Killer Thriller: Cocaine, Sex, and Chippendales Murder with Jay Schwartz

Summary

Killer Thriller: Cocaine, Sex, and Chippendales Murder with Jay Schwartz

Podcast: Amy Robach & T.J. Holmes Present
Host: Elisa Donovan
Guest: Jay Schwartz
Date: February 1, 2026
Episode Theme:
A behind-the-scenes, no-holds-barred account of the original Chippendales New York club in the 1980s, with legendary Hollywood publicist (and former producer of the club) Jay Schwartz. The episode critically examines the Hulu series "Welcome to Chippendales," separating TV fiction from eye-popping fact—including mafia encounters, wild nights, greed, sex, cocaine, murder, and the real nature of the club that changed nightlife.

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Episode Overview

Elisa Donovan resumes her candid conversation with Jay Schwartz, one of the original producers of Chippendales in NYC, now a renowned publicist. Jay shares first-hand stories of the club’s intoxicating heyday, the real people behind the infamous murder, mafia involvement, and why much of the media portrayal—including the Hulu series—is deeply inaccurate. The discussion dives into 1980s nightlife, club culture, drugs, sexuality, and the art of telling true stories from lived experience.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Reality Behind "Welcome to Chippendales"

• Critical of Hulu Series: Jay expresses strong views on the "Welcome to Chippendales" series' inaccuracies.
• "I thought it was horrible. And my opinion may be skewed because that's not what Chippendales was about." – Jay Schwartz (14:53)
• Many events and characters, especially those claiming to be producers of the club, are misrepresented or outright false.

2. Mafia Connections & Cash Business

• Club Run on Cash: Jay describes the club’s all-cash business model, evoking images of trash bags filled with money.
• "Steven and Gary were carrying Hefty bags out to their car...big Hefty bags out of cash and putting them in the trunks." – Jay Schwartz (04:13)
• Mafia Visit: Recounts a chilling but nonchalant run-in with NYC mobsters demanding a "collection."
• "I said in my arrogant New York style, can I help you? What the fuck are you doing?" – Jay Schwartz (04:16)
• This type of shakedown was "regular in New York" and didn't faze Jay.

3. Club Dynamics: Drugs, Sex & Scandal

• A Typical Night Out (21:25): Arrived early to prep. Staff, Broadway celebrities, and a who's-who of 1980s New York—Brooke Shields, Sylvester Stallone, Anita Morris—visited.
• VIP Culture & Surveillance: Jay could oversee the dancefloor via a two-way mirror and the club videoed every night’s show for performance notes.
• Cocaine Everywhere: Cocaine use was rampant—among staff, dancers, and customers. Bathrooms and VIP areas were main sites for drug use.
  • "Everybody was doing cocaine and drinking the whole time." – Jay Schwartz (23:25)
• Sexual Atmosphere: All consensual—sex occurred backstage, in bathrooms, and, memorably, on the club roof beneath the Roosevelt tram.
• "We would take women up to the roof of the club and there were a lot of people having sex on the roof." – Jay Schwartz (25:30)
• Wild Stories: Jay recounts an especially bizarre moment when a woman got sick during an intimate act and then "went back to continue."
  • "All parties involved. I say, ew." – Elisa Donovan (27:34)

4. LGBTQ+ and Racial Dynamics

• Gay Culture: Jay reflects on the 1980s stigma against homosexuality but notes the club itself was mostly insulated and nonjudgmental.
• Diversity Issues: The hiring of Black dancers was not part of any policy but happened organically. Jay tells stories about how auditions happened and racial representation.

5. Interpersonal Conflicts, Greed & The Murder Motive

• Toxic Leadership: Jay and virtually everyone else disliked Nick (Nick De Noia), the club’s infamous creative lead. Nick’s ego and treatment of staff were legendary.
• "He was not a very well-liked guy. I could put you on the phone with 10 different people." – Jay Schwartz (14:26)
• Nick nurtured rivalries, and, when conflicts with owner Steve Banerjee intensified, things turned deadly.
• "That is why Nick was murdered.... Because of greed." – Jay Schwartz (13:46)
• Jay left after being accused by Nick of "cheating the club" due to a side business arranging bachelorette gigs, describing a combustible, backstabbing environment.

6. Media Portrayal vs. Reality

• Frustration at Inaccurate Storytelling: Jay is adamant the TV and media depictions miss what the club truly was, both in atmosphere and dynamics.
• "If you’re not gonna tell the true story of a true story, why bother?" – Jay Schwartz (29:28)
• Key Missed Details: The spiral staircase, club layout, show acts, and staff personalities from NYC were inaccurately transplanted to LA for TV.

7. Aftermath & Chippendales Legacy

• Survival After Scandal: Despite arrests, murders, suicides, and shocking news, the Chippendales brand—and the "experience"—survived, evolving into slicker Vegas-style shows.
• Change From Past: Jay describes the loss of chaotic excitement in today’s stage shows compared to the original communal, immersive format.

8. Personal Reflections & Redemption

• Admitting Flaws: Jay openly discusses his own history of yelling and difficult behavior as a manager—linking it to his upbringing and time under Nick.
• "I learned years after...I wish I would have learned earlier. You can't talk to people like that." – Jay Schwartz (47:13)
• Accountability: Jay emphasizes the necessity of respect and accountability, both in relationships and storytelling.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote / Moment | |-----------|--------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 04:16 | Jay Schwartz | "Steven and Gary were carrying Hefty bags out to their car... big Hefty bags out of cash..." | | 13:46 | Jay Schwartz | "That is why Nick was murdered.... Because of greed." | | 14:53 | Jay Schwartz | "I thought it was horrible. And my opinion may be skewed because that's not what Chippendales was about." | | 23:25 | Jay Schwartz | "Everybody was doing cocaine and drinking the whole time." | | 25:30 | Jay Schwartz | "We would take women up to the roof of the club and there were a lot of people having sex on the roof." | | 27:34 | Elisa Donovan| "All parties involved. I say, ew." | | 29:28 | Jay Schwartz | "If you're not gonna tell the true story of a true story, why bother?" | | 46:41 | Jay Schwartz | "You don't treat people like that." | | 47:13 | Jay Schwartz | "I learned years after...I wish I would have learned earlier. You can't talk to people like that."| | 52:44 | Jay Schwartz | "This is what happened in my life. You know, you don't like what I say, you're entitled to your opinion. You're wrong, but you're entitled to your opinion." | | 57:34 | Elisa Donovan| "What a life you have lived and continue to live in all of the ways. So I am like... you just—you got it in the eyes—you could see, if you could see in this man's eyes, he's got the sparkle."| | 59:32 | Jay Schwartz | "The entertainment business is based on relationships. No matter what... it's no sweat off your back to be nice and kind."|

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• 03:16 – Show and guest intro; Jay’s Chippendales history.
• 04:07 – Mafia stories, the cash business, and mafia “collections.”
• 07:00 – Toxic leadership, club culture, and why Jay left.
• 13:46 – The real reason for Nick’s murder: greed.
• 21:25 – A night inside Chippendales: celebs, cocaine, sex, and surveillance.
• 25:30 – Infamous rooftop escapades under the Roosevelt tram.
• 27:16 – "Ew" moment: a particularly wild sexual encounter gone awry.
• 34:00 – Discontent with the Hulu series’ depiction.
• 43:16 – How Chippendales survived murder and scandal.
• 46:41 – Jay’s emotional reflections on leadership and behavior.
• 52:44 – Defending lived experience: owning his truth.
• 56:03 – Fond memories; Jay’s first cocaine experience at the club.
• 59:32 – Final remarks on kindness and respect in the entertainment industry.

