Miss America contestants pose with Jay Leno after an appearance on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" on Thursday at NBC studios in Burbank, Calif. The 52 young beauties arrive today in Las Vegas to begin a week of pageant activities. Among them will be Miss Massachusetts Kristin Gauvin, a New England Patriots cheerleader. The Associated Press photo.

Paula Abdul's celebrity status had no influence in the termination of two Silverton Casino Hotel Lodge employees, the property said in a statement Friday.

Allegations that the "American Idol" judge had anything to do with the firings "are totally unfair to Ms. Abdul as she is recognized as one of the most kind, compassionate and caring personalities in the world," Silverton president Craig Cavileer said.

PBX operator Carol Good, 61, and night auditor Damon Rosa, 41, told me they were suspended on Jan. 5 and fired on Jan. 6 because Abdul wanted her airline connections changed at 6 a.m. for a 7:40 a.m. flight.

In his statement, Cavileer said the Silverton felt it was "necessary to clarify that the alleged decision to recently terminate two of our team members was not based on any request or direction of Ms. Abdul as has been reported by the media."

"He's full of it," said Good. "My termination paper says 'rudeness to customer' and Damon's says 'did not provide customer service.' "

Good said she was leaving work at the end of her overnight shift on the morning of Jan. 2 when Rosa asked if she could check some flights for Abdul, who had called shortly before 6 a.m.

With Rosa overwhelmed with guests checking out, Good pitched in and was preparing to call Abdul with the information when the former recording star called and "went off on me."

Good said her termination papers also cited her for insubordination "because I waited downstairs for Damon, instead of leaving the property."

Good suspects her dismissal has more to do with a wage discrimination complaint she filed against the Silverton in the summer, after a young man joined the all-woman department.

"He was paid about $2 more than the rest of us and we were all females. So I called the labor board."

Good said losing her job couldn't have come at a worse time.

After three heart attacks, she underwent surgery in the summer to have a defibrillator installed in her chest. She requires 14 medications a day, she said, and wears a necklace with nitroglycerine tablets that could save her life.

THE SCENE AND HEARD

Among the 52 Miss America Pageant contestants being bused to the Aladdin from Los Angeles today: Miss Massachusetts Kristin Gauvin, a three-year member of the New England Patriots cheerleading squad and the 2004 AFC cheerleader of the year. ...

Jet nightclub at The Mirage rolls out the red carpet tonight for its VIP grand opening party. Word is Leo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire, Paris and Nicky Hilton, Enrique Iglesias, Kevin Connolly, Jaime Pressly and Shannon Elizabeth are among those who have committed. ...

Bravo's hit series "Queer Eye For The Straight Guy" is looking for some Las Vegas candidates. An open casting call is being held from 1-7 p.m. on Sunday at the Golden Nugget for those interested in a makeover by the Fab Five. Three episodes will be taped beginning in April. Visit www.queereye.com for more information.

SIGHTINGS

Former Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Orel Hershiser, the National League's 1988 Cy Young Award winner, dining at Spiedini's (J.W. Marriott) on Friday, for the second night in a row, with friends. ... In the crowd at the Bootlegger Bistro on Thursday to see Ruth Brown knock 'em out on her 78th birthday: Mary Wilson of The Supremes, 12-year-old harmonica sensation L.D. Miller and teen blues singer Sarah Todora, the New Orleans transplant who is opening at the Sahara Feb. 1.

THE PUNCH LINE

"Are you following the Samuel Alito Supreme Court hearings? The hearings are so dull that CBS has ordered three more episodes." -- Jay Leno

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