A
major announcement is scheduled at
Larry Ruvo's Alzheimer's fundraiser tonight, and there are
rumblings that boxing icon
Muhammad Ali will be in the thick of it.
Ruvo has been
promising a big surprise at the end of the charity gala, which benefits
the
Lou Ruvo Brain Institute.
Lou Ruvo, Larry's father, died from Alzheimer's.
Let's connect some
dots: Larry Ruvo reportedly has been hosting a team of top Parkinson's
specialists this week. Ali has been battling Parkinson's disease, a
disorder of the central nervous system.
It was in
Las Vegas, during his second-to-last fight, that the first signs
emerged that Ali was suffering from a neurological disorder. He was
fighting heavyweight champ
Larry Holmes on Oct. 2, 1980.
That was the last of his seven fights in Las Vegas.
Ali is attending
the event because of his close friendship with Bernie Yuman,
longtime manager of Siegfried & Roy. Yuman became Ali's manager
about eight years ago. They've been friends since 1962, when they met
while jogging on a golf course in Miami.
"I was 13 and
training for Pop Warner football," Yuman said Friday. "I ran up next to
him, and he looked out of the corner of his eye."
They hit it off,
and Ali gave Yuman a ride back to his house on a Vespa motorbike, a
sight that shocked Yuman's father.
Ali invited Yuman
to watch him train at his gym, and "there has been no interruption in
our friendship since," Yuman said.
Thirty years ago
next week, when upstart Leon Spinks shocked the boxing world with
a 15-round decision over Ali at the Las Vegas Hilton, Yuman recalls
taking Ali backstage to see Siegfried & Roy at the Stardust.
"During that time,
I brought James Brown to the Hacienda, and I took Muhammad to see
his show," Yuman said.
MEDIA UPDATE
CBS
Radio layoffs hit the local market last week, with a handful of
employees getting pink slips. No on-air talent was let go, but Craig
Powers, program director at KKJJ-FM, 100.3 (Jack), was among the
layoffs. ...
Gina
Cancielliere
returns from maternity leave to her weather job at KLAS-TV, Channel 8 on
a part-time basis in March. She and husband Vivek Srinarayana had
their first child, a girl, on Dec. 30. She'll go full time in April. She
has been the station's lead meteorologist since August 2006.
The Scene And
Heard
There may be more
than a sighting of Michael Jackson at the Grammys on Sunday.
FoxNews.com columnist Roger Friedman says he's hearing that
Jackson has been secretly rehearsing at a Burbank studio. He says
Justin Timberlake will open the show with a digital duet with
Frank Sinatra, and Jackson will follow with a hit from "Thriller."
If it happens and Jackson wows 'em, expect another wave of comeback
speculation. Jackson has been living in a Palms suite for several
months.
Sunday 02-10-08
Siegfried & Roy to perform again
Siegfried & Roy
announced Saturday they will come out of retirement next year to perform
at the "Keep Memory Alive" Alzheimer's fundraiser.
It would be their
first stage appearance in 41/2 years, since
Roy Horn was attacked by a white tiger and nearly died on Oct. 3,
2003, at The Mirage.
They made the
surprise announcement Saturday at the 12th annual Alzheimer's benefit
for the
Lou Ruvo Brain Institute during the gala at the
MGM Grand Garden.
They had hinted at
coming out of retirement during an exclusive interview with
Vegas Confidential.
"Act surprised,"
Horn said at the time.
Asked if the show
will include their white lions and tigers, Siegfried Fischbacher said it
"will be the signature of Siegfried and Roy."
BOWING OUT
The curtain came
down on "The Producers" show Saturday at Paris Las Vegas, but some cast
members are settling in Las Vegas.
Leigh Zimmerman,
who plays the ravishing Ulla, and Bill Nolte, the crazed Nazi
playwright Franz Liebkind, have purchased homes here.
"The best thing
about playing Las Vegas is learning there is more to Vegas than the
Strip," said Zimmerman, who plans to shuttle back and forth to Los
Angeles for some acting projects.