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Additional Highlights

• Club Details: Unmatched access—Jay boasts video of an entire 1984 show.
• Cultural Context: The episode captures the 1980s "Wild West" atmosphere: cash, drugs, unchecked behaviors, and a secretive sexual underworld.
• Accuracy in Storytelling: Jay draws sharp lines between lived experience and "entertainment" fiction, echoing broader concerns about how true crime and cult phenomena are adapted for TV.

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Tone & Language

The episode is conversational, humorous, profane, and deeply honest—capturing both the glamor and grime of Chippendales’ notorious reign. Jay is blunt, unfiltered, and reflective; Elisa listens with curiosity, interjecting with empathy and wit.

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Summary Takeaway

This is a wide-open, riveting oral history of Chippendales at its notorious New York peak from an original insider. Jay Schwartz debunks much of what viewers have seen on TV or in documentaries, supplying gritty, often hilarious, sometimes dark personal stories about cash, cocaine, sex, egos, greed, and murder—and what happens when sensationalized true crime storytelling outpaces the truth. Jay brings both candor and remorse, reflecting on his own journey, how clubs and media handle legacy, and what it means to finally tell your own story.

If you want the unvarnished, untold saga of Chippendales, drugs, the mafia, and the real people behind the legend, this is the conversation you need to hear.

Transcript

[Elisa Donovan]

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[Jay Schwartz]

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[Elisa Donovan]

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[Elisa Donovan]

Foreign.

[Jay Schwartz]

TJ Holmes present Killer Thriller with your host, Elisa Donovan.

[Elisa Donovan]

Hey, everybody, Elisa Donovan here. Back again with a new episode of Killer Thriller. This is a continuation of my chat with Jay Schwartz. We are talking about welcome to Chippendales, the Hulu series, which Jay has some pretty specific feelings about. And he was one of the producers of the original Chippendales in New York City. He is now a very legendary Hollywood publicist. So we're gonna get back into our conversation talking about what did happen, what didn't happen, and let me tell you, what did happen was far wilder than what they ever cover in this show. I want to make sure we cover talking about the Mafia and the bags of cash.

[Jay Schwartz]

That was me.

[Elisa Donovan]

That was you?

[Jay Schwartz]

Yes.

[Elisa Donovan]

So, right. So tell me, tell me about the Mafia. How was the Mafia involved?

[Jay Schwartz]

Well, but that's two different things. Okay, Right.

[Elisa Donovan]

Okay.

[Jay Schwartz]

So it was a cash business, Right.

[Elisa Donovan]

Which is also kind of hard to.

[Jay Schwartz]

So the old Steven Gary were carrying Hefty bags out to their car. There was a garage attached to. To the club and like a little driveway. And they would be taking big Hefty bags out of cash and putting them in the chunks of their cars. The Mafia thing is, one afternoon, two guys came into the club. I was downstairs, even though I knew what it was, I. It didn't phase me, I guess, but came in and I said in my arrogant New York style, can I help you? What the fuck are you doing?

[Elisa Donovan]

What do you want?

[Jay Schwartz]

Who are you? And they said, oh, yeah, we're here for our collection. Like, collection. Like, totally over my head.

[Elisa Donovan]

Right, right.

[Jay Schwartz]

What collection?

[Elisa Donovan]

Are you picking up the garbage? What are you looking for?

[Jay Schwartz]

And I, I guess I was sizing them up like they were dressed and so on. And I'm like, election. Like, yeah, we're here to get paid.

[Elisa Donovan]

Oh, they're probably like, who is this guy?

[Jay Schwartz]

I want to talk to the guys upstairs. Hang on just a moment. I'll go get that. That's sewing. Oh, wow. That's a regular thing in New York. So that's what I mean. Like, I'm not phased by it because. Yeah, there's always stuff like that.

[Elisa Donovan]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Jay Schwartz]

So I didn't. I wasn't scared of them in the least. I just didn't know. And you know, like when you're in a situation or you're talking to somebody and then all of a sudden you have.

[Elisa Donovan]

Yes. It all goes.

[Jay Schwartz]

I was like, okay, you want to talk to me? Just. I'll be right back. Oh. So. And when I left the club, you asked me that question.

[Elisa Donovan]

Yes, that's what I was gonna ask you. How did you come to leave?

[Jay Schwartz]

So, you know, it was very.

[Elisa Donovan]

Because it sounds like you just loved your boss. I don't know why you would ever want to leave.

[Jay Schwartz]

I used to have such dizzy spells because I had to stay at Nick's apartment because I lived in South Jersey before I moved to the city.

[Elisa Donovan]

Okay.

[Jay Schwartz]

You know, when we were rehearsing the show and hiring and they were rebuilding the club and it was just a lot for me. And I was there like seven days a week, 24 hours a day.

[Elisa Donovan]

You were living with him. You had to live.

[Jay Schwartz]

Well, I lived in. He got a two bedroom on the east side, which is where the club was.

[Elisa Donovan]

We're talking about getting.

[Jay Schwartz]

But I just couldn't deal with him, you know? I mean, like, my contempt for him was just out there, you know? But everybody felt the same way about him.

[Elisa Donovan]

Everybody did.

[Jay Schwartz]

Nobody liked him. He had one dancer in there who was. Nobody liked this guy either because he was a liar. And, you know, I'm better than anyone else and so on.

[Elisa Donovan]

Same mentality, set him up, caught him.

[Jay Schwartz]

In a big lie. And prior to it, we had scary Steve and Nick and me and some other people. Okay, if we catch him doing this, he's fired, Right? I mean, that's how much we hated this guy. He did it. We caught him that night. Nick didn't fire him.

[Elisa Donovan]

He didn't fire him.

[Jay Schwartz]

So I have my own ideas of why Nick didn't fire him.

[Elisa Donovan]

Well, he was probably sleeping with him.

[Jay Schwartz]

Okay. Right.

[Elisa Donovan]

Yeah. I mean, the man was obvious. So this is the whole other thing about how, you know, we had to remember it was the 80s, that being gay was somewhat of a crime in some people's eyes.

[Jay Schwartz]

It was like you just did not.

[Elisa Donovan]

I mean, my uncle passed away from AIDS in 1983 or 4, and I was Very privy to all. Like, you know, that's a whole other conversation. So I do remember that as a child, going, oh, this is not something that anyone is okay with in the club.

[Jay Schwartz]

It wasn't a big deal. And I don't. I want to say I don't think it was a big deal because we were all in there together, so nobody really cared.

[Elisa Donovan]

Yeah.

[Jay Schwartz]

You're not judging.

