Las Vegas Weekly

05.20.12 · 7:35 PM

Photos: Bieber, Underwood, Cyrus, DeGraw, Hough arrive at 2012 BMAs

It was all about sexy, dangerous and glamorous outfits for the stars arriving on the white carpet at the 2012 Billboard Music Awards at MGM Grand Garden Arena this afternoon.

Miley Cyrus looked to be wearing no bra or pants under her long, white, open-to-the-navel blazer and onstage was a wardrobe malfunction seconds away from happening. On the other hand, Lisa Marie Presley was quietly elegant in her floor-length gown, while Julianne Hough sparkled in a sequined mini.

Carrie Underwood won my vote for prettiest gown of the night, a gray-blue and ballooning chiffon number, and our hometown Empress of Soul Gladys Knight, who will return to “Dancing With the Stars” for its finale this week, wore a black cocktail dress that was understated elegance.

In contrast, Albanian pop-star Bleona Qereti, “the Madonna of Albania,” wore a black-netted, see-through, peek-a-boo dress by Jerell Scott. Dark fabric was used to cover up only the front and back strategic areas. Bleona, who speaks and performs in four languages, is the first Albanian artist on iTunes and the first southeastern European artist to sell more than 800,000 albums.

Music is definitely a worldwide business. Hotel mogul Donald Trump booked Bleona to sing at his Florida Mar-A Lago mansion for a fundraiser, and Prince Albert of Monaco is a big fan. Kerli, with her underwear, garter belt and stockings on display, wore the wildest outfit.

The 2012 BMAs attracted some interesting VIPs: Steve Wynn and wife Andrea were there with Tommy Hilfiger and timed their arrival to coincide with The Wanted so that Andrea’s children could meet the British boyband. Also at the show, Floyd Mayweather Jr. and original MTV DJ Downtown Julie Brown, who is a longtime friend and was with me in Australia for the filming of “I’m a Celebrity: Get Me Out of Here.”

Cee Lo Green skipped the carpet, but I learned that he’s begun describing his new show “Loberace” that will premiere at Planet Hollywood on Aug. 29 as a “real late-night adult party.” Cee Lo promises plenty of surprises for “Loberace,” which will run through year’s end. However, it looks as if “The Voice” will be renewed for another season, and contractually he will have to judge again, which will force him to wait on further “Loberace” shows.

His rep told me that the Liberace Foundation had invited Cee Lo to view the late Las Vegas entertainment legend’s memorabilia, wardrobes and jewelry and to pick out what he wanted to use in “Loberace.”

Jordin Sparks and Jason Derulo were the happiest and most romantic couple on the carpet. Jason performs on the “American Idol” season finale this week after battling a neck injury. Backstage, Jason said: “She was my backbone while I recovered. She took care of me. She tended to me, and we really fell in love as a result.” So how soon before he pops the question? “We’re only 22, so I have no idea” he said. Jordin joined with John Legend for a tribute to Whitney Houston and the Millennium Award presentation to Whitney’s daughter, Bobbi Kristina.

It also was an emotional night with last-minute script changes until curtain up to enable producers to note the death of Bee Gees founder Robin Gibb within the hour of the start of the three-hour broadcast. There also were tributes to disco diva Donna Summer and The Beastie Boys’ Adam Yauch, both of whom also succumbed to cancer.

Hosts and Emmy Award winners Julie Bowen and Ty Burrell of “Modern Family” -- or at least their life-size cardboard alter-egos -- filmed segments to promote Las Vegas on the awards at Hyde Bellagio, Qua Spa at Caesars Palace, the Grand Canal Shops in the Venetian and the new Gordon Ramsay Steak at the Paris, where the cutouts caught on fire and were extinguished by a waiter.

My favorite pre-performance moment was pop princess Katy Perry introducing her 93-year-old grandmother, who lives here, to everybody and making us laugh saying they were going off to do shots afterward.

Our thanks to Tom Donoghue, Glenn Pinkerton of Las Vegas News Bureau, Steve Marcus of the Las Vegas Sun and ABC for our photo coverage and to Richard Corey for his videos posted on YouTube (please keep checking back). And please check back Monday for our full coverage of the awards, including behind-the-scenes backstage highlights.

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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05.20.12 · 11:38 PM

Justin Bieber, Chris Brown dine at N9NE Steakhouse post-2012 BMAs

Justin Bieber, Chris Brown dine at N9NE Steakhouse post-2012 BMAs

By Don Chareunsy

What’s a young rock star to do after winning a 2012 Billboard Music Award at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas?

Well, if you’re Justin Bieber, 18, and Chris Brown, 23, you grab a bite to eat together at chef Barry S. Dakake’s N9NE Steakhouse in the Palms, of course. (Plus, Disneyland is closed at this hour.)

