Tuesday, December 16, 2003
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

MIKE WEATHERFORD: Comedy developments hog spotlight

One of Las Vegas' oldest comedy clubs is packing it in at the Excalibur, while a new twist on the stand-up format sets its sights on the Hard Rock Hotel.

Jeff Beacher announced his Beacher's Comedy Madhouse last week with a splash -- a splash into the fish tank of the Rainforest Cafe at the MGM Grand.

The publicity stunt had its desired impact with national media in town for the Billboard Music Awards, plus the added amusement of bringing the wrath of MGM security down upon an apparently innocent bystander, "Girls Gone Wild" creator Joe Francis.

"I don't even know the guy," Beacher says of the coincidental twist on a stunt he had done once before at the Coral Room in New York City.

MGM officials were unamused by Beacher using their property to promote a weekly show planned for the separately owned Hard Rock, with the first "preview" on Dec. 30 and what is hoped to be the start of a regular run on Jan. 31.

Beacher staged his comedy shows for two years at a 1,200-seat ballroom in New York City called the Supper Club. He says the decision to move it here was "mutual, almost," after Hard Rock officials came to scout the show and "we wanted to be here."

The Madhouse is a stand-up comedy format with the added atmosphere of fire-breathers, stilt-walkers and circus performers, along with a dozen exotic dancers to spice things up onstage.

Beacher says the format was inspired by performing as a comedian in clubs that were "little dungeons under restaurants in New York City -- and those were the best clubs."

Hotel officials will assess the reaction to the first two events to decide if the show can hold its own as a weekly Saturday night offering. (Saturday concerts in The Joint would push the comedy show to 11 p.m.. or midnight.)

The Dec. 30 launch is $50 plus service charges and features Greg Wilson, Robert Kelly, Steve Byrne and Lisa Lampanelli.

The Super Bowl weekend show features Howard Stern sidekick Artie Lange, who last year worked the Super Bowl way off-Strip at the Suncoast.

Meanwhile, comedy magician Jeff Hobson will leave his job hosting "The World's Greatest Magic Show" at the Sahara to have his own one-man show at the Excalibur starting Feb. 9.

Catch a Rising Star will close on Jan. 31; it was not known at this writing if the club has lined up another Las Vegas venue. Catch has been there since March 2000 on a rental deal with the Excalibur, after several years at Bally's.

Producer Dick Foster reunites with Hobson to produce his new one-man show. Hobson worked for Foster in "Spellbound" at Harrah's Las Vegas during the '90s. More recently, Hobson hosted "V -- The Ultimate Variety Show" at The Venetian.

The title, "Jeff Hobson's Money and Madness," alludes to a small amount of money Hobson will give away as part of the act. He will share the second-floor venue with "Thunder From Down Under" and do seven shows per week at $29.95, most of them in a 10 p.m. time slot. General admission seating and a walk-up cash bar help keep the ticket price down. ...

Two unconfirmed rumors for 2004 sound substantial enough to bear repeating: Veteran stand-up comedian George Wallace may replace the Amazing Johnathan as the late show at the Flamingo, while the perpetual talks of a pumped-up "Phantom of the Opera" are heating up again at The Venetian, as Review-Journal gaming writer Rod Smith noted in his Sunday column. However, as of Monday, there was still no signed deal for "Phantom." ...

End-of-the-year developments within the Harrah's family of entertainment reinforce the company as one that not only pays its performers rather than renting out the showroom, but stays loyal to them as well.

When Earl Turner agreed to a six-month gig at Harrah's Laughlin back in February 2002, it seemed a bit like a consolation prize for working hard, if ultimately not successfully, to turn the corner from lounge performer to ticketed headliner at the Rio.

His six months in Laughlin stretched to 21, and Turner apparently turned the corner. Harrah's is giving him a three-year deal at its New Orleans property, with his name on the room in the manner of Clint Holmes at Harrah's Las Vegas and the Scintas at the Rio.

"I'm really excited. This is the ground-level opportunity now," he says. "New Orleans doesn't really have a (casino-style) showroom."

Turner is tentatively set to start in May once the room is built. His Laughlin spot probably will go in April to twin production shows from Greg Thompson, producer of Harrah's "Skintight" and the Rio's "Showgirls." The same cast would perform two different titles, with the second show topless and more risque.

Comedy magician Nick Lewin joins the Harrah's family with the afternoon effort, "Laughternoon starring Nick Lewin" at Harrah's Laughlin from Jan. 13-April 17. Lewin was early to the afternoon show trend; he worked days at the Maxim from July 1995 through 1999.

Lewin also is likely to fill in during vacations for afternoon stars Ronn Lucas and Mac King, who briefly followed Lewin at the Maxim before the casino closed, then moved to Harrah's.

Mike Weatherford's entertainment column appears Sundays and Tuesdays.