March '09 Notes from Norm — Norm Clarke Column

Saturday 03-07-09

Idol' contestant odds established

Church music director Danny Gokey, a man on a mission since his wife died in July after heart surgery, is a narrow favorite to win the eighth season of "American Idol" over pixie-sized Alexis Grace, according to a Las Vegas oddsmaker.

John Avello, director of race and sports operations at Wynn Las Vegas, established Gokey as the 4-1 favorite among the 13 finalists revealed Thursday. The 4-foot-11 Grace is 5-1.

Avello's odds are for entertainment only; no betting.

Mother of three Lil Rounds, a favorite of judge Simon Cowell, is 6-1.

Legally blind Scott MacIntyre, a gifted pianist, is Avello's fourth pick at 8-1.

Adam Lambert, a big-voiced showman, is 9-1. Allison Iraheta, at 16 the youngest finalist, is a 10-1 choice.

Matt Giraud, 12-1, one of four wild-card finalists chosen by the "Idol" judges, is betting on his soulful talents.

Anoop Desai, who's come a long way since starting off on Cowell's bad side by showing up for the Kansas City auditions in shorts and flip-flops, is listed at 15-1.

At 20-1 is quirky Megan Corkrey, the single mom from Sandy, Utah.

The others: Puerto Rico's Jorge Nunez, 25-1 (keep in mind that Avello had Taylor Hicks as a 25-1 long shot before he won Season 5; former Miss America contestant Jasmine Murray, 30-1; Texas oil rig worker Michael Sarver, 40-1 and college worship leader Kris Allen, 50-1.

Gokey's wife, Sophia, died after a third operation for a congenital heart problem. She was 27 and a fan of "Idol" because Gokey reminded her of Hicks. Gokey decided to pursue "Idol" after talking it over with his pastor in Wisconsin.

PORCEDDU TO HARD ROCK

Las Vegas chef and TV personality Marco Porceddu is taking over the kitchen at AGO in the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino.

Porceddu has been the food and wine editor at KVVU-TV, Channel 5 for the past two years and recently authored and released the cookbook series iEats, available exclusively for the iPhone through iTunes.

When Steve Wynn opened Treasure Island, he hired Porceddu to be executive chef at Francesco Italian restaurant.

Porceddu went into business for himself in 2003 and opened Bella Luna in Summerlin, where he garnered Zagat's Best of Las Vegas honors during his three-year stay.

The Scene And Heard

Bobby Slayton, aka "The Pit Bull of Comedy," might need a short leash on Sunday. It's his 500th and final show at Hooters Hotel. The parting shots begin at 9 p.m. Slayton was spotted Friday at the Tropicana. He'll be the resident headliner there after a renovation of the Comedy Stop. ...

Hipster hotspot The Beauty Bar is throwing an Octo-Mom party. They're giving away eggs on March 28, a nod to Nadya Suleman, a 33-year-old California woman who has 14 children, including octuplets who arrived in January. The party starts at 10 p.m. at the 1950's-style, salon-themed nightspot near Neonopolis. ...

There will be plenty of buzz at two local Irish saloons today. The buzz cuts for the annual St. Baldrick's Foundation fundraiser begin at 2 p.m. at McMullan's Irish Pub on Tropicana and Quinn's inside Green Valley Ranch. The highlight comes at 6 p.m. at McMullan's when Amelia Smith, the double-tough daughter of R-J columnist John L. Smith gives him a "Britney" for the third year in a row.

Sightings

Super Bowl MVP Santonio Holmes and his 2008 Pittsburgh Steelers receiving corps of Hines Ward and Nate Washington (now with the Tennessee Titans), partying at Tryst (Wynn Las Vegas) on Thursday night. Also there: San Francisco 49ers defensive end Ray McDonald. ... Five members of Tower of Power, joining The Lon Bronson All-Star Band on stage for 90 minutes at Club Madrid (Sunset Station) on Thursday for what Bronson called "the hang of the century. A-plus!" At one time, nine horns were on stage, including T.O.P. founder Stephen "Doc" Kupka (baritone sax) and his bandmates Rocco Prestia (bass) and Adolpho Acosta (trumpet). Also participating, Tower of Power's Larry Bragg (lead vocals) and Tom Politzer (lead tenor). ... New York Jets running back Thomas Jones, dining in the ESPN Zone's screening room Thursday night. ... Mayor Oscar Goodman, cooking short ribs with chef Kerry Simon at Simon at Palms Place on Friday. They were being filmed for a video that will be shown during an event called "Dish" a charity event benefitting 3 Square, the valley's food bank. The event takes place at Spring Preserve on April 3 ... Eighties pop teen sensation Tiffany, singing "I Think We're Alone Now," one of her two No. 1 hits, during Tao's (The Venetian) weekly Worship party Thursday. At Lavo (Palazzo) on Thursday: NFL Hall of Fame quarterback Warren Moon, dining with friends. ... Tim Mondavi, son of wine icon Robert Mondavi, having breakfast at Society (Encore) on Wednesday. Mondavi's grandson, Dante, showed up for lunch.