The Biebs was in town for the Floyd Mayweather Jr.-Miguel Cotto fight May 5 and was part of Mayweather Jr.’s entourage(!), while Brown and his girlfriend Karrueche Tran partied at Marquee in The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas with DJ friend Benny Benassi on Friday night.

More deets about Mr. Clean Cut and Mr. Controversy’s dinner have been promised in the morning. Thanks to The 9 Group for the iPhone pic of Brown, Barry and Biebs in the chef’s kitchen.

Don Chareunsy is editor of VegasDeLuxe.com and arts and entertainment editor of LasVegasSun.com.

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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05.20.12 · 1:08 PM

Photos: BMA rehearsals for Houston, Summer, Yauch tributes; Cee Lo

Cee Lo Green at the 2012 Billboard Music Awards rehearsals at MGM Grand Garden Arena on Saturday, May 19, 2012.

Photo: Rachel Been/Billboard

Last-minute juggling until midnight Saturday will ensure a tribute to disco queen Donna Summer at today’s 2012 Billboard Awards at MGM Grand Garden Arena airing on ABC. Her death this week from cancer prompted producers to shuffle the script, and the salute was still being worked on Saturday night.

Additionally, there will be a tribute to Beastie Boys’ Adam Yauch. The salutes to Donna and Adam are in addition to the long-planned emotional presentation of the Millennium Award to Whitney Houston’s daughter Bobbi Kristina when Jordin Sparks and John Legend perform with a full orchestra. John will sing “The Greatest Love of All,” and Jordin, who plays Whitney’s daughter in the upcoming film “Sparkle,” will sing “I Will Always Love You.”

Vegas DeLuxe has learned of amazing production elements being added to the BMAs: Expect a dazzling lighting backdrop and a knockout, show-closing duet with Stevie Wonder and Alicia Keys. (Stevie will be presented with the Icon Award by 10-time winner Alicia and saluted by stars onstage). Katy Perry will debut her single “Wide Awake” from her upcoming documentary “Part of Me.”

“American Idol” winners Carrie Underwood and Kelly Clarkson have surprises planned. Gossips will be watching Justin Bieber’s arrival and performance to see if weekend reports of his romance crashing on the rocks with Selena Gomez are true. I don’t believe anything has gone awry.

But it may well be that singer-songwriter and soon-to-be Planet Hollywood headliner Cee Lo Green grabs the lion’s share of headlines again with his expected performance of “Fight to Win” interpreted by inspirational one-legged dancer Jean Sok, who is on tour with Cirque du Soleil’s “Michael Jackson: The Immortal World Tour” spectacular. I first saw Jean at “Immortal’s” Montreal world premiere in October and again here during the Mandalay Bay Events Center run in December. To say that his dancing is an indelible image is an understatement. His remarkable talent will wow the world.

Other music superstars appearing include Chris Brown with his neon bike and acrobatic BMX stunt riders, Usher, Linkin Park, Nelly Furtado and Britain’s hot new boyband The Wanted, who have been all over Las Vegas this week and host their after-party at Lavo in the Palazzo tonight. Presenters include Charlie Sheen, Lisa Marie Presley, Miley Cyrus, Natasha Bedingfield, Whoopi Goldberg, Kris Kristofferson, Robin Thicke, Luke Bryan and “Dancing With the Stars” favorites Julianne Hough and our hometown Empress of Soul Gladys Knight.

Emmy Award winners Julie Bowen and Ty Burrell of “Modern Family” are the co-hosts, and nominees include Adele, Lady Gaga, Rihanna, Lil Wayne, LMFAO, Katy Perry, Nicki Minaj, Bruno Mars, Chris Brown, Drake, Justin Bieber, Coldplay, Lady Antebellum, Maroon 5, The Black Eyed Peas, Foster the People, Wiz Khalifa, Big Sean, Scotty McCreery and Bad Meets Evil.

The music world is still in disbelief over Donna’s sudden death. She last performed here in Las Vegas at a “David Foster & Friends” concert at Mandalay Bay Events Center, and I was as mesmerized by her voice last fall as I was in the 1960s with her first record for my friend Neil Bogart’s Casablanca Records.

David on Saturday said: “My wife Yolanda and I are in shock and truly devastated. Donna changed the face of pop culture forever. There is no doubt that music would sound different today if she had never graced us with her talent. She was a super-diva and a true superstar who never compromised when it came to her career or her family. She always did it with class, dignity, grace and zero attitude.

“Her extraordinary voice and musicianship were as relevant today as they were when she first singlehandedly led us into the ’80s with her undeniable mix of pop, rhythm, blues and soul. My Donna was all of that, but so much more. She was the most spectacular, considerate, constant, giving, generous and loving friend of 35 years. I am at a total loss trying to process this tragic news.”

Meantime, stars have found time between rehearsal schedules to hit the town. Lisa Marie Presley, husband Michael Lockwood and twins Harper and Finley watched “Viva Elvis” at Aria on Friday night. It was their second visit, and they went backstage to congratulate the cast and pose for a photograph.

