History Trivia / FearAndLoathingInLasVegas

** According to Robert Rosen's biography of him, in early 1980, just before his recorded comeback, Creator/JohnLennon read ''Fear and Loathing'' and became taken with the idea of playing Raoul Duke in a film version. Though it never eventuated, he referenced the novel in a draft of biographical matter (agreeing with its assessment of his song "Power to the People") and parodied the title twice in his posthumously published ''Skywriting by Word of Mouth''.

* DoingItForTheArt: Nearly everyone in the film, but special credit goes to Benicio Del Toro, who burned his arm with cigarettes to match the burns on Oscar Acosta's arm, and ended up getting blood poisoning. He also gained 40 pounds for the role. He tried to put on even more weight, but there wasn't time.
* DyeingForYourArt: Johnny Depp had his head shaved to match Thompson's male-pattern baldness. By Thompson. With a ''straight razor''. ''While Thompson wore a [[CrazyAwesome miner's helmet]]''.

* MidDevelopmentGenreShift: It was originally just going to be a straight series of articles covering a motorcycle race in Las Vegas, before becoming the weird, wacky, genre-defining whatever-it-is that it became.

* HeyItsThatGuy: [[Music/RedHotChiliPeppers Flea]] has a short cameo as a hippy musician who licks Johnny Depp's arm.

* HeyItsThatGuy: [[Music/RedHotChiliPeppers Flea]] shows up as a hippy musician who licks Johnny Depp's arm for a minute or two.

* HeyIt'sThatGuy: [[Music/RedHotChiliPeppers]]Flea shows up as a hippy musician who licks Johnny Depp's arm for a minute or two.

* HeyItsThatGuy:
** The movie features cameos from Creator/ChristinaRicci, Creator/CameronDiaz, and Creator/GaryBusey, among others.
** That hitchhiker Dr. Gonzo wanted to kill in a drug-induced paranoia? An unknown (and long-haired, blond) Tobey Maguire!
** In the circus, one of the barkers (offering a chance to appear on a 200-foot tall screen somewhere outside) is [[Creator/PennAndTeller Penn Jillette]].
** The TotallyRadical drug doctor explaining the difference between "cool, groovy, hip and square" is [[Series/SesameStreet Mr. Noodle]].
*** Alternatively, he's [[Film/TheGreenMile Eduard Delacroix]].
** The hippie Duke meets in the bathroom of the Matrix was played by Flea, bassist for the RedHotChiliPeppers, nearly unidentifiable under his beard and wig.
** Lyle Lovett introduces Duke to acid. ([[AC:"Anybody want some L... S... D??"]])
** [[Series/{{NCIS}} Gibbs]] is a reporter covering the Mint 400.
** [[Series/LawAndOrderSpecialVictimsUnit Stabler]] is the very flamboyant clerk at the Flamingo Hotel.
** [[Series/TwentyFour President Logan]] is the head clerk at the Mint Hotel.
** The maid Gonzo assaults is both [[Film/{{Aliens}} Pvt. Vasquez]] and [[Film/Terminator2JudgmentDay Janelle, John Connor's foster mom]].

** According to Robert Rosen's biography of him, in early 1980, just before his recorded comeback, Creator/JohnLennon read ''Fear and Loathing'' and became taken with the idea of playing Raoul Duke in a film version. Though it never eventuated, he referenced the novel in a draft of biographical matter (agreeing with its assessment of his song "Power to the People") and parodies the title twice in his posthumously published ''Skywriting by Word of Mouth''.

** [[LawAndOrderSpecialVictimsUnit Stabler]] is the very flamboyant clerk at the Flamingo Hotel.

** The TotallyRadical drug doctor explaining the difference between "cool, groovy, hip and square" is [[SesameStreet Mr. Noodle]].

** VideoGame/{{Jazzpunk}}'' has a couple of tourists at the Kai Tak Resort level that are basically walking visual [[{{Expy}} Expies]] of Raoul Duke.

** The Music/AvengedSevenfold song "Bat Country" is basically a continuous series of references to the book/film. The song title is from the line "We can't stop here. This is bat country.", which is from the film.
** ''WesternAnimation/{{Rango}}'' has a scene where Rango hits the windshield of the famous car driven by Hunter Thompson. Funnily enough, Creator/JohnnyDepp voiced both Rango and Hunter Thompson in this movie.

** ''WesternAnimation/Rango'' has a scene where Rango hits the windshield of the famous car driven by Hunter Thompson. Funnily enough, Creator/JohnnyDepp voiced both Rango and Hunter Thompson in this movie.

* NoCelebritiesWereHarmed: Subverted by the first editions of the book, despite the best efforts of the publishers. When publication of the book was still being negotiated, the lawyers of the publishers tried to get Thompson to delete the references to his attorney engaging in criminal acts, since; even as depicted through an expy, could have badly damaged his reputation and been considered libelous. Thompson reached out to Oscar Zeta Acosta; the real life model for the fictional Dr. Gonzo, and asked him to sign a release. Acosta however initially refused. Not because he was concerned over libelous content, but because he took offense at being portrayed by a fictional version of himself. He would only sign the release on the condition that he be explicitly named as the basis for Gonzo on the book's cover. In other words, he insisted on taking full credit for the very criminal behavior the lawyers feared would harm and or offend him.

** The doctor explaining that dope fiends' pants will be encrusted with semen is [[SesameStreet Mr. Noodle]].

** [[Film/WithnailAndI Bruce Robinson]] was Johnny Depp's first choice to make the film, but Robinson had quit filmmaking by that point. He would later direct ''TheRumDiary'', based on HunterSThompson's novel and also starring Depp.

* HeyItsThatGuy: The movie features cameos from Creator/ChristinaRicci, Creator/CameronDiaz, and Creator/GaryBusey, among others.

* WhatCouldHaveBeen: [[Film/WithnailAndI Bruce Robinson]] was Johnny Depp's first choice to make the film, but Robinson had quit filmmaking by that point. He would later direct ''TheRumDiary'', based on HunterSThompson's novel and also starring Depp.

* HeyItsThatGuy: The movie features cameos from ChristinaRicci, Creator/CameronDiaz, and Creator/GaryBusey, among others.

* WhatCouldHaveBeen: [[WithnailAndI Bruce Robinson]] was Johnny Depp's first choice to make the film, but Robinson had quit filmmaking by that point. He would later direct ''TheRumDiary'', based on HunterSThompson's novel and also starring Depp.