Las Vegas Weekly

March 6, 2009 · 12:24 PM

Strip Scribbles: Michael Caine to receive Lifetime Achievement Award

By Robin Leach

Michael Caine.

Photo: Scott Doctor/www.greatscottstudios.com

Congratulations to my longtime pal Michael Caine, a two-time Academy Award winner who has received six Oscar nominations over his long and extraordinary career. Michael will be presented with the 2009 ShoWest Lifetime Achievement Award here in Las Vegas at the movie convention’s closing night banquet April 2 at Bally’s and Paris. Like me, he’s a Cockney! Michael was born Maurice Micklewhite in South East London to fish porter and cleaning lady parents.

“With over five decades of films to his credit, Michael Caine has quietly commanded the screen in well over 100 roles,” said Mitch Neuhauser, co-managing director of the convention that brings in more than 5,000 delegates from 50 countries. “He simply does it all, and he does it all so incredibly well, be it comedy, drama or action. … We could not be more honored to present this brilliant actor with the ShoWest Lifetime Achievement Award.”

Photo: Scott Doctor/www.greatscottstudios.com

Michael Caine.

Sir Michael, 76, who was knighted by the Queen of England in 2000, plays a retired magician and grieving widower who refuses to give in gracefully to old age in his latest film Is Anybody There? He befriends a troubled youngster in the film, which will be released April 17 in New York and L.A. after screenings at ShoWest.

It was back in 1966 when Alfie catapulted Michael to stardom, and his biography in 1992 was titled What’s It All About?. Michael won Oscars for Hannah and Her Sisters and The Cider House Rules and has found a new generation of fans for his role in the new Batman films with Christian Bale.

He has been a strong supporter of our Keep Memory Alive galas for the Lou Ruvo Brain Institute downtown, and I expect to see him sharing some fine wines with Southern Wines & Spirits head honcho Larry Ruvo while he’s in town with his gorgeous wife Shakira.

Photo: Denise Truscello/WireImage

Tyra Banks takes in Las Vegas.

*Thanks to supermodel Tyra Banks and her top-rated CW series America’s Next Top Model, Las Vegas and particularly Caesars Palace get lots of free publicity for the next few weeks. The Victoria’s Secret beauty and talk show hostess premiered her show this week, and all 34 semifinalists were filmed here as they get cut down to the Top 13. Taking a cue from Cher and the cutely clad Cleopatras at Caesars, the contenders had to act and look like goddesses -- so they were dressed up in mini togas. The episodes were filmed at Caesars in October when Tyra watched Cher and met up with her backstage. Despite pleas, Cher didn’t make a guest appearance on ANTM but garners lots of exposure in Cycle 12. The video of Tyra with the Caesars strongmen is already priceless, and although the handsome musclemen of Sparta look great, it’s Tyra who gets the google-eyes!

Photo: Joan Marcus

Phindile Mkhize in Disney's The Lion King.

*Monday is the first day of rehearsals at Mandalay Bay for Disney’s The Lion King, the musical following Mamma Mia!’s six-year run. It will be the first time the full cast is gathered, and producer Thomas Schumacher will oversee their first performance. He’ll want each cast member to stand, tell their name and explain how they became affiliated with the production. He says it’s a ritual that he has each new cast perform in all the worldwide productions.

Photo: Hard Rock Hotel

Ben Lyons, 88-Keys, Catt Sadler and DJ Clinton Sparks.

Photo: Hard Rock Hotel

88-Keys, Catt Sadler and Ben Lyons.

*Body English DJ Clinton Sparks had his hands full at the Hard Rock when E!’s Daily 10 crew invaded and brought along special guest hip-hop artist and producer 88-Keys. 88-Keys released his debut solo album Death of Adam four months ago, which was produced by Kanye West, and he treated the revelers to a song, which sent his fans wild!

Photo: Tryst

Cy and Jesse Waits are managing partners of XS and Tryst.

