Las Vegas Weekly

September 25, 2009 · 2:03 PM

Strip Scribbles: It’s Britney vs. Miley vs. Liza vs. Donna

By Robin Leach

It’s a head-to-head battle between the princesses of pop and the divine divas when Britney Spears goes up against Miley Cyrus and Liza Minnelli clashes opposite Donna Summer -- they’re all facing off in one fabulous Las Vegas weekend of music’s magnificent megastars.

Britney starts the first of two nights of her final act of the Circus Tour shows -- her seventh world tour -- at Mandalay Bay Events Center tomorrow. On this visit, she has guests Jordin Sparks and Kristinia DeBarge under the Big Top. Who knows what headlines will result from yet another Las Vegas adventure?

Simultaneously, Miley brings her “Party in the U.S.A.” with guests Metro Station at Thomas & Mack Center, spiking more headlines about her short skirts and figure-hugging teen fashions. Miley’s brother Trace is a member of Metro Station.

In the early days of disco, Donna reigned as queen and Liza won her first Tony Award on Broadway (Britney and Miley weren’t even born yet!). Donna forever remains the Disco Diva with her songs and sounds. She’s in concert at the Star of the Desert Arena tomorrow in Primm.

If I wasn’t covering Andre Agassi’s Grand Slam benefit, I would be there to have the “Last Dance” with the “Bad Girl.” Liza, forever Sally Bowles in Cabaret, starts a run at the Hollywood Theater in the MGM Grand tonight through Wednesday.

*Siegfried & Roy fans are invited to UNLV tonight when the incredible illusionists will be inducted into the College of Fine Arts Hall of Fame. They are being honored for their years of entertainment and charitable contributions to our city. They will join past inductees including Wayne Newton, Rich Little, Robert Goulet, Phyllis Maguire and Clint Holmes. The induction starts at 6:30 p.m., and the public is welcome. It’s followed by a VIP reception from 8 to 10 p.m. for the big wigs. The late Liberace also will be honored at the awards ceremony, named after legendary film director George Sidney who lived here, for his decades of entertainment contributions to Las Vegas.

*The very beautiful Vanessa Minnillo had a short break from boyfriend Nick Lachey during their visit when she partied at Piranha. Vanessa hung out with Carson Kressley and Larry “Hot Chocolate” Edwards. Larry, the self-described Queen of Clubs, and Vanessa had a joke fest with lines of dialogue from Miss Congeniality 2.

*When the reigning champion L.A. Lakers come to town mid-October for the pre-season game against the Sacramento Kings, newlywed Lamar Odom -- presumably with bride Khloe Kardashian on hand, too, from this weekend’s nuptials -- and superstar Kobe Bryant will host a celebration party at LAX in the Luxor.

*Avid golfer (six days a week!) and veteran rocker Alice Cooper will fly up from his Phoenix home to play in Justin Timberlake’s Oct. 14 celebrity pro-am to benefit Shriners Children’s Hospitals. One week later, Alice plays The Orleans Showroom with his Theater of Death show, the weekend before Halloween. Poker princes Daniel Negreanu and Phil Hellmuth also are joining the celeb golf players.

*Miss America 2004 Ericka Dunlap, who has attended all the pageants held here at Planet Hollywood and will be back here again in January, will compete alongside her husband Brian Kleinschmidt on Season 15 of The Amazing Race. The CBS reality series starts this weekend. Ericka will race through eight countries in 21 days, and a new “switchback” challenge has been added as the most challenging roadblock ever to this year’s new shows. Another shocker is that one couple will be kicked off even before they get to the starting line!

*There’s an extraordinary Legends of the Game memorabilia show all weekend at the Palms featuring unique collectibles including rock ’n’ roll items from Vince Neil, Kid Rock, Chuck Berry and Kenny Chesney. From the world of basketball, Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Wilt Chamberlain and Larry Bird donated pieces. UFC fighters Chuck Liddell, Randy Couture, B.J. Penn and Georges St. Pierre contributed their signed memorabilia. There are items from football, NASCAR, hockey and baseball, along with some Evel Knievel items, too.

*Vegas residents appearing on tonight’s Wheel of Fortune taped at The Venetian with hosts Pat Sajak and Vanna White -- the last of this round of two weeks -- include mail carrier Leo Allen and newly engaged Stacey Sheets. Wheel returns to town in February with a weddings week to coincide with Valentine’s Day.

*Frozen Fury 12 is the pre-season National Hockey League game between the Los Angeles Kings and the Colorado Avalanche at the MM Grand Garden Arena tomorrow. The Kings enter this year’s contest with an all-time record of 8-2-2- from the 12 previous Frozen Fury match-ups.

Now it’s time for us to sharpen our blades, yell for the puck and skate on thin ice with our chill of a list of the weekend’s other highlights that we affectionately refer to around here as the ROYAL ROBIN RUNDOWN:

Friday, Sept. 25

*Singer and actress Liza Minnelli has returned to her beloved Strip for another run of concerts. This time she’s at the Hollywood Theater in MGM through the end of the month -- next Wednesday night. The Cabaret star and Dudley Moore sidekick in Arthur won her first Tony Award in 1965, and she’s still got the goods. She’s hoping to jam one midnight with musicians and Strip stars before this run is over and leaves to begin an Australian tour.

*His new 10 p.m. nightly primetime comedy talk show on NBC is well underway, but it hasn’t slowed Jay Leno’s quickie trips here. Jay appears tonight and tomorrow in the Terry Fator Theatre at The Mirage.