[Elisa Donovan]

You insulated and. And isolated. Right, Right. But so he. In. In. In the series also, they. They. Andrew Rannall plays his boyfriend who was also a big financier.

[Sponsor Announcer]

I don.

[Elisa Donovan]

I don't know that, but he was.

[Jay Schwartz]

I left the club. Oh. So he was. After I left the club.

[Elisa Donovan]

Oh.

[Jay Schwartz]

And the touring was after I left the club.

[Elisa Donovan]

Okay. They changed the timing on all of that.

[Jay Schwartz]

Got into it.

[Elisa Donovan]

Yeah. Tell me. That's what I want to hear.

[Jay Schwartz]

Women would call the club about getting guys to do a bachelorette party. So I would take the call, and I would send the guys out, and that way, the guys got the money, and they gave me, you know, a split on the money as well and never gave it to the club because it was fair that the guys got this. That was my thinking. Yeah. Nick found out about that and said I was cheating the club, and we got into a big thing, and so he said, well, you're fired. And I said, well, I quit before you fire me. And then I just let him know how I thought, you know, what I thought of him. But Jerry Denver, Gary and Steve, they all love me. When I moved to California, Steve reached out to me if I needed anything. That's why I'm saying Steve was nice to me. I had no issues with Steve Banerjee.

[Elisa Donovan]

Wow.

[Jay Schwartz]

But because of that, which is what I wanted to say before, that was about greed. Yes, it was Steve's greed. Nick really just want. I can't believe I'm saying nice about Nick, but Nick wanted to get away from him, so he came up with a very equitable deal. But it wasn't good enough for Steve.

[Elisa Donovan]

Right, Right.

[Jay Schwartz]

It was all about greed. So by me writing all of these letters, this was before any of that happened. This is when I was working there and typing the letters. I have everything from then. I never threw anything out. I have all the letters. Oh, my gosh. Nick's contract. I have a threatening letter from an attorney, his attorney to Nick. I have everything. I kept everything.

[Elisa Donovan]

Did they. Did the FBI or the police ever question you?

[Jay Schwartz]

No one ever.

[Elisa Donovan]

Never came to me for me because it seems like they were thinking it was a Whole bunch of different people, like including his boyfriend or lover, it seems like they were really together. I don't know. But then his previous boyfriend, like, it seems like.

[Jay Schwartz]

See, I didn't know about any of those. If he had a boyfriend or lover while I was there.

[Elisa Donovan]

You really didn't know?

[Jay Schwartz]

I had no idea.

[Elisa Donovan]

Wow.

[Jay Schwartz]

But I don't think he did at that time. I think he had random hookups for sure, but I don't think he had a boyfriend.

[Elisa Donovan]

Right.

[Jay Schwartz]

I remember him going to hire one of the guys and you know, we had two black guys in the club. But again, that wasn't an on purpose thing.

[Elisa Donovan]

It wasn't so New York.

[Jay Schwartz]

Not in New York.

[Elisa Donovan]

Right. New York, it was different.

[Jay Schwartz]

It just, you know, a thing would go out and saying if you want to be, you know. So a lot of, a lot of the staff came from modeling agencies. Only one black guy showed up and we hired him. Right. He was a good looking guy. His name was Mike. Yeah, he was awesome. But Nick wanted to hire her a black lead dancer and he did. But the night that, you know, we had no. We had a meeting and he said, no, I'm not interested. You know, this isn't for me and Nick. I was staying at Nick's apartment, this was on the Upper west side and West End Avenue 70. And he said, well, you go home tonight, you know, you go back to New Jersey. And I'm like, oh, okay. And he said, oh, he's coming over. I don't want to say his name because he's around. And he said, and I don't know what happened, but he said, oh, he's coming over here. And the next day he said, oh, he's going to be working.

[Elisa Donovan]

Oh. So right.

[Jay Schwartz]

What happened?

[Elisa Donovan]

He was very persuasive.

[Jay Schwartz]

Yeah. But I honest to God do not know what happened. I just know what happened after the fact.

[Elisa Donovan]

Yeah.

[Jay Schwartz]

So it wasn't racism.

[Elisa Donovan]

Right.

[Jay Schwartz]

You know.

[Elisa Donovan]

Right.

[Jay Schwartz]

We also got shut down because of the New York liquor license, because men couldn't come into the club.

[Elisa Donovan]

Wait, they shut down the liquor license because no men.

[Jay Schwartz]

Right. Men had to deal with the ladies.

[Elisa Donovan]

Watching, had to babysit them drinking, come.

[Jay Schwartz]

Into the club and put them in the VIP room. Like what guys wanted to come in?

[Elisa Donovan]

I mean, it's safe.

[Jay Schwartz]

I know I'm going all over the.

[Elisa Donovan]

Place here, but there are so many elements to this whole situation that are so crazy and, and, but also about a sign of the times. Right. Like so much of it was.

[Jay Schwartz]

But the thing about them that was all about greed. That Is why Nick was murdered.

[Elisa Donovan]

That's clear.

[Jay Schwartz]

Because of greed.

[Elisa Donovan]

Yeah.

[Jay Schwartz]

So there's, we haven't even touched on things. There's so much.

[Elisa Donovan]

But he. So, so all right. I, I Greed Sounds exactly right to me as to why. But I do think it's curious that the story. Nobody really is it nobody. I haven't heard anyone say, well, that's not true. Okay. There are a couple of people in some of the documentaries that say, well, I didn't like Nick that much or I didn't. But nobody really makes it seem like he was not a very well liked guy.

[Jay Schwartz]

He was not. I could put you on the phone with 10 different people.

[Elisa Donovan]

So was everybody when this happened? Was the general thought when he died? When he died, he lived here.

[Jay Schwartz]

I don't know what went on. I know what they've told me since, but I can only speak to when I was there. And that's the thing that upsets me so much about watching this show. I thought it was horrible. I really thought it was horrible. And my opinion may be skewed because that's not what Chippendales was about.

[Elisa Donovan]

Right.

[Jay Schwartz]

We haven't even touched on what Chippendales was about and what went on in the club and behind the scenes and the sex and the drugs and all of that.

[Elisa Donovan]

Well, let's get into it.

[Jay Schwartz]

Right? Okay, we can do that. But I'm saying that's not what this story is. So when a woman comes out of. Well, I was the producer of the club. No, you weren't.

[Elisa Donovan]

Oh, that must be so infuriating on the tour.

[Jay Schwartz]

Okay, but then just say I produced the tour.

[Elisa Donovan]

Right?

[Jay Schwartz]

You don't say you produce the client because you did. It was me, myself and I.

[Elisa Donovan]

Right.

[Jay Schwartz]

That did it. There was no one else. So let's. So, so when they show things, it's just inaccurate and they're not giving New York it's due.

[Elisa Donovan]

Right.

[Jay Schwartz]

And I don't know who. Everybody has a story about working at Chip and Dan.

[Elisa Donovan]

Right?

[Jay Schwartz]

Okay, I believe you. One of the guys that I hired off of a dance floor because he came in that night and he was just dancing and someone, one of the girls who worked in the club came up to the office and said, look at that guy, look at that guy. Because I had two way mirror.