Sunday 03-08-09

Roy Horn's magic is his courage

So what did we learn from ABC's "20/20" special "Siegfried & Roy: The Magic Returns"? For starters, Roy Horn insists his miraculous recovery is far from over.

"My doctor has told me that within one year I will be able to do everything I want to do," Horn told host Elizabeth Vargas.

And if that should happen, what has Roy missed most? Dancing and swimming with his tigers, he said.

Vargas extracted a fascinating revelation from Siegfried Fischbacher, who admitted to deep depression that led to "a lot of crazy things," including joining a monastery in Greece and getaways to Europe.

"I was running away...escaping," he said.

After viewing the special, freelance reporter/local blogger Steve Friess wrote Saturday on Vegashappenshere.com that he's "more convinced than ever that that tiger was absolutely, positively not Montecore on stage at the Bellagio, unless they call all of their tigers Montecore."

"Had it been the same tiger that attacked Roy," Friess wrote, "much more on that would have been dealt with in the TV special."

I agree, but for a different reason.

It's absurd to think the same animal that attacked Roy would be in front of 1,000 people at the Keep Memory Alive benefit without safety barriers. With only a piece of raw chicken to keep him under control?

Surely ABC-TV, Bellagio and OSHA would have questioned the liability.

Unmentioned on "20/20" was the one-line shocker in a LasVegasWeekly.com live blog from the event that suggested Roy's health was in question that day because he has had a condition that caused bleeding in his lungs.

If that's ever confirmed, and I think it will be, did Roy have a stand-in in case he couldn't take part? With both illusionists wearing masks during their farewell appearance, who would know?

Other questions arose.

Vargas and Siegfried both mentioned that the rehearsals involved "tigers," not a tiger. I had mentioned on my Web site a few hours after the event that a spy said two tigers were involved in rehearsals. Did somebody decide a two-cat act was too risky? Why?

Friess found it odd there was "no reference at all to the USDA's 233-page report on the incident that concluded it was, in fact, a tiger attack. Also, no reference to the MGM Mirage and S&R getting the USDA to suppress the video from that night."

"Is it me, or is it odd that a major news network did a one-hour report on a topic and didn't cite the fact that the government did an 18-month investigation and released a massive public document on the matter?"

We know what was not smoke and mirrors: the hours of relentless rehab, the sheer determination to relearn how to walk and talk, that went into Roy's gritty recovery.

That's certainly no illusion.

The Scene And Heard

In the works, we hear: a Steve Wynn appearance on CBS' "60 Minutes" and a trip to Washington, D.C., by Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman, who, we predict, won't be shy. ...

Bald is in at the Palms, after more than a dozen N9NE Group employees got buzzed for a good cause on Saturday. Before the sheer frenzy ended, N9NE Group honcho Michael Morton had coughed up $8,200 to the St. Baldrick's fundraiser for childhood cancer at McMullan's Irish Pub on Tropicana Avenue. The cue ball club includes N9NE Group president Andy Belmonti, Rain nightclub general manager Ian Clement, assistant director of nightlife Roberto Semidei, and executive chefs Barry Dakake of N9NE Steakhouse and Geno Bernardo of Nove.