Kelly Clarkson and John Legend dined separately at Wolfgang Puck’s Bar & Grill at MGM Grand, and Chris Brown and girlfriend Karrueche Tran were at Marquee in The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas to watch DJ pal Benny Benassi spin -- Chris jumped onstage to perform two unexpected songs.

Be sure to check back to Vegas DeLuxe for our coverage -- reports, photos and videos. Starting about 3 p.m., we will be on the red carpet, so follow along via Twitter -- @Robin_Leach. Finally, our thanks to Rachel Been and Alex Blumberg of Billboard for their photo gallery of Saturday’s rehearsals at MGM Grand Garden Arena.

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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05.19.12 · 4:05 PM

Photos: Dita Von Teese’s ‘Strip, Strip, Hooray’ dazzles at HOB

Burlesque is back big time thanks to Dita Von Teese and her spectacular, diamond-studded costumes that cost a cool $100,000 a piece, and she tosses them with the passion of a World Series pitcher in her new show “Strip, Strip, Hooray” at House of Blues in Mandalay Bay.

She came, she conquered, and burlesque is firmly back on the map again. “It’s more than I even dreamed of for all the years I wanted my own burlesque show,” Dita told me.

The audience at HOB, which included Las Vegas resident Tempest Storm and other burlesque legends, went wild for the pint-sized brunette bombshell as she unzipped tight bustiers and corsets, peeled off high-heels and seductively slinked out of diamond-seamed stockings. Her tiny 19-inch waist, perfect hourglass figure, porcelain features, bare treasure-trove thighs and bright red lipstick are a pinup’s dream.

Dita splashed from a diamond-crusted martini glass, sprawled sexily over a red-and-pink-sequined bucking bronco, posed provocatively inside a supersized powder compact and was gladly groped by many hands in the Chinese Opium box for her final number.

The show is 90 minutes, and Dita was onstage stripping, teasing, posing and dancing for 40 fabulous minutes of it with four exquisitely choreographed routines. Her cross-gender MC Murray Hill, two backup blonde lookalike stage mates, a Russian dominatrix, her spider web-crawling pal Catherine DeLish and “to hell with the weight” Dirty Martini, winner of numerous Las Vegas burlesque awards, round out the production.

Las Vegas is the third stop on Dita’s new cross-country tour, and reviewers and fans in L.A. and San Diego have gone wild for her. My exclusive interview with Dita as she prepared her “Strip, Strip, Hooray” was posted April 11.

“We’ve already been adding dates,” Dita said. “Some venues have asked if we could do two shows a night to meet the demand. But that would be too tough on us, on the clothes, on the seamstresses. This is a tough workout, and we want to give our all with each one, so a second show the same night wouldn’t quite work when we strive for such perfection.”

Contributing photographer Scott Harrison joined me to shoot this spectacular photo gallery Thursday night. Dita dazzled every second she was onstage, and the climax to her “Urban Cowboy” spoof was over the top. As she massaged and writhed atop the bull, the ceiling opened up and showered her in red-and-pink metallic confetti, and the audience erupted as if in mutual orgasm.

Girls kissed girls, girls kissed boys, and boys kissed boys Yes, it was that kind of a wild night of pasties and panties. “I’m loving the audience loving us and each other. It’s a turn on to know we’re turning them on.” Dita performs one more time tonight at HOB before hitting the road for San Francisco.

“We’re having some technical challenges with our props and scenery,” she told me. “House of Blues venues are perfect for rock groups and musicians bringing in guitars, but we’ve got everything from the bull to the 6-foot-tall glass to load -- I’m not adjusting what we do, so the venues are working around our needs.

“It all takes a little longer than planned, but we produced a beautiful show, and the audiences see that and are enjoying it fully. We give them an intermission and encourage them to come early and stay late to really enjoy the mood we’ve created.

“I’ve learned so much from the first seven performances of the show. It’s an incredible experience, and I’ve already got ideas for the next show. Maybe as the tour ticks on, we may even add them or swap them in.”

She excitedly summed up: “I’d waited ever since I decided I was bringing back burlesque to do this show. It’s turned out exactly what I hoped for -- and more. I wanted to take burlesque mainstream with today’s theatrics as opposed to the old-time vision of stripping, and audiences are loving it.”

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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05.19.12 · 2:31 PM

Kirsten Dunst, sans boyfriend Garrett Hedlund, parties at Hyde

By Don Chareunsy

Actress Kirsten Dunst partied at Hyde Bellagio early today -- from 1 to 4 a.m. -- with friends. Upon arrival at the Bellagio hotspot, the “Spider-Man” starlet requested a VIP table in Hyde’s DJ booth above the dance floor so that she could hang out with her pal DJ DiJiTAL as he spun at the ultra lounge overlooking the Bellagio Fountains.

