Friday, September 19, 2003
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

NORM: Moore's Playboy offer stays warm

Ozzy Osbourne among "Zumanity" invitees. Demi Moore hasn't rejected Hef's offer. Kirk Kerkorian No. 40 on Variety list. Naomi Campbell invited to premiere.

Playboy's $1 million cover-and- centerfold offer to Demi Moore is reheating as Hugh Hefner and friends gather at the Palms for Playboy's 50th anniversary weekend bash.

Gary Cole, Playboy's photography director and senior vice president, said the proposal didn't get "an out- and-out no" so the courtship will continue.

"She's at the top of her game," said Cole, referring to Moore's sizzling comeback and headline-grabbing romance with 25-year-old actor Ashton Kutcher.

Cole also confirmed a report that a $1 million offer to supermodel Heidi Klum "just fell apart."

"They made some demands. She only wanted four nude pictures and a percentage in black and white and we couldn't agree on a photographer." The German-born Klum, Sports Illustrated's 1998 swimsuit cover girl and a Victoria's Secret superstar, wanted a female photographer.

But, said Cole, "The woman she wanted wasn't available."

He added, "I'm not sure that many people in Middle America know Heidi Klum. Everyone knows Demi."

Truffle triumph

Las Vegas has landed in the thick of The Great Truffle Auction Oct. 26.

In a coup for the local culinary community, Las Vegas has replaced Los Angeles on a three-city international satellite hookup, joining Alba, Italy, and Daniel Boulud's restaurant Daniel in New York City.

Valentino owner Pierro Selvaggio and his chef-partner Luciano Pellegrini put together the winning package to host it at The Venetian.

Robin Leach, the auction's host each year, is predicting a $40,000 bid, bettering last year's $37,000 record haul for the one-pound-plus delicacy.

The Scene and Heard

Some soiree. New York-New York has reserved the top level of its garage until 8 a.m. Sunday for the "Zumanity" megapremiere Saturday. Confirmed invitees: Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne, Naomi Campbell (rumored squeeze of Cirque du Soleil creator Guy Laliberte), Sandra Bullock, wild-child heirs Paris and Nicky Hilton, Hugh Hefner and Blondes Inc. and Jimmy Buffet. ...

Kirk Kerkorian, controlling shareholder of Metro- Goldwyn-Mayer studios and "undisputed monarch of the Las Vegas Strip," ranks No. 40 and was the lone Las Vegan on Vanity Fair's annual ranking of the leaders of the information age. Global media baron Rupert Murdoch was No. 1.

May I recommend ...

Just a hutch: the Palms looms large as party central this weekend. There's the dedication of Hugh Hefner Drive at 7 p.m. tonight, a Hef-hosted "Bunny Hop" at Rain late Saturday and a Kid Rock concert Sunday at Rain. Scope out the retro bunny outfits.

Sightings

The Carolina Hurricanes team plane at the executive-terminal area at McCarran International Airport. Taking refuge from Hurricane Isabel?

The Punch Line

"When I'm no longer rapping, I want to open up an ice cream parlor and call myself Scoop Dogg." -- Snoop Dogg

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