The former King of Pop moved to Virginia after he had no luck in getting takers for a headliner gig here.

Sources told me over the holidays that Jackson's handlers were making overtures for a six-figure deal to have Jackson host a New Year's Eve countdown party. But, again, he got no takers.

"Too radioactive," is the term I keep hearing.

ReviewJournal.com – News – NORM: Michael Jackson staying at Palms

LENNY'S LAS VEGAS: Chinese Spectacular.

If you have any interest in Chinese culture and tradition, you won't want to miss the Chinese New Year Spectacular that will take place Monday, Jan. 21, at the Las Vegas Hilton. This one-night-only performance will celebrate the lunar New Year in a captivating world of heavenly maidens, swirling ribbons, exhilarating drummers and tumbling acrobats.

Heroic legends come to life, dazzling warriors clash and divine goddesses descend from above, as striking scenery and gorgeous costumes combine to summon 5,000 years of history in this unique and unforgettable production. Featuring an outstanding cast of classical Chinese dancers and international vocalists, the Chinese New Year Spectacular is a cross-cultural experience which will appeal to the whole family.

Billboard Magazine rates it as one of the holiday's top ten shows in the world and it is considered the largest lunar New Year celebration offered outside mainland China. The Spectacular showcases the legends that have shaped Chinese culture and highlights events from China's past and present, ranging from the delicate dancers of ancient courtiers in the Imperial Palace to heavenly fables, ethnic folk tales, stories of proud warriors and heroic maidens and a depiction of recent travails in modern China. English and Chinese hosts introduce the story lines and song lyrics are projected on supertitles. Tickets range from $70 to $120 plus tax and service charge and can be purchased by visiting www.lvhilton.com or by calling the box office at (800) 457-3307.

Play With The Best

A seat with the world's top poker players is up for grabs in an NBC Heads-Up Satellite Tournament in the Caesars Palace Poker Room. The winner will join a "who's who" from the poker world in the event that takes place Feb. 28 to March 2. The satellite tournament kicks off at 2 p.m. on Feb. 17 with a $500 buy-in plus $40 entry fee. Daily single table satellites begin Feb. 1 at 9 a.m.

Sixty-four of the world's best poker players will be competing in a series of heads-up matches (one-on-one games of Texas Hold'em) to determine who is the best face-to-face poker player in the world. The tournament has a unique, single-elimination, bracket-style format modeled after college basketball tournaments. As well, if you want to get your mug on TV, the tournament will be taped for broadcast on NBC and CNBC. Check out the Caesars Poker Room for details.

lvrj.Lenny's Las Vegas

It’s eight o’clock on a Thursday evening and The Amazing Johnathan has just arrived at his warehouse, a storage space that houses his collection of classic cars and, this time of year, a haunted house that will become the centerpiece of his annual Halloween party. It’s an off night for Johnathan, who headlines five nights a week at the Sahara, as he has since May 2005. A resident performer in Las Vegas since 2001, he mixes black humor with purposely second-rate magic and smart-ass comebacks. His ditzy blond assistant Psychic Tanya is often the butt of his jokes; at one memorable point in his show, he stabs her in the head with a pair of trick scissors that turns out to be the real deal.

On this night, Johnathan is clad in an off-white button-down (per our request) topped off, as usual, with his trademark headband, his shaggy auburn hair spilling over at the sides. He is noticeably animated when discussing the myriad antique magic props he has procured over the years, all strewn about the foyer of his storage space. A collapsible chair from the early 1900s, purchased for $2,500, is a particular point of pride. Not unlike his live show, where he goads a member of the audience into what’s-that-on-your-shirt-type gags for upward of 45 minutes, he is eager to find willing volunteers to test out the chair. And just like his show, we fall for it, his magnetism clearly at odds with our common sense as he pulls the string, sending a victim tumbling backward to the floor.

But the haunted house is what we came to see and it does not disappoint. In order to enter his party, guests must complete a maze through body bags, crawl spaces and the Vortex, a spinning turbine splattered with 3-D paint and bisected by a wooden walkway that is made to seem like it’s moving. During a walk-through a few weeks before the party, David Copperfield was given a personal tour and was startled when one of Johnathan’s assistants popped out from underneath a tarp. His reaction, perhaps more than anything, speaks to the legitimacy of the haunted endeavor.

Back at the Sahara a few nights later, Johnathan is onstage at the Congo Room, still unable to pick out the card an audience member has selected from the deck, even after all these years. The $20 bill that same member gave him at the top of the show somehow miraculously winds up in the middle of an orange that Johnathan slices open, lending credence to a craft he has fumbled his way through for the sake of laughs. The Magic Silk of India, which has closed his show for years, is as mysterious as it is hilarious, as a floating orb somehow moves in the air underneath a silk cloth seemingly at Johnathan’s request.

As unpredictable as he can be, you can always count on Johnathan for a laugh—even if, in the case of a collapsible chair, the laughter is directed at you.

Strip House, along with luxury lingerie designer Kiki de Montparnasse, heats up the Las Vegas Strip with Studio Manasse-inspired cocktail dress uniforms.