Kirsten, sans boyfriend Garrett Hedlund (“Friday Night Lights,” “Country Strong”) enjoyed Grey Goose cocktails, danced for much of the night out and requested songs by Bruce Springsteen and Tom Petty.

Kirsten will be seen in theaters soon in two films: “On the Road,” also starring Garrett, Kristen Stewart, Amy Adams and Sam Riley and which is competing for the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival, and the comedy “Bachelorette,” with Isla Fisher and Lizzy Caplan that hits theaters June 1.

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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05.18.12 · 3:12 AM

Celebrity preview: BMAs with Biebs, Usher, Kelly, Carrie, Whitney tribute

Music from yesteryear, today and even tomorrow is the dominating factor this weekend on the Strip. The world’s most popular music stars are all here for the 2012 Billboard Music Awards at MGM Grand Garden Arena and airing on ABC.

Justin Bieber, Usher, Carrie Underwood, Kelly Clarkson, Nelly Furtado, Lisa Marie Presley, Miley Cyrus, Chris Brown, Linkin Park, LMFAO and Britain’s hottest boyband The Wanted (who hosted and performed at 1 OAK in the Mirage on Tuesday) are a few of the headliners making up the pop parade. Our hometown Empress of Soul Gladys Knight is one of the presenters as Stevie Wonder receives the Icon Award and Katy Perry debuts her song “Wide Awake” from “Katy Perry: Part of Me” out July 5.

Add in the emotional tribute with performances by Jordin Sparks and John Legend to the late Whitney Houston, with her daughter Bobby Kristina accepting the Millennium Award honoring her mother, and you have a super-charged night. Jordin portrays Whitney’s onscreen daughter in the summer film “Sparkle.”

With the galaxy of stars here, the nightclubs will be jam-packed as they entertain and host pre- and post-awards parties, including Cee Lo Green at Surrender in Steve Wynn’s Encore and LL Cool J at Rehab in the Hard Rock Hotel. You could even call it a “Dancing With the Stars” reunion weekend with Gladys, Julianne Hough and Karina Smirnoff all here.

For something completely different, go online to “Mindfreak” magician Criss Angel’s Magic Broadcasting Network at CrissAngel.com to watch the “Believe” star arm wrestle zany fellow Luxor headliner comedian Carrot Top, plus Criss’s much-anticipated interview with WWE’s Triple H about that injured arm.

Without further ado, let’s turn up the volume, hit the high notes, add the judges’ votes and hand out awards we affectionately title every week the Royal Robin Rundown:

FRIDAY, MAY 18

Academy Award-winning composer, singer and songwriter Paul Williams plays South Point for two nights; jazz and adult-contemporary vocalist Jane Monheit is at The Smith Center for the Performing Arts for two nights; and the Next Movement shows off new moves at the Cannery.

For laughter, look to Lewis Black at the Mirage for two nights; comedy impressionist Jeff Tracta spoofs stars through the decades using multimedia technology at The Pearl in the Palms all weekend; “Hangin’ With Mr. Cooper” star Mark Curry is at the Riviera all weekend; comedy actor T.J. Miller (“She’s Out of My League,” “Get Him to the Greek”) is at Empire Comedy at the Paris; Iliza Shlesinger is at Sunset Station; and Quinn Dahle and Brandt Tobler continue at Big Al’s Comedy Club at the Orleans all weekend.

OF SPECIAL NOTE

Chef Steve Martorano celebrates Cafe Martorano’s fifth anniversary at the Rio with a dinner to benefit our beloved Keep Memory Alive that funds Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health; burlesque bombshell Dita Von Teese continues her new show “Strip, Strip, Hooray” at House of Blues in Mandalay Bay through Saturday; Tahiti Taurua Nui I, a French Polynesian dance competition, is at the Orleans for two days; and tickets go on sale for Rock’n’ Blues Fest with The Johnny Winter Band and The Edgar Winter Group at The Pearl on Aug. 5 and Jennifer Lopez and Enrique Iglesias at Mandalay Bay Events Center on Aug. 18.

The 2012 Las Vegas Car Stars and Knight Rider Festival is at Fremont Street Experience today and Saturday and celebrates the 30th anniversary of “Knight Rider” and 35th anniversary of “Smokey and the Bandit.” Attendees, along with General Lee, the Batmobile, Black Beauty and Herbie the Love Bug, include Mayor Carolyn Goodman, John Schneider, Catherine Hickland, Rebecca Holden, Robbie Knievel, Seth Grabel, Erik Estrada, Lorenzo Lamas, Eddie Mekka and Fred Williamson.

PARTY PATROL

Gorgeous actress Kat Graham (“The Vampire Diaries”) is at Chateau Nightclub at the Paris; Dirty Dutch guests DJs at Tao in the Venetian; Diplo is guest DJ at Surrender; and Benny Benassi spins at Marquee in The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas.

