2008!!! It's the New Year!! A time of renewal...a time when we get to look back and see what we did right, and what we did wrong in our lives. It's a time when we look ahead, and figure out how to make this year better than the previous one. We have to figure out the path that will make more things go the way we want them to. It is a time for resolutions...It's time to get fit and healthy, a time to get thin, or rich, or married, or divorced; a time to stop smoking or drinking; a time to be a better, more committed person both personally and professionally. It is a time when we are forced to try and figure out how to do less of what is bad for us and more of what is good for us. The New Year always brings new hopes and new challenges to people. It's time to fill ourselves up with resolutions and hope that the New Year will bring us into a better and more prosperous time of our life. With these hopes also comes the pressure to achieve...that personal commitment within us that is undoubtedly going to take a lot of time and energy. It's a new beginning! You just have to find the energy to figure out and evaluate your personal life for both the entire year behind and the entire year ahead of you...and it sounds so simple.

It is different for the entertainment industry. Simple barometers of sales measure the success and failure of just about any production. Did it make money or not? Will it eventually make money? Is it worth the expense? It would be interesting if we could objectively apply simple gauges to our own lives.

2007 had some interesting occurrences...

The NBA brought the All-Star Game to Las Vegas---I may speak for many of our locals... please, never again.		"X" was brought back to town. The sexy and steamy adult revue is returned to Vegas and continues to perform at the Flamingo Cabaret Theatre.
The Mel Brooks comedy, "The Producers," opened at Paris Las Vegas in February. The show opened with television legend David Hasselhoff. He left after three months...and three months after that, Tony Danza came into the show...and while Danza is doing a great job, the show will be closing in February.		"Defending the Caveman," announced that it was going to open on February 10th at the Steve Wyrick Theater, and then it didn't...but it did open a couple of months later at the Golden Nugget...it just celebrated it 1,000th performance.
"'Forever Plaid'-The Heavenly Musical Hit!" came back the Gold Coast Showroom for an eight week run.		Monty Python's SPAMALOT, starring John O'Hurley opened at the Grail Theater at Wynn Las Vegas. The show is written by Eric Idle and is lovingly ripped off from the motion picture Monty Python and the Holy Grail.

And...as Spamalot opened at the Wynn, Le Reve closed down for a while in order to get a complete makeover, including a reduction in the number of seats in the auditorium (in order to make way for special VIP seats with underwater and backstage cameras.)

After long, long delays; Steve Wyrick and his nightclub Triq opened for business. The delayed, but much anticipated entertainment venue at the Desert Passage mall (now the Miracle Mile Mall,) opened featuring performances of Wyrick, ventriloquist Ronn Lucas, and singer Martin Navera. Ronn Lucas then moved his ventriloquist show to the Luxor a few months later...Martin Navera closed.

Joe Piscapo brought his headline show to the Shimmer cabaret at the Las Vegas Hilton. Piscapo put on a great show in a classic Vegas entertainment style that showcased the extremely talented and multi-faceted Piscapo in a night that is filled with singing, comedy and music. The band was headed up by legend Vincent Falcone.

Prince closed his show at the Rio.

Mezmorized opened in the late night spot at the V theatre inside Desert Passage Mall. Marc Sevard headed this production...the show closed six months later.

Comic Marty Allen and his wife, Karon Kate (Blackwell), took over the showroom at the Gold Coast where Forever Plaid had been performing...the closed a few months later.

The Vegas Grand Prix is ran its inaugural race Apr 6th to 8th. It was a three-day festival of speed, which included concerts by superstar artists, extreme sports demonstrations, a celebrity poker tournament and, of course, numerous automobile races through the streets of downtown Las Vegas including the 2007 season opener of the Champ Car World Series...it wasn't brought back for a second year

The Scintas, closed its doors at the Sahara in the middle of May. Then the Scintas moved back into the Las Vegas Hilton in the Shimmer Cabaret in October.

Replacing the Scintas at the Sahara was "Matsuri," the number one show in Japan. The "muscle musical" played for a short run at the Riviera the previous year. The show then closed in mid-November.

"Stomp Out Loud" opened at the Aladdin/Planet Hollywood.

Roseanne Barr played her "All You Can Eat Comedy Tour" at New York-New York for an extended run.

"Shag with a Twist" has closed its doors at the Plaza. This kitsch musical dance show ran for five months downtown...which is actually four months longer than I expected.
ICE: direct from Russia opened at the Riviera. It is an ice show that combines traditional ice skating with acrobatic and aerial performances.
After all sorts of intrigue and rumors of fits and breakdowns, Carmen Electra left the Hans Klok, "The Beauty of Magic" production at Planet Hollywood. Pamela Anderson signed on to replace her. The show ran it's six months and then closed in December.

Clint Holmes previewed his autobiographical musical "Just Another Man" inside the Judy Bayley Theatre at UNLV. He hopes to take the show to Broadway this spring.

"Simply Ballroom" closed at the Golden Nugget. This misplaced show fulfilled its six-month contract, and then it was gone...

"Country Superstars Tribute" opened at Fitzgerald's.

Gerry McCambridge (The Mentalist) opened at Hooters.

Ooh La La, from the wicked mind of producer Anthony Cools opened at the Paris Las Vegas.

The singularly named performer, Harmik, opened his self produced show inside the new Canyon Club at the Four Queens. It was a great experiment, but the numbers didn't work, and the show closed after a very valiant effort.

Aga-Boom opened and then suddenly closed at the Steve Wyrick theatre. Slow ticket sales were its doom. It is a shame...it was certainly a worthy show, but it had no money for marketing and was never able to get the word out.

