Las Vegas Weekly

August 6, 2010 · 4:55 PM

Strip Scribbles: Holly Madison nears reality TV show renewal on E!

By Robin Leach

Josh Strickland, Laura Croft, Angel Porrino, Holly Madison and Joyce Bonelli attend the Holly's World viewing party at Planet Hollywood on June 13, 2010.

Photo: Denise Truscello/WireImage

Advance buzz from inside TV industry executives in Hollywood is that Holly Madison’s reality TV series Holly’s World will be renewed for a second season within two weeks. Holly’s World has garnered great ratings for E! Entertainment, and when the official green light is given, filming for Season 2 would start here this fall.

Holly is currently contracted to star in Peepshow at Planet Hollywood through Dec. 31 and is expected to renew for another run, the only guest celebrity in the topless burlesque to have the distinction.

WICKED WHISPERS & RACY RUMORS

I can confirm that shock comedy magician Amazing Johnathan’s annual wild and wicked Halloween Party will be part of a one-hour pay-per-view special this fall. TV cameras will film a half-hour of highlights of his live nightly Krave showroom at Planet Hollywood’s Miracle Mile and a half-hour of the Halloween happenings. … Magician Teller, the silent half of Penn & Teller, is at work on a new Broadway show, Play Dead, that will have pre-New York previews at The Rio, where they appear nightly. Teller is working with Las Vegas magician Johnny Thompson on the “very dark and macabre” show that’s headed to the Great White Way next year. Expect Penn & Teller’s Rio contract to get a new five-year renewal sometime this fall. … Melinda, the first lady of magic, is returning to the stage. I’ve confirmed that she’ll be back next month on brother David Saxe’s stage at his Planet Hollywood Miracle Mile theater, but not in his new production Vegas The Show. … Japan’s First Ladies of Illusion and aerial acrobats Ai and Yuki open at the theater next week. … Contracts are being signed as I type for the new show going into the Thunder From Down Under theater at Excalibur to replace comedian Louie Anderson, who has moved to Palace Station. … The Mirage headliner Terry Fator’s ex-wife Melinda has moved here while their lawyers battle out their divorce. She told me that she can’t comment about the situation but said “she’s here because she was the one who always wanted to live here in the first place.”

*Comedian Brad Garrett will host a regular weekly AM/FM radio broadcast from his new Tropicana Comedy Club starting Labor Day. He’ll commute every Monday to host the two-hour show after the club’s regular comedy showcase. When that ends at 9 p.m., Brad will take the stage with a poker table and seven chairs as the set. He plans two comedy interviews each week, plus a Strip entertainer and a local, non-showbiz personality. The broadcast over KNXT 840 AM and 100.5 FM will wrap with an audience Q&A before calling it a night at 11.

*Odds-maker Johnny Avello has weighed in on the guessing game for the new American Idol judges, and he’s given 1,000 to 1 odds that Howard Stern will be the last one chosen! Johnny, the director of Race and Sports Book operations at Steve Wynn’s casino resorts, has predicted that Paula Abdul might even return, with 22 to 1 odds on that happening. Remember that these are purely for entertainment purposes. Here are his Top Five picks (the full list was posted on LasVegasSun.com yesterday): Steven Tyler, 7 to 5; Randy Jackson (returning?), 5 to 2; Jennifer Lopez, 3 to 1; Kara DioGuardi (ousted?), 15 to 1; and Jessica Simpson, 18 to 1.

*Our merry Mayor of Mirth Oscar Goodman can even outshine our legendary Las Vegas showgirls when it comes to a photo op! MGM Grand’s Crazy Horse Paris dancers, who are offering guests a chance to win a trip to Paris with their Passport to France promotion, posed with His Honor at the Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign. Crazy Horse Paris dancer Cza Cza shared her personal passport and encouraged guests to sign up for the Passport promotion -- the deadline is Sunday.

