April '09 Notes from Norm — Norm Clarke Column

Saturday 04-04-09

Nightlife king puts home on market

Las Vegas nightlife king Andrew Sasson, with four restaurant-club ventures on his plate at City Center, has put a $21 million price tag on a half-finished home he is selling in Hawaii.

The listing was reported Friday by the Wall Street Journal.

Sasson, who recently announced that he was interested in buying a Las Vegas casino-hotel, co-founded Light Group in New York City in the 1990s and launched his Las Vegas empire with the opening of Light, a high-end club at Bellagio, in 2000.

The 8,000-square foot, eight-bedroom home in Hawaii is located on Kailua Beach in Oahu.

Sasson, who lives in Beverly Hills and has a Las Vegas residence in Spanish Trails, was not available for comment.

His management deal involving The Harmon, a luxury boutique hotel at City Center, has not been affected by the financial crisis at the MGM Mirage project because his company is fee-based and has no debt, according to the Journal report.

The Harmon was recently downsized by the MGM Mirage after some construction issues surfaced.

Sasson's 10-year non-compete deal with MGM Mirage expires at the end of this year and allows him to work with other companies, sources said.

The Scene And Heard

U.S. Rep. Shelley Berkley is meeting today with the husband of Las Vegas celebrity impersonator Trina Johnson-Finn and her supporters at Berkley's office. Johnson-Finn, a former backup singer for MC Hammer and Barbra Streisand, has been in a Suriname jail for more than a month after being charged with fraud in connection with allegedly performing as Toni Braxton at a concert. She was falsely accused, according to her husband, Raymond Finn. ...

Noon newscasts at KVBC-TV, Channel 3 are being cut in half, another sign of "tough times," according to Lisa Howfield, general manager of the NBC affiliate. The 12:30-1 p.m. slot has been killed, with infomercials moving into the slot. Howfield cited "increased demand by advertisers to run paid programming and financially, it makes sense." No staff changes are involved. ...

Nineteen cast members from "Le Rêve," the aquatic show at Wynn Las Vegas, are making a special appearance on "Dancing with the Stars" during Tuesday's results show (KTNV-TV, Channel 13, 9 p.m.) The performers will present "a blend of ballroom dance, acrobatics and athleticism." Maksim Chmerkovskiy, one of the professional dancers on the ABC show, has a "Le Reve" connection: he joined the artistic team to choreograph three dance scenes, "Tango," "Paso Doble" and "Piece Montèe."...

The 2009 field for Miss USA will be introduced during a 6 p.m. arrival ceremony today in front of Planet Hollywood Resort. The pageant will be held April 19.

Today's event is free and open to the public. Afterward, the 51 contestants take a bus ride to Buca di Beppo on Flamingo for dinner.

Sightings

Singer LeAnn Rimes, attending the Bette Midler show (Caesars Palace) on Friday. Actor Richard Dreyfuss was at the show on Wednesday... Midler, getting a preview of "Peepshow" (Planet Hollywood Resort) on Wednesday and meeting cast members backstage afterward. She goes back a long time with Jerry Mitchell, the show's creator, director and choreographer. ... At Tao (Venetian) on Thursday: Billy Bush of "Access Hollywood," hosting a charity dinner in honor of the Lollipop Theater Network; with him was Chris Pine, who is starring in the upcoming "Star Trek" movie. They were joined at dinner by cast members from "Sorority Row." They included Briana Evigan, Rumer Willis, Jamie Chung, Audrina Patridge and Margo Harshman, along with the movie's director, Stewart Hendler. Also at Tao: Actor/comedian David Spade. ... Gavin Rossdale, lead singer of Bush and Gwen Stefani's husband, playing tennis with Andre Agassi's former coach Darren Cahill on Friday at the recently opened International Tennis Centre.

Sunday 04-05-09

Hefner meets up with ex-girlfriend

No one was going to rush Holly Madison into her first meeting with Hugh Hefner since their breakup.

With frustrated TV producers repeatedly pressing her to face Hef and his new harem alone, Madison dug in her heels Saturday and waited until she was ready.

"She doesn't want to come out right now, and I can't make her," an assistant was overheard telling a "Girls Next Door" producer.