Dixie Dooley got the Westin to reopen its showroom with his magic production.

The Krave nightclub, also known as the Harmon Street Theatre announced a full schedule of shows: Bottom's Up, Doggone Funny, Little Legends, and Fashionistas.

The Gazillion Bubble Show was going to be moving into the Steve Wyrick Theatre...but then didn't.

Longtime local Las Vegas, Robert Goulet, has passed.

American Storm closed at the Riviera, and "Birdy's Bachelorette Party" closed at the Stratosphere.

...and finally...Celine Dion closed her show at Caesars Palace after an amazing five-year run.

It is always interesting to look back at an entire year...it is amazing to see the things that you forgot.

The New Year does bring some new changes...
Hats! Will open at Harrah's
Donnie & Marie Osmond will take over the Flamingo from Toni Braxton
Bette Midler will open her show "The Showgirl must go on!"

And on a sad note...
Pudgy (aka Beverly Wines) laid down in her bedroom after dinner on Christmas Eve, later on in the evening Pudgy's daughter found her dead.
Born in an Italian-Polish Chicago West Side neighborhood to German-Polish parents, Beverly Wines learned early on that it "takes all kinds." Known as "The Queen of Tease," Pudgy had been working at "X Burlesque" at the Flamingo since last year.

This month is a slower month in the city, but will bring of a lot of things:

CES convention is a huge time in the city, which is piggybacked by the Adult Entertainment convention...always interesting to see...


The entertainment this month ranges dramatically:

The first week has:
UNLV Basketball
Through Mar 8th
University of Nevada, Las Vegas Men's Basketball.
David Copperfield
MGM Grand, through Jan 2
Wu-Tang Clan
Mandalay Bay Jan 3
Bellamy Brothers
Whiskey Pete's Jan 4 & 5
Bow Wow starring Chris Brown
Mandalay Bay Jan 4
With Soulja Boy, Sean Kingston, Shop Boyz & Lil Mama.
Mocca
Cannery Casino Jan 4 & 5
Spa, Pool & BBQ Show
Cashman Center Jan 4 - 6
Dennis Wise
Santa Fe Station Jan 5
LA Guns
Four Queens Jan 5
Las Vegas Gun Show
Cashman Center Jan 5 & 6

The second week contains:
Walking with Dinosaurs - the Live Experience!
Thomas & Mack Center Jan 9 - 13
As I Lay Dying
Hard Rock Hotel Jan 10
Bill Medley with Paul Revere & the Raiders
South Point Casino Jan 11 - 13
Celebration of the King's Life
Cannery Casino Jan 11 & 12
Eric Burdon
Green Valley Ranch Jan 11
Jay & the Americans
Suncoast Jan 11 - 13
Jay Leno
Mirage Jan 11 & 12
Kirk Whalum
Santa Fe Station Jan 11
Skid Row
Sunset Station Jan 11
25th Annual AVN Awards
Mandalay Bay Jan 12
Al Stewart
Sunset Station Jan 12
B.J. Thomas
Boulder Station Jan 12
Chubby Checker
Whiskey Pete's Jan 12
Cross Canadian Ragweed
Mandalay Bay Jan 13

Week number three has:
George Thorogood w/ the Destroyers
Mandalay Bay Jan 15
Disney On Ice presents Princess Wishes
Orleans Hotel Jan 16 - 21
Terry Fator
Las Vegas Hilton Jan 17 - Jan 19
Billy Joel Tribute Show featuring Michael John
Cannery Casino Jan 18 & 19
Esteban
Suncoast Jan 18 - 20
Lupe Fiasco
Mandalay Bay Jan 18
My Little Pony Live! "The World's Biggest Tea Party"
Cox Pavilion Jan 18 - 20
Ray Romano & Brad Garrett
Mirage Jan 18 & 19
Sha Na Na
South Point Jan 18 & 19
Lisa Lampanelli
Mandalay Bay Jan 19
Michael Franks
Boulder Station Jan 19
National Franchise and Business Opportunity Show
Cashman Center Jan 19 & 20

The fourth week has:
Bridal Expo
Cashman Center Jan 25 & 26
CBR Bull Riding World Championship
South Point Jan 25 & 26
David Brenner
Suncoast Jan 25 - 27
Michael Grimm
Cannery Jan 25 - Free
USA Martial Arts Winter Olympics
Palace Station Jan 25 & 26
Atomic Punks
Santa Fe Station Jan 26
Brad Paisley w/ special guests Rodney Atkins & Chuck Wicks
Mandalay Bay Jan 26
Bonfires & Amplifiers Tour 2008
Howard Jones
Green Valley Ranch Jan 26 & 27
Johnny Gill
Boulder Station Jan 26
KC & the Sunshine Band
Buffalo Bill's Jan 26
The Association
Cannery Casino Jan 26
PBA Tournament of Champios
Red Rock Casino Jan 27
Combo ESPN Package also available.

And the last week, into the first week of February has:
Drew Carey & the Improv All-Stars
MGM Grand Jan 31 - Feb 3
The Bravery
Mandalay Bay Jan 31
Doodlebops
Orleans Hotel Feb 1
Happy Paws Pet Expo
Cashman Center Feb 1 & 2
Robin Trower
Boulder Station Feb 1
Whiskey Falls
Santa Fe Station Feb 1
Wyclef Jean w/ Lyfe Jennings
Mandalay Bay Feb 1
George Strait w/ special guest Josh Turner
MGM Grand Feb 2
Joe Bonamassa
Boulder Station Feb 2
Time Out for Women Conference
Cashman Center Feb 2