*VH1 ranks Rock and Roll Hall of Fame hero Van Morrison as one of the Top 50 greatest musicians of all time. After all, he has more than 150 songs featured in various movies. The Grammy-winning legend is at The Joint in the Hard Rock Hotel celebrating his astounding 35th album.

*Ugly Betty diva Vanessa Williams has a voice of shimmering silver and gorgeous gold with the sweetest soul sounds imaginable. She’s performing one night only at the Star of the Desert Arena.

*For 25 years, country singer Wynonna has kept a record of her hits and standards during that epic journey. She’s at The Orleans Showroom for three nights singing country, rock, blues and soul from her new seventh solo album Sing Chapter 1.

*The unsinkable Debbie Reynolds is still singing and dancing as strong as ever, and she’s at the South Point through Sunday.

*Longtime friends and performers Susan Anton, Clint Holmes, Domenick Allan (Foreigner) and Martin Nievera stir up the Suncoast for three nights as Vocal Soup, with Frank Sinatra’s pianist and conductor Vincent Falcone for individual performances, duets and group melodies and stylings.

*The Fabulous Thunderbirds perform with G-Force power poolside at the Silverton Casino Lodge.

*Mr. And Ms. Olympia weekend gets underway at The Orleans Arena for two days and nights of judging those incredible bodies. Click HERE for our story yesterday.

*Tickets go on sale today for the Nov. 6 R. Kelly concert at Planet Hollywood’s Theater for the Performing Arts.

Party patrol

Harry Potter actor Thomas Felton, aka villain Draco Malfoy, has a break from Hogwarts hosting a Slytherin evening of fun and fantasy at Prive in Planet Hollywood. Draco wouldn’t be old enough to party at Prive!

Saturday, Sept. 26

*As we reported above, it’s Britney vs. Miley and Liza vs. Donna. Let the catfights begin!

*Pet Shop Boys, one of the most iconic and influential pop acts in the world, have had two incredible, successful decades in music, and now Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe return to The Joint in the Hard Rock Hotel. Steps away at Carey Hart’s Wasted Space are Hey Champ with The Afghan Raiders.

*Veteran music makers since 1969, Grammy winners Crosby, Stills & Nash perform in the open-air entertainment piazza at The M Resort. The legendary group comprised of David Crosby, Stephen Stills and Graham Nash will sing their signature harmonies of “Southern Cross” and “Teach Your Children.”

*My old Manchester pal Peter Noone brings his Herman’s Hermits to an oldies show with The Turtles featuring Flo and Eddie at the Club in the Cannery.

*Country singer-songwriter James Otto played guitar, violin and sax before he was 13. His debut album Sunset Man last year propelled him onto the country music scene, and he appears at Club Madrid in the Sunset Station. … Better Than Ezra is better than ever and proves it in an outdoor pool concert at Silverton Casino Lodge.

*Hip-hop and reggae star Pitbull, who was discovered by our Las Vegas regular Lil’ Jon, plays a late-night show at the House of Blues in Mandalay Bay. Earlier, there’s a triple pack of rock from The Getup Kids, Pretty Nice and Youth Group.

*Tickets go on sale for the John Mayer Trio’s New Year’s Eve concert party at The Joint in the Hard Rock Hotel.

Party patrol

Rapper Big Boi will perform at LAX in the Luxor. … My restaurateur friend Andre Rochat throws a cigar party in his beautiful cigar lounge at the Monte Carlo featuring Punch Grand Cru, Montecristo Classic and Davidoff 2000 smokes all matched with rare cognac or fine bourbons! (Why am I working and not relaxing on a Saturday night?!) … The fourth annual rock and roll wine festival takes place at Mandalay Bay Beach, and Lifehouse will shine its beacon with opening acts Tyler Hilton and Tender Box. More than 150 wines will be showcased, and it’s anybody’s guess how many bottles will be consumed. … Las Vegas’ own two-time Mr. Olympia winner Jay Cutler flexes his muscles and hosts his official after-party at Prive.

Sunday, Sept. 27

*All four original members of Creed, one of the most successful rock bands of the past decade, are reunited on their summer tour and out promoting its new album. The chart-toppers, with frontman Scott Stapp, prove their metal in concert at The Joint.

*Singing star Gino Vannelli croons the smooth sounds in his one-night show at the Las Vegas Hilton.

*Tantric won’t bend into strange sexual positions when they play with guests Aranda and Vayden at Carey Hart’s Wasted Space. Incidentally, it’s also the Season 6 finale of the Rehab 2009 parties at the Hard Rock. Yep, summer fun officially ends with Eric Cubeechee and OB-One just two of the TakeOver Skam artists deejaying on closing day!

Party patrol

Master magician Lance Burton continues his annual tradition by tapping the keg as honorary mayor for the evening at Hofbrauhaus celebrating the tradition of Oktoberfest beers complete with a live German band. … Playboy Playmate Alison Waite hosts the unveiling of the new September model in The Playboy Club calendar model search in the Palms.

Monday’s teases

We’ll have the full photo reports of the Andre Agassi Grand Slam concert and the star-studded opening of Emeril Lagasse’s Stadium restaurant in the Palazzo. If Britney gets married during her weekend here, as she has on previous visits, we’ll have that covered, too! Later in the week, our exclusive interviews with Emeril and actor Chazz Palminteri, who is about to launch his play Bronx Tale, in which he portrays all 18 characters, at The Venetian.

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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