Las Vegas Weekly

January 15, 2010 · 4:06 PM

Strip Scribbles: Guy Fieri to host NBC primetime game show

By Robin Leach

Guy Fieri puts on a musical cooking demonstration at the House of Blues on Dec. 19, 2009.

Photo: Scott Harrison/Retna/www.harrisonphotos.com

UNLV graduate, chef and TV personality Guy Fieri of The Food Network’s Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives has landed host duties on a new NBC primetime game show. Titled Minute to Win It, the program will debut on March 14. Guy will serve as master of ceremonies to lead competitors through a series of simple yet nerve-wracking games that has a payday of $1 million.

During the course of the eight one-hour episodes, competitors face 10 challenges that escalate in level of difficulty and use everyday household items. Each game has a 60-second time limit, and failure to finish the task on time eliminates the contestant. At various points throughout the game, the contestant can walk away with the money earned up to that point.

Says Guy: “It’ll take nerves of steel to complete all 10 tasks to win $1 million.”

*Animal adventurer Donald Schultz this Sunday faces one of the most terrifying ordeals ever undertaken on the Strip, and I’m not talking about drinking past 6 a.m. after a heavy night. TV cameras from Animal Planet will film him as he enters a clear glass box, where he will spend 10 days and nights with 100 deadly snakes! Sharing just a 16’ x 20’ enclosure outside O’Shea’s, the snake venom expert will eat, sleep and drink with a collection of deadly cobras, pythons and rattlesnakes, and the stunt will be in full view of spectators.

Don will start with 50 snakes, and each day, five snakes will be added until the total is 100. His glass cage will be outfitted with several big brother-style cameras, and the stunt will be filmed as part of a two-hour Animal Planet special titled Wild Recon set to broadcast next month. Some of Las Vegas’ own entertainers have pledged to enter the box -- not me, I’m quick to add! -- but they will be outfitted in an “armored” suit. Since there’s no guarantee that Don won’t be bitten, Animal Planet has a team of experts on hand. We’ll check in on Don’s progress next week.

Photo: Joe Fury/N9NE Group

George Maloof, second from right, with Maroon 5.

*Michael Morton and George Maloof’s N9NE Group at the Palms has been recruited by mogul Steve Wynn to open an edgy wine bar at the Wynn later this year. Steve describes it as a multi-sensory experience with food, music and mood. It’s being built alongside the Terrace Point Cafe at the Wynn.

*It’s a big celebrity weekend again here in Las Vegas. Happy Birthday to rock star Kid Rock, who will celebrate his festivities with friends at Lavo in the Palazzo. Then Paris Hilton launches her new Web site at Vanity in the Hard Rock Hotel tomorrow night. But all ears will be turned toward The Mirage when embattled NBC late-night talk-show star Jay Leno has a one-night stand-up booking. Doubtless he’ll fire icy blasts at NBC for moving him to the 10 p.m. slot and now acing out Conan O’Brien and returning to the 11:30 p.m. slot. It’s one big TV media mess, and count on Jay to find the hysterical humor in it all.

*Today at Red Rock Resort, the Heartland Poker Tour welcomes poker and Hollywood stars to its charity event to benefit Disabled American Veterans. I hosted the 1 p.m. kickoff and introduced celebrities including James Woods and Lou Diamond Phillips, plus card heroes and poker princess Tiffany Michelle. Players have flown in on private jets from the Midwest for the event, which is being televised for the Heartland Poker Tour programs. The celebs will play today until the Final Nine gets underway about 4 p.m. and wraps a few hours later.

*The flagship location of Sugar Factory, an expansion of the popular brand into a 15,000-square-foot dining experience and retail paradise, will open this fall at the Paris, where Barry Manilow launches his new show March 5. The Sugar Factory, with its outpost in The Mirage and in L.A., has become a celebrity favorite, with Britney Spears, Kim Kardashian and Pussycat Dolls endorsing their own Couture Pops. Expect to see Kim and other Hollywood celebrities turning up as it becomes a Hollywood haven with the launches of new confections and high-profile birthday parties.

Photo: Pure Management Group

Pussycat Dolls: Kimberly Wyatt, Melody Thornton, Nicole Scherzinger, Ashley Roberts and Jessica Sutta.

*Magician Lance Burton is featured in author Nikki Stone’s new book When Turtles Fly: The Secrets of Successful People Who Know How to Stick Their Necks Out to be released Jan. 26. Nikki is an Olympic gold medalist in skiing, and her book features more than 40 notables, including our beloved Monte Carlo headliner.

*New Liberace Foundation and Museum President Jack Rappaport vows to relocate the East Tropicana attraction to a new site to capitalize on the late flamboyant entertainer’s global popularity. He says: “I want it relocated to a location more suitable to both the local and tourist markets. We will establish the museum as a far more prominent and easy-to-reach tourist attraction.”

*If you’ve ever wanted to get close up to a world heavyweight fighter and question him about everything from training to what goes through his mind in the ring, you have that unique opportunity tonight. Celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse’s Stadium in the Palazzo will welcome “Smokin” Joe Frazier as he celebrates his birthday. But before the cake and the candles, there will be a screening of highlights from the acclaimed Thrilla in Manila. Then you’ll get the opportunity to fire questions at Joe before he leads a discussion on boxing, the great rivalries and how your life really goes on the line when you step into the ring.

