Tuesday, December 28, 2004
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal
NORM: Vegas highlights, lowlights of '04
Kevin Spacey performs Bobby Darin songs Monday in the Wayne Newton Theater at the Stardust. Spacey is on a promotional tour for his Darin film biography, "Beyond the Sea."
Photo by Jeff Scheid.
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What happened in Vegas that didn't stay in Vegas in '04:
1. Britney Spears' Jan. 3 quickie wedding. Biggest loser: Jason Alexander. Lottery winner: Kevin Federline.
2. Roy Horn's inspirational recovery from a near-fatal tiger bite.
3. Linda Ronstadt's July eviction from the Aladdin ignited a political storm.
4. Elton John's "Red Piano" opened at Caesars Palace in February. It rocketed, man.
5. After several visa-related delays, "Havana Night Club" opened at the Stardust in August, with Horn making his first public appearance since his injury. In November, 50 cast members applied for political asylum, the largest mass defection of Cuban performers to date.
6. Longtime Las Vegas headliner George Carlin went out on a low note Dec. 1 during his final appearance at the MGM Grand. Saying he was tired of Las Vegas audiences with "very limited intellect," Carlin told the crowd he couldn't wait to get back East, "where the real people are." Carlin on Monday announced he was voluntarily entering a drug and alcohol treatment program "because I use too much wine and Vicodin." He added, "No one told me I needed this; I recognized the problem and took the step myself."
7. Britney, back again, making headlines in December by feeding her Chihuahua shrimp at N9NE Steakhouse at the Palms and making a woozy exit from Nobu at the Hard Rock Hotel.
8. Nicky Hilton did her part in making it the Year of A-List Annulments. Her Aug. 15 wedding chapel marriage to promote her new clothing line ended 85 days later, null and void. The good news: no video.
9. Robin Williams' one-man F troupe show during Andre Agassi's Grand Slam for Children charity event in October. Hours earlier at a news conference, Williams made it clear he wasn't going to tone down his act for anyone. Making good on the promise, his 30-minute routine included 37 F-bombs, a five-minute orgasm scene with a bottle of water and 60-some other words hardly appropriate for a youth benefit.
10. Las Vegas' expanding galaxy of star chefs added French icon Alain Ducasse (Mix Las Vegas, Mandalay Bay), Hubert Keller (Fleur de Lys, Mandalay Bay), Thomas Keller (Bouchon, The Venetian) and Bobby Flay (Mesa Grill, Caesars Palace).
The Scene and Heard
Paris Hilton won't be part of the Aladdin (Planet Hollywood) New Year's Eve party, but Anna Nicole Smith will be front and center. She will lead the countdown to midnight and toast Las Vegas when the big moment arrives from a Curve balcony during the fireworks display. Tickets: $75 ($100 at the door). Information: (702) 290-9582. ...
"Havana Night Club," due to conclude its current engagement Jan. 11, has been extended through April 1, the Stardust announced Monday. ...
Get-well cards for Clint Holmes can be sent in care of: Harrah's, 3475 Las Vegas Blvd. South, Las Vegas 89109.
Sightings
Celine Dion, touring Opportunity Village's Magical Forest for two hours Sunday with her son, Rene Charles, 3, husband, Rene Angelil, three bodyguards and several family members. ... A too-chatty Joe Pesci, among the crowd checking out Kevin Spacey's Bobby Darin show at the Stardust on Sunday night. He joined the three standing ovations. ... Retired Miami Dolphins running back Ricky Williams, dancing until closing at Light (Bellagio) early Monday with a posse of good-time gals. Across the room: actress Shannen Doherty and two gal pals, and at another table, Actress Hunter Tylo and friends. ... Spacey, dining at N9NE Steakhouse (Palms) on Christmas Day.
The Punch Line
I kissed a bunch of frogs and finally found my prince." -- Spears, on her engagement to Federline
Norm Clarke can be reached at 383-0244 or norm@reviewjournal.com.
