> 00:03:33,712 Steve was beyond himself, he was excited. 61 00:03:34,347 --> 00:03:36,215 New York was huge for him. 62 00:03:38,151 --> 00:03:42,221 Being a success in New York would put us on the map. 63 00:03:42,223 --> 00:03:46,592 We would control the two largest cities in the United States 64 00:03:46,594 --> 00:03:49,194 and our brand would be unbeatable. 65 00:03:51,030 --> 00:03:53,031 But before we can open in New York... 66 00:03:59,606 --> 00:04:02,074 Nick had a lot of AM 88work to do here in L.A. 67 00:04:02,076 --> 00:04:03,875 [cheerful music playing] 68 00:04:08,881 --> 00:04:11,350 I don't think there are any men in America 69 00:04:11,352 --> 00:04:13,118 that have better jobs than you. 70 00:04:13,120 --> 00:04:16,655 When Nick started working with us in L.A., 71 00:04:16,657 --> 00:04:20,659 he brought more dancing, more lighting, 72 00:04:20,661 --> 00:04:24,329 more wardrobe, more ensemble dancers. 73 00:04:27,100 --> 00:04:29,368 It was like Chippendales on steroids. 74 00:04:33,039 --> 00:04:37,376 Now we had cues, we had marks that we had to remember, 75 00:04:37,378 --> 00:04:39,911 lighting cues, music cues. 76 00:04:40,680 --> 00:04:43,048 And if you weren't on that mark, 77 00:04:43,050 --> 00:04:44,549 he would really get mad. 78 00:04:44,551 --> 00:04:48,153 Get the light up, in time! Thank you. 79 00:04:48,155 --> 00:04:49,855 Good morning. 80 00:04:49,857 --> 00:04:51,790 Nick was not an easy guy to work with. 81 00:04:51,792 --> 00:04:53,992 I mean, he really tried to beat me down 82 00:04:53,994 --> 00:04:55,460 to see if I would stand up to him. 83 00:04:55,462 --> 00:04:56,628 Boom, boom, harder. 84 00:04:56,630 --> 00:04:58,163 No, that one's got to be straight across, 85 00:04:58,165 --> 00:04:59,865 it's got to be strong, do it again. 86 00:04:59,867 --> 00:05:02,567 Boom, boom. Thank you, nice eye. 87 00:05:02,569 --> 00:05:04,803 [Michael] He was always striving for perfection, 88 00:05:04,805 --> 00:05:07,873 but never getting it, and you see him 89 00:05:07,875 --> 00:05:10,909 turning a lot of people negative who just didn't like him. 90 00:05:10,911 --> 00:05:13,145 I'm easy. As I say to them, 91 00:05:13,147 --> 00:05:17,582 "Gentlemen, if you give me what I want, I'm a sweetheart. 92 00:05:17,584 --> 00:05:19,151 The only time you have trouble with me 93 00:05:19,153 --> 00:05:21,486 is when you make me break your back." 94 00:05:22,955 --> 00:05:25,190 [Eric] Nick took himself way too seriously. 95 00:05:25,192 --> 00:05:26,458 He had to make a scene, 96 00:05:26,460 --> 00:05:28,794 he was a big diva, lot of drama. 97 00:05:28,796 --> 00:05:32,097 He'd just like get in your face over stupid shit, 98 00:05:32,099 --> 00:05:34,366 just so that he could be the A-dog. 99 00:05:34,368 --> 00:05:37,302 And he liked to, you know get on these dancers, like, 100 00:05:37,304 --> 00:05:39,871 you know, they were his little bitches, and, 101 00:05:39,873 --> 00:05:43,175 "Yeah, no, don't do that, I'm telling you..." like, 102 00:05:43,177 --> 00:05:46,712 we're not doing Cats here, you know, or Hamilton. 103 00:05:46,714 --> 00:05:49,348 It's a fucking burlesque show for women. 104 00:05:51,017 --> 00:05:52,384 And most of them are so fucking drunk 105 00:05:52,386 --> 00:05:54,586 they don't care how these guys are dancing. 106 00:05:56,155 --> 00:06:00,525 You do that turn, and it's like I have a bowl of tropical fish. 107 00:06:00,527 --> 00:06:02,127 That's the amount of sensuality 108 00:06:02,129 --> 00:06:04,062 that I just felt from you guys, like this. 109 00:06:04,064 --> 00:06:06,631 I'm sure you're going to interview some people that idolize him 110 00:06:06,633 --> 00:06:08,333 like some kind of God, like genius. 111 00:06:08,935 --> 00:06:10,168 I mean he was just... 112 00:06:10,170 --> 00:06:11,403 What the hell are you doing? 113 00:06:12,638 --> 00:06:13,939 He was a dick. 114 00:06:13,941 --> 00:06:17,376 He was just a real mouthy dick. 115 00:06:18,878 --> 00:06:22,714 [Candace] It's very true that Nick was an abrasive person. 116 00:06:23,649 --> 00:06:27,386 He was rude at times, and he was pushy. 117 00:06:27,820 --> 00:06:30,122 Dunk! Good morning. 118 00:06:30,124 --> 00:06:33,859 [Candace] But he was an innovator, he was a creator, 119 00:06:33,861 --> 00:06:36,328 a mad passionate-intense man 120 00:06:36,963 --> 00:06:38,263 who knew what he wanted, 121 00:06:38,265 --> 00:06:40,999 and he wasn't going to settle for anything less. 122 00:06:41,001 --> 00:06:42,834 [Nick] The eighties is the decade 123 00:06:42,836 --> 00:06:45,337 of the male sex symbol once again, 124 00:06:45,339 --> 00:06:47,939 and the breeding ground is here. 125 00:06:47,941 --> 00:06:51,309 [Candace] He didn't want just the best show in New York, 126 00:06:51,311 --> 00:06:55,213 he wanted to be the best of the biggest show in New York. 127 00:06:55,215 --> 00:06:56,882 You are God's gift to womankind 128 00:06:56,884 --> 00:06:58,250 except that if they had that way, 129 00:06:58,252 --> 00:06:59,684 they'd destroy you and get rid of you 130 00:06:59,686 --> 00:07:01,319 on the face of the earth, remember that. 131 00:07:05,858 --> 00:07:08,026 [Candace] Nick was from New York City, 132 00:07:08,028 --> 00:07:10,996 but he had a lovely house in Los Angeles, 133 00:07:10,998 --> 00:07:13,565 and I would go over there often to work with him 134 00:07:13,567 --> 00:07:15,967 on this new script for New York. 135 00:07:17,904 --> 00:07:20,071 We worked together almost every day. 136 00:07:21,307 --> 00:07:23,742 He was a very focused person. 137 00:07:24,877 --> 00:07:27,579 And he was high energy, and he was hyper, 138 00:07:27,581 --> 00:07:29,648 he's like those big blob toys 139 00:07:29,650 --> 00:07:31,149 and you pull the plug and they go... 140 00:07:32,051 --> 00:07:34,052 Like this as the air is coming out. 141 00:07:35,521 --> 00:07:39,991 Nick had that ability to make you think 142 00:07:39,993 --> 00:07:42,294 that you were the only other person in the room. 143 00:07:45,698 --> 00:07:48,266 [Michael] I've been working for the club maybe a few months, 144 00:07:48,268 --> 00:07:50,168 I had a taste of being on stage. 145 00:07:50,170 --> 00:07:52,804 I had danced a couple of times folded in with people. 146 00:07:52,806 --> 00:07:54,372 If somebody should get sick, you know, 147 00:07:54,374 --> 00:07:57,375 I would always be the filler, but it's not, you know, 148 00:07:57,377 --> 00:08:00,011 not a number. I'm just a standby. 149 00:08:02,615 --> 00:08:05,050 One night Nick comes to me after the show, 150 00:08:05,052 --> 00:08:07,953 and very quiet takes me aside and says, 151 00:08:07,955 --> 00:08:10,689 "Mike, this is the first script of the new show, 152 00:08:10,691 --> 00:08:12,424 tell me what you think about it." 153 00:08:12,426 --> 00:08:14,693 So now I'm feeling pretty good, like, "Wow", 154 00:08:14,695 --> 00:08:17,829 the director of the show, you know, wants me to read the script. 