Sunday, October 06, 2002
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

Chris Rock will be making a big scene here -- one of the bigger big-screen scenes ever filmed in Las Vegas.

An estimated 1,000 extras will be assembled Oct. 14 for "Head of State," Rock's directorial debut, in which he also stars.

Talent booking agent Jaki Baskow said the details will be announced in this column later this week.

Rock plays a Washington, D.C., councilman who suddenly becomes president when a presidential candidate dies in the middle of a campaign, and the Democratic president unexpectedly picks Rock's character as his replacement.

Bernie Mac and Robin Givens co-star with Rock.

Flatley's plans

Michael Flatley's plans to become a player in Las Vegas are falling into place faster than one of his high-voltage Irish dances.

Look for an announcement soon that Flatley, the man most responsible for the Irish dance phenomenon, is putting an all-new Irish show into The Showroom at The Venetian by mid-November.

And that's just the start: Flatley is ready to move on to becoming a partner in a new theme resort, casino and entertainment complex that would open in 30 months.

Flatley's "Lord of the Dance" was a solid moneymaker at New York-New York during a four-year run that ended in July, but MGM-Mirage wanted to expand the theater and go with a sexier production.

Romeo's show to end

Barely 4 months old, "Siegfried & Roy Presents Darren Romeo, the Voice of Magic" is closing at The Mirage.

Romeo's $30 matinee had struggled almost from the start. Even an "Entertainer Of The Year 2002" award given to him two months ago by the International Society of Magicians couldn't boost the house.

Romeo's leading lady in the show, Kristy Michelson, confirmed the show's last performance is next Saturday, but added that she and Romeo are already in preproduction for a new show at The Mirage.

The Scene and Heard

The secret's out: That mystery guest who will be joining Motley Crue frontman Vince Neil during a concert next Sunday at the Palms is Wayne Newton. "I guess he likes `Girls, Girls, Girls,' " said Palms operator George Maloof. ...

Harvey Silbert, one of the four Los Angeles investors who created the Riviera resort and casino in 1955, died last week in Los Angeles. When the nine-story Riviera opened, it was the first high-rise resort on the Strip. Liberace, just hired from the New Frontier for an astounding raise from $750 a week to $50,000, entertained at the opener, and Hollywood icon Joan Crawford was the official hostess. ...

The techno group Dirty Vegas has remixed Madonna's theme song for the new James Bond film, "Die Another Day."...

Playboy sent a scouting crew into New York-New York nightclub Coyote Ugly, a target-rich territory, last weekend. ...

KTNV-TV, Channel 13 has a new weekend sports anchor to fill the vacancy left by Mario Diaz, who took a job in Tampa, Fla. Dennis Evans makes his local debut on Saturday. He previously worked at KDNI in St. Louis.

Sightings

NBC basketball analyst Bill Walton, Hilton hotels heiress Paris Hilton, Penny Marshall, Charles Barkley, Paulie Shore, Michael Irvin, Dennis Rodman and Al Bernstein at the Palms Saturday night for the roast of Gavin and Joe Maloof, co-owners of the NBA's Sacramento Kings, with brother George, who runs the Palms. ... Golf's No. 2 money winner, Phil Mickelson, at P.F. Chang's on Paradise Road on Friday, having lunch at the bar. ... Singer Al Martino, downing the lobster bisque and osso buco at Fellini's on Charleston Boulevard on Friday with a table of pals. ... Brendan Fraser, in town to shoot "Looney Tunes" with Jenna Elfman, spotted riding the Stratosphere's Big Shot twice on Thursday night and also taking in the view from the High Roller roller coaster.

The Punch Line

"I'm not good, but I've got guts." -- Liberace

Norm Clarke can be reached at 383-0244 or norm@reviewjournal.com.