Steve Wynn reportedly has his hands full of "Avenue Q" challenges.
According to the New York Post, Wynn's naughty puppet show is struggling, and he's pulling strings to head off a flop.
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Michael Riedel, who writes the "On Broadway" column for the Post, reported in Friday's edition that Wynn has lured a top Broadway marketing executive in hopes he can revive the Tony Award-winning show.
The unidentified executive was part of the team that helped propel "Chicago" to its long run on Broadway.
The 1,200-seat theater at the Wynn is half-filled, and the balcony has yet to open, Riedel wrote, citing "theater people in Las Vegas and New York."
Wynn "thinks he made a mistake," a Broadway producer told the Post.
Kevin McCollum, who co-produced "Avenue Q" on Broadway, "is also going to take a more active role in the Vegas production," Riedel wrote.
BUNNY HOPPING
Playboy icon Hugh Hefner and his blonde posse are bunny hopping all over the town today.
Holly, Bridget and Kendra join Hef signing covers of the November Playboy pictorial from 3-4 p.m. at the Playboy Concept Boutique (Forum Shops at Caesars).
From 1:30-2:30 p.m. they're at Madame Tussauds (The Venetian) to check out Hef's wax likeness.
Tonight, they're at the Palms for the Robert Cavalli fashion show and the first public unveiling of the retro bunny outfits for the staff of the Playboy lounge atop the new Palms fantasy tower.
THE SCENE AND HEARD
Boosted by a big plug in Liz Smith's column Thursday in the Post, Review-Journal columnist John L. Smith signs copies of his new book, "Sharks in the Desert: The Founding Fathers and Current Kings of Las Vegas," at 2 p.m. today at The Reading Room at Mandalay Place. Next Saturday at 1 p.m., he'll be at the Gambler's Book Club, 630 S. 11th St.
Media moves: Former UNLV basketball coach Jerry Tarkanian starts his one-hour show on KSFN-AM, 1140 (Spike) on Nov. 19. The show runs from noon to 1 p.m.
KLAS-TV, Channel 8 reporter Atle Erlingsson is leaving Dec. 2 to join KNTV-TV, the NBC affiliate in San Francisco-San Jose. He grew up in the Bay Area.
Hawaii's Dick Jensen, a versatile entertainer who performed at five Strip hotels mostly in the 1960s, will be honored at a Walk of Stars ceremony at 11:30 a.m. today at the New Frontier. Engelbert Humperdinck is among the guest speakers in Gilley's Showroom.
Hot spots and cool stuff: Lee's Wine Experience, featuring 800 brands, runs from 3-8 p.m. today in the Hilton's main ballroom.
SIGHTINGS
Jay Leno, at the Hilton on Thursday to entertain the SEMA convention. Paula Abdul, turning heads at Bartolotta Ristorante di Mare (Wynn) on Thursday. Backstage at Barry Manilow's show (Hilton) on Wednesday: Motley Crue's Vince Neil. Mario Andretti and Richard Petty, among the car convention crowd in Del Frisco's on Wednesday. National Finals Rodeo star Fred Whitfield, grabbing a burger at In-N-Out at Tropicana and Dean Martin Drive. He was in town for a photo shoot for his sponsor, the U.S. Army. Ja Rule, dining at the N9NE Steakhouse (Palms). John Oates of Hall and Oates, with family at Blue Man Group (The Venetian) on Thursday. Murray the Magician, a regular around town, looking for love on "Blind Date" on Friday (KVVU-TV, Channel 5).
THE PUNCH LINE
"President Bush said he wants to stockpile enough vaccine to protect 20 million Americans. The other 260 million, you are on your own." -- Leno