155 00:08:18,998 --> 00:08:21,800 So I'm reading it, there's a barbarian, 156 00:08:21,802 --> 00:08:23,835 there's this politician, 157 00:08:23,837 --> 00:08:27,138 but then it comes across the perfect man. 158 00:08:27,140 --> 00:08:28,440 So I read it. 159 00:08:28,442 --> 00:08:30,642 "Wow, that's a great, I hadn't had... it's a great one." 160 00:08:30,644 --> 00:08:34,346 And he goes, "Michael, we're gonna go to New York. 161 00:08:34,348 --> 00:08:37,415 We're going to open the biggest show Chippendales has ever had. 162 00:08:37,417 --> 00:08:39,317 And this character, the perfect man, 163 00:08:39,319 --> 00:08:42,120 he's going to be the most important number of this, 164 00:08:42,122 --> 00:08:44,289 the one I built the whole show around", 165 00:08:44,824 --> 00:08:46,258 and he told me, 166 00:08:46,260 --> 00:08:49,160 "You got the job, you're going to be the perfect man." 167 00:08:50,096 --> 00:08:51,897 So the next thing I know I said, 168 00:08:51,899 --> 00:08:53,865 "All right, give me a ticket." 169 00:08:55,101 --> 00:08:58,203 ["Everybody wants to rule the world" playing] 170 00:08:59,772 --> 00:09:03,508 [Nancy] Michael and I moved to New York in September of 1983. 171 00:09:06,212 --> 00:09:07,345 Oh my God! 172 00:09:07,347 --> 00:09:09,781 To see New York City from the road. 173 00:09:12,718 --> 00:09:14,352 I felt like I was in a movie. 174 00:09:14,354 --> 00:09:18,623 ♪ Welcome to your life ♪ 175 00:09:18,625 --> 00:09:21,293 We were starting this adventure together. 176 00:09:21,295 --> 00:09:23,695 It was just beyond exciting, 177 00:09:23,697 --> 00:09:25,397 I can still feel those feelings 178 00:09:25,399 --> 00:09:27,832 thinking back to that day. 179 00:09:27,834 --> 00:09:29,868 [Michael] I'm this kid from East L.A. 180 00:09:29,870 --> 00:09:32,037 and all of a sudden I'm in the middle of New York. 181 00:09:32,039 --> 00:09:34,506 And I just kept thinking, "You made it!" 182 00:09:34,508 --> 00:09:36,541 There is that song, If you make it in Ney York, 183 00:09:36,543 --> 00:09:38,810 you can make it anywhere. That's how I felt. 184 00:09:38,812 --> 00:09:43,315 ♪ Everybody wants to rule the world ♪ 185 00:09:43,317 --> 00:09:45,317 [Michael] Every time I turned on the TV there was, 186 00:09:45,319 --> 00:09:47,419 "Chippendales is coming to New York City." 187 00:09:48,554 --> 00:09:50,722 We're told, there's a lot of chirping 188 00:09:50,724 --> 00:09:52,824 about the opening of Chippendales tonight. 189 00:09:52,826 --> 00:09:55,794 It's a new night club designed to delight women, 190 00:09:55,796 --> 00:09:57,529 featuring male performers. 191 00:09:57,531 --> 00:09:59,965 I mean, we were on every news channel, 192 00:09:59,967 --> 00:10:01,833 and in the morning talk show. 193 00:10:01,835 --> 00:10:03,802 At Chippendales we go down to a G string. 194 00:10:03,804 --> 00:10:05,870 We like to leave a little bit to the imagination. 195 00:10:05,872 --> 00:10:07,706 I think it's a little bit more fun that way. 196 00:10:09,308 --> 00:10:11,710 We were just the buzz of the whole city, 197 00:10:12,945 --> 00:10:16,348 which was also, you know, a bit overwhelming. 198 00:10:17,283 --> 00:10:18,583 Should be quite a show. 199 00:10:21,187 --> 00:10:22,721 [sirens wailing] 200 00:10:41,240 --> 00:10:43,308 [Nancy] I was nervous for him, 201 00:10:43,310 --> 00:10:47,379 because this show was a whole different level of a show. 202 00:10:50,116 --> 00:10:52,617 And Michael was the star. 203 00:10:54,687 --> 00:10:57,055 [announcer speaking] 204 00:10:58,758 --> 00:11:02,160 I was backstage, getting ready to go on stretching, rehearsing, 205 00:11:02,162 --> 00:11:04,529 and the place was packed 206 00:11:05,531 --> 00:11:07,332 all the way up, every seat was filled. 207 00:11:08,768 --> 00:11:11,102 I was scared shitless. 208 00:11:11,104 --> 00:11:13,071 And when those lights went down, you know, 209 00:11:13,073 --> 00:11:15,707 for the first time, I can remember thinking, 210 00:11:15,709 --> 00:11:17,676 "Okay, Michael, here it goes. 211 00:11:18,978 --> 00:11:20,145 [exhales deeply] 212 00:11:20,980 --> 00:11:22,213 [heart pounding] 213 00:11:22,215 --> 00:11:23,481 This is it." 214 00:11:24,316 --> 00:11:26,618 [interviewer speaking] 215 00:11:27,486 --> 00:11:28,753 No. 216 00:11:37,563 --> 00:11:39,064 You got to be kidding me. 217 00:11:39,066 --> 00:11:41,066 No, I have no idea. 218 00:11:42,268 --> 00:11:44,436 ["The Kid is Hot Tonight" playing] 219 00:11:53,713 --> 00:11:55,246 [women screaming] 220 00:11:57,616 --> 00:12:01,286 [Nancy] It was just really exciting to watch women scream 221 00:12:01,288 --> 00:12:03,421 and be crazy over him. 222 00:12:08,127 --> 00:12:10,695 [Nancy] Seeing him in that perfect man number. 223 00:12:14,166 --> 00:12:16,634 Yeah, it just made me feel proud. 224 00:12:19,238 --> 00:12:21,039 "Yeah, that's my man," no? 225 00:12:22,808 --> 00:12:24,509 I remember walking down. 226 00:12:25,778 --> 00:12:27,145 Going down the stage, yeah. 227 00:12:30,249 --> 00:12:33,184 [Candace] The expectation, the energy, 228 00:12:33,186 --> 00:12:35,954 everything that went into preparing 229 00:12:35,956 --> 00:12:38,857 for this opening night culminated, 230 00:12:38,859 --> 00:12:42,660 and I'm surprised that the building 231 00:12:42,662 --> 00:12:44,629 didn't fall down around our ears, 232 00:12:44,631 --> 00:12:46,664 the noise level was so high. 233 00:12:47,633 --> 00:12:51,035 ♪ The kid is hot tonight ♪ 234 00:12:51,037 --> 00:12:53,037 ♪ Whoa so hot... ♪ 235 00:12:53,039 --> 00:12:54,639 [Candace] And it's just all 236 00:12:56,008 --> 00:12:57,075 perfect. 237 00:13:01,046 --> 00:13:02,847 [women cheering] 238 00:13:14,260 --> 00:13:16,528 [Bruce] New York was an immediate success. 239 00:13:18,430 --> 00:13:20,632 Steve felt he was king of the world. 240 00:13:24,069 --> 00:13:26,905 Chippendales became unsinkable at that point. 241 00:13:26,907 --> 00:13:28,773 [women cheering] 242 00:13:32,378 --> 00:13:34,546 The bad things were yet to happen. 243 00:13:40,820 --> 00:13:45,223 [Nancy] Warm 80 degrees here in New York City. 244 00:13:45,225 --> 00:13:48,193 [Michael] Within three months, we felt New York was our home. 245 00:13:48,195 --> 00:13:50,328 [Nancy] This is our backyard. 246 00:13:50,330 --> 00:13:52,497 Michael is barbecuing hamburgers. 247 00:13:52,499 --> 00:13:55,500 Everything was just clicking for me 248 00:13:55,502 --> 00:13:58,903 as far as Chippendales in New York was concerned. 249 00:14:01,607 --> 00:14:05,043 [Nancy] We lived on at 81st on the East Side for a while. 250 00:14:08,080 --> 00:14:09,747 It just seemed like... 251 00:14:11,250 --> 00:14:13,952 this is where we belong. 252 00:14:18,490 --> 00:14:23,261 Our son was born March 27th, 1984. 253 00:14:25,297 --> 00:14:27,065 Peekaboo! 254 00:14:27,067 --> 00:14:28,333 Peekaboo! 