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Wet Republic at MGM Grand opens today — let the pool wars begin
Photos: She’s Out of My League premiere at Planet Hollywood
Victor Drai’s Hollywood nightspot officially opens tonight in L.A.
Matt Goss premiere at Caesars Palace to be a star-studded affair
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Strip Scribbles: Kevin Burke’s mind-blowing March Madness magic
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The Twilight Saga: New Moon wins fan choice award at ShoWest
Wynn sports book posts American Idol Season 9 odds
Photos: 2010 Miss America returns home for first time since crowning
Strip Scribbles: George Wallace is giving away a Smart Car on April 1
Three food critics aim to name 50 best L.V. restaurants for new book
Justin Bieber and Sean Kingston at Planet Hollywood on July 24
Sex and the City stars lead award-winner arrivals for ShoWest
Luxe Life Blog • Archive for March 2009
Breaking News: Carlos Santana inks two-year contract at The Joint
It’s official: Guitar legend Carlos Santana has signed a two-year deal with the giant concert booking company AEG to headline at the Hard Rock Hotel’s new Joint theater. Click HERE for our interview last week with AEG chief John Meglen, who promised the deal was just a week away. Carlos will perform some 36 shows a year during the residency. John hopes to sign two other headliners to rotate next year. It’s a similar policy to the one AEG has ... Read more...
Two couples are eliminated on DWTS, including one of the Steves
And then there were nine! Dancing With the Stars began the night with 11 celebrities, and minutes ago, two were unceremoniously booted. Don’t read any further if you plan on watching the tape-delayed West Coast broadcast of ABC’s Dancing With the Stars and want nothing spoiled beforehand! But come back after the show to compare notes! From last night’s show — click HERE for that first-filed spoiler report yesterday — the judges lowered the boom on the three lowest point ... Read more...
Strip Scribbles: Criss Angel reportedly has a new gal pal
An anonymous brunette draped all over Mindfreak magician Criss Angel got everybody’s attention at the Cathouse ultra lounge inside the Luxor. Saturday Night Live alumnus Jon Lovitz had gone with friends to watch Criss in his Cirque du Soleil show Believe at the resort casino — and when they went backstage afterward to congratulate him, they invited him to join them for drinks. Criss turned up at the comedy actor’s table in the restaurant club, and all eyes were on ... Read more...
DWTS Photo Gallery: Julianne’s free concert; double-elimination night
New country singing star Julianne Hough is “coming home” to Las Vegas — and I can confirm that Friday night, she will give a nearly hourlong free concert on the Third Street stage downtown in Fremont Street Experience. It’s her way of saying thanks to all her fans who have propelled her to fast-track stardom on the country charts. The former Las Vegas Academy student will appear from 7:45 to just past 8:30 p.m., followed by Top New Male Vocalist ... Read more...
Miss Nevada USA to travel 4 miles to compete in Miss USA Pageant
Fifty of the 51 Miss USA Pageant contestants are packing their bags today and getting ready for the flight to Las Vegas. They’ll arrive here over the next two to three days and check into Planet Hollywood, which will be their new home for the next two weeks. We’ll get to see them all posed pretty for the first time together Friday, and we’ll have those photos to you Vegas DeLuxe readers by early afternoon! For Miss Nevada USA Georgina ... Read more...
Is the Jackson family trying to launch a theme park and casino in Nigeria?
Michael Jackson’s quiet brother Marlon has just shocked followers of the family with his plans to find investors for a $3 billion tourist destination in Nigeria he wants to build in the African nation. The golf course, a casino and the collection of Jackson family memorabilia didn’t raise eyebrows in the land of email money scams. But it’s the interactive theme park dedicated to the theme of slavery that has people shaken. Marlon’s official literature says that visitors will be ... Read more...
Photo Galleries: Lil’ Wayne, Charlie Daniels and Monster Circus
Music makes the world go round, and it takes all kinds — from country to rap to rock — to satisfy fans. Our contributing photographers Denise Truscello, Erik Kabik and Scott Harrison were kept jumping the past 72 hours to keep up with all the musical madness. Charlie Daniels brought his unique sounds of country, jazz and blues to the Silverton; Lil’ Wayne had a star turnout among his fans for the concert with Gym Class Heroes at The Pearl ... Read more...
All-star lineup heads into Las Vegas for ShoWest 2009
Parts of the Strip this week will look like a Hollywood movie lot because of the large influx of stars headed to town for the annual movie convention ShoWest. It kicked off yesterday at the Paris and Bally’s. Among the superstars here in Vegas are teen heartthrob Zac Efron, legendary veteran Sir Michael Caine, Dennis Quaid, Sienna Miller, Patricia Clarkson, Bradley Cooper, Chris Pine, Transformers director Michael Bay and TV film critic Roger Ebert. In addition, the casts of Twilight ... Read more...
DWTS: Julianne Hough changes routine; unsympathetic judges booed
Don’t read any further if you plan on watching the tape-delayed West Coast broadcast of ABC’s Dancing With the Stars and want nothing spoiled beforehand! But come back after the show to compare notes! After a safety mat slipped during rehearsals, Julianne Hough yanked the backflip from her partner Chuck Wicks, who was attempting it for their lindy hop routine. He’d feared he would fall on his head doing the acrobatic move — and almost did when the mat went ... Read more...
Strip Scribbles: Beauty queens and Playboy Bunnies head for the Palms pool
The place to hang if you’re on the lookout for gorgeous girls all next weekend long will be the sixth-floor pool in George Maloof’s Palms Place condo-tel with reservations for breakfast, lunch and dinner at Iron Chef winner Kerry Simon’s restaurant. That’s because this Saturday, Hugh Hefner will be there celebrating his birthday with all his Playboy playmates and his new three-pack of gal pals, including the twins! Then Sunday, the 51 Miss USA contestants will be on parade there ... Read more...
Maks, Karina, Chuck and Julianne spill love secrets amid DWTS injuries
The Dancing With the Stars injury count has now risen to three, and that’s after two stars — Jewel and Nancy O’Dell — were KO’d before Season 8 even began airing on ABC! Tonight, the walking wounded who are still determined to compete are Jackass stuntman Steve-0, Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak and the latest accident victim, gorgeous glamour girl Holly Madison. The platinum Playmate and The Girls Next Door star has been suffering intense rib pain while practicing her Argentine ... Read more...
Photo Gallery: It’s a big Strip birthday weekend for five celebrities
No less than five celebrity birthdays were celebrated over the past 48 hours here on the Strip, with stars from both show business and sports! The Sopranos star Michael Imperioli arrived from New York with his wife Victoria, brother John and other friends for his 43rd birthday blast, which began at Tao in The Venetian. A decorated birthday cake was brought to their table after the dinner feast, but Michael ordered it sent up to their suite so they could ... Read more...
Photo Gallery: Folies Bergere‘s nearly 50-year run comes to a glorious end
Over the 49 years that Folies Bergere played at the Tropicana, some 400 dancers, showgirls and entertainers have come and gone through the ranks. Some have never missed a show in 15 consecutive years! This past weekend, they all gathered for one last time for a history-making photograph on the grand staircase to say farewell. Click HERE for our esteemed editor Johnny Kats’ live blog of the final two hours as the curtain lowered for the last time ever Saturday ... Read more...
Photo Gallery: Gordie Brown’s golden opening night at the Nugget
Comedy impressionist Gordie Brown opened his new two-year-run downtown at the Golden Nugget, and both stars and fans loved the premiere night. It marked his return to our city after being on tour as Celine Dion’s opening act the past eight months. Our contributing photographer Erik Kabik was on the red carpet and front and center for Gordie’s entertaining performance and great show. Flamingo headliner magician Nathan Burton was among the celebrities who joined the red carpet throng. Also there ... Read more...
Photo Gallery: Kim Kardashian turns Wet Republic into a sexy daytime oasis
Fans went wild for reality TV star Kim Kardashian when she sent temperatures rising with her boyfriend Reggie Bush at the Wet Republic pool at MGM Grand yesterday. Kim and her New Orleans Saints football star beau made a family affair out of the weekend visit with her sister Khloe Kardashian and brother Robert Kardashian Jr. — all from Keeping Up With the Kardashians. Also in the group were Robert’s Bromance co-star Frankie Delgado and Brittny Gastineau of the reality ... Read more...
Terry Fator meets comedy king Jerry Lewis: ‘It was the thrill of a lifetime’
A 25-year-plus dream came true last night for new Mirage superstar Terry Fator when veteran comedy king Jerry Lewis visited backstage — and Jerry hugged the comedy impressionist and ventriloquist, telling him, “You are a genius!” Jerry told Terry that he’d also watched every one of his appearances on America’s Got Talent. Said Jerry: “From the first moment I saw you, I knew you would win. I told everybody you would go on to hit the big time. Watch this ... Read more...
Peep Show, Part 2: Topless dancing with the stars at Planet Hollywood
*Click HERE for yesterday’s interview with Peep Show star Kelly Monaco. Mastermind Jerry Mitchell is an award-winning Broadway director and choreographer whose credits include Hairspray and Legally Blonde. He takes off after the April 18 grand opening of Peep Show to oversee several new projects, including Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber’s follow up to The Phantom of the Opera, titled Love Never Dies and which he’ll stage in London, Toronto, New York, Shanghai and Australia next year. Jerry first dreamed the ... Read more...
Peep Show, Part 1: Topless dancing with the stars at Planet Hollywood
So the whole world wants to know if Peep Show stars Mel B and Kelly Monaco unhook their bras and go topless in their brand new adult cabaret burlesque show! The answer is just days away, but if you keep reading, you’ll find out the spicy revelations. The real knockout ooh-and-ah comes right from the opening moment, though, when Kelly, a former Playboy cover girl and current General Hospital star, free falls 50 feet from the ceiling in her high ... Read more...
Holly Madison in ‘substantial pain’ but plans to dance Monday on DWTS
Injured Dancing With the Stars contestant Holly Madison is in “substantial pain” but plans to dance on Monday’s fourth show of Season 8. Click HERE for our breaking news story last night about her injury. I checked in this afternoon with Holly’s press rep, Steve Flynn, following up on our report last night that medics had been called to the rehearsal studio. Holly was treated with prescription painkillers after she keeled over from chronic pain in her ribs. Holly had ... Read more...
Exclusive: Gordie Brown is back at home at the Golden Nugget
Comedy impressionist Gordie Brown returns home to the Golden Nugget downtown tonight after a lengthy stint as Celine Dion’s opening act on her Taking Chances world tour. He confided that if she ever gave up singing, she could become an impressionist, too! Her impersonation of Cher is apparently right on target, along with Annie Lennox and even Elvis! But the two Canadian entertainers aren’t about to take that duet on the road. And Gordie wants to make it clear that ... Read more...
Strip Scribbles: Kato Kaelin has a new role — Wedding crasher
Tonight is the debut of pop culture personality Kato Kaelin as a celebrity crasher at Tony ’n’ Tina’s Wedding in Planet Hollywood. Kato was known as America’s favorite houseguest during the O.J. Simpson trial in the 1990s when he gave testimony about what he saw and heard the night Nicole Brown Simpson was murdered. Kato, who has gone on to appear on TV shows and commercials, will be the guest crasher until April 9. He currently hosts National Lampoon’s Viral ... Read more...
