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['80s music playing]
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[audience cheering]
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[Candace] We were travelling
all around the east coast
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and by April, we landed
in Indianapolis.
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Nick De Noia.
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We played at a club downtown
called Don't Ask.
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It was a wonderful city,
a wonderful club.
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We were doing very,
very well there. We were...
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excited!
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Tonight. Tonight
we open at Don't Ask.
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[crowd cheering]
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[Candace] But I remember that Nick
had to leave in the middle of the run.
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He told me that
he was going to New York.
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And the night before he was
to leave we had dinner together.
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I have a picture of us
together that night.
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We toasted one
another with wine.
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He left me in charge.
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And he went to New York
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in April of 1987.
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[line ringing]
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[man speaking 1]
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[woman speaking]
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[man 1 speaking]
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[man 2 speaking]
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[man 1 speaking]
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[man 2 speaking]
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[man 1 speaking]
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[woman speaking]
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[man 1 speaking]
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[woman] Oh, wow.
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[phone ringing]
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[Geddes] I was at my desk,
and I received a phone call.
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That there's been a shooting,
at West 40th Street.
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And it appears to be a homicide,
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and they need the detectives
over there forthwith.
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So me and my partners get up
rushed out, jumped in our car,
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and proceeded to go to
the scene of the crime.
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We turned the corner,
onto 40th Street
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you could see there was a
police presence there already.
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One of the officers told us there's
someone shot up on the 15th floor.
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We got on the elevator
and went up to the 15th floor.
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We were met by
some uniformed officers,
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who directed us to the office,
where the shooting occurred.
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The victim was laying on the
floor with a bullet hole in his head.
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And the gentleman was dead.
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I was informed that he was one
of the owners of Chippendales.
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[Candace] Nick is in New York.
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And I get a phone call,
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from a good friend of Nick's
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and tells me...
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that Nick had been
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shot in the head,
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in his office.
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That a man had walked into
the office and shot him dead.
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I don't remember
hanging up the call.
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I just...
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was dead.
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My world came to an end.
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This was incomprehensible.
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New York City Police are
trying to determine the motive
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in the murder of an award-winning
television producer and choreographer.
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The victim, Nicholas De Noia,
was shot to death in his office.
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Investigators say there was
no sign of a robbery or struggle.
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Steve called me on
the phone and told me,
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that Nick had been
shot and killed.
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My mouth was hanging open...
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just shocked.
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I couldn't believe that
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tragedy struck again.
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I didn't wanna...
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believe that, that it really happened.
I thought it was a joke at first.
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[reporter on TV] De Noia
staged the original dance routines
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of the Chippendale
male strippers.
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It was devastating to, you
know, to have a friend...
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get shot like that.
That was just, you know...
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That was shameful.
It was just sad.
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[Geddes] One of the officers introduced
us to a gentleman by the name of Will Mott.
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He was the only
witness that we had
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at the scene when
Mr. De Noia was killed.
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You could see he was upset.
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He said that a gentleman
came into the office,
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male, Hispanic,
around 5'9" or so.
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And said, "Are you Nick?"
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He said, "No, Nick is in
the other office."
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Then Mr. Mott went
to the bathroom,
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which was located right down
the end of the hall.
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And he said, "I heard what
appeared to be a gunshot."
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Like a loud bang.
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Then he hears the exit door,
open and close.
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He ran into the office,
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and found Nick, lying on the
floor with a gunshot wound.
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And immediately called 911.
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[Candace] That night...
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I decided
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the show would go on.
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There's no question,
this is what Nick would want.
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They are scheduled to perform
and they will perform. As you can see,
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the ladies are already lined up.
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They go down this line
and then down...
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There's a moment
in the show however...
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when the Perfect Man,
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is revealed...
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[audience cheering]
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[Candace] ...and I was in
the back of the house
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and that moment
my mouth dropped open.
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And I just started to scream
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and howl.
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Like a dying, wounded animal.
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It was just primal.
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And nobody heard me.
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I walked the club like a zombie.
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Immediately after the show,
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the press was
descending upon the club.
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Our thoughts are with
his family right now.
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And that's about all we are
able to think about at this moment
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are his parents...
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and his brother, and his sister-in-law
and the rest of his extended family.
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[Candace] I felt like I was
bleeding from my pores.
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All the air
is knocked out of me.
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Nick is my friend, he's
my mentor, he's my companion.
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And he's...
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snatched.
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And gone.
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And the flashbulbs
are in your eyes.
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And they're asking...
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"Do you know who did it?"
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And I was convinced
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that it was Steve Banerjee.
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But of course I answer,
"I don't know."
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"I don't know."
"I don't know."
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[Dan] That was not Steve at all.
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That was not him.
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And people who say it was him,
didn't know him.
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00:08:46,870 --> 00:08:50,138
Steve was blackmailed by
one of the guys at the club.
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And instead of making
a stink about it
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and suing and doing
all this stuff
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Steve paid him off
and let him stay at the club.
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Come on, that's not
an aggressive person.
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[Read] I couldn't envision him
being that person.
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He was too mousy.
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He let Nick De Noia berate him in
front of every employee all the time.
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And he didn't do
anything about it.
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That's not who I would think
from those interactions, would do it.
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00:09:20,936 --> 00:09:22,804
[Bruce] When Steve told me
Nick had been shot,
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he said to me,
"I wonder who did this."
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Was it someone personal to Nick?
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Was it something tied
with Chippendales?
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An altercation he had
with a club owner?
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We just didn't know
at that moment.
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[Roger] Everybody had their own
ideas of who could have done this.
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It could have been anyone.
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Especially in New York City
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the way the crime rate
was very high.
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Police said De Noia was killed by
a large-caliber gun, perhaps a .45.
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They're looking for a possible
suspect who was seen in the vicinity
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00:10:01,177 --> 00:10:02,644
following the shooting.
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00:10:02,646 --> 00:10:07,649
He's described as about 35 years
old, 5'6", 145 pounds. Wearing jeans,
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00:10:07,651 --> 00:10:09,250
and a brown and tan jacket.
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[siren wailing]
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[Geddes] We looked into
Banerjee's criminal history
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and there was nothing there.
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People would say,
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"You know, they were always
arguing in the business and everything."
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00:10:22,165 --> 00:10:25,400
You know, you have to take that
with a grain of salt too because,
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you know, business owners argue.
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Banerjee wasn't the only person,
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that Nick De Noia had
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business confrontations with.
