A BEHIND-THE-SCENES LOOK AT THE REAL LIVES OF STRIPPERS... ELIZABETH VARGAS GETS UNPRECEDENTED ACCESS, ON "20/20," FRIDAY, APRIL 15 ON ABC
Also: * Bill Ritter Reports on the Over-the-counter Products Used by Millions of People Hoping to Achieve a Glamorous, Pearly White Smile;
* John Stossel's "Give Me a Break" - Gays in the Military
What would make a mother of three small children take off her clothes in front of complete strangers? Plain and simple -- the money. For the thousands of women who strip for a living in cities across America, it's a job that has the potential of paying a lot of cash. "20/20" goes behind the scenes of the provocative world of stripping, an ever-growing multi-billion dollar industry, for a rare look at what makes some of these strippers tick. "It's a real job... that pays real money. And I am able to provide for myself, my family and my children," says Butterfly, a divorced mother of three who works at Sapphire Gentleman's Club in Las Vegas, the largest strip club in the country. "20/20" was also allowed access to three other leading strip clubs, in Las Vegas, San Francisco and Houston, to see first hand the life of stripping and the (mostly) men these clubs entertain. Elizabeth Vargas' report airs on "20/20," FRIDAY, APRIL 15 (10:00-11:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network.
And: Obtaining a million dollar smile has created a half-billion-dollar a year industry for teeth whiteners. Since most people cannot afford professional teeth whiteners that cost up to $500, they buy the cheaper over the counter alternatives - strips, gels or brush-on whiteners that make all sorts of claims to brighten teeth. But just how effective are these products? With more than a hundred of them to choose from, "20/20" teamed with the Good Housekeeping Institute to do an small test of five popular home teeth whitening products. A group of 18 volunteers, half from Good Housekeeping and half who responded to a posting on the internet, followed the directions of the newest whiteners in three different categories (brush-ons, gels, strips) in different price ranges and were then evaluated by a dentist and his staff. Does anyone walk away with gleaming white teeth? ABC News Correspondent Bill Ritter reports.
Plus: While the Pentagon struggles to recruit new soldiers and forces some to stay in Iraq longer than they expected, it continues to kick out top soldiers who want to serve -- because they're gay. "They're... kicking gay Americans out who want to serve their country honorably, when people are fighting and screaming to get out of the army. It makes me so mad," says Jack Glover, a former soldier. Lieutenant Colonel Bob Maginnis, an advisor to the group that designed "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" and who doesn't think homosexuals should be allowed to serve at all, tells "20/20" that "homosexuals have been demonstrated by our own research not to provide us with the type of cohesive and ready forces we need." To that, Stacy Vasquez, who was discharged for being gay, responds: "You can't tell me that the army promoted me seven times because I interrupted unit morale and cohesion." John Stossel agrees and says "Give Me a Break."
"20/20" is anchored by Elizabeth Vargas and John Stossel. David Sloan is executive producer.
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