[Elisa Donovan]

Oh, did you.

[Jay Schwartz]

Looking down 70s and 80s down on the dance floor. Look at that guy dancing. And he was a good looking guy, was a big guy. And so we went down and even then I said to her, come with me Because I didn't want it to be a guy walking up to a guy.

[Elisa Donovan]

Wait, tell me about this double mirror. Where was it? You mean overlooking my club? But then were you.

[Jay Schwartz]

I was able to look into the club.

[Elisa Donovan]

That is like. That is just. That should be in the movie because that's like a very movie thing. That's a very cinematic thing. So you could just watch, just like check out what's going on. Were you ever like, hey, get me gentleman number six to come?

[Jay Schwartz]

No, no, no. But I went down with her because everybody knew they had to come to me for that. I saw him, I said, okay, let's go down. I said, but you have to come with me because I wasn't going to be a guy walking up to him with a guy. Right, right. And so we started talking and he and I are friends. His name is Scott and he and I have two different versions of what happened that night.

[Elisa Donovan]

Really?

[Jay Schwartz]

Yeah. Well, he extends my version. My version stops at a certain point. And then he said, but do you remember what happened when we went up to VIP room? I'm like, no. Foreign.

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[Bowen Yang]

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[Elisa Donovan]

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Dad?

[Jay Schwartz]

No, sorry.

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I do basements.

[Bowen Yang]

Connecting homeowners with skilled pros for over 30 years. Angie, the one you trust to find the ones you trust. Find pros for all your home [e-mail].

[Elisa Donovan]

Tell me about a typical night at Chippendales for you. Or even a specific night. Like what did your actual. What did, what did the.

[Jay Schwartz]

You get there? You get there like at 4 o' clock or something. I mean I had to be there all day just for regular work.

[Elisa Donovan]

Right. Administrative type things.

[Jay Schwartz]

Yeah. And, you know, just dealing with whatever. And then, you know, I think the guys would come in around 6. Think it. Don't hold me to that, because I can't remember. And everyone start getting ready. And then the doors would open. Oh, no, they had to come in before six, if the doors open. So they had to come in. But, like, by 5 or 35, were.

[Elisa Donovan]

You, like, greeting people when they came in? Did you become, like, sort of a part of the thing or. How did you know?

[Jay Schwartz]

But, you know, like, you were having. All the Broadway women. We did a night of all the soap. The New York soap operas. All the women from the New York soap operas. Anita Morris, who starred in a Broadway show called Nine with Raoul Julia. Yep. Came in. Brooke Shields. Came in. Sylvester Stallone. And so would you, sort of. Yeah, I would. But, you know, that's when Nick would really shine.

[Elisa Donovan]

I'm sure he'd really get out there.

[Jay Schwartz]

Right. And I used to. So here's the club up here, like in a. In a. Like a. Looked like a hand. That's the DJ booth.

[Elisa Donovan]

Right.

[Jay Schwartz]

And so they would. We have a camera there. They video the show every night so I could give notes to the guys. I have one of those nights on video.

[Elisa Donovan]

You do?

[Jay Schwartz]

Yeah. No one else has it from January 20, 1984.

[Elisa Donovan]

Oh, wow.

[Jay Schwartz]

Of the entire show.

[Elisa Donovan]

Of the entire show.

[Jay Schwartz]

Yeah. And then right next to the DJ booth was, you know, also on top of was the VIP room. You know, there was a bar up there and a bathroom up there which was used to decode.

[Elisa Donovan]

Got it. Right. So was that just the whole deal? Everybody is doing cocaine and drinking the whole time.

[Jay Schwartz]

Right?

[Elisa Donovan]

Everybody.

[Jay Schwartz]

Right. Now, you have to remember that. Well, again, to begin with, no men were allowed in the club until this whole thing with the New York Liquor Authority where we had to allow men in because they said that was discriminatory.

[Elisa Donovan]

I do not understand. Oh, they said it was discriminatory. Right. Interesting.

[Jay Schwartz]

And I don't even know who complained, but the men were allowed to come in and then go stand in the VIP room. But there weren't a whole lot of men that came in. So it was just like a thing.

[Elisa Donovan]

Right.

[Jay Schwartz]

Ironically, I have all the video from all the news reports from opening night, which is kind of funny. When we're done, I can show it to you. It's really funny.

[Elisa Donovan]

Oh, my gosh.

[Jay Schwartz]

Especially then. And women with their New York accents within New York. Yeah, yeah. They talk like that.

[Elisa Donovan]

So the women, these, like, ladies, were all doing cocaine too. It's not like, oh, just the people working there.

[Jay Schwartz]

It was like you had a dip, you had a, an age gap in, in the women. Oh yeah, but they were all there for the same thing, right? They were all there for the same thing. But the younger women would be doing coke. They would, you know, be having sex with the guys there, you know, during the summer.

[Elisa Donovan]

Did they, Were you ever shut down for that? Is there anything technically illegal about that? About people having sex while doing cocaine? Yes, it was illegal even then. Right.

[Jay Schwartz]

I mean it's not against the law to have sex.

[Elisa Donovan]

That's what I was. Right. So it actually isn't against the law to have sex, sex.

[Jay Schwartz]

So there's no so during the summer because it was nice outside and we were on 61st and First.

[Elisa Donovan]

Oh, is that where it was? 61st and First. Oh, wow. So right.

[Jay Schwartz]

And right there, river is the 59th Street Bridge and the Roosevelt tram. And the Roosevelt tram used to go right over the club.

[Elisa Donovan]

Oh, wow.

[Jay Schwartz]

So during the summer we would take women up to the roof of the club.

[Elisa Donovan]

The roof. This is one of my questions, is one of my notes.

[Jay Schwartz]

We tell me about the women up to the roof of the club and there were a lot of people having sex on the roof of the club. And you know, like, you there, you there, you, you know, all over. But the thing was the tram, if.

[Elisa Donovan]

You were in the tram, could you see these?

[Jay Schwartz]

So we were looking up at the tram and the people in the tram was, were looking down. Oh, wave.

[Elisa Donovan]

How many people you think started taking the tram? Just. Oh, it like it's 10, 30. Let's get on that tram and check out the roof.

[Jay Schwartz]

But those weren't the customers in the. I mean, right. None of the men who came into the club did that. It was only the guys who worked.

[Elisa Donovan]

Only the guys who worked there would go. So was there any expectation when people were hired to things, was there an expectation that they would do that if asked? No, it was, it like it was.

[Jay Schwartz]

It wasn't a part of the job or anything. But it's like if you're a red blooded American male of a certain age, you're in this, you don't have to force them. Right, right. It's. But you're in this environment, all these women are drunk and horny.

[Elisa Donovan]

Right.

[Jay Schwartz]

Like a story one night. And I'm not going to repeat his story because it's his story, but it was kind of disgusting, but it just kept going.

[Elisa Donovan]

Now wait, what? You're gonna have to. You can't just say that they were.

[Jay Schwartz]

Engaged, not in intercourse. Okay, okay.

[Elisa Donovan]

Something of a sexual nature.

[Jay Schwartz]

Yes.

