August 27, 2005
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NORM: TV’s ‘Las Vegas’ kicks off LV style
Neil Sedaka got last laugh.
Lara Flynn Boyle, above, and Rachael Leigh Cook, below, joining “Las Vegas” cast.
It’s official: NBC Universal has a Sept. 24 kickoff party planned at the Palms for the third season of “Las Vegas.”
The promotional bash at Rain nightclub will also feature a release party for the Season Two-Uncut and Uncensored DVD and the Treadstone Records release of the “Las Vegas” soundtrack.
“Las Vegas,” with newcomers Rachael Leigh Cook and Lara Flynn Boyle, launches its third season Sept. 19.
The DVD features behind-the-scenes footage, a gag reel from the first two seasons and a featurette on Las Vegas high rollers.
Last Laugh
Opening acts walk a fine line in show business.
Neil Sedaka tells Billboard magazine about a Las Vegas experience that went sour but turned out to be a blessing.
In 1975, Sedaka was the opening act for the Carpenters at the Riviera. “It was at the height of my comeback with ‘Laughter in the Rain.’ I was like a dynamo — jumping, dancing and singing.
“The audience went wild, and I had several standing ovations. The next I knew, I was fired by Richard Carpenter, and my name was immediately taken off the marquee! He said that it was because I introduced a couple of celebs in the audience. Baloney! I just got too many standing ovations.
“But [I] thank Richard. It caused such a sensation, I have been headlining ever since!”
The Scene and Heard
Among the celebrities in town for the MAGIC clothing expo, which opens Monday at the Las Vegas Convention Center: Nicky Hilton has a midnight fashion show for her Chick fashion line Tuesday at Pure nightclub (Caesars Palace), and “American Idol” contestant LaToya London is promoting her new album, “Love & Life” (which comes out Sept. 20) at the 3e Trading/Playboy Merchandise Booth. She’s signing from 2-5:30 p.m. Monday and 2-4 p.m. Tuesday.
Bob O’Neil, a co-owner of Triple George Grill, loves the location of the new downtown restaurant: On one side, the Celebrity gay show club, and on the other, the rowdy Hogs & Heifers biker bar.
“We’re thinking about putting up bleachers across Third Street and charging admission,” he said.
Las Vegans Melissa Camarillo and Rebecca Jaeger-Boehmer from The Firm Public Relations have carved out a claim to fame. After seeing Tom Cruise‘s couch-jumping antics during Oprah Winfrey‘s show, while proclaiming his love for Katie Holmes, the PR duo coined the phrase “jump the couch” and submitted it to urbandictionary.com. The Web site made it the word of the day July 29, and People magazine made it Catchphrase of the Week in the Aug. 15 issue. The site gives the definition as “a defining moment when you know someone has gone off the deep end.”
Sightings
Renee Taylor and Joe Bologna, who opened their Broadway comedy “If You Leave Me … I’m Going With You” at the Plaza a week ago, dining at Stefano’s (Golden Nugget) on Thursday night. The Emmy-winning and Oscar-nominated husband and wife team celebrated their 40th anniversary two weeks ago in Hollywood. … KISS frontman Gene Simmons, being presented with a birthday cake decorated with a likeness of his tongue-flicking face in KISS makeup at the Palms’ ghostbar Thursday night. Celebrating with him was Nickelback’s Chad Kroeger, along with rockers Dave Navarro and Jerry Cantrell, who has been opening for Nickelback but is not in the group, as was incorrectly mentioned here Friday.
The Punch Line
“We can’t figure out what to do with (Saddam Hussein). The U.S. doesn’t know if we should put him in prison or just put him back in charge of the place.” — David Letterman
Norm Clarke can be reached at 383-0244 or norm@reviewjournal.com.
