Las Vegas Weekly

November 20, 2009 · 4:07 PM

Strip Scribbles: Allison Janney celebrates her 50th birthday

By Robin Leach

Allison Janney is flanked by Playboy Bunnies Jessa and Lagracella.

Photo: Shane O'Neal/N9NE Group

It was a Las Vegas vacation and a 50th birthday bash for Emmy Award-winning actress Allison Janney of The West Wing fame. The all-girls dinner at N9NE Steakhouse in the Palms began with espresso shots. Allison ordered a 40-ounce rib eye to share and was then surprised with a delicious chocolate birthday cake. Later the group went to The Playboy Club, where Playboy Bunnies Jessa and Lagracella presented Allison with a Playboy key.

Allison also celebrated with her co-star Megan Hilty of Broadway’s Wicked and two other gal pals at The Beatles Love musical by Cirque du Soleil at The Mirage. The girls sipped Veuve Clicquot champagne during the show and afterward went backstage to meet former Broadway cast mates Brendan King and Bryan Lefeber, who play the Nowhere Men.

*“New Mr. Las Vegas” George Wallace ushers in the holiday season by giving back. From Dec. 1-12, guests who bring two or more new, unwrapped gifts to his toy drive will receive one free ticket to his show. The donation box is located at the Flamingo showroom near the Donny & Marie kiosk. … Pure Management Group hosts its 2nd Annual Canned Food Drive to benefit our Three Square food bank over the next two weeks. PMG, which runs LAX at the Luxor, Christian Audigier at T.I., Coyote Ugly at New York-New York and Pure at Caesars Palace, has set a goal of 1,500 pounds of food. Donors of two cans of food will receive free admission to the venues on designated nights.

Photo: Tom Donoghue/www.donoghuephotography.com

Robin Leach interviews Alton White of The Lion King at Mandalay Bay.

*Alton White, who stars as Mufasa in Disney’s The Lion King at Mandalay Bay, will present an evening of holiday music with two charity benefit concerts on Dec. 4 at The Liberace Museum’s Cabaret Showroom. Alton will donate all proceeds from ticket sales to the nonprofit Liberace Foundation & Museum. Joining him will be cast members Monique L. Midgette and Derrick Davis and Jersey Boys conductor Keith Thompson.

Star surveillance

Chef Guy Savoy is back in town for another stint at his self-named restaurant in Caesars Palace. He launched his new TGV (high-speed) chef’s selection menus, and they’re winning raves from fans and diners attending Colosseum shows. … Cher brought new Bob Mackie gowns and songs to her show there when the new run opened last night complete with a new opening number that simply wowed the crowd. … Tennis superstar turned bestselling author Andre Agassi will return home this weekend from his national book tour and will be signing at Costco in Summerlin. … Plans are underway to bring the Guy Fieri cooking tour to Las Vegas early next year. … UFC President Dana White was at The Playboy Club with 10 guests enjoying champagne and playing blackjack with the Playboy Bunny dealers. Dana stuck to Fiji water and posed for photos with Playboy Bunny Jessa. UFC star Chuck Liddell, in town for UFC 105, was in a group of 30 enjoying shellfish platters, rock shrimp and lobster pot stickers at N9Ne Steakhouse. Also there separately was pro lightweight fighter Clay Guida and NFL legend Joe Montana, who went back into executive chef Barry Dakake’s kitchen with memorabilia to add to his collection.

Photo: Shane O'Neal/N9NE Group

Playboy Bunny Jessa and UFC President Dana White.

*It was 20 years ago today that The Mirage opened its doors -- click HERE for our story yesterday. This afternoon, Mirage President Scott Sibella kicked off the anniversary weekend with headliners Terry Fator and cast members of Love. Scott is handing out some impressive gifts today. He’s rolled down room rates to $89 a night and thrown in a $50 Cravings Buffet credit. He’s also trimmed 20 percent off room charges, and cocktails at The Mirage have been cut to $5. Best of all, he’s returned the flagship Kokomo’s menu to 1989 prices. A commemorative 20th anniversary souvenir also is being handed out.

We’re joining in the excitement, too, with 20 percent more star appeal in our magical mystery tour of weekend highlights we crave affectionately around here after a hard day’s night as the ROYAL ROBIN RUNDOWN:

Friday, Nov. 20

*The most romantic crooner of all time sings to all the girls he’s loved before. Julio Iglesias is as smooth as silk with two nights of concerts at the Las Vegas Hilton.

*Kenny G plays musical instruments the same way Julio sings -- smoothly. He’s made jazz a mainstream art form and proves it at the Star of the Desert Arena in Primm.

*Comedian Lewis Black brings his comedy to The Mirage for two nights of the 20th Anniversary weekend.

*The Four Tops have been churning out hits since 1964, and they’re presenting three nights of them through Sunday at The Orleans.

Photo: MGM

Viva Elvis at Aria in CityCenter.

*Brandon Bennett does Elvis his way and gets a jump on Cirque du Soleil’s Viva Elvis opening at CityCenter next month. It’s his third consecutive year with three nights of his Blue Suede Shoes at Suncoast through Sunday.

