Las Vegas Weekly

09.2.10 · 4:24 PM

Photos: Bridget Marquardt talks bikinis, TV, watches and Las Vegas

Ice ice baby: Bridget Marquardt with the Moet girls

Photo: Sarah Feldberg

By Don Chareunsy, Vegas DeLuxe editor

The Girls Next Door and Bridget’s Sexiest Beaches star Bridget Marquardt was the snow princess hosting the Stereo Loves Snow Day Moet Ice Imperial champagne party at Azure Luxury Pool in the Palazzo on Saturday afternoon, and she arrived dressed for the party, in a sparkling baby blue bikini she designed, with Nick Carpenter, her director boyfriend of two years.

Marquardt, who also was joined by GND BFF Holly Madison and singer Elliott Yamin, posed for photographs on the blue carpet with Carpenter, in the pool with daytime revelers shouting greetings (one well-built fan in board shorts said “this is the best day ever” when she walked by him), with an igloo-topped cake created by Gimme Some Sugar and by a quickly melting 6-foot-tall snowman carved out of ice. Fans with cameras clamored to take photographs of the blonde beauty, who happily obliged.

The always-cheerful Marquardt took a break from the daytime fun and duties to talk with Vegas DeLuxe one-on-one in her private cabana.

Don Chareunsy: I was just told that you designed your bikini?

Bridget Marquardt: I did! I’ve designed a lot of costumes and outfits I’ve worn in the past, like at The Playboy Mansion parties, when I had a lot of time to develop outfits for the different parties and events. When I found out that this party was going to be a themed pool party -- and it was going to be a snow day, a winter wonderland -- I thought that I needed a really pretty bikini, something white or baby blue and very sparkly. And I didn’t own anything like that nor did I find one online, so I designed one on my own. Something very ice princess-y! I had someone else put it together because I don’t really sew, unfortunately.

DC: So does this mean there’s more fashion in your future?

BM: Yes! I want to do my own line of party, themed and Halloween costumes. I’m working on that right now. I have some really cool ideas inspired by some of the outfits I’ve worn in the past, as well as some I haven’t seen out there at all.

DC: Are you free to talk about the TV pilot you’ve been filming with Nick?

Photo: Scott Harrison/Retna/www.harrisonphotos.com

Nick Carpenter and Bridget Marquardt at Azure at The Palazzo on Aug. 28, 2010.

BM: We’ve been shooting a pilot; in fact, we just completed a pilot, and it went to the network last week. They love it. It’s not E! I can’t reveal the network because they want to make the announcement, of course. We’re going to do a few extra scenes next week so that it all flows together. Then hopefully we’ll be shooting full time.

DC: And it’s about your life with Nick?

BM: Yes, it’s a reality show about my life after The Mansion, Nick and I living together in our new home, which has yet to be furnished. Our animals. I have a dog and a cat, and he has a cat, so merging them together. They’re quite the characters. I feel like they could have their own show. They’re so funny! Nick is directing it, and it focuses on me launching a creative consulting business.

DC: Tell me about your new watch line.

Photo: Robyn Andrzejczak/IS PHotography/www.imagesofvegas.com

Holly Madison and Bridget Marquardt at Azure at The Palazzo on Aug. 28, 2010.

BM: My watch just came out at the beginning of June, and it’s a collaboration with Pascal Mouawad. I’ve been very creative with it. I wanted an oversized faceplate, and I wanted rhinestones. I wanted it to be a little more funky and whimsical than most watches. And the most important thing I wanted was changeable bands because I wanted it to be day or night and to go with different outfits. It’s a limited edition … 1,000 pieces. It’s my first time out, so we’ll see how it goes!

DC: You are in Las Vegas fairly often. What are some of the things you like to do while you’re in town?

BM: I love coming to Las Vegas! It all depends on my mood for that particular trip, but it always ends up drinking and partying! If it’s summertime, it’s absolutely about being by the pool during the day and the clubs at night. I love the restaurants here. I like trying the new ones because there are always brand new ones opening. There are always incredible restaurants.

But one of my favorite, favorite things about Vegas is the themes of everything. I love all of that; I love visiting the different casinos. I love New York-New York, like I’m walking in the streets of New York. I even remember back when MGM Grand was The Wizard of Oz! I thought it was so cool! I think that’s incredible. And of course you can come here and relax and do spa days, wine or you can go shopping.

Photo: Scott Harrison/Retna/www.harrisonphotos.com

Bridget Marquardt at Azure at The Palazzo on Aug. 28, 2010.

When people tell me, “Oh, I don’t really like Vegas,” I’m like, “How can you say that about Las Vegas? I don’t know if you’ve ever been there if you can say that. Vegas can be whatever you want it to be.”

The couple had a jam-packed weekend in Las Vegas after the winter wonderland party that included dinner and partying at Tao in The Venetian on Saturday night, a gondola ride at The Venetian on Sunday and then dinner at Wolfgang Puck’s CUT in the Palazzo, where they enjoyed Sherwood Pinot Noir with their meal. Coincidentally, Carpenter recognized a server as one of his friends from high school.

Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.

