Saturday, October 18, 2003
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

NORM: Ben, J-Lo hanging out at the Palms

Affleck and girlfriend Lopez at a recent baseball game. Mayor talking Hogs and Heifers. Jordan sees the Light until wee hours. Anton sings for Mike Douglas.

Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez flew into Las Vegas Friday night and were reportedly nesting in the $7,500-a-night "Real World Suites" at the Palms Hotel.

Affleck and Lopez, still mending fences after calling off their California wedding a month ago, were in town for Affleck's participation in a celebrity poker tournament, which was being taped at the Palms.

Word spread quickly through the hotel after security was involved in a flurry of activity before the couple's arrival about 8:30 p.m.

Unhappy that word leaked about Affleck's participation in the tournament, Bravo, the NBC-owned cable network, canceled all media access to the weekend event. Affleck was in a poker field that included David Schwimmer, Martin Sheen, Shannon Elizabeth, Tom Green, Scott Stapp, Allison Janney, Don Cheadle and Mimi Rogers.

Earlier this week at a political event that Affleck and Lopez attended in Los Angeles, Bennifer watchers took notice that he referred to Lopez as his "girlfriend" not fiancee.

While accepting an award from a liberal political action group, Affleck criticized the Bush administration for pushing "a dangerous right-wing agenda, which has included increasing encroachments on civil liberties, particularly with the questionable and aggressive use of the Patriot Act." Affleck received the Spirit of Liberty award from the People for the American Way.

He voiced opposition to the Republican tax cut, even if it means "I save a million bucks." Meanwhile, he said, "the deficit grows like

(conservative commentator and gambler) William Bennett's credit line on a one-armed-bandit bender at Bally's."

Going downtown

Mayor Oscar Goodman says the deal is almost done to put a Hogs and Heifers saloon into the downtown area.

Hogs and Heifers is regarded as one of New York City's top 10 hottest nightspots and has been described as "a redneck bar of infamous repute."

Three local groups "with a lot of money" have been in talks, the mayor said, with the city about putting another nightclub in the same location, known as the Fingerprint building at Seventh and Fremont.

Sightings

Retired NBA great Michael Jordan, at Light (Bellagio) until the wee hours Friday while, across the casino, Chicago White Sox slugger Frank Thomas partied at Caramel. ... Showbiz legend Mike Douglas, surprised by a crowd of 350 at Brendan's Pub (Orleans) Friday during Duke Morgan's remote on KJUL-FM 104.3. Douglas, 78, and Robert Goulet sang "Take Me Out To The Ball Game;" Harrah's headliner Clint Holmes sang "Michael," his No. 1 hit, and Susan Anton joined The Righteous Brothers for "You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling." Other old pals in attendance: Frankie Randall, Steve Rossi and Monti Rock III. ... Lee Iacocca, continuing his 79th birthday celebration at Tabu (MGM Grand) on Thursday. The former Chrysler chairman's birthday was Wednesday. ... That helicoptor hovering over the Palms on Friday night was shooting the opening and closing shots of ABC's "A Life of Luxury" special hosted by Robin Leach. It airs during the November sweeps.

The Punch Line

"What do you call 500 lawyers lying on the bottom of the ocean? A good start." -- Danny DeVito ("The War of the Roses")

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

Hogs and Heifers.