Times a-changin' at the Hard Rock

Changes are brewing at Hard Rock Hotel.

Simon Kitchen & Bar, which closes tonight, is being replaced by AGO, the South Beach Italian-style restaurant by Agostino Sciandri and Oscar-winning actor Robert De Niro.

A.J.'s Steakhouse will soon be replaced by a new concept created by the owners of Los Angeles hotspot Les Deux Café.

AGO, pronounced aw-go, is named after Sciandri, who opened his first one in West Hollywood in 1997 with De Niro, who also is a part-owner of Nobu. AGO's menu is heavily influenced with Tuscan flavors.

Singer Pink and former motocross star Carey Hart are turning a Hard Rock lounge into a rock and roll bar called Wasted Space. Chef Kerry Simon is moving his "fun dining" concept to Palm Place, with a spring opening planned.

Sightings

At the Democratic presidential debate on Thursday at UNLV: James Denton of "Desperate Housewives," Joe Pantoliano of "The Sopranos," Richard Schiff, who played Toby Ziegler in "The West Wing" and Kerry Washington, who played Ray Charles' wife in "Ray." Local publicist Laura Herlovich, wearing a "Barack 'N Roll" political pin while meeting presidential candidate Barack Obama on Thursday night at Paradise Cantina, site of his post-debate gathering. She had the pin made earlier in the day. ... CNN's Wolf Blitzer, moderator of the Democratic debate, dining at Nobhill (MGM Grand) on Wednesday. ...

Paris Hilton, after agreeing to participate in a $35,000 bid for a night on the town with her, agreed to two more off-stage, during Jim and Heather Murren's Nevada Cancer Institute's "Rock for the Cure" on Thursday night at Mandalay Bay. The $105,000 will go to the NVCI. Hilton, just back from a tour of Tokyo and Korea where she drew crowds in excess of 10,000, agreed to have dinner with three separate groups of seven at Company American Bistro, co-owned by Paris' sister, Nicky, followed by a VIP night out at LAX nightclub at Luxor. The biggest hand of the night came when Glynda and Jim Rhodes, chairpersons for the event, donated $10 million. Entertainment included Rod Stewart, actor/comedian Howie Mandel and illusionist Criss Angel. Also there: Sylvester Stallone, Tommy Lee, socialites Kimberly Stewart and Sean Stewart, emcee Larry King, Miss USA Rachel Smith and Miss Universe Riyo Mori. Hilton flew back to Los Angeles after the event on a private jet with Jeff Beacher and King. ...

Jenny Garth of "Dancing With the Stars," flipping the switch that illuminated the 50-story replica of the Eiffel Tower in red at midnight Wednesday for Paris Las Vegas' week-long Beaujolais Nouveau festival. She was with her dance partner, Derek Hough. Also on hand: Chefs Guy Savoy of Restaurant Guy Savoy (Caesars Palace) and Jean Joho of Eiffel Tower restaurant. ... Comedian Jon Stewart and rapper Lil' Jon, dining with separate parties Thursday at Strip House restaurant (Planet Hollywood Resort). ... Comedian Wanda Sykes, at Spago (Forum Shops at Caesars) on Friday. ...

Steve Schirripa of "The Sopranos," dining at Rao's (Caesars) on Thursday night. Also at Rao: Bobby Slayton. ... Hollywood couple Nick Lachey and Vanessa Minnillo celebrated their birthdays Wednesday, as co-hosts of the evening at LAX nightclub (Luxor). Earlier in the evening, the pair dined at Social House (Treasure Island). ... Taye Diggs of "Private Practice," with his wife and friends in the Playboy Club (Palms) on Thursday. Members of Puddle of Mudd partied at another table. ... Judy Woodruff, senior news correspondent for PBS' "The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer," at a private reception Wednesday in her honor by Vegas PBS and N9NE Group's Michael and Jenna Morton. ...

A red carpet tonight for Planet Hollywood's grand opening begins at 8 p.m. in front of the resort. ...The ABC-TV trucks at Coachmen's Inn were for interviews with attorney Bucky Buchanan on the O.J. Simpson preliminary hearing. Buchanan is a part-owner of the restaurant. ... Barry Manilow, at Pure (Caesars Palace) on Tuesday.

Sunday 11-18-07

Comedy fest may get new backers

With HBO reportedly pulling out, the future of The Comedy Festival in Las Vegas appears to be getting a boost from the 20,000-seat sports and entertainment arena being built behind Bally's.

According to published reports, HBO, a 50-50 partner with AEG Live the first three years in Las Vegas, may be selling its rights to TBS.

AEG Live, which is partnering with Harrah's Entertainment on the new arena, views the festival as an important programming piece to the arena's early success.

