"Fear and Loafing" was a newspaper column by Corey Levitan that ran from January 2006 to June 2011 in the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Nevada's largest newspaper. In each column Levitan took on a local job, that he was entirely unprepared to handle, for a day and then wrote about his experiences. The column ran in the Features section and quickly became popular among Las Vegas based readers.
The idea for the Fear and Loafing column came to Levitan after an awkward journalistic experience Levitan had while writing for the Daily Breeze newspaper in Torrance, California. Levitan had been assigned to cover a nearby nudist camp, but found that none of the members were interested in talking to anyone wearing clothes. Levitan said about the experience: “I was completely awkward and out of my element." After the success of that story, Levitan thought that he could repeat the success of that story in future stories by also placing himself inside his writing in a manner that would provide humor to the reader. Levitan also says that writer George Plimpton’s attempt to join the Detroit Lions and the writing Plimpton did about his experience affected his idea for the column. Levitan makes it clear that there is a major contrast between Plimpton and himself: Plimpton sought adventure, whereas Levitan is “more George Costanza.”
Fear and Loafing featured accompanying video sections throughout the running of the column in the Las Vegas Review-Journal. FearandLoafing is the official YouTube account of the Fear and Loafing column. Currently there are 23 videos posted on YouTube for public consumption from the archive of Fear and Loafing videos. There are 58 videos, from the Fear and Loafing column posted on Corey Levitan’s personal WordPress blog.
Corey Levitan began his career in journalism with Circus magazine. He was with Circus magazine from 1995 to 1999. His writing received positive reviews and he got the opportunity to do first-person stories for both Playboy Magazine and the New York Post. He held contributing writer positions in both publications from 1999 until 2003 for Playboy and 2005 for the New York Post. In 2001 he took on a full-time journalist position for the Daily Breeze where he covered jobs in the South Bay area of Los Angeles County. He left the Daily Breeze in 2005 when he took a position in the Features section of the Las Vegas Review-Journal. After his employment at the Review-Journal was terminated, he began writing for David Magazine, where he still writes. His website is coreylevitan.com. Levitan’s writing style is heavy on self-deprecating humor, sarcasm, and understatement. His descriptions of the issues that need to be negotiated daily in the jobs he takes on are detailed and very visual.
1st Place in Southern California Journalism Specialized Lifestyle Reporting - 2001
James S. Copley Ring of Truth Award in the Arts and Entertainment category – 2002
1st Place in Southern California Journalism Entertainment/Criticism/Columns – 2002
1st Place in Southern California Journalism Entertainment/Criticism/Columns – 2003
Nevada Press Association’s Best Local Column – 2008
1st Place in Nevada Press Association Awards Best Columnist - 2011 and 2008
Jobs covered and archive dates
Through the five years of Fear and Loafing, Levitan covered 250 jobs. They are, in his own words:
Stratosphere window washer – January 2, 2006
Chippendales dancer – January 9, 2006
Bounty hunter – January 16, 2006
Mayor of Mesquite, Nevada – September 5, 2010
Hay maker at Two Hawk Ranch - October 3, 2010
Showgirl at the Tropicana – September 7, 2008
Madam at the Chicken Ranch – July 7, 2008
Hofbrauhaus paddleboy – February 6, 2011
Personal assistant to Carrot Top – July 4, 2010
Mist sprayer at topless pool – July 2, 2007
Elvis impersonator – March 13, 2006
Prison guard – July 10, 2006
Porta-Potty cleaner – September 10, 2007
Porn store clerk – August 6, 2007
Sinatra in "Rat Pack is Back" – December 10, 2007
Sperm-washer – April 4, 2010
Temple cantor – March 24, 2008
Lutheran minister – March 5, 2007
Go-go boy in a gay bar – February 18, 2008
Midwife – February 1, 2009
Poolboy with a special surprise – June 7, 2009
Cat neuterer – September 6, 2009
Standup comic – August 2, 2009
Sparring partner – July 5, 2009
Imperial Palace "Dealer-trainer" – April 17, 2006
Fire-eater – December 7, 2008
Police dog training decoy – October 5, 2008
Hotel chambermaid – March 12, 2007
Bailiff – February 11, 2008
Tiger trainer – November 2, 2008
