Luxe Life Blog

Strip Scribbles: Miss America Pageant is returning to Planet Hollywood

Posted June 27, 2011 • 5:55 p.m.

Hugh Jackman and 2011 Miss America Teresa Scanlan at Day 2 of the star-studded 2011 Taste of the NFL in Dallas.

Photo: Tom Donoghue/Picture Group

Days after the rival Miss USA Pageant left town, Vegas DeLuxe can confirm that the 91st Miss America Pageant will be at Planet Hollywood on Jan. 14 after three nights of preliminaries starting Jan. 10. There were reports that Mississippi tourist groups had been trying to lure the pageant there.

Miss America Chairman Sam Haskell III made the Las Vegas date a firm go ahead this afternoon, which we broke on Twitter ahead of the official announcement. Miss America has called Planet Hollywood home since moving here from Atlantic City in 2006. Teresa Scanlan, 17, of Nebraska was crowned the 90th anniversary Miss America here six months ago.

*Michael Jackson’s once-failed finances showed him $400 million in debt, but on this past weekend’s second anniversary of his death, lawyers made more than $310 million. That’s paid down the debts and left plenty to take care of his children, mother and charities. It’s estimated that The King of Pop’s estate makes more than $1 billion a year from albums, licenses, music publishing and now the Ubisoft video game Michael Jackson: The Experience.

That will be an integral part of the new Cirque du Soleil residency show headed to Mandalay Bay. The game has already sold more than 3 million copies since its release three months ago. The partnership with Cirque will produce two shows: the touring Immortal coming to Mandalay Bay in December and the permanent show in 2013, also at Mandalay. Ten albums of the ex-Las Vegas resident will be released on Sony through 2017. Speaking of Michael’s home, Senior Editor John Katsilometes had an interesting visit there Saturday afternoon.

Meantime, to give you an idea of the escalating value of everything Michael, his red and black leather jacket worn in the “Thriller” video sold for $1.8 million over the weekend in an online auction to benefit Shambala Preserve, where his Bengal tigers have lived since he left Neverland in 2006. The jacket goes on display at a children’s hospital in Austin. It had been expected to fetch $200,000.

*Las Vegas photographer Denise Truscello, who we love and adore and whose work appears on Vegas DeLuxe, was commissioned by Rolling Stone to cover the just-finished 2011 Electric Daisy Carnival with a photo essay. Check out her amazing images from three nonstop nights at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

*Singer Engelbert Humperdinck will be honored by the Las Vegas Walk of Stars in the 55th star dedication ceremony on Hump Day while he’s appearing July 21-24 at the Paris. “I am truly proud to be receiving this accolade from the City of Lights. Ever since my dear friend Dean Martin presented me at the Riviera Hotel in 1968, my love affair with this wonderful city was cemented. To join an illustrious group of my contemporaries is both humbling and exciting,” he said. “I thank Las Vegas for all that it has taught me throughout the decades that I have been fortunate to tread the many stages around this town.”

*Mrs. Nevada America Deborah Ashton still hopes that on July 4, she will get clearance from the Guinness Book of World Records to seek certification of her attempt to sing the national anthem at more than 20 Las Vegas locations. If Guinness can’t provide oversight, it will be switched to Labor Day or Veterans Day. Meantime, Mrs. Nevada America contestants check into the Las Vegas Hilton on July 31, with the finals set for Aug. 4 before the state winner goes to the national televised contest in Greenbrier, W. Va., next year.

*The 42nd Annual World Series of Poker has only 12 gold bracelet events remaining until the Main Event begins July 7. It’s shaping up to be a recording-breaking year with 45 WSOP gold bracelet events, attendance and prize pool figures. To date, 53,018 players have been awarded prize money totaling $93,745,185. If the pace continues, it will be the largest WSOP in its 42-year history.

*Strip entertainers Anthony Cools, Kevin Burke, Marc Savard and artist Michael Godard have signed up for the third-annual go-kart race for Clark County’s school music program sponsored by our colleagues at Vegas magazine. Go to RockingComedyShow.com for details about participating.

*The Las Vegas Locomotives are looking for the most fun-filled, energetic entertainer to serve as the new team mascot Diesel Locomotive during the 2011 UFL season. The team is hosting the “Who Can Be Diesel?” competition for anyone ages 18 and older with a background in gymnastics, dance, theater or the performing arts. Candidates can download the contest entry form at LasVegasLocos.com.

*Congratulations to former Alex Chef de Cuisine Devin Hashimoto on his appointment as executive chef at Steve Wynn’s restaurant Okada. He’s already personalized Okada’s menu, drawing on his Japanese heritage and classical French training. Devin, who was raised in Hawaii, worked alongside Chef Alex Stratta in Las Vegas for six years.

Star Surveillance

Miami Heat star Chris Bosh celebrated the second night of his Las Vegas bachelor party at illusionist Criss Angel’s Believe at the Luxor with best pals Jarrett Jack and Pops Mensah-Bonsu of the New Orleans Hornets. The eight-guy group spent time admiring Criss’s 11 motorcycles on display in the lobby before the show began. Afterward, they went backstage to meet Criss, where the Mindfreak magician levitated right up to the star athlete’s height of 7 feet so that they could see eye to eye! Chris weds Adrienne Nicole Williams this summer at Fontainebleau in Miami. … Rapper Kid Cudi relaxed at Encore Beach Club before his show at The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel. … Retired football greats Warren Moon and Eddie George partied at Surrender at Steve Wynn’s Encore. Also there: poker pro Antonio Esfandiari with good friend DJ Steve Aoki before he traveled to EDC via helicopter! … Comedian Brad Garrett watched Human Nature at Imperial Palace. … Kix Brooks and his wife Barbara watched The Mentalist. The Mentalist, starring Gerry McCambridge, mixes comedy, magic and mindreading at V Theater at Planet Hollywood’s Miracle Mile.

Tonight’s Tip

Wiz Khalifa, widely known for his smash “Black and Yellow,” makes a stop on his Rolling Papers World Tour at The Joint with guests Big Sean and Chevy Woods. The after-party is at Jet in the Mirage. … Glam rock group Bang Tango is at Crown Theater in the Rio. … And XS at the Encore keeps EDC going with Laidback Luke behind the wheels of steel.

Tomorrow’s Tease

Our one-on-one interview with Jersey Shore star Pauly D as he reveals adventures in Italy filming Season 4 of the MTV hit and his plans for his own spinoff headquartered at the Palms. Plus, a wrap-up of EDC and the remarkable $1 million Prodigy car unveiled here and plans to fly the world’s first hotelicopter onto The Strip.

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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