Follow VDLX Editor Don Chareunsy on Twitter at Twitter.com/VDLXEditorDon.

Follow Robin Leach on Twitter at Twitter.com/Robin_Leach.

Follow Vegas DeLuxe on Twitter at Twitter.com/vegasdeluxe.

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09.2.10 · 2:51 AM

Photos: DWTS’ Season 11 contestants begin rehearsals

Audrina Patridge and Tony Dovolani rehearse for Season 11 of ABC's Dancing With the Stars.

Photo: Greg Zabilski/ABC TV

By Don Chareunsy, Vegas DeLuxe editor

The hard work -- rehearsals -- begins now that the Season 11 cast of ABC’s top-rated Dancing With the Stars has been revealed, the 12 celebrities have been paired with professional dancers and the odds of who will come out on top have been released for entertainment purposes only.

The first rehearsal photographs by Greg Zabilski of ABC have been released, with the following couples getting to know one another a little better on the dance floor: Las Vegas regular and The Hills beauty Audrina Patridge and Tony Dovolani; actress Jennifer Grey and Season 10 champion Derek Hough; comedienne and actress Margaret Cho, who is at The Pearl in the Palms on Sept. 17, with Louis Van Amstel; Grammy-winning singer Michael Bolton with Las Vegas native Chelsie Hightower; actress Florence Henderson with Corky Ballas; and Grammy-winning singer Brandy with Le Reve choreographer Maksim Chmerkovskiy.

The remaining six couples are retired L.A. Lakers star Rick Fox and Cheryl Burke;; actor, singer and former Las Vegas headliner David Hasselhoff and Kym Johnson; Las Vegas regular and Jersey Shore hunk Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino and Karina Smirnoff; retired Super Bowl-winning quarterback Kurt Warner and Anna Trebunskaya; The Disney Channel star Kyle Massey and Lacy Schwimmer; and politician Sarah Palin’s daughter Bristol Palin and Mark Ballas.

Wynn Director of Race & Sports Book Operations and odds-maker Johnny Avello’s first pre-season odds has Fox and two-time pro winner Burke at the top, followed by Grey and two-time pro champion Hough. Let’s just hope this season’s group of celebrities isn’t as whiny and accident-prone as Season 10’s.

Photo: Greg Zabilski/ABC TV

Louis Van Amstel and Margaret Cho rehearse for Season 11 of ABC's Dancing With the Stars.

Season 11 begins Sept. 20. For a little fun trivia, check out which celebrities turned down requests to compete on Season 11 -- and learn the identity of the celebrity who wants to compete but is repeatedly denied. One hint: She has a head for business and a bod for sin.

Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.

Follow VDLX Editor Don Chareunsy on Twitter at Twitter.com/VDLXEditorDon.

Follow Robin Leach on Twitter at Twitter.com/Robin_Leach.

Follow Vegas DeLuxe on Twitter at Twitter.com/vegasdeluxe.

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09.2.10 · 2:26 PM

Strip Scribbles: Recycled Percussion begins run at Studio 54 in MGM Grand

Recycled Percussion at an America's Got Talent Live charity benefit for Keep Memory Alive at Planet Hollywood.

Photo: Tom Donoghue/www.donoghuephotography.com

They didn’t win NBC’s America’s Got Talent (they placed an impressive 3rd out of 100,000 acts), but Recycled Percussion made such a noise that they landed themselves a key spot on the run of AGT Live! at Planet Hollywood with talk show host Jerry Springer. There they made so much noise that they landed their own nightly show, and it kicked off this week at Studio 54 in MGM Grand.

Recycled Percussion will perform their 75- to 90-minute percussion, body percussion and human beat box moves nightly except Sundays, and next Tuesday, we media types get a look at the excitement. Audience members are given an instrument -- or an abandoned car part, buckets or power tools -- and drumsticks to become a part of the band’s sound. Show your skills, and you’ll be invited onstage to join in as the fifth member. The group spent four years developing their show and features founder Justin Spencer, aka the world’s fastest drummer.

The talented New Hampshire foursome has been making the rounds on red carpets, including for The Expendables, Takers and Primp Clothing during MAGIC’s Men’s Fashions Week, and were shot by contributing photographer Erik Kabik at the new Minus5 Ice Bar in Monte Carlo.

*Congratulations to sharp-tongued comedian and celebrity roaster Vinnie Favorito, who has renewed his contract with the Flamingo that keeps his act on The Strip for another six years, or through 2017. Vinnie continues his run at Bugsy’s Cabaret, which he shares with X Burlesque.

“How lucky am I to be able to hurl insults and poke fun at people for a living?” Vinnie said in a statement. “The Flamingo has been so welcoming and encouraging, and I’m ecstatic to continue my run with them for another six years.” He recently marked his fifth anniversary and 3,000th performance with Harrah’s Entertainment, and his celebrity targets have included Tom Arnold, Larry King, Jerry Springer, Magic Johnson and Pat O’Brien.

