Wednesday, May 28, 2003
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal
COLUMN: Norm!
Amazing Johnathan flaming out at the Flamingo Las Vegas
The Amazing Johnathan, pictured at the Golden Nugget where he caught fire, says he has cooled to the Flamingo Las Vegas.
Photo by Jeff Scheid.
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After a four-month relationship, the magic apparently is gone between Amazing Johnathan and the Flamingo Las Vegas.
"Just say that I've decided to not extend because of another offer," said the comedian-magician whose 40-week deal expires in December.
Amazing Johnathan shares the same theater with Gladys Knight, who has the early show slot.
He declined to identify where he plans to take his edgy, blue-rated show, but indicated he has a deal to start in January.
His show, which includes the hilarious antics of sidekick Penny Wiggins as "Psychic Tanya," caught on at the Golden Nugget, where they performed from mid-2001 until late last year.
Making waves
Vacation's over and so are my surfing days.
Tried it last week on Honolulu's Waikiki Beach.
Some background: On my 36th and 46th birthdays I made wine-fueled runs with the bulls in Pamplona. A few seconds of my 50th birthday were spent on a Brahma bull.
The plan this year was to celebrate the completion of the Top 10 Vegas book I started 27 months ago, not a birthday, and wash away a crazy year and a half of medical flotsam and jetsam.
Once my ears stop ringing, I'm sure I'll recall my surfing trip to hear Don Ho singing "Tiny Bubbles" and 14-year-old ukulele sensation Taimane Gardner, who played a killer version of "Wipeout," an ode to a washed-up surfer.
The Scene and Heard
Mark Wahlberg, who stars in the just-released "The Italian Job," is at the Palms "Real World Las Vegas" suites tonight for a fund-raiser for the Mark Wahlberg Youth Foundation and the Andre Agassi Boys And Girls Club of Las Vegas. A screening starts at 8:30 p.m., with an after-party at 10:30 p.m. at Little Buddha. Information: 474-4000. ...
Former KVBC-TV, Channel 3 weekend anchor/reporter Chera Kimiko, now in Tulsa, hosts a Travel Channel piece about Laughlin that's airing on TNN over the next two weeks. For more info: www.visitlaughlin.com. ...
Whitney Houston, in town for VH-1's "Divas Live" show last week, was seen coming out of the AAA Ear, Nose and Throat medical group Thursday morning, according to Fox News columnist Roger Friedman. "I am told she went there with a bloody nose," he wrote. "Whitney went to see an ears, nose and throat doctor because it's so hot here," publicist Lynn Volkman told Friedman. ...
Chrisann Flatt's surprise 40th birthday party last week turned into a full-fledged concert. Hubby Keith Flatt arranged for country western groups Diamond Rio, Sawyer Brown and Marks Wills to play for the 90 guest at the Westward Ho Hotel, including Chrisann's longtime bosses Steve and Elaine Wynn. Chrisann is vice president of sales and marketing at Le Reve, the Wynns' new property. ...
Sightings
Jazz fans passing the Terrazza lounge at Caesars Palace did a double-take last week when they spotted Lou Rawls doing a half-hour set with Ghalib Ghallab, Caesars' resident group. ... The filthy-rich Hilton sisters, Paris and Nicky, partying at Risque (Paris). ... At Detour clothing store (Fashion Show Mall): Olivia Newton-John; country singer Carolyn Dawn Johnson, a band member for Brooks and Dunn; and actress Lisa Raye. Kelly Rowland of Destiny's Child asked for an outfit to be sent over to KLUC's Summer Jam on Saturday.
The Punch Line
"I tried to be more of a grown-up for a while, but it didn't feel right." -- Surfer Pat O'Connell, 1998.
Norm Clarke can be reached at 383-0244 or norm@reviewjournal.com.
