Las Vegas Weekly

June 1, 2009 · 2:25 PM

Strip Scribbles: Jamie Kennedy, Jennifer Love Hewitt and Jersey Boys

By Robin Leach

Jamie Kennedy and Jennifer Love Hewitt are flanked by Jersey Boys stars Erich Bergen, Jeff Leibow, Travis Cloer and Deven May.

Photo: Kirvin Doak Communications

They simply won’t go home because they’re having too much fun on their Las Vegas vacation! Last week, we reported their honeymoon-styled fling, and now I can tell you that Ghost Whisperer lovebirds Jennifer Love Hewitt and Jamie Kennedy also have added Jersey Boys to their list of must-see shows. After watching the story of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, which just celebrated its first anniversary at the Palazzo, the loving twosome went backstage to congratulate talented leads Erich Bergen, Jeff Leibow, Travis Cloer and Deven May.

*Playboy beauty Holly Madison is putting herself up for auction when she co-hosts Share Our Strength’s Taste of the Nation fundraiser at the Hard Rock Hotel on Thursday. She already has a $5,000 bid to start the excitement when she plays auctioneer in front of the top 30 Vegas chefs and mixologists taking part. The event is one of 45 simultaneously taking place across America. Since 1988, Taste of the Nation has raised more than $70 million. Tickets are still available for the night featuring chefs from AGO, Pink Taco, Rare 120, Hawaiian Tropic Zone, N9NE Steakhouse, Nove Italiano and more as give their time to end childhood hunger.

*There’s a mounting furor behind the scenes of Ice at the Riviera. Stagehands say they haven’t been paid in two weeks, which led to one of them walking out. Then over the weekend, half of the skating dancers refused to perform, and they met in the parking lot to start a strike. Security was called in to advise them that they had to perform because their issue is with the show’s producer, not the hotel, which has a bond ensuring that the owner must pay.

*Las Vegas Hilton headliner Barry Manilow is getting his own TV channel. He will soon be offering some of his best recorded shows online through Manilow.TV, an Internet TV subscription service. Some of the shows Barry is making available include Ultimate Manilow from Manchester, England, in 2008; Hot Tonight from Chicago, in 1983; and Greatest Hits and Then Some from Sydney, Australia, in 1994.”

*I checked in on injured magician Lance Burton anxious to find out when he’ll return to his theater at the Monte Carlo. He’s still resting comfortably and is hoping he’ll be fully recovered to resume his shows June 23, but the doctor still has to give a full clearance on his broken foot.

*Congratulations to legendary film veteran and Las Vegas resident Tony Curtis. He has been awarded the prestigious Jules Verne Legendaire Award, and a stellar list of stars from his era have promised to show up for the once in a lifetime event being held June 13 at the downtown L.A. Million Dollar theater. It coincides with the 50th anniversary of the classic Some Like It Hot directed by Billy Wilder. There will be a special screening of Tony’s movie Houdini, which he filmed with his then wife, Janet Leigh. Then escape artist Curtis Lovell will attempt Houdini’s dangerous water torture stunt, which Tony re-created in the film, albeit inaccurately.

Star surveillance

Hotel mogul Steve Wynn’s new British girlfriend Andrea Hissom has been spotted regularly at one of his luxury bungalows at the Wynn since a friendly divorce agreement and financial settlement was wrapped up with Elaine Wynn. Steve and Andrea even dined with his longtime friend film director Brett Ratner at the SW Steakhouse. … The E! Entertainment True Hollywood Stories on magician Criss Angel was set for broadcast June 10, but I’ve learned now that because of licensing rights, it has been pushed to June 24 for its debut airing. I filmed a segment over at the Luxor where Criss stars in Cirque du Soleil’s Believe. Wonder if I wind up on the cutting room floor? … Heartthrob host Mario Lopez will officially open the new Azure Pool at the Palazzo this Saturday. … Singer, producer and actor Ray J partied at the Palms Pool & Bungalows. He had an entourage of 10, and they hung out at the center bar where he enjoyed a breakfast burrito and a strawberry daiquiri. … Mad Men’s Rich Sommer was at Lavo in the Palazzo enjoying the new Italian menu dinner, and Bethenny Frankel of The Real Housewives of New York dined there for a second consecutive night and brought along fellow reality star Brittny Gastineau for dinner and dancing afterwards.

Tonight’s tips

Super-cool rapper Ice T hosts and performs at the weekly We Rock Hip Hop party at Prive in Planet Hollywood. … Singer Kelly Clinton, who is married to Clint Holmes, resumes her Open Mic Cabaret at the Bootlegger Bistro and welcomes locals and newcomers.

Tomorrow’s teases

We’ll feature our catch-up interviews with Lacey Schwimmer of Dancing With the Stars as she reveals her new romance and with 24 actress Annie Wersching about her death-defying stunts on the hit Fox series. … It’s the official Las Vegas premiere of Hangover, shot here at Caesars Palace, and we’ve got the photos in advance of Friday’s nationwide release, plus photos from inside the wrap party of the new season of Bravo’s Top Chef filmed here.

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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