Her husband,
Domenick Allen, a member of Foreigner from 1991-1993 and
Liberace's opening act for years, has embraced the musical scene.
The Scene And
Heard
There's some hot
gossip circulating that ABC-TV may be getting Las Vegas more heavily
involved in the hit show "Dancing With the Stars." ...
Mirage salon owner
Kim Vo spent four hours with Britney Spears at her Beverly
Hills mansion Thursday, the day after she got out of a psych ward. Vo, a
celebrity colorist who also owns a salon in Beverly Hills, said Spears
was with her mother, Lynne. While receiving extensions, Britney
made numerous phone calls, one with her newly acquired British accent.
Jeff Beacher
says he's organizing a 1,000-strong little person march on Boston after
cops shut him down last week and issued a warning. A Boston statute
prohibits profiteering from "the promotion of albinos and midgets."
Beacher had little people dressed as Winston Churchill and
John Wayne, among others, at a party where Paris Hilton got
the Woman of the Year award from the Harvard Lampoon.
Monday 02-11-08
'Producers' cast bows to Brooks
The cast of
"The Producers" gave
Mel Brooks a send-off to remember.
As
Brooks walked onstage to a standing ovation after the closing
show Saturday at
Paris Las Vegas, cast members fell to their knees during
final bows to salute the 81-year-old Broadway legend.
The love fest
continued after Brooks spoke at the after-party at Bally's
Diamond Lounge.
The evening
had its somber side: Rich Affannato and lead
Tony Danza showed up at the party with minutes-old buzz
cuts.
Affannato,
who plays the flamboyant Carmen Ghia, was honoring his mother,
who couldn't attend because of her recent cancer diagnosis.
Danza and the company rallied around Affannato.
BIG NIGHT
Las Vegas
generosity was on full display again Saturday, with another $12
million in donations raised for the Lou Ruvo Brain
Institute at the "Keep Memory Alive" fundraiser.
Let us count
the ways:
• A tour of
Italy with chef Mario Batali in the role of tour guide
brought $220,000.
• A playhouse
designed by acclaimed architect Frank Gehry went for
$350,000.
• Five
dinners by a combination of star chef Tom Colicchio, Guy
Savoy, Wolfgang Puck and David Robins fetched
$550,000.
• Lunch with
Teri Hatcher of "Desperate Housewives" added $50,000 to
the total.
• Michael
Buble and his musicians, which were the evening's featured
entertainment, donated their checks and covered their own travel
expenses.
• Lorraine
Bracco and Steve Schirripa of "The Sopranos" struck a
chord when they agreed to host dinner at Rao's in New York and
threw in a copy of the final "Sopranos" show autographed by all
the cast and a baseball bat used in one of the scenes. Two
bidders agreed to pay $150,000 each. Schirripa got another
$5,000 after a spirited bidding contest for emcee Robin
Leach's black wool tuxedo sweater with sequins.
The
big buzz of the night was generated by illusionists Siegfried
& Roy and boxing legend Muhammad Ali.
Siegfried
Fischbacher
and Roy Horn announced they will come out of retirement
next year to perform their tiger and lion show at Larry
and Camille Ruvo's gala benefit.
Ali attended
to raise awareness for Parkinson's disease. The brain institute
is adding researchers for Parkinson's, which Ali has suffered
from since the early 1980s.
Tuesday 02-12-08
Rees on Hand for Awards at Club
Katie
Rees, the dethroned Miss Nevada USA, was back on the party scene
Sunday, just days after spending 12 hours in jail on allegations of
resisting arrest.
Rees
showed up at The Bank, formerly Light nightclub at Bellagio, to take
part in the "Women of the Night" awards, which the club gave out for
"Sin City's sexiest movers and shakers."
Also
honored was Rees' one-time friend, escort service operator
Tiffany Masters. Rees was stripped of her Miss Nevada USA title
after scandalous behavior and being listed on Masters'
MySpace page.
Masters and Rees reportedly had a falling out last year and when asked
to pose together for an award photo on Sunday, they declined.
Rees,
23, was arrested early Wednesday after a 3 a.m. confrontation with
police. Rees, who claims she chipped a tooth in the incident, has
reportedly had it fitted with a crown.
