Las Vegas Weekly

December 11, 2008 · 1:39 PM

Strip Scribbles: Cher’s mission of mercy to Nepal’s orphans

By Robin Leach

Cher onstage at The Colosseum.

Photo: Caesars Palace

When doctors ordered Caesars Palace headliner Cher to cancel a run of October shows due to an allergy-related illness, she apparently elected not to just stay in bed at her Malibu home. According to Contact Music, Cher decided to fly to Nepal and launch a charity mission for South Asian orphans. This is the second time she has donated time and money for a children’s orphanage in a foreign country. Earlier this year, Luxe Life reported that her last-minute donations saved an African orphanage run by a British couple from going under when funds dried up. Cher also works hard behind-the-scenes on a U.S. charity dedicated to the medical care of brain-damaged children born with facial deformities anywhere in the world. Cher’s serious throat-congestion problems have subsequently been healed thanks to heavy antibiotics.

*One-third of the residents of tiny 350-strong Cranfills Gap in Texas will land in Las Vegas today for the ultimate, free, five-day vacation getaway. But the 120 people who could get off work and are older than 21 will be followed around the clock by video cameras recording their every move. Our Convention & Visitors Authority is picking up the $2.5 million tab for their airfare, hotel rooms, show tickets and meals in some of our finest restaurants. The footage will be edited into new tourism TV commercials for broadcast early next year in a bid to boost the Vegas visitor counts! One couple from the tiny town even plan to get married in one of our wedding chapels while here this weekend. Tourism officials said they checked out 125 tiny towns before selecting Cranfills Gap, which only has two stop signs, no traffic lights, one bank, one gas station and one bar! They’re either going to love us or loathe us -- but it will be the love message that makes it on air!

Photo: The Light Group

Jody Meyers and David Blaine.

*Magician David Blaine had himself one busy night on the town during his Las Vegas visit. He took in fellow magic man Lance Burton’s show at the Monte Carlo and then enjoyed dinner at the new Brand steakhouse there. Afterwards, he grabbed a VIP table at the Bank in the Bellagio, where female fans tried their sleight-of-hand come-ons! Detroit Tigers star Gary Sheffield was there in a separate party group.

Photo: Las Vegas News Bureau

Mayor Oscar Goodman attends the Christmas tree lighting at Fremont Street Experience on Dec. 11, 2008.

*Our merry Mayor of Mirth Oscar Goodman led family, friends and members of the Holiday Lights on Ice skating ensemble at the Fremont Street Experience’s annual tree lighting ceremony. He flipped the switch to the 60-foot Christmas tree wishing everybody good health and happiness for the holiday celebration.

Photo: PMG

The cast of Fantasy at LAX.

*Those sexy, sassy senoritas from the topless cabaret revue Fantasy at the Luxor hosted a party at LAX, which attracted former Baywatch star Jeremy Jackson, who raced over with pals partying at sister nightclub Christian Audigier in Treasure Island. Meantime, up at the other sister nightclub Pure in Caesars Palace, Ricky “The Hitman” Hatton and Sergio “Latin Snake” Mora palled up with their respective entourages to soak up the scene, and professional boxer Winky Wright joined them.

Photo: PMG

Jeremy Jackson.

Photo: PMG

Keith Leavitt and Ricky "The Hitman" Hatton.

*Star surveillance: Actor Luke Wilson took a break from local filming of his new movie Middle Men, about the Internet sex business, for leisurely afternoon dining at Wolfgang Puck’s Spago restaurant in the Forum Shops at Caesars. He ordered the hand-cut fettuccine and yellowfin tuna while his mystery guest ordered the chicken salad sandwich. … San Diego Chargers Shaun Philips, Shawne Merriman and Stephen Cooper took over a dance floor corner section of Jet at The Mirage and showered club revelers with dollar bills as their favorite songs were played. Every time they loved a hit record, they ordered up a new bottle of Ace of Spades champagne! … Eccentric singer Maynard Keenan of Tool and A Perfect Circle enjoyed dinner at Lavo in the Palazzo. As a budding winemaker in town to promote the new release from his winery Caduceus, he stuck with the grape for dinner and ordered a bottle of Nickel and Nickel Cabernet! … Mystery illusionist David Blaine appeared out of nowhere at 3 a.m. in Lavo, but in true magician style simply disappeared right before revelers’ eyes 30 minutes later. … R&B singer Christal Ray hosted the Las Vegas Music Awards after-party with founder and Chairman Andre Banks at the Hawaiian Tropic Zone in the Miracle Mile at Planet Hollywood.

