Deborah Roberts joins us now.
2020 The Big Show is tonight talking
about Siegfried and Roy. Deborah,
you had a chance to visit with them.
How were they doing after all of these years?
I had a chance to go to
Vegas and I have to tell you,
they do not disappoint.
They never disappointed.
Siegfried and Roy just
changed the Vegas Strip.
As so many of us remember,
there had never been an act like theirs.
They were the biggest act to hit
that strip at their time.
But of course there's so many of us know
everything changed that night on stage when
Roy was right in the middle of his act.
It was his 59th birthday and this
incident happened with the tiger.
What really happened on stage,
there have been.
Various versions of that story,
and over the years these two have
maintained that it was a tragic accident.
Do they still look at it that way?
Well, you will hear from Siegfried tonight,
sort of putting any questions to
rest about what happened and also
how they feel about the animals.
We go with him on a stroll
through The Secret Garden.
They're little Oasis.
They're on the Vegas Strip,
where a lot of those big cats are still
hanging out since their show ended.
He'll talk to us a little bit
about that and this new phase.
In their lives and also Roy,
you'll get a chance to hear from Roy.
Are they interested in pining
to get back on the stage?
You'll hear from them.
It's been a long time.
They're getting up there in age,
but they are still ever the showman.
They are still vastly,
vastly proud of what they
have done over the years.
And you'll hear them sort of stroll
and Siegfried in particular,
talk a little bit about what they
have meant to this country really,
because they came in and just
sort of exploded in Las Vegas.
And changed everything.
Some of that famous video that
you might not have even seen
over the years over time of
how they the strip has changed.
Hmm.
Just a fascinating look at 2 Legends
who really changed entertainment in
this country and across the world.
Really
now Roy was attacked October 3rd of 2003
and I'm I'm sure you got into all that.
There has been some controversy
about that from one of the
trainers who was there at the time.
Do you get into that? Call Deborah.
We talked to Siegfried about that
and he will address that issue of
what what really happened on stage.
He knows that there is another
version of what happened and he
will talk to us about that tonight.
Yes, Roy was indeed attacked,
but they do not or he was actually there.
There was an incident.
I think they don't even view it as an attack.
They will discuss it.
Freed will describe that for us tonight,
how he looks at what happened to Roy.
Did they have any reservations now about
animals and did they after that fact?
Well, you'll hear that.
You'll hear them talk about
that as well tonight.
But more than anything else,
I think they want to put that
to rest and talk about their
lives and what they their careers
meant and where they are going at
this stage in their careers.
That's mostly what they want to talk about.
And you'll hear all of that
tonight in our 2020 interview.
So with the incident, as you said,
there was video of that,
it's never been released.
Have you been made Privy
to that video? Have you
seen it? That there is video of that night,
but it has never been publicly shown.
I certainly have not seen it and during
the investigation it clearly was viewed.
But there seems to be a feeling
that that that video almost would
be disrespectful to be shown.
I mean, if something like that
had happened today, people would
whip out their cell phone cameras.
There would be video everywhere.
There is video of that night,
but it is locked away and
has not been shown publicly.
There was an investigation
into what happened that night.
But as far as they are concerned,
Siegfried and Roy,
it's it's sort of done and over.
They are ready to move on.
They will address that issue,
but they are now ready to
talk about what next for them.
And you will hear Siegfried
talk about that tonight,
where he is in this stage of his life,
how he feels about his life.
Is he really happy at this stage,
not being on stage?
I mean, they were on stage together.
They've been together for more than 50 years.
How is he dealing with a quieter life?
All of those questions tonight on 2020.
Deborah, you did a lot of research before
you went to Las Vegas to do the story.
After you walked out of there,
the cameras are wrapping up.
You walked away. Did you think, wow,
I didn't expect that or was there
something that came at you were like,
whoa, OK, that's new?
I think more than anything I was just,
I think more than anything I was
surprised by just how how these two men
just stills are are so vibrant and how
they are still so excited about life.
That really surprised me.
I mean they are up there in age,
but they are still showman and
they are still fascinated and
fascinating to sit down and talk to
Vegas through and through.
Deborah Roberts 2020,
it's tonight. Roy, Deborah,
thank you for your time. Thank you.