The drama at the Palms Place pool ended a few minutes later when Madison's "Girls Next Door" sidekicks, Bridget and Kendra, joined her and with Madison leading the way they filed out of a private room at chef Kerry Simon's restaurant and made their way to Hefner and his new girlfriends.

Earlier, Madison was heard saying she was waiting for "a pretty moment."

It was a moment that will be immortalized in the opening episode of next season's "Girls Next Door," which will feature the exit of the exes and the arrival of Hef's latest Mansion mates.

Madison and Hefner separated last summer and she moved out of the Mansion in October, when Hef welcomed the replacements, 19-year-old twins Kristina and Karissa Shannon and 22-year-old Crystal Harris.

They had talked, but not had a face-to-face, Madison said. "We're chill (fine)," she said, after the brief reunion.

Hefner told me there were no hard feelings. He said he "feels sad" when couples who separate "wind up less than friends. I think you lose part of yourself, your own memories and your own history. I spent six -- eight wonderful years with these girls."

The Scene And Heard

Sandy Murphy is getting married. Murphy, who spent 7½ years behind bars on charges related to the 1998 drug overdose death of casino heir Ted Binion, is marrying a Southern California art gallery owner she has been dating for about three years. Murphy, 37, and Kevin Pieropan, 49, are getting hitched at the end of April, Vegas Confidential has learned. He's from the Laguna Beach area.

Murphy was released from the Nevada Women's Correctional facility four years ago after serving theft counts related to Binion's multimillion-dollar cache of silver in Pahrump. Before that, Murphy and Binion's handyman Rick Tabish were charged and convicted in Binion's death in 2000, but were later granted a new trial and acquitted on the murder charges in 2004.

Sightings

Michael Jackson and prominent choreographer Kenny Ortega checking out "Le Reve" (Wynn) on Saturday night ... Ortega was also in the audience at the Criss Angel show (Luxor) on Saturday. ... Music icons Dick Clark, arriving in a wheelchair, and Clive Davis, taking in Danny Gans' show (Encore) on Saturday night ... The Palms made it official on Saturday: they have lured DJ AM away from Pure nightclub at Caesars Palace. "He's arguably the No. 1 American deejay," said N9NE Group co-owner Michael Morton. "It's a pretty powerful statement to have DJ AM on Fridays and (British superstar deejay) Paul Oakenfold on Saturdays," Morton said. "We believe it's probably the biggest music lineup, if not in the country, in the world."


