Las Vegas Weekly

October 19, 2009 · 12:34 PM

Strip Scribbles: Elijah Johnson leaves The Lion King jungle

By Robin Leach

Elijah Johnson during "Las Vegas Celebrates the Music of Michael Jackson" at The Pearl in the Palms.

Photo: Tom Donoghue/www.donoghuephotography.com

It was pint-size powerhouse Elijah Johnson’s last performance in the role of Young Simba in The Lion King at Mandalay Bay yesterday, but Elijah’s career as a singer, dancer and entertainer is about to explode. People sat up and took notice of his Lion King show, but when he took part in the Michael Jackson tribute concert at The Pearl in the Palms in August, the 11-year-old strengthened his road to stardom.

As we previously reported, Elijah is joining forces with Maloof Music & Movies, the entertainment enterprise of Maloof brothers Phil, Gavin, Joe and George. Elijah’s father and manager Carleton and the Maloofs will lay out a roadmap for his career. Already, record producers are lined up in L.A. to help propel the next step forward.

Click HERE for Senior Editor John Katsilometes’ recent story about Elijah.

*In a salute to next month’s edition of Playboy that will feature a pictorial tribute to the late Farrah Fawcett, George Maloof’s Palms will release different limited-edition Farrah Fawcett chips on Oct. 29. There will be three separate $5 chips and one $25 chip, with different images of the actress on all of them -- both front and back.

Photo: Denise Truscello/WireImage

Annie Duke.

*I had a ton of fun with my comedy debut at the Celebrity Tarot Lounge. The six standup comedians of Matt Donnelly’s laugh-out-loud lineup translated the tarot card I’d selected into a series of humorous sketches. I was followed up by a showgirl from Jubilee!, and then Mirage headliner Terry Fator and illusionist Steve Wyrick wrapped up the second show last Friday night.

Poker players Annie Duke and Andy Bloch were the second night guests, along with Mythbusters star Adam Savage. Emily Jillette, wife of Rio headliner Penn Jillette, produces these escapades at the beautiful new Stage Door Theater in Town Square, and it’s one of those original local endeavors that deserves support and recognition. Ticket prices are reasonable for a night of creative fun!

Photo: Shane O'Neal/N9NE Group

DJ Z-Trip is flanked by Playboy Bunnies Jessa and Denise at Rain in the Palms.

Photo: Shane O'Neal/N9NE Group

Robin Antin and Matt Goss flank Playboy Bunnies Jessa and Denise at the Palms.

Star surveillance

New Palms resident DJ Z-Trip kicked off his new weekly Revolution parties at Moon with an appearance by hip-hop stars De La Soul, who performed three songs for the packed crowd. X Games champion and Australian skateboarder Jake Brown watched the turntable between Z-trip and DJ Robb that went on until 3 a.m. Z-Trip, America’s top DJ, was presented with a Playboy key by two Bunnies during a red carpet ceremony at Moon. He joins such stars as George Clooney, Matt Damon, Brad Pitt, Paris Hilton and Gwen Stefani who have the exclusive all-access keys. … Singer Matt Goss and Pussycat Dolls founder Robin Antin were presented with their Playboy keys during his show in the Gossy Lounge at the Palms. … Up at Ghostbar, rapper Pittsburgh Slim hung out with friends and was persuaded to sing two songs before heading to Moon, while Jake Brown sipped champagne before heading into Rain. … Boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. was with 10 friends at N9NE Steakhouse in the Palms and feasted on Australian lobster tail with sides of asparagus and mashed potatoes. It was his second consecutive night there, but the first was only for drinks with pals in the lounge. … Also there was Sacramento Kings player Tyreke Evans, who enjoyed the lobster bisque, 12-ounce filet and mashed potatoes.

Photo: Wayne Bernath

Lance Burton.

Magicians Siegfried and Darren Romeo were guests at Lance Burton’s Monte Carlo show. Afterward, the group had dinner at Dragon Noodle. Fans waited patiently outside and then mobbed the wonder wizards for photos at the end of their meal. … 1998 Playboy Playmate of the Year Karen McDougal stopped into First Food & Bar in the Palazzo after attending Donny & Marie Osmond’s show at the Flamingo. … Comedian Carlos Mencia and friends shared the guacamole, trio of ceviche, empanadas and asada burritos at Dos Caminos in the Palazzo. … Actor Alfonso Ribeiro dined with friends at Rare 120 in the Hard Rock Hotel and then partied with his group at Body English, where the DJ played the theme song from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, which naturally sent the crowd crazy.

Photo: The Orleans

Perry Danos.

Tonight’s tips

It’s the Las Vegas debut of jazz singer Perry Danos, and his two nights of shows at The Orleans are free to launch his album Swinging on the Moon. Perry has been dubbed “the new voice of Vegas” with his song stylings influenced by such greats as Tony Bennett and Dean Martin. For his run through songbook classics, three beautiful vocalists and a 12-piece band will back him. … Former rocker Pete George swapped his lead guitar for standup comedy, and winning a series of comedy contests started him on a more than 6,000 performance run. He headlines at the Riviera Comedy Club with Mike Merryfield and Tony Camin through Sunday night.

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

Garth Brooks.

Tomorrow’s teases

Country king Garth Brooks lets a huge hint slip as to what he’s going to do with all the money he’ll earn at the Wynn, plus he’s working on a solution for fans balking at the $125 ticket price. We know how he plans to make amends for his old $25 ticket ceiling! The new multimillion-dollar Elvis Presley Kings Ransom museum opens for the first time at center Strip, plus we are Keeping Up with the Kardashians on a photo shoot as we join them for a Palazzo shopping spree.

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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