Las Vegas joins in Earth Hour one-hour blackout tomorrow night
Las Vegas will officially go dark at 8:30 p.m. tomorrow for one hour! The lights go out! The neon is switched off! For all intents and purposes, we’ll be operating with candles! It’s all to mark Earth Hour, and some 2,000 cities and hundreds of millions of people across the world will join the blackout. The unique effort is being propelled by the World Wildlife Fund to make a bold statement about climate change. Our Flamingo headliners Donny & Marie ... Read more...
Kim Kardashian’s sexy GQ photos set stage for Wet Republic
Hot on the heels of the first sexy photo layout that Kim Kardashian and boyfriend Reggie Bush have ever shot together, the seductive reality TV show starlet comes to Las Vegas this weekend and kicks off the summer pool season at MGM Grand’s Wet Republic. The sizzling socialite will hit the decks there at 2 p.m. tomorrow while she takes a break from filming new episodes of Keeping Up With the Kardashians. Expect her to pose and dazzle in one ... Read more...
Exclusive: Top execs discuss The Colosseum, Celine, The Joint and Jackson
For the first time, top executives at The Colosseum in Caesars Palace have directly addressed recent Vegas DeLuxe stories about the possible return of Celine Dion to the showroom — and a possible Vegas location for King of Pop Michael Jackson’s concerts! Caesars Palace President Gary Selesner told me: “I saw Celine on her tour while we were both in Shanghai. She told me she misses life — and performing in Vegas as compared to life on a long world ... Read more...
Holly Madison joins injured list on Dancing With the Stars
Medics were called in early this evening to the Hollywood rehearsal studio where Playboy cover beauty Holly Madison and her pro dance partner Dmitry Chaplin had been practicing for Monday’s next Dancing With the Stars show. Holly complained of severe pain in her ribs. She received medical attention, and a doctor confirmed that she does not have a broken rib. Holly’s spokesman, Steve Flynn, told me: “She does continue to feel a great deal of discomfort and has been prescribed ... Read more...
Sneak Peek Shots: Peep Show cast rehearses for Monday’s preview
These four hot-off-the-camera photos are from rehearsals today of Planet Hollywood’s new adult burlesque cabaret Peep Show, which has its first preview next Monday. Vegas DeLuxe was the first and only media allowed at the rehearsal in the remodeled theater. Check back here tomorrow for our exclusive backstage tour, first look at rehearsals and star interviews. Meantime, click HERE for our interviews with Peep Show stars Mel B and Kelly Monaco and its award-winning director-choreographer Jerry Mitchell back in November. ... Read more...
Exclusive: Chester Bennington opens Club Tattoo at Planet Hollywood
The salesman behind the counter showing body jewelry and the new line of fashions looks vaguely familiar. The man with the paintbrush and the laborer on his knees laying tile trigger more recognition. Yes, in fact, the guy with three job titles at the new Club Tattoo in Planet Hollywood’s Miracle Mile is none other than rock star Chester Bennington of Linkin Park! He is not shy as an investor owner in pitching in to help out and do whatever ... Read more...
Strip Scribbles: ShoWest names Rachel McAdams its Female Star of the Year
Actress Rachel McAdams is headed to Las Vegas next week for the ShoWest movie convention where she will be presented with the Female Star of the Year Award. The convention starts Monday and runs through Thursday at Bally’s and Paris, and Rachel will attend the final night awards banquet April 2. Her breakout role in Mean Girls led to successes in The Notebook and Red Eye before grabbing attention in Wedding Crashers and appearing opposite Tim Robbins in The Lucky ... Read more...
Female MMA fighters enter the ring at The Orleans
Fans are reveling in the courage and stamina of the no-holds-barred female fighters in the Tuff-N-Uff amateur championships — and on July 10, the entire fight card will be ladies only. But tomorrow night, Ann Wyborny takes on Jessica Laubacker and Amber Stautzenberger battles Maria Witt in the ring at The Orleans ballroom. 2004 Playboy model of the year and local kickboxer Latasha Marzolla was set to make her highly anticipated amateur MMA debut, but she injured her elbow, arm ... Read more...
Photo Gallery: The Diceman serves up cupcakes — and biting humor
Wickedly funny! Savagely brilliant! Andrew Dice Clay, the heavyweight bad boy of killer comedy, unleashed his four-letter-word tirade last night to a standing-room-only crowd in Sushi Samba’s SugarCane Live! lounge at the Palazzo. The Diceman spared no one, and the audience loved it! They applauded him. They cheered him. It was a triumphant return to the Strip after being booted from Donald Trump’s Celebrity Apprentice. In honor of his refusal to put cream on top of cupcakes on the NBC ... Read more...
Michael Jackson wants fans’ song picks and puts memorabilia on display
King of Pop Michael Jackson is requesting that fans suggest their ideal set of songs for his 50 London concerts this summer. He wants suggestions old and new, popular and obscure and personal favorites that have a special meaning or trigger fond memories. Michael also wants great dance tune suggestions, as he’s promising to unveil a new dance number that he says will outshine his famous moonwalk. Obviously, “Thriller,” “Beat It,” “The Girl Is Mine” and “Billie” Jean will be ... Read more...
Miss America’s dream to meet the president at The White House comes true
Back in January when Katie Stam became the new 2009 Miss America at Planet Hollywood, she told me that she would eventually get to meet the new president. Her dream came true yesterday when she accompanied 53 special ambassadors to The White House to meet President Obama! The ambassadors were showcasing the medical care being provided at Children’s Miracle Network hospitals across the United States. President Obama met with a child from every state as part of “Champions Across America.” ... Read more...
Photo Gallery: Wayne Newton mentors Boys & Girls Club members about film
As part of its community involvement, our CineVegas Film Festival is working with the Boys & Girls Club of Las Vegas. The kids are involved in a five-week project that teaches them how to create, write and star in their own short film. The children are currently shooting Where Da Girls At?, which will have its red carpet premiere hosted by actor and CineVegas Chairman Dennis Hopper at this June’s 11th annual film festival at the Brenden Theaters in the ... Read more...
Johnny Avello’s odds have Gilles Marini vs. Melissa Rycroft in DWTS final
New odds have just been posted by Wynn race and sports book director Johnny Avello for the remaining contestants on Season 8 of ABC’s Dancing With the Stars. Johnny, who has his odds featured on Good Morning America and Extra, reminds us that his odds are for entertainment purposes only and not for wagering. He uses more than 20 years of gaming industry experience, research, networking and odds-making formulas to come up with his listing. Late this afternoon, Johnny released ... Read more...
Caesars Palace awaits return of Celine Dion and Jerry Seinfeld
Superstar singer Celine Dion says she looks forward to resuming Caesars Palace shows at The Colosseum and family life in Las Vegas! Full details in Vegas DeLuxe’s interview with Caesars Palace President Gary Selesner tomorrow. Gary also revealed that comedian Jerry Seinfeld will pick up some of the open dates between Cher and Better Midler after Sir Elton John’s final Red Piano performances end next month. Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent ... Read more...
Saint John of Las Vegas among nine CineVegas world premieres
The 11th Annual CineVegas Film Festival will kick off with the world premiere of Hue Rhodes’ Saint John of Las Vegas on June 10 at Planet Hollywood. Eight other films will have their world premieres at the festival, says Trevor Groth, the fest’s artistic director. This year’s festival is June 10-15 at the Palms and Brenden Theatres. Saint John stars Steve Buscemi as an ex-gambler turned fraud investigator who returns to Las Vegas to investigate an insurance claim. Trevor added: ... Read more...
Strip Scribbles: Mayor goes face to face with his double
Our Merry Mayor of Mirth, the legendary Oscar Goodman, will unveil a life-size wax figure of himself in a new, 27-superstar “Viva Vegas” exhibit at Madame Tussauds in The Venetian tomorrow. Oscar will be inducted into the museum’s permanent collection. Madame Tussauds officials describe “Viva Vegas” as one of the most ambitious and interactive presentations ever by the 10-year-old wax museum here. They promise that it will feature all the swing, bling and hipness that have made Sin City a ... Read more...
DWTS: Holly Madison is (barely) safe; Denise Richards sent packin’
Unpredictable and unexpected TV viewer voting led to major upsets and drama on last night’s results show for Dancing With the Stars. At one point, I was so confused that I thought our favorite Girls Next Door Holly Madison and partner Dmitry Chaplin had been axed and that reality star Denise Richards and Le Reve choreographer partner Maksim Chmerkovskiy had scraped by to compete another week. Going into last night’s show, it looked certain as if injured Jackass stuntman Steve-O ... Read more...
Sex sells pro beach volleyball tour’s hard-bodied hunks and bikini babes
Adhering to Madison Avenue’s mantra that sex sells, a new ad campaign for a major September sports event in Las Vegas is raising eyebrows. Vegas DeLuxe has a first look at the close-up photos of the bronzed bodies of the hard-bodied hunks and the girls in the briefest of bikinis! It’s for the three-day competition of the Association of Volleyball Professionals Pro-Beach Volleyball Tour at Mandalay Bay from Sept. 17-19. In all fairness, the athletes do compete wearing swimsuits, but ... Read more...
New Street restaurant receives go-ahead for weekend opening
Chef Susan Feniger, owner of Border Grill at Mandalay Bay, got the final OK from inspectors to open her new Street restaurant in Hollywood this weekend — and she’s promised that if it’s a success, her next stop is Las Vegas! Click HERE for our previous story and YouTube videos showing her progress through the construction period. Now here’s the final YouTube video as she prepares for the VIP opening Friday night: Susan promises me that her second location for ... Read more...
Photo Gallery: Erich Bergen kicks off Liberace celebration; video with legend
A unique concert tonight at the Liberace Museum featuring singer-actor Erich Bergen, who stars as songwriter Bob Gaudio in the hit and award-winning musical Jersey Boys, marks the beginning of its upcoming 30th anniversary. Erich, whose show at the Palazzo is the musical history of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, will be backed by a full band and accompanied by special guests. Members of the Jersey Boys band and Travis Cloer, who plays Frankie Valli, will be taking part, ... Read more...
Photo Gallery: PMG nightclubs host Puddle of Mudd, Too Short and DJ AM
Normally it’s the Pussycat Dolls who draw standing-room-only crowds for their sexy striptease numbers, but there were even more fans jammed into their lounge at Pure in Caesars Palace when Puddle of Mudd performed a mini concert. The rockers had the crowd in a frenzy as they worked through their chart-topping hits including “Blurry” and “She Hates Me.” They ended their set with the Steve Miller Band’s “The Joker” and then raced over to Pure Management Group’s sister nightclub LAX ... Read more...
Photo Gallery: American Idol’s ‘Bikini Girl’ wears it well for party at HTZ
She’s probably the only girl in America who could show up in a bikini at the entrance of a nightclub restaurant and be warmly welcomed inside! American Idol contestant Katrina Darrell, aka “Bikini Girl,” would simply not be turned away! The welcome carpet was rolled out for her at Hawaiian Tropic Zone in Planet Hollywood’s Miracle Mile when she hosted a party there, and she welcomed many lovely ladies into her VIP booth. She even joined the go-go dancers on ... Read more...
DWTS eliminates a Las Vegas favorite; Julianne, Steve-O and Holly are safe
Don’t read any further if you plan on watching the tape-delayed West Coast broadcast of ABC’s Dancing With the Stars and want nothing spoiled beforehand! But come back after the show to compare notes! In the end, it wasn’t the men with the lowest scores who faced the Dancing With the Stars elimination. Judges Carrie Ann Inaba, Bruno Tonioli and Len Goodman were cruel last night and put Steve-O and Steve Wozniak on the firing line with the lowest scores ... Read more...
