Las Vegas Weekly

October 20, 2008 · 7:50 AM

Paul Rodriguez turns over hosting duties on ‘Real Deal’ to rotating celebrity hosts

By Robin Leach

Paul Rodriguez has been flushed.

UPDATED 1:45 p.m.

Producers of the new "Real Deal' interactive poker show have just confirmed our early-morning story today that comedian Paul Rodriguez will not be hosting its premiere at the Venetian tomorrow night. Strip comic Vinny Favorito who hosts an edgy in your face comedy show at the O'Sheas Theater at the Flamingo casino will host the show for now.

A series of different celebrity hosts will join the show later on an ongoing basis. The only explanation given to the sudden departure of Rodriguez just 36 hours in advance of "curtain up" is that "unexpected conflicts arose in his schedules." a spokesman added: "Vinny Favorito was going to co-host and stand in for Paul when he was away fulfilling other commitments. In early testing of the show he proved hilarious and incredibly popular with audiences."

The 'Real Deal' features 10 of the world's top poker professionals and the audience gets to play along with them in the "final table." One audience member can win $1-million if they join the Final Table and pull a Royal Flush.

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It was unclear early this morning (Monday) in a behind-the-scenes drama if Latino comic Paul Rodriguez is still the main host of the new Real Deal interactive poker show which is set to premiere tomorrow (Tuesday) evening in Wayne Brady's theater at The Venetian.

Rumors began to swirl late yesterday (Sunday) that he'd left the ambitious production and was being replaced by local comedian Vinny Favorito. It was also unclear whether it was Paul's decision or the producer's decision. Insiders, aware of the ticking countdown just hours before first night curtain-up, whispered that "it’s a fluid situation and to be patient.”

I was reliably told by one solid source that Paul was "totally out" and Vinny was "totally in.” However, although Venetian officials confirmed hearing the same rumors, I couldn't get a solid second source confirmation late last night -- but this morning I have now been promised that an official statement to address the host situation would be released sometime early today.

Originally, Paul was named as the single host of the Real Deal show -- but Sunday newspaper ads listed he and Vinny as co-hosts, with Vinny's photo on a playing card set on top of Paul's playing card photo!

When I interviewed Paul last week for tomorrow's premiere he told me that Vinny would be standing in for him while he completed various other comedy contractual bookings over the first four months of the show's run -- including an overseas holiday USO troop tour -- and that he would then move full-time to Vegas. We'll still run that interview tomorrow to tie into the show's premiere, but now we'll check it for hints of what turmoil may have been happening behind-the-scenes.

Paul even told me that the preview rehearsals were going well and that preview audiences loved the concept and playing with the cast of poker pros. The multimillion-dollar production is the first time that audience members play along with poker pros at “the final table” with interactive handheld game devices tied to the stage action. One member of the audience joins a rotating cast of eight top-name professional players and has a shot at a $1 million cash prize pot. Other prizes are awarded to the audience. Paul said one 'preview player' was only one card-turn away from a Royal Flush that would have triggered the first $1-million payout.

Here's our initial Luxe Life story and advance photos of the production from just a few days ago as dress rehearsal run-throughs: began.

Vinny, a Boston-born comic, has a nightly show at the Flamingo, having moved from O'Shea's (also owned by Harrah's Entertainment). He is described as a "hilarious, quick-witted wise-cracking insult-style comedian" with an uncanny and phenomenal memory that allows him to remember names and pertinent details of up to 40 people in his nightly audience. He also hosts a two-hour Monday thru Friday sports show Wise Guys on the Fox Sports Radio network.

We'll have the official update posted here within moments of it being released- so check back often this morning for the update and our regular column filled with Justin Timberlake's concert and after party and the stars on parade at the first anniversary party of the Blush nightclub at the Wynn. You won't read the story of Lance Bass's visit to the Emergency Room for an injured voice-pipe from a kickboxing accident anywhere else!

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