Strip House’s coy but classic cocktail mini-dress, designed by Kiki de Montparnasse, is perfectly executed in a soft, black, fine rib jersey. A high elegant front harmonizes a dangerously low back to reveal a signature satin lace-up corselette bra embellished with tulle lace. Complete with flutter sleeves, Kiki de Montparnasse’s style reflects the sexy sophisticated atmosphere of Strip House.

The exquisite uniform contributes beauty and style to the sensual elegance already flowing through the restaurant.  The dresses, combined with Strip House’s mélange of sultry silks, rich leathers, rosy lighting and Studio Manasse silhouettes, help create an atmosphere unlike any other fine dining restaurant in Las Vegas.

J.R. Johns and 14 of his best friends have traveled from Reno to entertain on the Strip in this afternoon show performed daily at 3 p.m. in Krave at the Harmon Theater. It didn't take much to win me over as I'm a dog lover, like millions of other people around the country, but even if I wasn't, this show is great fun for the whole family.

Veteran physical comedian/dog trainer Johns takes you on a four-part journey through what some have called a living cartoon. Johns plays straight man to a constant barrage of pranks perpetrated on him by his canine co-stars. Combining the arts of slapstick, award winning acrobatics, tongue-in-cheek magic and ridiculous props, it is what my daddy used to call a "real knee-slapper."

Johns is hilarious as he plays a number of characters throughout, such as "The Discount Dog Catcher." Ironically, his partners are all rescues or adoptions, which in real life makes him as good-hearted as the characters he portrays on stage. The collection of four-legged co-stars boasts a Great Dane, white Boxers, a number of mixed breeds, as well as a couple of naughty Jack Russell Terriers, al of them seeming more talented than the one before.

To add to the laughter, the canine cast is joined by Spike McGuire, a talented, young, irreverent comic who puts a whole new spin on how to use Yo-Yos as well as his own special take on other variety artist skills that are as impressive as they are funny.

Johns says he got his start in show business at a theme park in Florida owned by Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey. "It was a great apprenticeship. I got the opportunity and privilege to work with all kinds of exotic animals and learned how to read and respect them.

"Dogs I just found to be so much more amazing as they actively thrive on your approval. I think one of the keys to why my show is successful is the genuine affection and interaction between me and the guys. Also, I feel that I have a real talent for creating the right bit or behavior for that particular dog. Just like people they all have their own personalities. I just try to find what they are suited to and enjoy doing the most."

As well as being a Reno celebrity J.R. and the Guys' have performed on numerous television shows, including The Late Show with David Letterman, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, the Today show and America's Got Talent. "TV is always tough to do well. Shows just don't want to give you enough time to develop material. But they do give you instant exposure that has always helped my dogs be all they can be. Our stage is where we really shine and we want all of Las Vegas to come and see us. You don't have to be a dog lover to enjoy our show," Johns said. "You only have to bring a sense of humor. Oh…and maybe a couple of milk bones."

Two world-class restaurateurs are heading to the northwest Las Vegas suburbs to open Mermaid Inn and Taro's By Mikuni for their first foray out of their respective New York and California markets.

Danny Abrams, owner of Manhattan's acclaimed seafood restaurant Mermaid Inn and founder of Prohibition, the popular 1920's speakeasy-style bar in NYC, is bringing both concepts to The Village at Queensridge, www.tvqr.com, a 29 acre mixed-use neighborhood rising at the edge of Summerlin in Las Vegas. Mikuni, which has won Sacramento's "Best Sushi Restaurant" for ten consecutive years, has also just announced plans to open Taro's By Mikuni at The Village at Queensridge.

Located in the Queensridge master-planned community just 11 miles northwest of the Las Vegas Strip, The Village will feature more than 700,000 square feet of upscale retail, restaurant, entertainment and office space, in addition to 340 distinctive condominiums.

Mikuni intends to operate the 7,200 square foot restaurant under its Taro's By Mikuni concept and offer the award-winning Mikuni sushi and innovative rolls along with other Asian-themed dishes. Abrams' Mermaid Inn will open in approximately 2,500 square feet of space, while his 3,000 square foot bar will capture the spirit of live jazz in a sexy setting, offering hand-crafted, intricate cocktails.

Another famed restaurant opening at The Village is Mastro's Steakhouse. As with Mermaid Inn and Mikuni, The Village will become the first Las Vegas location for Mastro's.

These restaurants will join other eateries and a diverse mix of interesting and much anticipated retailers and services for men, women and children, and include apparel, jewelry and home furnishing stores. For example, Kidville, which operates upscale facilities catering to newborns through five-year-old children and their families, has announced plans to open in 16,000 square feet at The Village. This will be Kidville's first location outside of New York City.
http://www.accessvegas.com/forums/show_posts/deals-news-events/two-famed-restaurateurs-to-open/218

Mr. Popovich and his pets have appeared on National TV shows with Jay Leno, David Letterman, Animal Planet, and CNN. The show was a finalist in the NBC's program "America's Got Talent". Popovich's "Pet Theater" has been recognized as the "Best New Family Show" in Las Vegas.

