Flashback: The Time SNL Took A Swipe At UNLV

With the 50th celebration of "Saturday Night Live", it was time for a flashback and remembering the time SNL took a swipe at UNLV!

The Mike & Carla Morning Show went back to 1987 when the Runnin' Rebels were ranked #1 in the country and headed to the Final Four in the NCAA Tournament. They faced off with Indiana, who eventually won the the college basketball title.

Having lost, the entire city was in shock! The team had only lost one game going into the tournament and that was to Oklahoma by one point! This was going to be the year!

As it turned out it was not. The team that was loaded with great players ended up losing to Indiana by 4 points and it was all over. Or was it?

As fans were finally getting over the heartbreak, "Saturday Night Live" comes along! Adding salt to the open wound, the show featured an extra lengthy skit highlighting how UNLV was far less than the average university when it came to academics.

A recent article in the Review-Journal recaps the episode and goes into a little more depth. Helping those of us that forgot all about it, relive that one Saturday night.

Taking a swipe not only at the basketball team and then head coach Jerry Tarkanian, but of the student body overall. Mentioning how hard it was to get into the school and how tough the classes were.

Charlton Heston was the guest host at the time. He played a professor at the school teaching a class in basic blackjack. From there it was down hill!

Oh sure, it was all tongue and check, but a lot of us were a little surprised how they took UNLV to task. Were we really that much of a hot topic at the time...just because of our basketball team? So much so that a show like SNL would dedicate almost 20 minutes to spotlight UNLV?

Nonetheless, those of us that remember, it was quite the episode...oh, and having Jon Lovitz as Coach Tark, we all would agree that was the worst part of the sketch!

There are many resorts for families in Las Vegas. The days of Vegas being an adult's playground still hold true. However, our city has opened its arms to giddy families who are looking for an escape to the desert.

Las Vegas can be a perfect family vacation -- if you do it right. While dad -- or mom -- hits the craps table, the kids can go hang at an arcade, catch a movie or even ride a rollercoaster.

Many hotels also have shopping centers that can also absorb the attention of teens. For little kids, shopping may be a hard task. But, the cool experiences at the Forum Shops inside of Caesars Palace can turn mundane shopping into a spectacle of an activity. That's the beauty of Las Vegas: The city turns regular things into magic.

While concocting this list, we wanted to give you a unique list that doesn't list your "run-of-the-mill" Vegas resorts. Honestly, everything on The Strip will be great. But, there may be some properties that shine more compared to others due to their amenities for families as a whole.

The resorts that made this list were judged based on the activities for children, activities for women, and activities for men. We also calculated affordability and the location of the resort as well. We also took into account the dining options available and what the non-gaming areas look like.

Yes. You should.

According to CNN, Las Vegas is becoming one of the hottest spots for family vacations.

You may not believe it, but there's more to Las Vegas than gambling. We have a rich Chinatown with a beautiful selection of cuisine and great restaurants. We have a rich array of outdoor activities like hiking at Red Rock, visiting Mt. Charleston, seeing the skywalk at the Grand Canyon, watching the beautiful rock formations at Valley of Fire State Park

Las Vegas is simply an amazing place for families, so here are five spots to help your booking process for the next vacation or thee next staycation.

Now you may be thinking "What?" for this option. But The Silverton is an amazing resort for families, and here's why. The casino has a free mermaid show that captivates children and even teens. The mermaid swims happen Thursday - Saturday from noon until 8 p.m. On Sunday, the shows happen from 10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. There are also interactive stingray feedings that happen daily from 1:30 p.m. until 4:30 p.m.

On top of this kid-friendly entertainment, the casino is located off The Strip. So, it's a little bit more affordable than on-the-strip resorts. Despite the hotel being located off The Strip, there are a few shopping centers close to the Silverton like the huge Bass Pro Shops, which are usually adored by children. On top of that, the South Premium Outlets are about a 10-minute drive from the Silverton. The Strip is about 20-to-25 minutes depending on the traffic. It's a hidden gem, and the Silverton Village always has fun activities and shopping events that are fun for mom and even dad. It's not as busy compared to other Strip properties, and they cater to families. 

The New York-New York Hotel & Casino is another wonderful property for families. The resort is located right on The Strip, so it's the quintessential spot for a Vegas vacation. The rollercoaster is a core memory for many children who live or visit Las Vegas. The rollercoaster is a bumpy one, but the memories made while riding this coaster are priceless. There's also the famous Big Apple Arcade for kids and teens, which can catch the kiddos' attention for a few hours.

The shopping is a dreamscape for young children due to the famous Hershey's Chocolate World. The Hershey store even has a part where you can personalize your own chocolate bars, and the "Statue of Liberty" inside of the Hershey store is made out of 800 lbs of pure chocolate.  It's a major attraction for everyone in the family. Aside from the amenities that are part of the hotel, the New York-New York is close to Toshiba Plaza, which connects Park MGM, T-Mobile Arena and the New York-New York together. There are usually activations before, during and after events.

The New York-New York is a fun, vibrant and buzzing property. You won't get total peace and quiet, but you'll get tons of entertainment.

If you want to be transported away from the dry desert then you need to head to Tahiti Village Resort & Spa. This resort offers an immersive experience that transports you to the tropical beaches and oasis of Tahiti. This resort prides itself on being family-friendly and has a couple of epic amenities for the family. The pool and lazy river are stunning at Tahiti Village. There's also an arcade and many children-friendly options for food. The spa has options for massages, facials and packages that are perfect for mom and dad.

Tahiti Village Resort & Spa is also located off The Strip, but it's close to the airport. The resort also hosts luaus during the summer and they sprinkle in other entertainment options like mermaids swims where your children can learn how to swim with a mermaid tail -- how amazing!

This is another stunning property right on The Strip. Park MGM is one of the only non-smoking hotels/casinos on The Strip, so this is a major reason why we wanted to add this place to our list. Eatly is a fun experience for the entire family as well. Eatly is basically a huge food court that transports you to the open-air markets in Italy. There are options like Italian street food, fresh deli meats, pizza, authentic pasta, seafood and so much more.  However, you can't forget the delectable sweets like fresh gelato and Italian pastries that are available for a sweet treat.

Park MGM is also right across the M&M’S Las Vegas store and the Coca-Cola store, which are must-visits when you come to Vegas. The Toshiba Plaza is also right by Park MGM, and the Hello Kitty Cafe is also located on Park MGM's property.

Park MGM also has amazing shows that are simply over-the-top in the best way. Dolby Live has incredible sound even if you're sitting in nosebleed sections. Overall, this is a great and classy property for any family who is visiting Vegas or having a family staycation.

Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino is the last property on our list. Now, you may be surprised the Circus-Circus didn't make the list. But listen, we recommend visiting Circus-Circus' Adventuredome, which is the theme park inside of the hotel, with the kids.

We chose Mandalay Bay because of the location, its calm yet busy energy, and the plethora of activities to do on the resort property. The famous Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay is iconic, and the Mandalay Bay Beach features a lazy river, hot tubs, and multiple pools. It's also in a great location because it's within walking distance of the Excalibur and the Luxor, which are must-see properties when you come to Las Vegas. If you stay at Mandalay there will be endless amounts of activities to participate in and food to eat. 

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