255 00:14:29,668 --> 00:14:32,403 We named him Bo Christopher Rapp. 256 00:14:34,440 --> 00:14:37,308 It just felt like we were going to be a family now 257 00:14:37,310 --> 00:14:40,111 and, you know, this is forever. 258 00:14:41,914 --> 00:14:44,682 You know your family film. 259 00:14:44,684 --> 00:14:47,018 When you're young you think those things 260 00:14:48,454 --> 00:14:52,357 until things start to go down a darker road. 261 00:14:54,059 --> 00:14:56,628 [woman] You're trying to project a fantasy. 262 00:14:56,630 --> 00:15:00,298 Constant fantasies from a female point of view. 263 00:15:00,300 --> 00:15:03,268 It's definitely... We are Disneyland for ladies. 264 00:15:03,270 --> 00:15:06,404 Finally women demanded their right to express that they like men. 265 00:15:07,339 --> 00:15:08,940 [Eric] Nick De Noia. 266 00:15:08,942 --> 00:15:12,110 Yes, he had this little wedge of Chippendales, 267 00:15:12,112 --> 00:15:15,947 which was in New York, and needed an interesting fun show to be at. 268 00:15:15,949 --> 00:15:17,715 But that wasn't Chippendales. 269 00:15:17,717 --> 00:15:19,884 Chippendales is a bigger idea than that, 270 00:15:19,886 --> 00:15:22,086 and Banerjee understood that. 271 00:15:22,088 --> 00:15:25,323 I mean, he had a fucking amazing ability 272 00:15:25,325 --> 00:15:30,028 to see how he could take this hack strip club idea, 273 00:15:30,863 --> 00:15:33,998 and build it into something really big. 274 00:15:34,000 --> 00:15:35,867 [interviewer speaking] 275 00:15:53,686 --> 00:15:55,320 [Eric] He totally did the nightclub 276 00:15:55,322 --> 00:15:58,623 as a laboratory of experimentation, 277 00:15:58,625 --> 00:16:01,926 and I think the one thing you can admire about me 278 00:16:01,928 --> 00:16:03,761 was that I tried really hard to experiment 279 00:16:03,763 --> 00:16:07,365 with different things, different concepts, or promotional ideas. 280 00:16:07,367 --> 00:16:09,067 So I became a creative director, 281 00:16:09,069 --> 00:16:12,437 by, you know, working hard at just finding better ways 282 00:16:12,439 --> 00:16:15,406 to get Chippendales out there in the mainstream level. 283 00:16:23,983 --> 00:16:26,250 [Eric] He understood brand building 284 00:16:26,252 --> 00:16:28,052 without having to go to college to do it 285 00:16:28,054 --> 00:16:29,654 and that's just fucking amazing. 286 00:16:29,656 --> 00:16:31,856 I mean, he was actually, 287 00:16:31,858 --> 00:16:34,192 it's gonna sound crazy to a lot of people listening to this, 288 00:16:34,194 --> 00:16:38,529 but he was actually like the Steve Jobs of sexuality for women. 289 00:16:41,734 --> 00:16:42,600 [chuckles] 290 00:16:42,602 --> 00:16:44,702 [cheering music playing] 291 00:16:48,140 --> 00:16:51,109 All he thought about was making Chippendales a bigger name, 292 00:16:51,111 --> 00:16:53,511 because he knew there was a way to make more money out of it. 293 00:16:53,513 --> 00:16:55,113 Wait, these are respectable women, 294 00:16:55,115 --> 00:16:56,914 you don't want to see these kind of things. 295 00:16:56,916 --> 00:16:58,216 [cheering] 296 00:16:59,284 --> 00:17:00,485 I guess I was wrong. 297 00:17:01,053 --> 00:17:02,353 [women screaming] 298 00:17:03,922 --> 00:17:07,892 [Eric] He studied, morning, noon, and night his market. 299 00:17:07,894 --> 00:17:10,828 It just, it was his porn. 300 00:17:11,930 --> 00:17:13,631 [Dan] He was always researching, 301 00:17:13,633 --> 00:17:15,733 trying to see how he can implement Chippendales 302 00:17:15,735 --> 00:17:17,301 into the trends, into the fashion. 303 00:17:17,936 --> 00:17:19,170 Guys stopped shaving. 304 00:17:19,172 --> 00:17:22,540 See? They had the little stubble from Miami Vice. 305 00:17:22,542 --> 00:17:25,443 There was a time when everybody slicked their hair back. 306 00:17:25,445 --> 00:17:28,079 There was a time when people tried growing mustaches, 307 00:17:28,081 --> 00:17:30,481 like Tom Selleck in Magnum P.I. 308 00:17:30,483 --> 00:17:33,918 And there was a time when everyone was clean cut short hair. 309 00:17:33,920 --> 00:17:35,787 Banerjee was trying to imitate 310 00:17:35,789 --> 00:17:39,257 what he would see working in mainstream America, 311 00:17:39,259 --> 00:17:42,393 and he would mimic that in the calendars, 312 00:17:42,395 --> 00:17:44,195 or in ads that we would do. 313 00:17:45,697 --> 00:17:50,168 And the people that he picked for models or dancers 314 00:17:50,170 --> 00:17:51,502 were all based on their face. 315 00:17:52,971 --> 00:17:55,773 ♪ You're looking straight at me ♪ 316 00:17:57,476 --> 00:18:02,280 ♪ I'm in a poster hanging on your wall, baby... ♪ 317 00:18:02,282 --> 00:18:06,851 [Read] The faces were very, very important in the Chippendale brand. 318 00:18:06,853 --> 00:18:10,888 ♪ Drive me crazy when your tongue... ♪ 319 00:18:10,890 --> 00:18:13,825 [Read] And the way they identified who they were, 320 00:18:13,827 --> 00:18:18,262 were by putting them in this lineup of 10 to 15 guys. 321 00:18:20,499 --> 00:18:21,966 Banerjee would always watch it 322 00:18:21,968 --> 00:18:24,469 because the audience applause 323 00:18:24,471 --> 00:18:26,904 would dictate who the women really like. 324 00:18:26,906 --> 00:18:28,673 [women screaming] 325 00:18:28,675 --> 00:18:30,708 Banerjee from that would select them 326 00:18:30,710 --> 00:18:34,112 to go on to a photo-shoot with the photographers 327 00:18:34,114 --> 00:18:38,049 for potential calendar work, greeting cards, posters. 328 00:18:39,551 --> 00:18:41,352 So if you were a face 329 00:18:41,354 --> 00:18:43,788 or a spokesperson for the brand, 330 00:18:43,790 --> 00:18:46,457 Steve went out of his way to be nicer to you, 331 00:18:46,459 --> 00:18:49,393 because you meant more to him monetarily. 332 00:18:51,330 --> 00:18:52,430 No. 333 00:18:53,765 --> 00:18:56,400 Well, I was never a face. 334 00:18:57,836 --> 00:18:59,170 I was a body part. 335 00:19:00,372 --> 00:19:02,406 I did body part shots. 336 00:19:03,375 --> 00:19:04,842 I do group shots. 337 00:19:06,979 --> 00:19:09,881 One time Steve Banerjee made it very clear, 338 00:19:09,883 --> 00:19:11,582 he pretty much let me know, 339 00:19:11,584 --> 00:19:14,752 "You are a very good performer, Read, 340 00:19:14,754 --> 00:19:16,821 but you're not a looker." 341 00:19:18,624 --> 00:19:20,591 You just kind of take that and you go, 342 00:19:20,593 --> 00:19:22,960 "All right. Well, Steve, thank you very much." 343 00:19:23,629 --> 00:19:26,030 So, I was not a face. 344 00:19:26,032 --> 00:19:28,733 And Mr. November is Dan Peterson. 345 00:19:28,735 --> 00:19:30,535 [women cheering] 346 00:19:30,537 --> 00:19:32,603 Steve did ask me if I would do the calendar, 347 00:19:32,605 --> 00:19:34,772 and I was all gung ho, 348 00:19:34,774 --> 00:19:36,207 I mean, I'd never been in a calendar, 349 00:19:36,209 --> 00:19:37,742 I'd never been photographed, period. 