Friday, January 09, 2004
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

NORM: Maloof: Britney's bellman still toils

In his upcoming book, Norm rates Jimmy Hopper as the best free show on the Strip. Mike Weatherford and the inside scoop on LV stars. Stevie Van Zandt spotted at Piero's, sans the Boss. Mike Tyson at M&M; Keep the Bentley clean.

Has the Palms' bellman who walked Britney Spears down the aisle been shipped off to Siberia?

Palms owner George Maloof flatly denies reports that the mystery man has been fired, but there are indications he's taking an unscheduled "vacation."

The bellman is apparently in Dutch for driving Spears and her homeboy beau hunk Jason Allen Alexander to their 5 a.m. wedding without authorization, and standing in as their witness.

"He's still working," Maloof said Thursday. When asked if the bellman has been on duty since the dawn-till-dusk marriage, Maloof balked, saying, "I can't get into that."

Meanwhile, the Palms, after raking in free publicity worth millions, added to the intrigue by putting this message on their marquee: "Who Was That Bellman?"

Also on the marquee were the words "Palms Team Members Are #1."

"That was my way of thanking all our employees," Maloof said. "They were under a lot of pressure last week and couldn't have been any more professional."

As for the off-the-radar bellman, "he's great; he's fine," Maloof said.

I'm betting that the bellman is still waiting for a toke from Spears, something of a virgin when it comes to tipping.

The Scene and Heard

Microsoft had a novel idea to make a splash at this week's Consumer Electronics Show, the megaconvention. But it didn't fly. Bill Gates' marketing minds wanted the Flying Elvi to parachute dressed as the company's winged mascot. "But they canceled," said Flying Elvi creator Dick Feeney, "because we couldn't get the wings off the back of the Elvi outfits because of the parachute straps." ...

Britney's quickie marriage, says Rob Dondero, vice president of R&R Partners, "is truly the epitome of 'what happens here stays here.' " R&R came up with the all-the-rage marketing campaign slogan for the the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority a year ago. ...

VH1's "The Fabulous Life of Vegas Superstars" airs Wednesday morning. The "joy ride into the high living, high-stakes world of Las Vegas superstars" tracks the capers of Leonardo Dicaprio, Michael Jackson and Ben and J.Lo with "war stories" from local journalists including Review-Journal entertainment writer Mike Weatherford and that prowling pirate guy.

Sightings

New York Mets slugger Mike Piazza, lunching with a lady friend at Spago (Forum Shops at Caesars) on Thursday. ... Mike Tyson, chowing down at M&M's soul food restaurant at Jones and Harmon on Tuesday night. He arrived in his blue Bentley. ... Microsoft's Gates, dining at Morton's of Chicago on Wednesday in a party of 20. ... Stevie Van Zandt of Bruce Springsteen fame and "The Sopranos," dining at Piero's on Wednesday night.

May I recommend...

Singer and showman extraordinaire Jimmy Hopper at the Bellagio's Fontana Room at 6:30 and 8:30 on Friday and Saturday nights. He performs at 9:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday. I have Hopper rated as the best free show on the Strip in my upcoming book: "Vegas Confidential: Norm Clarke's 100 Top 10 Lists."

The Punch Line

"Everything was great for the first 10 hours, then they grew apart." -- David Letterman on barely-wed Britney Spears' joke wedding.

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

.com.