When I critiqued the 1968 movie “The Producers” I said it was the funniest film I had ever seen. I even saw it three times and I don’t usually see a film more than once. Then, the MEL BROOKS musical comedy THE PRODUCERS opened on Broadway on April 19, 2001 to unanimous rave reviews and the recipient of the most Tony Awards in Broadway History (12, including Best Musical). Now, THE PRODUCERS musical comedy has opened at PARIS and although I haven’t seen it as yet and it has been cut down to 90 minutes with no intermission, I know it has got to be great. Based on Mel Brooks’ Academy Award-winning 1968 film of the same name, the show tells the story of down-on-his-luck theatrical producer, Max Bialystock (Brad Oscar) and Leo Bloom (Larry Raben), a mousy accountant. Together, with the help of their flamboyant director, Roger DeBris (David Hasselhoff), they hatch the ultimate scam: raise more money than you need for a sure-fire Broadway flop and pocket the difference.  They are sure they have a “sure-fire” theatrical fiasco with a musical ‘Springtime for Hitler!’ But, guess what!  It’s a hit!  Funny, funny, funny fun!
		Keith Thompson, Conductor, David Hasselhoff starring as "Roger DeBris" and Rich Affannato as "Carmen Ghia" rehearse the number "Keep it Gay" in preparation of the opening of The Mel Brooks' Musical Comedy The Producers premiering at Paris Las Vegas on January 31, 2007.

The LAS VEGAS HILTON is now home to the largest hand painted mural in Las Vegas, with the 128’ X 56’10” image of  HILTON headliner Barry Manilow on display on the property’s main tower. The mural was installed over a five-day period using a grid system to prepare the image and three painters using brushes and rollers to complete the finished mural on February 3.  Hilton show schedules are: Barry Manilow February 13-17, 21-24 March 13-17, 21-24, The Moody Blues February 8-10“ The Boar Show” February 18 and George Lopez March 2-3, August 3-4. ($125 VIP seating (plus tax and service charge includes a meet & greet with George Lopez)

During Dirk Arthur’s Extreme Magic show, at THE TROPICANA, 22-year-old Jimmy King proposed to his girlfriend of 18 months, 21 year old Chandra Calder. Jimmy had prearranged with Dirk Arthur for Chandra to be chosen from the audience to assist with his “Houdini” trick.  Following the illusion, Dirk called Jimmy up on stage where he got down on one knee and asked Chandra to marry him.  She responded with a “yes.” 

The EMPIRE BALLROOM (behind Fatburger on Strip) is now the setting for "The Sopranos Last Supper” having moved from a successful run at the Krave theatre. This fun-filled show has a cast of 20-25, with dancing, comedy and music and an Italian gourmet all-you-can-eat supper and a  "Bacardi Teaser Cocktail.

I was honored to meet Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., a passionate environmentalist, who was in town at a gala at Turnberry’s STIRLING CLUB on behalf of  Nova Town & Sage Era Development, a futuristic environmentally-aware resort dedicated to improving environmental, cultural, scientific and economic communities. Robert (Bobby’s son) was the keynote speaker and was also signing copies of his best-selling book “Crimes Against Nature.”  His speech was really frightening and enlightening as to what has been happening to our environment.

And, helping to clean up the environment, Pooper-scoopers scooped up their luggage instead of doggy doo. There really is an annual meeting of the Association of Professional Animal Waste Specialists (aPaws) and it was held at the RIVIERA. Nevada. aPaws invited professional pooper-scoopers from across the country to their 4^th annual meeting. Among the activities was the Turd Herding Contest where scoopers faced off to see who is the fastest in the country.  An activity with a light-hearted name has a serious purpose.  Professional pooper-scoopers monitor the health of the animals for whom they scoop. aPaws also presents programs to provide pooper-scoopers with professional support

Better catch "‘Forever Plaid’-The Heavenly Musical Hit!" at the GOLD COAST, as they will only be there through April 1. Since opening at the GOLD COAST  Jan. 2005, "Forever Plaid" has been a sensational hit, provoking laughter and tears (sometimes at the same time). Prior to the GOLD COAST they were at the FLAMINGO.  I’m almost sure they will once again be playing somewhere in our great town, but don’t take a chance and be sure to see them now, and once more, even if you’ve seen them before. I’ve seen them many times and always enjoy them.