The Scene And
Heard
Yes,
that was a recent photo of the very svelte Jerry Lewis that ran
in this space on Monday. Lewis, who turns 82 in March, had gained more
than 100 pounds during a two-year period when he was taking a steroid
for his chronic back problem. The new photo was taken Saturday when he
met with Lorraine Bracco of "The Sopranos." ...
About
two dozen of the top chefs in Las Vegas will gather for a group shot at
the "Welcome to Las Vegas" sign today on South Las Vegas Boulevard. The
photo shoot will include: Paul Bartolotta (Bartolotta Ristorante
di Mare), Tom Colicchio (Craftsteak), Damien Dulas
(Restaurant Guy Savoy), Todd English (Olives), Martin
Heierling (Sensi), Joseph Keller (Como's), Michael Mina
(Michael Mina Bellagio), Bradley Ogden (Bradley Ogden),
Agostino Sciandri (AGO), Julian Serrano (Picasso), Alex
Stratta (Alex), David Walzog (SW Steakhouse) and David
Werly (Le Cirque). ...
Services for lounge legend Freddie Bell, who died Sunday at age
76, are pending. Here's a classic clip of Bell and The Bellboys, singing
"Giddy Up a Ding Dong," in the 1956 movie "Rock Around the Clock:"
Wednesday 02-13-08
Norm took the day off
Thursday 02-14-08
Today Norm celebrates with Mamma Mia
Some LV spots spell romance
The pressure's on if you haven't made reservations for Valentine's Day
dinner. There's no room at the inn at many of the most romantic spots in
town.
"We've been sold out for three weeks," said Jose Martel, longtime maitre d' at Michael's Restaurant, which
moved to the South Point last year after almost 30 years at the Barbary
Coast.
You
might recall that it was at Michael's that a desperate 11th-hour planner
got turned down a few years ago even after a most unusual offer. The
caller, a local heart surgeon, offered Martel a free bypass.
Dan Shrum,
director of the Top of the World restaurant at the Stratosphere, said
it's the busiest night of the year.
It
didn't hurt that USA Today this week included the Top of the World in a
list of Top 10 places to spend a romantic Valentine's Day.
Last
year, a love-struck diner had a rose in a fancy box delivered to his
table every five minutes until the 11th and 12th arrived with a diamond
ring. His girlfriend said yes.
Picasso
at Bellagio "got hammered with reservations," said maitre d' Ryland
Worrell. "We're sold out, and we got so many two-tops, it's not even
funny." The most requested table: "No. 17, right at the window, with the
best view of the fountains."
The
second most requested table is No. 34, where George Clooney and
Julia Roberts shot a scene for "Ocean's 11" seven years ago.
"We've got two proposals with rings," Worrell said. "I bring it to the
table during dessert."
One
year, a gentleman had Worrell put the diamond ring in a glass of
champagne. But the plan almost took a horrifying turn when the woman
took a couple of sips without noticing the ring.
The Scene And
Heard
Get-well wishes to two local icons who have been under the weather:
Kirk Kerkorian and Bob Maheu. Kerkorian, 90, has been
battling bronchitis and missed the "Keep Memory Alive" gala at the MGM
Grand Convention Center. Maheu, the longtime alter ego of Howard
Hughes, has been ailing. He's also 90. ...
Happy
birthday to singing star Phyllis McGuire, a Valentine's baby....
Democratic
presidential candidate Barack Obama admits he's dropped his name
on occasion to get into a crowded restaurant. According to People
magazine, he confessed he did it last month in Las Vegas for wife
Michelle's 44th birthday Jan. 17, two days before the Nevada
caucuses. During dinner he presented her with a necklace. He didn't say
what it was made of, except to allow that "it wasn't fake," The
Associated Press reported Wednesday. ...
Services for entertainer Freddie Bell will be Sunday. Viewing
will be from noon to 2 p.m. at Palm Mortuary, 7600 Eastern Ave., with
services to follow in the chapel and at graveside. A memorial party
starts at 4:30 p.m. at the Italian American Club. ...
