Las Vegas Weekly

September 17, 2010 · 1:29 PM

Strip Scribbles: Michael Grimm proposes to girlfriend on Ellen

By Robin Leach

Michael Grimm.

Photo: Courtesy

Following up on our story yesterday of America’s Got Talent’s new $1 million winner Michael Grimm of Las Vegas, it was Kathie Spehar, entertainment director at the Cannery who was one of the first to discover his talent. Michael even recorded his live album Michael Grimm Live there two years ago, and since Wednesday’s win, it has been selling through the roof online.

In more good news for Michael, he has proposed to Lucy Zolcerova, his girlfriend of three years. During a taping of The Ellen DeGeneres Show yesterday, Ellen called Lucy out of the audience and onto the stage. Tune in today, and you’ll see Michael on bended knee with his marriage proposal. Happy to report that Lucy accepted! Michael told Ellen that Lucy was the inspiration for his winning performance this week of “When a Man Loves a Woman.”

*TV viewers nationwide will get a unique look inside Piero’s here in Las Vegas next Wednesday. The Italian eatery has been a decades-long favorite of our Merry Mayor of Mirth Oscar Goodman, plus other politicians, celebrities, casino owners and even a couple of “da boyz.” If only those booths could talk! Some of the best business deals and contracts ever made in Sin City started on paper napkins there.

Now CBS has The Defenders in its new fall lineup starring Jim Belushi as Michael Cristalli and Jerry O’Connell as Mark Saggese. Piero’s owner Evan Glussman admits that the show is based loosely on two of his customers, and many scenes feature the restaurant. As a fundraiser for the Patrick Kelly Youth Foundation, Piero’s next Wednesday for 3 hours will serve an Italian feast as the TV series plays on all the TV screens there. My bet is that the real-life restaurant regulars will outshine the characters created for the small screen.

*Partners at Tao in The Venetian and Lavo in the Palazzo are doing cartwheels because from a list of 25 top U.S. nightclubs, Club Planet named Tao as No. 1. Congratulations to my longtime friends Jason Strauss, who is based here, and New York-based partners Noah Tepperberg, Marc Packer and Rich Wolf.

This week, the four held their N.Y. grand opening celebration for Lavo, marking the first time a Las Vegas concept has made its way to the Big Apple. Guests included Nicky Hilton, Ashley Greene, Kristin Cavallari, Samantha Ronson, Dylan McDermott, Michelle Rodriguez, Stephanie Pratt, Lennox Lewis and Chris Bosh. Solange Knowles was the guest star DJ, with surprise performances by Ciara and Swiss Beatz.

*I’ll get to the real story for Monday, but I’ve peered into my crystal ball and foresee The Amazing Kreskin switching from the Sahara after just one week and winding up with a 2-month run at the neighboring Riviera. Construction and noise supposedly made it difficult for the audience -- and presumably Kreskin’s concentration. Kreskin should be in his new hotel next week.

*Our Keep Memory Alive benefits from the upcoming Third Annual Barrett-Jackson Las Vegas Auction. Tomorrow, Barrett-Jackson is donating money from concessions at the Third Annual Cruise-In at Gaudin Ford. The free affair draws families from all over the southwest to show off their wheels. The opening night party at Mandalay Bay on Wednesday features four collector car hoods that will be auctioned in pairs with proceeds going to Keep Memory Alive. The highest bidders also win a private lunch the next day with Barrett-Jackson CEO Craig Jackson.

*Sushi Samba owner Matt Johnson played host to Desperate Housewives star Eva Longoria Parker at his new venture SugarCane. Eva was so KO’d by the venue that was immediately voted No. 1 in Florida that she stayed there for 5 hours on her first visit. Matt wants to bring a Las Vegas version to the Palazzo to join Sushi Samba.

*Congrats to Crystal Hernandez, winner of the Vegas DeLuxe-sponsored complimentary admission to the five-day Rain Makeup Beauty School at the Palms. Makeup princess Rain Andreani, who has worked on Britney Spears, Paris Hilton and Mandy Moore debuts the first beauty school in Las Vegas and its classes in eye and bridal makeup Sunday.

*I’m going to check out Mexican Independence Day celebrations at Dos Caminos in the Palazzo tonight because tomorrow, executive chefs Scott Linquist and Roberto Hernandez will present lunchtime cooking classes and demonstrations. I’m getting an advance taste and teaching in the kitchen for the pork tamales, roasted chile relleno with sauces in the colors of the Mexican flag, plus Mexican corn on the cob topped off with Mexican doughnuts with spiced honey and fresh fruit. Participants receive an autographed copy of Scott’s cookbook Mod Mex.