White said the call came in last month from a talent agency in Los Angeles. He said he will perform a singing part representing Neil Diamond in 1977. Shooting took place in Hollywood Wednesday and Thursday, Sept. 12 – 13.

Ron Howard set his sights on this project when he caught Peter Morgan's play "Frost/Nixon" and liked what he saw. Universal Pictures snagged the movie rights.

The big screen version will be based on the television interviews between Richard Nixon and journalist David Frost a thousand days after Nixon's resignation following the Watergate scandal.

White has performed as Diamond in more than 8,000 shows in five countries including more than 1,000 shows over the past five years with his powerful six piece band at the Riviera Hotel & Casino. "Jay keep singing so I can stay home and relax," says the real Neil Diamond, who has given White his personal endorsement.

White's reaction to all this? "I am honored to be asked to perform in a movie by one of Hollywood's finest and most respected directors, Ron Howard."

This year White is celebrating his 25th Anniversary as Neil Diamond. He performs America's Diamond Live each Sunday through Thursday at the Le Bristro Theater in the Riviera Hotel & Casino. Show time is 7 pm. Tickets are $49.95 per person plus tax.

Ticket information is available by calling the Riviera Box Office at (702) 794-9433.

Combining cocktails and entertainment at the Rio.
By: Kiko Miyasato/Las Vegas Magazine

If you’re reading the title of this article and wondering what a “portmanteau” is, here’s a quick explanation. The word dates all the way back to the 1870s and was coined by Lewis Carroll, you know, the English dude who wrote Alice’s adventures in Wonderland. A portmanteau is the blending of two words to make a combined word and meaning. Words like “brunch,” a combination of “breakfast” and “lunch” or “spork,” a combination of “spoon” and “fork” are portmanteaus. So what is Vegas’ contribution to this grammatical movement? “Bevertainers,” a combination of “beverage” and “entertainers.” And this special breed of cocktail servers can be found in Las Vegas exclusively at the Rio.

The day of Daisy serving you a drink while a cigarette hangs from her fuchsia-colored lips saying, “There ya go, doll” is way over. While hundreds of cocktail servers flood the casino floors at major properties, no one does it quite like the Rio.

More than 100 male and female bevertainers disperse on the floor nightly, not only to serve cocktails but to provide entertainment. Ten mini stages are set up throughout the casino, placed right in the thick of the action. Every 10 minutes between pulling the handle at Megabucks and sipping on your rum and Coke, you can catch a free performance by one of the bevertainers as they take to a stage.

Two types of bevertainers are there to keep the party atmosphere going—the dancers and the singers. Each server performs a 90-second routine about eight to nine times a night—dancing and singing to some of today’s hottest music. To ensure the level of entertainment is top-notch, each bevertainer must audition for the position and receive training headed up by Dick Foster Productions. While choreography and training are provided, most bevertainers are already trained professionals in their respected field. Beverly Johnson, who is currently one of the dancing bevertainers, has been performing since she was 2. As a graduate in dance management, she has performed at the Moulin Rouge in France, been a dancer in Bally’s Jubilee! and recently performed for the opening of The Venetian in Macau. She loves pulling double duty of cocktail server and performer, as do her comrades.

“I love that we get to perform because I have been a performer since I can remember. Opposed to a normal cocktail job, everyone that I work with is in the entertainment industry, and we’re definitely a different breed of servers. Everyone is very energetic and very outgoing and we all get along so, so well. We all just have so much fun.”

Recently the whole crew pumped up their image even more by getting new attire. Meg DeAgostini, the wardrobe supervisor for Dick Foster, designed the new outfits. The ladies’ sexy and seductive uniforms consist of black lace and black diamond stones. Sure to get a double take, the outfits extend the bevertainers’ assets in a sophisticated, fun, flirty and fabulous way. “All the girls are in the same costume, so we are much more uniformed now and they’re very classy, they’re glamorous, they’re exciting,” Johnson said.

So, make sure to check out the bevertainers at the Rio tonight—by all guesstimations you’re bound to have one fantabulous time.
http://lvshowbiz.com/feature1.html

Could another impressionist be bound for Las Vegas, joining a field that includes some very talented entertainers – Danny Gans at the Mirage, Rich Little at the Golden Nugget, Gordie Brown at the Venetian?

Veteran Vegas performer Fred Travalena made a triumphant return, selling out almost every performance at the Suncoast Showroom and receiving standing ovations from fans.

Travalena, a Vegas fixture from the '70s through the '90s, packs a lot into a 90-minute show, doing impressions of not only all the usual suspects but characters from "Star Wars," a Smurf, Bugs Bunny and Porky Pig, every president since John F. Kennedy and even a presidential adviser – Henry Kissinger.

Travalena wound up the impressions with a rapid-fire list of 15 or 20 celebrities, including Michael Crawford and television characters Archie and Edith Bunker.

Now, if he only had a room large enough to put all those people.
http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/do/2007/nov/05/566680040.html