Las Vegas Weekly

February 23, 2010 · 6:25 PM

Strip Scribbles: Bon Jovi offers fans online preview performances

By Robin Leach

Bon Jovi performs at The Joint on April 24.

Photo: Tom Donoghue/www.donoghuephotography.com

Bon Jovi will be on the road for The Circle Tour for much of the next two years, and the band gave fans a taste of what to expect -- they’re here at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on March 6 -- with a free, live Web cast of the first three songs of their North American tour launch from Seattle’s Key Arena. Log on to UStream.TV/BonJovi for a preview of what to expect at appearances in 135 shows in 30 countries through next year. The New Jersey boys also are using Twitter to engage fans.

Additionally, Bon Jovi announced that fans worldwide can upload videos performing the band’s hit “Livin’ on a Prayer to Prayer.BonJovi.com. The best performances from each city will be featured on the video system during the show while the band is onstage playing the song. The winners in each market also receive a prize package including a pair of tickets, a VIP messenger bag filled with limited-edition tour souvenirs and other memorabilia. The band’s 11th studio album The Circle was released in November and debuted at No. 1.

*He was an ordinary TV repairman from Oklahoma who found not one but several ways to rig slot machines in casinos coast to coast and beat our Las Vegas owners out of fortunes until he was caught. It was seven years ago that the Nevada Gaming Commission added Tommy Glenn Carmichael to its infamous Black Book banning him forever. He’s still regarded by most as the greatest slot cheater of all time. In 1980 at age 30, he rigged slots with devices that made him win every time. He was arrested, but it didn’t stop him.

In jail, he created new tricks to get payoffs. In 1996, he was caught again, let go and captured again in 1998 in Laughlin. He ran off to Atlantic City and was finally caught in 1999. Sentenced in 2001, he now produces anti-cheating devices for casinos! Featured on the 2004 History Channel series Breaking Vegas, Tommy’s story is being made into a feature film. The script has been finished, a director has been hired, and producers are finalizing financing and distribution. They’re hoping to start casting this spring and film this summer here for a release next year.

WICKED WHISPERS & RACY RUMORS

The buzz runs big from Las Vegas all the way to Macau that one of our off Strip mega hotels is being sold by its corporate owner and that the deal could become official within days. … The plans for a New York nightclub group to take over the rooftop pool of a Strip hotel as a day and night party playground is not yet concluded, as had been thought by many insiders. Negotiations continue, but no signatures on a contract yet. … I hear that a smaller Strip hotel will feature a Mexican chain so big and powerful that people will wind up calling the casino by its new south of the border tenant’s name. … That deal for Matt Sorum’s Darling Stilettos is likely to see the sexy quartet land at Rain in the Palms now that an offer is on the table. … Is the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland likely to land a hotel home here by year’s end? I understand that “encouraging talks” are underway for a center Strip property.

*Hollywood mega producer Jerry Bruckheimer will receive the ShoWest 2010 Lifetime Achievement Award during the March 15-18 convention here at Paris and Bally’s. Jerry has won six Oscars, five Grammys, four Golden Globes and 18 Emmys, and his film and TV credits include Flashdance, Top Gun, Beverly Hills Cop, Black Hawk Down, The Pirates of the Caribbean, CSI, Without a Trace, Cold Case and The Amazing Race. His upcoming films include Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time and The Sorcerer’s Apprentice this summer.

STAR SURVEILLANCE

*It’s difficult to believe that superstar singer Tony Bennett will be 85 this August because he’s still going strong and shining brightly. He proved that he’s “The Legend” with his concerts at the Las Vegas Hilton over the weekend. Contributing photographer Tom Donoghue shot our special photo gallery and remembers as Bob Hope’s golf tournament photographer that it was Bob who encouraged Tony to change his name back in Greenwich Village from Antonio Bennedetti to Tony Bennett.

*Legendary comedian Don Rickles is another veteran still going strong, and talk show host Regis Philbin and his wife Joy were among the audience at Don’s shows in The Orleans. They dined at Koji Sushi Bar and China Bistro, where Jose Canseco was at an adjoining table.

*Gorgeous The Real Housewives of New York star Kelly Bensimon stopped by Laguna Champagne Bar in the Palazzo for champagne cocktails with friends before kicking off her night at the resort. She looked svelte in a black Jill Stewart dress and Manolo Blahnik heels and chatted with a fan at a nearby table before dinner at Lavo.

*Holly Madison and celebrity blogger Perez Hilton were at Blush in the Wynn enjoying Veuve Clicquot champagne and dancing until the early morning hours.

*Super Bowl XLIV champion New Orleans Saints star Darren Sharper hung out with friends at Vanity in the Hard Rock Hotel. The group arrived at 1:45 a.m. and sipped on Patron and Dom Perignon while wearing Mardi Gras beads and masks and stayed until 4 a.m. Also at Vanity: P.O.D. guitarist Marcos Curiel and Jared Fogle, aka “The Subway Guy.” Rapper Too Short was with an unknown lady friend celebrating with two bottles of champagne and one bottle of vodka from midnight to 2 a.m.

*Pittsburgh Steelers star Hines Ward made N9NE Steakhouse a regular stop during his stay at the Palms. The first night, he was in a party of 11 and sat in the private dining room. Although the next night he dined at Iron Chef Kerry Simon’s Simon in Palms Place, he was back at N9NE a second time with 15 friends. After dinner, Hines and friends went to The Playboy Club, where they tried their luck at blackjack before heading upstairs to Moon. Also at Moon: Miami Dolphins linebacker Joey Porter, former New York Giants player Robert Jones and former Cincinnati Bengals players Adrian Ross and Corey Dillon. Actor Robbie Jones of One Tree Hill was the guest DJ. Over at Rain, producer and composer BT (real name Brian Wayne Transeau) was simply being loved at his VIP table onstage and then took to the turntables with his famed house and techno beats.

*Pro skater Tony Hawk had lunch at Sushi Samba in the Palazzo. … Invasion actor William Fichtner had a very late lunch at Society Cafe in the Encore before watching the early show of Viva Elvis at Aria. … Baseball star Roger Clemens and members of Santana hung out at B.B. King’s Blues Club and enjoyed food and drinks. They schmoozed with B.B. King’s Las Vegas All-Stars band and vowed to return another night to jam onstage together. …. How I Met Your Mother star Neil Patrick Harris enjoyed brunch at Hash House A Go Go with Survivor host Jeff Probst and two friends. … Actor John Stamos, who is being tipped for Season 10 of Dancing With the Stars, had lunch at Sushi Roku in Caesars Palace Forum Shops yesterday, while actress Mena Suvari dined there last night in a window booth overlooking the Strip.

TONIGHT’S TIPS

Some 30 of the top women in Las Vegas nightlife will do battle for the title of 2010 Queen of Clubs at Blush. Our own Las Vegas Weekly star Xania Woodman will be competing against such favorites as Tiffany Masters and Tiger Woods headline beauty Kalika Moaquin. The ladies really are the ones who run the show! … It’s National Pancake Day, and our newly crowned 2010 Miss America Caressa Cameron will be on duty at an L.A. IHOP. The giveaway is until 10 p.m. with a donation to Marie Osmond’s Children’s Miracle Network.

TOMORROW’S TEASES

Our fabulous backstage photo tour of Viva Elvis, from the cars to wardrobe jumpsuits and makeup to the amazing aerialists. Plus, poker-playing celebrities count their cards and hold tight to their hands at a Venetian tournament.

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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