At the CONSUMER ELECTRONIC SHOW (CES) Bill Gates said that his ambition is to give people a "connected experience" 24 hours a day, and the platform for that goal is the launch of Windows Vista, a program that combines e-mail, instant messaging, digital photography and entertainment options. Multitasking is the electronic future and was featured along with gadgets and games, bigger televisions, smaller phones and louder stereos. That was much of what appeared at CES with 2700 exhibiters and about 150,000 attendees.

The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children held a special party during CES in the Grand Ballroom of the BELLAGIO. The event was sponsored by the Canon Corporation and produced by John Arnos, Canon Corporation and Jaki Baskow, Baskow & Associates.  Featured entertainment was former Eagles’ Don Felder and orchestra. Approximately 40 celebrities attended the event including John O’Hurley, (soon to be starring in Spamalot at WYNN), Joel Greitch, Kevin Sorbo, Richard Burgi (Desperate Housewives), Gregory Harrison (Law & Order), Richard Greico, Eddie Peck (All My Children), Patrick Wharbuton, Willie Gault, Ed Marinaro, Bryan Cranston, Malcom in-the-Middle, The Costello Twins, John Daly and Jackie Flynn (King of Queens), to name a few. A Celebrity Golf Tournament the following day benefited the National Center for Missing Children and Exploited Children.

NBA All-Star is a week-long celebration culminating on Sunday, Feb. 18 with the playing of the 56th NBA All-Star Game at the Thomas & Mack Center. The game will be televised on TNT in the United States and will reach a worldwide television audience in more than 200 countries. Sports Illustrated “Sportsman of the Year” Miami Heat’s Dwyane Wade will host an official NBA All-Star Party on Friday, February 16 at 10 p.m. at MANDALAY BAY’s Rumjungle.  The evening will feature live performances by Rich Boy and Slim Thug, and a fashion show by Rasjudah. 

THE FREMONT STREET EXPERIENCE is filled with exciting entertainment and now has added Bela Tabak’s Riders of the Thunderdome Friday and Saturday evenings during February at 7:15 and 9:15. Bela Tabak’s Riders of the Thunderdome perform inside the Globe of Death at the intersection of 1^st and Fremont Streets near the GOLDEN NUGGET and BINION’s casinos. Bela and his motorcycle daredevil team attain speeds in excess of 40 mph while racing inside a 14-foot – 3-inch globe fashioned from four tons of steel. They performed for many years in ‘SPLASH’ at the RIVIERA. They are remarkable! 

DIAMOND STAR EVENTS will host its Inaugural Star-Studded Gala on Saturday, February 17 at Paris to benefit the Center for Independent Living, a sanctuary for homeless youth.  Founded in 1994, the Center provides residential and day facilities for youth, ages 16-21, and is dedicated to serving at-risk youth throughout Las Vegas. . KVBC-TV 3 News anchors Beth Fisher and Kendall Tenney are  Masters of Ceremony. KVBC-TV 3 is the broadcast media sponsor and the Las Vegas Review-Journal is the print media sponsor. “The Star-Studded Gala will honor Las Vegas leaders for their extraordinary contributions to business and the community through their entrepreneurial efforts and visionary programs,” says Sherial Bratcher, founder and CEO of DIAMOND STAR EVENTS. The distinguished honorees include: James E. Rogers, Chancellor Nevada System of Higher Education; Leadership Award; Thalia Dondero, University Regent, Visionary Award; Jaki Baskow, owner of Baskow & Associates, Entrepreneurial Award; and Jennifer Patino and Joshua Jones, Humanitarian Award.  Additionally, the Gala will recognize Christine Gibbs-Springer, Leadership Award; Judi Moreo, Visionary Award; Elie Freim, Entrepreneurial Award. For more information call Trish Williamson at 429 1623.

The CineVegas Film Festival continues its screening series at the TROPICANA CINEMAS with a number of award winning movies and high profile independent films.  Under the direction of festival president Robin Greenspun, CineVegas has established itself as one of the hottest and fastest growing film festivals in the world.  The February screening series includes: “Half Nelson” Feb. 16, “The Piano Tuner of Earthquakes and “Jonestown: The Life and Death of Peoples Temple,” Feb 23, “Iraq In Fragments,” and “The Secret Life of Words,”  March 2, “God Grew Tired of Us,” March 9 and “Color Me Rubric,” March 23.” Tickets to all screenings are $8 for general admission and $6 for matinees (films before 6 p.m.), students and seniors

On Wednesday, February 14 The CineVegas Film Festival hosts a charity screening of the celebrated basketball film, “Hoosiers,” at BRENDEN theatres at the PALMS at 7 p.m. All proceeds from the event will be donated to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Las Vegas’ Hollywood HEART program that allows club members to work with local and Hollywood-based film industry professionals to create their own films. Club members will have the opportunity to write, direct, produce and star in their own short film, which will premiere at the 2007 CineVegas Film Festival in June. The screening will commence with a conversation with actor Dennis Hopper, one of the film’s stars and chair of the CineVegas Creative Advisory Board, and the film’s director.  Tickets to the screening are $35 per person and can be purchased online at www.cinevegas.com or by calling (702) 992-7979.

