Las Vegas Weekly

September 15, 2010 · 2:04 PM

Strip Scribbles: David Copperfield and Love on AGT finale

By Robin Leach

David Copperfield.

Photo: Courtesy

From overnight reaction, it looks as if the finals of tonight’s America’s Got Talent on NBC will come down to a battle between two singers: 10-year-old Jackie Evancho and bluesy Michael Grimm. The judges seemed to buzz off contenders Prince Poppycock and Fighting Gravity after minor performing mishaps.

My pal Magic magazine publisher Stan Allen tells me that our resident MGM Grand magician David Copperfield taped two illusions yesterday for his guest appearance on tonight's two-hour finale. The cast of Cirque du Soleil’s Beatles show Love at The Mirage also will appear, as well as Donna Summer, Goo Goo Dolls, Jewel, Lionel Richie, Sarah Brightman and Usher.

The Top 10 finalists are set to appear with Jerry Springer as emcee Oct. 8 at The Colosseum in Caesars Palace. I’m reliably told that pint-sized Jackie will start recording her debut album next week in time for a holiday release. She already has a six-figure offer on the table for her first solo appearance here in Las Vegas after the tour.

WICKED WHISPERS & RACY RUMORS

Just don’t think The Real Housewives of New Jersey’s Danielle Staub will pull it off! The sex-tape-making mother of two is planning a new “social” show to broadcast on Wealth TV, and she says: “I’m replacing Robin Leach basically of Lifestyles of the Rich & Famous.” She goes on to describe her show as an identical copy of mine that ran for 14 years until I went on to launch Food Network. Nothing new, nothing different -- and she doesn’t have the accent and certainly won’t be using “champagne wishes and caviar dreams!” As my friend Bonnie Fuller at HollywoodLife.com put it so sweetly, “Maybe they should call it Lifestyles of the Really Annoying From New Jersey? Our city is all abuzz about Wicked coming to Smith Center for the Performing Arts to open the 2012-2013 season when construction at downtown’s Symphony Park is completed. I can reveal that there will be a sneak peek of the show with performances by the cast and a producer’s presentation Sept. 28 at the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health. Mandalay Bay celebrity chef Rick Moonen has blasted genetically altered foods in an explosive opinion column on CNN.com. All those online headlines yesterday about the 25th Anniversary Real World being filmed at the Hard Rock Hotel were old news to Vegas DeLuxe readers because we ran that story weeks ago. Incidentally, check out the new, sexplosive Frederick’s of Hollywood “showstoppers” catalog. The new Seduction line of rebellious erotic and exotic underthings was filmed in the Hard Rock Hotel. Talk about a rock and roll backstage pass fantasy! This is hotter than hot!

*Congratulations to my pal hair king to the stars Michael Boychuck, who jets to New York tonight as a guest of L’Oreal to be honored and to meet with Gwen Stefani, who is performing tomorrow in the L’Oreal theater set up at Lincoln Center for Fashion Week. Michael promises to send me their photo and fly back Friday so that he doesn’t miss any of his important weekend appointments.

*My friend makeup princess Rain Andreani, who is getting Angel Porrino ready all week at her Peepshow guest stint, debuts her new five-day makeup class starting Sunday at the Palms and has agreed to give away one complimentary admission to her school for Vegas DeLuxe readers. You can nominate anyone, including yourself, by submtting a short essay today or tomorrow about why you think you or your nominee deserves to win. Just write a new status update on your Facebook page and mention the person you are nominating by using the @ symbol, followed by their name and tell @rainandreani why you think they should win. After typing @(your candidate’s name) and @Rain, you will see the word “loading” appear under your update. When you see Rain’s photo and your candidate’s picture, click the link to finish your update. She’ll review the entries tomorrow, and the person with the best story wins. We’ll have the winner’s name right here at Vegas DeLuxe on Friday.

*Right on the heels of celebrating its 29th anniversary, Jubilee! at Bally’s will help Dr. Phil jump for joy on his 60th birthday when they visit his TV show. The episode will be broadcast Friday.

*Superstar chef Wolfgang Puck, who started the entire culinary kings craze, gives a unique cooking demo in The Venetian Showroom tomorrow. He’ll prepare a three-course meal from his bestselling cookbooks for members of The Venetian and the Palazzo’s Grazie loyalty program and do a Q&A session with the guests as he cooks. He’ll serve up a shrimp, crab and lobster Louie salad, a matsutake mushroom risotto with duck breast and parmesan reggiano and a chocolate raspberry souffle for dessert.

*9 Group staff hosted a fundraiser for Las Vegas burn victim Jorge Hernandez, 26, at the Palms last night that raised $2,000 to help pay for medical bills. Eighty percent of Jorge’s body was burned in a car explosion last year, and he lost both legs due to infection. He recently was able to return home after spending more than a year in a hospital without insurance.

STAR SURVEILLANCE

Comedy star Brad Garrett wasn’t at all fazed by a snake at the Fryers Club in Hooters with Geecy Guy of The Dirty Joke Show. In fact, Brad even bought a round of drinks for guests. Actor Luke Wilson took to the dance floor at The Bank in the Bellagio when the deejay played his favorites. Luke also hit Caramel Lounge. Tara and Erica from VH1’s Chad Ochocinco’s The Ultimate Catch enjoyed end-of-summer fun at Bare Pool Lounge in The Mirage before a steak dinner in Stack and then hosting at Jet. … Rapper Asher Roth performed a crowd-pleasing concert at Haze in MGM CityCenter’s Aria, including his hit “I Love College” to a choreographed dance routine. Asher and his crew dined at Union before Haze. Tall and handsome Marcus Banks of the Toronto Raptors was at Pure in Caesars Palace early today.

TONIGHT’S TIPS

The hilarious musical comedy Nunsense opens at Las Vegas Hilton direct from off-Broadway. Who knew the ladies in black habits could be so funny? Also at the Hilton is Viva Mexico boxing with three IBO championship fights as part of the Mexican Independence Day celebrations. It’s UFC fight night at Crown Theater in The Rio appropriately hosted by Five Finger Death Punch’s Matt Snell, Jeremy Spencer and Zolton Bathory as the action gets underway with middleweight contenders Rousimar Palhares and Nate Marquardt, plus Efrain Escudero and Charles Oliveira from Austin. Todd T. Rexx leads the chuckle-wagon of comics at the new comedy cabaret at The Lounge in the Palms. Tickets go on sale for David Foster & Friends on Oc. 15 at Mandalay Bay Events Center with Seal, Ne-Yo, Martina McBride, Earth Wind & Fire, Donna Summer, Charice, Chaka Khan, Natalie Cole, Kenny Loggins, Michael Bolton, Ruben Studdard and other surprise guests.

TOMORROW’S TEASES

Our esteemed Editor Don Chareunsy has his first-hand report of the fright experience at Teller’s new thrill ride Play Dead at The Rio pre-off Broadway. Plus, an advance look at The Cult and Black Rider at the Palms. We also should have the first rehearsal photos of Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino of MTV’s Jersey Shore and pro partner Karina Smirnoff from Dancing With the Stars.

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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