Las Vegas Weekly

September 24, 2010 · 9:21 AM

Celebrity preview: DWTS, Jersey Shore, NASCAR, Mr. Olympia stars

By Don Chareunsy

Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino at Rehab in the Hard Rock Hotel on July 4, 2010.

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

By Don Chareunsy, Vegas DeLuxe editor

It’s a weekend of finals in Las Vegas. It’s the final weekend of pool season for a number of casino resorts. The Mr. Olympia and Mrs. Olympia finals at The Orleans feature defending champion and Las Vegas resident Jay Cutler. And Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino finally makes a return appearance at Rehab at the Hard Rock Hotel. Finally!

Photo: Joe Fury/N9NE Group

JWoww and her Jersey boy at the Palms on July 3, 2010.

Friday, Sept. 24

Thankfully, fans don’t have to choose between the two Jersey Shore parties: They can attend both. Jenni “JWoww” Farley hosts at Jet in The Mirage. Comedy magician and Harrah’s headliner Mac King taps the Oktoberfest keg at Hofbrauhaus, following in Siegfried Fischbacher’s steps last weekend. Rapper Big Boi from Outkast performs solo at Palms Pool & Bungalows. Twins Matthew and Gunnar Nelson (remember “Love and Affection”?!) pay tribute to their late father Ricky Nelson at the Super Run car show in Henderson. You think they still have long blond hair?

NASCAR stars are set for a free autograph session at Stratosphere before tomorrow’s NASCAR 350 Truck Race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. More than 20 drivers are expected, including the local debut of Jeffrey Earnhardt. While blond Adonis Jay Cutler defends his Mr. Olympia title at The Orleans, Wilhelmina modeling agency sponsors a Hot Body ISO a new supermodel.

Hey, soul sister, Train and quirky frontman Pat Monahan are at Red Rock Resort. TV icon Jimmy “J.J.” Walker hosts a 1970s soul jam with The Stylistics, Harold Melvin’s Blue Notes, Main Ingredient with Cuba Gooding Sr. and New Birth at Texas Station. Mama told them (not to come), but Three Dog Night, still rockin’ after 40 years, is at Silverton Casino Lodge. To kick off the fifth annual rock ’n’ roll Wine Amplified Festival, UB40 of “Red Red Wine” fame is at Mandalay Bay Beach, and Steel Panther is at House of Blues in Mandalay Bay. Six bands will play on two stages with 150 wines being poured all weekend long.

Singer-songwriters Brian McComas and Aaron Benward host Nashville Unplugged at Ovation Lounge at Green Valley Ranch, the Academy of Country Music’s Casino of the Year. Tony Orlando ties on another one (a yellow ribbon, that is) at South Point through Sunday. And the fabulous and fierce Peepshow star Cheaza debuts her single “Live for Tonight,” well, tonight at Koi in Planet Hollywood. Vegas DeLuxe posted an interview with the sassy brunette yesterday by yours truly. (Sorry for the false Criss Angel rumor!)

Photo: Madison Photography

Cheaza.

Comedian Jim Gaffigan makes his Las Vegas debut at The Mirage through tomorrow. And tickets go on sale for -- OMG! -- Usher, Trey Songz and Miguel at Mandalay Bay Events Center on Nov. 13.

Saturday, Sept. 25

Singer-songwriter Ashanti performs in Harrah’s carnival court. Actress Dania Ramirez of Entourage hosts at Wet Republic in MGM Grand. Skateboard superstar Rob Dyrdek hosts his official after-party at Vanity in the Hard Rock Hotel. Stan “The Man” McQuay hosts a Mr. Olympia after-party at Eve at Crystals at MGM Grand’s CityCenter. And the official Mr. Olympia party is combined with the Flex Bikini Model Search at Haze in Aria.

Photo: Firm PR

Mr. Olympia champion Jay Cutler.

Third Eye Blind and hottie frontman Stephan Jenkins perform at the continuing Wine Amplified; The Smithereens are at Red Rock Resort; The Pixies headline at The Joint in the Hard Rock Hotel in celebration of the 20th anniversary of their album Doolittle; Semi Precious Weapons, who opened for Lady Gaga last month at MGM Grand Garden Arena, are at the Hard Rock Cafe on The Strip; Lit and Zebrahead perform at Crown Theater and Nightclub in The Rio; and country singer John Michael Montgomery headlines at Star of the Desert Arena in Primm.

Peepshow and Holly’s World star Holly Madison fires the starter’s gun and Strawberry Blonde singer and former Fantasy headliner Angelica Bridges sings the national anthem at the NASCAR 350 Truck Race at LVMS. Audrina Patridge, former The Hills star and current contestant on Dancing With the Stars paired with Tony Dovolani, is the featured guest at Rob Dyrdek’s Street League Skateboarding Championships at the Thomas & Mack Center.

Photo: Courtesy

Gina Katon, Angelica Bridges and Erin Yvonne of Strawberry Blonde.

Politically Incorrect comedian and host Bill Maher is at The Orleans through tomorrow, and tickets go on sale for legendary songwriter, musician and poet Leonard Cohen’s Dec. 10 and 11 performances at The Colosseum in Caesars Palace.

Photo: Adam Larkey/ABC TV

Karina Smirnoff and Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino on Season 11 of ABC's Dancing With the Stars on Sept. 21, 2010.

Sunday, Sept. 26

DWTS cameras will follow Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino as he hosts and plays guest DJ at Rehab as the pool party starts winding down its summer daze. It’s likely that pro dance partner Karina Smirnoff will join him, as they’ll have to rehearse while in town. It’s unlikely that ex-fiance and Le Reve choreographer Maksim Chmerkovskiy, who is paired with singer Brandy, in Season 11 will join them. And it’s the second anniversary of Closet Sundays at Revolution Lounge in The Mirage, and the milestone is marked with singer Shontelle.

Check back Monday morning for the weekend celebrity recap, and happy stargazing.

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 VDLX Editor Don Chareunsy on Twitter at Twitter.com/VDLXEditorDon.

Follow Robin Leach on Twitter at Twitter.com/Robin_Leach.

Follow Vegas DeLuxe on Twitter at Twitter.com/vegasdeluxe.

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