Entertainment Will Survive

I'm in Las Vegas for an American Advertising Federation Academic Committee meeting and a huge sign in bright lights on The Strip (which with gianormous video screens everywhere is looking like Times Square exiled to the desert) that boldly proclaims Las Vegas, the Entertainment Capital of the World!

But what if you can't - or won't* - go to Las Vegas? Google expects to give us a few laughs courtesy of Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane. The Big G's CEO Eric Schmidt spoke on Thursday to the Advertising Age Madison+Vine conference about the comedy clip content deal as well as how to monetize an agreement with Lionsgate Films - which also is, he says, a step to clearing up the web-wide fracas over alleged piracy via Google-owned YouTube.

Lots going on here. Stay tuned to see how it all works out.

Meanwhile, here's an AdAge Three Minute Video of MacFarlane talking about the deal.

* the economy has the Sin City visitor count down, but Vegas won't roll over and play dead. Our Committee was treated to a presentation by Randy Snow, Creative Director at R&R Partners, the ad agency for Las Vegas tourism and creators of the terrific What Happens Here Stays Here campaign. More later.