*The 2011 Miss America Pageant’s 53 contestants heading to Planet Hollywood on Jan. 15 gathered together for the first time in Orlando, Fla., during the Sixth Annual Miss America’s Outstanding Teen Competition. Video of photo shoots and events, including at Disney World, was shot for the January pageant, and Planet Hollywood Towers and Westgate owner David Siegel hosted a gala fundraiser at his estate for the third consecutive year benefitting the Miss America Scholarship Fund and the Westgate Foundation. Lacey Russ, Miss Oklahoma’s Outstanding Teen, was named 2011 Miss America’s Outstanding Teen. Next year marks the 90th anniversary of the Miss America, which will air live on ABC.

Photo: Miss America Organization

2011 Miss America Pageant contestants at Disney World in Orlando, Fla.

*Congratulations to Blush in the Wynn as it celebrates its third anniversary all month long beginning Tuesday. The Nightlife & Bar Convention named Blush the Best Ultra Lounge of the Year, and surprise guests will be popping up Tuesday and onward, and includes the star-studded crowd for Mike Posner’s appearance Sept. 18.

*Luxor comedian headliner Carrot Top will be on hand today to launch Uno! Dos! Tres! Thursdays, a weekly Thursday promotion at Hussong’s Cantina in The Shoppes at Mandalay Place, while the redheaded funnyman’s charcoal portrait is added to the restaurant’s wall of fame. Every Thursday from 7 to 9 p.m., $3 gets locals a combo that includes one taco, one Dos Equis and one Tres Agaves margarita or shot. Rock ’n’ Roll Mariachis provides the music, and there also is the breaking of the pinata.

*It was a star-studded turnout at the Fifth Annual Human Rights Campaign Gala at the Paris on Saturday night that included Congresswoman Dina Titus as the featured speaker, plus Imperial Palace headliners Human Nature, Vinnie Favorito, The Rio headliners and AIDS walk heroes Penn & Teller, Jubilee!, Peepshow and Holly’s World star Josh Strickland, Paris headliner Anthony Cools, Imperial Palace headliner Frank Marino and cast members of Le Reve at the Wynn. Contributing photographer Erik Kabik was onsite for this Vegas DeLuxe photo gallery.

*Nunsense, the hit musical comedy celebrating its 25th anniversary, is coming to the Las Vegas Hilton’s Shimmer Cabaret starting Sept. 15. The show about a group of nuns putting on a fundraiser includes a number of musical comedy actresses from Las Vegas. Diane Ellis has performed with Don Rickles and has done voice-over work; Michelle Johnson has been featured on HBO, TBS, MTV and all of the major TV networks and on Broadway; Janien Valentine has numerous theater credits, including Franco Dragone’s Carmen; and Kelly Clinton-Holmes has been performing here since she was a teenager and is married to entertainer Clint Holmes.

O Brother, which art thou? Scott Avett, at right ... we think.

TONIGHT’S TIPS

The Avett Brothers play Silverton Casino Lodge, and if you mention the word “emotionalism” when you purchase your ticket, the trio will throw in your second ticket for free. Brothers Scott and Seth Avett and Bob Crawford play a unique blend of folk, country, bluegrass, rock and pop to convey the message of “I and Love and You.” … Shibuya in MGM Grand hosts the final 2010 Restaurant Week nighttime party of food and libations at 10:30. … Robert Kelly is the headliner at The Playboy Comedy Lounge in the Palms through Saturday. … And Carey Hart has booked Adler’s Appetite for his Wasted Space at the Hard Rock Hotel.

TOMORROW’S TEASES

We’ll have a preview of all the stars coming to The Strip to entertain and party over the four-day Labor Day Weekend. Plus, our interview with Master Magician Lance Burton as he brings the curtain down Saturday on his 15-year headline run at the Monte Carlo. Lance reminisces about the highlights and reveals what lies ahead for him.

Vegas DeLuxe Editor Don Chareunsy contributed to this report.

Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.

Follow Robin Leach on Twitter at Twitter.com/Robin_Leach.

Follow Vegas DeLuxe on Twitter at Twitter.com/vegasdeluxe.

Follow VDLX Editor Don Chareunsy on Twitter at Twitter.com/VDLXEditorDon.

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09.2.10 · 9:28 AM

Photos: New Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign melts in your mouth

Artist Gabe Ortiz unveils a replica of the Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign made of 50,000 M&M's at M&M'S World on the Las Vegas Strip on Sept. 1, 2010.

Photo: Tom Donoghue/www.donoghuephotography.com

By Don Chareunsy, Vegas DeLuxe editor

Las Vegas artist Gabe Ortiz unveiled his latest truly super-sweet creation yesterday, a large piece of edible art at M&M’s World at Showcase Mall on The Strip. The 5-foot-by-7-foot replica of the Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign is created from 50,000 of the chocolate candies that melt in your mouth, not in your hand.

The edible Las Vegas sign highlights the new My M&M’s Experience, which allows guests to create and print custom messages and Las Vegas icons on M&Ms. The service was formerly available only online.

Thanks to contributing photographer Tom Donoghue, who was onsite at M&M’s World yesterday for this delectable Vegas DeLuxe photo gallery.

Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.

Follow Robin Leach on Twitter at Twitter.com/Robin_Leach.

Follow Vegas DeLuxe on Twitter at Twitter.com/vegasdeluxe.