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[Michael] I gotta tell you, a
lot of people had the potential
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of murdering Nick because,
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00:10:42,052 --> 00:10:44,352
he was really hard to work with.
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And I don't know many people
he rubbed the wrong way.
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You know, he was
very, very strict,
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00:10:49,459 --> 00:10:52,493
and you know, very a control
freak and he was getting worse.
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[Geddes] We interviewed the
manager of the club here in New York.
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00:10:57,466 --> 00:10:59,100
We interviewed the dancers.
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00:10:59,102 --> 00:11:02,770
We interviewed some friends
that he was associated with.
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But there was nothing to
tie them together at all.
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00:11:08,143 --> 00:11:11,679
We found out that his family
relationships were very good.
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00:11:11,681 --> 00:11:13,915
Nick got along with
everybody in the family,
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00:11:13,917 --> 00:11:15,950
everybody in the family
got along with Nick.
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They were just devastated.
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00:11:19,254 --> 00:11:21,289
It was gonna be a tough case
and we knew that.
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[Candace] Nick was
a private person.
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00:11:27,330 --> 00:11:30,698
And so if there were
someone in his past
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00:11:31,433 --> 00:11:33,034
that he's done wrong,
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00:11:33,869 --> 00:11:36,037
I didn't know anything about it.
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00:11:36,039 --> 00:11:39,140
I thought Steve wanted
Nick's touring rights.
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00:11:39,142 --> 00:11:41,375
I felt this was
Banerjee's motive.
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00:11:41,377 --> 00:11:43,277
That was my personal opinion.
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00:11:44,813 --> 00:11:45,947
[reporter] Shortly after
the shooting
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00:11:45,949 --> 00:11:48,149
witnesses say they saw
a man leaving the building
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00:11:48,151 --> 00:11:50,017
A man who had
no reason to be there.
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00:11:50,019 --> 00:11:52,453
And so far that is
the only lead police have.
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00:11:59,194 --> 00:12:00,762
[Geddes] This investigation,
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00:12:00,764 --> 00:12:03,598
was basically built
on people's opinions.
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00:12:04,600 --> 00:12:06,100
There was no gun evidence,
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00:12:06,668 --> 00:12:08,302
no fingerprint evidence,
199
00:12:08,670 --> 00:12:10,404
no picture evidence.
200
00:12:10,406 --> 00:12:12,640
There was no
evidence whatsoever.
201
00:12:16,445 --> 00:12:20,448
All we had was a description of
a man who came into the office.
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00:12:22,050 --> 00:12:23,251
And that's all we had.
203
00:12:24,520 --> 00:12:25,486
We were just...
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00:12:26,155 --> 00:12:28,356
brick-walled.
205
00:12:28,358 --> 00:12:35,396
I have no idea how the New York Police
Department investigated Nick's death.
206
00:12:35,398 --> 00:12:38,800
They didn't contact one person that
was on the road with Nick. Not me,
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00:12:39,468 --> 00:12:40,601
none of the dancers.
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00:12:40,936 --> 00:12:42,770
Nobody.
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00:12:42,772 --> 00:12:47,608
The whole thing of Nick's murder and
who did it became very frustrating to me.
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00:12:48,243 --> 00:12:51,312
So, we started a reward fund
211
00:12:51,314 --> 00:12:55,917
'cause detective Geddes was telling us
that he hadn't been getting enough tips.
212
00:12:55,919 --> 00:13:00,354
And when I called Steve to
get a contribution, he said,
213
00:13:00,356 --> 00:13:04,091
"I'm not giving anything, I should pay
the guy who did it. He did me a favor."
214
00:13:09,498 --> 00:13:11,966
[Geddes] After a certain
period of time,
215
00:13:11,968 --> 00:13:13,501
there's only so much you can do.
216
00:13:13,503 --> 00:13:15,303
You can't work on
a case forever.
217
00:13:15,904 --> 00:13:17,338
You feel terrible.
218
00:13:17,340 --> 00:13:19,040
You feel like,
"Can I do more?"
219
00:13:19,042 --> 00:13:22,510
"Is there something else here
I'm missing."
220
00:13:22,512 --> 00:13:26,514
But at that point, our case was
what you would call a cold case.
221
00:13:27,916 --> 00:13:30,051
The only hope that
we had was that,
222
00:13:30,053 --> 00:13:33,487
somebody would flip
and lead us to the killer.
223
00:13:33,489 --> 00:13:36,424
There's only three Chippendales
in the country. In New York City,
224
00:13:36,426 --> 00:13:38,359
in Los Angeles
and this one, the best by far.
225
00:13:38,361 --> 00:13:39,961
This is the best by far.
226
00:13:39,963 --> 00:13:41,362
[audience cheering]
227
00:13:41,364 --> 00:13:44,031
[Candace] When Nick died,
he did not have a will.
228
00:13:44,033 --> 00:13:47,501
And under law, everything
then passed to his siblings
229
00:13:47,503 --> 00:13:50,471
since he also did not have
a spouse or children.
230
00:13:50,473 --> 00:13:53,207
And they sold the rights
that Nick had...
231
00:13:56,078 --> 00:13:57,245
to Steve Banerjee.
232
00:14:01,416 --> 00:14:03,484
So I knew my time with
Chippendales was over.
233
00:14:07,689 --> 00:14:09,790
[Bruce] After Nick was murdered,
234
00:14:09,792 --> 00:14:12,193
Steve took over managing
the show himself.
235
00:14:14,396 --> 00:14:17,698
I wasn't sure that he had
the charisma necessary,
236
00:14:17,700 --> 00:14:19,033
as Nick did.
237
00:14:21,536 --> 00:14:22,570
But, you know...
238
00:14:24,172 --> 00:14:25,306
the show must go on.
239
00:14:27,776 --> 00:14:31,612
[news anchor speaking]
240
00:14:49,331 --> 00:14:54,602
[emcee] Put your hands together
for the men of Chippendales!
241
00:14:54,970 --> 00:14:57,238
Roger Menache!
242
00:14:57,240 --> 00:15:00,241
♪ Chippendales The
place to meet Uh-huh! ♪
243
00:15:00,243 --> 00:15:02,076
♪ Ladies in
The driver's seat... ♪
244
00:15:02,078 --> 00:15:06,447
[Roger] After being a full time
dancer for many many years
245
00:15:06,449 --> 00:15:10,785
I felt like my time was
maybe starting to...
246
00:15:11,186 --> 00:15:12,520
come to an end.
