January '08 Notes from Norm — Norm Clarke Column

Saturday 12-29-07

Feathers ruffled by walks, namesakes

Luxor's newest nightspot, CatHouse, couldn't buy this kind of publicity.

It started with the DUI arrest Thursday of actress Mischa Barton, who was to co-host tonight's opening of CatHouse. The odds of that happening seem long, and a CatHouse insider said, "We're expecting the call any time."

The PR storm widened Friday when a porn star complained she was barred from the opening-night red carpet, and the creator-producer of HBO's "Cathouse" suggested legal action may be in the offing over the name.

Sunset Thomas, who appeared in "Cathouse" and returns in "Cathouse -- The Musical," which premieres New Year's Eve, wanted to sashay down the red carpet with fellow porn star Air Force Amy.

The owners of CatHouse shot down that idea.

"The people invited are celebrities who are doing interviews on behalf of CatHouse," said CatHouse spokeswoman Stephanie Wilson.

Henderson resident George Ciccarone, who created and produced "Cathouse" for HBO, has a hunch that CatHouse will be hearing from HBO.

"Networks are very protective of their properties," he said, adding that HBO isn't likely to be the exception.

The CatHouse owners aren't worried. They obtained a federal trademark registration of CatHouse Lounge some time ago, said Seth Yudof, managing partner.

"It's hugely hypocritical," said Thomas, "but I guess they want to be known as a make-believe cathouse instead of the real thing. I'm the real thing."

NOT HITCHED

Hip-hop mogul Jay-Z says the rumor -- "the 84,000th one" -- is not true.

"No, we're not married," he said Friday during an interview at The Venetian.

The wedding rumor flared again last week, with a report by mediatakeout.com claiming Jay-Z and singing star Beyoncé got hitched in Paris.

They're in town for the opening of his 40/40 sports-themed nightclub at the Palazzo and her concert at Mandalay Bay.

He was awaiting word Friday that 40/40, his third nightclub venue in four years, got the green light from Clark County building inspectors.

He's been through this drill before, he said.

"When we opened the first club in New York, I was moving furniture in the day before. You're always up against the shot clock. So it's a normal position for me, but I believe everything's going to work out. We want everything up to code, do the right things. We don't want to cut any corners. We want it to be safe and an enjoyable environment."

He's expecting a big crowd of celebrity friends, including NBA superstar LeBron James and New York Yankees slugger Alex Rodriguez.

The club name comes from the 40/40 club in baseball, a reference to a rare group of players who have hit 40 home runs and stolen 40 bases.

"We started it to have like a clubhouse, a place where me and my friends could hang out. Even though it's a 14-carat gold floor and high fashion, it's really an unpretentious place," he said. "Entertainers love it."

As part-owner of the New Jersey Nets, he's followed Las Vegas' push for an arena, the first step toward getting an NBA franchise. But he's not likely to be joining a Las Vegas ownership group.

That's because his Nets are moving to Brooklyn, his birthplace.

What he's not ruling out is eventually getting involved in the casino business.

"Everyone has aspirations of that," he said. "That's like winning the lottery. Of course. I want hotels, airlines, too."

Sunday 12-30-07

CatHouse does without Barton

The Luxor's CatHouse Loungerie opened Saturday without celebrity host Mischa Barton. Sources said Barton, arrested Thursday on suspicion of DUI, backed out Friday, as first reported by Vegas Confidential.

CatHouse management was in talks with actress Rosario Dawson to replace Barton, but the restaurant/lounge issued a statement Saturday saying they elected to go with the celebrities who had committed to the red carpet.

They included Oscar winner Adrien Brody, David Spade, Jack and Kelly Osbourne, Tommy Lee, Jamie King, Michelle Trachtenberg, and rival porn stars Jenna Jameson and Tera Patrick.

A CatHouse statement read: "Because of Mischa Barton's current situation CatHouse has decided it is best for all parties involved that Mischa does not appear at tonight's grand opening. Given the other celebrity attendance that is confirmed, CatHouse did not feel it necessary to replace Miss Barton as host."

Barton, 21, was pulled over at 2:45 a.m. in West Hollywood. Officers said they found marijuana and a controlled drug in her possession. She also registered a 0.12 on a Breathalyzer test and told police she was smoking marijuana earlier that day.

The Scene And Heard

Eddie Van Halen's frail appearance caused concern at the Van Halen concert Friday at the MGM Grand. At one point, he attempted to jump and fell onto the bandstand. "His appearance was horrifying," a concertgoer told us. "He was shirtless the whole time and very frail." Although he has been treated twice for tongue and mouth cancer, Van Halen twice lit up cigarettes. His ex-wife, Valerie Bertinelli, attended with her boyfriend. They left their fourth-row seats about six songs into the show and went backstage. ...