Follow VDLX Editor Don Chareunsy on Twitter at Twitter.com/VDLXEditorDon.

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09.2.10 · 11:54 AM

Photos and videos: A visit to Howard Stern’s Sirius XM studio in New York

A tour of Sirius XM studios in New York on Aug. 16, 2010.

Photo: Richard Corey

By Richard Corey, guest columnist

I have been listening to Howard Stern since he arrived in New York City on WNBC 66 AM in 1986, and I had met Stern and his sidekick Robin Quivers before they became talk radio icons.

The King of All Media’s great radio show moved to Sirius XM in January 2006 to start two radio channels (Howard 100 and Howard 101). That year, Stern hired Scott Ferrall for a 4-hour time slot on Howard 101 for sports talk Mondays through Fridays at 5 p.m. PT.

It’s said of Ferrall that he “rages through the world of sports every night at 1,000 mph. He tells it like it is and lets his fans do the same. Nothing is off limits. It’s sports talk radio the way it should be: completely uncensored. Everybody’s doin’ it; they just won’t admit it!”

Ferrall and his team travel to Las Vegas for most UFC and boxing fights. In his first trip to Las Vegas in 2006, I met them and started a great friendship with them. I have taken many videos of their Las Vegas visits, and they are posted on Ferrall’s Web site FerrallRadio.com.

They became aware that I attend many events in Las Vegas that involve celebrities and sports stars and were very interested in the phenomenon of sports stars as celebrity hosts in the Las Vegas nightclub scene.

In the past year, I have been labeled the “unofficial” Las Vegas correspondent for Howard 100 News and Ferrall’s show, and topics have included my interviews with Quivers, NHL players, UFC fighters and other sports stars in Las Vegas relating to sports and Las Vegas.

I contacted Ferrall and his producer to let them know that I would be New York City with my daughter Jacquelyn to visit family and to go shopping for my daughter. We set up a time to be on Ferrall’s show to talk about sports stars and Las Vegas nightlife. We spent 4 hours in the Howard 101 studios on Aug. 16 with Ferrall and his team during his nightly show. During a commercial break, we received a tour of the Sirius XM radio studios.

There are videos of the tour, but I was unable to get to the area where Stern performs his daily show. It’s probably easier to get into The White House than to Stern’s radio studio area! Another video is of Ferrall signing off at the end of the show inside Howard 101.

I was allowed to take photographs inside Sirius XM New York City headquarters. The photographs include Sirius XM’s walls for celebrities to sign when they visit the radio studios; my daughter and me with Ferrall; my daughter and me in the lobby; Paul McCartney’s autograph on a Sirius XM wall (McCartney was the only person to have his own wall); and Bob Dylan’s radio studio.

My daughter, her friend and I had an awesome experience. Thanks again to Ferrall and his producer for giving us this amazing access.

Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.

Follow Robin Leach on Twitter at Twitter.com/Robin_Leach.

Follow Vegas DeLuxe on Twitter at Twitter.com/vegasdeluxe.

Follow VDLX Editor Don Chareunsy on Twitter at Twitter.com/VDLXEditorDon.

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09.1.10 · 2:02 PM

Helicopter Photos, Part 2: Eagle Point Skywalk at Grand Canyon West

An aerial tour of the Grand Canyon.

Photo: Tom Donoghue/www.donoghuephotography.com

Tourists who travel to Las Vegas now have the unique opportunity of witnessing one of the world’s truly unique wonders thanks to the Hualapai Indian Tribe, and Maverick Helicopters now makes the 130-mile journey to the amazing Skywalk lookout at Eagle Point, Grand Canyon West, a smooth and easy 45-minute ride.

As you can see from the unique photo gallery courtesy of Grand Canyon West, it is truly spectacular -- and, simply put, takes your breath away. Bryan Kroten, director of marketing for the Maverick Aviation Group, told me: “This is the very first time that photographs from our helicopter flight have been taken.”

The Skywalk is a true engineering marvel, a glass-floored cantilevered structure that spans 70 feet in length 4,000 feet above the Colorado River. (To give you a sense of that height, it would be as if three Stratospheres were placed atop one another.)

Although completed in March 2007, this is the first time that Las Vegas-headquartered Maverick has been granted permission by the tribe after months of negotiated specific flight paths to fly over and around the hallowed ground.

It is named Eagle Point because on the ridge directly facing the Skywalk, there is a slight dip in the center where the rock formation clearly shows the head of an eagle with outstretched wings as if preparing for flight. Behind the Skywalk is Guano Point, where tourists can walk out to experience another breathtaking overall view of the Grand Canyon.

Our sincere thanks to the Hualapai Indian Tribe for giving permission and access to Vegas DeLuxe for these magnificent photographs. The Hualapai Indian Tribe oversees all photographic images to retain respect for their sacred grounds. The Hualapai, meaning “People of the Tall Pines,” are native people of the Southwest. Traditionally hunter-gatherers, they inhabited an area of more than 5 million acres. Their homeland stretched from the Grand Canyon southward to the Santa Maria River and from the Black Mountains eastward to the pine forests of the San Francisco peaks.

Photo: Tom Donoghue/www.donoghuephotography.com

An aerial tour of the Grand Canyon.