Colon hydrotherapist – November 19, 2007
World Series of Poker player – June 23, 2008
Fluff-n-Fold attendant for Heidi Fleiss – June 9, 2008
Housemom in a strip club – June 2, 2008
Construction worker on the Las Vegas Trump Tower – August 21, 2006
Sushi chef – April 14, 2006
Magician – April 7, 2006
Venetian statue – July 31, 2006
Garbageman – January 23, 2006
Basketball player – December 4, 2006
NBC-TV weatherman – May 1, 2006
Female impersonator – May 15, 2006
Mermaid in a casino aquarium – January 21, 2008
Fireman – June 6, 2010
Roofer – June 25, 2007
Hooker card distributor – September 11, 2006
Aerialist – June 12, 2006
Caesar at Caesars Palace – April 28, 2008
Male model – April 21, 2008
Strip club DJ – March 7, 2006
Air Force fighter jet crew chief – April 14, 2008
House of Blues gospel singer – July 17, 2006
Spanish-language TV news anchorman – March 1, 2009
Tow-truck driver – March 6, 2011
Belly dancer – November 12, 2007
Nevada Power lineman – August 20, 2007
Roadie for Rush – August 13, 2007
Fremont Street bulb-changer – May 8, 2006
Las Vegas Gladiators mascot – April 24, 2006
Burglar alarm responder – May 3, 2009
Lounge singer – April 5, 2009
Mobile hooker billboard driver – March 7, 2010
Air-conditioner repairman – August 1, 2010
Golf caddie – February 7, 2010
Clown at a gay rodeo – October 23, 2006
Lake Mead fish stocker – January 3, 2010
Tennis instructor – October 4, 2009
Masseur – January 4, 2009
Tribal dancer – August 3, 2008
Shoeshiner – July 21, 2008
Mover – July 14, 2008
Used car salesman – June 30, 2008
Graffiti remover – June 16, 2008
Roller derby girl – May 19, 2008
Bet-taker in a drive-through sportsbook – January 28, 2008
Pigeon control officer – November 1, 2009
Little League player – May 2, 2010
Spin class instructor – May 12, 2008
Optometrist – May 5, 2008
Roulette dealer – April 7, 2008
Spray tan airbrush technician – March 31, 2008
Lance Burton's bird man – February 13, 2006
Escape artist – February 25, 2008
John Lennon in fake Beatles band – January 7, 2008
Conservative radio talk show host – December 31, 2007
Tap-dancer – December 24, 2007
Snakehandler – December 17, 2007
Birthday clown – December 10, 2007
Gravedigger – November 26, 2007
Practice goalie for the Las Vegas Wranglers – April 9, 2007
Jerry Lewis in The Scintas – April 2, 2007
Sonographer – January 14, 2008
Father to a baby simulator – January 2, 2011
Glass replacer on Skywalk – June 5, 2011
Breakdancer – May 1, 2011
Animatronics repairman – April 2, 2011
Dueling Non-Piano Player – December 6, 2009
Roller coaster walker – November 7, 2010
Haymaker – October 3, 2010
Ghost hunter – October 29, 2007
Bellhop – October 22, 2007
Factory worker – October 15, 2007
Bicycle racer – October 8, 2007
Strip club bouncer – September 4, 2006
Stock car racer – August 28, 2006
Sommelier – October 1, 2007
Date farmer – September 24, 2007
Taxidermist – September 17, 2007
Sign spinner – September 3, 2007
Stage hypnotist – August 27, 2007
Gas attendant – July 30, 2007
UFO hunter – July 23, 2007
Las Vegas Philharmonic conductor – July 16, 2007
Ice sculptor – July 9, 2007
Pooper-scooper – June 18, 2007
Daycare worker – June 11, 2007
Pyrotechnician – June 4, 2007
Florist – May 28, 2007
Valet parker – May 21, 2007
Gunslinger in Old West show – May 14, 2007
Day laborer – May 7, 2007
Mailman – April 30, 2007
Cruise ship captain – April 23, 2007
Pet psychic – April 16, 2007
Starbucks barista – March 19, 2007
Airplane pilot – February 19, 2007
Spotlight operator - January 29, 2007
Auctioneer – December 11, 2006
Bathroom attendant (in a gay bar) – November 27, 2006
Balloon pilot – November 20, 2006
Indoor skydiving instructor – March 3, 2008
Sex toys party host – November 13, 2006
Welder – May 26, 2008
Tax accountant – February 4, 2008
Milkman – November 6, 2006
Plumber – October 30, 2006
ABC-TV news helicopter traffic reporter – October 16, 2006
Train engineer – October 9, 2006
Road cleanup crew – December 18, 2006
Santa Claus – December 25, 2006
Gold's personal trainer – October 2, 2006
Actor in "The Sopranos Last Supper" – September 25, 2006
Dogcatcher – September 18, 2006
Working at the car wash – July 24, 2006
Batboy – July 3, 2006
Bingo caller – June 19, 2006
Sewer worker – June 5, 2006
Zookeeper – May 29, 2006
"Avenue Q" puppeteer – May 22, 2006
Counterterrorism training school cadet – April 10, 2006
Zamboni driver – April 3, 2006
Day trader – March 20, 2006
Sonic carhop – March 6, 2006
Radio stunt tackle boy – February 27, 2006
Bartender – January 30, 2006