Now it’s time for us to deliver our weekly knockout punch of the Victories of Vegas in an on-the-ropes package we refer to affectionately around here as the ROYAL ROBIN RUNDOWN:

Friday, Jan. 15

*Call it a blast from the past when 1960s singers Frankie Avalon and Bobby Rydell team for three nights at The Orleans and prove that continuing to rock with the pops of yesteryear keeps you young and healthy.

*Chances are you’ll drive to Primm when you realize that smooth-as-silk crooner Johnny Mathis is performing at the Star of the Desert Arena for the first time. Our Senior Editor John Katsilometes recently interviewed the music legend.

*Don’t sweat it if you stay closer to the Strip because Keith Sweat is at the Silverton Casino Lodge, and just across I-15 at South Point, it’s time to turn the clock back again with the patriotic arrival of Paul Revere and the Raiders.

*Singer-songwriters David Lee Murphy and Rob Crosby take a leaf out of the Bluebird Cafe in Nashville to tell the stories behind their songs at their Nashville Unplugged in Ovation at Green Valley Resort. Fellow singer-songwriters Brian McCombs and Aaron Benward from Blue County are the hosts of the show that really gets inside country music.

Party patrol

To celebrate the new season of Fox’s 24, actress Katee Sackhoff will host the festivities at Lavo. … R&B sensation and Dancing With the Stars runner-up Mya performs and parties at Jet in The Mirage.

Saturday, Jan. 16

*As mentioned above, it’s a safe bet that the NBC late-night mess will get laughs when Jay Leno has a one-night gig at The Mirage. He’ll probably skewer The Peacock Network’s brass, Conan O’Brien and his TV rivals, but you’ll also get the latest news of the debacle.

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

Paris Hilton models her new line of sunglasses at the Hard Rock Pool.

*Another big event of the night is Paris Hilton’s bash at Vanity in the Hard Rock Hotel to launch her Web site. The model, singer and actress turned business and fashion entrepreneur walks the red carpet there before midnight. Over at The Joint in the Hard Rock Hotel, Top Rank boxers do battle in the ring.

*Tonight to celebrate the 17,000th performance of Jubilee! at Bally’s, tickets for locals are $17 at both shows. The birthday show is at 7:30 p.m., and the first show headed toward 18,000 is at 10:30 p.m.

Photo: The CW

Ian Somerhalder, Nina Dobrev and Paul Wesley of The CW's The Vampire Diaries.

*Stars from The CW’s The Vampire Diaries will celebrate stunning starlet Nina Dobrev’s 21st birthday and the 12th anniversary of Studio 54 at MGM Grand. Lead actress Nina is bringing in castmates Paul Wesley, Ian Somerhalder, Matt Davis, Zach Roerig, Michael Trevino, Katerina Graham, Kayla Ewell, Candice Accola, Sara Canning and Steven McQueen, plus Beautiful Life’s Sara Paxton and One Tree Hill’s Torrey Devitto.

*One of the most outrageously funny ventriloquist puppets is so famous that it’s her name that headlines and not the puller of the strings. The infamous diva Madame is still going strong after all these years and takes the stage at the Suncoast for two nights thanks to new manipulator Rick Skye, who stands tall in the shoes of the late Wayland Flowers, who originally brought the wicked lady to life.

*Psychic fans and those needing a look over to the other side will delight in the return of John Edwards to the Flamingo for an 11 a.m. seance, but be warned that entry into the past or the future is $100 a ticket.

Party patrol

President Obama’s White House party gatecrashers Tareq and Michaele Salahi may have canceled their red carpet arrival, but their party continues at Pure in Caesars Palace. … Over at sister nightclub LAX in the Luxor, Grammy-nominated R&B singer J.Holiday performs his hit “Bed,” among others. … Reality TV star, beauty queen and Playboy model Kari Ann Peniche of VH1’s Sex Rehab With Dr. Drew hosts at Hawaiian Tropic Zone in Planet Hollywood’s Miracle Mile.

*Tickets go on sale today for John Mayer’s Battle Studies Tour that pulls into Mandalay Bay on March 27. Michael Franti & Spearhead are the guests. John’s tour promoting his fourth studio album Battle Studies starts Feb. 8.

Photo: Cody Boor/Hard Rock Hotel

The Hard Rock Hotel's New Year's Eve 2009 included John Mayer, pictured here, and his John Mayer Trio at The Joint, the opening of Vanity and the closing of Body English.

Sunday, Jan. 17

For the second consecutive weekend, Kid Rock is back in Las Vegas, but this time, instead of promoting new electronics, he’ll celebrate his birthday at Lavo.

Monday’s teases

We’ll have the full weekend party wrap-up, with everybody from Kid Rock to Paris Hilton to even The White House gatecrashers. It’s the week the 53 Miss America Pageant contestants arrive, and we have an exclusive interview with the reigning Katie Stam of Indiana as she reflects on her year with the crown.

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.

Share This