[Elisa Donovan]

Okay.

[Jay Schwartz]

And this woman was doing this to one of the dancers and then got sick. Oh.

[Elisa Donovan]

Oh, no.

[Jay Schwartz]

And then when she was done being sick, she went. She went back to continue.

[Elisa Donovan]

Oh, oh. All parties involved. I say, ew.

[Jay Schwartz]

Yes. I mean, but I'm saying there's, like, stuff about that, like, people. But, you know, well, this happened, and this happened. I'm like, that's not what happened. You know, oh, the gay guy. I'm like, no, that's not what happened either. Like, where are you getting this? And so when other people come in, such as the people who wrote this book, who I don't know, and the people who did this show, I say, shame on you. Shame on you for doing this show when you don't know the whole story.

[Elisa Donovan]

Right. You know, so then what do you think? This is something we talk about actually a lot on this podcast in particular, is what? Like, how much agency do people have to tell stories? When you're talking about real events that have happened, like, how much agency they are, shouldn't they have, you know, in telling a story?

[Jay Schwartz]

But that's, like, what we're doing right now. You're interviewing me. You're asking me to tell you a story. I am telling you my story. My life. This is what happened in my life. My life experience. It's not. Somebody told me.

[Elisa Donovan]

Right. And then if I went and said, okay, I'm going to tell your story now. And then as. As a movie, and I make this movie, and it is not reflective at all of what you told me, then that's a problem, right? Yeah. Yeah.

[Jay Schwartz]

So I don't know, again, who the people were who wrote the book or who the people were who produced this show, either they were there and witnessed it, which I don't believe. It's probably somebody told them a story, they paid them for the story, and they went with it.

[Elisa Donovan]

Right.

[Jay Schwartz]

Shame on you. Because if you really look at it, there were people that were there. All the guys who worked for me have been asking me for years, Jay, you work in Hollywood. Isn't there any way to do this? And I want to do this as a television series. I want this to be a streaming series, because you can tell really what happened. You can recreate really what happened. And if you're not gonna tell the true story of a true story, it's not like you're making stuff up. You had an idea and you're writing this. This is a true story. If you're not Gonna tell the truth. Why bother?

[Elisa Donovan]

Why do you think there is. I. I don't even know the answer to this. Of why there was this. This, like, resurgence. Why did they make this series of.

[Jay Schwartz]

True crime, is what I was told true crime.

[Elisa Donovan]

Oh, so that's like when I did.

[Jay Schwartz]

The documentary for A E. Again, I was very specific, right? But it's, oh, true crime. Everybody loves true crime. I'm like, okay, but that didn't happen till later, right?

[Elisa Donovan]

What led to that? There were all these years.

[Jay Schwartz]

Why did the murder happen? It.

[Elisa Donovan]

Right.

[Jay Schwartz]

You have to go back and figure out why. What was this place? What happened in this place? How did it go? You know? And it's not just a story for women.

[Elisa Donovan]

No, no, of course not. I. This is what I mean. There are so many facets to this entire thing that I personally had no idea. As I said, when we started, I thought the Chippendales was, you know, just this sort of like, one little, like, club where men took off their shirts and women, you know, about it all. And so I had no idea.

[Jay Schwartz]

I mean, there were. Our first act was the unknown comic. Oh, yes. Second act.

[Elisa Donovan]

So I didn't even know that the unknown comic came from Chippendales. I knew about the unknown comic, but I didn't know that it originated there.

[Jay Schwartz]

I don't think it would rage. And I think it was a ripoff of the unknown. Oh, I think it was that way. But we had Conan the Barbarian. We had a construction worker thing. We had the perfect man. They used that in there. And the guy who originated it in LA came and did in New York, and he's still around, and he does interviews and so on. But again, a big brotherhood of what we did. But when I hear things that just weren't the case in my experience. Now, that's not to say you didn't experience this. It's just like Scott and I talking, and I'm like, you remember? He goes, do you remember the night you hired me? And I'm like, yeah, this girl brought me down. And we started talking and I said, do you want to work here? And blah, blah, blah. He says, yeah, but do you remember what happened when we went up to the VIP room? I'm like, and you really don't.

[Elisa Donovan]

You really don't remember?

[Jay Schwartz]

I did not have a recollection of it. And I'm not saying that what he said happened, didn't.

[Elisa Donovan]

Right. You're honestly saying you don't remember?

[Jay Schwartz]

I don't remember.

[Elisa Donovan]

It is it. Do you think you didn't Remember? Because you were too high or too many things.

[Jay Schwartz]

Too high, probably. I can't think of another reason. Like I was using that little bathroom in the VIP club.

[Elisa Donovan]

Right, Right. When did anyone ever sleep?

[Jay Schwartz]

Because clubs, they close at 4.

[Elisa Donovan]

Right, right. New York is 4 o'.

[Jay Schwartz]

Clock.

[Elisa Donovan]

Yeah.

[Jay Schwartz]

We would go back to my apartment, a bunch of guys and I and the game Trivial Pursuit had just come out at that time.

[Elisa Donovan]

I.

[Jay Schwartz]

So we'd sit at my table.

[Elisa Donovan]

It looked very different when we played it at. With my family, I'm pretty sure.

[Jay Schwartz]

And if you got the answer right, you did a hit. If nobody got an answer right, everybody did a hit. So we were up till early the next morning.

[Elisa Donovan]

Yeah. Because then it extends.

[Jay Schwartz]

Yeah.

[Elisa Donovan]

And then.

[Jay Schwartz]

And then you have to go back to work.

[Elisa Donovan]

Yeah, that. So.

[Jay Schwartz]

So one of the.

[Elisa Donovan]

It's almost like a cult to get like. Back to talking about cult.

[Jay Schwartz]

Gary One, you know, the owner, one of the owners introduced me to drinking cassis and soda, like to get over a hangover and. To get over. And, you know, and the thing he said to me is, you want to ride the bus, you gotta pay the fare.

[Elisa Donovan]

You gotta.

[Jay Schwartz]

So I never forgot that either.

[Elisa Donovan]

So maybe so did you.

[Jay Schwartz]

There's so much more. It's as hard to remember all of it. But again, I thought that, you know, because I was told this is going to be about this. Welcome to Chippendales. And I said I thought it sucked. I didn't like it. And I was told to say. Well, say that.

[Elisa Donovan]

Yeah, you definitely can.

[Jay Schwartz]

Saying that it sucked. I didn't like it. Right, right. But even down to tell us how.

[Elisa Donovan]

You really feel, Jay, I wish you would.

[Jay Schwartz]

Even down to. Because I rewatched it in the LA Club, which they didn't have in the LA Club, but there was a spiral metal staircase going, oh, yes.

[Elisa Donovan]

That was in New York.

[Jay Schwartz]

In New York, getting from the dressing room up to the office, that'd put.

[Elisa Donovan]

A bee in my bonnet too.

[Jay Schwartz]

We had that. But no, but again, I'm saying just because there are so many inaccuracies all the way. Like the turquoise stanch, not stanchions. But that was the things around the club. We had that in la, in New York. The way you're portraying this, it's just not accurate.