*Superstar singer Justin Timberlake has lined up three lovely ladies to host and speak at his 2nd Annual Women’s Day on Oct. 19 as part of his Shriners Hospital for Children Golf Tournament Open at TPC in Summerlin. MSNBC anchor and Caught on Camera host Contessa Brewer will join two Las Vegas heroes: magician Penn Jillette’s wife Emily Jillette and Motivation Wellness expert Nikki Stevens.

*One of the world’s most unique cars, the electric Tag Heuer Tesla Roadster, is on display at MGM CityCenter’s Crystals through Sunday. The stunning collectors’ car that’s attracted everybody from Leonardo DiCaprio to Kellan Lutz is on a 6-month, 22,000-mile odyssey to 15 cities on three continents.

STAR SURVEILLANCE

Paris Hilton returns to Las Vegas this weekend after a three-week romp through South Africa for the World Cup and narrowly missing me in all the European hot spots. … Comedy impressionist Stephen Sorrentino, who stars as Elton John in Legends at Harrah’s, premiered his game show Liars Limo today on Channel 123, which was rebroadcast in Singapore, Japan, Thailand, Malaysia and the Philippines. Veteran comedian Marty Allen and I had guest spots on the show. … Comedy-magician Mac King performed a show for thousands of Boy Scouts during the 2010 National Scout Jamboree in Washington, D.C., this week with tricks from his Harrah’s show. He signed autographs alongside Campfire Magic illustrator and cousin Bill King after the performance.

*The Gold and Silver Road Show is underway for our hometown heroes starring on The History Channel’s Pawn Stars, and their nationwide swing is here tomorrow at Suncoast. You’re invited to bring your gold, silver, antiques and collectibles for appraisal, and the boys might buy ’em, option ’em or maybe just tell you a fascinating story about ’em! Rick Harrison, Corey Harrison and Chumlee will be on hand for 6 hours in the grand ballroom, and admission is $7.

Now it’s our turn to haul in our weekly gold and silver list of attractions for your appraisal and valuation in what we affectionately refer to around here as the ROYAL ROBIN RUNDOWN:

FRIDAY, AUG. 6

*Country king Garth Brooks returns to the Wynn for another weekend of his one-man shows while commuting back and forth between Oklahoma.

*Jay Leno returns for his standup at The Mirage for two nights.

*Dropkick Murphys perform tracks from their sixth studio album Meanest of Times at The Joint in the Hard Rock Hotel with Adolescents and Larry and His Flask, while Night Ranger is at Santa Fe Station.

*The inaugural Ultimate B-Boy Championship is at MGM Grand Garden Arena for two nights hosted by comedian and TV host Wayne Brady and breakdance pioneer Mr. Freeze.

*The Star Trek Convention with William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, Sir Patrick Stewart, George Takei and 70 other celebs continues through Sunday at the Las Vegas Hilton.

*Alison Arngrim of Little House on the Prairie fame presents her one-woman show and a book signing at Onyx Theater. … Boston Boy’s Sam Adams performs at The Bank in the Bellagio … Lovely Miss Nevada Christina Keegan walks the red carpet for her first hosting appearance at Crown Nightclub in The Rio ahead of a performance by The Spazmatics.

SATURDAY, AUG. 7

*Singer Debbie Harry and guitarist Chris Stone were pioneers of early New Wave and Punk when they founded Blondie in the 1970s. She was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2006, and the band released a new album, Panic of Girls, in June. The B-52’s also are going strong after 25 years and more than 20 million albums sold. Their joint party is at Mandalay Bay Beach.

*The Third Annual Carnival of Cuisine at The Venetian features five James Beard Award-winning chefs and more than 20 restaurants from The Venetian and Palazzo, including Tao, Lavo, Sushi Samba and star chefs from Wolfgang Puck’s CUT and Postrio, Emeril Lagasse’s Stadium and Table 10 and Mario Batali’s B&B Ristorante and Enoteca San Marco. Then at the El Cortez Walkway to its 6th Street entrance, it’s the next Project Dinner Table, the fourth of seven, with 150 folks sitting at one long table under the stars (or the neon, in this case) for a farm fresh ingredients dinner, with The Mirage executive chef Jeff Braun serving up the creative dishes.

