Las Vegas Weekly

September 15, 2009 · 2:33 PM

Strip Scribbles: Wayne Brady begins taping Let’s Make a Deal

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

It’s been quite a ride for comedy star Wayne Brady, who started out in Las Vegas working six shows a day at the now shuttered amusement park behind MGM Grand. Today, The Venetian headliner starts double duty hosting the revival of TV game show Let’s Make a Deal. The tapings will take place at the Tropicana and be filmed as a daily CBS series this fall.

Former LMAD host Monty Hall has signed on as a consultant to the production and will be on hand today when Wayne struts onto the stage. Audience members attending the free tapings have to dress in zany costumes to get Wayne’s attention so that he picks them as contestants!

Photo: Courtesy

The logo for CBS' Let's Make a Deal.

*Despite suffering a stroke and being treated at the Mayo Clinic, beloved radio personality Garrison Keillor intends to go forward wrapping up his 35th anniversary A Prairie Home Companion celebrations, which includes a stop here at UNLV. However, his original Sept. 23 here has been postponed to a later TBD date, as doctors have advised him against air travel. On Sept. 26, Garrison is scheduled to open his new season of Companion at the Fitzgerald Theater in St. Paul, Minn. The 67-year-old entertainer, who underwent surgery for repair of a heart valve in 2001, was released last weekend, and doctors told him he was OK to resume his schedule.

Photo: Tonya Harvey

Riviera headliner Charo performs at AFAN's Black & White Party at The Joint in the Hard Rock Hotel.

*Following an ankle and knee injury sustained backstage during the Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon, Flamenco guitarist and singer Charo has now had to cancel a 2009 Latin Grammy Awards pre-taping. The headliner, who last week announced a possible 90-day shutdown of her Riviera headliner show, was scheduled to pre-tape the segment today and tomorrow. On the advice of doctors, Charo is resting and recuperating in L.A., where she will undergo physical therapy. Her segment from the Strip was slated to open the Latin Grammy broadcast airing Nov. 5 on Univision.

*It’s exactly 47 years ago today -- Sept. 15, 1962 -- that Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons officially made it. “Sherry” was No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, and it stayed in that spot for another five weeks and was certified gold by the RIAA. The unique sound of the group is heard in the Palazzo’s Jersey Boys, the musical phenomenon that celebrated its first anniversary here on May 3.

Photo: Kirvin Doak Communications

Jersey Boys cast members Erich Bergen, Rick Faugno, Jeff Leibow and Deven May flank Frankie Valli.

*I was remiss in my reports yesterday about Zowie Bowie’s preview song and dance spectacular at the Monte Carlo because I omitted any and all mention of J. Boogie, host and choreographer of Men of X at Hooters. So now I give him his own well-deserved moment to shine in the spotlight as the hot male dancer who stole the show. This dancing machine does routines with his body that not only defy gravity, but you’d think were physically impossible. The man is incredible and had the audience on its feet! Zowie Bowie’s Chris Phillips and Marley Taylor have him dancing for the Zowie Bowie dance party shows Fridays and Saturdays in The Pub and Sundays in Zowie Bowie Presents the Vintage Vegas Show.

Photo: Men of X

From left, Men of X hunks and Miss USA 2008 contestants DeAngelo, Paul, Miss Vermont USA Kim Tantlinger, Richard, Miss Indiana USA Brittany Mason, Marcus, Miss Alaska USA Courtney Carroll, J. Boogie and Jalles. The ladies attended the show at Hooters Casino Hotel to celebrate Kim's birthday.

*Las Vegas residents appearing tonight on The Wheel of Fortune taped at the Palazzo are Melissa White, a stay-at-home mom with a 10-month-old daughter; Jeremy Good, a high school civics teacher; and another stay-at home mom, Pelly Nikolopoulous, who has four kids.

Star surveillance

Boxer Evander Holyfield enjoyed a south-of-the-border fiesta feast created by chef Roberto Hernandez at Dos Caminos in the Palazzo. … Adult film star Tera Patrick was at the opening performance of Cheap Trick’s Sgt. Pepper Live at the Hilton. … Rick Nielsen of Cheap Trick took chef Kerry Simon away from his Palms Place restaurant to treat him to a mushroom hash breakfast at Hash House A Go Go.

Photo: Opportunity Village

Kitty Rodman and Corbin Bernsen.

Photo: Opportunity Village

Corbin Bernsen.

