Las Vegas Weekly

April 10, 2009 · 9:44 AM

Strip Scribbles: George Lucas taps Ne-Yo for new film Red Tails

By Robin Leach

Ne-Yo at home with the mic at Pure.

Photo: Erik Kabik/Retna/www.erikkabikphoto.com

Over the past 30 years, movie mogul George Lucas has focused on his blockbuster Star Wars and Indiana Jones franchises. Now he’s about to embark on his first project outside those hits, and Vegas DeLuxe has learned that our hometown music mogul Ne-Yo will star alongside Cuba Gooding Jr. and Method Man in Red Tails.

George has developed a script about the black pilots who made up the Tuskegee Airmen combat squadron who flew heroic missions during World War II. No details yet about when shooting will start or completion and release dates.

Photo: MTV

A sultry Britney Spears in lecture mode.

Wicked whispers & racy rumors

As pop princess Britney Spears begins the western U.S. portion of her tour and heads to Las Vegas on April 25, there are increasing rumors that she’s reconciled with ex-husband Kevin Federline. Star magazine reports Monday that “they’ve rekindled their once red-hot sex life” with tour trysts backstage, in her dressing room and at hotels en route. One family insider is quoted as saying, “They’re newlyweds all over again and can’t keep their hands off each other.” It just begs the question: What will ex-volleyball star Victoria Prince have to say about the reports since supposedly she’s K-Fed’s current girlfriend.

Photo: Chris Weeks/Getty Images

Pete Wentz and Ashlee Simpson-Wentz at Pure on New Year's Eve.

Just how wild did rocker Pete Wentz behave in his after-show celebration at the Palms? Vegas Deluxe reliably reported that he had his own Fantasy suite where he played bartender to guests, including his band members and Holly Madison, who won a Slip ’n’ Slide contest. Now Star is reporting that among the 50 guests there were scantily clad dancers, and they’ve got photos of the Fall Out Boy bassist partying hard -- and even dancing atop the pool table with them! Simultaneously, Pete’s wife of nearly one year, Ashlee Simpson, proudly Twittered to fans a photo of their 4-month-old son Bronx Mowgli saying how much she missed being with her rocker husband! Ashlee sent the following tweet: “I am beyond sad to leave my love. My heart is breaking as we drive home. I need my hubs.” Wonder how many tweets she’ll utter when she sees the scandalous photos?

Photo: BernieDexter.com

Bernie Dexter.

Photo: BernieDexter.com

Bernie Dexter.

*Pin-up beauty Bernie Dexter is hailed as the most famous retro-style lingerie model in America today, and in addition to regularly posing in Lucy B lingerie and the Stop Staring and Lucky 13 underwear lines, she has created her own rockabilly fashions focused on seduction and sensuality. Today from 5 to 9 p.m., Bernie will greet fans, sign autographs and model the next-to-nothings at the Love Jones sex boutique inside the Hard Rock Hotel.

*Two new openings in the past few days already causing a buzz: the new Serendipity 3 restaurant at Caesars, which is a favorite of Cher, Jessica Simpson and Anderson Cooper at its New York locale, and the Daydream daytime pool club at the just-opened M Resort, with patrons giving props to the dreamy cocktail servers.

Photo: Tom Donoghue/www.donoghuephotography.com

Miss USA 2008 Crystle Stewart.

*Reigning Miss USA 2008 Crystle Stewart will welcome several Tinseltown celebrities to the AmeriFace charity benefit in Prive at Planet Hollywood this evening. Zowie Bowie will perform at the fundraiser, and cast members of Dancing With the Stars and Keeping Up With the Kardashians are expected. Also attending will be Pussycat Doll Carmit Bacher, Nathan Burton, Phantom’s Brent Barrett and Peepshow dancers! The charity’s new Face of Change campaign draws attention to the care and medical needs it provides to 1 in every 600 babies born with a cleft lip and palate.

Photo: The Light Group

Alex Karalexis, Boomer Grigsby and Jared Allen.

Star surveillance

Pro poker player “John” Bon Phan dined in a party of seven at N9NE Steakhouse at the Palms, ordering up lobster bisque, chilled shellfish and a side of grilled asparagus. Everybody played a winning hand and shared the Snickers dessert and cookies. … The midweek industry hospitality party at the Beatles Revolution lounge in The Mirage brought out Minnesota Vikings’ Jared Allen, Miami Dolphins’ Boomer Grigsby, MMA champ Alex Karalexis and, at another VIP table, comedy actor Eddie Griffin with his crew.

Photo: Erik Kabik/Retna/www.erikkabikphoto.com

Backstage with Perry Farrell.

Photo: Erik Kabik/Retna/www.erikkabikphoto.com

Perry Farrell and Red Rock Resort lifeguards.

*It’s going to be one monster rock ’n’ roll 50th birthday celebration for Perry Farrell, founder of Jane’s Addiction and Lollapalooza. Perry’s taken over the Bare pool lounge at The Mirage tomorrow night for an extraordinary concert featuring Deborah Harry of Blondie, pals Eric Avery and Stephen Perkins of Jane’s Addiction, Slash, Billy Idol, Donovan Leitch Jr., Mark McGrath, Mickey Avalon, Juliette Lewis Matt Sorum of Guns ’n’ Roses, Billy Morrison of The Cult, Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine and Martyn Lenoble and Peter Distefano of Pornos for Pyros. All the rockers are expected to jam onstage with Perry before the long night ends. The buzz is that the celebration will be videotaped in HD for iTunes. Perry is on the Nine Inch Nails tour with Jane’s Addiction that plays the Palms on May 18.

