Las Vegas Weekly

October 28, 2010 · 2:26 PM

Exclusive: Lance Burton’s two new TV projects; Jerry Lewis’ new movie

By Robin Leach

The 2010 Jerry Lewis Muscular Dystrophy Association Telethon at South Point. Pictured here with Lewis is Jon Voight.

Photo: Tom Donoghue/www.donoghuephotography.com

Although magic’s master illusionist Lance Burton is enjoying his “semi-retirement” from The Strip after a 14-year-nonstop run at the Monte Carlo, I can exclusively reveal that he’s developing two new TV shows. And in another exclusive, I have confirmed that Jerry Lewis will begin shooting his first leading movie role in more than 25 years Dec. 1 in the dramedy Max Rose.

Jerry’s filming schedule calls for 40 days of shooting here and in L.A. The movie is the story of a widower who revisits key moments in his life to unlock the mysteries of his marriage and family. It was as far back as 1983 that Jerry last headlined in Martin Scorcese’s King of Comedy. He had supporting roles in Arizona Dream (1994) with Johnny Depp and Funny Bones in 1995.

I’m told that interest in the project directed by Daniel Noah from his own script is so high in France that a group of key French movie and entertainment journalists will fly here to visit the set. Jerry has said previously: “We’re going to show an old man who is driven by love and optimism and by his love for his young daughter.”

When I last talked with magician Lance, he said that he’d put his feet up during football season before thinking about future showbiz offers. Well, I can tell you that he’s certainly been watching football, and his regular weekend parties for magician and Strip pals and former cast members has become a much-wanted invitation to his castle home. Lance has taken his free time to heart and even driven to Utah to watch the Shakespeare Festival productions. I don’t know if he’s “gone fishing,” as he joked with me.

However, I can tell you that he does have two TV projects in the works for next year, and one is a reality TV series. He’s signed on with a top TV agent in Hollywood, and the presentation pitches are almost completed. Advance word is that there’s already a lot of interest from one cable network and that a schedule will be set right after The Super Bowl in February.

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.

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