Las Vegas Weekly

February 16, 2011 · 3:32 PM

Strip Scribbles: MTV enlists stars to celebrate Real World Season 25

By Robin Leach

The cast of Season 25 of MTV's The Real World at Vanity at the Hard Rock Hotel.

Photo: MTV

It’s set to be the party of the spring. MTV premieres its 25th anniversary season of The Real World with a blowout bash March 5 at Vanity at the Hard Rock Hotel as part of its live Spring Break coverage from Las Vegas, although Season 25 begins airing March 9. MTV executives have confirmed that they’ll fly out several of the stars of Jersey Shore to introduce the new Real World cast. Former Real World cast members also are set to attend.

A high rollers suite at the Hard Rock Hotel was transformed into a party loft for the seven strangers who filmed the series for three months. They are Adam, 22, from Portland, Maine; Dustin, 24, from Rayne, La.; Heather, 21, from Delran, N.J.; Leroy, 25, from Detroit; Michael, 23, from College Park, Md.; Nany, 21, from Jamestown, N.Y.; and Naomi, 22, from the Bronx.

“We didn’t know each other before we met. We didn’t care about each other then. But we left caring for each other. This became our family. We came as strangers, and we left as a big dysfunctional family. We’re all freaking crazy, but we love each other,” they all told me.

You can read our full interview with the cast -- all of whom are from troubled streets brushing up against illegal drug use -- right here at VegasDeLuxe.com in a separate post. This is the second time the series has film in Las Vegas. The first time was in the fall of 2001 when Palms President George Maloof OK’d one of the first full-scale Las Vegas casino TV productions. His property plays host to MTV’s Spring Break live for four days at three stages set up at Palms Pool starting March 6.

Wicked whispers & racy rumors

There’s no way to pin down poker pro Phil Hellmuth on whether he’s joining Season 11 of Dancing With the Stars to be revealed Feb. 28. He’s giving confusing answers when questioned about it. However, the Internet is squashing all rumors that Brett Favre, Al Sharpton, Lauren Conrad and Lorenzo Lamas will be on the roster. Which Strip star successfully managed not one but two Valentine’s Day dates at two restaurants, even though both knew about their rivals? Online blogger Robert Eringer is embroiled in a legal battle with Prince Albert of Monaco after accusations that he was unpaid for investigative and security services in the principality, and now he has dragged hotel mogul Steve Wynn into the mess. Albert wants to silence the blog, which reported that Steve received citizenship in connection with his seat on the board of a Monaco-based hotel venture. Steve has shot back that he is keeping his U.S. citizenship and continues to pay U.S. taxes.

*Nearly 900 romantic couples took the ride on the Fremont Street Experience zip line to benefit the Nevada Children Cancer Foundation. Several couples tied the knot, and others renewed their vows at the Flightlinez takeoff ramp, while brides and grooms in wedding attire rode for free. Elvis and Priscilla Presley lookalikes showed up when Zappos.com head honcho Tony Hsieh stopped by and gave all riders a copy of his book Delivering Happiness. Flightlinez Z donated all sales of the day to the worthy cause.

*Desperate Housewives star Eva Longoria is literally throwing money around. Every Wednesday night is Money Shot, in which she’ll “make it rain” with $5,000 released to the crowd at her nightclub Eve at Crystals. Thursdays are bottles of Patron starting at $200, and Fridays are 2-for-1 bottles of limited edition Andy Warhol Dom Perignon.

*A new event has been added to the upcoming Vegas Uncork’d Bon Appetite food festival May 6. Kitchen kings Martin Heierling and Akira Back face off during Chef Showdown at the Bellagio’s Tuscany Kitchen. It will be a plate-to-plate battle of Asian-themed cuisine.

Star surveillance

Comedian Cedric The Entertainer premiered his signature hat line Who Ced at the MAGIC fashion tradeshow at Mandalay Bay. His collection of fedoras, chapeaus and beanies won raves from industry shakers and buyers as he greeted fans with MAGIC International President Chris DeMoulin at his private Bread and Butter Club set up for the night. Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi, in town for MAGIC to introduce her slipper line, dined at Nove Italiano at the Palms and signed Chef Geno Bernardo’s Shakedown Door. UFC fighters Gray Maynard and Junior dos Santos walked the red carpet at Rockhouse at Imperial Palace to raise funds for Fisher House, which provides housing for families of veterans as they undergo long-term medical care. Pro skateboarder Ryan Sheckler dined at N9NE Steakhouse at the Palms in a group of 40 in a private dining room. Comedian Geechy Guy, who created and hosts The Dirty Joke Show at Hooters Casino Hotel, participated in Nevada Reading Week’s Reading Rocks project for students at Wright Elementary School. The Black Eyed Peas’ Taboo attended Jabbawockeez’s show at the Monte Carlo and jumped onstage and posed for photos.

Tonight’s tips

Hip-hop artist Yelawolf (aka Michael Atha) performs at the Snitch Party at Ghostbar in the Palms, with rocker Adam 12, aka Adam Bravin from She Wants Revenge as guest DJ. Yelawolf is signed to Eminem’s Shady Records.

Tomorrow’s teases

Full photo coverage of Celine Dion’s triumphant return home to Caesars Palace, plus our ’round-the-clock coverage of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit sensations on Day One of their Las Vegas visit.

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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