Pamela Anderson is taking no chances of a dust-up between her husband, Rick Salomon, and Criss Angel. I'm told she sent word to Company American Bistro at Luxor that she and Salomon will cancel New Year's Eve dinner plans if Angel is there. Photos of Angel getting cozy with Anderson reportedly led to the blowup that led Anderson to file divorce papers in mid-December. She's hosting the New Year's Eve party at Pure Nightclub at Caesars Palace. Angel, we hear, is heading for LAX Nightclub at Luxor with KVBC-TV, Channel 3 reporter Alicia Jacobs. ...

Meantime, we're hearing Nicky Hilton and David Katzenberg might be getting engaged this weekend in Las Vegas.

Monday 12-31-07

Hilton sisters miss bash at CatHouse

It would have been a catfight made in celebrity heaven.

Actress Mischa Barton requested that Paris and Nicky Hilton be blacklisted from Saturday's red carpet and grand opening bash at CatHouse Loungerie, the new club at Luxor.

"They were blacklisted," a spy told Vegas Confidential. "Mischa's team didn't want her to be associated with the party-girl scene. They were difficult. They wanted a bigger jet (sent). Mischa wanted to bring her dogs."

Said another spy: "They wanted the invitation re-done because they thought it was too risqué for her image." The original invitation featured a model in brothel attire.

Barton, the 21-year-old former star of "The O.C.," backed out of hosting the grand opening after she was arrested early Thursday on DUI charges. The Hilton sisters were in the CatHouse neighborhood on Saturday. They dined nearby at Company American Bistro in Luxor and stopped in LAX nightclub, also at Luxor, before heading for Pure nightclub at Caesars Palace, where Nicky hosted the evening.

The Scene And Heard

Big spender of (new) year: A regular at Poetry, formerly OPM (Forum Shops at Caesars) requested $100,000 in $1 dollar bills to "make it rain" at midnight tonight.

We hear Venetian headliner Gordie Brown might be leaving soon. He opened in October 2006. Look for Wayne Brady, who shares the venue, to move into Brown's time slot. ...

Hot Spots and Cool Stuff: Red Rock Resort headliners Zowie Bowie will be performing a New Year's Eve show at the Monte Carlo's Brew Pub. Cost: About $50. ... An alternative to the pricier New Year's Eve packages: Rock 'n' Roll Wine is teaming up with Café Ba Ba Reeba at Fashion Show for a $90 ticket that includes a four-course dinner, two live bands, a deejay and reserved seating. Reservations: 258-1211. ...

Drag diva Joey Arias, the emcee of "Zumanity" (New York-New York), ends his 41/2-year run tonight. He's heading back to New York City, then to Germany to emcee the German version of the Oscars.

Tuesday 01-01-08

ANDERSON'S HUBBY A NEW YEAR'S EVE NO-SHOW

The status of Pamela Anderson’s marriage got foggier Monday when she showed up without hubbie Rick Salomon for her New Year’s Eve hosting appearance at Pure Nightclub at Caesars Palace.

Anderson, who filed for divorce Dec. 14 but told her fans “we’re working things out” in a Web site posting three days later, arrived about 10:30 p.m. with a group of men and women and left about three hours later.

Spies told Vegas Confidential one of the men in the group was Jesus Villa, a former Cirque du Soleil performer/acrobat in the Las Vegas show “Zumanity.” The 5-foot-5 Villa has been romantically linked with Anderson during her unattached days.

He recently spent two weeks in Beijing choreographing the opening ceremonies of the 2008 Olympics. Anderson, 40, married Salomon, a Hollywood producer and high-stakes gambler, in Las Vegas on Oct. 6 while performing in “The Beauty of Magic” with illusionist Hans Klok at Planet Hollywood Resort.

In a Dec. 31 posting on her Web site, PamelaAnderson.com, she wrote: “What's the definition of insanity? This is the year I do everything I wanted to do — my way. I have so many great projects — for the environment- for animals.

“I'm going to be proud of every single day - and make sure I do not veer from the path.”

Cirque is covered if Criss Angel's out

Cirque du Soleil has taken out a huge insurance policy to cover its first headliner, illusionist Criss Angel.

Vegas Confidential has also learned that Cirque is working on a Plan B in the event that the "Mindfreak" star was not able to carry out his commitment to do 4,000 performances in the $100 million production at Luxor over the next 10 years. The show is to open in late July.

