Luxe Life Blog

Strip Scribbles: Bette Midler returns here this summer (in theaters)

Posted February 2, 2010 • 2:28 p.m.

Bette Midler appears in her final performance of The Showgirl Must Go On in The Colosseum at Caesars Palace on Jan. 31, 2010.

Photo: Erik Kabik/Retna/www.erikkabikphoto.com

The Divine Miss M may well have ended her two-year run at The Colosseum in Caesars Palace on Sunday night, but she’ll be back in Las Vegas in the wink of an eye. Bette Midler is the voice of Kitty Galore in Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore coming in July.

The film is a sequel to 2001’s Cats & Dogs, but this time it’s in 3-D. It stars Roger Moore, Chris O’Donnell and Jack McBrayer and features the voices of Bette with Alec Baldwin, Joe Pantoliano, Michael Clarke Duncan and Katt Williams.

Meantime, after Saturday’s second-to-last performance of The Showgirl Must Go On, Bette’s Caesar Salad Girls donned their mermaid costumes from the Delores Delago tribute skit, drove through Caesars in motorized wheelchairs from the show and were greeted with cheers.

*First syndicated radio host Rush Limbaugh judged her as the new Miss America, and now today, the controversial commentator will interview her on his daily show. 2010 Miss America Caressa Cameron of Virginia is set for the Q&A with Rush, who promised to boost Miss America after participating in the pageant over the weekend.

*Las Vegas trainer to the stars David Sandler appeared on all four segments of National Geographic’s debut series Fight Science last night as the consulting physics expert as “career fighters” were put through physical challenges. The five-part series shows firefighters, military combat officers, MMA stars and police units testing their skills in unexpected circumstances.

*Celebrity chef Rick Moonen, who was tapped by Oprah Winfrey as her favorite seafood kitchen king, launches a series of weekly dinners tonight. Every Tuesday, Rick and his kitchen crew, including executive chef Adam Sobel, will cook five or six courses of whatever they want from the morning’s shopping expeditions for only 100 foodies. It will be off-menu gourmet at its finest in the private upstairs dining room of RM Seafood in Mandalay Bay. The price is based upon market availabilities and costs. Rick says the experiment hasn’t been attempted here, but if Tuesday’s is successful, he’ll expand it to Monday. We’re attending the premiere and will report back tomorrow.

*So much of what happens in Macau affects our Strip properties and the share prices of our Las Vegas-headquartered gaming corporations that I like to keep a keen eye on the Chinese colony near Hong Kong. Thanks to a very special spywitness, I’m told that gaming mogul and powerful operator Stanley Ho is back in the hospital in intensive care. There are rumors of family members crying at the hospital as the end possibly nears. … Former Venetian/Palazzo head honcho Bill Weidner visited several Macau casinos in recent days. … Former Las Vegas resident Mark Brown, who was the president of Sands and Venetian Macau, is rumored to be leading a group to buy the Grand Waldo Casino on the Cotai island strip there. … The Venetian and Sands Macau are rumored to have had a “monster” casino revenue month in January. … Business is still booming in Macau, with absolutely no signs of recession, and my Macau insider said that with Chinese New Year starting Feb. 14, revenue would get even larger.

*A historical Chinese photo retrospective titled Looking Back After 30 Years opens today at Crystals in MGM Grand’s CityCenter. Madame Li, daughter of China’s former President Li, and Feng Xie, China envoy to the United States, will open the exhibit depicting the 30 years of U.S. and Chinese diplomatic relations. Displayed chronologically in a four-part, 80-panel display, it sprawls over the second and third levels of Crystals and will be shown until Feb. 22.

*My good friend Ron Dante, who produces many of his record sessions at George Maloof’s Studio at the Palms, has put together a new show with three music acts that all began on television: his own Archies, plus The Monkees and The Brady Bunch. He’ll test audience reaction on a Costa line cruise for seven days starting April 3 departing Ft. Lauderdale for ports in the Caribbean and Mexico. The lineup is Barry Williams from The Brady Bunch, Davy Jones of The Monkees, Ron, Bo Donaldson & The Heywoods and Flamenco Express. Ron tells me if it gets a great reception, he’ll bring it to Las Vegas this summer. For more information, go to BoscovsTravel.com.

