Las Vegas Weekly

December 24, 2009 · 11:39 AM

Strip Scribbles: Fox Christmas Eve special includes Miss Americas

By Robin Leach

Host Mario Lopez and 2009 Miss America Katie Stam of Indiana.

Photo: Denise Truscello/WireImage

It’s difficult to believe that it’s only one month until the 52 contestants in the 2010 Miss America Pageant arrive at our Planet Hollywood for the annual competition, with actor Mario Lopez returning as host for the pageant on Jan. 30.

Tonight, former Miss Americas, who also will trek here next month, will join Miss America Organization Board Chairman Sam Haskell III on Fox & Friends’ Christmas Eve special. It will feature filmed segments of their visits to American troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. If you miss the broadcast tonight, the special will re-air three times on Christmas Day.

Photo: Miss America Organization

Miss America Organization Chairman Sam Haskell III, His Royal Highness Prince Edward and Miss America 2009 Katie Stam at the Duke of Edinburgh Award presentation at the United Nations.

The contestants, former Miss Americas and reigning queen Katie Stam of Indiana arrive here Jan. 24 for a week of judges’ interviews, preliminary pageants and the Dinner of Dreams charity fundraiser for scholarship awards that I’ll host on Jan. 29.

Photo: Ethan Miller/Getty Images

Actor Rick Faugno of Jersey Boys attends the opening night gala for the Mandarin Oriental Las Vegas at CityCenter on Dec. 4, 2009.

*Congratulations to Rick Faugno, who stars as Frankie Valli in the hit musical Jersey Boys in the Palazzo, as his critically acclaimed one-man song-and-dance show has been picked up for another concert at South Point. The show Songs My Idols Sang (And Danced) also will be his debut CD to be released on Jan. 24 when he headlines at South Point. “I’m especially excited about my first CD and re-creating the magic that I was able to capture onstage with my musical director Keith Thompson, my band and in the recording studio,” Rick said. “And I’m thrilled about sharing some of my favorite music from the Great American Songbook, as well as presenting it in a new light.”

Photo: Luck Media

Theory of Flight.

*Local rockers Theory of Flight, who recently opened for Train, have flown to New York to record a new album at East Side Sounds Studio. The band, who also gave a kickoff performance at UFL’s championship game, are working with Grammy winners producer Bob Cutarella and engineer Fran Cathcart.

*Our contributing photographer Erik Kabik received an advance look at the new film Reach for Me at a Palm Springs, Calif., screening to benefit the American Cancer Society in advance of its premiere here at the Las Vegas Hilton next month. Reach for Me, directed by LeVar Burton and starring Seymour Cassel, Alfre Woodard and Adrienne Barbeau, is the story of one man’s journey toward death in a hospice care center.

Erik said: “The legendary Seymour Cassel was all smiles as he arrived at the Camelot Theatres in Palms Springs. His nonstop sense of humor during our photo shoot had the producers in stitches, and after 109 films under his belt dating back to 1959, Cassel seems about as comfortable at a movie premiere as he would in his living room sitting around a table with friends cracking jokes.”

*I’m starting to check on availabilities for New Year’s Eve celebrity parties as we get closer to The Big Night. Our first report comes from The Light Group, who have four tables open at the new mega-club Haze opening Dec. 31 at Aria in CityCenter, but general admission for DJ Tiesto is sold out. General admission is still available at the Bank in the Bellagio and Jet in The Mirage at $150 per person, with a champagne toast at midnight. VIP tables also are available.

Photo: Denise Truscello/WireImage

Matt Goss Live From Las Vegas at the Palms.

Reporter’s notebook

Our friends at Tao in The Venetian are setting up a satellite lounge at the Sundance Film Festival for its annual January run of events. … Hair color king Michael Boychuck said when he spent the day with Paris Hilton on Tuesday, she was excited about the incredibly funny Paris Hilton’s My New BFF shows she filmed in Dubai. … Lost star Matthew Fox was spotted dining on sushi and sashimi specialties at Nobu in the Hard Rock Hotel, and then he hit the high-roller tables. … I’m hearing that our beloved Las Vegas-based singer Clint Holmes is off to the Carolinas in the New Year for the first regional runs of his theatrical show. … Also hearing that birthday beauty Holly Madison is teaming up with Mirage headliner Terry Fator for something special at the end of January. … Ex-porn princess Tera Patrick is skipping this year’s AVN Convention to concentrate on her book tour. … Palms headline singer Matt Goss wants you to vote his YouTube video the best of 2009. … As much as we’d like to, it’s impossible to give each and every one of you a Christmas gift for being such loyal readers of our daily doses of showbiz news and Las Vegas luxury goodies. How about a tip on a fairly secret but select brunch experience? My chef friend Carlos Guia has created a New Orleans brunch complete with a jazz band for taste treats from the Big Easy, including gumbo, grits and a Cajun version of Eggs Benedict. You’ll find it every Sunday at The Country Club in the Wynn. Hotel tycoon Steve Wynn is there often, so why not you?

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

Tera Patrick at Tao.

Now for other mouth-watering treats this festival of lights weekend that we’ve lit up in a holiday gift box that we affectionately refer to around here as the ROYAL ROBIN RUNDOWN:

Thursday, Dec. 24

It might sound like the weather forecast, but it’s Korean pop superstar Rain with showers of songs at Caesars Palace for two nights.

Photo: Jerry Metellus

Clint Holmes.

Friday, Dec. 25

*Clint Holmes brings his wife Kelly Clinton Holmes and sister Gayle Steele to the Suncoast Showroom for three nights to put their own spin on traditional holiday songs.

*Jet and the Bank are open for holiday revelers.

Saturday, Dec. 26

*Comedian Jerry Seinfeld kicks off two nights of humor at The Colosseum in Caesars Palace as Bette Midler gets ready to return for New Year’s after Cher’s holiday run.

*No sooner does he open his own blues club on the Strip at The Mirage than our Las Vegas legend B.B. King heads to Primm to showcase highly skilled guitar work at the Star of the Desert Arena.

*Tony Orlando is ready to tie a yellow ribbon around the Christmas tree for three nights at South Point through Tuesday, with Monday off.

*After a brief holiday break, talk show titan Jerry Springer brings America’s Got Talent Live! back to Planet Hollywood for four nights of shows through Wednesday. The show includes winner Kevin Skinner, Barbara Padilla, Acrodunk and Grandma Lee.

*American Idol star Jasmine Trias is teamed again with the Society of Seven for dance, music, song, comedy sketches and celebrity impersonations at the Gold Coast.

Sunday, Dec. 27

*They sing, they dance, and all in perfect harmony and unison. Boyz II Men headline at Star of the Desert Arena after those sassy Salt N Pepa ladies kick off the show.

*The annual parties for our Persian friends celebrating the holidays are in full swing at Tao and Jet.

Photo: Las Vegas Hilton

Barry Manilow.

Monday’s teases

Even though everybody will still be full from all the holiday turkey, we’ll take a look at the celebrity chefs and restaurants at CityCenter. It’s an outstanding collection and offers many new takes on the culinary world. … Showman supreme Barry Manilow wraps his final Las Vegas Hilton concerts before moving over to the Paris. … The Hard Rock Hotel opens its new all-suite HRH Tower. … And we’ll have the full photo wrap-up of the holiday happenings from the long Christmas weekend as we prepare for the New Year’s Eve extravaganzas.

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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