You don’t need a hammer to nail down all the other celebrations and events taking place this weekend because we’ve wrapped them all up in an Easter basket, which we affectionately hop to around here as the ROYAL ROBIN RUNDOWN:

Friday, April 10

*Television funnyman Kevin James has two nights of late-night stand-up comedy in store at the Terry Fator Theatre in The Mirage, but he won’t be making the delivery in a brown uniform!

*Veteran singer, actress and dancer Debbie Reynolds brings her one-woman show to the South Point for three nights and proves she’s still a feisty entertainer who’s going strong.

Photo: Erik Kabik/Retna/www.erikkabikphoto.com

Jermaine Dupri at Body English.

*Record producer and hip-hop mogul Jermaine Dupri hosts and spins at Prive, and he’s promising a very special surprise guest. Hmmm … girlfriend Janet Jackson?

*Country music singer-songwriter Billy Currington must be doing something right because he’s headed in a good direction to the Boulder Station. … The Society of Seven becomes eight when American Idol Season 3 finalist Jasmine Trias joins them for three nights of shows up at the Suncoast.

*Psychic medium and self-described spiritual healer Gary Spivey and his shock of white hair take on the modern-day role of Nostradamus with an appearance at the Sunset Station. … Cover band Dr. Zhivegas debuts its high-energy rock and funk music show at the Red Rock Resort.

Photo: The Light Group

Swayze and Cisco Adler on the red carpet outside Jet.

*Hip-hoppers Swayze and Cisco Adler perform live at center stage for the sexy Wet Republic pool party. There’s $50,000 in prizes in the hunt for the hottest females poolside at the MGM Grand.

Saturday, April 11

*Congratulations to casino owner Bill Boyd as he makes a personal appearance to celebrate the 30th anniversary of his Sam’s Town casino, named after his father who co-founded Boyd Gaming. Champagne and cake will be served to all guests attending the Boulder Highway party.

*Sergio Mendes brings that Latin-themed carnival sound of Brazil 66 to the Star of the Desert Arena in Primm. It’ll make you think of sunny Rio de Janeiro ad those girls in their brief bikinis!

Photo: Josh Hedges/UFC

Frank Mir does some ground work on Brock Lesnar.

*UFC 100 has rescheduled the much-awaited showdown between Brock Lesnar and Frank Mir for the undisputed UFC heavyweight championship. Also on the July 11 MMA fight at the Mandalay Bay Events Center will be Georges St. Pierre vs. Thiago Alves and Dan Henderson vs. Michael Bisping. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. … Also on sale this morning, tickets for Nickelback on Sept. 6 at MGM Grand. … Tickets go on sale at noon for the June 6 adult comedy show that TV star Bob Saget brings to The Pearl Concert Theater at the Palms.

*You can do your bit for charity and meet the 51 Miss USA 2009 contestants as they walk side-by-side with Best Buddies participants in the Buddy Two Shoes Footsteps for Friendship Walk. Meet to register at Planet Hollywood’s Theatre for the Performing Arts, the site of the April 19 pageant, for the hourlong walk that steps off at 8:30 a.m.

*It’s a live HBO middleweight boxing showdown between 37-year-old Winky Wright, who holds a 25 KO record, and 27-year-old Paul ‘The Punisher” Williams, with 27 KOs. Will age and experience win over youth? It’s followed by the heavyweight fight between Cristobal “Nightmare” Arreola and Jameel “Big Time” McCline at Mandalay Bay Events Center.

*A new summer outdoor movie screening series “CineVegas Under the Stars” kicks off monthly for the next four months at the Spring Preserve’s outdoor amphitheater. The series launches tonight with Yonkers Joe starring Chazz Palminteri and Christine Lahti in an ode to old-time gamblers as a dice hustler goes for one last big score in Vegas.

*The Robert Cray Band is set for Aliante in North Las Vegas. … Everclear looks bright in an evening at the Silverton Casino Lodge. … The Association cherishes its windy folk and rock for their concert at the Cannery. … Tiger Army invades the House of Blues at Mandalay Bay with military precision, with Frenzy as the opening roll call.

Photo: Joe Fury

Nicky Hilton at The Playboy Club.

Party patrol

Fashion designer and socialite Nicky Hilton returns to town to host at Prive. … A dual disco roller-skating derby party will divide the downtown Beauty Bar into two musical circuits for Down and Derby. Look for the Easter eggs hidden inside the rental skates: Find one, and the rental is free!

Sunday, April 12

*Television’s most prestigious news show 60 Minutes turns the spotlight on Steve Wynn and his recently opened Encore. Charlie Rose conducted the interview with Steve when Vegas DeLuxe covered the opening weekend the last week of December. I’m told that Steve will discuss the eye disease that is slowly robbing him of his sight.

Photo: Wynn

Le Reve.

*The talented entertainers from Le Reve at the Wynn will model the contemporary designs of N2N Bodywear as a fundraiser for AFAN (Aid for AIDS of Nevada) at Cathouse in the Luxor.

*Travis with special guests The Republic Tigers rock out the House of Blues, and the rock and funk of Dr. Zhivegas begin their Sunday night run at Green Valley Ranch.

Monday’s teases

We’ll have the photo reports from our contributing photographers of Perry Farrell’s Palooza at Bare pool lounge, along with the weekend activities of the Miss USA 2009 contestants and Nicky Hilton’s visit at Planet Hollywood.

Before we close this edition of Vegas DeLuxe, our sincere good wishes to all our friends and readers observing Passover and Easter.

Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.

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