CORRECTION -- 11/18/05 -- Two items in Norm Clarke's Thursday column reported incorrect dates. A celebrity poker event at Pure Nightclub at Caesars Palace is Friday at 5 p.m. and the Four Tenors performed at the Golden Nugget on Thursday night, not Saturday.
Tom Hanks among attendees in town to give event star power.
Ray Romano has documentary on tap.
Jimmy Carter to make book tour stop.
Li'l Jon parties at Studio 54.
Tom Hanks helps kick off The Comedy Festival tonight by delivering David Letterman's "Top 10" list from the festival's "Earth to America!" TV special.
In what figures to be the largest gathering of comedic talent ever assembled in Las Vegas, organizers of the three-day festival are bringing in all the big guns to put the event on the map.
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The action starts at Caesars Palace, with a parade of comedy stars taking the stage at the 4,000-seat Colosseum for the taping of "Earth to America!"
The show will air Sunday on TBS. Call 866-1400 for festival ticket information.
Attendees include Leonardo DiCaprio, Larry David, Will Ferrell, Dustin Hoffman, Steve Martin, Martin Short and Ben Stiller.
The 50-some events include:
Today -- Celebrity poker featuring "The Sopranos," Pure (Caesars), 5 p.m.; "Earth to America!" after-party, Pure, 10:30 p.m.
Friday -- Ray Romano's documentary "95 Miles To Go," Florentine Ballroom (Caesars Palace), 10 p.m.; George Lopez, Colosseum, 11 p.m.; Lucha Va Voom, Roman Ballroom (Caesars) midnight and Bill Maher, Flamingo Showroom, 11:59 p.m.
Saturday/Sunday -- The festival's legacy award, Jerry Seinfeld, Colosseum, 5 p.m.; Jon Stewart, Colosseum, 8 p.m.; Carlos Mencia with guest Pablo Francisco, Palace Ballroom (Caesars), 10 p.m.; Dave Chappelle, Colosseum, 11 p.m. and Triumph the Insult Comic Dog's Poopapalooza, Flamingo Showroom, 12:30 a.m.
HELLO MISS AMERICA!
Here she comes, Miss America.
Organizers of the Miss America Pageant on Wednesday made it official: After 84 years in Atlantic City, the pageant will take place Jan. 21 at the Aladdin.
THE SCENE AND HEARD
The Las Vegas Tenors, featuring the quartet of Bill Fayne, Bobby Black, Mark Giovi, and Teddy Davey, are making their first stage appearance Saturday in the Golden Nugget's main showroom. The show starts at 9:30 p.m. Tickets are $25 and available at the Golden Nugget box office or at www.lasvegastenors.com. ...
Hypnotist Dr. Scott Lewis will try to get 500 smokers to quit smoking today at the Riviera during his 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. shows. Today is the American Cancer Society's Great American Smokeout. ...
KVVU-TV, Channel 5, morning anchor Andy Gobeil is returning to the East Coast for "family reasons." He's involved in a custody struggle for his children. ...
ESPN college football analyst Lee Corso is the featured speaker at the annual Pioneer PureVision Las Vegas Bowl Kickoff Luncheon on Dec. 21 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Ticket information: 732-3912. ...
Former President Carter is signing his book "Our Endangered Values" from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday at Borders Bookstore, 2323 S. Decatur Blvd.
SIGHTINGS
Martin and Eric Idle of "Monty Python," checking out Penn & Teller (Rio) on Wednesday night. ... Future NFL Hall of Famer Jerry Rice, with friends at Joe's Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab (Forum Shops at Caesars) on Wednesday. ... Rapper Li'l Jon, partying at Studio 54 on Tuesday (MGM Grand). ... New York Yankee Jason Giambi, carving up a rib-eye at BOA Steakhouse (Forum Shops at Caesars) Tuesday before heading to Pure nightclub.
THE PUNCH LINE
"The Country Music Association awards were held tonight right over in Madison Square Garden. It was a big night for the Dixie Chicks. They beat the Knicks 112 to 94." -- Letterman.