Monday 04-06-09

Girls gone catty at Hef's party The cat claws came out at Hugh Hefner's poolside birthday party. No, it wasn't a feud between Hef's exes and the new girls. The catfight combatants were former No. 1 girlfriend Holly Madison and local entertainment reporter Alicia Jacobs. Jacobs had barely started her interview with Madison on Saturday at Palms Place when Madison commented about the KVBC-TV, Channel 3, reporter's fashion choice. "That's a nice dress," Madison was overheard saying to Jacobs. "Interesting choice for a pool party." Jacobs, who would make many best-dressed lists in town, took it as a fashion slam. She was wearing a Roberto Cavalli summer dress featuring print shades of brown, green and tan. There's a back story, of course: About two years ago, Jacobs briefly dated illusionist Criss Angel. And Madison recently broke up with Angel. Reached Sunday night, Madison said she meant the remark as a compliment. "That's really strange. I meant it sincerely," said Madison, who minutes before the interview with Jacobs had her first meeting with Hef since they broke up last summer. Madison said she wasn't aware that Jacobs and Angel had gone out. "I'm, like, trying to hold my tongue because I don't see her as Criss' type," said Madison, who was voted off "Dancing With the Stars" last week. Jacobs let her Twitter followers in on the cattiness. "Holly Madison was not so sweet, at least not to me," she wrote on Twitter, the social messaging service that allows instant posts. "She's also not a very good interview." In an interview Sunday, Jacobs said, "I still have a great friendship with Criss." She added, "I could tell from her demeanor and short responses that it was an emotional day for Holly. I wish her luck with her future and her career." Jacobs said she plans to air Madison's interview during Thursday's entertainment reports at 4 p.m. and 11 p.m. Sightings On the orange carpet at the Academy of Country Music Awards on Sunday at the MGM Grand: Miley and Billy Ray Cyrus, Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban, Matthew McConaughey and Camila Alves, LeAnn Rimes, Carrie Underwood, Julianne Hough and Chuck Wicks, Taylor Swift, Kellie Pickler, and Jennifer Love Hewitt and Jamie Kennedy, dressed identically and "looking like they were heading for a wedding chapel," according to a photographer. ... Hillary Scott, lead singer of Lady Antebellum and daughter of country singer Linda Davis, having dinner Saturday with Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers at AGO and dancing at Body English in the booths. ... Ray Romano, with his family backstage after watching Terry Fator's "Cast of Thousands" at The Mirage on Saturday. ... Country star Faith Hill, catching lunch Sunday with friends at Wolfgang Puck's Chinois in Forum Shops at Caesars. ... Toby Keith, making a special appearance Saturday at his "I Love This Bar & Grill" (Harrah's), where he was joined on stage by NFL players Kyle Vanden Bosch (Tennessee Titans) and Matt Light (New England Patriots). Keith performed for about 30 minutes, singing his hits "A Little Less Talk and a Lot More Action," "I Love This Bar" and "God Love Her." He also sang Eric Clapton's "Cocaine," Bill Withers' "Ain't No Sunshine" and Chuck Berry's "Johnny B. Goode." ... At N9NE Steakhouse (Palms) on Saturday: Hefner, celebrating his 83rd birthday with girlfriends Karissa and Kristina Shannon and Crystal Harris and "Girls Next Door" Kendra (with her NFL boyfriend Hank Baskett) and Bridget, Eva Longoria, Jamie Foxx, Joe Don Rooney of Rascal Flatts, and Washington Redskins owner Daniel Snyder with star running back Clinton Portis. ... Twenty six Miss USA contestants, wearing G-rated versions of pajamas at the weekly pajama brunch at Simon at Palms Place. Fruit platters were the rage among the contestants, who dined at Buca di Bepo on Saturday. "Carbs are the enemy," said Miss New Mexico Bianca Matamoros-Koonce. ... Singer Ray J, at Wet Republic (MGM Grand) on Sunday. ... At Tao Asian Bistro (The Venetian) on Saturday: David Spade, Kaley Cuoco of "The Big Bang Theory," Bruce and Kris Jenner of "Keeping Up With the Kardashians," Foxx and Flavor Flav.

Tuesday 04-07-09

Norm took the day off

Wednesday 04-08-09

'Truth' emerging in pool party tiff

The she-said, she-said spat between Hugh Hefner's ex, Holly Madison, and local TV reporter Alicia Jacobs continues to escalate.

KVBC-TV, Channel 3 began running promos Tuesday, saying Jacobs will be airing the "truth" on Thursday.

Celebrity blogger Perez Hilton ran blog responses from each on Monday and Tuesday.

The tiff started Saturday at the Palms Place pool, when Jacobs came away from an interview at Hefner's 83rd birthday party convinced that Madison had dissed her dress.

Madison opened the interview by saying the dress was "an interesting choice for a pool party."

When I reached Madison for comment on Sunday, she insisted that she intended the remark as a compliment.

Madison also said she was unaware that Jacobs had previously gone out with Madison's ex-boyfriend Luxor illusionist Criss Angel.

In her blog Monday, Madison said Jacobs was acting like "someone desperate for ratings trying to start a bunch of gossip to get her name in the papers."

Jacobs responded by saying Madison "has made a 'career' out of dissing other women to get to the top."

Jacobs said the Playmate's "inexperience" was apparent during the interview, adding parenthetically "her publicist later explained that she is not quite as media-savvy as most of his other clients."

The Scene And Heard

Former Las Vegas Academy student Julianne Hough is leaving "Dancing With the Stars" to concentrate on her music career.

"I will be taking next season off," she told Fox News online, adding that she'll be busy touring (as Toby Keith's opening act) and bringing out "the real Julianne Hough."

She won the Top New Artist award at the 44th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards on Sunday at the MGM Grand. Her self-titled debut album opened at No. 1 on the Billboard Country Album chart last year and No. 3 on the Billboard 200. ...

TV Land network's third season of "High School Reunion" will feature alumni of Las Vegas' Chaparral High School's class of 1989. Chapparal alum include "CSI" creator Anthony Zuiker and Brandon Flowers and Mark Stoermer, members of the alt-rock group The Killers. ...