Nevada Public Radio's fifth annual online auction continues through 1
p.m. Saturday, with more than 450 items and packages up for bid. The
site, www.knpr.org, had more than 2 million hits for everything from
travel packages and a "Jersey Boys" dinner and show package to backstage
tours of Cirque du Soleil shows. I'm down for a lunch for four, and I'll
throw in a Norm bobblehead and a signed copy of my book "Vegas
Confidential: Sinsational Celebrity Tales," which should be out by
summer.
They dined at Nove
Italiano atop the Palms Fantasy Tower before heading for The Mirage.
Clooney wore a
dark suit and. Larson was in a red dress.
Clooney began
dating Larson last year after they met at Moon, the Palms nightclub
where she was a cocktail server. Their romance heated up at the
Las Vegas premiere of "Ocean's 13" during the CineVegas film
festival at the Palms.
Larson, 29, has
been focusing on a modeling career in Las Vegas, while shuttling between
Los Angeles and Las Vegas to see Clooney, 46, one of the world's most
eligible bachelors.
She has been in
his company since joining him during his promotional tour of the film
"Michael Clayton" during the fall.
HOLMES UPDATE
Clint
Holmes was
on the telephone from Atlantic City, quoting the bard of Broadway: "Neil
Simon said, 'Musicals are not written. They are rewritten.' "
The same holds
true for Holmes' pet project, "Just Another Man." Instead of the planned
off-Broadway opening in late April, Holmes and his team are looking at
taking the musical to another city before going to New York.
"We're continuing
to process it, and we feel we need to do it somewhere other than Vegas.
Once you go to New York, it's do or die. After working on it for four
years, why rush now?"
Meantime, he's
booked "Clint Holmes and Friends" April 18-20 at Suncoast, after drawing
strong crowds during a Christmas engagement.
The Scene And
Heard
Ellen DeGeneres
shows up at the door of Rebekah Withey of Henderson on today's
episode of "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" (KLAS-TV, Channel 8, 3 p.m.).
Withey and galpals Jamie Bielich, Jaime Gottmann and Stephanie
Smith get a big surprise. ...
Actor Gary
Coleman is fessing up that he got married on a Nevada mountaintop.
Coleman, 40, told "Inside Edition" he married Shannon Price on
her 22nd birthday after they met on a studio set. Sounds like it might
have been a short honeymoon. "We may go a week and not speak to each
other, but that's because you're thinking and mulling things over," said
Coleman, a child star on "Diff'rent Strokes" from 1978 to 1986.
Norm Clarke's newest book, Vegas Confidential: Sinsational Celebrity
Tales ($12.95, Stephens Press, February 2008), dishes up a feast
from Sin City's Ace Insider on celeb's club hopping, spending sprees,
outrageous behavior, feuds and meltdowns, and the best (and worst)
tippers. Discounted pre-orders are $9.95 and include free shipping.
Pre-order your copy now!
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A
major announcement is scheduled at
CBS
Radio layoffs hit the local market last week, with a handful of
employees getting pink slips. No on-air talent was let go, but Craig
Powers, program director at KKJJ-FM, 100.3 (Jack), was among the
layoffs. ...
The
big buzz of the night was generated by illusionists Siegfried
& Roy and boxing legend Muhammad Ali.
Katie
Rees, the dethroned Miss Nevada USA, was back on the party scene
Sunday, just days after spending 12 hours in jail on allegations of
resisting arrest.
Picasso
at Bellagio "got hammered with reservations," said maitre d' Ryland
Worrell. "We're sold out, and we got so many two-tops, it's not even
funny." The most requested table: "No. 17, right at the window, with the
best view of the fountains."
Democratic
presidential candidate Barack Obama admits he's dropped his name
on occasion to get into a crowded restaurant. According to People
magazine, he confessed he did it last month in Las Vegas for wife
Michelle's 44th birthday Jan. 17, two days before the Nevada
caucuses. During dinner he presented her with a necklace. He didn't say
what it was made of, except to allow that "it wasn't fake," The
Associated Press reported Wednesday. ...