SATURDAY, MAY 19

Bill Haley Jr. and The Comets rock around the clock at the Suncoast; the Men of Soul Tour featuring Jeffrey Osbourne, Peabo Bryson, Freddie Jackson and Howard Hewett is at the Cannery; guitarist Buddy Guy with vocal prodigy Quinn Sullivan do the blues at The Smith Center; Creedence Clearwater Revisited is at Buffalo Bill’s in Primm; rockers Sponge are at Sway Pool Lounge at Silverton Casino Lodge; Don Carlos and Friends perform at Soundwaves Poolside Stage at HRH to benefit Communities in Schools of Nevada; R&B Live Old School Edition with The Dramatics, Slave and Rose Royce is at LVH; and Stryper is at Santa Fe Station.

OF SPECIAL NOTE

Luxor headliners Carrot Top and Criss Angel arm wrestle for charity at CrissAngel.com at noon, plus Criss’s interview with Triple H, and remember that the showdown between Lamont Peterson and Amir Kahn at Mandalay Bay Events Center has been canceled.

Hard Rock Cafe on the Strip host a two-hour Zumbathon to benefit Southern Nevada Burn Foundation; Red Rock Resort chef Philipp Norsetter of T-Bones presents his first Project Dinner Table at the El Cortez; the 7th Annual Human Rights Campaign Gala with guest Jesse Tyler Ferguson (“Modern Family”) honors LVCVA President and CEO Rossi Ralenkotter; Border Grill’s “Top Chef: Masters” stars Mary Sue Milliken and Susan Feniger join the “Food Revolution” at Mandalay Bay; and tickets go on sale for Martina McBride’s Aug. 3 show at Green Valley Ranch and Pitbull’s Aug. 10 rap rendezvous at Red Rock.

PARTY PATROL

“Twilight” actress Nikki Reed celebrates her birthday at Marquee Dayclub; Cee Lo Green’s mini-concert is followed by Bingo Players at Surrender; “Good Day L.A.” anchor Lauren Sanchez guest stars at Pussycat Dolls Burlesque Saloon in Planet Hollywood; dance-pop sensation Kerli performs at Krave; and “DWTS” knockout Karina Smirnoff, who won Season 13 with J.R. Martinez, hosts at Tabu Ultra Lounge at MGM Grand.

SUNDAY, MAY 20

We’ll be at the 2012 Billboard Music Awards at MGM Grand Garden Arena, so be sure to check back Monday for our reports and photo galleries.

OF SPECIAL NOTE

Congratulations to Recycled Percussion, who celebrate their 500th performance at the Tropicana this weekend; for the 54th consecutive year, it’s American Cancer Society’s Coaches vs. Cancer’s Party With a Purpose,” a three-day affair, and it kicks off with a benefit at Hyde Bellagio before Monday’s celebrity golf classic at Shadow Creek; and judges Angel Porrino, Ricardo Laguna and Tedd Florendo vote on the Street Food Throwdown of competing gourmet food trucks at Tivoli Village in Summerlin.

PARTY PATROL

Interscope Records stars Far East Movement, Eva Simons, Blaqstarr, Starshell and Haley Reinhart host and perform at their official BMAs after-party at Vanity in the HRH; SkyBlu of LMFAO debuts his “Who Came to Party?” DJ residency at Wet Republic in MGM Grand; LL Cool J performs with DJ Z-Trip at Rehab/ The Wanted host a BMAs after-party at Lavo; DJs Tiesto and Robbie Rivera spin at XS’ after-dark pool party in Encore; Steve Angello is guest DJ at Encore Beach Club; Above & Beyond are at Marquee; and Ray J and Sophie Monk host a poolside party at VooDoo at the Rio to launch -- for real -- an ingrown hair removal product.

We’ll post reports and photo galleries during the weekend and continue our coverage Monday.

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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05.17.12 · 5:27 PM

Strip Scribbles: Criss Angel, Triple H, Donna Summer, Mariah Carey

It’s a fight I never expected, but it’s all in the name of charity when Luxor headliners Criss Angel and Carrot Top arm-wrestle each other for charity at noon Saturday. The best-of-three showdown between the “Mindfreak” magician and the zany redheaded props comic will be seen live on Criss’s Magic Broadcasting Network at CrissAngel.com with fellow Strip magician Nathan Burton as judge.

The bonus is an exclusive interview that Criss won for his Internet TV broadcast. He sat for a rare conversation with WWE superstar Triple H, and, yes, the wrestler will be seen with his injured arm in a sling to clear up that controversy. “It was a real coup to have him sit down and talk about everything, including the Brock Lesnar arm incident,” Criss told me.

RIP, DONNA: Condolences to the husband and family of disco queen Donna Summer with her death announced today after a battle with cancer. Donna regularly appeared here with our pal David Foster at his Mandalay Bay shows. My former New York City neighbor producer Niles Rodgers said he was in shock and tears over the news.