Strip Scribbles: Boys & Girls Club members receive tips from Wayne Newton
Members of the Boys & Girls Club are at work on their own short film Where Da Girls At?, and today Mr. Las Vegas himself Wayne Newton will be giving the kids tips about filming and performing. The legendary entertainer will spend four hours at CineVegas headquarters as filming gets underway. The five-week movie project lets the children create, write and star in their own short film, which will have a red carpet premiere at the 2009 CineVegas Film Festival ... Read more...
Photo Gallery: Julianne, Holly, Denise and Steve-O await DWTS results
It could be titled The War of the Walking Wounded! It appears as if wounded warriors Steve-O and Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak will face off in a dance-off on tonight’s Dancing With the Stars results episode. Both injured contestants of the series of the sad and sickly are at the bottom of the board with just 10 points for The Woz and 15 points for the Jackass stuntman. The Woz’s score of 10 points is the lowest this season so ... Read more...
Rumors swirl as execs gather to mark The Colosseum’s sixth anniversary
It’s safe to expect a variety of questions about Michael Jackson concerts and the return of Celine Dion when The Colosseum celebrates its sixth anniversary tomorrow. Top executives from AEG Live/Concerts West will join with Caesars Palace President Gary Selesner for a cake-cutting celebration and will likely be grilled as to which superstar will replace Sir Elton John when his Red Piano spectacular comes to an official end April 22. The occasion is officially to recognize the employees of the ... Read more...
Andrew Dice Clay’s four-letter-word festival of filth is on its way to the Strip
He’s known as the “Undisputed Bad Boy of Comedy,” and his tirades of four-letter words have been known to make even a trucker blush! Tomorrow night, hardcore comedy king Andrew Dice Clay goes up close and in your face in the most intimate and chic comedy venue ever created for Vegas. He takes over Sushi Samba’s SugarCane ultra lounge in the Palazzo and turns it into SugarCane Live! The Diceman is the debut comedy performer from tomorrow through April 5 ... Read more...
Exclusive: Planet Hollywood to house Basketball Hall of Fame exhibit
Vegas DeLuxe can exclusively reveal and confirm that HHX, or Hoops Hall Experience, is coming to the Strip. Our city still doesn’t have an NBA team or the prospect of one, but the Basketball Hall of Fame’s traveling exhibit will open next week on the second-floor mezzanine level of Planet Hollywood. I’m told a number of legendary NBA players and coaches will be taking part in the excitement! The interactive experience includes seven zones and takes 90 minutes to more ... Read more...
It’s a Cirque double-header for sexy love mates 50 Cent and Ciara
Hip-hop’s sexy couple rapper 50 Cent and singer Ciara made it a Cirque du Soleil visit to Las Vegas. They took in the early show of O at the Bellagio, and even though hip-hop mogul 50 Cent was disguised in an Afro wig, baseball cap and sunglasses, he was still spotted. Ciara also tried to be incognito in a huge pair of trendy shades and a large parka. The twosome arrived just as O began and entered through the back ... Read more...
Vince Neil continues his birthday celebration at the Palms
It didn’t matter that Motley Crue frontman and Las Vegas resident Vince Neil had celebrated his birthday on Feb. 8 because he did it all over again this past weekend at the Palms! The 48-year-old rocker and his gorgeous wife Lia were everywhere you went in George Maloof’s casino resort! The first of the second celebration was at Iron Chef winner Kerry Simon’s restaurant in Palms Place. They joined DJ AM and Haylie Wood for a sushi supper. They then ... Read more...
It’s tough going for injured DWTS contestants The Woz and Steve-O
Don’t read any further if you plan on watching the tape-delayed West Coast broadcast of ABC’s Dancing With the Stars and want nothing spoiled beforehand! But come back after the show to compare notes! Bruised and battered — but brave! That’s the only way to describe Jackass stuntman Steve-O who, despite serious injuries, decided to go ahead with a failed foxtrot on tonight’s Dancing With the Stars. It was obvious that he was dancing through the pain, but we’ll tell ... Read more...
Holly Madison and Dmitry Chaplin discuss the aches and pains of DWTS
Professional dancer Dmitry Chaplin didn’t know who The Girls Next Door and Playboy starlet Holly Madison was when they met for the first time. “I don’t watch television, so I didn’t have a clue who she was,” he told me during their three days of rehearsals in Las Vegas for tonight’s samba on the ABC hit Dancing With the Stars. Tonight is Dmitry and Holly’s third appearance after he had been working with his original partner, singer-songwriter Jewel, who had ... Read more...
Strip Scribbles: Toni Braxton celebrates sister Tamar’s birthday at XS
Grammy-winning music star Toni Braxton entertained a large group of friends and family at Victor Drai’s XS inside the Encore for her sister Tamar’s 29th birthday. Toni had the deejay play one of their family’s favorite songs, Lady Gaga’s “Poker Face!” Turns out that Tamar’s husband is veteran Interscope Records executive Vincent Herbert, and Lady Gaga is one of Interscope’s stars! The Braxton sisters partied until 1:30 a.m. before departing in Toni’s SUV. Former NBA star Kenny Smith was in ... Read more...
It’s tango time for mayor as he competes in DWTS fundraiser
Our Merry Mayor of Mirth Oscar Goodman has jumped on the Dancing With the Stars ballroom dancing craze! Oscar is going to learn the tango and compete against Zowie Bowie singer Chris Phillips, Phantom — The Las Vegas Spectacular star Brent Barrett and deejay Chett Buchanan on April 19 at Rain in George Maloof’s Palms. The event is titled “Dancing With the Las Vegas Stars: A Battle Against Cancer.” I’ve learned that Oscar will receive his dance lessons from teacher ... Read more...
One Vegas wine director and two chefs are nominated for James Beard Awards
Two Las Vegas chefs and a wine director are among the nominees announced in New York this morning for the prestigious James Beard Awards. Additionally, five other celebrity chefs, all with local restaurants, also were nominated. The black-tie awards ceremony is at Manhattan’s Lincoln Center on May 4, with Emmy- and Golden Globe-winning actor Stanley Tucci and star chefs Cat Cora and Emeril Lagasse serving as hosts. Stanley formerly owned Finch tavern in upstate New York. Emeril, who owns Delmonico ... Read more...
Photo Gallery: Knight Rider Festival features TV stars and scrapped KITT stunt
Everything was set for a spectacular ski-jump stunt to kick off the Knight Rider Festival at Fremont Street Experience downtown. Our Mayor Oscar Goodman was ready to go flying in the famous TV stunt car to make his grand entrance. New Knight Rider star Justin Bruening was ready to switch out with a stunt double. Veteran Hollywood producer Glenn Larson and actresses Catherine Hickland, who starred in the original TV series with ex-husband David Hasselhoff, and Morgan Brittany flew into ... Read more...
Photo Gallery: Flavor Flav celebrates the Big 5-0 with blowout bash at Jet
Part-time Las Vegas resident and father of seven William Draper has become a phenomenon with his hip-hop hits and hit reality TV shows. Who, you say?! You know William Draper better as Flavor Flav of Public Enemy — and from Flavor of Love and his appearances on The Surreal Life. Flav was in rare form — wearing yet another giant-sized clock around his neck — when he celebrated his 50th birthday with a full-on blowout bash at Jet inside The ... Read more...
Planet Hollywood mogul Robert Earl plays Cupid for Bruce Willis’ wedding
After a year’s romance, action hero superstar Bruce Willis celebrated his 54th birthday by marrying his 30-year-old British supermodel girlfriend Emma Heming. Bruce even invited ex-wife Demi Moore, their teen daughters Tallulah Belle and Scout and 20-year-old daughter Rumer, plus Demi’s husband Ashton Kutcher! I learned about last night’s wedding from Planet Hollywood chieftain Robert Earl, who’ll arrive in Las Vegas tomorrow. This afternoon, he confirmed the breaking news flashes from US Weekly, People and The Miami Herald reporting that ... Read more...
Photo Gallery: ‘Planet Holly’ for Holly Madison; Cher’s all-star finale turnout
It was a night of stars on the Strip, and the partying was still going strong this morning! Playboy cover beauty Holly Madison was the queen of the night, and fans turned out in force for the party she hosted at Prive in Planet Hollywood. “I should have asked them to turn out the lights on the last four letters,” Holly told me laughing. “Then it would just be Planet Holly. I like that!” Earlier she enjoyed dinner at the ... Read more...
Rumors swirl about Celine Dion’s secret Vegas trip — and pregnancy news
Ever since Vegas DeLuxe posted these two photos of superstar singer Celine Dion in late January hinting about another in-vitro pregnancy, we’ve been watching and waiting for her official confirmation. Click HERE for that Super Bowl weekend story from Florida with our contributing photographer Tom Donoghue’s amazing photos. Now we also can exclusively reveal that she made a top secret visit here to her Lake Las Vegas home about a month ago. During the trip, which was confirmed just this ... Read more...
Photos: Holly Madison pays visit to Luxor headliner (and it’s not Criss Angel)
Dancing With the Stars contestant Holly Madison put in six hours of rehearsals at a Las Vegas studio yesterday before making a return visit to the Luxor. While she was dating Luxor headliner Criss Angel for four months — they split Feb. 18 — she lived there in the pyramid’s penthouse with the Mindfreakmagician. They’d gone public with their romance on the Oct. 31 red carpet premiere of his Cirque du Soleil show Believe. I can confirm that the breakup ... Read more...
Holly Madison is spotted at the Luxor; mayor preps for his dance challenge
Just one month after her romance with Believe magician Criss Angel fizzled out, The Girls Next Door star Holly Madison was back under the roof of the Luxor pyramid tonight — it’s where she lived for the four months the couple were dating! Don’t jump to conclusions, but I also can reveal that she was backstage — and in a star dressing room! Criss appears there nightly in the $100 million Cirque du Soleil Believe spectacular. We’ll update the full ... Read more...
Planet Hollywood’s Peep Show preparations are in full swing
Scenery and props were loaded in yesterday to the new, custom-built theater at Planet Hollywood for the opening in 10 days of the sexy, saucy adult burlesque Peep Show. It stars Scary Spice Mel B and Playboy and Dancing With the Stars glamour girl Kelly Monaco. Today, the cast moves into its theater space for the first time. The Peep Show theater has been redesigned and redecorated from when it housed Stomp through New Year’s Eve. Click HERE for our ... Read more...
Strip Scribbles: ShoWest’s Female Star of Tomorrow Award goes to 6 actresses
Not one but six! For the first time in the history of ShoWest, six young actresses will receive the Female Star of Tomorrow Award! The female cast of the upcoming film Sorority Row will attend the presentation at the final-night banquet April 2 at Bally’s and Paris. Briana Evigan, Leah Pipes, Rumer Willis, Jamie Chung, Audrina Patridge and Margo Harshman will attend the convention that draws 5,000 movie industry delegates from 50 countries starting March 30. Audrina is a regular ... Read more...
Photo Gallery: Joan and Jackie Collins aren’t feuding — they’re spilling secrets
It’s been a double super-success story over the years for two high-profile sisters. Actress Joan Collins starred in movies, TV series and stage shows. Author Jackie Collins hit the jackpot with an amazing 25 best-selling books and more than 400 million copies sold. For as long as I can remember, the English ladies were said to be envious of each other’s achievements. British tabloid headlines even rumored of a bitter rivalry between the two. Those make-believe stories escalated out of ... Read more...