*Bill Medley with Darrin and McKenna Medley make it a family affair at South Point.

*Asleep at the Wheel, who headline on tour with Willie Nelson, are wide awake for their show at the Silverton Casino Lodge, while country singer-songwriter Darryl Worley is at Ovation in Green Valley Ranch.

*Psychic Gary Spivey, he of outrageous hair and suits, peers into the future and talks with those from the past at Hooters casino hotel.

*It’s a heavy metal fan’s dream come true as Hollywood Undead, Atreyu, Escape the Fate and The Sleeping make music mayhem at the House of Blues in Mandalay Bay.

Party patrol

Former Cheetah Girl and now MTV personality Adrienne Bailon hosts at LAX. … Stacie the bartender from The Hills promises to hop behind the bar at Jet in The Mirage when she hosts tonight’s party.

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

Tito Ortiz at the opening of his store Punishment in Hooters casino.

Saturday, Nov. 21

*The big event of the weekend is UFC 106 at Mandalay Bay Events Center with the showdown between Forrest Griffin and Tito Ortiz, who is returning to the ring after one-year layoff because of medical issues and contract disputes.

*It’s a reunion for Kenny Loggins and Jim Messina as they return together with guitars and songs at the Star of the Desert Arena.

*Former Monkees singer Davy Jones has a new solo career with my record producer pal Ron Dante, and Davy performs at Silverton Casino Lodge. … Former teen heartthrob James Darren still sings for his supper and is at the Cannery. … Hiroshima brings its cool smooth jazz mixed with R&B to Santa Fe Station. … Raphael Saadiq is at the House of Blues in Mandalay Bay. … And celebrating the Arabic holiday is Sahra featuring Khaled, Assala and Abdulla at MGM Grand.

Photo: Tom Donoghue/www.donoghuephotography.com

Seven-time Formula One racing champion Michael Schumacher at the 13th Superkarts USA SuperNationals at The Rio.

*The Superkart USA SuperNationals continue at The Rio, while the Maxxis EnduroCross Finals are at The Orleans Arena.

Party patrol

New country singer Jesse James, who is about to go on Kid Rock’s two-week overseas military tour, hosts a mini-concert at Pure. … Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Robin Thicke hosts at the Bank in the Bellagio and introduces new pop princess Kaci Battaglia performing with her dance troupe.

*Tickets go on sale today for King of Country George Strait’s concert at MGM Grand Garden Arena on Feb. 6. His guest is Reba McEntire, and the Las Vegas stop is the kickoff to their 2010 tour. George is a 17-time CMA Entertainer of the Year nominee who truly deserves his royal crown.

Photo: Courtesy

Regis Philbin and Kelly Ripa on Live With Regis and Kelly.

Sunday, Nov. 22

*It’s the first of two days of taping at the Encore Theater in the Wynn for Regis Philbin and Kelly Ripa. The shows air next week, with Kelly performing with the cast of Le Reve and seen with the cast of Love. Kelly also hosts former Las Vegas resident Jimmy Kimmel and visits the Las Vegas wedding chapel where she married Mark Consuelos in 1996. Regis is joined by his wife Joy as they debut a new album of love songs titled Just You, Just Me. Other guests include Mark Harmon, Thomas Gibson, David Cook and Irina Shabayeva, Project Runway’s winner crowned last night on Bravo.

*Philip Fortenberry, the associate conductor for Jersey Boys, presents an afternoon piano concert to launch his new CD of Broadway songs at the Clark County Library theater. … KEM and Laura Izbor are at the Hilton as the Arabic holiday weekend continues.

*Miss America 2004 Ericka Dunlap and her husband Brian Kleinschmidt are getting closer to finishing among the Top Three on CBS’ The Amazing Race. Tune in to see if they succeed.

Two advance notes for Monday

Get ready for the opening of the new Rush Tower at the Golden Nugget downtown. Owner Tilman Fertitta will join our Merry Mayor of Mirth Oscar Goodman for the red ribbon opening at the $1 million landscaped entrance. … After a week delay in counting an unexpected avalanche of votes, New York-New York President Cynthia Kiser Murphey will stand on the Brooklyn Bridge and declare a winner in the monthlong Vinny vs. Vinny contest. Thousands of votes poured in from around the world to determine if Vinny Red or Vinny Blue wins the yearlong gig as spokesman and host.

Photo: Erik Kabik

Eva Longoria Parker arrives at the 10th Annual Latin Grammy Awards at Mandalay Bay on Nov. 5, 2009.

Monday’s teases

Next week’s Vegas DeLuxe postings will be briefer than normal because of Thanksgiving and the fact that after seven-day weeks of nearly around the clock work since September, I need some R&R in Cabo San Lucas with the family. We’ll still have our daily Strip Scribbles and a four-day rundown from Thursday through Sunday of everything planned next weekend, plus we also have our interviews with Eva Longoria Parker about her new CityCenter restaurant Beso and nightclub Eve and a follow-up to The Rat Pack controversy. We also will have coverage of Michael Schumacher and the Formula One stars racing high-speed karts at The Rio.

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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Follow VDLX Editor Don Chareunsy on Twitter HERE.

— From Vegas Deluxe

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