Las Vegas Weekly

November 9, 2009 · 2:41 PM

Strip Scribbles: Wayne Brady hopes to return to The Venetian next year

By Robin Leach

Wayne Brady at the 70th birthday celebration for Mayor Oscar Goodman at the Golden Nugget on July 31.

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

Doctors ordered comedian and TV host Wayne Brady to rest his vocal chords and give up his October shows at The Venetian. Now the physicians have said the vocal chords haven’t healed sufficiently, so Wayne’s return won’t happen until early next year, but the delay will keep him there through the end of next year.

Wayne will continue his afternoon Let’s Make a Deal hosting duties at the Tropicana, but the double duty had doctors advising him to cut back.

Wayne said: “I love doing my show at The Venetian so much, it is a true disappointment to have to cancel these performances of Making It Up. But it is my hope that this doctor-ordered rest will allow me to come back to The Venetian in the New Year with the multi-dimensional show that audiences have grown to love.”

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

Sean "P. Diddy" Combs.

*Rumors grow that Sean “P. Diddy” Combs is being booked for an outdoor Strip TV concert at the entrance to CityCenter on New Year’s Eve. I have only been able to confirm that discussions are continuing, but as of now, the big deal has not been confirmed. However, it is definite that Maroon 5 will play The Pearl in the Palms on Dec. 31. Tickets go on sale Saturday. I thought that last year’s NYE couldn’t be topped. but with all the stars already lined up and more still to come, 2010 will certainly come in even bigger and better than this year arrived.

*Congratulations to one of my favorite hometown magicians, Steve Dacri, who has just landed a 12-month contract to appear in the Shimmer Cabaret Theater at the Las Vegas Hilton. Steve will perform his extraordinary, close-up magic, plus some in-your-face-stunning tricks, every Wednesday. You will forever wonder how he produces a full-sized bowling ball from nowhere right under your eyes! You’ll never get this close to a magician anywhere, which makes his powers of prestidigitation even more incredible.

Star surveillance

This past weekend was one of the busiest invasions by celebrities, VIPs and sports headliners on the Strip in my memory. It seemed wherever you sat, partied or turned, there were stars and more stars.

Hawaiian Tropic Zone inside Planet Hollywood’s Miracle Mile kicked it all off with R&B star R. Kelly for his official after-party after his concert at Planet Hollywood.

Not surprising that players from the World Series champion New York Yankees have started arriving in town to celebrate their victory! Johnny Damon celebrated at Tao in The Venetian. His wife Michelle and other family members joined him. The drink choice of a champion? The outfielder drank Jack and Coke while listening to the sounds of DJ Vice from his VIP table. Also spotted at Tao separately was adult film star Tera Patrick, who is newly single since splitting with rocker husband Evan Seinfeld in recent days.

Victoria’s Secrets model Alkina Puscau, Johnny Damon and Alec Mapa (Ugly Betty) with drag queen Lady Bunny (Jon Ingle) were all at The Beatles Love at The Mirage. … Emile Hirsch attended the late performance of Ka by Cirque du Soleil at MGM with a friend and left after the show with souvenirs. … On a rare break from rehearsals and practice with partner Donny Osmond, stunning Dancing With the Stars pro Kym Johnson watched Jersey Boys at the Palazzo to celebrate her mother’s birthday. After the show, Kym went backstage to meet the cast and congratulate them. “I've been wanting to see Jersey Boys for so long, and it was entirely worth the wait,” she said. “It is such an amazing show. Hit song after hit song and incredible performances by the very talented cast.”

Photo: B.J. Allen

Dancing With the Stars' Kym Johnson, center, with Jersey Boys cast members Deven May, Jeff Leibow, Drew Gehling and Travis Cloer at the Palazzo.

Comedy star David Spade dined at Tao with friends, including actor Kevin Farley, the younger brother of late comedian Chris Farley. David has been slammed for making a new DirectTV commercial with a clip of Chris. …. 2009 X Games medalist BMX rider Chad Kagy hit Vince Neil’s new Rio tattoo parlor Vince Neil Ink to add body art from artist Twigg Sparks, formerly of A&E’s Inked. … On his visit to Lavo in the Palazzo, superstar Enrique Iglesias enjoyed Grey Goose cocktails at Seduxion Latin Night with his manager and friends. … Disney’s The Suite Life of Zack and Cody stars Dylan and Cole Sprouse dined at First Food & Bar in the Palazzo and enjoyed Chef Sam DeMarco’s white bean soup, rib eye and grilled pork chop. The twins spent several minutes goofing around in the restaurant’s photo booth before meeting Sam and his team in the kitchen on their way out.

Zowie Bowie’s Chris Phillips caught The Men of X at Hooters Casino to support its host and choreographer, J. Boogie. Boogie dances in Zowie Bowie’s weekend Pub shows and their Vintage Vegas at the Monte Carlo.

Photo: Brian Steffy/Blush

Chuck Liddell at Blush in the Wynn.

Florida Marlins All-Star second baseman Dan Uggla and outfielder Cody Ross were spotted inside Body English at the Hard Rock Hotel.

Former CHiPs star Erik Estrada sat front and center for the Road to Redemption fight at The Pearl in the Palms. … Following Tony Hawk’s Stand Up for Skateparks benefit, he held a wrap party with celebrities and star athletes at Blush in the Wynn and was joined by BMX pros Matt Hoffman and Simon Tabron, skateboarders including Kevin Staab and UFC champ Chuck Liddell. Also there separately, St. Louis Rams running back and Las Vegas native Steven Jackson and Twitter co-founder Biz Stone, who enjoyed Veuve Clicquot while on the patio.

Partying over at Victor Drai’s XS in Encore was former baseball slugger Sammy Sosa, New York Jets wide receiver Braylon Edwards and Oakland Raiders wide receiver Javon Walker. Next door at Wynn in Victor’s Tryst was supermodel Mayra Veronica, who hosted her Maxim cover party. New York Mets slugger Gary Sheffield also was at Tryst.

Photo: Thomas Myers/Retna

Andre Agassi on the red carpet at the Tony Hawk Foundation fundraiser at the Wynn on Nov. 7, 2009.

Tonight’s tips

Tennis champion Andre Agassi will sign copies of his new autobiography Open for the first time in a public venue at the Encore Theater in the Wynn after being interviewed by ESPN’s Rick Reilly onstage there. … Country singer Jo Dee Messina will sing whatever songs fans want to hear when she takes the stage at the House of Blues in Mandalay Bay. She will start with her own favorite, then it’s audience requests from thereon. … Billy Elmer, who was the only comic on The Tonight Show With Johnny Carson in its final weeks, is at the Riviera Comedy Club with Russ Rivas and Wendy Hammers twice nightly through Sunday.

Photo: Pure Management Group

Dan Marino.

Tomorrow’s teases

Actress and comedienne Lily Tomlin switches her Ernestine character from phone company tyrant to health care Cruella when she opens her new show Not Playing With a Full Deck at MGM’s Hollywood Theater. Plus, football legend Dan Marino has such a craving for pizza, he has 18 restaurants in Florida, and now he’s thrown a 50-yard pass to bring the unique coal-fired parlors to Town Square. We’re in the kitchen with Dan for the taste secrets.

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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