Katy Perry is the woman in red in her video for ‘Waking Up in Vegas’
How could we resist this solitary photo from Katy Perry’s video shoot at the Palms? The pop princess filmed her fantasy music video “Waking Up in Vegas” with Rio headliner magicians Penn & Teller and a cast of Vegas female impersonators. In this new official photo, she was teamed with actor Joel Moore. Palms owner George Maloof even gave his brothers Gavin and Joe, who own the Sacramento Kings, the OK to appear in the video greeting her at the ... Read more...
Photo Gallery: Holly Madison gets DWTS tips; Kelly Monaco @Body English
Less than one month after leaving Las Vegas when her romance with Believe magician Criss Angel ended, gorgeous The Girls Next Door starlet Holly Madison is back on the Strip — and conquering it as a power princess. The platinum Playboy cover girl flew in yesterday with her Dancing With the Stars partner Dmitry Chaplin. Tomorrow night, Holly will show her assets and dance moves when she hosts her own celebration night at Prive in Planet Hollywood. On Monday, Holly ... Read more...
Heaven on Earth is two hours away at Las Ventanas in Cabo San Lucas
Heaven on Earth does exist after all! It’s the palace of private pleasures where George Maloof of the Palms took pop princess Britney Spears to speed her recovery and return to music. It’s the incredible indulgence where Brad Pitt not only romanced Jennifer Aniston, but also wooed Angelina Jolie. The ultimate celebrity hangout that even has its very own director of romance attracts all our hotel honchos and Strip stars to relieve their stress and rejuvenate their lives. It’s just ... Read more...
Strip Scribbles: Penn & Teller film AIDS Walk PSAs and vow to match pledges
Headliner magicians Penn & Teller will host their seventh consecutive challenge during the 19th Annual AIDS Walk on April 19. The Rio stars who have entered their own Penn & Teller team of walkers also have generously promised to match this year’s pledges to Aid for AIDS of Nevada, or AFAN. Penn & Teller filmed public service announcements at the CDI Studios here to encourage the community to join them as they serve as grand marshals. Last year, their challenge ... Read more...
Celebrity chefs’ menus reflect spring and tough economic times
The Las Vegas dining scene has some new looks as our group of the world’s best chefs set dining trends. We’ve got three of the top menu changes as spring brings new vegetables into play and chefs combat the global economic slowdown with price challenges and changes. Spago @Caesars Palace At Caesars Palace’s Spago, the longest running celebrity chef restaurant in Vegas, Wolfgang Puck’s executive chef Erik Klein has added a unique beer-pairing menu to a full-on Spago tasting meal. ... Read more...
Photo Gallery: OutKast’s Big Boi cranks up the Speakerboxx
He’s one half of hip-hop duo OutKast, but Big Boi gave such an exciting, high-octane-fueled performance, you’d have thought there were 10 of him! After posing for red carpet photographers at Pure in Caesars Palace, Big Boi cranked up his Speakerboxx and went into overdrive with a nine-song set, including several chart-topping hits like “So Fresh So Clean,” “Miss Jackson,” “Rosa Parks” and “The Way You Move.” His wife Sherlita Patton led the applause from the VIP booths, where celebrity ... Read more...
Photo Galleries: Tony Curtis and Dan Aykroyd peddle their wares in Vegas
Legendary actor Tony Curtis celebrated the release of his new book American Prince: A Memoir with a meet-and-greet autograph signing at the Luxor. Our contributing photographer Erik Kabik was there when Tony showed up in his Beatles Sgt. Pepper T-shirt. You remember that the album features an image of the actor? Tony posed happily for photos in the resort’s Aurora Lounge. When asked if he enjoys being blinded by the flashbulbs, he replied: “I never get tired of it. Sixty-one ... Read more...
At 90,000 square feet, David and Jacqueline Siegel’s home is fit for royalty
It’s nearly twice the size of The White House at 90,000 square feet! It’s a castle fit for a queen! I simply had to tell part-time Las Vegas socialite Jacqueline Siegel that when completed, it will be one of the largest private homes in America. Jackie is the wife of billionaire Westgate Resorts mogul David Siegel, who has almost completed his own major tower alongside Planet Hollywood at center Strip. The Siegels live in Orlando, Fla., but commute here regularly ... Read more...
Las Vegas’ The Lion King a global, historical and emotional production
The first day of rehearsals for the Las Vegas cast of Disney’s The Lion King coming to Mandalay Bay in early May began as “all nerves,” according to Disney chief Thomas Schumacher. “They had never performed it altogether, but by the end of the day, there was a whole new dynamic and a whole new energy. “The first day ended with the entire cast singing ‘Circle of Life,’ and there was something about the chemistry that had even me tearing ... Read more...
Photo Gallery: Paris Hilton has fun in the sun filming My New BFF
Paris Hilton and the new contestants on MTV’s Paris Hilton’s My New BFF reality series were joined by last season’s flamboyant Onch for yesterday’s scenes shot at the Hard Rock Hotel. The BFF hopefuls of Season 2 gathered for some fun in the sun at Rehab pool at the resort. Our contributing photographer Erik Kabik was invited onto the set for these candid photos of the heiress at work. Paris’ boyfriend, The Hills star and baseball player Doug Reinhardt, watched ... Read more...
Strip Scribbles: Whitney Port throws bachelorette party for sister Ashley
Reality star Whitney Port will be the maid of honor at her sister Ashley’s upcoming wedding. So MTV’s The City star fulfilled her duties by throwing the perfect bachelorette party here at Tao in The Venetian. Whitney dressed simply but sexy in a white T-shirt, black leather mini-skirt and black and gold Manolo Blahnik stiletto shoes. Port sisters Jade and Page also were on hand for the party. Whitney treated the entire group of girlfriends to signature menu items at ... Read more...
Photo Gallery: DWTS results show; Julianne Hough receives 2 ACM noms
The surprise elimination of singer Belinda Carlisle in last night’s first results show of Season 8 of Dancing With the Stars shocked the man she competed against in the bottom two. Apple founder Steve Wozniak thought he was certain to be axed, but instead he gets the opportunity to reboot at least one more time next Monday. Going into the show last night, the former Go-Go’s frontwoman, 50, seemed safe in the middle of the pack, while the Silicon Valley ... Read more...
Mark McGrath marks St. Paddy’s Day with tattoo, Lavo party and Paris Hilton
We can’t let yesterday’s St. Patrick’s Day celebrations pass without noting the party Mark McGrath hosted at Lavo in the Palazzo. The Sugar Ray lead singer and former co-host of Extra for two years even had a four-leaf clover tattooed inside his right arm to commemorate March 17. Mark also made certain that his belt buckle was the right shade of green! Our contributing photographer Scott Harrison was on the welcome carpet when Mark flashed his jacket to display his ... Read more...
Photo Galleries: Korn rocker Jonathan Davis and ’80s pop queen Tiffany
Our contributing photographers Erik Kabik and Scott Harrison just love their music shoots! The lucky lens men were front and center for Tiffany’s mini-concert at Green Valley Ranch and for Korn rocker Jonathan Davis when he played guest deejay at The Rio. Ladies first! 1980s pop star Tiffany joined with the Sin City Sinners at Ovation in GVR and performed “Pretty Vacant,” “Sweet Child o’ Mine,” “I Saw Her Standing There” and her giant hit “I Think We’re Alone Now.” ... Read more...
Celine Dion says she’s ‘never been happier’; plans break for new baby
Over Super Bowl weekend back in January, Vegas DeLuxe published an exclusive photo of superstar singer Celine Dion rubbing her tummy and indicating the beginning of a baby bump (click HERE for that photo and story). She was appearing in Florida. There’s been absolutely no confirmation from her camp about any pregnancy, but I can now reliably tell you that Celine has begun what she describes as an 18-month hiatus from all career activities! Celine says her appearance on the ... Read more...
A startling first elimination on DWTS; Julianne, Holly and Denise are safe
Don’t read any further if you plan on watching the tape-delayed West Coast broadcast of ABC’s Dancing With the Stars and want nothing spoiled beforehand! But come back after the show! The thrill of victory and the agony of defeat came down to a dance-off for pop singer Belinda Carlisle and Apple founder Steve Wozniak on the first elimination show of Season 8 of Dancing With the Stars. The Silicon Valley computer king danced with partner Karina Smirnoff, and the ... Read more...
Donny & Marie promote March 28 Earth Hour blackout via PSAs
Flamingo headliners Donny & Marie Osmond have completed a video shoot for two public service announcements for Earth Hour, the March 28 blackout on the Strip. They recorded the spots last week, which can now be viewed on YouTube, as well. Strip casinos, downtown hotels and celebrity chef restaurants will all turn off the power to join with businesses across the valley. It’s for the World Wildlife Fund’s global initiative to draw attention to the deteriorating environment and the need ... Read more...
Photo Gallery: O’Sheas’ lucky leprechaun receives key to the city from mayor
In honor of St. Patrick’s Day, our Merry Mayor of Mirth Oscar Goodman presented O’Sheas’ lucky leprechaun with a key to the city this morning. Our contributing photographer Erik Kabik was on hand when Oscar awarded the key to lucky resident Brian Thomas. Oscar also officially declared the center Strip casino “the luckiest place in Vegas” this St. Patrick’s Day. Glamour showgirl Kelly was on hand, and the casino invited all redheaded ladies into the block party for free green ... Read more...
Photo Gallery: Mel B is bringing sexy back via Peep Show and Ultimo
Scary Spice is a 33-year-old mother of two, but she’s got the body of a sizzling pin-up model. Now that she has a Strip hypnotist on hand to calm her nerves, singer Mel B has no fears about flashing her flesh! Rehearsals are underway for the former Spice Girl and her Playboy cover girl co-star Kelly Monaco for their new adult cabaret burlesque Peep Show opening at month’s end in Planet Hollywood. Yesterday, designer David Rockwell, who has overhauled the ... Read more...
Paris Hilton dresses in disguise to hit the Strip nightlife
It took only two days for Paris Hilton to stray to the Strip from her Hard Rock Hotel headquarters, where she’s filming Season 2 of her MTV reality series Paris Hilton’s My New BFF. With new beau baseball player and The Hills actor Doug Reinhardt with her, Paris turned up at Jet in The Mirage, and they disguised themselves in black from head to toe. Doug wore a black hat, and Paris donned a long black wig, heavy Gothic-style eyeliner ... Read more...
Strip Scribbles: Happy 83rd Birthday greetings to Mr. Jerry Lewis
Vegas DeLuxe extends congratulations to legendary Jerry Lewis, who celebrated his 83rd birthday yesterday. Jerry, who lives here in Las Vegas, promised that he’ll again serve as emcee for his annual telethon this Labor Day from the South Point. Next Monday, another veteran Vegas comedian, Marty Allen, celebrates his 87th birthday — and he, too, is still going strong! Happy Birthday wishes to both longtime entertainers. *Nightlife at The Mirage has been firing on all four cylinders. Guitar hero Slash ... Read more...
Photo Gallery: New DWTS pics; who’ll be the first to go tonight?
ABC producers are juggling solutions to tonight’s Dancing With the Stars results show because of the unexpected injury to Jackass star Steve-O at the end of yesterday’s dress rehearsal. Here’s our story from last night: Two hours before the second show of Dancing With the Stars’ Season 8, Steve-O was injured — and the pain was so intense, he was unable to continue on from the dress rehearsal! The jinx and/or curse of injuries had struck again when he fell ... Read more...
