Actor Kevin Sorbo will soon be "Walking Tall." Model Rachel Hunter plays host at Pure and Tangerine. Chrissi Scinta grins and bears it after root canal surgery. Poker whiz-kid Daniel Negreanu has given up his gig at the Wynn.

The poker world is buzzing about the divorce of whiz-kid Daniel Negreanu and Wynn Las Vegas.

Negreanu, the 2004 Player of the Year, served as the Wynn's "poker ambassador" since it opened in April. He confirmed the recent split in a poker chat room, saying he wanted to play in big games and "it was important to them that I played exclusively at the Wynn."

Negreanu honored the contract, he said, and "we amicably parted ways."

SORBO SPEARS ROLE

"Hercules" will soon be "Walking Tall."

Henderson resident Kevin Sorbo has signed to do a remake of "Walking Tall." Shooting will begin in San Diego early next year.

Sorbo, who got his breakout role in 1995 as the lead in "Hercules: The Legendary Journeys," is appearing at the Suncoast on Saturday to participate in the Screen Actors Guild's "The Conversation Series," narrated by radio personality Duke Morgan.

The event runs from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Admission is free.

Sorbo has been starring in and producing the TV series "Andromeda" since 2000.

Joe Don Baker, Bo Svenson and The Rock have starred in previous versions of "Walking Tall."

THE SCENE AND HEARD

Hot spots and cool stuff: Motley Crue's Vince Neil and poker ace Johnny Chan are involved in the inaugural "Off the Strip" charity poker tournament today at the Hard Rock Hotel. To preregister, call The Joint box office at 693-5000. UNLV professor David Schwartz signs his book "Cutting the Wire: Gambling Prohibition and the Internet" in The Reading Room at Mandalay Place from 2-4 p.m. on Saturday. Model Rachel Hunter is the host at Pure (Caesars Palace) tonight and at Tangerine (Treasure Island) on Saturday. DJ Kid Capri launches his exclusive arrangement tonight at OPM nightclub at the Forum Shops at Caesars.

Former Los Angeles Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda is at The Venetian on Nov. 20 for the Faith Lutheran Endowment dinner. I mistakenly mentioned that he was in town for the event last weekend.

MAY I RECOMMEND

Thai Original BBQ has a new location -- 2680 Maryland Parkway -- and a classic "drunken" noodles dish to die for. The pineapple fried rice is another winner. For more information, call 363-5800.

SIGHTINGS

Former Las Vegan Michael Cavanaugh, who has been starring on Broadway in Billy Joel's "Movin' Out" for three years, recently purchased a home in Henderson and is moving back. Stay tuned: I hear Cavanaugh, who was discovered at New York-New York's Times Square dueling piano bar, is heading for a venue on the Strip. He was recently in town working a corporate event with the "Movin' Out" band. "Movin' Out'' closes next month.

Chrissi Scinta, demonstrating the show-must-go-on spirit Thursday night at the Muscular Dystrophy Association-Chin's Humanitarian Dinner at The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel. Only hours after root canal surgery, she joined her daughter, Deanna Milkie, in singing the national anthem at the event, which honored the Herbst family, known for their oversize American flags at their franchises.

A peacock, spotted in the backyard at Jaki Baskow's Baskow & Associates, a meeting and event and talent management company. She called Wayne Newton, who lives nearby, and said, "Your peacock is looking for an agent."

THE PUNCH LINE

"The oil companies said they would like to help the poor people, but they need all that money to buy more senators." -- Jay Leno.

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