Las Vegas Weekly

September 24, 2010 · 1:58 PM

Strip Scribbles: Our condolences on the death of Eddie Fisher

By Robin Leach

In this photo provided by Las Vegas News Bureau, Eddie Fisher and wife Debbie Reynolds chat with veteran entertainer Eddie Cantor at the Tropicana pool on April 25, 1957.

Photo: Las Vegas News Bureau archives

Our condolences to the family and friends of singer Eddie Fisher on the news of his death. Eddie was married to Debbie Reynolds, Elizabeth Taylor and Connie Stevens.

I always found him a kind gentleman over the years I interviewed him but deeply troubled about his lost career because of the women he’d wed. Thanks to Las Vegas News Bureau for sharing these photographs from its archives of Eddie in Las Vegas.

*Early interest for a shot to host a TV series is so big that 1,000 people are expected to audition for Paradise Hunter today at V Theater in Planet Hollywood’s Miracle Mile. Demand is so big that two audition rooms will be set up to accommodate the crowd. It started at 8:30 a.m. and will last until every person has had their 5 minutes on video explaining why he or she should be the host.

You could call this job 52 weeks of paid vacation touring the world with TV cameras in search of paradise. Additionally, the job pays $60,000, plus a $150,000 piece of property wherever you decide paradise is found. Apparently the only qualification is to be energetic and love travel. For more information and to sign up, go to ParadiseHunter.com. The auditions will be posted on the Web site for public voting to determine the host.

*Many Las Vegas chefs, including Wolfgang Puck’s own executive kitchen crews, will be in L.A. tomorrow for his annual mega-charity event at Universal Studios for Meals on Wheels. In all, 40 restaurants will be represented, and Las Vegas will be in the spotlight with Paul Bartolotta from the Wynn, Thomas Keller from The Venetian, Julian Serrano from the Bellagio and CityCenter and Piero Selvaggio and Luciano Pellegrini from The Venetian. The Puck contingent from here includes Scott Irestone from Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill at MGM Grand, David Robins and Eric Klein from Spago at Caesars Palace and Matt Hurley from CUT at the Palazzo.

I’ll handle emcee and auction duties and also keep things running smoothly at Sunday’s Grand Tasting Dinner. Wolf has flown in six guest super chefs for that eight-course tasting menu. We’ll post a photo gallery right here at Vegas DeLuxe on Monday with all the festivities and Las Vegas supporters.

Star surveillance

*UFC hero Chuck Liddell was spotted at Tao’s Worship Thursday last night. His girlfriend and a group of friends joined the MMA star. Chuck had a Ketel One and Red Bull but mostly stuck to water and graciously took photographs with a group of fans at the next VIP table. Audrina Patridge and her boyfriend BMX star Corey Bohan stayed in a one-bedroom suite at Palms Place last night. Corey was a winner at the Tran World Ride BMX NORA Cup Awards at The Pearl in the Palms last night. Joey Fatone, in town to host The Price Is Right -- Live at Bally’s, attended Phantom -- the Las Vegas Spectacular at The Venetian last night. It was Joey’s first Phantom production.

*Desperate Housewives star and Las Vegas restaurateur Eva Longoria Parker is behind a unique online Twitter charity auction to raise money for a Haitian orphanage. She joined forces with an Atlanta church to promote bidding from fans to win tweets from celebrities. She’s already has $5,000 in bids, and Las Vegas VIPs Cher and UFC President Dana White have joined the cause. His is already at $15,600 after he threw in free tickets to watch a fight with him ringside at MGM Grand Garden Arena. The idea is simple: In return for a charitable contribution, celebs agree to follow and tweet messages for the winning bidder and mention the winner in tweets. Eva also got stars including Snoop Dogg, Alicia Keys, Tony Robbins and Tony Hawk to join in the Twitter auction, which so far has raised more than $250,000 in promises for the orphanage.

*Another unique charity is based on the premise of Cinderella’s glass slipper changing her life. The Venetian and Palazzo execs are requesting a donation of a pair of new children’s athletic shoes at Glass Slipper at Azure Luxor Pool at the Palazzo on Oct. 7 to benefit the Assistance League for Operation School Bell. Several winning donors will be selected at random to win take-home gifts from Grand Canal Shoppes and The Shoppes at the Palazzo. Star chefs Emeril Lagasse, who has three restaurants there, joins with Luciano Pellegrino from Valentino to serve cuisine and cocktails.

*Now it’s time to slide on your comfortable shoes, make your dreams come true and flex your strengths as you hit the town this weekend for events ranging from Mr. Olympia to the NASCAR World Truck Race. We’ve got it all under the starter’s pistol in a lineup we affectionately refer to as the ROYAL ROBIN RUNDOWN:

Friday, Sept. 24

*NASCAR stars are set for a free autograph session at Stratosphere in advance of tomorrow’s World Truck Race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. More than 21 drivers are set to attend, including Jeffrey Earnhardt making his first appearance here.