Sad news: Bill Fry, the "mystery man" who allowed a homeless teenage blues singer and her father to inhabit a luxury condo he owned, has died. Fry, 72, died Sunday in Carmel, Ind., after suffering heart problems on Friday. Fry, who owned a group of radio stations in Shreveport, La., before moving here about five years ago, turned over his Turnberry condo to Louisiana singer Sarah Todora and her father, Phil, for six months in 2006 to help her start her career. He also made a $250,000 donation to the Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth to build a housing facility. Last year, Fry donated $15 million to the Indiana University Kelley School of Business to fund an undergraduate scholarship program for financially challenged students.

Sightings

A frail Samantha Ronson, showing strain from a souring relationship with troubled actress Lindsay Lohan, performed Monday as a celebrity DJ at Privé (Planet Hollywood Resort).

Earlier, she was seen texting while having dinner solo at nearby Strip House.

Thursday 04-09-09

Murphy wedding news questioned

Sandy Murphy's upcoming wedding is raising eyebrows of folks who have been tracking her post-prison career.

It was reported here Sunday that Murphy is getting married late this month to Laguna Beach art gallery owner Kevin Pieropan. At least that's what someone wants us to think.

Friends of casino owner Gary Primm say someone's conning me.

They tell me Primm has been romantically involved with Murphy for about three years.

Providing the wedding information to me was restaurateur Freddie Glusman, who owns Piero's Italian Cuisine in Las Vegas and the Ritz restaurant in Newport Beach and knows everyone mentioned above. They've all been on Primm's yacht, The Primadonna, during getaways to Mexico.

Glusman informed me that Pieropan has been dating Murphy for three years.

So what's going on here? Twists galore, with a dash of chicanery is my hunch.

As a casino owner, Primm has to be cautious about the company he keeps. That goes with having a Nevada gaming license.

Murphy was charged with murder in the drug-related 1998 death of casino owner Ted Binion and convicted in 2000.

Her murder conviction was overturned in late 2003. She was granted a new trial and was acquitted of the murder charges in 2004.

She was freed four years ago after a short stint in the Nevada Women's Correctional facility on theft counts related to Binion's multimillion-dollar cache of silver in Pahrump.

The Scene And Heard

Saks Fifth Avenue hosts the "Vegas Dozen 2009: The Men We Love and Why We Love Them" on April 22. This year's honorees: Michael T. Carr, president, Greenspun Media Group; Pat Christenson, president, Las Vegas Events; Bill Hornbuckle, president and chief operating officer of Mandalay Bay resort and casino; David Kirvin, partner, Kirvin Doak Communications; Lon Kruger, UNLV basketball coach; George Maloof, president, the Palms casino resort; Gustav Mauler, chef and president of Gustav International; David Robins, managing partner, operations and corporate chef, Las Vegas, Wolfgang Puck Fine Dining Group; Michael A. Severino, general manager event marketing, Southern Wine and Spirits of Nevada; Jack Sheehan, author and public speaker; Kerry Simon, owner/chef, Simon Restaurant; and Jason Strauss, managing partner, TAO Group. The event, with Phyllis McGuire emceeing, benefits the Nevada Cancer Institute. It starts at 6 p.m. ...

After a 21/2-year run at WFKB-FM in Reading, Pa., Ken Johnson is heading back to Las Vegas. The station returned to a Christian music format after a deal fell through. Johnson, who arrived in Las Vegas in 1990 and had a 15-year run here with morning show partner Jim Tofte at KKLZ-FM 96.3 and KSFN-AM 1140, said he may have to change careers "until things turn around." His Web site is: kenjdemo.com.

Sightings

Mel B, former Spice Girl and co-star of the upcoming "Peepshow," dining at Lavo (Palazzo) on Tuesday with her husband, Stefan Belafonte. ... Actor Corbin Bernsen, having a berry bowl and smoked salmon at Society Café at Encore on Tuesday. He was with his family. ... Rapper Flo Rida, tossing $10,000 into the crowd at Blush Boutique (Wynn) on Tuesday. He performed a 45-minute set atop the Blush bar. ... At Pure (Caesars Palace) on Tuesday: San Diego Chargers linebacker Shaun Phillips, rapper Too $hort, singer/producer Ray J, and actor/comedian Bill Bellamy, who was celebrating his 44th birthday. ... The Miss USA contestants, with reigning Miss USA Crystle Stewart, at Lance Burton's magic show (Monte Carlo) on Wednesday. They shoot their official swimsuit photo today at the pool at Planet Hollywood Resort and get a lesson on making sushi tonight at SushiSamba (Palazzo) before having dinner there. ... Stewart is appearing at Reality Cares' AmeriFace benefit Friday at Prive (Planet Hollywood Resort). Alicia Jacobs, entertainment reporter at KVBC-TV, Channel 3, is emceeing the event, which benefits people with facial differences such as cleft lips and palates. Starts with a 6 p.m. red carpet.

