Britney’s manager expects deal soon

Britney Spears' Las Vegas headliner deal is nearly done.

That's the word from her manager, Larry Rudolph, who told "Extra," the TV entertainment program, "We are in deep negotiations, and I'd be shocked if it didn't happen. Hoping to have a deal done very soon."

Caesars Entertainment, named by "Extra" as one of the companies in talks with Spears' camp, recycled a statement that was issued last week.

"Caesars Entertainment is engaged with a number of today's top artists in discussions regarding headlining residencies at our venues in Las Vegas," the company said in a statement. "We are always interested in having artists with the caliber of Britney Spears performing at our theaters and will respond in more detail if and when it's appropriate to do so."

Since The Colosseum at Caesars Palace reportedly is booked with acts until the end of 2014, speculation centered on Caesars Entertainment-owned Planet Hollywood Resort, with its 7,000-seat Theater of the Performing Arts. But hypnotist Marshall Sylver contends he has an open-ended deal at the venue, which is controlled by BASE Entertainment of New York.

MUCHOW FILM GETS ATTENTION

The rising career of Las Vegas writer/filmmaker Wolfgang Muchow continues to impress. It was announced last week that Juntobox Films has picked up the option for Muchow's "Too Small to Save," putting the project in the greenlight semifinals.

Muchow said the story, about an immigrant family's fight to keep their house out of foreclosure in Las Vegas, "is very personal on several levels. Almost everybody I know that started their lives around 2006/2007 are kind of screwed now. The foreclosure tidal wave destroyed many lives and futures. The story is really about the current state of the American Dream."

A 1992 graduate of Basic High School, Muchow was the first UNLV film student admitted to the prestigious film program at New York University.

Juntobox is a collaborative film studio that includes Oscar winner Forest Whitaker among its members.

"While I hope the film is greenlit, being able to say that it's optioned by Forest Whitaker's company is pretty cool too," Muchow said.

THE SCENE AND HEARD

MSNBC political pundit Ezra Klein, with the best Las Vegas-related tweet of the Super Bowl blackout: "Does anyone know where the Ocean's Eleven guys are right now?"

SIGHTINGS

Buddy Valastro, star of TLC's hit reality show "Cake Boss," having dinner Tuesday with food consultant Elizabeth Blau at Honey Salt, the new Summerlin restaurant co-owned by Blau and her husband, chef Kim Canteenwalla . ... New England Patriots All-Pro tight end Rob Gronkowski, dancing shirtless on stage at XS (Encore) over the weekend. At one point, Gronkowski, who broke his left forearm about a month ago, is seen throwing a wrestling move on a friend and slamming him to the floor. The 6-foot-6 Gronkowski is seen in a TMZ.com video wearing a light cast on his arm. ... Former U.S. congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, at Saturday's grand opening of SHe (Crystals at CityCenter) with her husband, former astronaut Mark Kelly, and Tilman Fertitta, CEO and sole shareholder of Landry's Inc., SHe's parent company. Also attending: Eva Longoria, a partner in SHe, formerly Bezo; "The Bachelor" Jake Pavelka; and rocker Vince Neil.

THE PUNCH LINE

"A power outage during a Super Bowl in Louisiana - but don't worry. FEMA said they will be there no later than Thursday." - David Letterman

Norm Clarke's column appears Sunday, Wednesday and Friday. He can be reached at 702-383-0244 or email him at norm@reviewjournal.com. Find more online at www.normclarke.com. Follow Norm on Twitter @Norm_Clarke. "Norm Clarke's Vegas," airs Thursdays on the "Morning Blend" on KTNV-TV, Channel 13.