350 00:19:37,744 --> 00:19:40,411 I don't know if you can see this but you're, you do have... 351 00:19:41,079 --> 00:19:42,280 We have clothes. 352 00:19:42,282 --> 00:19:43,881 Yes, you do have some clothing on 353 00:19:43,883 --> 00:19:45,583 so you're not completely in the buff. 354 00:19:45,585 --> 00:19:47,351 [Dan] Being in the calendar was great, 355 00:19:47,353 --> 00:19:48,853 but once I was on the cover, 356 00:19:48,855 --> 00:19:50,555 that's where things sort of exploded. 357 00:19:50,557 --> 00:19:54,258 That's where everything sort of became a little more real. 358 00:19:55,394 --> 00:19:58,029 ["Take On Me" playing] 359 00:19:58,031 --> 00:20:00,565 [Roger] The first Chippendales calendar came out in 1981. 360 00:20:03,235 --> 00:20:06,204 The first production was like 100,000, 361 00:20:06,206 --> 00:20:09,407 but the following year, we went to half a million, 362 00:20:09,409 --> 00:20:12,443 and then from there on we went to a million. 363 00:20:12,445 --> 00:20:15,513 [man] The Chippendales are famous not only for their sexy dancing, 364 00:20:15,515 --> 00:20:17,515 but for what has become one of the hottest 365 00:20:17,517 --> 00:20:19,984 and best-selling calendars every year. 366 00:20:19,986 --> 00:20:24,522 [Roger] Steve's idea was to spread the name as fast as possible, 367 00:20:24,524 --> 00:20:28,292 and through the calendars it was simple. 368 00:20:28,294 --> 00:20:31,028 [Dan] We went to events when there was 10,000 people 369 00:20:31,030 --> 00:20:33,898 flooding a mall, waiting to get calendar signs. 370 00:20:33,900 --> 00:20:36,400 This is really the biggest crowd we've ever had. 371 00:20:36,402 --> 00:20:38,436 We expected hundreds, not thousands. 372 00:20:38,438 --> 00:20:40,504 ♪ ...another day to find you... ♪ 373 00:20:41,506 --> 00:20:43,941 [Roger] And then Steve got more creative 374 00:20:43,943 --> 00:20:46,444 and started selling everything. 375 00:20:46,446 --> 00:20:49,080 [woman] They're part of a multimillion dollar enterprise, 376 00:20:49,082 --> 00:20:51,249 which include: sexy exercise tapes, 377 00:20:51,251 --> 00:20:53,417 sexy lingerie, sexy jeans, 378 00:20:53,419 --> 00:20:56,287 sexy calendars and even sexy coffee cups. 379 00:20:56,289 --> 00:20:58,756 I brought something for you to use in bed every night. 380 00:20:58,758 --> 00:21:00,558 - Oh! - [audience cheering] 381 00:21:03,562 --> 00:21:04,929 [Roger] And the more we sold... 382 00:21:04,931 --> 00:21:06,797 Yes, he's cute. 383 00:21:06,799 --> 00:21:08,933 [Roger] ...the more Chippendales got known. 384 00:21:08,935 --> 00:21:11,002 Here they are, the most exciting guys in America, 385 00:21:11,004 --> 00:21:13,170 it's Chippendales. 386 00:21:13,172 --> 00:21:17,141 [Candace] In the 1980s Chippendales was so popular 387 00:21:17,143 --> 00:21:19,710 that we didn't have to seek out publicity. 388 00:21:19,712 --> 00:21:20,945 Excuse me. 389 00:21:20,947 --> 00:21:22,713 [laughter] 390 00:21:25,350 --> 00:21:27,051 [Candace] We were in the magazines. 391 00:21:28,353 --> 00:21:30,054 Major motion pictures. 392 00:21:30,056 --> 00:21:31,188 Gentlemen. 393 00:21:31,190 --> 00:21:33,658 Chippendales became iconic. 394 00:21:33,660 --> 00:21:35,993 ♪ Take me on ♪ 395 00:21:35,995 --> 00:21:38,329 ♪ Take on me ♪ 396 00:21:38,331 --> 00:21:40,665 The fact this multimillion dollar organization 397 00:21:40,667 --> 00:21:42,199 is continuing to expand 398 00:21:42,201 --> 00:21:44,535 shows that Chippendale thinks that male stripping 399 00:21:44,537 --> 00:21:46,937 is still big business. 400 00:21:46,939 --> 00:21:49,173 Money was coming from all different directions. 401 00:21:50,175 --> 00:21:53,944 Coming from a family who didn't have money. 402 00:21:53,946 --> 00:21:56,380 I didn't know how to handle money. 403 00:22:00,686 --> 00:22:04,121 And I was hoping that Nancy was better than me, 404 00:22:04,123 --> 00:22:06,190 but she wasn't good with money either. 405 00:22:06,192 --> 00:22:07,458 [Michael laughs] 406 00:22:07,460 --> 00:22:10,227 So people always ask me, "How much money did you make?" 407 00:22:10,229 --> 00:22:12,029 I said, "A little less than I spent." 408 00:22:12,031 --> 00:22:15,266 Pecs on Parade, the Chippendales Dancers. 409 00:22:15,268 --> 00:22:17,134 [all cheering] 410 00:22:24,609 --> 00:22:26,377 [Bruce] The money was rolling. 411 00:22:30,215 --> 00:22:34,185 And Steve used to tell me he was making so much money 412 00:22:34,187 --> 00:22:36,754 there's not enough dirt in his backyard to bury it. 413 00:22:37,589 --> 00:22:39,323 We'll be right back. 414 00:22:50,869 --> 00:22:52,770 [Eric] Steve knew we had a phenomenon, 415 00:22:54,072 --> 00:22:56,006 he would say to me, 416 00:22:56,008 --> 00:22:58,509 "Things like this don't come like, you know, 417 00:22:58,511 --> 00:23:00,578 in everyone's lifetime. 418 00:23:00,580 --> 00:23:02,947 You're lucky if you get like one Chippendales," 419 00:23:02,949 --> 00:23:04,648 he knew he had a gold mine. 420 00:23:06,818 --> 00:23:08,319 And it wasn't just about the money, 421 00:23:08,321 --> 00:23:11,122 it was like about the success of building it. 422 00:23:15,660 --> 00:23:18,796 Unfortunately, other people tried to dip their hand, 423 00:23:18,798 --> 00:23:21,465 and take credit away from him. 424 00:23:22,267 --> 00:23:24,268 That became a huge problem. 425 00:23:34,613 --> 00:23:35,980 Name, Michael Rapp. 426 00:23:35,982 --> 00:23:38,482 Age, 27. Height, 6'3". 427 00:23:38,484 --> 00:23:41,051 Hair, brown. Eyes, green. 428 00:23:41,053 --> 00:23:42,253 Perfect? 429 00:23:44,456 --> 00:23:46,023 I try my best. 430 00:23:46,025 --> 00:23:49,326 [reporter] Perfect or not, Michael obviously knows how to work an audience. 431 00:23:51,897 --> 00:23:53,531 [Michael] When I did the perfect man, 432 00:23:53,533 --> 00:23:55,599 my ultimate goal 433 00:23:55,601 --> 00:23:59,570 was to take you on a sexual journey. 434 00:23:59,572 --> 00:24:01,639 I'm the perfect man, but yet, you know, 435 00:24:01,641 --> 00:24:03,374 I'm wild, I'm lustful, 436 00:24:03,376 --> 00:24:05,276 I'm going to take my six foot four body 437 00:24:05,278 --> 00:24:07,211 and I'm going to engulf you in man. 438 00:24:09,414 --> 00:24:12,550 I'm just about sex, I was made for sex. 439 00:24:15,554 --> 00:24:17,521 I want you to feel lust. 440 00:24:18,824 --> 00:24:21,425 I want you to lust me as much as I lust you. 441 00:24:27,299 --> 00:24:29,900 So, you know, as New York is trying to build up, 442 00:24:30,635 --> 00:24:33,504 my reputation and my persona 443 00:24:34,039 --> 00:24:34,972 keeps growing. 444 00:24:39,211 --> 00:24:41,011 I mean, I'm the king of New York. 445 00:24:43,815 --> 00:24:45,483 This belongs to me. 446 00:24:51,356 --> 00:24:52,823 [Nancy] In the beginning, 447 00:24:52,825 --> 00:24:55,059 it felt good being married to him. 448 00:24:57,229 --> 00:24:59,330 I mean, he was the star of the show. 449 00:25:00,165 --> 00:25:04,568 It just made life seem really special. 