More national exposure for "America's premier gentlemen's club in the heart of the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex"

By ED BARK
A reporter for ABC's Nightline visited The Lodge Tuesday evening -- on business.

It's the latest example of national coverage -- and un-coverage -- of the upscale Dallas gentlemen's club. Nightline is spotlighting The Lodge for an upcoming look at efforts to repeal the Texas "sin tax," which requires strip clubs to collect a $5 surcharge for each customer visit.

The Lodge was featured on several editions of MSNBC's Rachel Maddow Show last year after its dustup with former House speaker Newt Gingrich, which also received heavy local coverage. It all ended up in The Lodge's establishment of "Newt's Nook," a home for pit bulls.

"Writer in residence" Michael Precker, a former Dallas Morning News reporter who also is an assistant manager at The Lodge, earlier appeared on CNN's now defunct D.L. Hughley Show to talk about his unusual career transition. CNN took its cue from a feature on Precker and The Lodge in The Wall Street Journal. The club also played host for Showtime's recent Paul Mooney: It's the End of the World!, which was filmed by AMS Pictures of Dallas.

Exposure on Nightline arguably is another step up for The Lodge. Maybe Meet the Press someday? All things considered, that's not out of the question.