STAR SURVEILLANCE

Former ’N Sync member Joey Fatone, who is here for two weeks hosting the live The Price Is Right at Bally’s, was spotted at Surrender in Encore stretched out on a day bed there drinking rum and Diet Coke. Gorgeous Angelica Bridges, former Fantasy headliner star in the Luxor, returns with her group Strawberry Blonde to sing the national anthem before the 350 NASCAR Truck Race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway next weekend. Peepshow star Holly Madison is the grand marshal and gives the command to “start your engines.”

*Now it’s a race to the finish line before the weekend starts to give you the non-work rundown we affectionately refer to around here as the ROYAL ROBIN RUNDOWN.

FRIDAY, SEPT. 17

*Comedy is king -- and queen -- this weekend around town! The Tonight Show host Jay Leno is at The Mirage through tomorrow. Margaret Cho breaks from Dancing With the Stars debut rehearsals for her Cho Dependent Tour at The Pearl in the Palms (be sure to read our esteemed Editor Don Chareunsy’s interview with her posted Wednesday). And there’s South of the Border standup with Carlos Mencia at Treasure Island.

*The Mexican Independence Day celebrations continue with superstar Luis Miguel in concert at The Colosseum in Caesars Palace through tomorrow (check out contributing photographer Erik Kabik’s photo gallery that we posted yesterday). The internationally acclaimed eight-member pop music group Garibaldi proudly displays their heritage at Mandalay Bay Beach.

*Blue October colors fall with a concert at the Hard Rock Hotel pool. Lyfe Jennings headlines at House of Blues in Mandalay Bay. Singer Michael Franks performs at Aliante. The Safe Nest benefits from the annual advertising community talent show, while media members showcase the Top 100 rock songs of all time at the Green Valley ranch fundraiser.

*Showtime is broadcasting the 10-round welterweight bout between Freddy Hernandez and Mike Achondo at Star of the Desert Arena in Primm. There are a total of six Mexican fighter bouts on the card to mark the next generation and Mexican Independence Day.

PARTY PATROL

Former The Bachelor winner Shayne Lamas and Dirty.com founder Nik Richie never had time to party when they eloped here in April, so they return to Tabu Ultra Lounge at MGM Grand to celebrate. The 12 finalists from The Most Beautiful Latina in the World celebrate Mexican independence at The Bank in the Bellagio.

SATURDAY, SEPT. 18

*In Cloris Leachman’s one-woman show at Suncoast through Sunday, the entertainment icon tells stories, sings, dances and plays video clips of her amazing career that began 70 years ago.

*Mexican Independence celebrations continue with Adolfo and Gustavo Angel, who make up Los Temerarios, playing three decades of their hits at The Joint in the Hard Rock. Marco Antonio Solis performs with Pedro Fernandez at Mandalay Bay Events Center. Fireworks will fly when two division world champions Juan Manuel Lopez and Rafael Marquez collide for the featherweight title at MGM Grand Garden Arena.

*Don Henley is in concert at Red Rock Resort. Michael Bolton performs at Sunset Station after rehearsing here for Monday’s Season 11 debut of Dancing With the Stars, and ABC cameras will film him during the concert. My old Manchester, England, mate Peter Noone stars with his Herman’s Hermits and The Turtles with Flo and Eddie at the Cannery. Mike Posner brings his Up in The Air Tour to House of Blues. The Average White Band from Scotland are still together since forming nearly 40 years ago and play their funk and R&B at Silverton.

*The Freestyle Explosion at The Orleans Arena has booked a lineup of veteran chart-toppers including Stevie B, Lisa Lisa, Shannon, Debbie Deb, Johnny O, Trinere, Connie and Stacey Q.

PARTY PATROL

Sexy starlet Amber Lancaster of MTV’s The Hard Times of R.J. Berger celebrates her birthday at Tabu with celebrity pals including Vienna Girardi, Jessica Hall and her cast mates Kara Taitz, Jareb Dauplaise, Paul Iacono and Jayson Blair. Siegfried & Roy are expected for a seventh consecutive year to tap the keg to kick off Oktoberfest at Hofbrauhaus. Other keg tappers in the monthlong celebration include Pawn Stars hero Corey Harrison, Holly Madison and Carrot Top.

SUNDAY, SEPT. 19

*Australian Idol winner and drag sensation Courtney Act shines at Revolution Lounge in The Mirage.

*High Society’s debut Tweet-Up takes place at Nove Italiano in the Palms with models wearing the latest fashions from designer Betsey Johnson. The High Society dancers dressed in their sexy tutus will perform for hundreds of expected Twitter followers.

MONDAY’S TEASES

We’ll have a full photo wrap-up of all the Mexican Independence Day weekend celebrations and a last-minute look at the run-throughs for the Season 11 premiere of Dancing With the Stars. Then our exclusive interview with Motley Crue bad-boy rock rebel Vince Neil later in the week just before his shocking and explosive autobiography Tattoos & Tequila is released Thursday. It’s already started a vicious war of words between rock’s most notorious frontman and Ozzy Osbourne’s wife and America’s Got Talent judge Sharon Osbourne.

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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