450 00:25:06,037 --> 00:25:08,506 Many times, women would say to me, 451 00:25:08,508 --> 00:25:10,107 "Oh, you're so lucky." 452 00:25:10,109 --> 00:25:12,877 But I was starting to not feel lucky, 453 00:25:14,279 --> 00:25:17,915 because after a while, there are always women 454 00:25:17,917 --> 00:25:21,252 trying to be my friend, to get to him. 455 00:25:22,220 --> 00:25:26,023 And that, you know, became a part 456 00:25:26,025 --> 00:25:28,492 where you didn't trust every woman 457 00:25:28,494 --> 00:25:29,960 who was trying to be your friend. 458 00:25:34,533 --> 00:25:38,102 That brought a little insecurity in me. 459 00:25:38,104 --> 00:25:41,038 [Michael] I'm doing a close-up, ma'am. 460 00:25:41,040 --> 00:25:43,440 [Nancy] As a woman, that can be a little, 461 00:25:44,109 --> 00:25:45,376 a little worrisome. 462 00:25:48,613 --> 00:25:51,882 But he treated me like I was a princess, 463 00:25:51,884 --> 00:25:53,417 like very special. 464 00:25:54,719 --> 00:25:55,953 It felt like... 465 00:25:56,955 --> 00:25:58,789 just I could totally trust him. 466 00:26:04,896 --> 00:26:06,830 [announcer] He is the founder, the creator, 467 00:26:06,832 --> 00:26:09,300 he is Mr. Chippendale. I'd like to welcome back 468 00:26:09,302 --> 00:26:12,236 the one and only, give a round of applause for Nick De Noia. 469 00:26:12,238 --> 00:26:14,038 [crowd cheering] 470 00:26:16,308 --> 00:26:19,343 [Eric] Nick De Noia loved media coverage. 471 00:26:21,479 --> 00:26:24,114 It's like, the energy was the Wizard of Oz, 472 00:26:24,116 --> 00:26:25,783 the guy behind the curtain. 473 00:26:25,785 --> 00:26:28,319 But De Noia was just a media whore. 474 00:26:28,321 --> 00:26:30,054 Sitting next to me, the founder, 475 00:26:30,056 --> 00:26:33,424 the director of the Chippendales, Nick De Noia, and also... 476 00:26:33,426 --> 00:26:35,726 Nick was always doing interviews for Chippendales, 477 00:26:35,728 --> 00:26:38,062 he was trying to become the face of Chippendales. 478 00:26:38,064 --> 00:26:40,297 We want every woman to bring her mother back, 479 00:26:40,299 --> 00:26:41,932 and her daughter back, 480 00:26:41,934 --> 00:26:44,668 and we want to have grandma out there, you know. 481 00:26:44,670 --> 00:26:47,004 [Nick] Grandma? I don't know if you can see it, 482 00:26:47,006 --> 00:26:49,373 but we have a nun in the audience, look at this. 483 00:26:51,109 --> 00:26:53,777 Nick had this gift of gab, and language 484 00:26:53,779 --> 00:26:56,480 that Steve did not, Steve stuttered, he stuttered. 485 00:26:56,482 --> 00:27:00,117 They're all kind of like very good looking guys 486 00:27:00,119 --> 00:27:02,152 that will be very [stutters] attractive 487 00:27:02,154 --> 00:27:04,221 for our female clientele. 488 00:27:04,223 --> 00:27:08,459 Steve was a very quiet person, he was private, 489 00:27:08,461 --> 00:27:11,662 and he wasn't as charismatic as Nick De Noia. 490 00:27:12,897 --> 00:27:14,798 Nick was much more vibrant, 491 00:27:14,800 --> 00:27:18,669 much more gregarious, much more articulate. 492 00:27:18,671 --> 00:27:21,872 We men have had our sensual entertainment on stage 493 00:27:21,874 --> 00:27:23,073 the last 10,000 years. 494 00:27:23,075 --> 00:27:25,042 You women can finally say, "We have it now." 495 00:27:25,044 --> 00:27:26,010 [woman] Right. 496 00:27:26,012 --> 00:27:28,012 [man] That's why he's so popular. 497 00:27:28,014 --> 00:27:30,080 Nick is getting all the publicity. 498 00:27:30,082 --> 00:27:31,482 What do you say, ladies? 499 00:27:31,484 --> 00:27:33,684 Would you like to see these guys one more time? 500 00:27:33,686 --> 00:27:37,054 And he was touted as the creator of Chippendales 501 00:27:37,056 --> 00:27:39,123 and the force behind Chippendales. 502 00:27:44,863 --> 00:27:47,631 Our top PR firm here in L.A. 503 00:27:47,633 --> 00:27:50,668 was trying to get Banerjee more interviews, 504 00:27:50,670 --> 00:27:52,870 so that he could start, you know, 505 00:27:52,872 --> 00:27:55,773 owning the authorship of his company. 506 00:27:55,775 --> 00:27:58,475 But the problem was, he was terrified 507 00:27:58,477 --> 00:27:59,843 of being in front of the camera. 508 00:28:02,447 --> 00:28:04,548 Finally, this PR agency in L.A. convinced him. 509 00:28:04,550 --> 00:28:08,018 "Look, you got to start to feel comfortable getting on television." 510 00:28:08,020 --> 00:28:10,954 So they did a mock interview. 511 00:28:10,956 --> 00:28:12,790 [interviewer speaking] 512 00:28:35,647 --> 00:28:37,081 [Eric] You could tell right off 513 00:28:37,083 --> 00:28:39,216 that Banerjee does not have the chops. 514 00:28:39,218 --> 00:28:41,351 Not even the modicum of chops 515 00:28:41,353 --> 00:28:44,655 to be on any television at all. 516 00:29:05,410 --> 00:29:08,045 [Eric] It was horrible, couldn't market himself. 517 00:29:08,047 --> 00:29:09,480 He could market Chippendales, 518 00:29:09,482 --> 00:29:11,148 but he couldn't market Steve Banerjee. 519 00:29:23,161 --> 00:29:25,629 [Eric] Banerjee looked at it once and that was it. 520 00:29:25,631 --> 00:29:27,631 He was too afraid to look at it again. 521 00:29:30,668 --> 00:29:32,803 I think it'd be fun, Nick, for you to describe 522 00:29:32,805 --> 00:29:35,706 what goes on in the nightclub where the Chippendales are. 523 00:29:35,708 --> 00:29:37,174 You've never seen anything, 524 00:29:37,176 --> 00:29:39,376 till you see a roomful of female inhibitions 525 00:29:39,378 --> 00:29:41,078 go down the tubes all at once. 526 00:29:41,080 --> 00:29:43,046 [all laughing] 527 00:29:43,048 --> 00:29:46,784 [Bruce] Steve didn't like all the attention that Nick was getting, 528 00:29:46,786 --> 00:29:48,685 and there was an inherent conflict 529 00:29:48,687 --> 00:29:50,521 as to the two men's goals, 530 00:29:51,289 --> 00:29:53,357 both of whom wanted to be the chief. 531 00:29:57,462 --> 00:29:59,630 [Read] It was always a challenge 532 00:29:59,632 --> 00:30:01,932 when you're working at the Chippendale club 533 00:30:01,934 --> 00:30:04,134 when Nick and Steve would be there 534 00:30:04,136 --> 00:30:05,502 at the same time, 535 00:30:05,504 --> 00:30:08,772 because it was always confrontational. 536 00:30:08,774 --> 00:30:11,074 It was like a big pissing contest. 537 00:30:12,477 --> 00:30:14,044 Nick was the show. 538 00:30:14,046 --> 00:30:17,014 So Nick was more about the Academy Award, 539 00:30:17,016 --> 00:30:19,716 and Steve Banerjee was more about the box office. 540 00:30:20,952 --> 00:30:22,586 And a lot of times when he was trying 541 00:30:22,588 --> 00:30:24,788 to get a new face in, or a new body in, 542 00:30:24,790 --> 00:30:27,191 Steve would move them into the lineup, 543 00:30:27,193 --> 00:30:31,328 and the guys would be so static, and stiff and couldn't move. 544 00:30:31,330 --> 00:30:33,630 Back, back. 545 00:30:34,732 --> 00:30:36,600 Move that thing! 