*Comedian George Wallace and master magician Lance Burton enjoyed a laugh while performing a straightjacket routine to a standing-room-only crowd at the Funny Bones fundraiser over the weekend to help animal rescue organizations. The Maloof family donated its Palms’ Key West Showroom to the charity. Other entertainers were Bobby Slayton, Sammy Shore, Louie Anderson, Pam Matteson, Rich Little, Vinnie Favorito, Kathleen Dunbar, Kathy Walker, Pete Barbutti, Rick Faugno, Manny Oliveira, Frankie Scinta and Jeff Hobson.

Star surveillance

*Hip-hop star Timbaland hosted at Haze in CityCenter’s Aria. He arrived with an entourage that included his wife Monique and rap star friends Lil’ Kim, Hayes and Petey Pablo. Timbaland jumped onstage and performed several songs, including “The Way I Are.” He also performed with Lil’ Kim, Hayes and Petey, and the foursome had the nightclub singing along to their hits. Also spotted at Haze was actor Tom Felton, best known as Draco Malfoy in the Harry Potter movies, plus couple Rick Fox, actor and former L.A. Lakers star, and actress Eliza Dushku. The duo dined at Union in Aria and in Haze sipped on water and Red Bull while dancing up a storm. The next morning, they enjoyed a couple’s massage at Vdara Spa.

*New York Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez dined at N9NE Steakhouse in the Palms with two guests. Afterward, Mark held court at a VIP table overlooking the dance floor in Victor Drai’s XS at Steve Wynn’s Encore and signed footballs for fans. He turned up for a second consecutive night at N9NE but with nine guests. The group ended their night at Moon. Arizona Cardinals quarterback Matt Leinart, who like Matt is a USC alumnus, dined at a separate table with eight friends. … Upstairs at Nove Italiano, actor Ben Stiller dined with seven friends, including N9NE Group’s Bronson Olimpieri, on the terrace. Afterward, Ben took photos with executive chef Geno Bernardo and signed his celebrity kitchen door.

*UFC fighter Tito Ortiz enjoyed a romantic dinner with longtime girlfriend Jenna Jameson at Stack in The Mirage. Jenna gave birth to their twins last year. … Ashley Zarlin, Laurie Peterson and her husband from The Real Housewives of Orange County enjoyed dinner at Strip House in Planet Hollywood with Nik Richie and Ari Golden from TheDirty.com. … Alien Ant Farm surprised a crowd with an impromptu late-night performance at Carey Hart’s Wasted Space. Over at Vanity, the beautiful DJ Sky Nellor spun to a packed house. … Clubgoers at Lavo in the Palazzo had a surprise when hip-hop star Chingy entertained the nightclub. The blinged-out rapper grabbed a mic and from his VIP table performed “Right Thurr” and “Holidae In” with plenty of Moet Rose Champagne. … The Amazing Race Season 15 finalists and winners enjoyed a Las Vegas reunion, and as part of their celebration attended Blue Man Group’s show in The Venetian.

Tonight’s tips

Reality TV star Stephanie Pratt of The Hills hosts at Pure in Caesars Palace. … Comic Steve White headlines at Harrah’s Improv with David Gee through Sunday. … Blush in the Wynn kicks off the World Shoes and Accessories Show with a party featuring Puma and DJ Steve Aoki. … At Moon in the Palms, more than $3,000 of Fergie footwear will be given away.

Tomorrow’s teases

Carlos Santana returns after his Grammy Awards appearance Sunday night for another run of his residency shows at The Joint in the Hard Rock Hotel, and he’s set to join Andre Agassi for a fundraising drive at the Andre Agassi College Preparatory Academy.

Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.

Follow Robin Leach on Twitter at Twitter.com/Robin_Leach.

Follow Vegas DeLuxe on Twitter at Twitter.com/vegasdeluxe.

Follow VDLX Editor Don Chareunsy on Twitter at Twitter.com/VDLXEditorDon.

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