STRIP SCRIBBLES
*Soap-opera superstar actress Susan Lucci (she’s played Erica Kane on All My Children since 1970) might well drop in for a second time to see her friend, Celine, this weekend after wrapping three-days of filming an infomercial for her “Youthful Essence” skin treatment system. Susan began shooting yesterday up at the JW Marriott resort in Summerlin, continues there today, and ends tomorrow with a Grand Canal gondola ride at the Venetian, plus product demos in St. Marks Square outside Wolfgang Puck’s Postrio restaurant. Celine worked a week ago in NY with Susan on the ABC daytime drama and Luxe Life will have that full report next week.
*Mark your calendars to celebrate what would have been Jimi Hendrix’s 65th birthday tomorrow! Original artwork by Hendrix himself, never before seen photos, plus performance art by David Garabaldi will be making noise and paintings at the Obsessions Gallery in the Planet Hollywood resort with free Hendrix vodka drinks to toast the guitar great!
*Three new one-of-a-kind showcase homes will be unveiled tonight at Boulder Ridge located within The Ridges of Summerlin. It’s a donation-free party to thank everybody for supporting our new Lou Ruvo Brain Institute and our favorite Keep Memory Alive charity which is already gearing up for next year’s gala at MGM on February 9. Star-chefs Guy Savoy and Tom Colicchio will join culinary king Wolfgang Puck at the Power of Love celebration dinner and auction.
Many celebrity guests will trek over from Hollywood to support the event which will be highlighted by an intimate performance by star-singer Michael Buble. Incidentally, Wolf, our favorite Vegas celebrity chef, is sharing tips for the Holiday Season all weekend long on the Home Shopping Network. He’s got a full exhausting marathon of appearances starting this morning at 9 a.m. local time and again at 2 p.m., 8 p.m., 9 p.m., and 10 p.m. Then tomorrow he’ll be on the air (local time) at 6 a.m., 7 a.m.,10 a.m., 11 a.m., 3 p.m., 4 p.m., 7 p.m., and 8 p.m. On Sunday its 5 a.m., 6 a.m., 9 a.m., 10 a.m., 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. Wolf will share cooking secrets and techniques for the festive time of the year, plus holiday food favorites and entertaining recipes for perfect parties.
*With news that acid-tongued funnyman Don Rickles will move his zingers and barbs to the Orleans showroom next year comes word that on Sunday, HBO cable TV will debut the Jon Landis documentary Mr. Warmth—the Don Rickles Project. The documentary consists of Don’s show, which had never been filmed before, interviews with Don’s contemporaries, (Steve Lawrence, Bob Newhart, Debbie Reynolds), and includes such established comedians as Billy Crystal and Robin Williams. It also includes some of Don’s home movies, clips from The Tonight Show, various TV shows, and movies. It’s truly a very funny documentary of one of the last great comedians of his era and the hysterical performances will prove exactly why he is a legendary King of Comedy.
*Magical beauty Pamela Anderson along with new husband Rick Salomon and seven friends checked out the fabulous topless Crazy Horse Paris revue at the MGM Grand. Pam, hot as ever in an off the shoulder grey mini sweater dress, drank champagne during the show when not nuzzling up to him during the erotically sexy dance numbers.
Now for all the high-charged movers and shakers making up our weekend highlight picks in what we affectionately refer to around here as the ROYAL ROBIN RUNDOWN:
Fri Nov 30:
*Comedy king Kevin James abandons the small screen for the Mirage stage to get his laugh levels elevated during the writers strike in Hollywood.
*It’s the 25th anniversary Great White reunion tour and the five-man band pulls into the Sunset Station.
*Golden-throated singer Jack Jones will bring some songs of the season to his show that runs through Sunday up at the Suncoast.
*The Yellowjackets will sting and sizzle with their instrumental jazz variety of sounds for one night at the Boulder Station while Emerson Drive brings their music to the South Point for two-nights.
*A rage of rockers including Social Distortion and Girl in a Coma play at the House of Blues in Mandalay Bay. So many musicians, it gets underway with an early 6 p.m. start!
