Las Vegas Weekly

January 20, 2010 · 2:04 PM

Strip Scribbles: Telethon Hope for Haiti Now is a global event

By Robin Leach

John Legend and special guest Stevie Wonder at the 2010 Retailer Awards, during CES 2010, in the Paris Ballroom at the Paris on Jan. 8, 2010.

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

The worldwide telethon Hope for Haiti Now: A Global Benefit for Earthquake Relief this Friday will feature performances by Wyclef Jean, Bruce Springsteen, Jennifer Hudson, Mary J. Blige, Shakira and Sting in New York City; Alicia Keys, Christina Aguilera, Dave Matthews, John Legend, Justin Timberlake, Stevie Wonder, Taylor Swift and a group performance by Keith Urban, Kid Rock and Sheryl Crow in Los Angeles; and Coldplay and a group performance by Bono, The Edge, Jay-Z and Rihanna in a newly added London location.

In addition to music performances, Wyclef in New York City, George Clooney in Los Angeles and CNN’s Anderson Cooper reporting from Haiti, Hope for Haiti Now will feature more than 100 of the biggest names in film, TV and music supporting the cause. Hope for Haiti Now will be the most widely distributed telethon in history and will include MTV in China and multimedia platforms. The two-hour telethon will air simultaneously on ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, CNN, BET, The CW, HBO, MTV, VH1 and CMT on Friday at 8 p.m. ET/PT.

Hope for Haiti Now also will air on newly added networks including PBS, TNT, Showtime, Comedy Central, Bravo, E! Entertainment, National Geographic Channel, Oxygen, G4 and many others and streamed online live globally on numerous sites. Facebook and Twitter have signed on as official social media partners to help drive donations.

*As promised, I stopped by to see “The Snake Man” inside his glass cage despite the heavy rainstorm outside O’Sheas opposite Caesars Palace last night. It was the third night for animal adventurer Don Schultz, and he has seven more days to go. Sixty-two snakes -- rattlesnakes, pythons and more -- were in the cage with him as of last night, and he admits that he’s been bitten once and his shirt fanged by one. Rain had leaked into the glass enclosure, but Don said he was doing well and that the downpour wasn’t spooking the deadly reptiles. Each day, five more snakes are added, and tomorrow, a bag of the most lethal of all, mamba snakes, will be added.

Don sleeps -- as best he can -- in a ceiling-suspended bed since snakes prefer the floor, but in search of warmth, two made it up to his bed, and he had to be woken by walkie-talkie to get them before they got him. He’s being filmed 24/7 by Animal Planet TV cameras for the special Venom in Vegas. By the time the stunt ends next Tuesday at 8 p.m., he will be living among 100 deadly snakes. Don has had food delivered from Jimmy Buffet’s nearby Margaritaville, and although the snakes are fed every three days, one was eyeing his taco dinner plate!

*Superstar entertainer Barry Manilow’s live one-hour QVC broadcast went off without a hitch last night from the Champagne Ballroom in the Paris. He debuted five songs from his sensational new CD The Greatest Love Song of All Time that drops next Tuesday. QVC was selling at the stunning rate of 12,000 copies every half-hour. Barry also had the opportunity to talk about his new show premiering at the Paris on March 5. He said: “It’s the most beautiful and romantic show I’ve ever worked on.” Among those tucked between the cameras who successfully vied for tickets to watch the 60-minute show were fans who had traveled from as far away as Europe.

*It must be the most expensive bottle of champagne in the world! Ask for the list of bubbly at Vanity in the Hard Rock Hotel, and your server will bring you a hand-held mirror with the champagnes and their prices. You’ll get sticker shock over the $100,000 double magnum. Yes, $100,000 for one bottle! But I’ll let you in on a secret: Vanity co-owner and MLB star Jason Giambi promises that if you buy it, two couples receive an all-expenses-paid, one-week vacation at his private luxury home on the ocean in Cabo San Lucas.

