Las Vegas Weekly

May 19, 2010 · 5:26 PM

Star Surveillance: Mike Huckabee, Coco Lee, Barry Manilow and more

By Robin Leach

Terry Fator's first-anniversary show at The Mirage on March 13, 2010.

Photo: Denise Truscello/WireImage

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, who now hosts his own Fox News show, was pulled onstage last night during ventriloquist entertainer Terry Fator’s show at The Mirage. Mike was brought onstage and dressed as Cher complete with a wig and mask that is controlled by Terry. In the skit, Terry sang “I Got You Babe” while dressed as Sonny Bono, and Mike proved to be a great sport. Mike is here to film Fox News shows at The Venetian, and Terry, Rita Rudner and yours truly are his guests. The shows, which I’ll introduce “from The Venetian Las Vegas,” are slated to run next month.

*Gaming legend Jackie Gaughan threw out the first pitch as the Las Vegas 51s took on the Omaha Royals at Cashman Field. Jackie, 89, was co-owner of Las Vegas’ first AAA baseball team founded in 1983, and during his career, he owned or had holdings in Flamingo, Showboat, Union Plaza, Golden Nugget, Las Vegas Club, Gold Spike, Western Casino and El Cortez.

Photo: Glenn Pinkerton/Las Vegas News Bureau

Jackie Gaughan celebrates his 89th birthday at the El Cortez with showgirls and an Elvis Presley impersonator on Oct. 26, 2009.

*Rapper Trina partied at Vanity in the Hard Rock Hotel and hosted the private Purse Party as one of her stops during her new album Amazin’ Tour. … International pop diva Coco Lee is bringing her East to West World Tour to Encore Theater in the Wynn on July 3 and . Steve Wynn’s theater will be her only stop in Las Vegas . … Hip-hop duo HardNox partied at Moon in the Palms and surprised with an impromptu performance from their album, including “Fist Pump,” the popular theme song from MTV’s Jersey Shore.

*Entertainer extraordinaire Barry Manilow took singer Lorna Luft and 20 of their friends to Tryst in the Wynn after they watched his performance at the Paris. It was Barry’s second consecutive weekend there, and as a fan of DJ Fabian’s energetic vibe and music on the turntables, Barry posed for photos with him behind the wheels of steel.

*Las Vegas model and sexy UFC ring girl Arianny Celeste played host at Tao Beach in The Venetian to celebrate her cover photo and inside layout in the new Maxim. Rum king Captain Morgan, who celebrated his 375th birthday with his Morganettes, made his way around the dayclub posing for pictures with fans. Also there enjoying Coronas and frozen strawberry margaritas were MTV’s breakout stars The Dudesons. Poised to be the next Jackass, The Dudesons have actually been up to their antics longer than Johnny Knoxville and Bam. Arianny and Captain Morgan continued the celebration at Tao with a cake from Gimme Some Sugar and of course plenty of rum. Greg Oden of the Portland Trailblazers also was at Tao, and Arianny hit Lavo in the Palazzo before her fun ended. Loyal VDLX reader Richard Corey posted his video of Arianny at Tao Beach on YouTube.

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

Floyd Mayweather Jr.'s official after-fight party at Studio 54 in MGM Grand on May 1, 2010.

*George Maloof’s Palms has been buzzing with more celebrities than in a Hollywood agent’s black book. Floyd Mayweather Jr. dined in the main dining room at N9NE Steakhouse with his ex-wife just seats away from Warren Sapp and separately Piers Morgan. Floyd wound up in The Playboy Club playing blackjack for 30 minutes. 2010 Playmate of the Year Hope Dworaczyk was presented with an exclusive Playboy Club key when she partied there with Hugh Hefner and Robin Thicke. Mad TV comedy actor Bryan Christopher Callen also was there and separately actress Nicole Pacent playing blackjack … Gary Payton partied at Rain and Moon, while 2010 Miss USA Pageant judge and The Office star Oscar Nunez partied in Ghostbar. MMA fighter Rampage Jackson enjoyed the sunshine at the Palms Pool & Bungalows.

Photo: Joe Fury/N9NE Group

DJ Jazzy Jeff and Common at Rain in the Palms on May 14, 2010.

*Rapper and actor Common partied at Rain after the premiere of his new film Just Wright starring opposite Queen Latifah and Paula Patton, Robin Thicke’s wife. Common and six friends joined the main stage at 1 a.m. with R&B record producer and turntablist DJ Jazzy Jeff. Common performed past and present hits to a packed crowd and wowed onlookers with his freestyle skills until 3:30 a.m. Jazzy Jeff also enjoyed three hours in the sun at Ditch Friday.

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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