It appears as if the Gloved One has been taken under the wing of the Purple One! However much journalists dig for information, you never really know the true facts about those two pop-royals—but one thing is for sure, part-time Vegas resident Michael Jackson is hard-at-work on a new album, and once that’s finished, Prince has agreed to help produce Michael’s concert series to promote the comeback chart-chaser.

Both Prince and Black Eyed Peas star Will I. Am have been working on Michael’s return CD. Composer and producer Will commented: “Man, he still sings like a bird. He could go anywhere. We have a real opportunity to do something here. It’s either going to be really big or nobody’s going to care. Ain’t no middle ground on this one.” Prince believes with his guidance it will go to No. 1 and that Michael will hit the road with a series of Prince-sponsored concert dates to promote it. I’m told it would be global in nature in selected cities on selected dates with Prince and Michael turning up together for certain appearances!

Michael, who had been living full time in Vegas until a recent house-hunting trip in Maryland, is said to want absolute quiet and privacy until the record project is complete—and he can return as a music industry superstar all over again.

Don’t put UFC head honcho Dana White in the same room as lovebirds Jenna Jameson and former UFC world champion Tito Ortiz—because it might just wind up as the biggest battle they’ve ever been involved in.

“It’s nastier than anything seen in the UFC ring,” I was told. “Dana and Jenna are just fighting and feuding in each other’s face as if it was a pay-per-view championship match-up.”

Allegedly, Dana is so furious with Jenna’s demands for her boyfriend, he’s griped: “Don’t put us in the same room together because it’ll be an ugly fight.”

A reliable UFC source told me that Tito, who wants to be a movie star, has complained one too many times that he’s under-paid, considering that he’s partly responsible for the new fight-league’s success.

Now that he’s living with porn-princess Jenna Jameson, she’s taken up his cause and acting like his manager. She decided to go head-to-head against Dana to get her love-mate more money—and she’s using her skills as a canny businesswoman to up the ante. Remember, she did sell her Club Jenna adult film business to Playboy Enterprises and walked away with a $60-million payday!

“She wants Tito to make more money from the UFC bouts. She knows he’s a big-time UFC star who can draw crowds, so she’s using that leverage. Tito totally trusts her - and she’s got the edge in all of this.”

Dana is standing firm, but there are rumblings he will have to give in to some of Jenna’s demands. Meantime, the “unlikely couple” hosted a kick-off party at the new Nikki Beach club up at the Grand Sierra resort and casino in Reno as they judged the Nikki model search.

Jenna, the business mogul, will add to her own big-bucks fortune with a new upcoming series of graphic-art comic books. She’ll play super-heroine “Shadow Hunter” - but won’t have to go nude or play out sex-scenes. At most it’ll be some cleavage and bare- knuckles as she fights the forces of evil! The first 144-page book is scheduled for release in June of next year.

She said: “It’s creatively liberating and my character is sultry and sexy - and really kicks ass.” The 32-year-old adult-world superstar ‘s autobiography “How to Make Love Like a Porn Star: A Cautionary Tale” is now being shopped to Hollywood studios to be turned into a mainstream movie.

For the first time since joining European magician Hans Klok’s The Beauty of Magic spectacular at the Planet Hollywood, Pamela Anderson’s stage entrance appearance inside a magician’s cage went wrong.

Pamela simply failed to materialize in a split second after the curtains were closed and re-opened. “Crazy, but those are the moments,” she laughed. “I love theatre, and my entrance on stage simply broke.”

Pamela also revealed that she’s been rehearsing another illusion and expects it will be added to their show very soon. LUXE LIFE has learned it will be the dangerous “Spikes of Fire,” where Pamela is trapped inside a metal cabinet and flaming shafts of steel are rammed into it!

Pamela commented: “I’m having the best time. I want to be in Vegas forever. It’s so glamorous. I’m definitely staying till December—then who knows! Maybe no more TV or film. This is what I love doing. It’s so over the top.”

It was an afternoon of fabulous food, fantastic fun and good sport—although all but two of us had never played the game of bocce before. I was partnered with Lauren, one of the Pussycat Dolls casino dancers at Caesars Palace and we won our first round by totally annihilating hypnotist Anthony Cools, 8-1.
For once I put a spell on him!