Monday 03-09-09

Bash by Beacher a Paris par-tay If this was Jeff Beacher's last hurrah in Las Vegas, he left 'em collapsing in laughter. Assembling what he called his best-ever cast of "Madhouse" characters, Beacher teamed up with the Hard Rock Hotel to throw a wild birthday party Saturday for his pal Paris Hilton, who brought her new beau to town. On hand: eight 400-pound female go-go dancers, a 12-member marching band of TV show mascots, a mini-Britney, Michael Jackson, Elvis, Pee-wee Herman and Tina Turner looka-likes, robots, a Borat look-alike (in a regular suit, not in his mankini, thankfully), Teletubbies, a towering "Iron Man" and especially for Paris, who loves pink, a crew of pink Oompa Loompas. There was even a miniature goat wearing a pink tutu being tended by one of Beacher's ubiquitous little persons. During the wall-to-wall bash, which went until dawn Sunday, in the Hard Rock's bowling alley suite, comedy magician Nathan Burton put Hilton on a table, covered her with a box and pulled a lever that sent 28 spikes "through" the heiress, who turned 28 on Feb. 17. The finale of a weekend-long birthday celebration, the party was "the best I've ever thrown," said Beacher, who flies to Louisiana tonight to join two busloads of "Madhouse" members on a tour. Hilton had film crews taking it all in for a sequel to her reality show "My New BFF." She's coming back soon to shoot more. Whether her new boyfriend, Doug Reinhardt, the latest of her long succession of revolving-door romances, lasts that long is another matter. An aspiring 23-year-old actor who had a short-lived pro baseball career, he has been among the roster of D-list celebs being paid appearance fees to host at several Las Vegas nightclubs. The Scene And Heard Encore headliner Danny Gans has a cameo in the new film "Race to Witch Mountain," starring Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson as a Las Vegas cabdriver who picks up a pair of siblings with superpowers. The 1975 original, "Escape to Witch Mountain," co-starred Eddie Albert, Ray Milland, Denver Pyle and child star Kim Richards (Small world department: Paris and Nicky Hilton are her nieces). Richards and Ike Eisenmann played a pair of orphans with psychic powers who were trying to reach Witch Mountain. Gans' scene in the new movie, which comes out Friday, involves fans recognizing him in a casino. Sightings Is "CSI," the Las Vegas version, back in town for more filming? Marg Helgenberger was seen at the Palazzo on Sunday ordering a large iced, nonfat cappuccino at Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf. She attended Cher's show Saturday at Caesars Palace. Helgenberger, 50, and her husband, Alan Rosenberg, president of the Screen Actors Guild, announced in December they were splitting after 19 years. ... Actress Brittany Snow, with boyfriend, film producer Ryan Rottman, and girlfriend "90210" star Jessica Stroup, continued her weekend birthday celebration on Saturday with dinner and cake at Tao in The Venetian. Snow will be appearing in the just-announced "Gossip Girl" spinoff. ... Olly Girl and former "Sunset Tan" reality starlet Molly Shea on Saturday celebrating her 23rd birthday at Tabu Ultra Lounge in MGM Grand. ... Cast members of "Greek," the ABC Family network's drama series about college fraternity life, partying it up both Friday and Saturday night at The Bank in the Bellagio. They included Aynsley Bubbico, Tiffany Dupont, Dilshad Vadsaria and Amber Stevens. ... At Simon at Palms Place on Sunday: University of Nevada, Las Vegas coaching legend Jerry Tarkanian. ... At Poetry in the Forum Shops at Caesars on Saturday night: Super Bowl MVP Santonio Holmes of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Miami Dolphins star linebacker Joey Porter, rapper Too Short, and MTV stars Corey Holcomb and Spanky Hayes of "Wild 'N Out." ... Masiela Lusha, who plays Carmen on George Lopez's sitcom, dining with her husband, Sean Lorty, at Trader Vic's on Saturday.

Tuesday 03-10-09

Norm took the day off

Wednesday 03-11-09

Divorce papers filed for Wynns

Steve and Elaine Wynn, who had teamed up to build some of the Strip's most luxurious and profitable casino properties, are facing divorce for a second time.

Divorce papers were filed, and quickly sealed, last Thursday, Clark County District Court spokesman Michael Sommermeyer told The Associated Press on Tuesday.

The filing comes about six weeks after reports surfaced that that Steve Wynn was informing his inner circle that he had fallen for a 40-something British divorcee with two children.

The Wynns had not publicly confirmed or denied their split until word of the divorce proceedings.

They had divorced before, in 1986 after 23 years of marriage, although Steve Wynn was quoted as saying he never moved out. They married again in 1991 and continued to transform the Las Vegas landscape with their billion-dollar properties.

LOVE CHILD CLAIM

Comedy legend Jerry Lewis is declining comment on a Florida woman's claim that DNA testing proves she is his love child.

Results of the DNA test were announced last week after Lewis' oldest son, Gary, agreed to cooperate with Suzan Minoret, also known as Suzan Lewis.

United Press International reported the tests revealed that the woman and Gary Lewis share a very rare DNA marker that indicates an 88.7 percent probability that she is related to Gary Lewis, according to Rick Saphire, personal manager to both Suzan and Gary.

"The combined scientific, physical, statistical, and testimonial evidence puts all doubts to rest: Gary Lewis and Suzan Lewis are half brother and sister, and Jerry Lewis is their biological father," according to a statement on the woman's Web site, Suzanlewis.com.

Asked for a comment, the comedy and film star's spokeswoman, Candi Cazau, said, "Mr. Lewis has no comment -- period."