Katy Perry’s Vegas video shoot: The Palms, drag queens and Penn & Teller
Pop princess Katy Perry doesn’t hide the fact that her evangelical parents have been supportive of her career even though they are preachers and, along with her 82-year-old grandmother who lives here, they blush at her “I Kissed a Girl” antics and occasional four-letter expletives! “People can’t fathom that my pastor parents could actually support the wild-child daughter. But they’re very moderate, you know?” Katy said. Katy even sang in their church from ages 9 to 16! But now with ... Read more...
Photo Gallery: Peep Show’s Kelly Monaco and cast attend Ice Cube concert
Rap royal Ice Cube heated up the Strip last night and this morning when he hosted and performed at Prive in Planet Hollywood. General Hospital vixen, Playboy cover girl beauty and Dancing With the Stars Season One winner Kelly Monaco heard all the commotion from late-evening rehearsals for her new adult cabaret burlesque Peep Show, so Kelly high-stepped it with cast members Ali Lexner, Michelle Martinez and Josh Strickland over from their mezzanine theater to the club. Our contributing photographer ... Read more...
Photo Gallery: It’s flirty flesh — and whips — at Lavo’s first Erotica Ball
They wore masks and thigh-high fishnet stockings that exposed flirty flesh — and they carried whips! It seemed to be the de rigueur uniform of the night for partygoers, waitresses and performers alike! It was the first Erotica Ball at Lavo in the Palazzo, and the cast of the edgy and exotic Cirque du Soleil show Zumanity gave it their high-heeled stamp of approval. Actress Katie Morgan of Zack and Miri Make a Porno was at Lavo, and, clad in ... Read more...
Photo Gallery: Emmett Cullen and Laurent celebrate their human birthdays
It was a weekend-long celebration for Twilight and 90210 actor Kellan Lutz’s 24th birthday, and the clubs, restaurants and shows of Las Vegas gave him everything he wanted for the nonstop revelry! The North Dakota hunk who portrays Emmett Cullen in Twilight was joined by his fellow bloodsucker Edi Gathegi (Laurent), who was celebrating his 30th birthday. At Prive in Planet Hollywood, sexy cocktail servers presented them with a cake featuring New Moon artwork (New Moon is Twilight’s sequel). The ... Read more...
Holly Madison kicks off DWTS; Steve-O is latest victim of injuries
Don’t read any further if you plan on watching the tape-delayed West Coast broadcast of ABC’s Dancing With the Stars and want nothing spoiled beforehand! But come back after the show! Two hours before the second show of Dancing With the Stars’ Season 8, Jackass star Steve-O was injured — and the pain was so intense, he was unable to continue on from the dress rehearsal! The jinx and/or curse of injuries had struck again when he fell back on ... Read more...
Strip Scribbles: Paris misses mom Kathy Hilton’s birthday by one day
After a five-day scuba-diving vacation in Hawaii, Paris Hilton flew in yesterday from a Saturday appearance in St. Louis to begin filming Season 2 of Paris Hilton’s My New BFF. TV crews will be filming the MTV reality series at the Hard Rock Hotel. Paris was here recently to celebrate her 28th birthday (click HERE for our exclusive coverage). Paris missed her mom, Kathy, by a few hours yesterday when Kathy and dad Rick flew out after a weekend birthday ... Read more...
Photo Gallery: A star-studded gala befitting new King of the Strip Terry Fator
Singing ventriloquist Terry Fator became the new King of the Strip with the premiere of his show at The Mirage over the weekend. Everybody from corporate executives to Hollywood celebrities to regular theatergoers simply loved him. They applauded Terry, they stood for him and, afterward at the red carpet party, they raved about him — unanimously! It is the feel-fantastic show that Las Vegas needs to jump-start our sluggish tourist counts in this economic downturn. Terry, who won the first ... Read more...
Oscar Goodman charity roast: Burned, poked and toasted
It fell to me to kick off the insults heaped on our merry Mayor of Mirth Oscar Goodman at his official roast at the weekend charity fundraiser for the Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth. Many of the mayor’s City Council members attended the gala dinner at Green Valley Ranch, and even his wife, Carolyn, scorched him with political officials Larry Brown and Gary Reese. Oscar sat onstage solo and was forced to wear a Brooklyn Dodgers baseball cap and shirt ... Read more...
Michael Jackson begins rehearsals; Ne-Yo, Will.I.Am work on album
It’s highly possible that Michael Jackson’s new 50-concert run in London is part of a three-year master plan that could net the King of Pop a staggering $500 million! I’ve talked all weekend long with my old Fleet Street pals and discovered a goldmine of gossip nuggets! There’s a solid rumor that when Michael’s first England run ends in September and resumes again there in January that he may well do a series of U.S. concerts. Although AEG wants him ... Read more...
Exclusive: Holly Madison on DWTS, Vegas and being in ‘a good state of mind’
It’s the second appearance tonight for The Girls Next Door star Holly Madison on ABC’s hit Dancing With the Stars. Holly began rehearsals three days after her romance with Believe star Criss Angel ended here, and she returned to Los Angeles in time for last Monday’s broadcast where she danced the cha-cha in an orange, fringed flapper dress. “This time it will be the quick step,” Holly told me in an exclusive interview. “That’s a real dance and very difficult. ... Read more...
Strip Scribbles: Paris Hilton switches hotels last-minute for My New BFF
Actress, recording star and socialite Paris Hilton returns to Las Vegas on Monday to start filming Season 2 of MTV’s Paris Hilton’s My New BFF reality show. She will be headquartered at the Hard Rock Hotel for the shooting, which is where she celebrated her 28th birthday a week ago (click HERE for our exclusive coverage). This week, she has been on an R&R vacation in the South Pacific with new boyfriend Doug Reinhardt, baseball player and The Hills star, ... Read more...
Photo Gallery: St. Patrick’s Day and summertime come early in Las Vegas
It was 64 degrees with a light breeze yesterday, but that didn’t deter the bronzed, bikini beauties at Bare in The Mirage from throwing off their tops on the first day of summer pool party season. Many of the ladies were anxious to show off new nipple rings and body tattoos! Yesterday, Bare, which is operated by The Light Group, said, “Winter is over!” — and it became the first pool to open for the 2009 season. Even Mirage executives ... Read more...
Photo Gallery: Bellagio offers a botanical journey around the world
You can almost smell the scents! You can almost feel the flowers! This is when I wish we had smell-o-vision, so you could inhale the fragrances. Our contributing photographer Tom Donoghue has really captured the miracles of spring with the new exhibit at the Bellagio Conservatory that opens to the public today. The worldwide gardens feature the rambling gardens of England, the fine precision of French jardins, the elegant villa-styled giardinos of Italy with water and statue adornments and finally ... Read more...
Kenny Loggins has double duty this weekend: two concerts at two casinos
Whenever I write about singer-songwriter Kenny Loggins, my mind always flashes back to a four-day celebrity weekend in Alaska. Kenny, Pierce Brosnan, a host of other stars and I wound up on a desolate point of river — land where we handled live eagles flying on and off our arms strapped in leather so the talons didn’t dig into our skin. Kenny was calm — at peace — and you would never have thought of any of us as being ... Read more...
Michael Jackson reaches 1 million ticket sales in five hours
By the time everybody is awake to read this story, resurging King of Pop Michael Jackson may have set a world record that might never be beaten! With thousands of people waiting — actually camped out — at 02 Arena in London to buy general admission tickets and disappointed fans complaining about how the Internet and phone reservations systems broke down because of the unusually high demand for tickets, Michael has added even more concerts. He’s set a 1 million ... Read more...
It’s premiere weekend for Terry Fator; our merry Mayor of Mirth gets roasted
The Mirage’s $100 million man Terry Fator will have a star-studded, red carpet turnout for his premiere gala party tomorrow night. The singing ventriloquist who won $1 million on Season 2 of America’s Got Talent has promised new puppets, celebrity voices and impressions as his five-year contract gets underway. Adorable fan favorite Winston the Impersonating Turtle and lovable Emma Taylor will be joined by new puppet Vikki the Cougar. I saw Terry’s preview show, and his take on everybody from ... Read more...
Strip Scribbles: Anthony Cools to debut his Freaks show at O’Sheas
It sounds like major madness and mayhem complete with partial nudity, adult language and graphic stunts, so don’t say you haven’t been warned! Comedy hypnotist Anthony Cools, who appears at the Paris, has created a new show, Freaks, which debuts tomorrow night at O’Sheas. The cast of wackos includes glass eaters, contortionists and knife throwers. Says Anthony: “It’s the most extreme, freakish human behavior, including human shish kabobs and sword swallowing. The 70-minute variety show is intended to take audiences ... Read more...
First it’s L.A., then Las Vegas, for Street, Susan Feniger’s new restaurant
The advance buzz in West Coast food circles is nothing but raves for chef Susan Feniger’s unique cuisine and restaurant concept Street. The chef who runs Border Grill at Mandalay Bay is set to open her Street venture March 21 in L.A. She’s already started planning its expansion to a second eatery here in Las Vegas. The menu is inspired by global street foods — that means finger foods, cheap eats and push-cart delicacies you’d find on the streets of ... Read more...
Concert Alert: Michael Jackson extends London shows through February
An astounding 1.5 million-plus people seeking Michael Jackson tickets for the 20,000-seat 02 Arena in London swamped phone lines and the Internet in the past 48 hours in London. And that’s before general admission tickets go on sale at midnight tonight our time — 7 a.m. in England tomorrow! The pre-sale tickets available only to individuals with special passwords turned into a technical disaster. “To say the demand just crashed the systems is an understatement. It simply died. The demand ... Read more...
Billy (Packer) and Bob (Knight) team up for TV shows during March Madness
Legendary college basketball coach Bob Knight and sportscaster Billy Packer will team up starting Sunday for Survive and Advance, a series of one-hour TV shows during March Madness. Their first show will include Bob’s former players Isaiah Thomas, Quinn Buckner and Steve Alford as they review and analyze Selection Sunday. Then after each game on March 22 and 29 and April 3 and 5, prominent coaches and players join Bob and Billy for the cameras. The shows air on Fox ... Read more...
Photo Gallery: Our mayor’s showgirls are gorgeous in and out of costume
When our merry Mayor of Mirth Oscar Goodman is constantly out and about promoting our city as the best tourist destination in the world, he invariably receives assistance from some very sexy showgirls, and his wife, Carolyn, doesn’t seem to mind when the gorgeous glamour girls bedecked in little more than sequins and feathers escort her hubby! I’ve met the bejeweled beauties many times, and it wasn’t until a recent rendezvous that I discovered that they’re just as beautiful out ... Read more...
Ticket demand is ‘unprecedented’ for Michael Jackson; more shows are added
Even before general admission tickets go on sale tomorrow morning in London, all advance presale tickets for Michael Jackson’s original concerts and the new ones Vegas DeLuxe reported yesterday (click HERE) have been sold out! Now Michael’s adding even more shows to keep pace with the demand for the This Is It run at the 02 Arena in the British capital. Our on-and-off Las Vegas resident now looks as if he’s going to spend at least three months performing in ... Read more...
You can’t stop The Rock — or Las Vegas — in Race to Witch Mountain
Former wrestler Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson remembers the day he sat down with his 7-year-old daughter to watch the original Escape to Witch Mountain. “We both watched the older film together,” he said. “I was a big fan of it when I was growing up.” Now a new version, a reimagining titled Race to Witch Mountain, is being released tomorrow, and Dwayne is its star. “It wasn’t a difficult decision to take the role,” he laughed. “My daughter was so ... Read more...