247
00:15:12,522 --> 00:15:18,926
And I noticed Steve hiring
fresher, younger guys, new looks.
248
00:15:18,928 --> 00:15:21,028
And I had a talk with
him one day
249
00:15:21,030 --> 00:15:25,933
and I said, "Steve I'm getting a
little older I feel that it's my time
250
00:15:25,935 --> 00:15:30,071
to pursue different
endeavors and opportunities."
251
00:15:30,073 --> 00:15:32,406
And he totally respected that.
252
00:15:32,408 --> 00:15:35,142
And he says you're
gonna be the new manager.
253
00:15:35,144 --> 00:15:38,145
I said, "Steve, I don't know
anything about managing."
254
00:15:38,147 --> 00:15:43,050
He says, "You'll learn. The guys
respect you, you were one of the dancers.
255
00:15:43,052 --> 00:15:46,420
And you know what
it takes to be a manager."
256
00:15:46,422 --> 00:15:51,926
So, here I was now on the
business side of Chippendales.
257
00:15:51,928 --> 00:15:53,594
[crowd cheering]
258
00:15:58,000 --> 00:16:04,238
By 1988 we had both clubs running
at full capacity and two touring groups.
259
00:16:07,109 --> 00:16:13,080
We were in every major city
in the US, including Canada.
260
00:16:25,594 --> 00:16:27,261
Give yourselves
a round of applause.
261
00:16:28,330 --> 00:16:30,231
We became huge.
262
00:16:31,199 --> 00:16:33,234
[crowd cheering]
263
00:16:35,070 --> 00:16:36,570
We love Philly!
264
00:16:36,572 --> 00:16:38,305
We'll see you soon.
265
00:16:41,343 --> 00:16:46,547
We were expanding, we knew what
we were doing, we were having our tours.
266
00:16:46,549 --> 00:16:48,983
But Steve wasn't satisfied.
267
00:16:48,985 --> 00:16:53,220
Many entrepreneurs are
like that. He wanted more.
268
00:16:53,222 --> 00:16:58,559
So, once we conquered America
extensively, we went overseas.
269
00:17:03,298 --> 00:17:07,168
We were well-received
everywhere, everywhere!
270
00:17:07,170 --> 00:17:10,938
Women all over the world
loved Chippendales.
271
00:17:10,940 --> 00:17:14,975
I don't see it as a strip show it's just
art and pure lust and smashing. [laughs]
272
00:17:16,378 --> 00:17:19,613
[speaking other language]
273
00:17:28,223 --> 00:17:29,557
Yes.
274
00:17:29,724 --> 00:17:32,159
Good evening, ladies, and welcome.
We're gonna lock those doors
275
00:17:32,161 --> 00:17:36,163
and nobody gets out
of here until...
276
00:17:36,165 --> 00:17:40,501
I was in Hawaii, Australia,
Philippines and New Zealand.
277
00:17:40,503 --> 00:17:43,204
And it was just packed houses
after packed houses.
278
00:17:43,206 --> 00:17:48,109
I mean it was just money after money
after money. Selling out merchandise...
279
00:17:48,111 --> 00:17:53,013
They went crazy over-- I mean they
just literally went crazy over the tour.
280
00:17:56,284 --> 00:18:03,791
[Roger] Things had evolved from a
small club in west LA, to this huge empire.
281
00:18:03,793 --> 00:18:09,196
And Steve was sitting at the helm
of a multi-million dollar operation.
282
00:18:11,099 --> 00:18:16,637
It was amazing to me knowing
how we'd started back in '79
283
00:18:16,639 --> 00:18:20,141
and this is where it was
at now, it was worldwide,
284
00:18:20,143 --> 00:18:23,511
it was performing
for 3,000 women a night.
285
00:18:23,513 --> 00:18:26,113
But it was the first time
in my life that I'd seen
286
00:18:26,115 --> 00:18:29,383
women going to a strip club
with binoculars.
287
00:18:29,385 --> 00:18:33,387
They're so far away, they had to
watch the show through binoculars
288
00:18:40,395 --> 00:18:47,601
And as far as the intimacy and
quality of the experience for the women
289
00:18:47,603 --> 00:18:53,007
I think was better in the old
days when Nick was in charge of it.
290
00:18:54,543 --> 00:18:56,143
It was more special.
291
00:19:00,515 --> 00:19:02,650
[Bruce] We were bigger
than ever.
292
00:19:03,485 --> 00:19:09,390
But after Nick died
the electricity was gone.
293
00:19:09,392 --> 00:19:13,394
And it became more of a routine.
294
00:19:13,396 --> 00:19:19,033
Now it felt factory. We
were punching out franchises.
295
00:19:19,035 --> 00:19:24,104
Doing touring shows.
No longer experimenting.
296
00:19:24,706 --> 00:19:27,508
We were institutionalized.
297
00:19:27,510 --> 00:19:31,378
Just seemed like
the energy had disappeared.
298
00:19:34,082 --> 00:19:37,785
Even though he hated him,
De Noia's death
299
00:19:37,787 --> 00:19:42,189
had some kind of
effect on Steve.
300
00:19:43,758 --> 00:19:48,395
One day, I was sitting in my office which
was exactly next door to Steve's office.
301
00:19:48,397 --> 00:19:52,766
And I had the door closed and
Steve opens the door and comes in.
302
00:19:52,768 --> 00:19:58,505
And, he said, "I can't
believe Nick is gone."
303
00:19:58,507 --> 00:20:03,677
And I said, "Yeah." He
goes, "I really miss the guy."
304
00:20:04,980 --> 00:20:07,982
And then turns around
and walks out the door.
305
00:20:19,094 --> 00:20:22,263
His name is Michael Rapp
and he is so hot
306
00:20:22,265 --> 00:20:25,733
that he does a number every
night entitled "The Perfect Man."
307
00:20:25,735 --> 00:20:27,801
Well, we checked out his claim.
308
00:20:30,005 --> 00:20:34,041
You know this guy, he's the man
who's become the ultimate Chippendale.
309
00:20:34,043 --> 00:20:38,479
The man who has the style in a
show that's sold-out, Michael Rapp.
310
00:20:40,081 --> 00:20:42,283
Which of the Chippendale
men is your favorite?
311
00:20:42,285 --> 00:20:43,417
Michael.
312
00:20:43,419 --> 00:20:44,451
- [crowd cheering]
- Why?
313
00:20:44,453 --> 00:20:46,287
Just look at him.