Friday 04-10-09

'Jilly!' chronicles Sinatra's top pal

Longtime Las Vegas resident William "Willie" Rizzo has helped put together a book on his father, "Jilly" Rizzo, Frank Sinatra's best friend.

"Jilly! Sinatra's Right-Hand Man" chronicles the duo's friendship over 35 years and their adventures with the A-list crowd they ran with.

The book comes out May 1.

Willie, a table games supervisor at Green Valley Ranch casino, and his brother Joseph collaborated on the book with writer Scott Allen Nollen of Mobile, Ala.

Willie has lived in Las Vegas since 1974.

His father, Sinatra's protector and confidant, died in an automobile accident on May 6, 1992, his 75th birthday, in Rancho Mirage, Calif., not far from Sinatra's home.

The book promises to transport readers back to Jilly's on Manhattan's West 52nd Street, the "Rat Pack" days in Las Vegas, Miami Beach and Atlantic City, "when 'cool' still meant dressing well and holding a door for a lady ... and " according to a press release. music that was the 'swinging-est,'

The Scene And Heard

Palms owner George Maloof has a cameo in Eminem's new music video, "We Made You," which mocks the Hollywood scene and includes a swipe at Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin. Maloof is dressed as a blackjack dealer for his scenes, which were shot in the Palms casino last month. Eminem also appears in an elevator scene torn from the 1988 film "Rain Man," when Dustin Hoffman and Tom Cruise made a grand entry in spiffy new suits on their mission to conquer the gaming tables. Eminem appeared in the scene with Dr. Dre and 50 Cent. The video is for Eminem's upcoming "Relapse" album. ...

Customers at a popular Greek restaurant on the west side of town were stunned when a headline-making couple got into a loud tiff recently. A spy said the 20-something gal was heard saying she "wouldn't be doing pills if you weren't such a drug addict." They have since split. ...

Hugh Hefner's new mansion-mates, 19-year-old twins Kristina and Karissa Shannon, have a date between the sheets of Playboy's summer issue, which combines the July and August issues. They told me at Hef's birthday party at the Palms they recently were in Italy for some hush-hush filming for the next edition of "The Girls Next Door."

May I Recommend

Chicago native Nico Santucci's latest Capo's Italian Steakhouse revisits the Windy City's speak-easy era and vintage Vegas. His latest edition, at 5675 W. Sahara, features "throwback chic," with red leather banquettes, velvet wallpaper, crystal chandeliers and live piano music. There's even a secret vault, a la Al Capone's, minus Geraldo Rivera poking around. If Chef Jason Catheline looks familiar, it's because he went jaw-to-jaw and expletive-for-expletive with celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay on "Hell's Kitchen 4." "Fuggadaboutit Friday's" offers a 2-for-1 special at both Capo's. The original is located at 5795 W. Tropicana Blvd.

Sightings

British boxer Ricky Hatton, watching his home team, Manchester City, play soccer on a noon telecast at the Crown & Anchor on Thursday. Before leaving, he got in a game of darts. He's in town training for his May 2 fight with Manny Pacquiao at the MGM Grand Garden. ... Sen. Harry Reid, at Lucille's Smokehouse Barbeque in The District on Thursday, with his family, stimulating the economy and enjoying some barbeque. ... Poker star Phil Ivey, hanging out at the grand opening of Daydream pool club at M Resort on Thursday. ... Boxer "Sugar" Shane Mosley, with his three kids -- Najee, Tai and Mee Mee -- at "Criss Angel: Believe" (Luxor) on Wednesday night. Afterward, they went backstage for autographs while Mosley and Criss Angel talked boxing. ... Maloof, having dinner Wednesday with Phoenix Suns' majority owner Robert Sarver at Capo's on West Sahara.

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.