AEG Live's parent, Anschutz Entertainment Group, will develop, build and manage the $500 million arena for Harrah's.

Scheduled to open in September 2010, the arena could survive on entertainment alone, without landing pro sports franchises, AEG executives have said.

NEWTON UPDATE

Wayne Newton said he'll be joining ABC's "Dancing With the Stars" tour, but he won't be dancing until he gets a clean bill of health.

Newton, who last week confirmed he is recovering from a viral infection in his heart, will join the almost-two-month tour when it opens Dec. 18 in Seattle. A Dec. 30 stop is scheduled at The Orleans.

The condition, known as cardiomyopathy, was diagnosed more than a month ago. He has canceled a six-week holiday show engagement at Harrah's.

Newton, 65, said his first indication of trouble came in October when he was having breathing difficulties. "I had pneumonia, which I've had seven times now, and I wasn't getting over it," he said.

He flew to Texas and during a series of tests with famed heart specialist, Dr. Michael DeBakey, "I went into arrhythmia" (a change in the rhythm of the heart beat)," he said.

"I'm fine. They expect a full recovery," he said.

The Scene And Heard

Two years ago, Jon Stewart was one of the undeniable stars of The Comedy Festival. He packed the Colosseum at Caesars Palace and delivered. But Stewart lost the crowd early and never recovered Friday as the featured performer for Planet Hollywood Resort's grand opening show. Stewart devotees didn't think it had anything to do with it being an older crowd. His material was a darker shade of blue than I recall and he missed the boat by not tapping into the presidential campaign, especially the Thursday Democratic debate in Las Vegas.....

Monday 11-19-07

Tuesday 11-20-07

Norm took the day off

Wednesday 11-21-07

Thursday 11-22-07

Friday 11-23-07

'Producers' to end LV run in February

Broadway West is going south.

Mel Brooks' Broadway hit "The Producers" is closing Feb. 9 at Paris Las Vegas, after a one-year run.

The announcement, which came late Wednesday, also included news that Tony Danza has extended his contract another month to remain with the musical comedy to the end.

Las Vegas was labeled Broadway West about two years ago, when "Avenue Q," "Hairspray" and "Phantom: The Las Vegas Spectacular" arrived on the Strip. But "Hairspray" lasted only four months at Luxor, "Avenue Q" closed at Wynn Las Vegas after nine months and "Mamma Mia!" is calling it quits in the summer of 2008, after 51/2 years at Mandalay Bay.

Danza joined the Paris Las Vegas show in August as one of the leads, theatrical producer Max Bialystock.

"The Producers" opened in February featuring David Hasselhoff as cross-dressing director Roger Debris. Hasselhoff left in May.

The 12-time Tony Award-winning Broadway edition closed April 19 after six seasons, a run that included 33 preview performances and 2,502 regular performances at Broadway's St. James Theatre.

DOUBLE JEOPARDY

Local producer Trent Othick is taking a double hit from the continuing Broadway stagehands strike and the Writers Guild of America stoppage.

"A Bronx Tale," one of Othick's projects, opened on Broadway last month only to be among 27 shows closed by the stagehands strike.

Negotiators are meeting again Sunday.

"We have refunded over $1 million dollars in tickets so far due to lost performances and have lost another $1 million in future sales based on our daily averages (because no one is buying tickets due to the strike)," Othick said in an e-mail.

Chazz Palminteri portrays 18 people in the one-man show about growing up in the Bronx. Robert De Niro was among a celebrity-studded turnout for the premiere. De Niro starred in the 1993 film of the same name.

"We hope to get the sales back when we reopen as losing the holidays may not effect us as much as others," Othick said.

The WGA strike chilled a deal Othick had to sell a TV show loosely based on the life of local poker star Phil Ivey. It is being written by Wayne Powers, who wrote the screenplay for the 2003 version of "The Italian Job."

Also affected by the stagehands strike is Sierra Boggess, who played Christine in "Phantom: The Las Vegas Spectacular." She and Reno's Sean Palmer have lead roles in "Mermaid."

The show was to open Dec. 6 on Broadway, but will instead remain in previews.

The Scene And Heard

There are rumblings the Las Vegas Tenors, who recently shot a live performance at the Las Vegas Hilton, are shopping it to a cable network. ...

Fox has a casting call on Saturday from noon to 4 p.m. at Tuscany Resort and Casino, 255 E. Flamingo Road, for a new game show called "The Moment of Truth," which premieres Jan. 23 after "American Idol." The show's premise: Contestants must answer 21 increasingly personal questions honestly, as determined by a polygraph, for a shot at up to $500,000. For more information: Truth@theconlincompany.com.

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