Monday, February 23, 2004
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

NORM: Spies go ape over Kournikova

Anna Kournikova is all smiles Saturday night in Las Vegas. Mark Wahlberg getting cozy with Kournikova. Mickey Rourke shows up with Kournikova.

Anna Kournikova's red-carpet arrival with 1980s bad boy Mickey Rourke had heads spinning at a weekend Bellagio bash.

But the shocker came later, my Eye spies tell me, when Kournikova, the Russian beauty, was seen holding hands with actor Mark Wahlberg at the Bellagio's main entrance at 4 a.m. and leaving with him in a car.

Kournikova, who has been dating Spanish singing star Enrique Iglesias, and Rourke had paparazzi in a tizzy when they arrived at a pre-party at Caramel, the sister club of Light, which was celebrating its second anniversary with a celebfest Saturday night that included Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire, Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher, and Paris and Nicky Hilton.

But shortly after Kournikova and Rourke arrived, Kournikova and Wahlberg warmed up to each other, even after an icy drink was accidentally spilled on Kournikova's bare back. They spent several hours next to each other, getting along famously, while Rourke sat across from them, engaging others.

After leaving Caramel, they headed off to Light with DiCaprio and Lucas Haas. As Kournikova and Wahlberg waited for the car, they declined having their photos taken. They were among almost 30 celebs flown in by private jet by Light for the party and a celebrity poker tournament won by actor Ethan Suplee, of "Cold Mountain" and "The Butterfly Effect" fame. Suplee won a $25,000 seat in the Bellagio World Poker Tournament in April.

We'll be seeing a lot more of DiCaprio, according to the buzz. He's reportedly purchased a penthouse suite at the new hip Strip-side Panorama residential tower due to open in 2006 at Industrial and Harmon. The tower is being built by nightclub honcho Andrew Sasson, whose string of hot clubs in Europe and the United States include Light, and partner Lawrence Hallier.

The Scene and Heard

Gary Scott Thompson, creator of NBC's breakout hit "Las Vegas," has landed a two-year, $1 million-plus deal from NBC Studios, according to the Hollywood Reporter. NBC Studios Executive Vice President Angela Bromstad said Thompson "just has a great instinct for things that are young, that will appeal to a broad audience and would have that `cool' factor." Thompson told me Friday he's hoping to add Elton John to the growing list of "local" guest stars. The list has included Wayne Newton, Penn & Teller, Blue Man Group and Vegas party-scene regular Paris Hilton. ...

John has finished his new CD collaboration with Bernie Taupin. A September release is planned. ...

Hottest rumor of MAGIC week has rap star Eminem making an appearance. ...

Las Vegas Temple Beth Sholom cantors Alberto Mizrahi and Daniel Friedman have a March 28 concert date at the Orleans Showroom. Call 804-1333, Ext. 127.

Sightings

Others at Caramel and Light: film producers Jerry Bruckheimer, Michael Bey and Hank Azaria, "Sex and the City" stars Jason Lewis and Willie Garson, NFL stars Marshall Faulk and Tony Gonzalez, ex-NFL quarterback Warren Moon, and actors Estella Warren, David Arquette, Richard Kind, Luke Wilson, Suplee, and Angie Harmon and her husband, Jason Sehorn. ... Kournikova, drawing more than 300 to an Adidas signing at Nordstrom on Sunday at Fashion Show mall. ... Barbara Walters, who took in "Zumanity" (New York-New York) Tuesday, returned Saturday with Sherry Lansing, president of Paramount Communications and chairman of Paramount Pictures' Motion Picture Group.

The Punch Line

"Hollywood is a place where a man can get stabbed in the back while climbing a ladder." -- William Faulkner

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