Today, the Hualapai Indian Reservation, created in 1883, is nearly 1 million acres, including 108 miles of the Colorado River and Grand Canyon. There are approximately 2,100 enrolled members of the Hualapai Tribe, and nearly half live in Peach Springs, the capital of the Hualapai Indian Reservation on Historic Route 66.

Maverick Helicopters and Maverick Airlines now offer various options to Grand Canyon West and the Skywalk. The most popular is the new Skywalk Odyssey and features a round-trip helicopter excursion, private ground transportation, VIP expedited admission to the Skywalk and a souvenir photo. For more information, go to FlyMaverick.com.

Grand Canyon Resort Corp., which is owned and operated by the Hualapai Nation, manages Grand Canyon West, Hualapai River Runners (whitewater rafting) and the Hualapai Lodge. Grand Canyon West is a collection of viewpoints and attractions spread over 9,000 acres of the Grand Canyon’s West Rim in Northwest Arizona 120 miles east of Las Vegas. Grand Canyon West is the only place in the canyon where visitors can access a boat ride on the Colorado River via helicopter and is home to the Grand Canyon Skywalk.

Photo: Tom Donoghue/www.donoghuephotography.com

An aerial tour of the Grand Canyon.

The site attractions are Guano Point, with panoramic canyon views and the historic Guano mine tram; Eagle Point, the location of the Grand Canyon Skywalk; the Native American Village with authentic dwellings of multiple tribes and live Native American performances; and The Hualapai Ranch, a western town with cowboy entertainment, horseback riding, wagon rides and overnight cabins facing the canyon rim.

The Hualapai Lodge on Historic Route 66 and Grand Canyon West are open daily 365 days a year. Hualapai River Runners, the only one-day whitewater raft trip through the Grand Canyon, operates March through October. Visitors can view a complete list of activities at HualapaiTourism.com.

Contributing photographer Tom Donoghue commented: “I’m not sure I took a deep breath the entire time I was looking through the lens. These were rare, special moments. I have never seen that kind of beauty or heard that kind of silence. The feeling I came away with from the entire experience is one to remember for a lifetime. It’s riveting to the soul.”

Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.

Follow Robin Leach on Twitter at Twitter.com/Robin_Leach.

Follow Vegas DeLuxe on Twitter at Twitter.com/vegasdeluxe.

Follow VDLX Editor Don Chareunsy on Twitter at Twitter.com/VDLXEditorDon.

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09.1.10 · 12:02 PM

The odds for Season 11 of ABC’s Dancing With the Stars

Audrina Patridge.

Photo: Ethan Miller/Getty Images

By Don Chareunsy, Vegas DeLuxe editor

Shortly after ABC announced the Season 11 cast of the network’s top-rated Dancing With the Stars on Monday night, Wynn Director of Race & Sports Book Operations and odds-maker Johnny Avello released his odds of the outcome this new season, and the celebrity and professional dancer pairings are in place, as well.

Here are the odds, which are for entertainment purposes only: former L.A. Lakers star Rick Fox and Cheryl Burke, 4 to 1; actress Jennifer Grey and Season 10 champion and hometown hero Derek Hough, 5 to 1; actor, singer and former Las Vegas headliner David Hasselhoff and Kym Johnson, 6 to 1; Grammy-winning singer Brandy and Maksim Chmerkovskiy, 7 to 1; Grammy-winning singer Michael Bolton and Las Vegas native Chelsie Hightower, 9 to 1; Las Vegas regular and Jersey Shore stud Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino and Karina Smirnoff, 11 to 1; actress Florence Henderson and Corky Ballas, 15 to 1; retired Super Bowl-winning quarterback Kurt Warner and Anna Trebunskaya, 16 to 1; Las Vegas regular and The Hills hottie Audrina Patridge and Tony Dovolani, 20 to 1; comedienne and actress Margaret Cho and Louis Van Amstel, 25 to 1; The Disney Channel star Kyle Massey and Lacy Schwimmer, 30 to 1; and politician Sarah Palin’s daughter Bristol Palin and Mark Ballas, 35 to 1.

Photo: Kelsey McNeal/ABC TV

Derek Hough and Nicole Scherzinger were crowned the champions on ABC's Dancing With the Stars Season 10 finale on May 25, 2010.

If Avello’s first odds of the season hold up, pity Mark Ballas. He was the first pro to go last season with Shannen Doherty, and he was injured in the week of his exit!

In other DWTS news, The Hollywood Reporter has published a story about the celebrities who turned down the ABC juggernaut this season. The list includes Sylvester Stallone, Condoleezza Rice, Erin Brockovich, Richard Branson, Tim Allen, Suzanne Somers, Kirstie Alley, Drew Carey, Joe McHale, Facebook creator Mark Zuckerberg and Ann Coulter.

The story says that although lobbying has proved successful in the past -- Melissa Joan Hart is one success story -- a casting source said that individuals who push are usually declined. “Melanie Griffith tries to get on every season,” the source said.

Photo: Erik Kabik/Retna/www.erikkabikphoto.com

Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino at Rehab in the Hard Rock Hotel on July 4, 2010.

