Health concerns sideline Newton

Health considerations have caused Las Vegas entertainment icon Wayne Newton to cancel his six-week holiday show at Harrah's.

Newton's representatives informed Harrah's on Wednesday that he "could not and would not go on" with the engagement, which was supposed to start tonight.

KVBC-TV, Channel 3 entertainment reporter Alicia Jacobs reported the development Wednesday.

A formal announcement is expected today, Jacobs said.

Harrah's on Wednesday began notifying ticket holders of the cancellation.

It was first reported here Oct. 16 that Newton had a medical scare involving his heart during the grueling training for ABC's "Dancing With the Stars." He flew to Texas for tests and canceled shows in Washington, D.C., and Verona, N.Y.

After he and his dance partner, Cheryl Burke, were eliminated from "Dancing" on Oct. 9, Newton returned a week later for a guest encore and sang his breakthrough hit "Danke Schoen."

He later backed out of a show in Canada.

More concern was raised Friday when Newton did not attend the funeral of Robert Goulet, who died Oct. 30. Newton was best man when Goulet married Vera Novak in 1982.

Declining health might force Newton, long known as "Mr. Las Vegas," to step down as chairman of the USO Celebrity Circle. Since replacing Bob Hope in that position in 2001, Newton has tirelessly headed USO tours to Iraq, Afghanistan and other troubled areas where U.S. troops are stationed.

THE SCENE AND HEARD

Britney Spears was back in Las Vegas over the weekend for more liposuction, according to London's Daily Mail. That squares with a sighting from one of my spies, who claims she was at the Ritz Carlton at Lake Las Vegas. The British newspaper reported that there are rumblings she is house hunting in Las Vegas. Spears had a lipo treatment in Las Vegas in April. ...

Beyoncé performs Dec. 30 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center. ...

No change as of yet in Kanye West's Dec. 31 concert at the Pearl venue at the Palms. West's mother, Donda West, died Saturday in Los Angeles after a cosmetic surgical procedure. She was his co-manager and was with him during the MTV Video Music Awards at the Palms in September. ...

Legendary drag performer Joey Arias is returning to New York at the end of the year after four years emceeing Cirque du Soleil's "Zumanity" at New York-New York, according to a report Wednesday by Las Vegas freelance writer Steve Friess. Arias mentioned his departure in a YouTube.com video. ...

Mary Wilson, formerly of the Supremes, has returned to Las Vegas from Asia, where she raised public awareness about land mines and unexploded ordnance. As the spokesperson for the Humpty Dumpty Institute, she performed a charity concert in Colombo, Sri Lanka, visited a rehabilitation center for victims and took part in blowing up explosives found near schools.

SIGHTINGS

Actor James Gandolfini and NBA legend Julius "Dr. J" Erving were spotted dining in separate parties Tuesday at Michael Mina's StripSteak (Mandalay Bay). ... Hulk Hogan, at Global Gaming Expo on Wednesday for the unveiling of his new game, Hulkmania, at the Las Vegas Convention Center. ... Pamela Anderson, serving an early vegetarian Thanksgiving dinner to the homeless on Wednesday at Family Promise of Las Vegas, 320 S. Ninth St. The turkey, made up of no meat, consisted of a blend of soy, wheat, peas, beets and carrots. The event was put on by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. ... Natasha Henstridge, who just completed the film "The List" with Hugh Jackman and Ewan McGregor, was spotted at Olympic Garden over the weekend, getting frisky with some female strippers. Earlier, Henstridge was seen kissing a woman at Nove Italiano Restaurant at the Palms after the Maroon 5 concert.

THE PUNCH LINE

"Three people have been attacked by psychotic squirrels. These squirrels are not only crazy, they're German. You know, they're just getting started. World domination. The start of Squirrel War I. The French have already surrendered." -- Craig Ferguson

Norm Clarke can be reached at (702) 383-0244 or norm@reviewjournal.com. Find additional sightings and more online at www.normclarke.com.