*For more than 80 years, the National Association of Broadcasters convention has served as the premiere event to showcase new products, services and innovations that drive the global broadcasting and content business. It returns once again to Las Vegas in April, but all day today, you can log on for a sneak preview in a one-day virtual trade show: DigitalVision2010. You’ll see online exhibits, take part in Q&A sessions, relax in a virtual lounge to exchange ideas and download materials and keynote presentations.

*Hometown hero and Motley Crue lead singer Vince Neil flew to West Palm Beach, Fla., to celebrate the second anniversary of his original Dr. Feelgood’s. With his solo band, Vince performed The Sex Pistols’ “No Feelings” and told the enthusiastic crowd that the cut will be a track on his solo album Tattoos and Tequila due out in April.

*I’m hearing that Wayne Newton and Desi Arnaz Jr. are joining forces this Friday with Las Vegas producer Adam Mandel to help launch the children’s cooking TV series Magical Kitchen.

Star surveillance

*Olympic gold medalist and former world heavyweight boxing champion Joe Frazier dined at Sammy Hagar’s Cabo Wabo Cantina in Planet Hollywood’s Miracle Mile. “Smokin’ Joe” was joined by his manager, and before leaving, he stopped to sign autographs and take photos with fans. … Enjoying her break from Peepshow at Planet Hollywood, Holly Madison checked out the competition and took her girlfriends to see Fantasy at the Luxor. Afterward, Holly met the show’s star Angelica Bridges and some of the dancers.

*Singer Keri Hilson had 15 friends in her entourage when she performed four songs at Haze in Aria at MGM’s CityCenter. Keri won cheers when she sang her new release “Number One,” along with “Knock Me Down” and “Turning Me On” for the crowd. She promptly sent out a Twitter message: “Vegas clubs are wild, and Haze was showin’ love!” This weekend, Katy Perry will perform at Haze, and in its sister clubs, Lauren Conrad is at The Bank in the Bellagio and the Jersey Shore cast at Jet in The Mirage.

*“Down” singer Jay Sean performed his hit songs last night atop the bar at Blush in the Wynn. The Brit followed his 20-minute show enjoying vodka cocktails and Dom Perignon with friends in a VIP area. Jay’s performance was filmed by MySpace and will be featured on the site next week.

*Viva Elvis welcomed its first celebrity guest last night when singer Avril Lavigne arrived with Eli Pacino and six friends for the late preview show. First, the group dined at Union in Aria but left room to enjoy popcorn and vodka cocktails during the Elvis show in their banquette seats. … Longtime Bette Midler friend Katy Sagal watched The Showgirl Must Go On last night before going backstage for a reunion with the Divine Miss M. Katy, widely known as Peg Bundy from Married … With Children, was one of Bette’s Staggering Harlettes from 1978 to 1983.

*Proud new parents and newlyweds Kendra Wilkinson of The Girls Next Door fame and Hank Baskett of the Indianapolis Colts will host the Valentine’s Day celebration at Eva Longoria Parker’s Eve on Feb. 13.

Tonight’s tips

Sushi Samba is using its first nationwide restaurant “Meet & Tweet” from its Palazzo location to its other outlets in New York, Chicago and Miami to provide support for victims of the devastating Haiti earthquake, The event will feature a special $8 Twitteroll, with 100 percent of proceeds from each one sold earmarked for the American Red Cross. The event starts at 6:30 p.m. … Carey Hart has 51/Fifty performing at his Wasted Space in the Hard Rock Hotel. … It’s Hot Rod & Bike night at Vince Neil’s off-Strip Dr. Feelgood’s Rock Bar & Grill with Blandini.

Tomorrow’s teases

We continue with the second and final part of our interview with Miss America Katie Stam as all 53 contestants for this year’s pageant arrive here to receive their welcoming roses at Planet Hollywood. We’ll meet our Miss Nevada Christina Keegan, who will represent The Silver State in the pageant in her final year of eligibility before college to become a doctor specializing in pediatrics. Christina will be promoting the platform “Strength Over Silence,” which supported her with education and recovery after she was raped during studies in Spain four years ago.

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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