314
00:20:48,923 --> 00:20:52,660
I was the star of the show
New York city during the '80s.
315
00:20:52,662 --> 00:20:54,895
I mean it was
the Wild Wild West.
316
00:20:54,897 --> 00:20:57,364
I mean, you just had fun.
317
00:20:57,366 --> 00:21:01,101
♪ Relax, don't do it
When you want to go to it ♪
318
00:21:01,103 --> 00:21:02,803
♪ Relax, don't do it... ♪
319
00:21:02,805 --> 00:21:06,040
I just wanted to ask what your
wives or girlfriends think of this?
320
00:21:06,042 --> 00:21:07,408
Do they mind?
321
00:21:07,410 --> 00:21:09,209
Actually it gives me
a pretty secure ego,
322
00:21:09,211 --> 00:21:11,345
so I don't have any
jealousy problems with that.
323
00:21:11,347 --> 00:21:14,782
And my wife she's a beautiful
woman, she's a model herself,
324
00:21:14,784 --> 00:21:18,352
so she's understanding
of the whole thing.
325
00:21:18,354 --> 00:21:22,990
[Michael on video] There is
my beautiful wife. Nice legs.
326
00:21:22,992 --> 00:21:26,760
But as time went on,
Chippendales became my identity.
327
00:21:29,597 --> 00:21:35,269
Pretty soon the Michael Rapp,
that quiet kid, you know,
328
00:21:35,271 --> 00:21:38,238
and the guy onstage
started to blur.
329
00:21:41,042 --> 00:21:45,346
There wasn't that separation
anymore. I started losing the real person
330
00:21:45,348 --> 00:21:47,815
and becoming the stage person.
331
00:21:47,817 --> 00:21:51,151
There was something about
stepping up on that stage
332
00:21:51,153 --> 00:21:55,589
that cured everything, that made all
my worries all my problems go away
333
00:21:55,591 --> 00:21:58,425
for those five minutes
that I was performing.
334
00:21:58,427 --> 00:22:01,228
You know, yeah,
that was my safe place.
335
00:22:01,230 --> 00:22:04,198
That was the only place
that I had control over.
336
00:22:07,268 --> 00:22:11,672
Because after about two years in New
York, I was completely out of control.
337
00:22:19,047 --> 00:22:23,650
[Nancy] This was the era of drugs
and craziness, partying all night.
338
00:22:23,652 --> 00:22:27,287
You know, after we had our son,
339
00:22:27,289 --> 00:22:29,823
I wasn't partying like he was,
340
00:22:29,825 --> 00:22:31,625
[child speaking]
341
00:22:31,627 --> 00:22:35,763
Maybe, once on a weekend I
would go out and party a little bit
342
00:22:35,765 --> 00:22:37,531
For him, it was everyday.
343
00:22:40,034 --> 00:22:44,905
He started lying about doing it.
Like, one night he came home and
344
00:22:44,907 --> 00:22:48,041
I go, "You've been doing blow, haven't
you?" And he said, "No, I haven't."
345
00:22:48,043 --> 00:22:50,344
And he had a big white
ring around his nose.
346
00:22:51,546 --> 00:22:55,315
So then it started
becoming a problem.
347
00:22:58,586 --> 00:23:04,358
I begged him all the time to "Please
stop, don't do any blow tonight.
348
00:23:04,360 --> 00:23:08,529
Please come home."
I constantly begged him.
349
00:23:08,531 --> 00:23:12,499
I would call Chippendales when
he wasn't home by, say, midnight.
350
00:23:12,501 --> 00:23:15,002
And sometimes they'd go
and find him in the club
351
00:23:15,004 --> 00:23:17,738
and sometimes
they'd tell me he left.
352
00:23:21,876 --> 00:23:25,979
The night times became
the nightmare, you know.
353
00:23:26,781 --> 00:23:29,650
I would lay in bed and cry,
cry all night.
354
00:23:34,055 --> 00:23:37,791
I would lay there and think
about getting a can of gasoline,
355
00:23:37,793 --> 00:23:40,194
pouring it around
the whole club.
356
00:23:40,196 --> 00:23:43,430
I wanted to burn the
place down. I hated it.
357
00:23:43,432 --> 00:23:44,598
I hated it.
358
00:23:45,433 --> 00:23:47,968
[crowd clapping]
359
00:23:47,970 --> 00:23:51,538
When I was at Chippendales I would
forget all about my responsibilities.
360
00:23:51,540 --> 00:23:55,309
I would forget all about, you know,
the people that I loved and cared for,
361
00:23:55,311 --> 00:23:58,612
the people who were expecting me
to be home and to be there for them.
362
00:23:58,614 --> 00:24:00,314
Say, "Hi, Daddy."
363
00:24:00,316 --> 00:24:03,984
- Daddy.
- Daddy. Say, "I love you!"
364
00:24:03,986 --> 00:24:07,988
But, yet, from the outside, you
know, people would probably look at it
365
00:24:07,990 --> 00:24:11,492
and say, "Wow, what a great
marriage, beautiful couple, happy family."
366
00:24:11,494 --> 00:24:15,929
We were living that lie of
happiness and the perfect couple
367
00:24:15,931 --> 00:24:17,130
[man] What about infidelity?
368
00:24:18,766 --> 00:24:20,234
You want to remain...
369
00:24:20,602 --> 00:24:21,535
Absolutely.
370
00:24:21,537 --> 00:24:23,203
- Absolutely, for you?
- [Michael] Yeah.
371
00:24:23,205 --> 00:24:24,338
Okay, you're married
for how long, Mike?
372
00:24:24,340 --> 00:24:25,806
- Five years.
- Five years.
373
00:24:25,808 --> 00:24:28,141
- And you have-- - And we lived
together three years before that.
374
00:24:28,143 --> 00:24:29,510
And you have no desire
375
00:24:29,512 --> 00:24:31,512
- to ever be with any other woman?
- No.
376
00:24:31,514 --> 00:24:35,649
Well, I mean, I love to look, don't get
me wrong. I'm in the business of flirting.
377
00:24:36,918 --> 00:24:40,888
[Nancy] I started feeling
like he was cheating.
378
00:24:40,890 --> 00:24:47,127
I would see girls at the club, the
way they looked at me and him,
379
00:24:47,129 --> 00:24:50,764
it was just an intuition, I knew
he probably had been with them.
380
00:24:52,901 --> 00:24:55,702
I wanted to hear him deny it.