[Elisa Donovan]

I do think this is a really interesting and important point because I spoke with Sarah Edmondson, who was in the cult. Nxivm. I don't know if you're familiar with this cult. It's like a horrific. Yes. Allison Mack was one of the women in it. As well. But she. We. We had a conversation and she was. We were talking for a little bit about one of the movies. It was a Lifetime movie made about that. And she was just like, it's just wrong. It's just wrong. You know, the way she's portrayed as wrong, the things that they're saying is wrong. And, you know, in that circumstance, I'm like, I feel like that's dangerous to be doing it in this case. It's sort of like it's entertainment, I guess, but it feels like, where's the. Why not get it right? Why not get it right? Is my question correct?

[Jay Schwartz]

And this isn't. This was not entertaining. This was about a murder.

[Elisa Donovan]

Yeah.

[Jay Schwartz]

That's not what Chippendales was about.

[Elisa Donovan]

Right. I do think it's interesting that it is still. And I didn't know this, that it's still in Vegas. In Vegas. Right.

[Jay Schwartz]

And Evan Denver as well.

[Elisa Donovan]

Yes.

[Jay Schwartz]

I guess I didn't know about still.

[Elisa Donovan]

Touring because the fat. Let me look at my little notes here and make sure I'm not wrong. So I'm very organized, as you can see. Can you tell that I'm an Aquarius? My shit is all over the place. Yeah. It's a staple of Vegas strip and still has a successful.

[Jay Schwartz]

In Vegas. It's at the Rio, I think.

[Elisa Donovan]

Gosh. So to be able to. This, this.

[Jay Schwartz]

I went. They asked me to come.

[Elisa Donovan]

What did you think of that?

[Jay Schwartz]

Different. It's a stage show. So it doesn't have the excitement of being in the round and being a part of it.

[Elisa Donovan]

Right.

[Jay Schwartz]

Everybody was a part of this show.

[Elisa Donovan]

Right.

[Jay Schwartz]

You can't. That's a stage show. You're not. You. Oh, we could bring her up from the stage right now. That's one person. It's not everybody in the room.

[Elisa Donovan]

So when you're saying this exactly like you, you really become enmeshed in the experience. Right. Like in the whole fabric of the whole thing, which I'm sure was a big draw. Whether or not people understood that's partially why they were doing it. But did. Was there ever anything that happens, like someone gets hurt unintentionally or something gets violent or anything. That's what I think is amazing.

[Jay Schwartz]

None of that ever happened. No, to my knowledge, none of that ever happened. But again, that's why I'm saying to you, the way they portrayed the New York club in this television show, that's not what we. That's not what it was. It's just not.

[Elisa Donovan]

Yeah. That must be so frustrating.

[Jay Schwartz]

LA Club was more accurate than here than that. Except you had not good enough looking guys working.

[Elisa Donovan]

That is so funny that you say that because I was thinking that when I was watching it, I was like, oh, this is so interesting that they're not really that attractive. And then I went back to all the imagery that I had recalled where they're like, I'll show like I have.

[Jay Schwartz]

Like one group photo of me and the whole staff and I'm down to see that. Look at these guys. They're good looking guys.

[Elisa Donovan]

Yeah.

[Jay Schwartz]

And, and nice guys. And like I said, they're still, you know, friends of mine and said, jay, you got to make a TV show about this. You got to do it. And I'm like, I'm trying.

[Elisa Donovan]

Yeah, you do.

[Jay Schwartz]

I want to do this.

[Elisa Donovan]

Well, let's do it, do it, get it going.

[Jay Schwartz]

But I do, but I want to tell an honest portrayal.

[Elisa Donovan]

So what would you write? You would want it to be about the actual New York for sure.

[Jay Schwartz]

How it started in New York, what we went through in that club and as the club became more popular, how things started to get out.

[Elisa Donovan]

Right. Do you think that that is.

[Jay Schwartz]

And the drugs. Everyone was dealing coke and everyone was having sex all the time. And it just, I mean, sounds like.

[Elisa Donovan]

A pretty fun place to work if you get out a lot.

[Sponsor Announcer]

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[Bowen Yang]

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[Jay Schwartz]

Hi, I'm Cindy Crawford and I'm the founder of meaningful beauty. When Dr. Sabah and I decided to do a skincare line together, he said to me, we. We are going to give women meaningful beauty. And I said, that's exactly right. We want to give women meaningful beauty. Which means each and every product is meaningful. It has a reason to exist. It's efficacious. You're going to get results, and then you just go out and live your life. Meaningful beauty confidence is beautiful. Learn [e-mail]. Why have we asked our contractor we found on Angie.com to be our kid's legal guardian? Because he took such good care when redoing our basement that we knew we could trust him to care for our kids, all eight of them, should something happen to us.

[Elisa Donovan]

Are you my dad now?

[Jay Schwartz]

No, sorry.

[Sponsor Announcer]

I do basements.

[Bowen Yang]

Connecting homeowners with skilled pros for over 30 years. Angie, the one you trust to find the ones you trust. Find pros for all your home [e-mail].

[Elisa Donovan]

I find it kind of shocking that there are so many tragedies and murders and attempted murders and all these things, and yet it's still like the company just keeps going, you know, like it overcame all of those things even when he. When Steve was, you know, arrested and. And then he kills himself. Like, it just. It's sort of stunning to me that it just still kept going.

[Jay Schwartz]

Yeah. But all of that I don't believe would have happened had they not talked to each other and been greedy. And like I said, it was about had they just talked to each other. But their egos Nick's especially so in New York, the marquee. So we're at Magique. So big turquoise marquee with orange writing, says in small letters, magique presents big letters, Chippendale, smaller letters. Conceived, written, produced and directed by Nick Danoia.

[Elisa Donovan]

Right.

[Jay Schwartz]

Ego much? That's.

[Elisa Donovan]

That's an enormous ego. Enormous. Yeah. I mean, that's. That's what cost him his life. Yeah, for sure.

[Jay Schwartz]

Yeah. And they. That's the other thing they got wrong. Tell me the biggest thing, the biggest glaring mistake they made. They did not portray Nick as a bad guy.

[Elisa Donovan]

No, that's what I mean. I'm going. I can't believe the story is really skewed towards just. Sure, he was kind of challenging, but it was because he was so creatively brilliant and really wanted the best.

[Jay Schwartz]

Very creative. Did want the best. Absolutely.

[Elisa Donovan]

But that's all they say there is no one.

[Jay Schwartz]

But there's.

[Elisa Donovan]

Everyone kind of loved him except for Steve.

[Jay Schwartz]

I'm a good guy. I mean, not a good guy in how he treated people.

[Elisa Donovan]

Right.

[Jay Schwartz]

Definitely not a good guy in how he treated me. He also. This is a funny thing. Never understood this at the time. He had a dog, a Dalmatian. The dog's name was Dorothy. Right.

[Elisa Donovan]

Mm.

[Jay Schwartz]

I did not understand what that meant.

[Elisa Donovan]

Like Dorothy Stratton.

[Jay Schwartz]

No, no, no, no, no, no.

[Elisa Donovan]

Like Dorothy.

