Las Vegas Weekly

August 6, 2008 · 5:23 PM

Strip scribbles: Vegas calendar shoot, Criss Angel grabs ratings

By Robin Leach

* Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban is such an avid fan of Vegas that he approved his sexy team of dancers to shoot their annual calendar here. It was three intensive days of shooting, and Luxe Life had the first exclusive look at the gorgeous ladies on location. They also hosted Jet nightclub’s first annual Club Bling Ball at the Mirage after dining next door at Stack restaurant and bar. Joining the dancers, who put on their own shaking "groove thing" in the VIP booths, was New York Knicks basketball star Stephon Marbury -- all enjoying the Moet Chandon champagne into the wee hours.

Photo: Courtesy photo

Dallas Mavericks dancers.

Photo: Courtesy photo

Dallas Mavericks dancers.

* Mindfreak Criss Angel scored an amazing ratings win for his "Building Implosion Escape" special on A&E, with more than 2.2 million viewers watching his escape from an exploding Florida hotel ... Despite ho-hum reviews and some severe lambasting from TV critics, Pamela Anderson’s first installment of Pam: Girl on the Loose on he E! grabbed 1.1 million viewers. The premiere, which filled the previous Denise Richards time slot, featured several segments shot in Vegas.

*Star surveillance: NBA Finals MVP Paul Pierce, of the Boston Celtics, who maintains a condo here near South Point Casino, was surrounded by fans at N9NE Steakhouse in the Palms. Then, the bunnies swarmed him when he went upstairs to the Playboy Club ... Boxer Zab Judah wasn’t going to let a little loss upset his party plans, and he showed up with a large entourage at the new Christian Audigier nightclub in Treasure Island. He even jumped on DJ Casanova’s mic to encourage the crowd to keep the dance floor packed.

Photo: N9NE Group

Paul Pierce with the Playboy Bunnies.

* RollerCon '08 wrapped after three days of after-hours events at the Double Down band-bar opposite the Thomas & Mack center. One of the highlights included a "roller wedding," under the stars at midnight in the parking lot of "the happiest place on Earth." Onlookers said that during a half-hour break between bands, the Pin Ups and Pat Todd & The Rank Outsiders fans went outside to the Double Down parking lot for the "roller wedding" and were mobbed by hundreds of participants and onlookers. The wedding featured some 157 couples, and was officiated by "Dumptruck Elvis" and "Razorslut.” The RollerCon national conference rolls into Vegas every summer, and this year took place at the Imperial Palace.

* Time for us to roll on out, too, as the Luxe Life summer schedule gets underway. I’m only exchanging one vow this time around, and that’s a promise to keep you well-entertained and well-read while I’m away over the next two weeks. Before I jet off from McCarran, I’ve put the highlight of entertainment attractions of the next five days in a beautifully gift-wrapped package we affectionately describe as Robin’s Royal Rundown:

Wednesday

* Superstar entertainer Cher returns to her Caesars Palace showroom for her spectacular production and dazzling costumes. She’s here now until the end of the month -- and every photographer in town will be trying to catch her with the new love-mate she’s linked to!

* Local and national bands taking part in the Amplify! Music conference downtown perform in shows at both the Ice House and Beauty Bar nightspots.

* Hot local favorite Chris Cornell will be performing for the first time on stage all the material from his 13-album career at the House of Blues in Mandalay Bay. His opening act and special guest is Adelitas Way.

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