546 00:30:36,602 --> 00:30:39,069 Nick would go, "No, I'm not putting that guy, 547 00:30:39,071 --> 00:30:41,738 he has no talent. He can't walk and chew gum." 548 00:30:43,341 --> 00:30:46,109 And Steve would go, "No, I want him in the show. 549 00:30:46,111 --> 00:30:49,279 He's good looking, you know, the women love him, put him in the show." 550 00:30:49,281 --> 00:30:52,616 And then they're arguing over, you know, "It's my show, 551 00:30:52,618 --> 00:30:54,451 it's my club, it's my show," 552 00:30:54,453 --> 00:30:57,821 and Nick would constantly argue over with Steve 553 00:30:57,823 --> 00:31:02,092 in front of the cast, his management, his employees. 554 00:31:02,627 --> 00:31:05,429 And I think over time 555 00:31:05,431 --> 00:31:08,365 that began to fester in Banerjee. 556 00:31:10,068 --> 00:31:14,238 [Eric] Thing about Banerjee was he was easy to intimidate 557 00:31:14,240 --> 00:31:16,506 because he can't speak that well, 558 00:31:16,508 --> 00:31:18,742 so he can't throw back a fast retort, 559 00:31:18,744 --> 00:31:21,678 and people behind his back would call him an idiot, 560 00:31:21,680 --> 00:31:23,680 make fun of the way he would talk. 561 00:31:23,682 --> 00:31:26,083 But Nick's fast with his mouth. 562 00:31:26,085 --> 00:31:28,218 He could be aggressive physically, 563 00:31:28,220 --> 00:31:30,954 and he didn't mind just tearing into Banerjee 564 00:31:30,956 --> 00:31:33,590 or anybody that got in his way. He was a bully. 565 00:31:33,592 --> 00:31:35,325 Nick, take it away. 566 00:31:37,862 --> 00:31:39,763 You know... 567 00:31:39,765 --> 00:31:44,701 Men have always had their sexual fantasies fulfilled on stage. 568 00:31:44,703 --> 00:31:46,670 So we've got 10,000 years, 569 00:31:46,672 --> 00:31:48,438 that we're trying to make up for. 570 00:31:48,440 --> 00:31:50,407 [Michael] People were showing him respect, 571 00:31:50,409 --> 00:31:52,910 and calling him the King of Chippendales, you know, 572 00:31:52,912 --> 00:31:57,214 he was the creator of this, you know, phenomena. 573 00:31:58,950 --> 00:32:01,618 And I could see changes in him. 574 00:32:01,620 --> 00:32:04,755 Do you guys have any other occupation besides Chippendale? 575 00:32:04,757 --> 00:32:06,156 Well, an acting career, 576 00:32:06,158 --> 00:32:08,825 and I myself, I'm into modeling. 577 00:32:08,827 --> 00:32:10,394 - Besides Chippendales. - [Nick] Oh, yeah, 578 00:32:10,396 --> 00:32:13,330 we have school teachers, an engineer. 579 00:32:13,332 --> 00:32:16,466 [Michael] I saw him stepping every time, 580 00:32:16,468 --> 00:32:18,435 more and more into the front of the camera 581 00:32:18,437 --> 00:32:20,437 instead of just letting us go on. 582 00:32:20,439 --> 00:32:22,673 What does the job pay? 583 00:32:22,675 --> 00:32:24,641 [Michael] You make a high average living. 584 00:32:24,643 --> 00:32:27,244 It's varies, it depends when a guy starts, 585 00:32:27,246 --> 00:32:30,414 he starts at the lowest rung of the ladder... 586 00:32:30,416 --> 00:32:31,949 [Michael] It had to be him. 587 00:32:31,951 --> 00:32:35,018 "These are my boys, this is my creation." 588 00:32:35,020 --> 00:32:36,620 [announcer] Let me ask you about these characters, 589 00:32:36,622 --> 00:32:38,922 where do the ideas for your acts come from? 590 00:32:38,924 --> 00:32:40,791 -Usually... -[announcer] You're not letting 591 00:32:40,793 --> 00:32:43,327 the Chippendale speak, can these guys speak? 592 00:32:43,329 --> 00:32:46,663 [Michael] I realized this isn't the same Nick De Noia 593 00:32:46,665 --> 00:32:48,198 that I knew in L.A. 594 00:32:49,867 --> 00:32:51,802 Now this was a guy who thought 595 00:32:51,804 --> 00:32:53,804 he was in control of everything. 596 00:32:56,107 --> 00:33:00,143 And he was taking that power, and turned it on the people 597 00:33:00,145 --> 00:33:02,913 who had actually put him there, like Steve Banerjee. 598 00:33:05,717 --> 00:33:09,252 Nick was taking control away from Steve little by little. 599 00:33:10,054 --> 00:33:11,521 He was the front man, 600 00:33:11,523 --> 00:33:13,156 and Steve had taken a backseat. 601 00:33:13,158 --> 00:33:15,525 [Nick] What I see is the most important entertainment 602 00:33:15,527 --> 00:33:17,160 in the world for women. 603 00:33:17,162 --> 00:33:18,862 Women have never had this before. 604 00:33:22,533 --> 00:33:24,568 [Michael] Nick had to take the adulation 605 00:33:24,570 --> 00:33:27,771 for what Steve Banerjee created. 606 00:33:27,773 --> 00:33:29,206 "This is my creation." 607 00:33:41,986 --> 00:33:43,987 [man] This administration is determined 608 00:33:43,989 --> 00:33:47,090 to make all-out war against the evil people 609 00:33:47,092 --> 00:33:48,692 who use drugs, and pornography 610 00:33:48,694 --> 00:33:52,329 to prey on our families and on our loved ones. 611 00:33:52,331 --> 00:33:54,698 I believe there has been and continues to be 612 00:33:54,700 --> 00:33:57,267 a great hunger in America 613 00:33:57,269 --> 00:33:59,403 for a moral and spiritual revival... 614 00:33:59,405 --> 00:34:02,072 - [music playing] - All of you, with me. 615 00:34:02,074 --> 00:34:07,377 At a time in this country when modesty, decency 616 00:34:07,379 --> 00:34:10,647 were just an accepted principle of the American lifestyle. 617 00:34:10,649 --> 00:34:14,351 ♪ Well, I was born an original sinner ♪ 618 00:34:14,353 --> 00:34:17,921 ♪ I was borne from original sin ♪ 619 00:34:17,923 --> 00:34:20,090 ♪ And if I had a dollar bill ♪ 620 00:34:20,092 --> 00:34:22,993 [Bruce] By the mid-80s, we become such a huge presence 621 00:34:22,995 --> 00:34:24,528 in popular culture. 622 00:34:24,530 --> 00:34:27,664 Then we started getting some backlash from people 623 00:34:27,666 --> 00:34:30,200 who didn't like some of the societal changes 624 00:34:30,202 --> 00:34:32,602 that Chippendales may have caused. 625 00:34:32,604 --> 00:34:34,704 [man] Let's get a call. Are you there? Hello. 626 00:34:34,706 --> 00:34:36,306 [woman speaking] 627 00:34:47,585 --> 00:34:49,853 [all laughing] 628 00:34:49,855 --> 00:34:52,889 I understand that people have their values and morals, 629 00:34:52,891 --> 00:34:55,192 and they will read into it what they want to read into, 630 00:34:55,194 --> 00:34:56,760 you can't change everybody's mind. 631 00:34:56,762 --> 00:34:58,728 You're gonna leave, right? 632 00:34:58,730 --> 00:35:00,330 - Yes. - Because... 633 00:35:00,332 --> 00:35:02,299 Well, it's just not my thing. 634 00:35:02,301 --> 00:35:06,169 Well, if a few of the women get together 635 00:35:06,171 --> 00:35:08,105 and have a few giggles, who is hurt? 636 00:35:08,107 --> 00:35:09,739 I didn't know what was on today, 637 00:35:09,741 --> 00:35:11,975 - or I wouldn't have... - You're really gonna leave? 638 00:35:11,977 --> 00:35:13,043 I'm leaving. 