Jerry Lewis, a longtime Las Vegas resident, has never confirmed or denied that the woman is his daughter.

The woman said she was homeless and living in a car for some time after a traffic accident left her disabled.

The DNA tests were revealed during "Inside Edition" last Thursday.

Reached on Tuesday by Vegas Confidential, Saphire declined to respond when asked if Gary's involvement meant the father and son had had a falling out.

"That's for Gary or Jerry to discuss if they want to. But people should not read anything into Gary's efforts on Suzan's behalf. This was not about Jerry; it was about Suzan."

The Scene And Heard

The Monte Carlo is one of the two Las Vegas casinos that nightclub mogul Andrew Sasson has been "in talks with," his rep Lisa Long confirmed Tuesday. But "nothing has developed," she said. Sasson, who founded nightclub and restaurant giant Light Group, has partnered with Wall Street analyst Jason Ader in efforts to venture into the gaming ownership side.

Sightings

A visibly upset Lindsay Lohan, racing out of valet parking in her car about 3:15 a.m. Tuesday in pursuit of girlfriend/DJ Samantha Ronson, who had just pulled out of valet minutes earlier. They were in town for Ronson's DJ gig earlier at Prive nightclub at Planet Hollywood. ... Pop singer Katy Perry of "I Kissed a Girl" fame, shooting a scene Tuesday for her new music video "Waking up in Vegas" in the valet at the Palms and a Sky Villa in the Fantasy Tower. ... Political poobah Sig Rogich with former Pennsylvania governor and ex-Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge, dining at SW Steakhouse (Wynn) Tuesday night. ... Maroon 5 frontman Adam Levine and band mates, at Simon at Palms Place on Tuesday for the second day. They took in XS nightclub (Encore) on Monday.

Thursday 03-12-09

Recession shakes up impersonators

The crashing economy has local Elvis impersonators checking into "Heartbreak Hotel."

Corporate belt-tightening is thinning the ranks of Elvis tribute artists and other celebrity impressionists who are taking extra jobs to survive.

"I work with a ton of impersonators," said Elvis impersonator Johnny Thompson, "and they're saying business is so down they're all looking for part-time jobs -- bartenders, waitresses -- whatever they can find. I'm talking about excellent singers and top look-alikes. It's hit the whole industry."

Thompson, who appeared in Carrie Underwood's video "Last Name" and has a video shoot today with Katy Perry, said he's been to Asia restaurant five times in the past year to pay the bills.

Another popular Elvis, Brandon Paul, said he's been warning his brethren for years not to "put all your eggs in one basket."

His Elvis brothers "are calling and saying they're down to one or two jobs a month. I told them to get work wherever they can. One told me, 'But I moved here to be an Elvis.'"

Paul followed his own advice and diversified. He purchased Graceland Chapel, where he stands in as The King during weddings.

Paul isn't crying. He admits he's made up to $350,000 a year as Elvis, and that was before he got the chapel.

The chapel business is not hurting as much, he said, because foreign currency is still strong against the dollar.

Jesse Garon, dubbed the "Official Elvis Of Las Vegas" by Mayor Oscar Goodman, said he's getting so many media requests, including one from France, "that I've become the poster boy of the down-and-out in Vegas. Everybody's fascinated that Elvis has fallen on tough times."

Asked how bad it is, Garon, who drives a vintage pink Cadillac to his gigs, said "it's gone from here" -- raising his right hand to his curling lips -- "to here," lowering his hand to his shaking hips.

The Scene And Heard

Amid rumors that he's coming out of retirement, unbeaten boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. has pulled out of a fundraiser and gala for the needy in Middletown, Ohio. Once a great steel city, Middletown has been labeled by Forbes magazine as one of the 10 fastest dying cities in America. Mayweather's spokesman told the benefit's organizers the reason for the withdrawal would be clear after an "announcement" this week. ...

Cher and her dancers have been throwing sailor hats into the crowd at the end of her 1989 hit "If I Could Turn Back Time" (the music video was filmed on the USS Missouri battleship) during her shows at The Colosseum (Caesars Palace). Seemed like a good idea until one of the hats didn't sail and ended up on the stage recently, nearly causing Cher to take a tumble. ...

The white tiger that appeared in Siegfried & Roy's farewell appearance was tethered to a cable as soon as it exited a glass enclosure, a spokesman said. That would explain why there were no security barriers at the Keep Memory Alive benefit for the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health. The tiger was identified as Montecore, the big cat that severely injured Roy Horn during a show Oct. 3, 2003…

Film legend Tony Curtis is signing his new book "American Prince -- A Memoir" from noon to 2 p.m. at the Aurora Bar in Luxor.

