Las Vegas Weekly

July 1, 2009 · 12:57 PM

Strip Scribbles Photo Gallery: Prey debuts with Don Johnson’s son Jesse

By Robin Leach

Jesse Johnson at the Brenden Celebrity Suite at the Palms.

Photo: Denise Truscello

Jesse Johnson, the son of actor Don Johnson, led a cast of Australian actors for the U.S. premiere of their horror flick Prey at the Brenden Theatres in the Palms. Many of the Down Under newcomers made the long flight for the screening and the celebration dinner at Nove Italiano.

Strip headliners Human Nature, Thunder From Down Under, the Fantasy showgirls, plus an assortment of zombies and ghouls dotted the red carpet as I hosted and welcomed Sinsu Ko from Paris Hilton’s My New BFF and the movie’s stars Natalie Walker, Ben Kermode, Kristin Sargent, Jennifer Hansen and producers Robert Galinsky and Elizabeth Jackman.

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

Kristin Sargent, Jesse Johnson, Natalie Walker, Ben Kermode and Jennifer Hansen at the North American premiere of Australian horror film Prey at the Palms.

Two fascinating side notes: Milton and Muriel Galinsky traveled from Sioux City, Iowa, to catch up with their son Robert and celebrated their 90th birthdays while here. And I discovered that Ben and Natalie were married in real life and exchanged vows here at the Little White Wedding Chapel three years ago!

*Filming is underway here on a new docu-reality series to debut Aug. 16 on G4. The 10-episode half-hour series features four online professional poker players who’ve been challenged to earn $2 million in just two months -- thus its title 2 Months, $2 Million -- of shooting while living in a mansion off the Strip. In between the grind of playing online, the 20-year-old millionaires have to juggle love and life.

Photo: G4

The contestants of G4's online poker reality TV series 2 Months, $2 Million Danny Stern, Brian Roberts, Emil Patel and Jason Rosenkrantz.

The four guys are Brian Roberts, Jason Rosenkrantz, Emil Patel and Danny Stern. When not making bets in the thousands at the click of a mouse, they do everything from nightclubbing with gorgeous girls to dune-bug riding in the desert. All four are intelligent, successful college graduates who decided to ditch 9-to-5 monotony for Internet gambling. The show is set against the continuing World Series of Poker underway at The Rio.

*This afternoon, the Hard Rock Cafe welcomes multiplatinum South Korean recording artist BoA for a special VIP fan meet and greet. She will sign copies of her new self-titled album, the singer’s first English-language release. BoA also will accept a donation from Hard Rock International on behalf of Doctors Without Borders.

Photo: Courtesy

R&B and hip-hop star O'Neal McKnight at Jet in The Mirage.

Photo: Courtesy

O'Neal McKnight performs his hit "Check Your Coat" at Jet in The Mirage.

*O’Neal McKnight performed his hit “Check Your Coat” for enthusiastic partygoers, including Tyronn Lue of the Orlando Magic, at Jet in The Mirage. After his performance, O’Neal danced with guests and took Patron shots in a VIP booth, while Tyronn enjoyed Moet Rose champagne across the crowded room.

*It’s a rare Strip cuisine, but Imperial Palace is welcoming a notable traditional Korean BBQ restaurant to its lineup on the dining promenade. Ginseng BBQ at the I.P. will be the restaurant group’s third restaurant in Las Vegas and first on the Strip.

Photo: Courtesy

Andre Legacy and Dirt Nasty at The Beatles Revolution Lounge in The Mirage.

Photo: Courtesy

Dirt Nasty at The Beatles Revolution Lounge in The Mirage.

Photo: Bryan Steffy

Shar Jackson.

Star surveillance

On-and-off-again couple Megan Fox and Brian Austin Green continued their romp through Las Vegas as her Transformers sequel continued its box office domination. They were huggy-huggy and comfy-cozy at Red Square in Mandalay Bay. Spywitnesses speculated that because their party was close family and friends, including Megan’s sister, that maybe a ring might be in their future (again). … Rapper Flava Flav and a lady friend enjoyed a romantic meal on the terrace of Nove Italiano. Flav ordered filet mignon and Nove spaghetti to go with their mixed drinks. … Avenged Sevenfold lead singer M. Shadows dined at Pink Taco in the Hard Rock Hotel. … Actor Steve Harris and Los Angeles Lakers star Derek Fisher with wife Candace dined at Fix in the Bellagio two consecutive nights. … Millionaire Matchmaker’s Patti Stanger was at Jet at the same time as Miami Dolphins linebacker Joey Porter, there with an entourage of 12, and soccer star Frank Lampard, who posed for photos with fans. … English rock icon Chris Squire dined at Stack in The Mirage with his family. … It was wall-to-wall athletes at the Bank in the Bellagio with Channing Frye of the Portland Trailblazers, Sean May of the Charlotte Bobcats, Ray Emery of the Philadelphia Flyers, soccer stars Wayne Bridge and Shaun Wright-Phillips and Derek Fisher. … Hip-hop hottie Wynter was at Yellowtail in the Bellagio raving to celebrity chef Akira Back about his lavish service and cuisine. … Comedian Wayne Brady showed off his breakdancing skills at The Beatles Revolution Lounge in The Mirage and also hit Blush in the Wynn with a group including Shar Jackson. Wayne’s party took over the VIP room, and the bottles of champagne were popped into the early hours. … Hip-hop artist Dirt Nasty with sidekick Andre Legacy dined at Stack on pigs in a blanket, buffalo wings and lamb shank and then performed their hits “My Dick” and “1980,” among others, at The Beatles Revolution Lounge. Frenzied female fans swarmed Nasty at his VIP table for photos and autographs.

Photo: Courtesy

Magician Scarlett and her award.

Tonight’s tips

Redheaded magician Scarlett brings her incredible illusions to a new show at the Riviera that features her seductive topless Ladies of Magic. Can you say abraca-sexy? … Biz Markie will perform at The Beatles Revolution Lounge. … 2 Live Crew is at Rok Vegas in New York-New York. … Shannon Dupont celebrates her birthday at Carey Hart’s Wasted Space in the Hard Rock Hotel. … Howard and Suzie Lederer host their first charity poker tournament to benefit the Boys & Girls Club of Las Vegas at the Golden Nugget. First place is a $20,000 seat on NBC’s Poker After Dark. … And finally if British darts is your sport, the world championships get underway for five days at Mandalay Bay’s Islander Ballroom. Defending champion and four-time winner Phil Taylor from England leads the pack competing for $300,000 in prizes. It’s the 8th Annual Desert Classic, and because of British enthusiasm for the bull’s-eye sport, it will be telecast live to my old home country!

Photo: Tom Donoghue/www.donoghuephotography.com

2009 NBA MVP LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Tomorrow’s teases

A galaxy of stars arrives for the celebrity-studded Ante Up for Africa poker charity tournament led by Annie Duke and Don Cheadle as the Fourth of July fireworks weekend explodes in high gear with everybody from Jamie Foxx to Jay-Z to LeBron James, plus Linkin Park’s Chester Bennington dices with death in a Strip-front stunt with magician Steve Wyrick. Since it’s a holiday weekend, we’ll recommend a side excursion to not-so-faraway San Diego to check out the world-class zoo’s newly opened, mammoth-sized Elephant Odyssey.

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.

Follow Robin Leach on Twitter HERE.

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— From Vegas Deluxe

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