Las Vegas Weekly

January 14, 2009 · 10:43 AM

Mario Lopez set to host Miss America Pageant at Planet Hollywood as contestants arrive in Las Vegas

By Robin Leach

Mario Lopez at Wet Republic.

Photo: Isaac Brekken

Today’s the day that Miss America officials and many of the 52 contestants arrive on the Strip to call Planet Hollywood home for the next 10 days leading up to the crowning of the 2009 Miss America on the global telecast Jan. 24.

Tomorrow our Merry Mayor of Mirth Oscar Goodman will welcome all 52 beauties at an official 2 p.m. arrival ceremony outside Planet Hollywood. Oscar will present each state’s winner with a long-stemmed red rose.

Former Dancing With the Stars heartthrob Mario Lopez hosts the 2009 pageant, which will be broadcast on TLC. He’s all set for the event with this year’s judges Paige Adams-Geller, Laura Bell Bundy, Nicole Johnson, Cullen Jones, Beth Klein, Ken Paves and Jim Moret.

Throughout all the activities and preliminary competitions, our contributing photographers Scott Doctor and Tom Donoghue will be on duty to provide daily coverage.

Photo: Miss America Organization

2008 Miss America Kirsten Haglund and the contestants at IHOP.

Here’s the rundown of the places you can spot the contestants in filming throughout town:

Friday, Jan. 16

The first item on the Miss America itinerary is at 7 a.m., when all 52 contestants will gather for an IHOP pancake breakfast in the Planet Hollywood ballrooms to honor the Children’s Miracle Network.

At 2 p.m., 10 of the young ladies will officiate at the new multi-million-dollar, five-story water fountain at the hotel’s Miracle Mile shopping mall. They will switch on the lights, effects and eruptions for the first show to be choreographed to the official Miss America theme song! The free attraction transforms a tranquil piece of art into an entertainment centerpiece outside The V Theater.

At 7 p.m., the contestants will be at the waterfall inside the atrium area of the Palazzo for a special performance of The Living Garden, where statues come to life in a unique showcase. Afterwards, the young ladies will ride the gondolas along the Grand Canal of the adjoining Venetian.

Saturday, Jan. 17

There will be a special runway fashion show with the 52 contestants at Fashion Show mall. The model beauties will meet with fans afterwards for their first meet and greet autograph signing.

Photo: TVT

Jamie Little and Kurt Busch at Pole Position Raceway.

Sunday, Jan. 18

It might be the biggest challenge the contestants will face. In groups of 10 at a time, they will race the indoor racing karts at Pole Position Raceway opposite the Palms Place. Each race will consist of 12 laps of the quarter-mile track at speeds of about 40 mph.

ESPN and ABC personality and Pole Position Raceway shareholder Jamie Little, who lives in Las Vegas, said: “Flying around Pole Position Raceway’s track at speeds up to 45 mph is so electrifying. It’s something everyone should try. I can’t wait for the Miss America contestants to experience the rush.”

The event is not open to the public, but our photographers will be there, and we’ll have the electrifying photos Monday. Since opening in December 2007, more than 75,000 racers have raced nearly 500,000 miles around the track.

Photo: TLC

Miss America contestants run aboard the Queen Mary in Long Beach, Calif.

Monday, Jan. 19

The 52 contestants start the initial preparations for the pageant.

Tuesday, Jan. 20

We’ll have our interviews with Art McMaster and Sam Haskell III, the head honchos of the Miss America Organization, for an overview of this year’s pageant, along with a one-on-one with Brent Zacky, TLC’s program VP for what we can expect on the live telecast.

At 8 p.m., the contestants take part in the first preliminary competition.

Wednesday, Jan. 21

We’ll have our interviews with the panel of judges to see what they will be expecting from this year’s hopefuls. The second preliminary competition follows an afternoon of live broadcast rehearsals.

Photo: Miss America Organization

2007 Miss America Lauren Nelson and 2008 Miss America Kirsten Haglund.

Thursday, Jan. 22

As rehearsals continue, reigning Miss America Kirsten Haglund of Michigan and other former Miss Americas announce the Quality of Life Awards. It’s the final night of the preliminary competitions.

Friday, Jan. 23

We’re set for our chat with Mario Lopez, who will be hosting the pageant, and we’ll have that posted Saturday.

Photo: Harrah's

Marie Osmond tries on 2008 Miss America Kirsten Haglund's crown.

Marie Osmond will be the special guest at the Dinner of Dreams, with 1981 Miss America Susan Powell hosting. She’ll introduce entertainment performances by Kirsten, 2007 Miss America Lauren Nelson and 1965 Miss America Vonda Van Dyke. The Miss America dance party follows the dinner.

In between the disco and other dance routines, the glamour girls will shuttle between the Extra lounge in Planet Hollywood, where Mario will host a reception for the final episode of TLC’s reality TV show Countdown to the Crown.

Saturday, Jan. 24

It’s the big day. The live telecast begins here at 5 p.m. Pacific Time for the 8 p.m. live satellite transmission to the East Coast.

At 6:55 p.m., the 2009 Miss America will be announced as Kirsten crowns her successor.

At 7:15 p.m., I will get the first one-on-one exclusive interview and photo session with the new winner, and we’ll post that immediately afterwards Saturday evening. Our interview will run Sunday before the new Miss America flies to New York for her first TV appearances Monday morning.

Remember your best source for daily and breaking coverage of all the Miss America events in Las Vegas will be right here at Vegas DeLuxe!

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