Sightings

Rio headliners Penn & Teller, shooting scenes Wednesday in singer Katy Perry's video shoot at the Palms. She's arranged to have a number of local entertainers to join her in the video for her new song, "Waking Up in Vegas." Perry, who topped the charts with "I Kissed a Girl" last year, was romantically linked to Good Charlotte frontman Benji Madden after they were spotted together in Las Vegas over Valentine's Day weekend. But during a visit to Amp salon (Palms) on Tuesday, she was overheard saying how much she enjoyed being single. ... Megan Hauserman of VH1's "Rock of Love" is at the Golden Nugget, filming her new reality show.

Friday 03-13-09

Europeans grab Jackson tickets

More than ever, Europeans love Michael Jackson. His comeback is box office gold.

Met by massive presales, organizers of his "This Is It!" Tour -- his first in 12 years -- have expanded his 10-concert deal at London's 02 Arena to a total of 50, all the way to February 2010.

According to his Web site, MichaelJacksonLive.com, "The figures speak for themselves -- 360,000 tickets sold in 18 hours during the presale so far. That is 20,000 tickets per hour, 33 tickets per minute!"

So great was the demand, Jackson could have done 100 shows in London, Randy Phillips, CEO of AEG Live, told Billboard. But Jackson has other goals, including making films and recording, Phillips said. Jackson, a Las Vegas resident much of the last two years before recently moving to Beverly Hills, has been recording at the Palms recording studios.

Jackson's Web site said the superheated ticket sales guarantee:

• The biggest audience ever to see an artist in one city.

• The most people to attend a series of arena shows.

• The fastest ticket sales in history.

"By the end of the 50 concerts, 1 million fans will have witnessed one of the greatest musical events in history," the site said.

Jackson last performed three years ago, when he sang only a few lines of "We Are The World" at the World Music Awards in London.

MEDIA UPDATE

Rumblings out of Phoenix indicate the new evening anchor at Las Vegas' KVVU-TV, Channel 5, will be Olivia Fierro, who has been at KTVK-TV, Channel 3, in Phoenix since 2003. A native of Whittier, Calif., she's gone through the ranks at KTVK and currently co-hosts the station's "Good Morning Arizona'" program. Look for an April arrival. She is moving into the anchor chair vacated by Shelley Bruner, who gave notice last summer that she was not re-upping. ...

KTNV-TV, Channel 13, anchors Tricia Kean and Casey Smith have cameo appearances in "Race to Witch Mountain" as, umm, TV anchors. The film is being released today. ...

My try-anything-once "Fear and Loafing" colleague, Corey Levitan, may be in over his head on this one: He's going to be a tag team midget wrestler at Lucha Libre II on April 19 at the Star of the Desert Arena in Primm. ...

KDWN-radio, 720 AM, news talk host Heidi Harris is going to four hours of morning chat. Beginning Monday, she's on from 5 a.m. to 9 a.m. She's been in the 8 to 10 a.m. time slot. ... Alan Stock, morning host at KXNT-radio, 840 AM, has been named to Talkers magazine's "100 Most Important Talk Show Hosts in America" for the eighth year in a row.

The Scene And Heard

The "U2360" tour, scheduled only for stadium settings around the world, will include an Oct. 23 stop at Sam Boyd Stadium. The announcement coincided with word that U2 had scored its seventh No. 1 album on the U.S. pop album chart. But the Irish group took a hit from the recession. "No Line on the Horizon" sold 484,000 copies during the week ending March 8, according to Nielsen SoundScan. That's well down from the band's best opening of 840,000 in 2004 with "How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb." ...

Maybe it's the Las Vegas vibe. Former Spice Girl Mel B, who co-stars with Kelly Monaco in the upcoming "Peepshow" at Planet Hollywood Resort, wasn't thrilled, we hear, while trying on a few of her costumes. Too sexy? No, actually, they weren't suggestive enough. A spy says the singer immediately began taking parts of the costume off and hiking the hemlines to make it even skimpier. The adult show opens for previews March 30.

May I Recommend

The Bellagio Conservatory is celebrating spring with horticulture tributes and displays from England, France, Italy and Japan. The latest transformation lasts until mid-May. Dominating the setting: daffodils, jonquils, butterflies, an armillary sphere once used by French astronomers to chart the night sky, a villa re-creation with travertine terrace and ancient stone sculpture and a Japanese Zen display. Best of all, it's free.

Order Vegas Confidential: Sinsational Celebrity Tales

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.