A group of local Strip celebrities and Caesars beauties gathered at RAO’s Italian restaurant at Caesars Palace for the match on the bocce court overlooking the resort’s main pool. While waiting for our semi-finals match, Lauren, her Pussycat casino dancer gal pal, Angie and I bathed in the beautiful bellinis of squeezed white pears and champagne made by celebrity mixologist, Tony Abu Ganim. They were so glorious and bountiful that in the next game Lauren and I became the team that couldn’t shoot straight, losing 8-0! RAO’s partner Ron Strachi hopelessly beat us, but you’d expect him to know the game better than us!!! The games were such a success that they will become a quarterly event, and with the bikini beauties on hand I can sense ESPN is just around the corner!

Hundreds of cooking enthusiasts and fans turned up to greet celebrity TV chef Duff Goldman at the Forum Shops of Caesars Palace—and my former Food Network colleague Bill Boggs hosted the cook-off with local chefs going spatula to sieve competing for the Chef Crystal Award.

Chef Dave Simmons from the Stage Deli defended his last year’s win in the finals, but lost to Chef Jose Aleman from BOA who stunningly prepared six amazing dishes in less than 12 minutes of the final round!

Among the surprises was an appearance from sassy Amy Reilly, a master of gastronomy and author of the controversial aphrodisiac cookbook “Fork Me Spoon me.” Amy, who lives part-time here in Vegas, told me even she’s surprised by the sales success of the book, but it proves that people want to stay home to cook and then have real fun in or out of the kitchen!

Duff has been cooking since age four when he started watching TV cooking shows. The day-long event included live cooking performances, demonstrations, an entertaining seminar, samplings of food and beverages, autograph signings and then the round-robin local chef cook off, which also featured Chef Kiko Ojeda of The Palm, Chef Kiichi Okabe of Sushi Roku and Chef Matt Montoya of Trevi Italian restaurant.

The superstar invasion from Hollywood and New York has made the PURE properties around town, which includes its nightclub in Caesars Palace, the ultimate summer playpen for party people. It’s been staggering to watch all the celebrity comings and goings! Let’s hope I don’t miss anybody!

Rush Hour 3 star Chris Tucker and director Brett Ratner were joined by fellow actor Taye Diggs, and sitting alongside was young actress Haylie Duff with a group of girlfriends. Hotel heiress Nicky Hilton came in late with boyfriend David Katzenberg and stayed until the club closed.

Also amongst the revelers: Luxor headliner Carrot Top, who earlier had attended Jaime Pressly’s birthday in the adjoining Pussycat Dolls lounge (click here for that Luxe Life report yesterday), USC starting quarterback Josh David Booty and US Olympic figure skater Michelle Kwan. Mindfreak magician Criss Angel was on hand with sports star Antoine Walker when hip-hop star UNK gave a surprise 2 a.m. performance of his hits, “Walk It Out” and “2 Step.”

Rapper Mike Jones was another surprise performer with his club anthem, “Back Then,” and on hand for his impromptu gig were Mindfreak magician Criss Angel, Beverly Hills socialite Kim Kardashian, singer/actress Haylie Duff and MTV’s Brody Jenner.

Next day, recovering at the Venus topless optional pool at Caesars were Jaime Pressly and fiancée DJ Eric Cubeechee, actress Tamala Jones and once again, Taye Diggs.

Over at Social House in TI, everybody from actresses Jackie Bisset (Nip/Tuck) and Haylie Duff, to actors Sean Penn and Taye Diggs and rocker Eddie Vedder had fellow diners thinking they were in a Hollywood commissary. Turns out the lounge where DJ Javier Alba spins the music and the Asian restaurant’s Newspaper Room are the most popular with the stars, who then always seem to trek downstairs to the Tangerine nightclub with its burlesque dancers. Comedy czar Jon Lovitz and Playmates Lauren Anderson and Stacy Fusion were there (the girls celebrating birthdays), and another Playboy Playmate, Lisa MacKay celebrated her birthday there at the weekend with a midnight birthday cake.

At Lucky Strike bowling lanes in the Rio, FHM model, Jamie Villamore proved she was more than just beautiful and talented by showing she’s no slouch to bowling—coming with her own bowling shoes and “hello kitty” bowling ball! Another FHM model, Crystal Hayson electrified with her third time bowling there with ever-higher scores. Both beauties went onto Coyote Ugly at NY-NY, showing sexy moves on the bar top with the Coyotes.