THR also reports that Palin is this season’s Kate Gosselin on the Diva Meter. It sounds as if someone will be heading home to Alaska sooner rather than later ... and that the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree!

Season 11 of Dancing With the Stars commences Sept. 20.

Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.

Follow VDLX Editor Don Chareunsy on Twitter at Twitter.com/VDLXEditorDon.

Follow Robin Leach on Twitter at Twitter.com/Robin_Leach.

Follow Vegas DeLuxe on Twitter at Twitter.com/vegasdeluxe.

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09.1.10 · 4:52 PM

Strip Scribbles: Criss Angel attempts to escape crate above Colorado River

Season 6 of Criss Angel's Mindfreak on A&E.

Photo: CrissAngel.com

World famous illusionist Criss Angel will be shackled and locked inside a small, solid crate tonight in a new Mindfreak episode on A&E. Viewers will watch his face and hands throughout the dangerous stunt through holes cut into the crate.

Criss, who appears nightly at the Luxor in Cirque du Soleil’s Believe, performs the escape in front of hundreds of spectators at Grand Canyon West’s Eagle Point, home of the Skywalk that we featured today on Vegas DeLuxe with amazing aerial images from contributing photographer Tom Donoghue.

The crate will be hoisted over the edge of the canyon 4,000 feet above the Colorado River. Criss has to escape the bonds that bind and climb from the crate before it crashes to the river below. Our friends from the Hualapai Indian Tribe will help him with the death-defying feat! Criss will throw a celebration party at the Luxor tonight in Liquidity Lounge for fans after his two live shows.

Photo: Tom Donoghue/www.donoghuephotography.com

Celine Dion in concert in Tampa, Fla., on Jan. 28, 2009.

WICKED WHISPERS & RACY RUMORS

Is it possible that The Light Group deal with Morgans Hotel Group for our Hard Rock Hotel here is actually a “planned merger” in which our Las Vegas head honchos Andrew Sassoon and Andy Masi would run the new joint venture and put all their nightclubs into the Morgans hotels? There’s been no denial since we broke this developing story last week. ... One of our top spies tells me of a conversation with O.J. Simpson’s local attorney Yale Galanter. Yale predicts that he’ll get a decision on the O.J. appeal next week, but expects to lose and thus promises to file with the U.S. Supreme Court. … There’s absolutely no truth whatsoever to the stories out of Florida yesterday that superstar Celine Dion was rushed to a Florida hospital because of pregnancy problems. I’m reliably told that there was no such hospital visit and that Celine is thrilled the pregnancy with two twin babies on the way is going very well. She’s not even on doctor-ordered bed rest yet! Everything is still on target for an early November delivery and her plan to move here the first week of March to start her rehearsals for the March 15 world premiere. Watch for a super surprise that Celine is orchestrating here March 12.

Photo: Tom Donoghue/www.donoghuephotography.com

"Taste of the NFL" participants, including chef Tom Colicchio (left) and 2009 Miss America Katie Stam.

*Today marks the beginning of Hunger Action Month, a national initiative sponsored by Feeding America to raise awareness about hunger in local communities. In Las Vegas, more than 250,000 men, women and children struggle with having consistent access to food, and 50 percent of Clark County school students receive free or reduced-priced lunch. Our Three Square food bank is partnering with organizations throughout the month on more than a dozen events to increase awareness about hunger and to close the hunger gap. Efforts began Monday with the Fourth Annual Restaurant Week that runs through Sunday. Check out the Hunger Action Month page on ThreeSquare.org, and here are several noteworthy events:

Tonight, star chef Tom Colicchio’s Craftsteak at MGM presents A Night of High Spirits, while celebrity chef Kerry Simon presents A Night of Gourmet Burgers at his new KGB restaurant in Harrah’s. Tomorrow, Shibuya at MGM celebrates with a tasting of 28 Japanese sakes and beers. On Sept. 10, Neiman Marcus at Fashion Show hosts a Fashion Night Out runway show. Shoe and leather goods designer Donald Pliner flies in Sept. 25 to his boutique at the Forum Shops in Caesars Palace for a fundraiser, where 10 percent of sales goes to Three Square. And rockers Smash Mouth headline Dish at Rain in the Palms on Sept. 30, preceded with a culinary crawl of more than 20 restaurants at Palms Pool & Bungalows.

Photo: Al Powers/Retna

Tinsel Korey, Alex Meraz and Julia Jones at Lavo in the Palazzo on July 24, 2010.

UPCOMING EVENTS

*Three other important dates for you to add to your schedule: This Saturday, Julia Jones, Alex Meraz and Tinsel Korey of The Twilight Saga: Eclipse (all three are werewolves in the blockbuster) are at Sugar Factory in Planet Hollywood’s Miracle Mile. … Please support the fundraiser to help with medical bills facing burn victim Jorge Hernandez, 26, who lost his legs in a car explosion. Rain cocktail model Lindsay House has 9 Group’s support to assist her friend, and the fundraiser is at Palms Pool on Sept. 13. … Vicious comic Vinnie Favorito hosts a 25th anniversary roast of female impersonator Frank Marino at Imperial Palace on Sept. 23 to raise funds for Make-A-Wish Foundation. The date coincides with Frank’s 20,000th performance with his drag spectacular Divas playing Joan Rivers and wearing 17 fabulous gowns designed for him by Bob Mackie.