*Congratulations to nightclub czars Victor Drai and his twin-brother partners Jesse and Cy Waits, who won Nightclub & Bar’s 2009 Operator of the Year award at the trade show gala dinner in Mandalay Bay this week, beating out two other operating groups nationwide. The Five Star Awards are designed to recognize and honor the outstanding innovators in the nightclub hospitality industry.

Photo: Andrew Dice Clay

Andrew Dice Clay.

*Exactly as Vegas DeLuxe first reported three weeks ago, it’s now official that Sugarcane Lounge at Sushi Samba in the Palazzo will become an intimate comedy club -- and also as first revealed here, it premieres with Andrew Dice Clay. He’ll be up close and in your face as Sugarcane Live! kicks off March 25. The Dice Man arrives from his appearances on Donald Trump’s Celebrity Apprentice on NBC and his own outrageous, politically incorrect comedy Down and Dirty on HBO. Producer Adam Steck, who has Louie Anderson and Thunder From Down Under at the Excalibur, is handling the comedy at Sugarcane Live!, and talks have been held for Roseanne Barr to be the next comedy guest star.

If you can’t wait and want to laugh out loud this weekend, you’ve got two superstar comics in head-to-head competition over the next two nights -- and it’s this weekend’s funny factor among yesteryear’s music that makes us want to hum the hits of the glorious past in our wrap up of highlights on and off the Strip that around here we affectionately call the ROYAL ROBIN RUNDOWN:

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

George Lopez.

Photo: Jet

Kevin James and Ray Romano, a comedy tag team at Jet.

Friday, March 6

*Comedy is king this weekend with two headline comics bumping up against each other in a joke-a-minute fun fest: Kevin James, who’s slaying them at the box office in Paul Blart: Mall Cop, handles two back-to-back late shows tonight and tomorrow at Terry Fator’s theater in The Mirage, and George Lopez brings his Tall, Dark and Chicano Tour to the Hilton.

*If comedy’s not your cup of tea this weekend, country singer Collin Raye offers an alternative at the South Point. … Turn back the years to one of music’s greatest. Lena Prima says Louis Prima: That’s My Dad as she re-creates his great songs and music from yesteryear at the Cannery for two nights. … Motown’s soul band the Tower of Power starts a three-night stint at The Orleans with their funky sounds that have endured more than 40 years of recording and touring. … The Cowsills, at the Suncoast for three nights, were the real-life inspiration behind the hit TV series The Partridge Family. Their debut 1967 hit “The Rain, the Dark and Other Things” was given new life thanks to Jim Carrey in Dumb & Dumber.

*Singer-keyboardist Marcia Ball started out as the leader of Freda & the Firedogs. She went solo in 1978 and has released several acclaimed albums. For three consecutive years starting in 2005, Marcia’s been honored as Piano Player of the Year. Her newest album, Peace, Love & BBQ, is named for her three favorite things, and she plays the Boulder Station. … Electric Valentine with special guests Ministry of Love share the love at Carey Hart’s Wasted Space in the Hard Rock Hotel. …. Les Claypool and the Yard Dogs Road Show are at the House of Blues in Mandalay Bay.

*I’m not quite sure how to describe Tyler Perry’s two nights of “Marriage Counseling” at Planet Hollywood because he dresses as a woman acting as a man. I leave you to figure out the complications of that -- as if marital problems aren’t loaded enough already!

Photo: Hew Burney

Jerome Bettis at Rok Vegas.

*Party action includes a meet and greet with the new Divas at Dixie’s Dam Bar opening at Hooters opposite the MGM, and actress Elizabeth Banks (Zack and Miri Make a Porno) celebrates her 35th birthday at Prive in Planet Hollywood. Super Bowl champions Heinz Ward and Willie Parker of the Pittsburgh Steelers, along with legendary running back and former Steelers teammate Jerome Bettis, host a party at Tryst in the Wynn.

Saturday, March 7

Photo: Scott Harrison/Retna/www.harrisonphotos.com

Jason Mraz at the Pearl Concert Theater.

