Las Vegas Weekly

November 11, 2008 · 1:45 PM

Strip Scribbles: Ellen DeGeneres promises a bigger and better comedy-variety show

By Robin Leach

Ellen DeGeneres.

Photo: Las Vegas News Bureau

*A year ago at the Comedy Festival, talk show host and comedienne Ellen DeGeneres wowed with her “really big variety show.” For this year’s live Nov. 20 show in the Colosseum at Caesars Palace, she’s promising it will be the “Even Bigger Really Big Show.” She’s handpicked the lineup of unique performers and acts -- many never seen before on American television -- from as far away as Russia, Spain and Germany. Former Planet Hollywood headliner Hans Klok and current headliner Keith Barry are both expected to perform. The live show begins at 7 p.m. and is being taped for TBS broadcast on Nov. 29 at 9 p.m. as a two-hour spectacular. In addition to Ellen’s own standup, she’ll show a taped segment from the famous Legends in Concert show at Imperial Palace, where she crashes as an Ellen impersonator! “We decided to bring the show back to Vegas because the first act we booked is a brother-sister pole act,” Ellen said. “Apparently Vegas is the only place where you can get away with something like that.”

Photo: TVT

J.D., Costa and Michael present Criss with a painting at the premiere of Believe.

*Artist Michael Godard teamed up with Criss Angel’s brothers, J.D. and Costa, to present the magician with a special painting to celebrate the Mindfreak star’s premiere of the Believe show at the Luxor. Vegas DeLuxe just obtained the photo of the incredible artwork and got permission to share it with you. Godard, who has appeared on episodes of Mindfreak with Criss, said the gift was one of his best pieces to date.

Photo: TVT

Joel Robuchon and Robin Leach.

*If you only give or receive one cookbook this upcoming holiday season, make sure it’s the new complete Robuchon one --- his fifth. This giant Joel Robuchon masterpiece has more than 800 recipes from the world’s No. 1 chef who is referred to reverentially by his peers as the “Pope of Modern Cuisine.” “It’s cooking for the way we live now,” said the Parisian prince when he flew in for the special book signing unveiling at his two MGM restaurants. Food writers and critics have been unanimous in their praise for his biblical work.

MGM executives hosted a party for him in the rarely seen, ultra-private Mansion at the MGM, and selected top food critics from across America lined up for the intimate and exclusive signing. In 1989 the prestigious Gault Millau named Joel, who began as a 15-year-old hotel restaurant apprentice, the one and only Chef of the Century. Today his empire stretches from Vegas to London to Hong Kong to, of course, Paris.

Photo: TVT

Chef Joel Robuchon at his book signing.

He told me there are no photos in the massive cookbook because he didn’t want readers to be worried about duplicating his own artistic eye. “If they follow the recipes, which we have set out in simple terms, they will be able to cook just like me even if they can’t make it look identical to my dishes.”

*For those who did a double take and then moved on, saying, “Nah, that couldn’t be rap mogul Nelly.” But it was! Yep, Nelly was spotted playing privately, quietly, anonymously in the new pleasure poker lounge at MGM over the weekend. Nobody bothered him because nobody guessed it was actually him!

*Racy rumors and scandalous secrets: A huge new pedestrian bridge is to be constructed at the heart of the Strip. I’ve learned reliably that one leg will cross the Strip from the giant MGM CityCenter complex to Planet Hollywood, and another leg of the bridge will connect from that to the under-construction Cosmopolitan, which is CityCenter’s closest neighbor. … Which mighty mogul lands this week in Vegas with a bank book of mega-cash ready to start buying up bargains from cash-strapped property owners on the Strip? He says within 12 months, we won’t recognize the new owners of Strip properties because of what will be bought and sold. … Is hotel mogul Steve Wynn celebrating the inclusion of his Wynn resort stock as a component of Standard & Poor’s in these tough economic times? … What new tower under construction in Vegas is going to get an eight-floor haircut because of not only the economic crunch, but also because of construction problems?

*Actor Rex Lee, best-known for his role as Lloyd on HBO’s hit show Entourage, dined at Stack in The Mirage with friends before attending a private MAC cosmetics party at the adjoining Jet nightclub. Rex selected the hot wings, spicy crab and sea bass from the chef’s menu selections for his dinner.

Tonight’s tip

*Famed international chef Guy Savoy arrives from Paris to his self-named restaurant at Caesars Palace to celebrate the return of Italy’s prized new white truffle with a special tasting menu through Sunday.

*More than 800 firefighters from as far away as New Zealand but including our heroes from the Vegas Fire & Rescue Unit, the North Las Vegas Fire Department and the Sparks (Reno) Fire Department converge on the Fremont Street Experience downtown. No, nothing is on fire, except the spirit of the combatants in the World Firefighter Challenge. The battle is known as the “toughest two minutes in sports.” A five-event obstacle course tests firefighters’ fitness levels and agility in this year’s 17th Annual World Challenge. The competition requires that firefighters wear full bunker gear and a Scott Air-Pak while completing a rigorous course that includes a five-story stair climb with a 45-pound hose, a hose hoist, forcible entry with a Keiser Force Machine, a hose advance and victim rescue. The World Challenge will be part of a four-part series featuring the Las Vegas finals and will air on the Versus Network in January. The event runs through Saturday’s individual finals.

*Comedian Rocky LaPorte headlines at the Improv in Harrah’s with fellow comics Scott Kennedy and David Gee through Sunday, and any veterans or servicemen in uniform get free admission all week long. … The “Ultra Beatdown” world tour with DragonForce and Turisas pulls into the House of Blues at Mandalay Bay. … The 88 have special guests Satisfaction and Datcon Encoda for their show at Wasted Space at the Hard Rock. … World-renowned DJ Paul Oakenfold twists the turntables with a special, live, midweek set at Rain in the Palms. … And Sugar Ray’s own DJ Homicide kicks off his new monthly residency at Blush in the Wynn.

Tomorrow’s tease

Does Britney Spears have a secret surprise plan to spend New Year’s Eve here on the Strip? Vegas DeLuxe has the inside track on the possible live TV show negotiations. We’ll have the early Morning Call on which Dancing With the Stars contestant got axed, and new Strip magician Keith Barry lets us peek in on some of his amazing hypno-magic. Do not try this at home! Plus we’ll party with the stars at Lavo and the Wynn.

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