STAR SURVEILLANCE

Las Vegas resident Steve Lawrence is back in the Studio at the Palms with our pal producer Ron Dante working on a new album. Ron told me: “Steve is singing better than ever and a joy to work with.” The guys wrap up here later this fall. … Jermaine O’Neal of the Boston Celtics and seven pals partied at a VIP table at Moon in the Palms during the weekly industry party Bang. … Bizarre carnival performer Jim Rose, aka the master of all things strange, unveiled his cast of sideshow acts at the Palms in advance of his $200,000 Curiously Strange slot promotion there next week.

Photo: Courtesy

Steve Lawrence and Ron Dante.

TONIGHT’S TIPS

It’s the opening of the Brazilian-styled Sambalatte Caffe Lounge & Espresso Bar in Fashion Village at Boca Park with soothing samba sounds to accompany the relaxing “art of sipping.” … Vegas Royalty Clothing models showcase the newest fashions at Gold Lounge in MGM CityCenter’s Aria. … Todd Rexx has enlisted his comedy friends to join him for a new series of weekly comedy shows at The Lounge in the Palms.

Photo: Denise Truscello/WireImage

Bridget Marquardt, with director boyfriend Nick Carpenter, hosts The Playboy Club Circa 2033 Party at Moon in the Palms on March 9, 2010.

TOMORROW’S TEASE

The Girls Next Door and Bridget’s Sexiest Beaches star Bridget Marquardt sits for an interview with our esteemed Editor Don Chareunsy, and our contributing videographer Richard Corey gets a video tour of Howard Stern’s studio. Then on Friday, our conversation with Master Magician Lance Burton as he brings his 15-year headline run at the Monte Carlo to a close.

Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.

Follow Robin Leach on Twitter at Twitter.com/Robin_Leach.

Follow Vegas DeLuxe on Twitter at Twitter.com/vegasdeluxe.

Follow VDLX Editor Don Chareunsy on Twitter at Twitter.com/VDLXEditorDon.

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09.1.10 · 10:15 AM

Steve Wynn makes it official: Cy Waits is out, ‘free to pursue other interests’

Cy and Jesse Waits with Dan Henderson, Quinton "Rampage" Jackson, Michael Bisping and Georges St. Pierre at Tryst.

Photo: Jacob Dellagos

By John Katsilometes, Vegas DeLuxe senior editor

A statement issued this morning by Wynn Las Vegas representatives has made the status of nightclub manager Cy Waits official:

"Cy Waits has been separated from the company and is free to pursue other interests. Wynn has no further comment on this matter."

A co-manager with his 34-year-old twin brother Jesse of XS at Encore and Tryst at Wynn Las Vegas, Waits was arrested in a highly publicized incident Friday night outside Wynn Las Vegas on misdemeanor suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. A Metro motorcycle officer stopped a Cadillac Escalade being driven by Waits, his girlfriend Paris Hilton as passenger. The officer reportedly smelled marijuana smoke from the SUV. While detained at the Wynn, Hilton was found to have a small amount of powder cocaine and was arrested on suspicion of felony cocaine possession.

In addition to the .08 grams of cocaine on Hilton, who has said the illegal substance did not belong to her, police found a small "roach" that appeared to be marijuana in the vehicle after Waits failed a field sobriety test at the scene. Read the account of that finding here.

Hilton is expected to return for a court appearance Oct. 27, to face Las Vegas Justice Court Justice of the Peace Joe Bonaventure. Waits' date to return to court is expected to be in November before Las Vegas Justice of the Peace Nancy Oesterle.

Just two days before the arrest, the Waits brothers were entrusted with running XS and Tryst after Wynn parted ways with nightclub operator Victor Drai, who had a long partnership with Wynn and opened both lucrative clubs, which have been managed by the brothers since they opened. Jesse Waits has been back at his post since the arrest of his brother and is still employed by the company.

Follow John Katsilometes on Twitter at twitter.com/JohnnyKats.

The Kats Report is featured on the homepage of Las Vegas Sun.

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09.1.10 · 3:27 PM

The Amazing Kreskin issues a $1 million challenge in Sahara debuts

The Amazing Kreskin.

Photo: Courtesy

The Amazing Kreskin is 75 years old, but as the 20th Century’s Nostradamus, he’s not slowing down one iota! In fact, he told me with a laugh: “I’ll retire 10 days after I pass away, and that means there’s a long time to go yet.”

For six incredible decades, The Amazing Kreskin has been the world’s leading mentalist and thought reader, so much so that when he starts a 2-month run at the Sahara tonight, he’ll issue his famous $1 million challenge to assure integrity, as was shown in 2008’s The Great Buck Howard with John Malkovich that fictionalized Kreskin’s career.

At the finale to each 90-minute show at the Sahara, an audience committee will hide his paycheck, and if Kreskin fails to find where it’s hidden, he’ll lose the payday! “I’ve only ever failed nine times out of the 6,000 times since I started doing it,” he told me in an interview.

