BARBRA STREISAND KICKS OFF PLANET HOLLYWOOD’S STAR STUDDED OFFICIAL OPENING
This may well go down as the biggest showbiz weekend in Vegas history when superstar Barbra Streisand leads a 100-strong galaxy of VIPs and celebrities for the 48-hour weekend official opening of the new Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino.
“We promised Las Vegas we would throw the biggest party this town has ever seen,” said Planet’s head-honcho Robert Earl in advance of tonight and tomorrow’s gala celebrations, which are costing more than a staggering $5-million! Bruce Willis, Demi Moore, Ashton Kutcher, Sylvester Stallone and even California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger all have their table reservations already in place!
The center-Strip hotel has already unveiled its new $1-billion makeover from its former life as the Aladdin, complete with stunning lobby, new casino, lounges and restaurants—KOI, which opened last weekend, and Striphouse. More than 1,500 guest rooms with movie themes have been remodeled for the opening weekend.
Tonight will also feature the opening of the hot new Prive nightclub—a Vegas outpost of the successful Miami nightspot known as “Hollywood’s Miami playground.” All five of the Opium Group’s nightlife venues - Mansion, Opium Garden and Set—will eventually be anchored at the Planet. The Living Room has already opened in advance of this weekend’s celebrity packed celebration. Watch for our full photo report on each part of the opening in Luxe Life’s three-postings leading up to Thanksgiving next week.
It’s a case of one divine diva taking on some 20 kings and queens of comedy and song tomorrow in a no-holds-barred battle by Planet Hollywood against the MGM and Harrah’s corporate giants. Barbra Streisand hosts a rare one-night private performance at the Planet while Billy Joel rocks out at MGM’s Grand Garden Arena and Jerry Seinfeld and Chris Rock lead the colossal comedy lineup at Caesars Palace. If we were back in medieval times, this would be Lady Guinevere conquering Sir Laugh-alot!
Planet Hollywood has a stunning lineup of stars who will be welcomed by Daily Show comedian Jon Stewart tonight: Paula Abdul, Andre Agassi, Pamela Anderson, Tom Arnold, James Caan, Roger Clemens, Minnie Driver, Julius “Dr. J” Erving, Joey Fatone, Danny Glover, David Hasselhoff, Jonah Hill, Star Jones, Sugar Ray Leonard, Justin Long, Leslie Mann, Mark McGrath, Luke Perry, Brett Ratner, Seth Rogen, Charlie Sheen, Kevin Spacey, Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Jon Stewart, Patrick Swayze, Milo Ventimiglia, George Wallace, Bruce Willis and more!
Jon Stewart’s 10 p.m. comedy show in the Mezzanine Theatre, will be followed with performances by Bruce Willis and his Blues Band, celebrity DJ DMC and Big Bad Voodoo Daddy in the main ballroom for the 1,000 invited guests tonight. Tomorrow after the private Streisand concert with Kevin Pollack as her opening act in the Performing Arts Theater, she will be followed by another blow-out ballroom banquet and performances by Earth, Wind and Fire and Sugar Ray. Ironically, it’s exactly one-year-ago to the day that the reclusive Streisand last performed in Vegas as one of her final stops on her so-called farewell world tour, so Planet has pulled off a real coup in getting her back under the spotlights.
“It’s going to be one extraordinary non-stop celebration,” I was told late last night. “The guests won’t even bother about bed until it’s all over at dawn on Sunday. There’s never been a party like this one in Vegas.”
Even the Heart Bar will feature the Heart to Heart girls showcased in sexy Bette Page outfits celebrating the Hollywood pin-up icon. Stars started arriving at the Planet yesterday for the kickoff of the three days of festivities by comedy actor Katt Williams when he Vegas-premiered his new movie, American Hustle. Rapper Lil’ John was spotted dining inside the new Striphouse steak restaurant there.