Monday, September 08, 2003
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

Shooting Stars: ABC's `Primetime Monday' features events along Strip

ABC's "Primetime Monday" features Elizabeth Vargas, from left, Chris Cuomo, John Quinones and Cynthia McFadden.

Las Vegas is ready for prime-time -- in more ways than one.

Aside from such set-in-Vegas (and, occasionally, made-in-Vegas) series as CBS' top-rated "CSI" and NBC's new drama "Las Vegas," ABC gets into the act this week with "Primetime Monday."

The network's latest magazine venture debuts Sept. 15 -- before "Monday Night Football" on the East Coast, after the game on the West Coast -- and will travel to several cities during the NFL season.

Las Vegas, however, provides the kickoff site.

"Primetime Monday's" hosts -- Chris Cuomo, Cynthia McFadden, John Quiñones and Elizabeth Vargas -- will tape introductions and wraparounds tonight on the Strip, with the trademark Mirage volcano and Bellagio's dancing fountains as suitably fabulous backdrops.

McFadden was scheduled to interview resident Caesars Palace diva Celine Dion Sunday; the show's other reports were taped over the past few weeks. Cuomo profiles the MIT Blackjack Team, who've used their math-whiz talents to win millions, while Quiñones focuses on women who play high-stakes poker. And Vargas explores Sin City's new wave of X-rated entertainment.

After its Las Vegas launch, "Primetime Monday" will visit Hollywood, Nashville, New Orleans and New York.

From network TV, the focus shifts to cable -- and MTV's return to Las Vegas, site of a raunchy "Real World" season.

This week, a new MTV series titled "The Ultimate Party" follows two Virginia Tech students -- who have never been to Las Vegas before -- on their introductory Glitter City experience.

Although "The Ultimate Party's" Vegas visit will be based at the Palms, home to Las Vegas' randy "Real World" cast, the "Ultimate Party" guys won't be staying in the same elaborate penthouse suite.

Instead, they'll be installed in "just basic rooms" suitable for "basic guys who've never been to Vegas," according to production manager Lora Morlan. In other words, it's real world rather than "Real World."

Plans call for the party guys to attend a concert at the Hard Rock -- and hit a number of Las Vegas' hip, happening clubs, including the Palms' own ghostbar. Shooting began Friday and is scheduled to wrap Wednesday; the eight-episode series' other party stops range from Mexico to Spain.

Speaking of party types, Las Vegas-based cult auteur Ted V. Mikels needs plenty of them for a scene he's shooting Thursday at the Huntridge Theater for his latest horror opus, "The Cauldron: Baptism of Blood."

The scene re-creates an "American Idol"-style talent competition, dubbed "America's Top Talent," with everyone from judges to contestants.

And, of course, cheering audience members. Mikels needs plenty of them, so if you're interested in joining the "Cauldron" crew, report to the Huntridge, 1208 E. Charleston Blvd., at 7 p.m. Thursday.

Now in its final 2 1/2 weeks of production , "The Cauldron" -- a quasi-sequel to Mikels' 1972 campfest "Blood Orgy of the She-Devils" -- also will shoot incendiary scenes in which explosions and flames destroy an old movie studio where the movie's resident demons have been headquartered, he reports.

And even though all of the movie's malevolent forces seem to meet a fiery end, there's an alley scene in which a witch rematerializes, "leaving room for a new coven," Mikels notes. Not to mention a possible sequel.

Also on the home front, documentary producer Lynn Zook returns to Las Vegas this week for additional research on "As We Knew It: The Story of Classic Las Vegas," a history of Neon Nirvana "told by the men and women who were actually there," she explains.

Zook herself grew up in Las Vegas and her parents still live here, "so I know the town I'm trying to capture," she says. "With the centennial coming, there's a lot of interest."

So far, more than 60 people have been interviewed, but Zook's looking for more participants, particularly "old-timers" from the '30s to the '70s, along with historical photographs and home movies.

If you're interested in participating, contact Zook at (818) 943-6394.

Speaking of local tales, veteran KLAS-TV Channel 8 investigative reporter George Knapp has filmed scenes for a promotional video touting a proposed cable series titled "George Knapp's Las Vegas Files."

The show will feature half-hour episodes expanding on such Knapp TV reports as "The Real Story Behind Area 51," "Vegas' Father and Son Hit Team" of Tom and Gramby Hanley and "The Emperor of Death Row," alias convicted serial murderer and rapist Patrick McKenna.

CABLEready -- which represents such cable hits as "Inside the Actors Studio" and "Forensic Files" -- will promote the 13-episode series next month in Cannes, France, at MIPCOM, an annual international market for TV, video, cable and satellite programming.

And Las Vegas-based TeleTino Productions' "Sexy Recipes" gears up for a Sept. 18 production start at Terrible's Casino, where the hour-long show will focus on resident executive chef David Tweddle -- and a rotating cast of showgirls collaborating on the title concoctions.

Cathleen Padersen of the San Remo's "Showgirls of Magic" will appear in the pilot episode, according to TeleTino's Michael Gerren, a Las Vegan who's producing the series with co-producers Claude and Dennis Lambertz.

Stacey Linde, who's danced in a number of Strip shows, including the Aladdin's "X," will serve as featured host, Gerren adds.

In addition to cooking, "Sexy Recipes" will feature entertainment and fashion segments. Four episodes will shoot at Terrible's; Gerren hopes to interest a local television station in the project.