Wednesday, December 31, 2003
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

NORM: Big names in LV to ring in new year

Affleck and Lopez seen at the Hard Rock. Spears rumored to be at the Palms. Newton featured in slot commercial. Dion and family at Magical Forest.

Security concerns and a rare snowfall didn't scare away the New Year's Eve celebrity crowd.

Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez were spotted Tuesday at the Hard Rock Hotel. The Palms was buzzing over the rumored arrival of Britney Spears.

An 8 p.m. pre-fireworks countdown concert outside The Venetian on New Year's Eve was to feature Metallica, Ashanti, Outkast, Hootie and the Blowfish, Keith Urban and Wyclef Jean, along with co-hosts Ryan Seacrest, Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie.

Affleck and Lopez, who ignite wedding rumors whenever they set foot in Las Vegas, dined at Nobu and attended Jeff Beacher's comedy show at the Hard Rock on Tuesday. Affleck's pal Matt Damon was coming in to join Ben and Jen for New Year's Eve, Affleck told Jay Leno during an appearance "Tonight Show" on Monday.

Pfister leaving KLAS

KLAS-TV, Channel 8 weatherman Mark Pfister is making another career move.

Pfister, after spending eight of the last 11 years at Channel 8, is departing Jan. 30 to explore other options.

"I'm a free agent. I'm going to study for my real estate license and see if there is anything else available," Pfister said Tuesday.

He joined KLAS in 1992 and went to WCBS in New York for a year before a two-year stint at WJLA in Washington, D.C. He returned to KLAS in 1997.

"He's a topnotch, talented guy," said Bob Stoldal, vice president of news at KLAS. Pfister gave notice last week.

The Scene and Heard

The local entertainment community is mourning the death of Blackie Hunt, a Las Vegas lounge legend who died Tuesday at Sunrise Hospital. Hunt, the estranged husband of Lt. Gov. Lorraine Hunt, was 73. ...

ABC's Robin Leach-hosted special, "Life of Luxury," was No. 1 in its 8-9 p.m. time period Monday night with a 7 rating and a 7 1/2 share and outperformed ABC's network average for the night. ...

Tonight was originally planned to be the swan song for Baby's, the Hard Rock Hotel nightclub that dominated the nightlife scene for much of the property's eight-plus year history. But the demolition has been delayed until next month. After a renovation, it will reopen under a new name in late spring. ...

Elvis impersonator Jesse Garon is erecting replicas of The King's Graceland Gates at the entrance of Garon's Vegas estate on Elvis' birthday, January 8. Garon, who changed his last name to the first name of Elvis' twin brother who died at birth, underwent plastic surgery to gain a more Elvis-esque resemblance. An MTV "True Life" episode on the surgery is scheduled to air in March.

Sightings

Wayne Newton, shooting a slot machine commercial outside Little Buddha (Palms).

The Hilton sisters, Richie and "American Pie" star Shannon Elizabeth at Jeff Beacher's comedy show at The Joint in the Hard Rock Hotel on Tuesday. ... Irene Tsu, who co-starred with Elvis in "Paradise, Hawaiian Style" (1966), took in the Legends In Concert show (Imperial Palace) Monday night and met the show's Elvis impersonator, Matt Lewis. ... Celine Dion, husband Rene Angelil, son Rene Charles, who turns 3 next month, and other family members, taking in Opportunity Village's Magical Forest at 9:30 p.m. Saturday. When admirers posed with her for photos, Dion scored points by saying, "Take two, in case one doesn't turn out."

The Punch Line

"Hell hath frozen over." -- Pfister on the rare snowfall in Las Vegas.

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