639 00:35:15,780 --> 00:35:18,582 I think that what people were thinking 640 00:35:18,584 --> 00:35:21,017 was that this was a strip thing 641 00:35:21,019 --> 00:35:23,653 that was going to change the morals 642 00:35:23,655 --> 00:35:25,789 and values of these housewives, 643 00:35:25,791 --> 00:35:27,624 and women across America. 644 00:35:27,626 --> 00:35:29,960 Are you ladies ready to get wild? 645 00:35:29,962 --> 00:35:33,130 - Yeah! - Yeah! 646 00:35:33,132 --> 00:35:35,665 Were the morals and values skewed a bit 647 00:35:35,667 --> 00:35:37,000 when someone came to the club? 648 00:35:37,002 --> 00:35:38,969 Yeah, they were. 649 00:35:38,971 --> 00:35:41,671 Did I think it was going to change the morality of the country? 650 00:35:41,673 --> 00:35:43,006 No. 651 00:35:43,008 --> 00:35:45,709 My talking point always was, you don't have to go. 652 00:35:45,711 --> 00:35:47,277 You don't have to go to the club, right? 653 00:35:47,279 --> 00:35:49,346 You don't have to go buy a calendar if it offends you. 654 00:35:50,581 --> 00:35:52,983 Anyone ever questioned the fact that, you know, 655 00:35:52,985 --> 00:35:54,885 what you're doing might be a little... 656 00:35:54,887 --> 00:35:57,521 Well, it is different, let's be honest, huh? 657 00:35:57,523 --> 00:35:59,489 Yeah, you always can question one way or the other, 658 00:35:59,491 --> 00:36:00,891 but if you came down to the club, 659 00:36:00,893 --> 00:36:03,093 you can see how it's set up, and you'll enjoy it, 660 00:36:03,095 --> 00:36:04,361 so you're all invited. 661 00:36:05,496 --> 00:36:06,663 [Dan] But at some point, 662 00:36:06,665 --> 00:36:08,632 I noticed that when I went on the talk shows, 663 00:36:08,634 --> 00:36:11,134 there was somebody religious at the talk show. 664 00:36:11,136 --> 00:36:13,970 There was somebody there either inside 665 00:36:13,972 --> 00:36:17,874 or outside protesting what we were doing, 666 00:36:17,876 --> 00:36:20,343 and that's sort of where everything started to turn. 667 00:36:20,345 --> 00:36:23,380 One woman calls on, how can you put this junk on the air? 668 00:36:23,382 --> 00:36:25,382 She said, the Bible says that man's body 669 00:36:25,384 --> 00:36:27,217 is this and that and I'm... really... 670 00:36:28,686 --> 00:36:32,889 [Bruce] The evangelical communities were underwhelmed for sure. 671 00:36:32,891 --> 00:36:35,492 They didn't like us, we didn't care. 672 00:36:35,494 --> 00:36:37,460 Satan is The Great Deceiver, 673 00:36:37,462 --> 00:36:40,030 and he is the one that is trying to deceive you 674 00:36:40,032 --> 00:36:42,866 into believing it's wonderful and good. 675 00:36:42,868 --> 00:36:45,202 [Bruce] We weren't really concerned about all that 676 00:36:45,204 --> 00:36:47,904 until it was closer to home here in L.A. 677 00:36:49,607 --> 00:36:51,241 [sirens wailing] 678 00:36:52,843 --> 00:36:54,711 [reporter] In the early hours of this morning 679 00:36:54,713 --> 00:36:56,379 yet another popular nightclub 680 00:36:56,381 --> 00:36:58,381 has been the latest establishment in Los Angeles 681 00:36:58,383 --> 00:37:00,083 to be targeted and firebombed. 682 00:37:01,485 --> 00:37:04,054 [Bruce] Several nightclub in Hollywood 683 00:37:04,056 --> 00:37:07,357 had started putting on nights that feature male dancers. 684 00:37:09,393 --> 00:37:11,828 Some of these clubs started becoming 685 00:37:11,830 --> 00:37:14,331 heavily vandalized or firebombed. 686 00:37:17,034 --> 00:37:20,804 Some people obviously didn't like the idea of men stripping for women. 687 00:37:30,781 --> 00:37:34,451 Steve was concerned because he thought that we might be a victim. 688 00:37:35,953 --> 00:37:38,355 So he beefed up security at the club. 689 00:37:39,290 --> 00:37:41,524 [man] All right, do you want to see more? 690 00:37:41,526 --> 00:37:43,393 [crowd cheering] 691 00:37:48,532 --> 00:37:50,467 [Bruce] But despite the fire bombings, 692 00:37:50,469 --> 00:37:53,436 and all the noise being made by the religious groups, 693 00:37:54,272 --> 00:37:56,239 we were doing extremely well. 694 00:37:59,343 --> 00:38:01,778 However, during that period of time, 695 00:38:01,780 --> 00:38:06,116 Steve and Nick's relationship had gone into the toilet. 696 00:38:08,719 --> 00:38:11,354 My job was to keep motivating both of them 697 00:38:11,356 --> 00:38:14,324 going forward and keeping the partnership together. 698 00:38:16,060 --> 00:38:18,795 But they wouldn't talk to each other anymore. 699 00:38:22,400 --> 00:38:25,635 It was sad, it was discouraging, 700 00:38:25,637 --> 00:38:27,370 it was frustrating. 701 00:38:28,372 --> 00:38:30,206 The modern term is toxic. 702 00:38:32,576 --> 00:38:33,877 And in the end, 703 00:38:35,279 --> 00:38:37,247 Steve threw Nick out in New York. 704 00:38:40,751 --> 00:38:44,454 [announcer] Joining me right now is the man who conceptualizes, 705 00:38:44,456 --> 00:38:46,723 and choreographs a lot of the acts 706 00:38:46,725 --> 00:38:48,425 that you've been seeing this morning. 707 00:38:48,427 --> 00:38:49,926 His name is Steve Merritt, 708 00:38:49,928 --> 00:38:52,329 and please welcome him to People are Talking. 709 00:38:52,331 --> 00:38:54,898 - Hello, Steve. - Hello, Steve. 710 00:38:54,900 --> 00:38:58,201 [Candace] Steve Banerjee hired a new choreographer, 711 00:38:58,203 --> 00:39:01,705 Steve Merritt, to create and choreograph 712 00:39:01,707 --> 00:39:05,375 a brand new show for Los Angeles, and for New York. 713 00:39:05,377 --> 00:39:07,043 [upbeat music playing] 714 00:39:11,115 --> 00:39:13,883 [announcer] In 1979, Chippendales arrive in L.A. 715 00:39:13,885 --> 00:39:15,652 In 1983 they arrive in New York. 716 00:39:15,654 --> 00:39:18,521 Now, 1987 you've got the welcome to your fantasy show 717 00:39:18,523 --> 00:39:21,057 in New York City, and you're striving 718 00:39:21,059 --> 00:39:23,026 to create and achieve a new image 719 00:39:23,028 --> 00:39:24,994 for the Chippendales. What is the new image? 720 00:39:24,996 --> 00:39:26,696 Well, I'm dealing with the sensuality, 721 00:39:26,698 --> 00:39:29,232 I'm not dealing with bump and grind, 722 00:39:29,234 --> 00:39:31,501 you know, sexuality. We're doing sensuality. 723 00:39:31,503 --> 00:39:34,070 Steve Merritt changed all the elements 724 00:39:34,072 --> 00:39:35,572 that Nick had instituted. 725 00:39:36,841 --> 00:39:39,776 Nick's characters, gone. 726 00:39:39,778 --> 00:39:42,545 All interaction with the audience, gone. 727 00:39:43,647 --> 00:39:46,182 Nick was really, really angry. 728 00:39:49,653 --> 00:39:51,554 [Eric] I was sitting in manager's office one day 729 00:39:51,556 --> 00:39:53,990 and De Noia just blows into the office, 730 00:39:53,992 --> 00:39:57,894 like a vampire and accuses Banerjee, 731 00:39:57,896 --> 00:39:59,496 in this accusing voice like, 732 00:39:59,498 --> 00:40:02,399 "What are you doing with my fucking show?" 733 00:40:02,401 --> 00:40:05,735 And that's when Banerjee was like, "Your, your, your show? 734 00:40:05,737 --> 00:40:07,904 It's my, my fucking..." 735 00:40:07,906 --> 00:40:10,673 And he couldn't get it out, and couldn't express himself. 