[Jay Schwartz]

You know, maybe like, I took it different. I took it like a gay thing.

[Elisa Donovan]

Oh.

[Jay Schwartz]

That's how I. Oh, of course. But I. Why would I. I used to take care of this dog. Sweet little dalmatian. Not little. She was big.

[Elisa Donovan]

Yeah.

[Jay Schwartz]

But never. Never got it. Never got it. But actually, you're saying Dorothy Stratton. Maybe. I don't know if Nick was around.

[Elisa Donovan]

Yeah, it was that. He was around that.

[Jay Schwartz]

But I didn't know anything about that. It's funny because I did have once a few years ago, a conversation with Jennifer o'. Neill.

[Elisa Donovan]

Oh, you did? Right.

[Jay Schwartz]

For something totally different.

[Elisa Donovan]

Nothing.

[Jay Schwartz]

And I said to her, by the way, I worked for Nick and Chippendale. She said, you and I are going to.

[Elisa Donovan]

Oh, boy.

[Jay Schwartz]

We never did. We never did. But how.

[Elisa Donovan]

When you say he was terrible, he was terrible to you. You mean he. When he.

[Jay Schwartz]

Yelling and screaming and berating. Oh. All the time in front of everyone.

[Elisa Donovan]

Oh, God.

[Jay Schwartz]

Made you feel like. Like that.

[Elisa Donovan]

Right, right, right, right, right.

[Jay Schwartz]

You don't treat people like.

[Elisa Donovan]

That's one of my least favorite qualities in a human being is someone who treats people that way with that specific. You can see it is the need that they need to feel bigger. They need to be in control of things.

[Jay Schwartz]

As I mentioned, I'm from New York and I'm from a family that unfortunately, one person in this family treated me like that. And so as you grow up, that's what you know. Right, right. So coming out here and having the success that I've had, you know, whoever has the loudest voice win. But never in my head was I doing anything wrong by raising my voice. Because it was just the volume of my voice, not the intent in what I was saying. And so. But I learned years after. I wish I would have learned it earlier. You can't talk to people like that. But I would always preach that. I was like, everybody has to be spoken to with respect. Talk to people like you want to be spoken to. And yet I would do it. But. And I really analyzed myself with doing it because to this day, it makes me feel like I beat myself up.

[Elisa Donovan]

So you feel like you treated people that way too, is that what you're saying?

[Jay Schwartz]

Yes, because it was all that I.

[Elisa Donovan]

Knew, normalized in a way.

[Jay Schwartz]

But at least people always knew that. It was never my intention to be disrespectful. And I would always, when it was brought to my attention or when I realized it, I would always make a phone call, apologize like, I'm so sorry, didn't mean to speak to you that way, and so on and still to today. But I'm very, very, very self conscious of it. And, and I. That's just years of like, self aware and.

[Elisa Donovan]

Right.

[Jay Schwartz]

Thinking about it. And you, you know, you can't do that and, you know, correct it right away. Yeah. And the reaction from people is like, oh, well, you didn't need to. I'm like, no, I did.

[Elisa Donovan]

Right.

[Jay Schwartz]

I needed to call you to apologize for me.

[Elisa Donovan]

Right.

[Jay Schwartz]

And it's important to me that you know that and that you can understand. People are amazed. The reaction I get that I. That I.

[Elisa Donovan]

There isn't a lot of accountability. There isn't.

[Jay Schwartz]

But you have to hold today accountable, you know, And I beat myself up bad. Now, luckily for me, 99 of the time I'm good, but just like everybody else. Some days I'm not as good as others. Some days I have a bad day.

[Elisa Donovan]

Well.

[Jay Schwartz]

But as long as I can account for it.

[Elisa Donovan]

Yes.

[Jay Schwartz]

At least that makes it a little better. But I beat myself up like crazy.

[Elisa Donovan]

Yeah.

[Jay Schwartz]

And. But I think that behavior comes from how I was treated as a kid and working for Nick.

[Elisa Donovan]

Well, and it probably. Then if you had it before and working for Nick, there was probably a Part of you that went, oh, I know how to handle this. You know, I can. I can.

[Jay Schwartz]

Yeah.

[Elisa Donovan]

But I got more because I know how to handle it. I mean, sure, you're in your 20s.

[Jay Schwartz]

But I still want.

[Elisa Donovan]

You're on cocaine in your 20s making a lot of money.

[Jay Schwartz]

Right.

[Elisa Donovan]

I want New York City.

[Jay Schwartz]

You know, my salary. My salary was 400 a week. That was it.

[Elisa Donovan]

Oh, my God. It was another time, right? This is what. What about the dancers?

[Jay Schwartz]

What.

[Elisa Donovan]

What did they get paid?

[Jay Schwartz]

I could probably look at contracts, but I honestly don't remember.

[Elisa Donovan]

Was it.

[Jay Schwartz]

I don't even remember what the. The.

[Elisa Donovan]

I mean, could they.

[Jay Schwartz]

The host and waiters and stuff, pay.

[Elisa Donovan]

Rent and things with it? Were they making a lot of money relatively at the time? Well, Don, forget, you also had the kiss and tip. Kiss and tip, Right. Talk about. Nothing says pre Covid like kiss and tip.

[Jay Schwartz]

So. But I'm just saying everybody's got their thing, so if anybody has a problem with me.

[Elisa Donovan]

Yeah.

[Jay Schwartz]

After this podcast.

[Elisa Donovan]

Oh, I can't wait.

[Jay Schwartz]

Of me telling my truth.

[Elisa Donovan]

I hope they all direct message me and tell me all of their personal thoughts about what they don't like about what you said.

[Jay Schwartz]

Yes, I'm sure they will. I'm sure you'll hear from that woman. Oh, he's making that up.

[Elisa Donovan]

He didn't like me disappointed because I, first of all, personally love Juliet Lewis. She's such a. Like, she's just a sweet heart. Like, she's a big heart and she's fiercely talented. I just love her. So I wanted her. I wanted that person to be like. I wanted you to say, oh, it's not based on her. I know it's not based on her, but it's sort of.

[Jay Schwartz]

There was no person like. Yeah, there was no yeah. In our club, at least.

[Elisa Donovan]

Yeah. Because they do. They call it like a. A composite character, but. Or amalgamation. But anyway. Yeah, I was hoping that she was like a real. That you were gonna say, oh, gosh, I just love that Candace.

[Jay Schwartz]

When I started working there, Nick had an assistant at the LA Club. Bonnie was her name. She was a sweet little. Not a little old lady, but look at that time. I was 25.

[Elisa Donovan]

Yeah, she could have been 30, but.

[Jay Schwartz]

She looked way older, but very sweet. I stayed at her house when I came out here, and she lived right. Literally up the street from Disney.

[Elisa Donovan]

Oh, my gosh.

[Jay Schwartz]

And so what do I know about Orange County?

[Elisa Donovan]

Right, right, right, right. I mean, from New York. I mean, there's nothing probably more diametrically opposed New York City then.

[Jay Schwartz]

But you know, I'm sure people will let you know, well, he's lying. That didn't happen. And, you know, that's why I'm giving this all. And I keep saying, this is my life. This is my experience. I can't speak for yours, so don't speak for mine.