*The O’Jays sing their smooth songs at Star of the Desert Arena in Primm. … UFC kingpin Dana White’s favorite rockers 51/Fifty performs at Carey Hart’s Wasted Space in the Hard Rock Hotel, while Tantric, Burn Halo, Adema and Fall in Vain are at Hard Rock Cafe on the Strip. … Chuck Negron of Three Dog Night and Blood Sweat and Tears fame is at the Cannery. … And country singer Pat Green is poolside at Red Rock Resort.

*Some 15,000 Star Trek fans try to break the Guinness World Record for most costumed Trekkies in one place, and it’s followed by a costume parade at the Hilton as the star-studded Star Trek convention continues.

*Tickets go on sale today for the giant WWE Smackdown World Tour featuring stars Jack Swagger, Rey Mysterio, World’s Largest Athlete, Big Red Monster and All-American American that pulls into The Orleans Arena on Dec. 4.

PARTY PATROL

Screening parties for UFC 117’s middleweight championship battle between Anderson Silva and Chael Sonnen at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif., include Crown with radio host Amy Heart from Amy’s Heart After Dark and The Light Group hotspots Deuce, Caramel and Diablo’s. … Jimmy Foster’s Whispering Giants private 9-hour jet party to Avalon Nightclub in Hollywood -- named Venue of the Year -- soars to the skies with 30 party people. … R&B star Iyaz returns to Haze in Aria. … Sexy Twilight vampire vixen Ashley Greene hosts at MGM Grand’s Wet Republic. … Jabbawockeez and The Gamblerz Crew are special guests at the B-Boy Championship after-party in Studio 54 at MGM, with eight all-star dance crews competing for the nightclub title. … Jill Zarin of The Real Housewives of New York will sign autographs and pose for photographs at Sugar Factory in Planet Hollywood’s Miracle Mile. … E! correspondent Catt Sadler celebrates her birthday at Vanity in the Hard Rock Hotel. … High Society socialite Tinsley Mortimer celebrates her birthday by day at Tao Beach in The Venetian and then by night at Lavo in the Palazzo. … Singer Amerie performs at Pure in Caesars Palace.

SUNDAY, AUG. 8

*The one-of-a-kind auction of treasured Star Trek memorabilia wraps up the Trekkies convention.

*Zowie Bowie beauty Marley Taylor joins boyfriend David Perrico’s group to perform original music and songs with a 12-piece band at Bootlegger Bistro on The Strip. They also are performing there Aug. 22.

*Cast, crew, performers and musicians from Phantom -- The Las Vegas Spectacular at The Venetian raise funds with an auction, reception and musical afternoon at the Flamingo Library.

PARTY PATROL

Nightlife queen Tiffany Masters rounds up 25 of the hottest Cabana Candy beauties from the West Coast for the California Girls Party at The Bank. They’ll wear candy bikinis and blue wigs to pay tribute to Katy Perry’s summer hit “California Gurls”. … Rapper Kid Sister performs at Tao Beach. … A Lady Gaga costume party is set for the Closet Sundays at Revolution in The Mirage. … The 1980s roller-skating party with DJ Hollywood and DJ Frankie skates across Crown.

MONDAY’S TEASES

We’ll have the photo wrap-up of all the stars at play this weekend, plus our interview and first glam photos of the 2010 Miss Universe contestants arriving here for the Aug. 23 pageant. Later in the week, our interview with comedian Tim Allen ahead of his standup at The Mirage.

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 at Twitter.com/Robin_Leach.

Follow Vegas DeLuxe on Twitter at Twitter.com/vegasdeluxe.

Follow VDLX Editor Don Chareunsy on Twitter at Twitter.com/VDLXEditorDon.

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