“I was in a large arena in New Zealand, which made it very difficult, and I never found the $51,000 check, so the money went to a children’s hospital there, so that was a good thing.

Photo: Courtesy

The Amazing Kreskin.

“But it’s the $1 million challenge that’s still on for the Sahara to prove I have no paid assistants, no confederates, no mechanical or electronic devices. What I do is not a gimmick, nor is it stunt magic.”

I can testify to that personally. I filmed an episode with Kreskin for my old Lifestyles of the Rich & Famous. I challenged him to find where I was hidden in Manhattan. He was taken with four New York celebrities to Central Park while I hid in a rooftop sports club’s swimming pool locker rom.

There was no way he could know because I was the only one to know where I hid myself. Kreskin was squeezed in between the celebs in a limo, and he kept on giving instructions to the driver where to go, even going up a one-way street at one point. He did get to the building, but there was no elevator in the lobby to get to the roof. That was in a separate side entrance. It looked as if I’d beaten him.

He couldn’t figure out how I was on the roof, as the elevators didn’t go there. Kreskin stepped away and suddenly decided to go to the rear of the building where the elevator was. He got up to the club, declared I was in the pool and then touched me on the shoulder where I was paying a locker room staff member. Absolutely incredible! Cindy Adams of The New York Post covered the adventure from start to finish, and we remain baffled to this day.

Photo: Courtesy

The Amazing Kreskin.

I’ve had Kreskin on as my guest many times through the years on various TV programs, and he’s never failed to amaze -- living up to his name! He’s appeared on 104 shows with Regis Philbin and performed 88 times on the late Johnny Carson’s The Tonight Show, becoming the inspiration for the legendary Karnak The Great. Kreskin also is saluted throughout the new hit film Dinner With Schmucks starring Steve Carrell. Here are a few YouTube videos of his stunning mentalism:

“I am thrilled to come out to Las Vegas,” Kreskin told me. “I am really looking forward to the Sahara run. I used to do eight-week runs in Vegas many years ago, but with 303 appearances and 180 bookings around the world in recent years traveling 3 million miles, there’s never been time to schedule a run in Las Vegas. The Sahara originally talked about 4 months, but this September-October run will get it started, and then I’ll come out for another two months over the course of the next 12 months.

“Vegas will be a new world for me because there have been so many changes since I was last there. I’m thankful I haven’t been forgotten being away for so long, but thanks to Hulu buying 30 half-hours of my old TV series and editing them to look like new and the 200 YouTube segments, everybody young and old knows what I can do. In a sense, the Internet changed our industry and made me new all over again.”

“I’ve insisted with the new Sahara shows that there will be no boundary between me and the audience. I’ll walk over the footlights and interact with the entire audience.”

In addition to the extraordinary long-form show, Kreskin will for the first time in a casino teach separate half-hour seminars for guests to play poker and blackjack better.

“It’s the first time in my entire life that a casino has wanted me to show their guests how to better their odds and better their chance at winning. It was entirely their idea. The players will get a real shot in the arm with this,” he said. “You have so many college kids today watching poker on television, I’m certain they will want to learn how to improve their own games.

Kreskin, who is banned from playing in casinos worldwide and is photographed in the Rogues Gallery to ensure that he doesn’t play, continued: “I will help the players control their thinking while playing. I will help them relate better to people and situations around them. I’m not a gambler, but I do love to play and interact with other players.

“Once I’d just finished two weeks of TV and playing a resort in Aruba, and the night I closed, I had to kill time before a 4 a.m. departure. So I sat down and pulled out $37 to play blackjack, and by 4 a.m. it had become $22,400 for breakfast!

“There was another time when a TV show challenged me to play $500 of blackjack to see how many hands I could win before busting out. I had a run of 22 successful hands before busting. They told me I’d beaten the record of 18 straight hands, and then I remembered that was my previous record. I beat my own record!”

Among his other achievements, Kreskin accurately predicted the results of the 2008 presidential election 11 months earlier, in 2008 he predicted on live TV the exact scores of the Super Bowl three days before the game on Fox, and a month before Canada’s national election precisely predicted the prime minister’s victory and the exact amount of seats he’d carry. Acknowledging his accuracy that same day, Kreskin shocked by predicting that the new government would collapse in 14 months -- it did, and he was off by just 5 days!

Hollywood superstar Tom Hanks produced and starred in The Great Buck Howard, and at the end of the movie, The Amazing Kreskin character played by John is credited as its inspiration.

Kreskin, who starts tonight at the Sahara, summed up: “If you saw the film, you know that Malkovich reproduces my very energetic handshake with audiences at every show. He spent three days watching me at work, shaking my hand and then studied it for three days on video. Audiences are going to love the new show and classes, and I think the chiropractors of Las Vegas will love me, too, after I finish greeting all the audiences!”

Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.

Follow Robin Leach on Twitter at Twitter.com/Robin_Leach.

Follow Vegas DeLuxe on Twitter at Twitter.com/vegasdeluxe.

Follow VDLX Editor Don Chareunsy on Twitter at Twitter.com/VDLXEditorDon.

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