381
00:24:55,704 --> 00:24:59,439
To just make myself
try to believe it.
382
00:24:59,441 --> 00:25:02,142
Because he still acted
like he loved me.
383
00:25:03,811 --> 00:25:08,515
But one time I'd found a phone
number in his pocket and I called it.
384
00:25:08,517 --> 00:25:14,187
And the girl answered and I told her, "I found
your phone number in my husband's pocket.
385
00:25:15,223 --> 00:25:17,257
I know he's cheating
on me with you."
386
00:25:17,959 --> 00:25:21,662
And she finally owned up to it
387
00:25:25,433 --> 00:25:27,768
I mean, it was
the ultimate betrayal.
388
00:25:32,840 --> 00:25:37,177
[Michael] I'm the star of the
biggest male show that there is
389
00:25:37,179 --> 00:25:40,514
and people are just giving you things,
people are just throwing themselves at you,
390
00:25:40,516 --> 00:25:44,084
you know, and you've
never had this before.
391
00:25:44,086 --> 00:25:48,822
To turn it down would be ridiculous,
you know? I mean, it would be crazy.
392
00:25:49,424 --> 00:25:52,960
So, I would do the drugs,
393
00:25:52,962 --> 00:25:56,630
that would lead to the women
and then the moment that I climaxed
394
00:25:57,398 --> 00:25:59,600
the guilt just come over me.
395
00:26:02,403 --> 00:26:06,206
I couldn't get dressed fast
enough. I remember coming home,
396
00:26:06,208 --> 00:26:09,376
you know, the sun coming up, people
going to work and feeling just like...
397
00:26:09,378 --> 00:26:10,811
And I was gonna have to lie.
398
00:26:13,081 --> 00:26:16,516
And the very next day
I would do it all over again.
399
00:26:19,954 --> 00:26:24,324
[Nancy] It just got to the point
where I couldn't take it anymore.
400
00:26:25,994 --> 00:26:30,964
And I told him, "You know I
have to. I can't stay here anymore.
401
00:26:30,966 --> 00:26:33,567
I can't live this anymore."
402
00:26:33,569 --> 00:26:36,403
[inaudible]
403
00:26:36,405 --> 00:26:41,475
I knew that I loved her and she would
probably be better off without me, you know?
404
00:26:43,945 --> 00:26:47,814
[Nancy, voice breaking]
We sat down and told our son.
405
00:26:47,816 --> 00:26:51,818
We told him it wasn't his fault,
he had nothing to do with it.
406
00:26:51,820 --> 00:26:57,257
And our son cried and it
was just a really horrible time.
407
00:26:57,259 --> 00:26:59,459
[Michael on video] Say
Merry Christmas to everybody.
408
00:26:59,461 --> 00:27:02,629
- Come on, Daddy.
- Say Merry Christmas.
409
00:27:02,631 --> 00:27:04,331
[Michael] I lost my family.
410
00:27:06,567 --> 00:27:09,569
I had chosen Chippendales
over my family.
411
00:27:12,273 --> 00:27:16,943
And it took me to a
dark place and probably
412
00:27:16,945 --> 00:27:23,150
started giving me a perfect excuse to
start doing more drugs and to go drinking.
413
00:27:34,362 --> 00:27:38,932
[reporter] What goes on inside Chippendales
makes for some hot conversation,
414
00:27:38,934 --> 00:27:43,904
almost as hot as the legal problems
that seem to engulf the nightclub.
415
00:27:43,906 --> 00:27:47,607
But sometimes showbusiness
isn't all it's cracked up to be.
416
00:27:49,911 --> 00:27:54,514
[Bruce] From the outside, we were a hugely
successful multi-million dollar business,
417
00:27:54,516 --> 00:27:57,951
but the bigger we got the
more the problems piled up.
418
00:27:57,953 --> 00:28:02,289
[man] In spite of repeatedly
being fined and brought into court
419
00:28:02,291 --> 00:28:07,461
and being put on probation and being
notified by my people with notices and
420
00:28:07,463 --> 00:28:12,566
being shut down for the night. They have
repeatedly not paid any attention to that.
421
00:28:12,568 --> 00:28:16,770
Whether it was something that
happened through a government agency,
422
00:28:16,772 --> 00:28:19,906
the fire department or
the police department.
423
00:28:19,908 --> 00:28:22,375
The Los Angeles Fire Department
is threatening now to take action
424
00:28:22,377 --> 00:28:25,178
to try and shut
down Chippendales...
425
00:28:25,180 --> 00:28:30,383
There was also one occasion where a
gender discrimination lawsuit was filed.
426
00:28:30,385 --> 00:28:33,320
We're seeking general damages,
according to proof, for trial,
427
00:28:33,322 --> 00:28:37,357
attorney's fees and a permanent
injunction preventing Chippendales
428
00:28:37,359 --> 00:28:42,429
from refusing to admit men to the
male strip shows based on their sex.
429
00:28:42,431 --> 00:28:46,166
[Bruce] In the past we were
able to shrug all these things off.
430
00:28:46,168 --> 00:28:51,905
But now our LA club faced real threats of
closure and that really frustrated Steve.
431
00:28:51,907 --> 00:28:57,444
The city thinks a male revue
for women is immoral.
432
00:28:57,446 --> 00:29:02,749
Various city agencies have been trying
to close us down the past nine years.
433
00:29:03,951 --> 00:29:09,556
And I think they are trying
to legislate morality.
434
00:29:09,558 --> 00:29:13,760
And I'm sure once this goes
to court our legal counsel...
435
00:29:15,596 --> 00:29:21,234
[Roger] When I wasn't on tour, I was
in the LA office mounting the next show.
436
00:29:21,236 --> 00:29:25,338
I could feel the tension
and Steve being stressed out.
437
00:29:25,340 --> 00:29:29,576
And that's when I noticed the
big change in his personality.
438
00:29:30,912 --> 00:29:34,481
It was always about
money and lawsuits.
439
00:29:34,483 --> 00:29:37,284
Steve was not
the happy-going guy anymore.
440
00:29:39,987 --> 00:29:42,389
[Bruce] Steve had achieved
the American dream.
441
00:29:42,391 --> 00:29:46,059
But it was really built
on shaky foundations.
442
00:29:46,061 --> 00:29:48,028
And there was one lawsuit
in particular
443
00:29:48,030 --> 00:29:51,631
that was becoming
problematic for Chippendales.
444
00:29:51,633 --> 00:29:54,034
These people will be
given notice
445
00:29:54,036 --> 00:29:56,636
of their right
to file a claim...
