1.
Scoff at reality TV. If you are even marginally famous and looking for love, you can apparently have your own TV show. How else to explain Rock of Love and Scott Baio is 45 ... and Single, both premiering this week on VH1? The former finds 20 women competing for the affection of Poison frontman Bret Michaels, while the latter follows the former Happy Days and Charles in Charge star as he confronts his bad-boy past in order to move forward with a serious, committed relationship. Surely all of the women who appear on these shows will do so solely out of a desire to find true love, and not to achieve fleeting fame on fifth-rate reality TV. Watch to see how badly people will debase themselves for attention, and also to crush all your ideals about romance. Fun! VH1, Sundays at 9 p.m. (Rock of Love) and 10:30 p.m. (Scott Baio is 45), starting July 15.
2.
Be weird. Wayward Ways, Onyx Theatre’s own homegrown psycho vaudeville variety show, is in some cases a true reflection of the young but already (in)famous theater situated inside local fetish clothing haunt The Rack, 953 E. Sahara Ave., Suite 101. Much like the store, Ways is exemplified by a heavy dose of adults-only weirdness, including satire, psychedelia, fire-breathing, burlesque, magic, surrealism and other excesses. In the end, Wayward Ways is in some cases one of the last really great (and odd) recurring items in Las Vegas’ underground theater scene. See it for yourself July 14 at 11 p.m. for $10.
3.
See pro hoops. When next year’s NBA season starts, you’ll have to travel over state borders and pay more than you can stomach to watch these future stars—guys like the 2007 NBA Draft’s first two picks, Greg Oden and Kevin Durant—play against one another live. But up until Sunday, July 15, you can watch them compete all day at the Cox Pavilion on UNLV’s campus for half the normal NBA ticket price. Plus, you’ll be able to catch up with former UNLV stars Dalron Johnson, Marcus Banks, Louis Amundson and Reggie Theus. Thursday-Sunday through July 15, 1 p.m. to 9 p.m., Cox Pavilion. Tickets ($15 for kids, $25 for adults) at the door or at unlvtickets.com.
4.
Admire hot comic talent. Not only did Irish-Asian comedy sensation Steve Byrne win the inaugural Stand Up or Sit Down contest at November’s Comedy Festival; not only has he starred in his own Comedy Central special and on NBC’s The Real Wedding Crashers; not only does he possess the single greatest bits in history on both mac & cheese and Bruce Lee, but most telling of all, his relationship material presents females as real people as opposed to brainless objects of derision. Plus, our nightlife editor, like, totally wants to have his babies, and she’s got high standards. With Ben Gleib. July 14, 8 and 10:30 p.m., $44. Playboy Comedy at the Palms, 474-4000.
5.
Shake it. Two years have come and gone, and Rawkerz, Las Vegas’ premier ’80s and new-wave revival, is still kicking hipster ass and taking names. Even in the light of rising and worthy competition from other bars and Beauty Bar’s own retro-dance-oriented nights, Rawkerz trudges on and still leaves the cool kids wanting more. So celebrate two years of mindless electro dance fun with seven electro-rock bands and a handful of DJs at the Beauty Bar, 517 Fremont St., July 14 at 8 p.m. for $15, and keep those hip booties shaking.
6.
Screen under-the-radar films. Believe it or not, CineVegas isn’t the only film festival in town. The Las Vegas International Film Festival, which is being revived under new management after several years dormant, screens some more under-the-radar fare (including Glimpses of Heaven, above) than its larger counterpart, with mostly short films filling out the program. There are also panel discussions and an awards ceremony. July 13-15, The Orleans, individual film tickets $8. Info: www.lvfilmfest.com.