*Tickets go on sale today for three incredible concerts, two of which are at The Pearl in the Palms. At noon, the box office opens for Jason Mraz’s special May 9 midnight concert, then at 2 p.m., tickets go on sale for Robin Thicke and Jennifer Hudson’s May 1 date. Over at Caesars Palace, tickets go on sale for Jeff Dunham’s Spark of Insanity Tour, which lands at The Colosseum July 3-4 complete with puppet sidekicks Achmed the Dead Terrorist and Jose Jalapeño on a Stick!

*Sometimes our winds here in the desert blow as hard, if not harder, than in the Windy City itself. So it’s nice to know that Chicago will blow its brass sounds in a free concert at the Star of the Desert Arena in the Primm Valley.

Photo: Harrah's

Don Marrandino and Phil Vassar hold court at the Donny & Marie show at the Flamingo.

*Country star Phil Vassar, who plays the Boulder Station, started out as a 1990s songwriter, but by 2000 had released his own self-titled debut album and by 2006 had a greatest hits album.

*I can’t find a lady in the lineup for Sister Hazel, but I do see the five guys who make up the band playing “It’s All for You” at the Silverton Casino Lodge. … The Pretenders and American Bang set off their make-believe fireworks at the House of Blues.

*Latin music legend Jose Jose, aka “The Prince of Song,” will be honored in concert by Mexican superstar Ana Barbara and Latin pop idol Cristian Castro in the new ND’s Fuego Nightclub at The Rio. Jose, who has received nine Latin Grammy nominations, is regarded as one of the most important singers from Mexico.

*Hip-hop star and actor Bow Wow will celebrate his 22nd birthday at Studio 54 in MGM, while sexy Angelique Morgan -- better known as Frenchy from VH1’s I Love Money 2 -- will host a party at the Hawaiian Tropic Zone in Planet Hollywood.

Photo: McMullan's Irish Pub

St. Baldrick's Day at McMullan's Irish Pub in 2008.

*Please don’t forget to support the hair-shaving efforts of the St. Baldrick’s Foundation, to raise funds for children’s cancer patients, at McMullan’s opposite The Orleans and at Quinn’s in Green Valley Ranch. St. Baldrick’s Day begins at 2 p.m. and runs until 3 a.m. Sunday because of the clocks moving forward for daylight-saving time!

Sunday, March 8

*The green carpet DVD world premiere of Ace Ventura Jr.: Pet Detective takes place at the Springs Preserve with children and families from the Candlelighters for Childhood Cancer. The public is invited for free to meet Ryan Malgarini (CBS’ Gary Unmarried), Brittany Curran (Legally Blonde) and Josh Flitter, who plays Ace in the junior version of the role made popular by Jim Carrey.

*An incredible ensemble of 15 female musicians known as the Diva Jazz Orchestra plays an afternoon concert at Judy Bayley Theater in UNLV. Drummer Sherrie Maricle heads up the big band that belts out swing, improv and contemporary jazz. Downbeat Magazine voted them one of the world’s best big bands, and this appearance, amid world jazz festivals, is one rare treat!

*The CineVegas “Area 52” series of underground cult movies continues with Back Against the Wall at the Onyx Theater, and it proves that lingerie models, empty bottles and heavy guns just do not mix!

*Top off the night of the unusual and unorthodox with Jodeci playing at the House of Blues.

Photo: Scott Doctor/www.greatscottstudios.com

Paris Hilton and Jeff Beacher.

Monday’s tease

Over the weekend, we’ll bring you the full photo coverage of Paris Hilton’s birthday celebrations, including with Jeff Beacher’s Madhouse at the Hard Rock. It’s the first day of rehearsals for Disney’s The Lion King at Mandalay Bay, and we’ll have an advance story. Plus, Lindsay Lohan might be hand-in-hand with girlfriend DJ Samantha Ronson when she spins the wheels of steel at Prive.

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