Sat Dec 1:
*JUST 11 SHOWS TO GO FOR CELINE DION: Caesars Palace president Gary Selesner wrote his own note especially for Luxe Life about Celine’s run at his resort casino:
“Since opening its doors in August of 1966, Caesars Palace has set the standard in entertainment by nightly offering its guests world-class performers. The legend began with the opening of Caesars Palace’s 980-seat Circus Maximus Showroom where Andy Williams was the resort’s first headlining act. Over the next 34 years a parade of legendary artists would follow in Williams’ footsteps including Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Sammy Davis Jr., Woody Allen, Jack Benny, Paul Anka, Ella Fitzgerald, Milton Berle, Judy Garland, Ann-Margret, Jay Leno, Tom Jones and George Burns. On March 25, 2003, entertainment at Caesars Palace reached never-before-seen heights, as more than 4,000 guests entered the Colosseum and were treated to A New Day… featuring international recording sensation, Celine Dion. More than just a concert, the Franco Dragone created production) was and remains a fusion of eclectic movement, incredible costumes, dramatic lighting and state-of-the-art sound. Building The Colosseum theater has also allowed Caesars Palace to attract other world-class talent such as Elton John and Jerry Seinfeld. Celine Dion, as a performer, has set the bar for success in Las Vegas and truly done something that has never before been seen at this level. She has performed more than 700 sold-out shows in the Colosseum, and each one has been executed with a passion and sound quality that only Celine Dion can deliver. She is without a doubt one of the greatest entertainers ever and she, along with her husband René, will always be considered part of the Caesars Palace family.”
*He’s made opera cool and chic and his love songs really are romantic. Classic tenor Andre Bocelli will send his amazing voice soaring to the roof of the MGM Grand Garden Arena for one incredible night of magic and melody in song as the successor to the late Luciano Pavarotti who launched Andre’s own career.
*Since his “arrival” at the Caesars Comedy Festival two years ago, Dane Cook has gone onto superstardom in his own right as a semi sex-symbol and without resorting to four-letter off-color humor. Named as one of Time’s 100 most influential people, he’ll send the “Rough Around The Edges” jokes flying at Mandalay Bay.
*Eleven-time World Series Poker winner, Phil Hellmuth hosts a “Beauty and the Bet” charity tournament to benefit the families of fallen law enforcement officers. The no-holds barred poker showdown starts at 12 noon and also promises appearances by four Playmates: Sarah Elizabeth, Stacy Fusion, Alison Waite and Stephanie Heinrich.
*You get to meet the Blues Traveler band after their show at the Ovation in Green Valley Ranch, and Social Distinction returns for a second night at the House of Blues, but this time with Time Again on their side.
*Indian standup comic Russell Peters uses his Indian upbringing to explore the comedic cultural divide with one-on-one audience conversations when he hits the Hard Rock Hotel.
*The new La Cocina Reyes Mexican restaurant from photographer Steve Reyes opens off-Strip on West Flamingo at Jones.
Sun Dec 2: -
*JUST 10 SHOWS TO GO FOR CELINE DION- In the current issue of People Magazine, Celine reveals her six-year-old son Rene-Charles’ favorite Vegas production, “His favorite show is Lance Burton’s magic at the Monte Carlo–and I’m his second. I’ll take that. After all, he’s seen my show four times.”
And for those Bette Midler fans who would complain about being left out of this countdown, we proudly note that her run, replacing Celine, will debut at the Colosseum on February 20—exactly 80 days from tonight.
Rehearsals get underway in a few days in Los Angeles following New York City try-outs. Immediately after Celine’s run wraps, workmen rip out her raked stage to replace a level one for Bette. Once the Colosseum stage makeover is completed, the entertainer and her dancers move here late January to finish staging the all new production. Bette has a two-year contract signed with no less than 100 shows to start with! Our Celine countdown resumes next Wednesday with just nine shows left then.
*A 1 p.m. performance for the Choreographers Showcase–a collaboration between Cirque du Soleil and the Nevada Ballet Theater—is set for the Mystere Theater in Treasure island. Ten new original choreographed pieces by artists from both companies will be performed.
*I only want to know if Pete Wentz will be playing and gal-pal Ashley Simpson will be watching! The Young Wild Things Tour hits the Hard Rock with Fall Out Boy, Gym Class Heroes, Plain White T’s and punk-pop band Cute Is What We Aim For.
*It’s the 4th anniversary of Vegas Passport at the Playboy Club’s After Dark Sunday party in the Palms.