736 00:40:11,709 --> 00:40:14,778 Nick would take everything to the 10th level 737 00:40:14,780 --> 00:40:17,781 of extreme anger if you crossed him. 738 00:40:17,783 --> 00:40:20,150 He would say, you know, "Fuck you off, bro. 739 00:40:20,152 --> 00:40:21,251 Don't fuck with me." 740 00:40:24,155 --> 00:40:27,157 In essence, Steve Banerjee thought 741 00:40:27,159 --> 00:40:31,194 that if he can isolate Nick away from New York and L.A., 742 00:40:31,196 --> 00:40:32,695 then Nick would fade away. 743 00:40:32,697 --> 00:40:34,063 Hello? 744 00:40:34,065 --> 00:40:36,299 [Eric] But Nick had other ideas. 745 00:40:36,301 --> 00:40:38,067 Here to do something very special 746 00:40:38,069 --> 00:40:39,469 on this section of the show, 747 00:40:39,471 --> 00:40:42,005 and to help us, I'd like you to meet Nick De Noia. 748 00:40:42,007 --> 00:40:44,507 Nick is the producer and director of Chippendale. 749 00:40:44,509 --> 00:40:46,009 He's the guy that hires the guys. 750 00:40:46,011 --> 00:40:47,811 [crowd cheering] 751 00:40:47,813 --> 00:40:49,312 [Eric] But the napkin deal 752 00:40:49,314 --> 00:40:52,415 that Steve and Nick worked out, said, 753 00:40:52,417 --> 00:40:56,886 if Nick successfully brought us to a New York club 754 00:40:56,888 --> 00:40:59,255 then Nick would have the exclusive license 755 00:40:59,257 --> 00:41:01,357 to take Chippendales on tour. 756 00:41:02,593 --> 00:41:04,894 Nick, tell them what you just said during the break. 757 00:41:04,896 --> 00:41:07,030 We're on tour for the first time. 758 00:41:07,032 --> 00:41:08,598 [crowd cheering] 759 00:41:09,500 --> 00:41:11,501 [Eric] So, Steve was stuck with Nick. 760 00:41:12,503 --> 00:41:14,037 [Nick] And so, What we saw 761 00:41:14,039 --> 00:41:16,206 was so funny is that our club in New York, 762 00:41:16,208 --> 00:41:18,208 women are flying in from Chicago, 763 00:41:18,210 --> 00:41:20,276 and Boston and St. Louis, we finally said, 764 00:41:20,278 --> 00:41:22,946 "Let's take it on the road, let's bring it to the women." 765 00:41:22,948 --> 00:41:24,347 So we're starting now. 766 00:41:24,349 --> 00:41:26,149 [crowd cheering] 767 00:41:26,151 --> 00:41:30,019 So, Banerjee had Los Angeles and the New York club, 768 00:41:30,021 --> 00:41:31,754 and Nick had to go out on the road. 769 00:41:35,292 --> 00:41:38,027 So, on tour, we billed ourselves 770 00:41:38,029 --> 00:41:40,864 as the original Chippendales, 771 00:41:40,866 --> 00:41:44,467 while New York and Los Angeles remained the Chippendales. 772 00:41:46,470 --> 00:41:49,439 Business arrangements were fairly simple. 773 00:41:49,441 --> 00:41:53,610 The venue would keep the bar, and after expenses, 774 00:41:53,612 --> 00:41:56,646 Nick and Steve, split the ticket sales. 775 00:41:56,648 --> 00:41:58,481 I thought it was a fair deal. 776 00:41:58,483 --> 00:42:00,617 - What time? Eight o'clock. - Doors open at six, 777 00:42:00,619 --> 00:42:03,119 that's a lot of fun. Come early. 778 00:42:03,121 --> 00:42:05,121 [Candace] There's no question that the tour 779 00:42:05,123 --> 00:42:07,290 was an immense success. 780 00:42:07,292 --> 00:42:11,494 The Los Angeles club held 250 to 300, 781 00:42:11,496 --> 00:42:15,565 New York held about 550 to 600. 782 00:42:15,567 --> 00:42:19,702 However, on the road, we were playing to crowds of 2,000. 783 00:42:21,005 --> 00:42:24,040 Every single city we went to, we were sold out 784 00:42:24,042 --> 00:42:27,277 100% of the time. 785 00:42:27,279 --> 00:42:31,681 [Bruce] As we started receiving money from Nick for the tour, 786 00:42:31,683 --> 00:42:34,484 the dollars were exceeding the profits 787 00:42:34,486 --> 00:42:36,986 that either of our fixed venues. 788 00:42:37,788 --> 00:42:39,656 That frustrated Steve. 789 00:42:41,859 --> 00:42:44,227 But when he signed the napkin deal, 790 00:42:44,229 --> 00:42:46,663 he gave away half of his rights 791 00:42:46,665 --> 00:42:50,033 in a touring show in return for New York. 792 00:42:51,569 --> 00:42:54,504 He had no conception about how valuable 793 00:42:54,506 --> 00:42:57,707 those rights would become someday. 794 00:42:57,709 --> 00:43:02,078 And when he saw how much 50% equaled 795 00:43:02,080 --> 00:43:04,581 he began to think he was suckered by Nick. 796 00:43:04,583 --> 00:43:06,316 Has anybody seen our show? 797 00:43:07,384 --> 00:43:09,552 What are the rest of you waiting for? 798 00:43:09,554 --> 00:43:11,788 Come on out, we're having a ball out there. 799 00:43:14,124 --> 00:43:16,326 De Noia hammered down at the right time. 800 00:43:16,328 --> 00:43:18,795 Got this fucking napkin agreement signed. 801 00:43:19,597 --> 00:43:21,197 I mean, an agreement on a napkin 802 00:43:21,199 --> 00:43:23,900 to give away a piece of his company for touring. 803 00:43:23,902 --> 00:43:25,735 It's the most unconscionable thing for him 804 00:43:25,737 --> 00:43:29,339 to let this guy, legally take part of his company away 805 00:43:29,341 --> 00:43:31,574 and make millions of dollars. 806 00:43:33,777 --> 00:43:37,380 [Candace] On the road, Nick was to keep track 807 00:43:37,382 --> 00:43:40,383 of the number of tickets that we sold. 808 00:43:41,418 --> 00:43:44,587 Half of the proceeds after expenses 809 00:43:44,589 --> 00:43:46,723 were to be sent back to Banerjee. 810 00:43:47,424 --> 00:43:49,726 But Steve didn't trust Nick. 811 00:43:49,728 --> 00:43:51,294 So what Banerjee got, 812 00:43:51,296 --> 00:43:53,262 he didn't think was the right amount. 813 00:43:56,367 --> 00:43:59,636 Nick felt that he solely was behind 814 00:43:59,638 --> 00:44:02,805 the immense success of Chippendales. 815 00:44:02,807 --> 00:44:06,609 But still, he had to give up half of his door 816 00:44:06,611 --> 00:44:08,344 to see Banerjee. 817 00:44:08,346 --> 00:44:09,445 Why? 818 00:44:09,447 --> 00:44:11,481 Because Nick's using the word Chippendales, 819 00:44:11,483 --> 00:44:13,916 and Steve owns the rights to that name. 820 00:44:13,918 --> 00:44:17,553 It just added to the animosity between the two of them. 821 00:44:18,956 --> 00:44:22,692 Steve was telling him you're a cheater and a thief. 822 00:44:23,661 --> 00:44:25,928 And it got to the point where he not only 823 00:44:25,930 --> 00:44:27,730 didn't need Banerjee anymore, 824 00:44:27,732 --> 00:44:29,999 he didn't want to be around Banerjee anymore. 825 00:44:40,310 --> 00:44:42,278 [sirens wailing] 826 00:44:51,388 --> 00:44:53,056 - [phone beeps] - [woman speaking] 827 00:44:54,224 --> 00:44:55,558 [man speaking] 828 00:45:21,351 --> 00:45:24,120 - [man] Tonight... - [woman] The male strip club Chippendales 829 00:45:24,122 --> 00:45:28,124 - is the victim of a... - [woman 2] The large caliber gun, perhaps a .45. 830 00:45:28,126 --> 00:45:30,359 -[man 2] He was shot in the face. -There was no sign... 831 00:45:30,361 --> 00:45:32,428 [woman 4] No signs of robbery, or struggle.