[Elisa Donovan]

Right.

[Jay Schwartz]

You know, this is what happened in my life. You know, you don't like what I say, you're entitled to your opinion.

[Elisa Donovan]

Right.

[Jay Schwartz]

You're wrong, but you're entitled to your opinion.

[Elisa Donovan]

I'm so glad that we've spoken today, because I didn't really think about when I knew that we were obviously speaking today. I didn't really think about it from the perspective of how frustrating that must be to have. Because it isn't like it was a little show that maybe a couple people watched. You know, it was nominated for Emmys with a huge cast of very prominent people. Like, it was a very big show. And I can't imagine how frustrating that must be to just be like, that's not how it happened. I just learned, and I don't know if you know this, that his son is. He is an exotic dancer and does. Like.

[Jay Schwartz]

That's what I learned. I learned that from watching the A N E documentary.

[Elisa Donovan]

Yes.

[Jay Schwartz]

Yeah. But that he's not how do. Well or he's not.

[Elisa Donovan]

Right.

[Jay Schwartz]

I don't know. I don't know. I met him as a baby.

[Elisa Donovan]

Right, Right.

[Jay Schwartz]

I never knew that.

[Elisa Donovan]

Multiple Emmys for Welcome to Chippendales.

[Jay Schwartz]

Look, I'm. Everybody deserves what they get.

[Elisa Donovan]

I don't have anything negative as a piece of entertainment. The performances are terrific. I think they're all great.

[Jay Schwartz]

And as I said, my objection is that's not the story of Chip.

[Elisa Donovan]

I got you. I was going to say, what's the one thing that no scripted? Because I think you're probably gonna disagree, because if you get to do your series, you'll be able to do this. But what do you think that there is the one thing that you could never fully capture about the experience.

[Jay Schwartz]

Of.

[Elisa Donovan]

That club and of that time?

[Jay Schwartz]

I don't know. Because I feel if I do my show the way I want to tell this story, it's all gonna be true. And I'll bet you that there'll be thousands of people that hate it.

[Elisa Donovan]

Right, Right. I thought you were gonna say, I bet there'd be thousands of people taking that Roosevelt tram when you are shooting the scenes on the roof.

[Jay Schwartz]

The club's not there anymore. From what I hear, the club is gone. Yeah.

[Elisa Donovan]

So it sounds like Kind of when everything was really starting to explode and become successful and the excess and all of that. Could you tell, like, this is all gonna unravel? Something's gonna.

[Jay Schwartz]

No, because it's like I was saying before, when you're in the middle of it, even if I'm yelling at somebody or something, when you're in it, you're in it, so you're not thinking about anything outside. Right, Right. Like you're. You're in it. And. And you know, they say. Is what I was saying about Steve Hindsight is 20 20. I probably wouldn't have yelled at him until. Said that his brain was turning to mush. And what's wrong with him and what's wrong with people living in California? I'm a California now more than I am a New Yorker, Although I'll always be a New Yorker.

[Elisa Donovan]

Yeah.

[Jay Schwartz]

Notice how I said New Yorker and not a New Yorker?

[Elisa Donovan]

New Yorker.

[Jay Schwartz]

Right.

[Elisa Donovan]

Yeah. So we lose that. We lose it.

[Jay Schwartz]

But it's. Had I known that, and I'm really glad that I didn't know any of it, I probably wouldn't have spoken to him.

[Elisa Donovan]

Right.

[Jay Schwartz]

Because I would have been petrified that I get killed.

[Elisa Donovan]

Right. Right.

[Jay Schwartz]

I'm glad I didn't know, and I'm glad I had the relationship with him that I did. Because when all is said and done, I loved working at Chippendales. I had the best relationships. I had the best time. I used to get all people who would call me, oh, can I come into the club? You know, I was a big deal.

[Elisa Donovan]

Yeah.

[Jay Schwartz]

I was a big deal from the night that they. They turned me on to coke, you know.

[Elisa Donovan]

Is that the first time you did cocaine? Was there.

[Jay Schwartz]

Got it at the back bar during a rehearsal, during a run through, two of the guys took me into the bathroom and I started drinking chilled Grand Marnier because I never drank alcohol. Grand Marnier, chilled Grand Marnier shot. Right, right, right, right. And I know the guy who did. Who taught me that too. Oh, I mean, there's just so many stories.

[Elisa Donovan]

Yeah.

[Jay Schwartz]

That happen.

[Elisa Donovan]

I want to see this series. I want to see it. I want to see it. Somebody make it. Somebody make it right. I can't even tell you how. What a pleasure this has been for me. You're a joy. You're hilarious. You're lovely. You're smart, you're. It's just been such a joy. I love it. And what a life you have lived and continue to live in all of the ways. So I am like you just. You got it in the eyes you could see, if you could see in this man's eyes. He's got the sparkle.

[Jay Schwartz]

Thank you, thank you, thank you. I really appreciate that. Look, I am who I am. You know, I can't be anybody else. My enthusiasm, that's just who I am. My involvement. I love the entertainment business. I love doing what I do.

[Elisa Donovan]

Yeah.

[Jay Schwartz]

Absolutely love doing what I do. I love representing the people. I represent the relationships that I have with them. And I've represented quite a few.

[Elisa Donovan]

You have big stars. B I G stars.

[Jay Schwartz]

And I. I love what I do.

[Elisa Donovan]

Yeah.

[Jay Schwartz]

But I've also learned, like I said, never tell a lie because then you always have to remember. Yep. Or you have to then cover for yourself.

[Elisa Donovan]

Yep. I think people, especially in entertainment, it's very rare that people are accountable. It's very rare that people get the truth. So I think it's a tremendous value in life, but certain and certainly in relationships of any kind. But in this industry, I am sure that all of your clients appreciate it because they always feel like they'll be protected, that they will truly understand what they are signing up for or what they're showing up to. You know, that's.

[Jay Schwartz]

I think the entertainment business is based on relationships. No matter what. Agent, manager, lawyer, producer, director, everything is a relationship. Yeah. You never know who you're going to talk to, who you're going to meet. So it's no sweat off your back to be nice and kind. And so I've learned that my career and I'm proud of the relationships that I have and the people that I work with. Yep.

[Elisa Donovan]

I love that.

[Jay Schwartz]

That's.

[Elisa Donovan]

You know what? My, my. My parents always said the same thing. My mom, that was always. Always what? She's still alive. My dad is not, but she always. That's what they taught us there is. You just treat people with respect and kindness. Is the way to speak as you.

[Jay Schwartz]

Want to be spoken to.

[Elisa Donovan]

Yep. I love it. You're a joy. I'm so happy to meet you. Thank you so much.

[Jay Schwartz]

Thank you. It's a pleasure to meet you. Thank you for doing this. I appreciate it.

[Elisa Donovan]

Okay. Well, you'll come back when you're talking about your show.

[Jay Schwartz]

Yes.

[Elisa Donovan]

And then I will say, you know, I wasn't there. I love it.

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[Jay Schwartz]

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[Elisa Donovan]

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