I go back with Donna to the late 1960s when my pal the late Neil Bogart launched his disco label Casablanca Records with the great Giorgio Moroder, who masterminded Donna in the studio. Donna will be sadly missed; she’d hoped at one point to entertain at our annual Keep Memory Alive fundraising gala.

VETERAN VISITORS: Sands Chairman Sheldon Adelson and his wife, Dr. Miriam Adelson, are hosting for the seventh time wounded veterans at his Venetian and Palazzo as part of the Salute Our Troops weekend with the Armed Forces Foundation. Sheldon has now hosted more than 600 wounded warriors and their guests. The veterans arrived by motorcade and were greeted by more than 400 hotel team members Wednesday, and students from Adelson School sung the national anthem and Nellis Air Force Base Honor Guard presented the colors. NASCAR driver and hometown hero Kurt Busch attended the ceremonies.

The wounded warriors flown from San Antonio Military Medical Center courtesy of Southwest Airlines are treated to all-suite accommodations, spa and salon treatments at Canyon Ranch SpaClub, Blue Man Group, Madame Tussauds, a night at Tao and an Omaha Steaks cookout.

PREGNANCY ADVICE: Singer Mariah Carey has confirmed that she sought fertility advice from Caesars Palace headliner Celine Dion and that they discussed various procedures, hormone treatments and acupuncture. Mariah turned to Celine after a 2008 miscarriage and said she got acupuncture to fight stress at least once a day and underwent a body-cleansing treatment. Mariah and husband Nick Cannon, celebrated their third wedding anniversary in April last year, the same day she gave birth to fraternal twins Monroe and Moroccan Scott.

MISS USA ARRIVALS: Donald Trump’s beautiful ladies in his 2012 Miss USA Pageant begin arriving Friday and move into their Planet Hollywood headquarters, with our Miss Nevada Jade Kelsall leading their way. They begin early next week preparing for publicity appearances, wardrobe fittings, then rehearsals, preliminaries and the big broadcast Sunday, June 3, on NBC.

ROCK CAMP: How’s this odd couple as your new teachers? Motley Crue frontman and hometown rocker Vince Neil is joining with KISS founder Gene Simmons for a Rock ’n’ Roll Fantasy Camp at MGM Grand from October 10-14. The boot camp sessions also include Sebastian Bach and Zakk Wylde. The course will teach rock star wannabes how to make it in the business. Gene, a former math teacher in Queens, said: “It will be a grueling, military-styled musical training process. We’ll reveal the secrets, but you’ll have to earn them because I’m just the guy to play sergeant. Drop and give me 20!”

5TH ANNIVERSARY: Congratulations to chef Steve Martorano, who celebrates five successful years of his Cafe Martorano at the Rio on Friday. He’ll present a four-course, family-style dinner with multiple dishes at each course, include his famous meatballs, homemade mozzarella, veal chop and chicken. He’ll serve his signature Yo Cuz chocolate and vanilla layered cake for dessert. All the proceeds support Keep Memory Alive, the fundraising arm of the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health.

PROMOTION FOR BRITT: Many sincere congratulations to Dawn Britt, communications director at the Venetian and Palazzo, on her big promotion to corporate director of communications for Las Vegas Sands. She’s been wonderful to work with and of invaluable help to Vegas DeLuxe over the years. Now her primary focus will be developing and implementing media strategies for the company’s community outreach, social-responsibility initiatives and philanthropy.

TONIGHT’S TIPS

It’s opening night of “Strip, Strip, Hooray” starring Dita Von Teese at House of Blues in Mandalay Bay for three nights. Comedy impressionist Jeff Tracta’s new show at the Pearl in the Palms is through Sunday. Comedian Mark Curry is at LVH. T.J. Miller begins three nights at Empire Comedy Club at the Paris. Rhumbar at the Mirage starts its Summer Nights. One Trick Pony performs at Haze in tandem with a pole-dancing contest. And nearby Liquid Pool Lounge recruits girls for its new Ladies Swim team synchronized to backstroke beats.

More than 35 chefs and restaurants, including Alize’s Andre Rochat, N9NE Steakhouse’s Barry Dakake and Nove Italiano’s Geno Bernardo are poolside at the Palms and in Rain with culinary stars from Tao, Lavo, Sushi Roku, Scarpetta, Fleur and Country Club at the Wynn for Taste of the Nation, the 20th annual culinary event that fights childhood hunger. Nearly $1 million has been raised to date.

Respected military hero Col. John Alexander lectures on UFOs with his “Myths, Conspiracies and Realities” at the new Area 51 attraction at the National Atomic Testing Museum on Flamingo just off the Strip.

TOMORROW’S TEASE

It’s an invasion of the world’s biggest music stars, with everybody from Justin Bieber, Miley Cyrus, Carrie Underwood and Kelly Clarkson here for the 2012 Billboard Music Awards at MGM Grand Garden Arena on Sunday. Will Adele make a surprise appearance? Add in a Whitney Houston tribute with daughter Bobbi Kristina, John Legend and Jordin Sparks and the Millennium Award to Stevie Wonder, and it’s another blockbuster weekend of entertainment detailed in our weekly Weekend Celebrity Preview.