446
00:29:56,638 --> 00:29:59,272
[Bruce] What happened was,
after the show was over
447
00:29:59,274 --> 00:30:01,441
Steve would open
the doors to men
448
00:30:01,443 --> 00:30:04,044
and Chippendales would become
a regular nightclub.
449
00:30:05,346 --> 00:30:09,282
One night, a young man,
well-dressed,
450
00:30:09,284 --> 00:30:13,253
tried to get into the club
and the doorman found
451
00:30:13,255 --> 00:30:15,555
some excuse not to allow him in.
452
00:30:15,557 --> 00:30:17,390
Even though he saw
453
00:30:17,392 --> 00:30:21,361
less well-dressed,
less well-behaved men come in.
454
00:30:22,763 --> 00:30:25,665
The problem with this
young individual
455
00:30:25,667 --> 00:30:29,936
was he was also
a law clerk for the head judge
456
00:30:29,938 --> 00:30:31,438
of the US District Court.
457
00:30:32,907 --> 00:30:35,308
A discrimination
lawsuit was filed.
458
00:30:36,611 --> 00:30:39,746
Except this wasn't
a gender discrimination case.
459
00:30:40,681 --> 00:30:43,383
Steve did not let this
young man in
460
00:30:43,385 --> 00:30:44,484
'cause he was Black.
461
00:31:04,639 --> 00:31:08,541
[interviewer speaking]
462
00:31:19,987 --> 00:31:21,354
[interviewer] Young...
463
00:31:21,389 --> 00:31:25,926
[Bruce] Steve and I were as
close as Steve would allow intimacy.
464
00:31:25,928 --> 00:31:28,561
He just wasn't really
a deep person,
465
00:31:28,563 --> 00:31:30,430
as far as talking about
466
00:31:30,432 --> 00:31:33,166
his issues and his problems.
467
00:31:33,168 --> 00:31:35,201
We talked business
most of the time
468
00:31:35,203 --> 00:31:36,469
when we got together.
469
00:31:36,871 --> 00:31:38,905
But over time,
470
00:31:38,907 --> 00:31:42,809
little tidbits of information
allowed me to get
471
00:31:42,811 --> 00:31:46,413
a more total outlook
of who Steve was.
472
00:31:50,418 --> 00:31:51,718
You don't know the ways,
473
00:31:53,220 --> 00:31:55,388
[Eric] We'd spend a lot
of time together
474
00:31:55,390 --> 00:31:57,891
if we were driving somewhere
he would talk,
475
00:31:57,893 --> 00:32:00,293
you know, occasionally
about his father.
476
00:32:00,295 --> 00:32:03,129
He was very careful about
who he opened that door with.
477
00:32:03,764 --> 00:32:05,231
The only time I actually,
478
00:32:05,233 --> 00:32:07,367
in the eight years
I worked for him,
479
00:32:08,369 --> 00:32:11,471
got a feeling of
a personal connection was...
480
00:32:13,307 --> 00:32:16,443
when I saw that
interview video of him.
481
00:32:16,445 --> 00:32:17,410
[interviewer speaking]
482
00:32:19,213 --> 00:32:21,381
[Bruce] Steve's real name
is Somen.
483
00:32:21,383 --> 00:32:24,384
He called himself Steve
instead of Somen,
484
00:32:24,386 --> 00:32:26,519
because it made him
sound American.
485
00:32:28,356 --> 00:32:32,792
From what I understand, Steve
came from a middle-class family.
486
00:32:32,794 --> 00:32:35,061
His father earned a good living.
487
00:32:35,063 --> 00:32:36,963
[interviewer speaking]
488
00:32:36,965 --> 00:32:38,431
[Steve] Yeah, but my
father always told me,
489
00:32:38,433 --> 00:32:40,000
"Get the hell out of here.
490
00:32:40,002 --> 00:32:41,534
Find somewhere
better to work."
491
00:32:45,773 --> 00:32:49,509
[Bruce] I think Steve always
wanted his father's approval.
492
00:32:49,511 --> 00:32:53,813
To have his father think his
decision to come to America
493
00:32:53,815 --> 00:32:55,782
was a wise decision.
494
00:32:55,784 --> 00:32:58,251
[interviewer speaking]
495
00:33:10,297 --> 00:33:12,165
My mother said, "Go ahead
and be a doctor."
496
00:33:12,167 --> 00:33:13,967
My father would say,
"Why do you wanna be a doctor?
497
00:33:13,969 --> 00:33:17,337
You can buy a damn hospital, have
a hundred of them working for you."
498
00:33:17,339 --> 00:33:20,173
In Steve's mind it wasn't
about a nightclub,
499
00:33:20,175 --> 00:33:22,042
it was to be the next
Hugh Hefner.
500
00:33:22,576 --> 00:33:24,177
It was always Hugh Hefner.
501
00:33:24,179 --> 00:33:27,580
[interviewer speaking]
502
00:33:31,952 --> 00:33:36,222
[Bruce] But Steve believed, that while
he can have the money and the control,
503
00:33:36,224 --> 00:33:39,259
he couldn't be
the Hugh Hefner public image.
504
00:33:43,464 --> 00:33:46,266
[Eric] I was hired to focus
on the after 10:00 market.
505
00:33:47,401 --> 00:33:49,803
So we advertised for
schlubs like me,
506
00:33:49,805 --> 00:33:53,306
to bring in guys to the club,
to meet the hot-looking girls.
507
00:33:54,442 --> 00:33:58,144
And Banerjee would stand
at the door after the show.
508
00:33:58,146 --> 00:34:00,246
To see the kind of men
coming in the door
509
00:34:00,614 --> 00:34:03,283
and if a guy was Black,
510
00:34:03,285 --> 00:34:04,884
he would just give a nod
to the doorman.
511
00:34:04,886 --> 00:34:07,020
And the doorman would come up
with some excuse
512
00:34:07,022 --> 00:34:09,322
to not let the guy in, like
"We have a dress code here."
513
00:34:09,324 --> 00:34:12,459
And then a white guy that
wasn't well-dressed at all
514
00:34:12,461 --> 00:34:14,727
who was just a total jerk,
would be allowed right in.
515
00:34:15,396 --> 00:34:18,064
He believed, as a fact,
516
00:34:18,066 --> 00:34:22,335
that Black men
drove out white women.
517
00:34:22,337 --> 00:34:27,507
My recollection is that there was probably
never more than one Black dancer at a time.