Strip Scribbles: Ace Ventura: Pet Detective’s new generation
Most of us remember howling in laughter at actor Jim Carrey when he played the original movie version! Now there’s a junior spin-off, but it’s not likely to turn up in your neighborhood cinema. Ace Ventura Jr.: Pet Detective has gone straight to DVD, and the stars turned up for its world premiere at our Springs Preserve. Our contributing photographer Denise Truscello was on the environmentally sound green carpet for the pint-sized stars’ arrivals, including Brittany Curran and Ryan Malgarini. ... Read more...
Michael Jackson adds London concerts, Ne-Yo joins run — is Vegas next?
On-and-off Las Vegas resident Michael Jackson’s London concert dates have now been inked in permanently for this morning’s lucky, presale password holders. The debut 02 Arena show in the British capital will be July 8, with following concerts July 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 22 and 24; the final concert is July 26. Las Vegas-raised singer-songwriter Ne-Yo, who reportedly collaborated with Michael here on at least one of the new tracks that Michael has been working on for the past ... Read more...
More resorts and businesses vow to turn off the lights for Earth Hour
Momentum is building in Las Vegas for the giant Earth Hour initiative March 28 — and simultaneously more and more cities across the globe are signing up. Many on- and off-Strip properties have now vowed to turn off the lights and go dark at 8:30 p.m. for one hour that Saturday night. Even our famous Welcome to Las Vegas sign on the famed Strip south of Mandalay Bay and the Four Seasons will be turned off! As of this writing, ... Read more...
Photo Gallery: It’s a Strip night of champions for the Pittsburgh Steelers
You could safely call it a night of champions at Victor Drai’s Tryst in the Wynn. Many of the Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers were on hand to celebrate, and the celebrity list looked like the team’s roster, with running back Willie Parker and wide receivers Hines Ward and MVP Santonio Holmes leading the celebrity turnout along with star cornerbacks Ike Taylor and Deshea Townsend, plus former Steelers star Jerome Bettis. Also attending were former Steeler Nate Washington, who has ... Read more...
Photo Gallery: Chicago baseball comes to downtown Las Vegas
Sports stars from the two Windy City Major League Baseball teams faced off at our Cashman Field four weeks before the official start of baseball season. The first two games were sell-outs as the crowds cheered on the Chicago White Sox to victory. Normally, Vegas Deluxe doesn’t follow the daylight activities of athletes because they create plenty of action for us to cover in our Strip nightclubs after the sun sets. But when baseball stars from two teams in the ... Read more...
Katy Perry loves being single and begins filming video in Las Vegas
Today and tomorrow, pop princess Katy Perry will be shooting her new music video for the single “Waking Up in Vegas,” and yesterday she began to get her on-camera look in order! One of those beauty treatments was at Michael Boychuck’s Amp Salon in the Palms for a manicure, where she had cheetah print Minx nails applied. Katy is staying at George Maloof’s Palms this week while she’s filming. As we reported Monday — click HERE — there was a ... Read more...
Another day, another blow-up between Lindsay Lohan and Samantha Ronson
It looks as if the romance between actress Lindsay Lohan and her DJ gal pal Samantha Ronson has crashed on the rocks again. Yet another one of their spats flared openly in public, and they made no attempt to hide the drama here in Las Vegas. It was less than a month ago that news reports out of the Miami music festival had the two of them feuding — and even continuing to argue on the return flight home. First ... Read more...
Strip Scribbles: Tiffany’s Vegas fun includes Tao and a Wedding
When Tony & Tina’s Wedding producers discovered that 1980s pop icon Tiffany was coming to town on a mini-vacation, they invited her to crash the wacky wedding and ribald reception! The hysterical, over-the-top show is at Planet Hollywood, and Tiffany reveled in her walk-on guest appearances. Tiffany hosted an ’80s night of music — including her own — at Tao in The Venetian, and our contributing photographers Scott Harrison and Aaron Thompson were there on the red carpet for her ... Read more...
New Tom Hanks film has ties to The Amazing Kreskin and Robin Leach
The new Tom Hanks movie The Great Buck Howard based on a fictional Las Vegas mentalist may well have been inspired by or modeled after the real-life antics of my friend The Amazing Kreskin! One of the scenes in the movie is similar to a stunt that I once filmed for my old TV show Lifestyles of the Rich & famous with Kreskin, who performs regularly here in Las Vegas. Before I get ahead of myself, though, let me tell ... Read more...
Jeff McBride wraps up global travels and wins Lecturer of the Year Award
Congratulations to our magical friend Jeff McBride on his win as Lecturer of the Year at the 41st Annual Academy of Magical Arts Awards show held at the Avalon Hollywood Theater. Jeff, who lives, teaches and performs the art of prestidigitation in Las Vegas, has just returned from traveling to England and Peru. In Blackpool, Jeff taught a three-day magic Master Class to more than 3,500 conjurers at the 57th Annual British convention. In Peru, Jeff taught a six-hour Master ... Read more...
Mel B and Kelly Monaco’s Peep Show rehearsals are going well
My plans to meet up today with Planet Hollywood’s Peep Show stars Melanie Brown and General Hospital vixen Kelly Monaco have gone up in smoke for a week simply because they won’t be in the same downtown rehearsal studio at the same time. So it will be rescheduled for next week in their new theater at the casino resort. Scary Spice and the former Playboy cover sensation arrived in Las Vegas last Monday and started their show rehearsals with Tony ... Read more...
Photo Gallery: DWTS begins with new recruits Holly Madison, Melissa Rycroft
As promised, here are the first action photos from last night’s Season 8 premiere of ABC’s Dancing With the Stars. Click HERE for our report last night and the judges’ first-round scores. This is going to be a season of “all in the family” drama, with former Las Vegas Academy student Julianne Hough teamed with country singer boyfriend Chuck Wicks; professional dancer Karina Smirnoff, paired with Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak, competing against her fiance Maksim Chmerkovskiy, who is coupled with ... Read more...
Muhammad Ali and Mike Tyson to duke it out … in new video game
Don’t rush off to Ticketmaster or scan its Web site trying to buy tickets for the boxing match between Muhammad Ali and Mike Tyson — even though it’s on! Instead, get ready this summer to hit your gaming store because the two legends will slug it out on Round Four of Fight Night from EA Sports! Our hometown champ Mike says he’s already been playing the game — and losing to Ali! Mike says the game is very realistic, with ... Read more...
Birthday Photos: Brittany Snow, Elizabeth Banks, Molly Shea and Bow Wow
For actress Brittany Snow, it was a double celebration: Not only did she turn 23, but she’s also landed her own Gossip Girl spin-off. She started her birthday weekend with film-producer boyfriend Ryan Rottman, gal pal 90210 star Jessica Stroup and friends at Tao in The Venetian. She was surprised with a birthday cake and made a wish before blowing out the candles. Upstairs in the nightclub, she was greeted with a line of stunning servers holding an arch of ... Read more...
Holly Madison and Melissa Rycroft officially join DWTS; first dances are done
Don’t read any further if you plan on watching the tape-delayed West Coast broadcast of the two-hour Season 8 premiere of ABC’s Dancing With the Stars at 8 p.m. and want nothing spoiled beforehand! But come back after the show! We’re monitoring the live satellite feed from Hollywood to the East Coast — and we already know that our Las Vegas darling Julianne Hough is dancing the Viennese waltz with her country singer boyfriend Chuck Wicks. Just as the program ... Read more...
Ratings for 20/20 Siegfried & Roy special are magical
For ABC, last Friday’s 20/20 broadcast about Siegfried & Roy’s final reunion performance was magical. In initial overnight ratings, the hourlong special sent the network to No. 1 with a 2.8 rating with viewers ages 25 to 54 — and gave ABC its highest rating for the time period in that demographic since December 2007. Additionally, in the 18 to 49 viewer demographic, Siegfried & Roy gave the network a first-place tie with CBS’s Flashpoint with a 2.0 Nielsen overnight ... Read more...
Exclusive Interview: Siegfried & Roy look at the year ahead
The most poignant moment of Siegfried & Roy watching ABC’s 20/20 special about them last Friday was right after it ended. Roy got up out of his wheelchair, stood and turned to his lifelong partner Siegfried, and, with tears in their eyes, they hugged each other. “It was very good,” they said turning to an intimate gathering of 50-plus friends inside the Palazzo’s Sportsbook Bar & Grill. I was the only invited journalist to sit with them through the broadcast. ... Read more...
Strip Scribbles: Katy Perry to film new music video in Las Vegas
Pop princess Katy Perry will have her 82-year-old grandmother nearby when she shoots her new video “Waking Up in Vegas” here on Wednesday and Thursday. But don’t expect a cup of tea and a bagel and cream cheese at the ready! In fact, Grandma, who lives here, might blush because Katy’s video producers have booked bare-chested, hard-bodied hunks along with drag queens, sexy strippers and showgirls who make up our titillating nightlife to go on camera! Katy will shoot the ... Read more...
Photo Gallery: Hollywood and poker stars battle for $1.5 million payday
There was a great turnout of Hollywood and poker stars for NBC’s 5th Annual National Heads-Up Poker Championship filmed over the weekend at Caesars Palace. It all began Thursday night with the draw party held at Pure with comedian Brad Garrett; actress Jennifer Tilly; racecar driver Danica Patrick; TV personality-model Leeann Tweeden, who serves as on-camera reporter for the show; former MLB player Orel Hershiser; model Candice Michelle; and poker all-stars Doyle Brunson, Daniel Negreanu, Phil Laak, Antonio Esfandiari, Greg ... Read more...
ABC confirms Holly Madison and Melissa Rycroft are on DWTS
Television viewers expecting to see singer-songwriter Jewel and Access Hollywood host Nancy O’Dell on tonight’s premiere of Season 8 of ABC’s Dancing With the Stars will get their wish — but the ladies have been KO’d from the competition. Jewel has been diagnosed with a fractured tibia in both legs, and Nancy suffered a torn meniscus. The injuries were sustained during rehearsals. However, they will appear on the two-hour special to discuss their injuries and reveal who their replacements will ... Read more...
Photo Gallery: Zowie Bowie sizzles in Palms debut; George Maloof’s Playmate
Zowie Bowie’s debut in their new lounge at the Palms was a solid knockout hit. The fans and the VIP crowd loved them, and our photos tell the story of their high-energy performance. Chris Phillips and Marley Taylor will perform two shows every Friday and Saturday night. Palms owner George Maloof and new Palms entertainment director Michael Greco told me after the show backstage they were thrilled with the duo. The singers told me they were ecstatic about their Palms ... Read more...
Rehearsals begin today for The Lion King at Mandalay Bay
It was back on Nov. 13, 1997, that Disney’s The Lion King opened on Broadway with its unforgettable costumes, score and Oscar-winning song from Sir Elton John and Tim Rice. It moved from the New Amsterdam Theater in 2006 to the Minskoff Theater — and, even after its 11th anniversary in the Big Apple, is still going strong. The musical has had more than 25,000 performances at theaters throughout the world, including in England, Holland, South Africa, Japan, Germany, Australia ... Read more...
Criss Angel is named Magician of the Decade; Mindfreak starts up in May
The International Magicians Society has awarded its first Magician of the Decade award to illusionist Criss Angel, who stars in Cirque du Soleil’s Believe at the Luxor. The Merlin Award was presented after Criss’s second show Saturday night. Previously, Criss won Magician of the Year honors from the society in 2001, 2004, 2005, 2007 and 2008 — the first entertainer to win five titles. The 41-year-old superstar told his fans and showbiz friends attending the ceremony: “I never set out ... Read more...
