David Brenner takes in Lance Burton's show with fiancee. Rita Rudner's second novel hits bookstores on Tuesday. Lance Bass hangs at Palms pool, dines at N9ne steakhouse.

Jeff Beacher's vat-of-ketchup stunt is on the back burner.

The hefty comedic host has postponed Tuesday's promotion in which he planned to hold his breath for almost 10 minutes in a container filled with 10,000 gallons of ketchup.

Insurance issues over the festering concoction caused Beacher, creator of "Beacher's Madhouse" and the "Rockhouse" spinoff, to wait until Halloween, when the weather cools down.

"That stuff gets nasty and crusty in the heat," said Beacher, who will be encased in dough by a small army of little people before being lowered 10 stories into the vat.

The stunt was to highlight the grand opening of "The Rockhouse" in the space formerly occupied by Tequila Joe's karaoke bar at the Imperial Palace.

A street festival, featuring a 9:30 p.m. appearance by Paris Hilton, will continue as planned at Caesars Way, between the Imperial Palace and O'Shea's. Hilton will later debut her new CD at Pure nightclub at Caesars Palace.

Shot at stardom

Auditions for The Grand Slam to Stardom contest begin today at Green Valley Ranch for Clark County residents ages 14 to 28.

Candidates are invited to sing a song of their choice a cappella, with 12 contestants moving on to the September semifinals.

Three finalists will be flown to Los Angeles to audition for producer/composer David Foster at his Malibu recording studio.

Foster, a recent guest coach on "American Idol," will select the winner, who will perform live at Andre Agassi's Grand Slam for Children benefit concert at the MGM Grand Garden on Oct. 7.

Doors open at 6 a.m. today at the Grand Event Center.

THE SCENE AND HEARD

Rita Rudner's second novel, "Turning the Tables," hits the bookstores on Tuesday. Set in a fictional Las Vegas casino named "Heaven," the book features "a wild cast of characters and their shameless business practices." Rudner ends her five-year run at New York-New York this weekend. She moves to Harrah's later this year. ...

The Palomino Club, a Las Vegas Boulevard North icon before the era of cavernous strip clubs, has reopened after a $1 million face-lift by landlord and prominent defense attorney Dominic Gentile. "We're excited about raising the Phoenix from the ashes," said Gentile, whose son, Adam, will be the owner-operator. Sunset Thomas of HBO's "Cat House" is the featured entertainer at this weekend's grand opening, with shows at 10 p.m. and midnight. ...

Legendary female impersonator Kenny Kerr has returned to Las Vegas. He's appearing at Suede Restaurant and Lounge, 4640 Paradise Road at Naples, on Fridays and Saturdays in "Kenny Kerr and Loretta Lieberman: A One Woman Show." He's debuting his Lieberman character. ...

Quiet Riot's new release, "Rehab," is coming out in October, the Las Vegas-based band's first material since "Guilty Pleasures" in 2001.

SIGHTINGS

British actress Minnie Driver, holding hands with illusionist Criss Angel as they left Lombardi's Romagna Mia (Desert Passage at the Aladdin) Friday. ... Lance Bass, at the Palms pool on Friday. He dined with friends at N9ne Steakhouse (Palms) on Thursday. At another table: Playboy Playmate Destiny Davis, celebrating her 21st birthday with Tishara Cousino, another local Playmate. ... David Sanborn, joining the Ronnie Foster band at the Artisan Hotel for a few numbers on Thursday night. ... NBA star Tim Duncan, at the 7:30 p.m. performance of "Le Reve" (Wynn) on Thursday. ... Charo, Lorna Luft, Tony Curtis, Stepfanie Kramer and Kelly Perdew, the winner of the second season of "The Apprentice," at "The Big Mix," a Big Brothers Big Sisters benefit at Chameleon Studios. ... Celine Dion's 5-year-old son, Rene Charles, with his father, Rene Angelil, in the audience at Lance Burton's magic show on Thursday. Also there: David Brenner and fiancee Tai Babilonia.

THE PUNCH LINE

"Pluto was voted out (of the solar system) because it was too small. However, it has now been mounted on a ring and given to Mrs. Kobe Bryant." -- David Letterman

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