*The 2010 Mr. Olympia and Ms. Olympia are all weekend long at The Orleans Arena with hometown hero and three-time champion Jay Cutler defending his title. Wilhelmina modeling agency hosts a Hot Body contest to find a new supermodel.

*Comedian Jim Gaffigan makes his debut here when he headlines at The Mirage through tomorrow.

*Train is on track to play Sandbar Beach at Red Rock Resort. At Texas Station, television’s tall, thin man Jimmy “J.J.” Walker hosts a ’70s soul jam with The Stylistics, Harold Melvin’s Blue Notes, Main Ingredient with Cuba Gooding Sr. and New Birth. Tie a yellow ribbon around the old oak tree with Tony Orlando through Sunday. After 40 years, Three Dog Night is still rocking and plays at Silverton Casino Lodge.

*To kick off the fifth annual rock and roll Wine Amplified Festival, UB40 performs at Mandalay Bay Beach, and Steel Panther takes the stage at midnight at House of Blues. Six bands will play on two stages with 150 wines being served all weekend long. The Bubbles and Chocolate party kicks off the country’s best wine tasting event. Singer-songwriters Brian McComas and Aaron Benward host Nashville Unplugged at Ovation Lounge at Green Valley Ranch.

Party patrol

Jersey Shore vixen Jenni “JWoww” Farley hosts at Jet in The Mirage. Comedy magician Mac King taps the Oktoberfest keg at Hofbrauhaus. Hip-hop artist Big Boi of Outkast performs at Palms Pool & Bungalow. Twins Matthew and Gunnar Nelson pay tribute to their father, the late Ricky Nelson, in concert at the Super Run car show in Henderson. Carnival Cabaret, the all-male musical comedy tribute to female superstars, joins forces with Elvis Presley and Michael Jackson tribute shows for a double header at Crown Theater & Nightclub in The Rio.

*Tickets go on sale for multiplatinum recording artist Usher’s concert Nov. 13 with Trey Songz and Miguel at Mandalay Bay Events Center.

Saturday, Sept. 25

*Peepshow and Holly’s World star Holly Madison fires the starter’s gun, and former Fantasy headliner Angelica Bridges sings the national anthem at NASCAR 350 Truck Race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

*Rob Dyrdek and his guest Audrina Patridge of MTV’s The Hills host his Street League Skateboarding Championships at the Thomas & Mack Arena as the world’s best skateboarders compete for the most prize money in history. Dancing With the Stars cameras will follow Audrina while she’s here, with coverage airing Monday on Season 11’s second week of competition.

*Politically Incorrect comedian and TV host Bill Maher brings his political commentary and sharp satire to The Orleans Showroom through Sunday.

*Multiplatinum recording artist Third Eye Blind performs at the continuing Wine Amplified Festival. The Smithereens throw a party on the rocks at Red Rock Resort. The Pixies headline at The Joint in the Hard Rock Hotel as part of their 20th anniversary celebrations of their album Doolittle. Semi Precious Weapons fire away and hit the target at Hard Rock Cafe on the Strip. Lit trips the light fantastic with Zebrahead at Crown.

*Country singer John Michael Montgomery headlines at Star of the Desert Arena in Primm. Italian-born and classically trained pianist and composer Giovanni, who breaks sales records on QVC, plays the Suncoast Showroom through Sunday.

Party patrol

Singer-songwriter Ashanti performs her R&B hits in the carnival court at Harrah’s. Entourage beauty Dania Ramirez hosts at Wet Republic in MGM Grand. Rob Dyrdek hosts his official after-party at Vanity in the Hard Rock Hotel. Stan “The Man” McQuay hosts the Olympia 2010 after-party at Eve in MGM CityCenter’s Crystals. Shirt designer Roderick Tung hosts Caesars Palace singer Matt Goss and other stars who wear his $300 Tung Power shirts, hand-stitched in Italy, at Scoop in Forum Shops. The official Olympia mega party is combined with the Flex Bikini Model Search at Haze at MGM CityCenter’s Aria. Britney Spears’ DJ the sexy Havana Brown spins the wheels of steel at Tao Beach in The Venetian.

*Tickets go on sale for master songwriter, musician and poet Leonard Cohen for Dec. 10 and 11 at The Colosseum in Caesars Palace that wrap up his world tour before he returns to the studio next year for a new album.

Sunday, Sept. 26

*DWTS cameras will follow Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino as he hosts and plays guest DJ at Rehab in the Hard Rock Hotel as the event starts winding down its summer daze.

*It’s the second anniversary of Closet Sundays at Revolution in The Mirage with R&B singer Shontelle.

Monday’s teases

Our photo report of star chef Wolfgang Puck’s two-day food festival fundraiser in L.A. capped with a grand tasting celebrity chef’s dinner, and a wrap-up of all the weekend star parties and concerts on and off The Strip. Plus, an amazing and exclusive photo gallery with Playboy’s Miss October beauty Claire Sinclair as she gets ready to headline for her boyfriend Marston Hefner and his dad Hugh Hefner when she guest stars in Crazy Horse Paris at MGM Grand.

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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