518
00:34:28,776 --> 00:34:31,511
Maybe there was one
Black calendar person.
519
00:34:31,513 --> 00:34:33,413
Maybe not even.
520
00:34:33,415 --> 00:34:38,985
But I think that Steve wanted
Chippendales to be a white brand.
521
00:34:38,987 --> 00:34:45,492
[Eric] The calendars were scrubbed
to just have mostly white guys.
522
00:34:45,494 --> 00:34:51,798
His view was a legitimate
sex symbol would be white.
523
00:34:53,167 --> 00:34:55,201
And so, Banerjee was
scared to death
524
00:34:55,203 --> 00:34:59,139
of being seen as
the head of Chippendales.
525
00:34:59,141 --> 00:35:03,243
He would say, "Look, if we had to sell
Chippendales with me, we'd be out of business.
526
00:35:03,245 --> 00:35:05,311
No one's going
to pay to see me."
527
00:35:05,313 --> 00:35:08,815
He studied
the culture of America.
528
00:35:08,817 --> 00:35:12,152
And then comes here and
figures us out as Americans.
529
00:35:12,154 --> 00:35:18,992
How to sell to American women,
male sexuality.
530
00:35:18,994 --> 00:35:24,998
His whole goal was to monetize
sex in the most optimum way.
531
00:35:25,000 --> 00:35:27,800
And he saw that
through racial...
532
00:35:27,802 --> 00:35:29,369
You know, discrimination.
533
00:35:32,373 --> 00:35:35,175
He was perpetuating an image
of white America.
534
00:35:35,976 --> 00:35:37,277
And he capitalized on it.
535
00:35:39,013 --> 00:35:41,881
I think we've proved that
there's still illegal conduct
536
00:35:41,883 --> 00:35:43,917
being carried on by businesses.
537
00:35:43,919 --> 00:35:46,386
That society hasn't risen
to the level
538
00:35:46,388 --> 00:35:47,921
where everyone
is able to recognize
539
00:35:47,923 --> 00:35:49,822
that everyone should be
treated equally and with dignity.
540
00:35:55,996 --> 00:35:59,599
[Bruce] As a result of the
numerous lawsuits we had against us,
541
00:36:00,100 --> 00:36:02,936
we lost our liquor license.
542
00:36:02,938 --> 00:36:07,006
And we were unable to
continue to operate the club in LA.
543
00:36:09,777 --> 00:36:12,011
Steve was angry,
544
00:36:12,013 --> 00:36:15,348
and I wasn't about to tell him
it's his own fault.
545
00:36:16,417 --> 00:36:20,019
[reporter] Steve Banerjee is
pouring his last drink here
546
00:36:20,021 --> 00:36:23,856
because last week, the state
revoked his liquor license.
547
00:36:23,858 --> 00:36:26,893
I think they should pick up their
business and find another place,
548
00:36:26,895 --> 00:36:31,631
move it elsewhere, because this is a great
place for a lot of fun and crazy women.
549
00:36:32,766 --> 00:36:35,835
[Bruce] We had lost
our Los Angeles club,
550
00:36:35,837 --> 00:36:38,071
which was the heart
of Chippendales.
551
00:36:41,375 --> 00:36:45,178
And this, basically, was
a foretelling of our future.
552
00:36:48,315 --> 00:36:50,416
It was the beginning of the end.
553
00:37:06,066 --> 00:37:08,735
[Read] When the LA club
finally got closed down,
554
00:37:10,271 --> 00:37:13,139
Banerjee had to find places
that the show could go on.
555
00:37:15,009 --> 00:37:17,644
We found a theatre
on Wilshire Avenue.
556
00:37:17,646 --> 00:37:19,512
An old theatre they
turned into a nightclub.
557
00:37:19,514 --> 00:37:21,447
And then we moved
to a restaurant
558
00:37:21,449 --> 00:37:24,117
called Carlos' N Charlie's
right off of Sunset Avenue.
559
00:37:24,451 --> 00:37:26,352
And literally, we were
560
00:37:26,354 --> 00:37:28,288
changing back
in the old kitchen.
561
00:37:30,991 --> 00:37:32,492
You know, it was sad.
562
00:37:32,494 --> 00:37:35,628
The morale was low,
it wasn't like the days of,
563
00:37:35,630 --> 00:37:37,630
"Hey, we're the hottest
thing in town."
564
00:37:37,632 --> 00:37:39,999
It almost became
565
00:37:40,334 --> 00:37:42,935
kind of laughable.
566
00:37:42,937 --> 00:37:45,405
Every night was like a battle,
"Oh, I'm going to Chippendales
567
00:37:45,407 --> 00:37:49,375
and dance for 50 ladies
instead of 500.
568
00:37:49,377 --> 00:37:53,413
Or 2,000,"
I mean, it got difficult.
569
00:37:53,415 --> 00:37:55,481
Tonight's show,
ladies and gentlemen,
570
00:37:56,150 --> 00:37:59,352
male strippers.
571
00:37:59,354 --> 00:38:03,623
And at that time, knockoff
groups started happening.
572
00:38:04,391 --> 00:38:07,260
Those started popping up
everywhere.
573
00:38:07,262 --> 00:38:11,230
And a lot of them would try to
take the name of Chippendales.
574
00:38:11,232 --> 00:38:13,566
And if Steve Banerjee found out,
575
00:38:13,568 --> 00:38:15,568
oh, you would have hell to pay.
576
00:38:15,570 --> 00:38:17,270
It got crazy.
577
00:38:21,375 --> 00:38:23,509
[Roger] While I was
in the LA office,
578
00:38:23,511 --> 00:38:26,045
I overheard a few conversations.
579
00:38:26,047 --> 00:38:30,616
These copycat shows,
nightclubs stealing his ideas.
580
00:38:32,252 --> 00:38:34,520
I told them Chippendales
was the Rolls-Royce
581
00:38:34,522 --> 00:38:36,189
of male dancing.
582
00:38:36,191 --> 00:38:38,991
And all these other clubs
will probably not make it.
583
00:38:43,997 --> 00:38:45,932
But one of these copycats
584
00:38:45,934 --> 00:38:52,071
were former Chippendale dancers
and choreographers that branched out
585
00:38:52,073 --> 00:38:55,375
and started their own group.
And they called it Adonis.
586
00:38:58,946 --> 00:39:02,415
Adonis was the newest, freshest
587
00:39:02,417 --> 00:39:07,086
hippest show, you know, with the most
incredible cast of talented singers and dancers.
