Las Vegas Weekly

October 29, 2009 · 4:02 PM

Strip Scribbles: Carrot Top is joining ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live

By Robin Leach

Carrot Top at the grand opening of Wayne Newton's Once Before I Go at the Tropicana on Oct. 28, 2009.

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

Eccentric props comic and Luxor headliner Carrot Top will spend tomorrow in Los Angeles filming five comedy sketches for late-night TV host Jimmy Kimmel. The comedy bits will run Monday through Friday next week on ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live, and if the segments catch on with viewers, Jimmy wants it to be a regular nightly addition to his show.

Jimmy wrote the scripts especially for Carrot Top after having him as a guest on the show. Now he wants him back as a regular!

Photo: Tom Donoghue/www.donoghuephotography.com

Alec Mazo and Edyta Sliwinska at the grand opening of Wayne Newton's Once Before I Go at the Tropicana on Oct. 28, 2009.

*Have you ever wondered how the gorgeous girls on Dancing With the Stars manage to keep on their flimsy costumes instead of suffering wardrobe malfunctions while twirling around the dance floor? Last night, I ran into Edyta Sliwinska and Anna Trebunskaya at the Wayne Newton premiere and asked them for the secret. They told me it’s all held together by sticky flesh tape that the camera cannot read. “What we have on tonight is far more dangerous because we have no tape,” Edyta laughed.

Photo: Fred Morledge/PhotoFM.com

The premiere of Michael Jackson's This Is It at the Palms on Oct. 27, 2009.

*This weekend will be the real test of the power of Michael Jackson’s film This Is It. It will be playing on 6,000 screens in 3,481 theaters in the U.S. On its first day, from 12:01 a.m. yesterday morning through the 24-hour period, the film grossed $20.1 million at the box office worldwide: $7.4 million in the U.S. and Canada and $12.7 million from 97 countries, with Britain as the biggest foreign market at $1.9 million. We’ll keep track of the figures as the weekend continues, even though Halloween weekend is one of the slowest of the year for the movies.

*Nevada Ballet Theater is embarking on a unique fundraising and awareness campaign called “Spread the Dance.” The campaign’s intent is to ensure that people understand ballet is no longer just about tutus. It’s the basis for all forms of dance, including the recent popularity of dance-themed TV shows. The new campaign launches Nov. 30 and will feature many Strip stars showing off their best dance move in a lighthearted way. We’re filming the spots next week, and even I’ve agreed to show my really clumsy elephant-footed samba swirl!

Photo: Tom Donoghue/www.donoghuephotography.com

Comedian Frank Caliendo debuts at the Monte Carlo.

*Monte Carlo headliner Frank Caliendo will perform his incredible impressions on The Jay Leno Show tomorrow night at a Burbank studio taping. Coincidentally, both men rush back to Las Vegas for their own solo shows: Jay is appearing for two late nights of standup comedy in the Terry Fator Theatre at The Mirage. Maybe Frank can hitch a ride home on Jay’s jet?

Photo: Courtesy

Imelda Papin.

*Please support some good friends who have joined forces for “A Concert for a Cause” at The Orleans Showroom tomorrow night. Singers Imelda Papin and Ron Dante have teamed with our Clint Holmes, former Lt. Gov. Lorraine Hunt and husband Dennis Bono, Dallas Fueston, Deya and other surprise artists in the fundraiser concert to help victims of the recent typhoon in the Philippines.

*Can you believe I’ve received my first New Year’s Eve invitation, and we haven’t even reached Halloween! New Year’s Eve 2010 is already in the finalized stages at the Cathouse in the Luxor. Nice to know the $1,000 table service package includes a complimentary bottle of Dom Perignon!

*Six beauty salons across the Las Vegas valley competed in the third Battle of the Brushes hosted by Rain cosmetics queen Rain Andreani at Blush in the Wynn. In keeping with Halloween, each salon had just one hour to take their model and turn her into their Favorite Fairytale Gone Wicked. Party revelers and clubgoers watched the stunning transformation. Ursula the Sea Witch created by artist Natasha from Michael Boychuck’s Colors salon at Caesars Palace was declared the winner. Contributing photographer Bryan Steffy also captured the runners-up: Ariel Stuck in Davy Jones’ Locker by Tease salon artist Brittany and Alice in Wonderland by Janessa from Eleven Spa.

Photo: Miss America Organization

Members of the Miss America Organization visit Afghanistan.

Photo: Miss America Organization

Members of the Miss America Organization visit Afghanistan.

*Many of the Miss America Pageant past winners who travel to Las Vegas every year for the pageant at Planet Hollywood went with Miss America Chairman Sam Haskell to meet thousands of U.S. and coalition troops in Afghanistan. Former Afghanistan combat medic Jill Stevens Sheperd, who was Miss Utah 2007 in the national competition, served as a guide for Sharlene Wells (1985), Bebe Shopp (1948), Heather Whitestone (1995), Susan Powell (1981), Nicole Johnson (1999) and Ericka Dunlap (2004), who we have been following every Sunday on CBS’ Amazing Race. All the ladies, including 80-year-old Bebe, were fitted with bulletproof armor vests and helmets weighing 50 pounds each, and they carried their own armory . They flew on a C17 cargo plane after two days in Kuwait into Bagram Air Force Base in Iraq and then deployed over Afghanistan and other forward base camps for another four days meeting troops.

Photo: Joanne Vitale

Imagine Dragons.

*Our Las Vegas-based Imagine Dragons has been creating a lot of buzz and looks set to become a household name soon. Music experts are predicting they are the next big act to come out of Las Vegas following on the heels of The Killers and Panic! At the Disco. Imagine Dragon played the side stage at the 2009 Bite of Las Vegas event in Desert Breeze Park and so impressed organizers and fans that when coordinators learned that Train had to drop out of the lineup due to frontman Pat Monahan’s illness, Imagine Dragons was recruited for the main stage. More than 20,000 music fans gave them a rousing reception.

Photo: Courtesy

Arman Zajic, Howie Mandel and Brian Evans.

LeAnn Rimes.

Tonight’s tips

Self-confessed germophobe comedian Howie Mandel opens his own suitcase at the MGM when he checks in for a 12-night run at The Hollywood Theatre with guest John Mendoza. … Gorgeous singer LeAnn Rimes has the second of her three consecutive two-night weekend gigs at Treasure Island through tomorrow. … The unexpected, avant-garde adventures of Puscifer unwind at The Pearl in the Palms -- click HERE for our photo gallery posted this morning. … Phantom -- the Las Vegas Spectacular stars Tina Walsh, Kristi Holden and Andrew Ragone walk the catwalk in “Couture for a Cure” at Saks 5th Avenue to benefit our local Muscular Dystrophy charity.

Photo: Pure Management Group

Nicky Hilton.

Tomorrow’s teases

The Professional Bull Riders World Finals get underway as cowboys battle eight seconds of buck broncos for the biggest prize in the sport. Stay on long enough, and they reach the Nov 8. Finals. In addition to all the Halloween happenings with such beauties as Holly Madison and Nicky Hilton, there are non-holiday events. We’ll have the 411 in the ROYAL ROBIN RUNDOWN.

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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