It will be a big year for Angel, who has a role in a film version of the Depression-era comic strip "Mandrake the Magician." Angel was originally set to play Mandrake before Jonathan Rhys-Meyers was signed for the role. The Irish actor played Elvis in the 2005 CBS miniseries "Elvis."

AND THE FAVORITES ARE ...

"No Country for Old Men," Daniel Day-Lewis and Julie Christie are Oscar favorites, according to a Las Vegas sports and race book.

The odds, released Saturday by Johnny Avello, director of the race and sports book at Wynn Las Vegas, are for entertainment purposes only.

Day-Lewis is the 8-5 choice for best actor for his role in "There Will Be Blood" and Christie is a narrow pick for her role in "Away from Her" over Marion Cotillard of "La Vie en Rose."

In the best supporting acting category, Tom Wilkinson of "Michael Clayton" is a narrow favorite over Javier Bardem, who stars in "No Country for Old Men," the best-picture favorite.

Cate Blanchett is the favorite for best supporting actress for her role in "I'm Not There."

The Coen brothers, Joel and Ethan, are big favorites to win the directorial award for "No Country for Old Men."

Avello also released his odds for NBC's "Celebrity Apprentice," which premieres Thursday (KVBC-TV, Channel 3, 9 p.m.)

Avello has actress-dancer Marilu Henner as the 4-1 favorite; former heavyweight boxing champ Lennox Lewis is 5-1; Vincent Pastore of "The Sopranos," 6-1; Omarosa, 8-1; Kiss bassist Gene Simmons, 10-1; and 2005 Playboy Playmate Tiffany Fallon, 12-1. Tito Ortiz, the former UFC champ from Las Vegas, is well down the list at 22-1.

The Scene And Heard

Mayor Oscar Goodman was in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, over the New Year's weekend to meet with former Van Halen frontman Sammy Hagar about putting a spinoff of his Cabo Wabo club in Neonopolis.

Wednesday 01-02-08

Anderson rings in new year her way

Pamela Anderson rang in a brand new year without her husband and sized up 2007 as a year of "insanity."

Rick Salomon was absent during Anderson's three-hour New Year's Eve hosting appearance at Pure Nightclub at Caesars Palace.

Anderson, who filed for divorce Dec. 14 but told her fans "we're working things out" in a Web site posting three days later, arrived about 10:30 p.m. with a group of 15 men and women.

She appeared to be drinking orange juice.

Spies told Vegas Confidential that one of the men in the group was Jesus Villa, a former Cirque du Soleil performer/acrobat in the Las Vegas show "Zumanity." The 5-foot-5-inch Villa had been linked romantically with Anderson during her unattached days.

He recently spent two weeks in Beijing working on choreography for the opening ceremonies of the 2008 Olympics.

Anderson, 40, married Salomon, a Hollywood producer and high-stakes gambler, on Oct. 6 in Las Vegas while performing in "The Beauty of Magic" with illusionist Hans Klok at Planet Hollywood Resort.

In a Dec. 31 posting on her site, PamelaAnderson.com, she wrote: "2007 was an interesting year for me. What's the definition of insanity?

This is the year I do everything I wanted to do -- my way. I have so many great projects -- for the environment -- for animals.

"I'm going to be proud of every single day -- and make sure I do not veer from the path."

The Scene And Heard

Chef Kerry Simon, one of the co-owners of CatHouse Loungerie at Luxor, says there is no way Paris and Nicky Hilton would have been barred from the grand opening event Saturday. Simon, responding to Monday's item here that Mischa Barton wanted the Hiltons blacklisted from the red carpet and the club, said "if that request happened, and we are not aware of it," it would have been a deal killer because of his long friendship with the Hiltons. Barton, 21, was to co-host the event with Simon but withdrew after her DUI arrest in West Hollywood. ...

During his concert at The Pearl (Palms) on Monday night, Kanye West sang "Hey Mama" and dedicated Journey's "Don't Stop Believing" to his late mother, Donda West, his one-time manager. She died Nov. 10 in Los Angeles after cosmetic surgical procedures. ...

Oh, to be a fly on the wall for this power lunch at Gardunos Mexican restaurant at the Palms on Monday: Rapper West; music producer and "American Idol" judge Randy Jackson; Neal Schon from Journey; Hilton exec Ken Ciancimino; legendary music producer Kevin Shirley; and Zoe Thrall, director of the Studio at the Palms.

Thursday 01-03-08

Life still focused on issues of the heart

Catherine Brown has come a long way: from life-threatening surgery after her heart was encased in a concretelike shell to a shot at reality show fame.