588
00:39:07,088 --> 00:39:09,555
[upbeat pop music playing]
589
00:39:16,063 --> 00:39:18,398
[Read] I didn't know
who was behind the show
590
00:39:18,400 --> 00:39:20,800
but I knew that they had
already sold out
591
00:39:20,802 --> 00:39:23,803
more than 500,000 seats.
592
00:39:23,805 --> 00:39:28,274
They raked in tons of money.
Almost 200 shows sold out.
593
00:39:28,276 --> 00:39:31,477
So it was huge competition
for the first time.
594
00:39:33,947 --> 00:39:36,349
[Bruce] Steve got very angry.
595
00:39:36,351 --> 00:39:40,052
But I kept explaining to him,
he doesn't own the idea.
596
00:39:40,054 --> 00:39:43,256
We can't stop other people
from having male dancing.
597
00:39:48,262 --> 00:39:50,129
[Eric] His personality
became more manic
598
00:39:50,131 --> 00:39:52,131
and he was really
difficult to talk to.
599
00:39:52,633 --> 00:39:55,234
I mean, he would
call me at night,
600
00:39:55,236 --> 00:39:58,104
like at midnight,
to talk business
601
00:39:58,106 --> 00:39:59,005
and I would have to play the,
602
00:39:59,007 --> 00:40:01,107
"Hello, the line's
a little weak here.
603
00:40:01,109 --> 00:40:02,809
Hello? Can you hear me,
Steve?"
604
00:40:02,811 --> 00:40:04,343
And hang up.
605
00:40:04,345 --> 00:40:07,213
It was just getting wilder
and wilder and, I think,
606
00:40:07,215 --> 00:40:08,781
a lot of it was driven by coke.
607
00:40:11,051 --> 00:40:13,252
[Bruce] It made him paranoiac.
608
00:40:13,254 --> 00:40:16,956
Made him more untrustworthy,
if you can imagine.
609
00:40:16,958 --> 00:40:18,858
Very hyper.
610
00:40:18,860 --> 00:40:22,695
And there were times that,
it took over.
611
00:40:25,265 --> 00:40:28,668
[Eric] In the morning he'd
come in, really clogged up.
612
00:40:28,670 --> 00:40:30,069
And he'd be bitchy.
613
00:40:30,071 --> 00:40:31,204
Like yelling about stuff,
614
00:40:31,206 --> 00:40:33,105
you know, "I'm not gonna
pay this or that."
615
00:40:33,107 --> 00:40:38,244
I really believe that cocaine pushed him
to a point where, he didn't give a fuck.
616
00:40:40,514 --> 00:40:44,050
The fun things about the job
were evaporating.
617
00:40:44,052 --> 00:40:47,386
It became more of
a Mr. Toad's Wild Ride
618
00:40:47,388 --> 00:40:49,489
in paranoia land
with Steve Banerjee.
619
00:40:50,390 --> 00:40:53,226
So, I just faxed in
my resignation.
620
00:40:53,228 --> 00:40:56,295
And that was the end of it.
621
00:40:57,931 --> 00:41:02,301
[Bruce] It was increasingly
more and more lawyers around,
622
00:41:02,303 --> 00:41:08,040
that Steve was talking to and both my
professional and personal relationship
623
00:41:08,809 --> 00:41:10,610
with Steve became estranged.
624
00:41:10,612 --> 00:41:12,612
And I was no longer involved.
625
00:41:14,281 --> 00:41:17,250
[man] 5, 6, 7, 8.
And 1, 2, 3, 4...
626
00:41:17,252 --> 00:41:21,721
[Read] I got a call from one of the
producers and promoters of Adonis.
627
00:41:21,723 --> 00:41:26,559
And they said, "Hey, would you be
interested in taking on a role in the show?"
628
00:41:26,561 --> 00:41:30,763
And I said, "Yeah, I would love that,
but I wanna move to the next level.
629
00:41:30,765 --> 00:41:32,231
I wanna be part of the show.
630
00:41:32,233 --> 00:41:33,933
I wanna direct,
I wanna create."
631
00:41:33,935 --> 00:41:36,002
He said, "Well,
you could do that."
632
00:41:36,004 --> 00:41:40,373
So we kind of agreed on becoming
a partner of the show, Adonis.
633
00:41:41,542 --> 00:41:44,777
I flew over to England.
634
00:41:44,779 --> 00:41:49,348
To join the Adonis group
and start the next phase
635
00:41:49,350 --> 00:41:54,720
of, hopefully, my career as a director
and producer of the next Chippendales.
636
00:41:55,789 --> 00:41:58,324
And that's where it
got a little interesting.
637
00:42:15,776 --> 00:42:18,311
I was in Blackpool with Adonis
638
00:42:18,313 --> 00:42:22,915
doing a show at the Winter
Gardens for three to four weeks.
639
00:42:22,917 --> 00:42:24,784
you ladies think you could
go for something like that
640
00:42:24,786 --> 00:42:28,454
right now, right here,
with American Adonis?
641
00:42:28,456 --> 00:42:33,526
I got one or two shows
under my belt as the emcee.
642
00:42:33,528 --> 00:42:36,062
We are gonna show you things
you have never seen...
643
00:42:36,064 --> 00:42:39,198
[Read] One night, I was just
getting into the show
644
00:42:39,200 --> 00:42:42,301
and all of a sudden, the producer
and the promoter of the show
645
00:42:42,303 --> 00:42:45,171
comes over and he asks me
to step down off the stage.
646
00:42:45,173 --> 00:42:47,306
He said, "You need
to come down, we got to talk."
647
00:42:50,143 --> 00:42:52,612
We walk into this little
office space.
648
00:42:52,614 --> 00:42:55,114
And there are two gentlemen
and they're in plainclothes,
649
00:42:55,116 --> 00:42:57,450
suits and ties
very professional-looking.
650
00:42:59,419 --> 00:43:04,090
They introduced themselves as
detectives for the Blackpool area.
651
00:43:06,259 --> 00:43:10,396
And they said,
"We've been notified
652
00:43:10,398 --> 00:43:13,132
that there is a plot.
653
00:43:15,469 --> 00:43:19,138
That men have been
sent over here
654
00:43:19,140 --> 00:43:21,007
to assassinate you."
655
00:43:24,478 --> 00:43:25,678
Wait, what?
656
00:43:28,348 --> 00:43:30,349
[theme music playing]
54224
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