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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05.17.12 · 1:12 PM

Photos: Dita Von Teese is ready to take it off at House of Blues

Burlesque bombshell Dita Von Teese, a one-time Las Vegas stripper, returns to town tonight in glory headlining her own “feathers and fans” variety show, “Strip, Strip, Hooray,” at House of Blues at Mandalay Bay.

“It’s been a longtime dream of mine, forever -- and finally it’s come true,” she said. It’s the third stop on a two-year global tour for “Strip, Strip, Hooray,” and she arrived Wednesday from rave reviews in L.A. and San Diego for her three-night run at HOB.

She was serenaded over the speaker system by flight attendants on Southwest from Southern California, and her show MC Murray Hill was invited to make one of the passenger announcements. (Will those 200 passengers will be at tonight’s debut?!)

Dita, who has appeared regularly here (“Crazy Horse Paris” at MGM Grand and Hyde Bellagio are two recent visits), simply casts spells onstage and off with her pint-sized power and mindboggling measurements.

“My waist is naturally around 23 inches,” she told me. “These days, I’m probably corseting around 18 to 19 inches -- somewhere around there! I stopped carrying around a measuring tape because my aim is not to have the smallest waist; my aim is just to have that hourglass shape. Plus, I love the look of a corset, so I kind of stopped trying to have the smallest waist a long time ago.”

We posted an interview with Dita last month when she began preparing for “Strip, Strip, Hooray.” I asked her to define “sexy” onstage and at home. She told me: “Sexy onstage is definitely about extravagance, a playful sense of humor infused with sexuality, full opulence, and, at home, I would say no rhinestones, no feathers, but definitely glamour still exists, but with a lot less makeup, yet plenty of lingerie!”

Dita, who has turned her 20 years of unique and historical art of burlesque into a global products business machine, will have her own merchandise area at HOB for the mini-run. “I’m really excited about my makeup line, Dita Von Teese for Art Deco, a German company, but we are working on it becoming available in America. We’re going to have a few of the products at ‘Strip, Strip, Hooray,” including the line of striptease writing instruments,” she said.

“More important than making money was for me to create a full-length show and do a proper U.S. tour. I’m really excited about the production, and the critics at the first shows in L.A. and San Diego loved it -- raved about it. It’s a whole production -- my biggest shows and a cast of what I consider to be the best of burlesque. This is the real big opportunity for anyone to see my shows on the big scale that they were meant to be seen.”

Dita has specially created costumes -- they weigh 60 pounds each -- for the show in which she performs four separate, 10-minute acts around other performers. Each outfit cost $100,000 and is decorated with half-a-million crystals. “Nobody has ever seen anything like it in burlesque,” she added.

The 90-minute production -- Dita is onstage for 40 minutes of it -- also stars Lada, one-time dancer at “Crazy Horse Paris,” the oversized Dirty Martini, Selena Luna and MC Murray Hill. Dita closes out the show with her “Opium Den” and starts the show with “Martini Glass,” in which she’ll get soaking wet.

She knows that she has to beat the clock to dry off and get new hair and makeup and into her next costume for the “Powder Compact” routine. “It’s too good not to intro the show with, but it doesn’t make any running order sense. So I just towel off and start all over again!” she laughed

Dita also will ride a full-sized mechanical bull with 6-foot-long, crystal-covered steer horns. “It’s a lot. I’m pushing myself because normally in my shows, it’s just one or two numbers maximum,” she summed up. “This time, it’s intense, but it’s the show I always dreamed of having -- and burlesque is back on the Strip!”

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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05.17.12 · 9:15 AM

Exclusive photos: Bagatelle is bringing Mediterranean flair to the Trop

A rendering of Bagatelle Las Vegas at the Tropicana.

Photo: The One Group

Construction is continuing nearly around the clock for next month’s opening of the stunning and spectacular Bagatelle Beach and Nightclub at the Tropicana, and Vegas DeLuxe has an exclusive sneak peek.

I took an advance walking tour of the sprawling day and nightclub resort with Jonathan Segal, CEO of The One Group, who acquired the property from the Tropicana across from MGM Grand in March.

“Our goal is to have all the elements in place for a spectacular summer season grand gala opening,” Jonathan told me. “We are thrilled to build off the momentum and success of our opening of STK [at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas] and now will create quite the splash in the day and nightclub scene, too.”

Here’s a YouTube video of the beginnings of Bagatelle Las Vegas.

Many of the elements of the original famed Bagatelle in New York and subsequent outposts in Los Angeles, St. Bart’s in the Caribbean and soon Miami and the South of France will be incorporated into the new Las Vegas experience. That includes the famous -- and notorious -- champagne party brunch imitated by many other nightclubs.