The newly-opened Dick’s Last Resort at the Excalibur was visited by FOX TV’s Hell’s Kitchen second year winner chef, Heather West, where she wound up in the Race Car Bar fending off the entertaining charms of the outrageous funnyman Taco!

… Did Paris Hilton rekindle her one-time romance with Heismann Trophy winner Matt Leinart during her rush weekend visit here for the Fergie show at The Pearl? My spies tell me that she and the Arizona Cardinals hunk hooked up again at the MOON nightclub atop the Fantasy Tower of the Palms—and were “lip-locked all over each other” during their pre-dawn spree. Paris wound up, as the sun rose, playing blackjack in the casino at the Hard Rock! Leinart just battled a $30,000 a month child support claim from Brynn Cameron, the unmarried mother of his nine month-old son, Cole. He got the settlement down to $15,000 a month; the couple will go back to their highly-charged court feud Aug 13 when Matt will resume his furious fight to spend more time with the baby
… Merlin the Magician has been “peering out” of the watchtower at the Excalibur ever since the casino-resort opened, but suddenly he’s disappeared! In his place, the pranksters at the new Dick’s Last Resort wacky crazy café and boisterous bar have replaced Merlin with their own creative cartoon character! Dick has been raising eyebrows and getting plenty of laughs!

TONIGHTS TIP: Check out Sean Clauretie’s unique exhibit and party of sexy spy-fi art titled, “Hips, Lips and Laserguns” at Ghostbar in the Palms; the first 400 people get a FREE erotic poster … Over at PURE, the Summer Surprise Series continues with a hot recording artist performing. Mums the word, so I won’t ruin the surprise!

TOMORROWS TEASE: Our chat with singer Toni Braxton, who’s celebrating her first anniversary at the Flamingo and has renewed her contract there for another six months, and LUXE LIFE goes with NBC weatherman Al Roker to go face-to-face with his wax-model at Madame Tussaud’s in The Venetian. Plus, counter-intelligence with a kitchen whip-around of the latest star-chef news, both on and off the Strip.

When visiting Vegas, be sure to see Las Vegas Magazine in your hotel suite featuring a print edition of Vegas Luxe Life, and an incredible directory of attractions, shows and restaurants.

VEGAS—THE ONLY PLACE TO PLAY!

Following on the high-heels of yesterday’s special LUXE LIFE edition with the latest in the Britney Spears saga, and Fergie and Paris Hilton’s weekend Vegas visit (click here), today its all about girls: the good, the bad and the naughty!

Our favorite bad-girl gone worse, Britney ruffled feathers at the luxurious Wynn resort even before her bodyguard thumped a photographer near the spa which got them all kicked out.

It was almost an advance warning when she requested that her suite be both baby-proofed and puppy-proofed. Coming after the disastrous OK Magazine photo shoot (click here for our report on that debacle) it was probably a wise precaution since her tiny Yorkshire terrier (terror?), London, not yet trained in the art of going to the bathroom, ruined a $6,500 gown!

Nobody at Wynn would tell me what it takes to baby-proof and puppy-proof a resort guest room, but in talking with other hotel executives I learned this is a pretty extensive and expensive undertaking—and in view of the high quality of the Wynn’s furnishings, probably more there than anywhere else in town.

Carpets, curtains, cushions, chairs and couches were all covered in a plastic coating. Even bed linens and spreads were wrapped in the stain-proof stuff. After all, it has to look brand spanking new for the next set of future guests. Personally, I don’t think Vegas super-suites are right for babies under two years of age to be playing with untrained puppies in the first place. We’re an adult playground not a kiddy park!

Britney must have realized that, because she wanted Sean Preston and Jayden James to have a grand experience on their mini Vegas vacation. I have it on the best authority that Brit asked if Circus Circus could shut down so she could take her kids on all the amusement rides in the fairground there. Since Circus Circus couldn’t bring operations to a halt and throw out hundreds of customers, they nixed that request.

