Monday, June 14, 2004
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

NORM: 'Sopranos' can't be had for a song

For Kirk Kerkorian, business doesn't stop for a birthday. Jerry Seinfeld says what you pay here will stay here. Nicolas Cage has magical night with his new girlfriend. Snoop Dogg steals the spotlight at Maxim's party.

The price of promotion doesn't come cheap in the casino business.

Bringing in "The Sopranos" for a weekend promotion at the Golden Nugget cost a "little more than $300,000," said Tim Poster, one of the new owners of the revived downtown property.

But it was worth it, Poster said.

"Every woman wants to be seen with them, and every guy wants to be like them," Poster said during a private party Saturday for 150 high rollers, most of them from New

York, New Jersey and Chicago.

Eight members of "The Sopranos," including James Gandolfini (Tony Soprano) were in to add marketing muscle to the debut of "The Casino," a reality show that airs at 9 p.m. today on KVVU-TV, Channel 5.

The Fremont Street Experience, with a new LED screen and canopy show additions, will be at the epicenter of the extravaganza.

Birthday business

Workaholic Kirk Kerkorian celebrates birthdays like any other day of the year: working blockbuster deals.

Kerkorian, the billionaire financier, had former Clark County Sheriff Ralph Lamb and current Sheriff Bill Young over for breakfast on his 87th birthday a week ago Sunday.

Kerkorian had something else cooking.

"He was doing the Mandalay Bay deal," Young said.

Kerkorian, who owns controlling interest of gaming giant MGM Mirage, kept getting updates by telephone on his company's $7.65 billion offer to buy Mandalay Resort Group, a deal rejected Friday by Mandalay executives.

The Scene and Heard

Jerry Seinfeld one-liners from his weekend shows at Caesars Palace: "The money that comes to Vegas, stays in Vegas," and "The Reagan funeral is now officially half over."

Sightings

Nicolas Cage, at David Copperfield's show (MGM Grand) on Friday with his new girlfriend, Alice Kim, 19, and at "O" (Bellagio) on Saturday. ... Snoop Dogg, making a grand entrance down the staircase about 1 a.m. Sunday at Body English (Hard Rock Hotel) as the surprise musical guest of Maxim magazine's "Hot 100" party. Rebecca Romijn-Stamos, during her red carpet appearance, confirmed plans to assist in the selection of music for the Bellagio dancing fountains. Her friend, Mark Fuller of Los Angeles, coordinates the water show. Others there: Adrian Brody, Vin Diesel, Paris Hilton, Vince Vaughn, 'N Sync's J.C. Chasez, the Backstreet Boys' Howie Dorough, porn star Jenna Jameson, and Laura Prepon and Danny Masterson of "That 70's Show." Prepon was with her boyfriend, Chris Masterson, Danny's brother. ... Josh Duhamel and James Lesure, dancing up a storm with local gals Friday night at Light (Bellagio). ... Vaughan and Owen Wilson, who teamed up in "Starsky & Hutch," at "La Femme" (MGM Grand) on Saturday night. ... Shooter Jennings, Waylon Jennings' son, at "The Sopranos" party with his girlfriend, Drea de Matteo, who plays the recently whacked Adriana La Cerva. ... Wally Szczerbiak of the Minnesota Timberwolves at the Palms pool on Saturday. ... Boxing great Sugar Ray Leonard, playing host to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation reception Saturday at Whiskey Bar (Green Valley Ranch).

The Punch Line

"Boy, this Golden Nugget is beautiful." -- Tony Sirico, aka Paulie Walnuts, as "The Sopranos" started walking down the red carpet Friday at the Vegas magazine party at Caesars Palace Garden of the Gods.

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