Las Vegas Weekly

April 23, 2009 · 1:52 PM

Strip Scribbles: Jay Leno enlists Carrot Top for unique gig

By Robin Leach

Carrot Top.

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

Our Luxor zany comedy headliner Carrot Top has landed an unusual and unique booking on NBC’s The Tonight Show for the next four weeks. Jay Leno picked our red-haired hometown hero, real name Scott Thompson, to make the dejected and ejected American Idol contestants laugh again. Each Thursday, Jay will welcome the dismissed singer in Season 8 of the Fox megahit.

Carrot Top’s assignment is to make them laugh within 120 seconds. If Scott succeeds, the Idol contestant gets two tickets to see his show at the Luxor; if he fails, it’s upped to four tickets! Incidentally, Jay will be here this weekend at The Mirage for two late nights of comedy.

Carrot Top told Vegas DeLuxe: “I love doing The Tonight Show. I’ve made over 20 appearances now, but these challenges with the American Idol contestants are really fun. It’s always great to see Jay, and I’m glad to get to do this before he hands the reins to Conan (O’Brien) this summer.”

Update: Today’s taping has been canceled. Click HERE to find out why.

*Porn star and former California gubernatorial candidate Mary Carey was the center of attention when she hosted a party at Jet in The Mirage. Mary really made her moves on the stripper pole there, and she stayed out partying until 3 a.m. -- in high spirits! The VH1 Sober House star certainly had no problems with her drinks, posing with fans and enjoying the liquid refreshments!

*NBA great Spencer Haywood, UCLA star Ed O’Bannon, New York Knicks veteran Jerome “JYD” Williams and former Chicago Bulls player and assistant coach Michael Brown are set to attend the grand opening party of the Basketball Hall of Fame’s HHX (Hoop Hall Experience) at Planet Hollywood at 6 p.m. today. Guests also will celebrate Spencer’s 60th birthday with a cake and candles and enjoy basketball game-style food and beverages. Prizes will be awarded, and I’m told that a slew of NBA superstars including Scotty Pippen will be at HHX over the next few weeks!

*It might just be one of the most unusual dinner parties ever held here. Titled “A Cultivated Wild Mushroom Dinner,” it takes place tonight at Sushi Samba in the Palazzo and features 100 percent organic cultivated wild mushrooms accompanied by premium sakes. The wild mushrooms include King Trumpet, Maitake and White and Brown Beach. Chef Jose Mendin will create a dining experience unlike any other with the first-ever wild mushrooms grown in North America. They are prized and highly regarded in Japan and are now being grown in Southern California. Jokutu officials say they had to launch a local West Coast farm to meet the mushrooming demand. How could we resist?

*Every now and again, I stumble across something that really makes me sit up and take notice. While at the True Beauty expo in Planet Hollywood’s casino conference center, the fashions were modeled in unique style by Vegas-based dance troupe Supercr3w, Season 2 winner of MTV’s America’s Best Dance Crew. They were amazing with their rousing routines and manic maneuvers, leaping on and off the stage in unison and swiveling on their heads during handstands. It was riveting entertainment, and I just wanted to hand out kudos for the thrilling performance.

Check them out in this YouTube video below and at www.supercr3w.com.

Star surveillance

Elton John, his band and celebrity friends celebrated his final Colosseum performance with Cantonese taste treats at Sea Harbour Chinese Seafood in Caesars Palace. … New proud parents of twin boys Jenna Jameson and Tito Ortiz spent $1,800 on Beach Bunny swimwear and Undrest lingerie at Love Jones in the Hard Rock Hotel. … Oakland Raiders teammates Thomas Howard and Michael Huff partied in the VIP section of the Bank in the Bellagio. … Former Howard Stern sidekick Jackie “The Jokeman” Martling wraps up his guest-starring role as a wedding crasher in Tony n’ Tina’s Wedding at Planet Hollywood tonight, and he met up with actor Billy West, the voice of Ren & Stimpy. Jackie told me he now has his own Sirius satellite radio show The Joke Hunt. … Ray Romano ordered hot rocks and wings for dinner at Stack in The Mirage. … Stephen Dorff was at the Bank drinking Cristal with film producer Ryan Kavanaugh after seeing a concert over at the new Joint. … Season 7 Dancing With the Stars contestant and former Olympic track & field star Maurice Greene partied at Jet. … MLB designated hitter and free agent Frank Thomas has become a regular at N9NE Steakhouse in the Palms. He’s made multiple visits on his 10-day Vegas stay, and most recently, he brought his cousin, and they had steak and sauteed spinach right at the bar.

Tonight’s tips

“Mr. Las Vegas” himself Wayne Newton opens a new seven-night run at MGM’s Hollywood Theater. … Rocker Dee Snider is the special guest for another run of Monster Circus rock at the Hilton for three nights. … Horrorpops, Longway and the Applicators are at the House of Blues in Mandalay Bay. … And of course don’t forget the 2009 Epicurean Affair at the Flamingo.

Tomorrow’s teases

“The Circus” comes to town with pop princess Britney Spears, and Vegas DeLuxe has all the behind-the-scenes latest news and VIP party 411. It’s another weekend of great stars hitting town, including Kenny Chesney at the Hard Rock Hotel’s Joint and a battle of the sex goddesses with Carmen Electra, Victoria’s Secret angel Marissa Miller and actress Jaime King.

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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