Photo: Ethan Miller/Getty Images

Christal Ray.

Photo: Ethan Miller/Getty Images

Andre Banks.

*Here are a couple of really important advance notices for your planning: First up tomorrow afternoon from 2 to 5 p.m., you get the opportunity to join Marie Osmond at a doll signing at the Flamingo, which is perfect timing for the gift-giving season. (BTW, we have an exclusive interview already with Donny Osmond for next week about his top-secret dancing lessons in advance of that hit ABC show come-a-calling next season!) Marie tells me the new Flamingo Belle doll is a hot-pink, Las Vegas-themed glitzy showgirl. However, she’ll have all the other classic favorites from her collection, and she’ll happily sign whatever ones of hers you buy. … On Dec. 27, Chuck “The Iceman” Liddell will give away a Hummer when he hosts the knockout UFC 92 after-party at Studio 54 in MGM Grand. You can register to win the customized IcemaNRX Hummer by logging on to IcemanRx.com before next Monday.

Photo: LAX

Chuck Lidell and Wolf at LAX in the Luxor.

*Legends in Concert, the longest-running celebrity tribute show in the world, turns its stage at Imperial Palace into a holiday celebration as of Monday through year-end for only the second time in its 25-year run. The holiday show will feature specially produced musical arrangements to complement the performances of the most celebrated tribute acts in show business representing the likes of Elvis Presley, Ann Margaret, Madonna, Justin Timberlake, Donna Summer and Jay Leno. After Jan. 17, the successful production, which has called Imperial Palace home for 25 years, will jump a little farther north on the Strip and reopen Jan. 19 at Harrah’s with shows six days each week. Talk show host Ellen DeGeneres recently featured the look-alikes, and one member of the audience thinking she was an impersonator in a memorable moment said she looked and sounded better than the real thing!

Photo: Opportunity Village

Photo: Opportunity Village

*Six members of Jersey Boys at the Palazzo, including Rick Faugno (Frankie Valli) and Jeff Leibow (Nick Massi), performed the national anthem at a swearing-in ceremony at Opportunity Village’s Magical Forest last night. The event was officiated by a judge from immigration services for approximately 30 OV teenagers. The Jersey Boys cast kicked off the event with a special rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner.” Our photos show OV’s chief officer Linda Smith with Judge Lloyd George and Lola Parocua from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and the happy kids who are now Americans!

Tonight’s tip

Whoever would have thought we’d be tipping you off to the grand opening of a McDonald’s? Ah, but the new Viva McDonald’s on the Strip opposite the Riviera is no ordinary burgers and fries joint! (Click HERE for our sneak preview.) This one comes with its own McTV channel playing Discovery Channel shorts every three minutes. Our Merry Mayor of Mirth Oscar Goodman cuts the red ribbon today, and Harrah’s comedy magician headliner Mac King will do an hour of counter service taking and fulfilling your orders to raise money for the Ronald McDonald House charity. Tao nightclub has decided to start its first girl-on-girl kissing contest, and at this evening’s contest for “I Kissed a Girl,” $5,000 is up for grabs to the winning lip-locked smoochers!

Photo: Preferred PR

Viva McDonald's on the Strip.

Tomorrow’s tease

Our brief but exclusive interview with famed motorcycle stuntman Robbie Knievel as he prepares for his New Year’s Eve jump across the new Mirage volcano, plus the man who built the fiery exploding monster reveals his next project for CityCenter will be bigger than even the Bellagio fountains he created! … Carmen Electra gets ready to squeeze into a Bunny costume for her sexy stint as a Playboy Club blackjack dealer, and Jamie Foxx plans his wild birthday weekend in Vegas!

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