Las Vegas Weekly

September 30, 2008 · 3:45 PM

Strip Scribbles: Sightings and tonight’s tips

By Robin Leach

* A new modern burlesque show is coming to the Strip thanks to the producers of Phantom of the Opera. Scott Zeiger, head honcho of Base Entertainment, confirms the hiring of Broadway choreographer Jerry Mitchell. Scott says the burlesque-oriented attraction has an eight-figure budget and will be unveiled early in the New Year! I know exactly where it's headed but have been sworn to secrecy so will have to stay mum a little longer!

* Vegas resident Jay Cutler narrowly missed his third consecutive Mr. Olympia title at the Orleans Arena. He still walked away in second place with $90,000, being beaten by just a couple of points by Dexter Jackson, who took the top $155,000 prize. Other winners were third-place Phil Heath with $60,000; Denis Wolf in fourth with $48,000, Toney Freeman placed fifth with $38,000 and Melvin Anthony in sixth place earned a $30,000 payday. You can click here for all of our Jay Cutler coverage before the weekend championships!

Photo: Boyd Gaming

The Top 6 "pose-off."

Photo: Boyd Gaming

Dexter Jackson

Photo: Boyd Gaming

Women's competition

* Eight-year-old Abigail Varghese from Henderson performed Diamonds on the Water to win the classical junior (under 12) division of the 2008 Liberace piano competition. Carmen Lai, a 17-year-old Vegas High school student, won in the age 13-plus category of Classic Senior. Overall, 26-year-old Christopher Carter from Alabama won for professional showmanship and 21-year-old Montana pianist Ashlee Young won the classical adult category. Each winner, who will be performing at our Liberace Museum attraction here, won a $1,000 scholarship contribution and $1,000 in cash prizes.

* When you are a local legend like Brandon Roque you can expect star surprises for your birthday. At his Prive nightclub bash inside the Planet Hollywood resort casino, rapper Lil’ Jon showed up and performed an impromptu DJ set and Tito Ortiz left pregnant gal pal Jenna Jameson home while he joined the party.

Photo: Ash Hopkins

Lil Jon

Photo: Ash Hopkins

Lil Jon

Photo: Ash Hopkins

Lil Jon

Photo: Ash Hopkins

Lil Jon

* Star surveillance: Actresses Sarah Lancaster (from NBC's Chuck, Scrubs) and Amy Adams (Enchanted, Talladega Nights) dined with Don Henley's daughter, Brittany, at BOA Steakhouse in the Forum Shops of Caesars Palace, feasting on the truffle nachos and petit filets with asparagus … fitness model CJ Jones (not the football player with same name) hosted the Powerhouse Gym Olympia after-party at the boutique Blush lounge in the Wynn Las Vegas, where gossip guru Perez Hilton also partied. Perez was also seen drinking snow-queen vodkas till 1 a.m. in the Prive nightclub at the Planet Hollywood resort ... Lou Ferigno’s daughter Shanna dined at the Cathouse restaurant in the Luxor before joining "The Incredible Hulk" at his Mr. Olympia banquet ... Hip-hop DJ pioneer Grandmaster Flash was a guest on the wheels of steel as he twisted the turntables at the Body English nightclub inside the Hard Rock.

Photo: Scott Doctor

Photo: Denise Truscello

Gossip guru Perez Hilton.

* For a rare and unique taste treat, Caesars Palace restaurant owner Guy Savoy went fishing in the waters off France’s Brittany coast and returned to Vegas with the famous blue lobsters. He’s paired it with an extraordinary collection of heirloom tomatoes served four different ways and it is mouthwatering beyond belief.

* Two segments of tomorrow morning's "Fox and Friends" news show will feature the 2009 Miss America contestants, including our new Miss Nevada pageant queen, former Miss America and co-host of the Fox News cable TV show. Gretchen Carlson will anchor the segments at 6.30 a.m. and 8 a.m. Eastern time. It will focus on the new state title-holders who are now in Los Angeles filming the new TLC reality series "Miss America: Countdown to the Crown," which will air leading up to the live pageant show being held at the Planet Hollywood resort hotel casino on the Strip. Tomorrow afternoon I'm taking the reigning 2008 Miss America, Kirsten Haglund, on a Vegas shopping spree and we'll have that full interview about her year since being crowned at Planet Hollywood last January on an upcoming Luxe Life posting.

Tonight's tip:

Carey Hart has a triple-punch with Under the Influence of Giants, Actress and Major Grace at his Wasted Space rock club in the Hard Rock casino hotel ... comedian Maryellen Hooper headlines at the Improv at Harrahs through Sunday night with fellow comics Robert Dubac and Taylor Williamson … And to all of our Jewish friends our wish for a blessed Rosh Hashanah.

Tomorrow's tease:

Headline singer Bette Midler vows ‘no more touring’ as part of her environmental contribution. We party with the cast of "Chuck" and welcome the new M resort’s flying lightship as it arrives to sparkle high above the Strip. Luxe Life celebrates at the new freezing Minus 5 lounge and checks the auditions for the ghoulish Fright Dome attraction at Circus Circus.

Share This