Frank Mir’s injury postpones UFC 98 vs. Brock Lesnar
Here’s the official UFC story of the just-postponed Memorial Day Weekend UFC 98 battle in Las Vegas between Frank Mir and Brock Lesnar: An injury to Frank’s right knee suffered during training recently and subsequent arthroscopic surgery this week has forced the interim heavyweight champion to postpone his May 23 rematch with Brock Lesnar until later this year. “It’s disappointing, but this is the nature of the fight game,” said UFC President Dana White of the postponement of UFC 98’s ... Read more...
No Molly Ringwald on DWTS — is it bachelorette Melissa Rycroft?
The Hollywood guessing game as to who will replace injured Nancy O’Dell on tomorrow’s Season 8 premiere of ABC’s Dancing With the Stars is really heating up. In fact, the rumor mill is in solid overdrive. No sooner last night did rumblings start that Molly Ringwald, who is appearing in the ABC Family Network series The Secret Life of the American Teenager, than six hours later it was knocked down because she is reportedly expecting twins in August. Now this ... Read more...
Photo Gallery: Paris Hilton says match with Doug Reinhardt is ‘the real thing’
For the next seven days, new love mates Paris Hilton and Doug Reinhardt will spend a “super private honeymoon-styled vacation” on a tropical South Pacific island. Then she returns to Las Vegas a week from now to begin filming the second season of Paris Hilton’s My New BFF for MTV. “It’s the real thing, Robin. Finally!” she told me in an exclusive chat at her 28th birthday celebration dinner last night at Nobu in the Hard Rock Hotel. “It is ... Read more...
Is Molly Ringwald steppin’ in for Nancy O’Dell on DWTS?
Rumors out of Hollywood indicate that actress Molly Ringwald will be the replacement for injured Nancy O’Dell on Season 8 of Dancing With the Stars premiering Monday. Molly’s reportedly joining Holly Madison, who will be the replacement for injured singer Jewel. I’m told that our local favorites Derek Hough, who is the reigning pro champ, and Denise Richards will dance the cha-cha on the ABC hit Monday and that two-time pro winner Julianne Hough, also the hit series’ youngest pro ... Read more...
Monday Exclusive: An interview with Siegfried & Roy about their future
Siegfried & Roy talked exclusively with Vegas DeLuxe and me after the telecast of their special on ABC’s 20/20 last night and reveal what lies ahead over the next 12 months. Roy makes another amazing promise, and Siegfried vows that it will happen. The exclusive full details and interview and more photos Monday right here at Vegas DeLuxe! Read more...
Photo Gallery: Paris Hilton & Doug Reinhardt arrive at HRH for her birthday
It’s official confirmation of the romance we reported yesterday on Vegas DeLuxe (click HERE). Paris Hilton and handsome The Hills reality newcomer and baseball player Doug Reinhardt are definitely one of Hollywood’s hottest new couples. These are the first official photos, by our contributing photographers Erik Kabik and Denise Truscello, of the twosome who have avoided Hollywood paparazzi since starting their Valentine’s Day dating spree. They were not photographed together on a trip to Japan, and only dark, grainy shots ... Read more...
Strip Scribbles: Michael Caine to receive Lifetime Achievement Award
Congratulations to my longtime pal Michael Caine, a two-time Academy Award winner who has received six Oscar nominations over his long and extraordinary career. Michael will be presented with the 2009 ShoWest Lifetime Achievement Award here in Las Vegas at the movie convention’s closing night banquet April 2 at Bally’s and Paris. Like me, he’s a Cockney! Michael was born Maurice Micklewhite in South East London to fish porter and cleaning lady parents. “With over five decades of films to ... Read more...
Siegfried & Roy ABC 20/20 special airs tonight; KMA gala raises $12 million
It was far more than magic — this was a miracle! And definitely no illusion. It was one of the greatest nights in Las Vegas showbiz history and will never be repeated. It was the ultimate triumph over the toughest challenge of them all. Illusionist Roy Horn was told after he’d “died three times” on an operating table that he would never speak, walk or perform magic again. Roy defied all the odds and proved every doctor wrong. Not only ... Read more...
It’s official: Jewel and Nancy O’Dell out, Holly Madison in on DWTS
ABC executives have just confirmed that doctors have ordered singer Jewel to officially withdraw from the eighth season of Dancing With the Stars, which premieres Monday night. Jewel will appear on the show to explain that she has been diagnosed with a fractured tibia in both legs. She had vowed to continue on the show, but it’s now been ruled out by her husband’s own knee surgeon. Jewel’s husband, world champion bull riding superstar Ty Murray, will continue in the ... Read more...
It’s on! Tickets for ‘Lesnar vs. Mir 2: UFC 98’ go on sale tomorrow
It’s the most prestigious title in mixed martial arts, and, oddly, the UFC heavyweight championship currently rests in the hands of two men, champion Brock Lesnar and interim belt holder Frank Mir. But come May 23 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, they will meet not only to determine the undisputed heavyweight champion title, but also to settle some personal business that began here more than a year ago. Tickets, some as high as $800 at ringside, for “Lesnar vs. ... Read more...
Zowie Bowie celebrates dream come true of performing at the Palms
It was April Fools’ Day 2006 when Zowie Bowie moved here from Phoenix with dreams of making it on the Strip as headliners. Three years later, the dream has come true — well, within 100 yards of it! In truth, though, George Maloof’s Palms is everything that the Strip represents — and more. And it’s been an eight-year dream for Zowie Bowie to play the Palms since they came here on their first date! Tonight, after nearly three years of ... Read more...
Photo Gallery: Chuck Wicks & Julianne Hough rehearse for DWTS
Country singers, TV dance partners and real-life couple Julianne Hough, a former Las Vegas Academy student, and Chuck Wicks have finally come off the road touring in their separate shows and found time yesterday for a full dance rehearsal. It comes just four days before their first Dancing With the Stars episode of the new season. It was an intense workout, and the kissing couple said they will continue with eight- to 10-hour rehearsals this weekend right up to the ... Read more...
Paris Hilton is celebrating her 28th birthday and a brand new boyfriend
Socialite and reality TV star Paris Hilton will have her new boyfriend, baseball player and The Hills actor Doug Reinhardt, on her arm tomorrow when she celebrates her 28th birthday at the Hard Rock Hotel. I can confirm that the couple will arrive today from L.A. by private jet and will be at the party together! Reports about the romance since spending Valentine’s Day together have been sketchy, but I have confirmed that they traveled to Japan together. Paris was ... Read more...
Kelly Carlson talks Nip/Tuck‘s end, brushes with death and plastic surgery
Beautiful, sexy actress Kelly Carlson confirmed during her Las Vegas visit that her hit F/X series Nip/Tuck is ending after two years of nonstop filming. The drama will continue to run through 2011, but she’ll be watching rather than filming episodes! Kelly also revealed that plastic surgery has helped her win stardom after she nearly lost her life twice in near-fatal auto accidents just four years apart! The blonde bombshell, 32, checked into the Palazzo to celebrate her cover shoot ... Read more...
Strip Scribbles: Alan Thicke reveals son Robin’s tour date at the Palms
Alan Thicke celebrated his 62nd birthday without growing pains at Tao in The Venetian, but his son, R&B singer Robin Thicke, had to phone in greetings from the East Coast. Alan told me at the dinner party that Robin was appearing on MTV’s Dogg After Dark with rapper Snoop Dogg! But the bigger news I learned is that Robin is teaming as co-headliner with Jennifer Hudson on her first tour. The pair will hit 24 cities from March 31 through ... Read more...
Michael Jackson’s London concerts are on; auction off?
It’s been confirmed in London that longtime Michael Jackson pal Kenny Ortega will stage the King of Pop’s comeback concerts. The High School Musical director and choreographer is well-known for his work on Vegas theatrical projects and masterminded the “Pirates” outdoor spectacular at Treasure Island. Posters announcing Michael’s July concerts at the O2 Arena were put up at London Underground stations there today — four hours in advance of the King of Pop’s announcement! The billboards went up on the ... Read more...
Jeff Beacher is taking his Madhouse on the road
When showman Jeff Beacher and his Beacher’s Madhouse finish entertaining Paris Hilton pre-dawn Sunday at the Hard Rock Hotel for Paris’ birthday, Jeff’s heading out of town! He’s taking his traveling nightclub on the road across America! Tonight, the city says au revoir to the impish impresario and his carnival of crazies with a farewell party at Tao in The Venetian. “I am so psyched,” he told me.” I couldn’t be happier. Last year was a mentally and physically rough ... Read more...
Photo Gallery: Trent Carlini prepares to unveil Elvis show Elvolution
Elvis has not left the building, thank you very much! In fact, the King is back on the Strip in the guise of entertainer Trent Carlini — along with more than 20 of his greatest hits, eight separate stage acts with multiple costume changes and elaborate sets including Army jeeps and a Thalia Mary Lear Jet! Trent, who won ABC’s The Next Best Thing, unveils Elvolution this Monday at the Steve Wyrick Theater in Planet Hollywood’s Miracle Mile and promises ... Read more...
Britney Spears kicks off Circus Tour in New Orleans; MGM date is April 25
Local Britney Spears fans still have seven weeks until the pop princess arrives in Las Vegas for her April 25 concert at the MGM Grand Garden Arena; meantime, Britney kicked off her Circus Tour at the New Orleans Arena last night. Click HERE for MTV.com’s review of the concert, which includes video from last night’s tour opener and photos of the Circus Tour’s elaborate costumes and sets. Click HERE to read Britney manager and Las Vegas regular Larry Rudolph’s interview ... Read more...
Photo Gallery: Miss Nevada USA is ready to play host and compete
We’re now just six weeks away from Donald Trump’s 58th Annual Miss USA Pageant, and for 21-year-old Miss Nevada USA Georgina Vaughan, she’s ready for the competition! Georgina’s also looking forward to welcoming her competitors and showing them her hometown of Las Vegas. “It’s been four months now since I won the Miss Nevada title, and it’s been the most rewarding and exciting time of my life. Now that’s about to get even more exciting as we tackle the real ... Read more...
Strip Scribbles: The Men of X take it all off (almost) at Hooters rehearsal
When you think of Hooters, images of hotties in orange shorts and tight white tank tops come to mind! Well think again, because now the guys have taken over the turf! And these Men of X are happy and willing to show off more than the girls do in their sexy annual calendar. It’s part of Hooters’ new marketing pitch to make certain people know that the girls are welcome to Hooters just as much as the boys! Now there’ll ... Read more...
Michael Jackson receives medical OK for London concerts
My Fox News gossip guru pal Roger Friedman reports that Michael Jackson has passed the required medical tests so he can perform this summer in London. Following up on our Vegas DeLuxe story yesterday — click HERE — Roger says that Michael has no looming diseases or any other physical ailments that would prevent him from getting insurance or making a commitment to AEG Live for 10 to 30 concerts this year. Michael, a part-time Las Vegas resident, has arrived ... Read more...
Photo Gallery: Jewel suffers Dancing With the Stars injury
Poetic singer Jewel was KO’d for one week during the preliminary rehearsals for the new eighth season of Dancing With the Stars that begins Monday night. She’s competing against her husband, cowboy Ty Murray, who had his knee doctor examine her. The specialist discovered that Jewel had tendinitis in both knees, and she was ordered off her feet for a week while taking prescriptions to bring the swelling down. Jewel admitted that fans are asking if her dancing future is ... Read more...
