Las Vegas Weekly

January 8, 2012 · 10:58 AM

2012 CES: Celebrity list includes Bieber, Snooki, 50 Cent, Overeem

By Robin Leach

Justin Bieber at the 2011 Billboard Music Awards at MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 22, 2011.

Photo: Tom Donoghue/DonoghuePhotography.com

Hollywood stars, music icons, sports legends and A-list entertainers make up the superstar appeal as they arrive en masse for this week’s 2012 International Consumer Electronics Show to showcase and promote products and technologies shaping consumer technology for today and the future. Justin Bieber will even unveil an entertainment robot!

The 2012 International CES, the world’s largest consumer technology tradeshow, is underway Monday through Friday across Las Vegas. CES is owned and produced by the Consumer Electronic Association, the trade association promoting growth in the $186 billion U.S. consumer technology industry. It represents more than 2,000 corporate members involved in the design, development, manufacturing, distribution and integration of consumer electronics products.

Here’s the Royal Robin Rundown of the celebrities at CES:

Actress Eliza Dushku will represent the CES program “Entertainment Matters” as its ambassador. Back for its second year, the program is designed by and for Hollywood’s film, TV and digital communities. Eliza will contribute to Spike’s “CES All Access Live” broadcast coverage from 12:30 to 1:45 p.m. on Tuesday, and she also will host the network’s VIP CES party that night at Tryst in the Wynn. Will boyfriend former L.A. Lakers star Rick Fox join her? They were in town for the New Year’s Eve grand-opening celebration at Hyde Bellagio.

TV personality and fitness guru Jillian Michaels will highlight the marriage of tech and fitness at CES’ TechZone FitnessTech. From 10:30 to 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Jillian will discuss the impact of digital innovation and her partnership with BodyMedia, an on-body monitor company.

Rapper 50 Cent will sign autographs from 3 to 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday for his new audio company SMS Audio, which combines technology, function and style. He’ll also be on hand to discuss his new line of wireless headphones with the editors of TechCrunch at the AOL Studio and interview with CNET.

Pop megastar Justin Bieber will be appearing with TOSY Robotics. Justin will help the company unveil its entertainment robot at their booth in the Robotics TechZone on Wednesday.

NBA Hall of Famer Dennis Rodman will make an appearance Thursday to represent Paltalk, a service that allows users to explore chat sites with chat-room and webcam technology.

2011 Miss America Teresa Scanlan will tour CES on Tuesday as part of her last five reigning days before the 2012 Miss America is selected Saturday on ABC at Planet Hollywood.

NBA legends Robert Horry and John Salley join with Lifetime Chef Allison Fishman for appearances at the Haier America booth Tuesday and Wednesday. Allison, creator of the Wooden Spoon cooking school, will give demos Tuesday through Thursday.

Rapper, producer, actor and entrepreneur LL Cool J, star of CBS’ “NCIS: Los Angeles”, will introduce technology from Boomdizzle on the CNET stage Tuesday; actor Greg Grunberg (“Heroes”) and actor, singer, Emmy winner and former Las Vegas headliner Wayne Brady will join OnStar for their Tweet House sessions, the official social media track for CES, on Wednesday. Greg and Wayne also will attend OnStar’s “It Won’t Stay in Vegas” party Wednesday at Stirling Club in Turnberry Towers.

Zeikos USA Inc.’s trademark iHip will host an all-star lineup at CES, including “Jersey Shore” star Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi, former New York Giants linebacker Carl Banks and urban music pioneer Jose “Hyde” Cotto. Snooki will make an appearance and sign autographs at iHip’s booth Tuesday and also host iHip’s new line and 2012 collaboration celebration Tuesday night at Gallery Nightclub in Planet Hollywood. Carl will make an appearance at iHip’s celebration Tuesday and then launch his NFL line at iHip’s booth Wednesday. Jose, along with Mas Flow, “El Verdadero Quimico,” Luny Tunes and DJ Nelson, will perform at iHip’s celebration and sign autographs at the booth.

Panasonic will host Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment’s second annual Directors’ Panel to mark the kickoff of the 50th anniversary of MGM’s James Bond on Tuesday with directors John Glen (“For Your Eyes Only,” “Octopussy,” “A View to a Kill,” “The Living Daylights,” “Licence to Kill”), Martin Campbell (“GoldenEye,” “Casino Royale”) and Michael Apted (“The World Is Not Enough”) . They’ll look back at the legacy of the iconic character and discuss how technology has changed their filmmaking. Bond girls Olga Kurylenko (“Quantum of Solace”) and Caterina Murino (“Casino Royale”) will join the presentation that includes props from the film franchise.

Monte Carlo headliners Jabbawockeez will perform at CES, opening Qualcomm’s keynote address Tuesday in the Venetian’s Palazzo Ballroom.

Monster Inc. will host its annual Retailer Awards and concert featuring Chicago on Wednesday at the Paris. Jamie Michelle, one of California’s most booked models, will be at CES representing Powerbass USA Inc. on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Alistair Overeem, three-time world champion MMA fighter and winner at UFC 141 over Brock Lesnar at MGM Grand Garden Arena, will battle against Qualcomm execs and media in mobile MMA fight games at Qualcomm’s booth Tuesday and Wednesday. He says that he’ll happily sign autographs after he wins the in-booth battles!

Jordan Rudess, recording artist, composer, producer and performer, will represent iConnectivity at CES demonstrating software applications from Wizdom Music, including Sample Wiz and Geo Synth, and connect his iPad to his musical gear with iConnectMIDI Tuesday through Friday. A band made up of Australian musicians including drummer Andy Fisenden, bass, guitarist and vocalist Simon Fisenden and bass player Dane Alderton will play at Audiofly’s booth, and graffiti artist “The Yok” will demonstrate his creations.

Exhibitors have started setting up booths, and a worldwide media mob arrives today, with private product unveilings Monday before the sprawling space at the Las Vegas Convention Center is opened to industry registrants Tuesday. It’s a trade-only convention, so the public is not invited.

Last year’s attendance of 149,529 (attendees, exhibitors, media, analysts, speakers) is expected to be topped. Delegates from more than 140 countries include manufacturers, retailers, content providers and creators, broadband developers, wireless carriers, cable and satellite TV providers, installers, engineers, corporate buyers, media, government leaders and financial analysts. The CES wrap party at Tao in the Venetian is Friday, and cocktail creations in the nightclub benefit the U.N. Foundation charity Nothing But Nets.

Vegas DeLuxe welcomes everybody to town and extends best wishes for much success at one of the world’s largest conventions!

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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