We told you yesterday how Corbin Bernsen’s impromptu auction for a day with him in L.A. raised an unexpected $8,000 for our beloved charity Opportunity Village. Now we’ve got the photos to prove it! They show Corbin addressing the crowd and looking at artwork created by an artist in O.V.’s Art Enrichment Program. I’ll host the Oct. 14 press conference that will kick off our annual Opportunity Village Santa Claus run in December to recapture the Guinness Book of World Records mark.

Photo: Opportunity Village

Corbin Bernsen.

Hip hop and rock showman Mickey Avalon returned to his home-away-from-home at Prive in Planet Hollywood. On hand for his madcap performance was former Prive bartender and now Charm School star Brandi, who joined him in the DJ booth. Next night, Peepshow star Holly Madison took her cast mates to Prive for a champagne celebration to welcome newcomer Aubrey O’Day to the lineup as Peep Diva. Dressed down in a pink and white hoodie, Holly greeted fans and then had the entire Peepshow crew on the dance floor.

Photo: Bravo TV

Roy Yamaguchi.

Tonight’s tips

There’s an Iron Chef showdown at Roy Yamaguchi’s restaurant just behind the Strip, and I’ll emcee the 6 p.m. kickoff for my longtime chef friend. Roy will host chefs David Burke from The Venetian, Carlos Guia from Steve Wynn’s resorts and Linda Rodriguez from Hachi at Red Rock as the competing chefs who’ll be mentors to teams made up of Cordon Bleu students. Some 200 guests have purchased tickets for the five-course meal they’ll judge. Roy, who will select the secret ingredient, will lead a panel of judges to find the winning student who’ll receive a paid internship at any one Roy’s 40 restaurants in the U.S., including Hawaii, and Japan.

*Tomorrow is Mexican Independence Day, and today is the opening night of the semi-annual San Gennaro Feast. The 30th annual six-day street festival at the Grand Canyon Shopping Center runs through Sunday night with food booths, amusement park rides, arts and crafts and free entertainment organized by radio and TV personality Tony Sacca, who has been part of the event for more than 20 years. Among the entertainers will be the feast’s Grand Lady Lena Prima, legendary accordionist Dick Contino, Zowie Bowie, Ronn Lucas, Rick Faugno, Todd Paul, Tom Stevens and Elvis, Frank, Dean and Marilyn impersonators. Tonight, in addition to fireworks, moms will ride free on all amusement rides.

Photo: Shane O'Neal

Jon Lovitz at the Palms.

Comedian Jon Lovitz stands in for Louie Anderson when the comedian takes a two-week vacation from his Excalibur showroom. Since his SNL days, Jon has appeared in feature films and owns Comedy Clubs in Hollywood and San Diego. … Harrah’s Improv presents comedians Steve White, Efran “Happy” Guerrera and Gary Brightwell for six nights of laughter and fun.

Photo: ABC TV

Matt Damon on ABC's Jimmy Kimmel Live.

Photo: ABC TV

Matt Damon on ABC's Jimmy Kimmel Live. Joel McHale is in the background.

The Sgt. Pepper Live cast, with Cheap Trick, Joan Osborne, Ian Bull and Rob Laufer, host their premiere party in the Tempo Lounge at the Hilton. … Tattoo artist Mario Barth presents the new Tattoosday at Wet Republic in MGM. … Actress Ali Landry launches Belle Parish, her line of children’s wear, at Blush in the Wynn. … And if you’re staying home, I can tip you that Matt Damon will continue his playful, long-running feud with ex-Vegas resident Jimmy Kimmel on Jimmy’s ABC talk show. Jimmy plans to sabotage Matt and his Informant co-star Joel McHale.

Photo: ABC TV

Matt Damon on ABC's Jimmy Kimmel Live.

Photo: ABC TV

Matt Damon and Joel McHale on ABC's Jimmy Kimmel Live.

Tomorrow’s teases

Our interview with hometown rocker Vince Neil as he gets ready for Motley Crue’s 30th anniversary, a new CD, Crue Fest 3 -- and another eight years to go on their world tour contract! We’ve got a sneak peek of Top Chef: Las Vegas along with the current bookmaker odds, plus a rundown of the five days of special events for Phantom Fans Week at The Venetian.

Photo: Kelsey McNeal/Bravo TV

Michael and Bryan Voltaggio both came out on top during the second episode of Top Chef: Las Vegas.

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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