Photo Gallery: Dweezil Zappa salutes late father Frank; Method Man @Prive
After all the excitement of the Siegfried & Roy farewell reunion show, NASCAR and the M Resort opening, it’s time to return to what really gets us on our feet: Music! And we’ve got photos from two hot shows! Magician Penn Jillette, who celebrates his birthday tomorrow, was in the front row with our contributing photographer Scott Harrison when Dweezil Zappa, son of late music legend Frank Zappa, played Mandalay Bay’s House of Blues. Dweezil’s band Zappa Plays Zappa presented ... Read more...
The Rio marks Penn & Teller’s 35th anniversary with grand tribute
Executives of The Rio paid the ultimate compliment to their resident headliner magicians Penn & Teller, who are celebrating their 35-year anniversary as showbiz partners. The Rio as of this evening is adorned with a 26-story plastic see-through poster of the twosome. Believed to be the largest image ever attached to a resort casino, it covers 27,000 square feet over the southeast side of the all-suites hotel on Flamingo. Contributing photographer Erik Kabik was on hand for the ceremony this ... Read more...
Breaking News: Are Michael Jackson concerts on? Details expected Thursday
Are the Michael Jackson concerts on or off in London? We’ll know right here at 8 a.m. this Thursday! British television and London newspapers have erupted in headlines and breaking news reports in the past hour about an announcement being made at London’s 02 Arena on Thursday afternoon British time. They are all reporting that the 50-year-old pop singer, who lives between here and Los Angeles, will play several dates this summer at the London arena. It would be his ... Read more...
Oscar designer David Rockwell spills secrets of Peep Show theater
Designer David Rockwell is hailed as one of the very best, and he’s in huge demand for his amazing and innovative designs. His ultimate triumph was little more than a week ago when he should have won an Oscar for his makeover of the Academy Awards show. Now the creative king, who brought us Nobu at the Hard Rock, Yellowtail at the Bellagio, BLT at The Mirage and Phantom — The Las Vegas Spectacular’s jewel of a theater at The ... Read more...
Hooked on magic by Criss Angel, Britney Spears adds illusions to Circus Tour
When pop princess Britney Spears rehearsed for her comeback appearance on the MTV Video Music Awards a few years ago — before the public breakdown — she turned to Mindfreak magician Criss Angel. They were even linked romantically by tabloids when they were seen together several times in Los Angeles, including being spotted together late nights in hotels. Criss denied the rumors, saying they were working on adding magic tricks to her comeback performance. At the last moment, Britney ditched ... Read more...
Strip Scribbles: Sex and the City star Kristin Davis finds Love at The Mirage
It was the first-ever visit to Las Vegas for Sex and the City actress Kristin Davis, and with an unidentified boyfriend at her side throughout, Kristin packed as much in as she could. The beau managed to dodge the photographers who tried to keep up with Kristin. She checked out The Beatles Cirque du Soleil show Love at The Mirage, where the happy couple snacked on popcorn during the show. They went backstage afterward to meet the cast and crew. ... Read more...
Hundreds of heads to be shaved to raise funds to fight children’s cancer
For the third consecutive year, the Irish pub trade in Las Vegas will raise funds to research and conquer childhood cancer with a head-shaving party this Saturday. “St. Baldrick’s Day” at McMullan’s Irish Pub opposite The Orleans has raised more than $350,000 the past two years with the campaign, and now Quinn’s Irish Pub in Green Valley Ranch is joining the worthy cause. Brian McMullan said: “We don’t have a huge formal dinner or silent auction as our fundraiser. Rather, ... Read more...
Photo Gallery: NASCAR stars hit the fast-paced party circuit
They burn the rubber on the track, but when the racing is over, they take to another high-speed circuit — partying! After the big NASCAR race Sunday afternoon, fierce competitors Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jeff Gordon and Elliot Sadler were best buddies at the Bank in the Bellagio ordering bottles of Cristal, Grey Goose and Crown Royal from the gorgeous glamour girls on the bottle service team. Jeff Gordon and fellow standout driver Brian Vickers were at XS nightclub in Steve ... Read more...
Morning Call: Priscilla & Lisa Marie Presley to attend Cirque’s Elvis debut
While reviewing the advance storyboards for the new Elvis Presley spectacular, Priscilla Presley has assured Cirque du Soleil officials that she will be in Las Vegas for its world premiere. Lisa Marie Presley has confirmed that she will attend the premiere, as well. Elvis’ daughter attended yesterday’s 10 p.m. performance of Cirque’s Beatles Love show at The Mirage, Lisa’s second time at the musical. Son Benjamin Keough, husband Michael Lockwood and a group of friends accompanied Lisa. Michael and she ... Read more...
Vegas high school graduate is named Miss February Playboy Club
After a two-year-plus romantic relationship went bust, sexy Meghan Beck decided to show everybody she’s got the goods with Playboy. A chance suggestion by a girlfriend last month encouraged her to enter the Miss Playboy Club contest at the Palms. The Shaw Ridge High School Class of 2006 graduate is finishing her business management degree in May from the University of Phoenix and is taking classes at CSN and UNLV to finish in three years instead of four! The just-turned ... Read more...
Tool Academy temptresses take a break from their bad boy beaus
On the VH1 reality series Tool Academy, nine frustrated women date “complete tools” and give their men one last chance at reforming themselves with some style and sophistication. It’s exhausting, rigorous and grueling, so four of the lovelies decided that Las Vegas R&R was the perfect prescription to blow off some steam. Jaimee Grubbs, Cameron Adams, Jenna Fenton and Karine Breedwill enjoyed girls’ night out at Jet in The Mirage — and they sure hiked up their skirts and let ... Read more...
Photo Gallery: The new $700 million M Resort is my resort
By Don Chareunsy As Vegas DeLuxe editor, I attended my first resort casino opening last night after moving here one year ago from San Diego. I’d been to other openings — for nightclubs, restaurants and spas in my first year in Sin City — but this was my first resort casino opening. I am especially excited about the premiere of M Resort for two reasons: 1) It’s a locals resort casino, meaning it is away from the Strip, it doesn’t ... Read more...
Strip Scribbles: Will the Queen of England visit her new M Resort?
Of all the amusing stories that could be told about hotel openings, this one has to take the cake — and a good cup of tea! It turns out that in a weird six degrees of separation, the Queen of England is now one of the owners of the new M Resort that opened last night. One of my Wall Street banking sources reliably told me that the Bank of Scotland was an equity investor of about $250 million in ... Read more...
Photo Gallery: Stars play at NASCAR before Kyle Busch’s win
Among the celebrities out at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway for the big NASCAR race won by Kyle Busch yesterday were Oscar winner Adrien Brody and heartthrob singer Nick Lachey. Our contributing photographer Erik Kabik found them at Jimmie Johnson’s car before the race got underway. Also there were baseball legend Pete Rose and actress Angie Harmon and hubby and retired NFL quarterback Jason Sehorn. Our Merry Mayor of Mirth Oscar Goodman welcomed all the stars to Sin City. Singer ... Read more...
Photo Gallery: Blink … and you, OMG, missed the JoBros at Town Square!
It was a coast-to-coast whistle-stop tour, but the Jonas Brothers’ visit in Las Vegas lasted less than 60 seconds at Rave Motion Pictures in Town Square — a five-minute ride from McCarran International Airport where their private jet touched down, idled and took off. Said our contributing photographer Erik Kabik, who was on camera duty: “This was less than one minute of shear utter chaos. It was impossible to get more or better pics to share with you. They came ... Read more...
Celebrities out in full force to support Siegfried & Roy
By John Katsilometes Montecore sat onstage, uncaged, unleashed. A few feet away stood Roy Horn, donning a Gothic-style, black-and-white stage costume and acknowledging an audience standing and applauding a singular dramatic moment in Las Vegas history. And with that, Siegfried & Roy were finally awarded the sendoff for which they had been rehearsing for a year. It came Saturday night, at Keep Memory Alive’s 13th annual “Power of Love” gala at the Bellagio, the annual fundraiser for what is now ... Read more...
Photo Gallery: Kurt Busch’s prediction of victory is half right
Just 72 hours before the big NASCAR race yesterday, one of the Busch brothers, who both hail from Las Vegas, predicted victory! Kurt Busch predicted a win for himself; click HERE for his crystal ball forecast. The prediction came true — a Busch crossed the finish line first — but it was younger brother Kyle who won and not Kurt, who made the forecast after he won the inaugural Kurt Busch Foundation’s Sprint for the Kids fundraiser at Pole Position ... Read more...
Muhammad Ali receives standing ovation at Lance Burton’s show
The standing ovation for former world heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali lasted nearly five minutes last night when he turned up unexpectedly for Lance Burton’s magic show at the Luxor. Muhammad arrived with his wife Lonnie, daughter Rasheda and grandsons Nico, 8, and Biaggio, 10. Less than 10 days ago, Rasheda had watched the illusionist’s show and had such a great time, she promised to bring her boxing legend father to see it when he arrived in town. “He loves magic,” ... Read more...
Photo Gallery: Before Greg Biffle’s victory at Sam’s Town 300
Greg Biffle won yesterday’s Sam’s Town 300 race after the appropriately named Scott Speed started from the pole. Kyra White, a 14-year-old at Liberty High School in Las Vegas, won the “Speedway Superstar” competition, which qualified her to sing the National Anthem before yesterday’s race. Our contributing photographer and avid race fan Tom Donoghue was trackside to capture all the thrills and high-speed action. Today’s drivers who got in last-minute laps include Mark Martin, Kurt Busch, Kasey Kahne, Juan Pablo ... Read more...
Photo Gallery: Keep Memory Alive ‘Power of Love’ Gala red carpet
The Keep Memory Alive “Power of Love” Gala at the Bellagio last night featured the reunion and farewell performance of Siegfried & Roy and attracted celebrities and special guests including Larry Ruvo and his family, Hilary Duff, Perry and Etty Ferrell, Danny DeVito and Rhea Perlman, Mayor Oscar and Carolyn Goodman, Steve Schirripa and Leeza Gibbons. Read more...
Photo Gallery: Gala and 20/20 with Siegfried & Roy … and Montecore!
Back in 2003, Roy Horn’s favorite tiger made worldwide headlines when the illusionist was injured and the 43-year-long Siegfried & Roy magic career came to an unexpected end. Last night, that tiger, Montecore, was the star of their reunion farewell show at the Keep Memory Alive “Power of Love” gala at the Bellagio. This is the first officially released photo of the tiger who “stole the show.” Meantime, ABC 20/20’s one-hour Siegfried & Roy special Return to Magic will be ... Read more...
Strip Scribbles: Kevin Burke’s mind-blowing March Madness magic
He'll write down on a piece of paper the final two teams competing in the NCAA tournament, along with the winner and exact score ...
Photos: Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Holly Madison kicks off Strip events
The platinum blonde Peepshow star is going green today and kicks off St. Patrick’s Day celebrations at center Strip. She marched at ...
From the rumble seat: Michael Buffer impressed by the magnitude of it all
A man who has ushered in hundreds of title fights over the decades, Michael Buffer says of Cowboys Stadium: It's all about the screen. ...
A first look at Cowboys Stadium, which is a really impressive fight club
Jerry Jones' 110,000-seat Cowboys Stadium is the site of Manny Pacquiao-Joshua Clottey on Saturday, one of many fights and events at the ...
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