Unfazed, Britney then sought to have Siegfried & Roy’s Miracle Garden with the new baby dolphin shuttered to paying customers so she and her two babies could enjoy it in peace. That idea didn’t sit too well and was turned down also. Ultimately she realized that at such short notice even a pop-princess couldn’t use her celebrity status to get, not only to the front of the line, but also exclude all the others!

It doesn’t take Britney long to get anxious about being out of the spotlight. Again, I am reliably told that she then asked for a list of events going on in Vegas where she would be welcomed and be assured of “a lot of photographers”!!!!! That brought much laughter from PR executives around town!

But very shortly after making that diva-demand, Britney had all the attention she needed when her bodyguard punched-up a photographer which won him a citation for “battery” from the Vegas police, and the Brit-brats were asked to leave the hotel on orders from owner Steve Wynn. (Maybe the two kids thought they were on the boardwalk at Coney Island watching a carnival sideshow.)

After leaving town, she turned up with a gal-pal in tow Saturday night for a round of Hollywood nightclubbing while her mom was in Vegas hoping to patch-up their differences. Britney obviously decided she didn’t want any of the reconciliation and reunion that everybody had been praying for.

The next time we are due to see Britney here in Vegas is for the opening night of the new LAX nightclub at the Luxor to kickoff Memorial Day weekend. She is then said to have been inked in to appear on the following weekend’s MTV Video Music Awards show live from the Pearl at the Palms, but several music insiders say she’s killed that opportunity with her incredible behavior at her abandoned music video shoot and aborted OK Magazine interview.

As Luxe Life reported yesterday, it was hoped that with the arrival here of her mom, Lynne and sister, Jamie Lynn there would be a family intervention to get Brit’s life back on track. But even with ex-husband Kevin Federline’s urging because of his concern for their children’s safety, it didn’t take place. Brit turned her back on her mom and sister and fled back to Hollywood with the kiddies to satisfy Kevin’s legal demand they be returned —and now the world waits anxiously for the next soap-opera chapter!

And now, here’s the very latest on Britney:

Following last week’s feud between Britney Spears and Kevin Federline about her illegally taking their two baby sons out of California for a joyride jaunt to Vegas, it was confirmed this morning (Monday) that their marriage officially ended in divorce today. At present its believed Britney will pay Kevin $15,000 a month in alimony and the costs associated with him having 50/50 shared custody rights for the children. Britney’s attorney is requesting the court seal the documents so details of the settlement aren’t leaked.

Heiress Paris Hilton returned to Los Angeles from Vegas yesterday (Sunday) and learned that her reality TV series The Simple Life with Nicole Ritchie has been canceled. But its not all bad news for Paris, who has started recording work on a new album She’s also just signed to star as a singer in a new sci-fi horror flick.

Gorgeous new mom, actress Jaime Lynn Pressly from the My Name is Earl sitcom gave new definition to “party hearty” for her 30th birthday.

Not content with a week of celebrating down in the Bahamas with consecutive dance nights at the Aura nightclub, she came directly to Vegas to do it even bigger and better. She kicked off her three day, round the clock party with an entourage of 15 friends at the Nobu Japanese restaurant in the Hard Rock. Then she turned the clock back to the 80’s for her actual birthday bash with an entourage that had grown to 200 friends, including Luxor headliner Carrot Top. She took over the entire Pussycat Dolls lounge at PURE nightclub in Caesars Palace—and even she and fiancé, DJ Eric Cubeechee dressed in the 80’s attire she’d urged the other partygoers to wear to the party fit for a princess!

At the stroke of midnight, the parody band Metal Skool performed a high-octane set of classic hits. Jaime began dancing up a storm, and before she had time to rest a second the Vegas Pussycat Dolls surprised her with a Happy Birthday sing-along and a spectacular birthday cake. By the time she’d danced and partied with all the guests, dawn was breaking and she left as the club turned on the lights!

But she was back in action next day with 20 of her closest at the Venus optional topless pool at Caesars Palace. Jaime and Eric hid out in a private cabana sipping on Voss water and mojitos and munching on chicken paninis and nachos. Among the guests there were Stella’s Groove actor Taye Diggs and actress Tamala Jones of “Friday After Next.” They stayed until closing time—and by then the revelry had finally caught up, so Jaime canceled not only her reservation at Social House for dinner, but also a TV interview with EXTRA she was going to do there.