Bagatelle also will have beachside activities including a volleyball court, a bocce ball court -- all that can be converted into a beach soccer field. DJs and other entertainment on a raised stage will fuel the unique Mediterranean oasis with luxury cabanas with their own pools, plus daybeds for dining and lounging. At night, it transforms into a casual, poolside French restaurant with the occasional “dinner and a movie” bash, plus Bagatelle Nightclub.

“Multisensory on every level,” Jonathan told me. He is partnered with Bagatelle America partners Remi Laba and Aymeric Clemente. “We believe that Las Vegas becomes the third part of very important New York and Los Angeles Bagatelle successes. Those two are key to bringing our existing regulars to the Strip to join in the fun taste of the Mediterranean for Las Vegas visitors and locals.”

The One Group (STK, One, Asellina) introduced its first venue in early 2004 and now has brands in 24 venues, with multiple hotel contracts including famous party names such as Tenjune, Gansevoort Park in Manhattan and The Perry in South Beach.

We’ll have my full report of the advance tour of Bagatelle with Jonathan next week but wanted you to have the first peek at what to expect on Bagatelle Drive adjacent to the Tropicana. Club Nikki and Nikki Beach opened and closed in the space last summer and fall.

“The excitement has only just begun, and by opening day next month, we’re going to bring the new to Vegas that everybody else will be racing to copy yet again,” Jonathan promised.

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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05.17.12 · 11:57 PM

Impressionist Jeff Tracta, a man of over 100 voices, headlines at Palms

Jeff Tracta opens for Liza Minnelli at the Las Vegas Hilton on Oct. 7, 2011.

Photo: Tom Donoghue/DonoghuePhotography.com

Comedy impressionist Jeff Tracta takes on a seemingly impossible task when he sings, dances and jokes along with literally dozens of copies of himself as other stars. In an entertainment scene that seems to spawn as many magicians as ventriloquists and impersonators, he wanted to stand out with something new and different, and he’s pulled it off with perhaps the most unusual impersonation act ever attempted.

“You could only achieve this now with all the technological advances in multimedia video,” said Jeff, who performs at The Pearl in the Palms through Sunday. “Just a couple of years ago, it would simply be impossible.” Jeff, who was a longtime heartthrob on “Bold and the Beautiful,” was Liza Minnelli’s opening act at the Las Vegas Hilton in October, and now he’s the headliner.

“I have 45 extra minutes to prove myself. I have a 75-minute act; I did 30 minutes for Liza,” Jeff told me. “I am really excited about it. We are pulling out all the stops. The production is so much bigger than what I did at Liza’s show. It is a real multimedia experience. You’ll be blown away by the incredible technology.

“I’m not just performing with myself impersonating other stars times 30 or even times 60. At this point, it’s times 100. I morph into a lot of the people. I become Andrea Bocelli and do a duet with me as Sarah Brightman. I become all the guys from the Backstreet Boys. I become all the guys from The Black Eyed Peas. You have to come see if Fergie’s involved, too. People loved what they saw at Liza’s show, but now I’m on steroids.”

I asked Jeff, “How do you keep track of yourself and not lose yourself in all the other identities?”

“It’s practice. You practice and practice and practice until you go into autopilot. I watch gymnasts do what they do, and I marvel at their ability. They say they do it on autopilot; they practice it over and over. As an impressionist, especially when doing rapid-fire impressions, it really is the same way of practice that allows you to pull it off.”

Jeff’s use of double, triple and quadruple versions of himself make him unique. “I don’t think anyone has ever done it before. My producer John McEntee wanted to take it to another level. The key is we pulled it off. We’ve done it in such a way that the audience is in on it, and they know that every character they see is still me. People really have fun with it, and they love the idea that they are in on the fun.

Jeff was 7 when he discovered his knack for impersonating voices -- as an altar boy. “As a little kid, I would hear someone speaking with a distinct voice or a cartoon character, and immediately I could do it. When I went into show business, I got into the world of soap operas and I was a leading man, so there was never a reason for me to be a funny impersonator.

“I never had the opportunity in all the years of doing soaps to show my other side except in the makeup room. I would keep everyone laughing doing impressions of the other actors and the crew, but I got to a certain point where I had done enough leading man roles that I wanted to do something different.”

“I have three separate titles in the show -- impersonator, comedian and singer -- but if I had to drop two of those, I would be standing with impersonator because it is really my unique talent.”

Jeff has more than 100 voices in his repertoire, and some took him seconds to nail down, like Ray Romano, while others, like George Lopez with the raspy heaviness, took hours to learn.

“The toughest part of getting it right is getting to a place where you trust yourself. No matter what you do when you walk out on the stage, you are going to have contact with your audience. Just have fun with them and enjoy the experience with them. Leave the worry. I worry until I walk out on the stage; then I leave the worry behind and go on autopilot and have a blast.”

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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