Well-known Las Vegas Entertainer Tony Sacca just finished  his semi-annual 10-day fast.  Since his twin brother, entertainer Robert Sacca, died of leukemia in August 1999, Tony, who is six minutes older, started to read about health, food and nutrition. Tony and Robert were identical twins and doctors were somewhat amazed that Tony did not share the same kind of illness. When Tony consulted with doctors at the University of Pennsylvania hospital in Philadelphia, he informed them that Robert had been bulimic for 25 years and did not practice good health habits.  Tony believes that is why Robert became sick , however, the doctors disagreed.  That was why Tony started to read up on diet, food intake and nutrition.  Although Tony had been an avid exerciser since age twelve, a new world of learning about the body’s dietary functions developed, leading Tony into semi-annual fasting lasting up to 14 days. For the past 7 years, Tony has been fasting every 6 months for at least ten days. Tony says, “It is a wonderful life changing experience. After a fast, people always come up to me and ask if I had a face lift.” Tony studied up on what happens to the body when solid foods are eliminated for a period of time. It takes 3 days before the body stops secreting enzymes for food digestion and then the magic happens.  A cleansing starts to occur and, “Oh! What A Feeling.” Tony is very comfortable with water and teas for the first 5 days, and then turns to a Lemonade Diet.

I am so excited about the ongoing construction of the SKYWALK at GRAND CANYON WEST.  I had visited the construction site in October and although going slowly, it has now progressed to the newest addition. The “U” shaped steel structure, which will support the glass floor and side rails for The Skywalk, was lifted off the ground seven feet during the phase of the construction that prepares the walkway for placement. The construction team jacked up the structure eight inches at a time and it took two days to complete. The structure was lifted to allow for the x-ray evaluation of the welds and to make room for the concrete runways for the “rollout” process.  Once this phase of the construction is complete, the structure is lowered, the glass is placed and the final preparations for the “rollout” will be made.  The “rollout” is expected to take place in mid to late February.

“Supper Clubs” with entertainment, good food and a homey friendly atmosphere where everyone knew one another were the craze in Vegas of old.  STATE STREET, THE FLAME, CASA VEGAS, and TOWER of PIZZA were always filled and it was not unusual to see headline performers enjoying the food and relaxing atmosphere after thrilling their audiences on the Strip and even getting up to entertain.. Now, new entertainment eateries are springing up again and I visited two that are slated to become favorites.

DE STEFANO’s ITALIAN RESTAURANT on Tropicana and Pecos is family owned. Owners are Bobby Capozzoli who has been in Las Vegas for over 33 years and was the original owner of TOWER of PIZZA, Chef Timmy Pope and George Pope. Chef Timmy has been preparing food for the public since he was 17 years old and was LIBERACE’s private chef. DE STEFANO’s is open every day for lunch and dinner with live entertainment on Friday, Saturday and Sundays attempting to recapture that old- time Las Vegas “supper club feel.” I enjoyed the great food and entertainment by Howie Gold and a guest who performed and while there, I saw some very familiar “Vegas” faces.

Another “hot spot” is “ELVIS’ RESTAURANT/LOUNGE. Owner, entertainer Elvis Nargi has done a great job refurbishing the previous “Steven David Restaurant/Lounge at 545 E. Sahara. Great atmosphere with wall-to-wall “Pop” culture artwork, glitzy yet classy, homey and comfortable furniture, massive amounts of trees and plants, and even a red velvet topped pool table.  Because he is an Elvis entertainer, (that is his real name) Elvis has created an entertainer’s dream, a 25-foot stage surrounded by Marilyn Monroe and Elvis statues. A live Elvis show with the Legends orchestra is presented Friday and Saturday along with dancing on a Brazilian wood dance floor. The food is great too, touting they have the best New York Pizza west of Graceland. Yum, yum.