Brown is one of four Las Vegans among 20 women competing for the chance to marry Poison frontman Bret Michaels in VH1's "Rock of Love 2."

The show premieres Jan. 13.

Brown was the subject of in-depth articles by the Review-Journal in 2002 and 2005 detailing her medical challenges and her family's fears.

Her amazing recovery from constrictive pericarditis will be chronicled in the reality show, which was taped a few months ago.

"It defined me for so long. It took over my whole life," the mother of twin 16-year-old boys said by telephone Wednesday.

Brown, who is divorced, landed on the series when her friend, Andrea Robinson, a local model, recommended her during an audition.

The trailer can be seen here:

PARIS EYES VEGAS

Paris Hilton says she's working on a "surprise" venture in Las Vegas.

She told Vegas Confidential that she had a meeting Wednesday about the project. Hilton declined to go into details but said, "It's not a restaurant."

Hilton has been linked in recent years to numerous rumors about a Las Vegas nightclub association. In October 2004, she signed a deal with Planet Hollywood chairman Robert Earl, but it didn't get off the ground.

Hilton, in town to promote a new salon at Caesars Palace (Michael Boychuck's Color), dismissed reports that she and Kevin Federline were a couple over the New Year's weekend here.

"It's so annoying. Anytime you're seen talking to someone or in a picture, you're suddenly involved. There's nothing there. Not at all. I love Britney (Spears)," Hilton said.

Her New Year's resolution? "Just keep positive and keep positive people in my life."

Friday 01-04-08

Madame Tussauds to unveil Knievel

Evel Knievel will be joining some other famous speed demons when Madame Tussauds unveils his wax figure on Jan. 23.

His longtime partner, pro golfer Krystal Kennedy-Knievel, flew in from Florida to view the likeness, with some other family members.

Rosita Chapman, marketing director of the Las Vegas Tussauds, said the wax museum was approached by Knievel's people about a year ago. "We definitely wanted to memorialize him for his 40th anniversary jump," she said, referring to Knievel's Dec. 31, 1967, motorcycle leap over the fountains at Caesars Palace.

Tussauds talked to Knievel about memorializing him, and "he definitely supported it," Chapman said.

Knievel's figure and a replica of the bike he used on the jump will be in the speed section of the museum, with Richard Petty, the late Dale Earnhardt Sr. and his son, NASCAR star Dale Jr.

Kenny Bates, a longtime associate of Knievel, said he approached Tussauds last summer about putting Knievel in the museum.

He said efforts continue toward having a celebrity star placed on the Strip for Knievel. A site outside Tussauds, in front of The Venetian, is under consideration, he said.

The Scene And Heard

Nick Carter of the Backstreet Boys clearly hasn't forgotten or forgiven Paris Hilton for her

claims that he physically abused her. Upon entering Body English, the Hard Rock Hotel hot spot, on New Year's Eve, Carter was overheard telling security that Hilton was not to be allowed entry, according to a spy. ...

Mayor Oscar Goodman is scheduled to present the ceremonial keys to the city to the cast of NBC's "Las Vegas" next Thursday at the Palms' ghostbar. The 7:15 p.m. ceremony is planned to mark the 100th episode of the show Cast members Josh Duhamel, Molly Sims, Vanessa Marcil, James Lesure and Camille Guaty are scheduled to be on hand to accept the keys. Executive producers Gary Scott Thompson, Matt Pyken and Kim Newton also are scheduled to attend and speak at the mayor's presentation. ...

Pamela Anderson's latest experiment at marriage is all but over. Her attorney filed a proof of service of summons on Dec. 28 in Los Angeles Superior Court, according to court documents first obtained by CelebTV.com. Those documents state for the record that Rick Salomon had been served with divorce papers on Dec. 15. They married Oct. 6 at The Mirage....

I hear rumblings that the famed Apollo Theater of Harlem is looking to establish a Las Vegas outpost. Many of the greatest African-American entertainers played the Apollo, including Ella Fitzgerald, who made her singing debut there at age 17 on Nov. 21, 1934, two years after the theater was open to black patrons. ...

Palms owner George Maloof called it his "best New Year's Eve ever." He wasn't talking about the big crowds at his venues, including the Kanye West concert at The Pearl, or the celeb horde that included Kobe Bryant at N9NE Steak-house. "My mom (Colleen) made a Lebanese dinner in the kitchen here for our family." Her menu included a family favorite, kibbeh, a meat loaf made with cracked wheat.

Hot spots, cool stuff: John Legend hosts his birthday party tonight at The Bank (Bellagio). ... The Lon Bronson Band returns to Boulder Station's Railhead tonight, from 7:30 to 10 p.m.

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