Maloof roots out new customers

Did you hear the one about Palms owner George Maloof strolling through the casino with a pig on a leash?

No joke.

It happened Tuesday. He was shooting a commercial for the Palms' new Bistro Buffet.

During the final scene, he is shown at a table while a white baby pig is shown pigging out.

Maloof looks at the pig and says, "You're lucky I like you."

Two pigs were used in the shoot, one named Molly.

The commercial will air in about two weeks.

THE LIFE AFTER

Steve Schirripa begins shooting "Casino Cinema" next month at the show's new home this season: the Hard Rock Hotel.

The former cast member of "The Sopranos" will tape an entire season during visits in July, August and September. The first shoot will be July 10, 11 and 12 and will feature a number of Las Vegas personalities.

Schirripa, who has been the Riviera's entertainment director since the 1990s, co-hosts the show with Beth Ostrovsky, Howard Stern's girlfriend.

THE SCENE AND HEARD

Word on the street has Crazy Horse Too, once an adult entertainment icon, closing by Friday. ...

Paula Abdul's reality show "Hey Paula" debuts at 10 p.m. today on Bravo, with locals anticipating some footage from her appearance at the Nevada Ballet Theatre's gala in January, when she was feted as "Woman of the Year." ...

CNN's Larry King will be honored for his 50 years in broadcasting at the annual Nevada Broadcasters Association Hall of Fame Gala on Aug. 18 at Red Rock Resort. King will be given a lifetime achievement award. ...

Former local NASCAR Cafe owner Mark Dyer has left NASCAR to join a motor sports merchandise retail company.

Dyer, who owned NASCAR Cafe at the Sahara for six years before joining NASCAR as vice president of licensing and consumer products, has been named president and chief executive officer of Motorsports Authentics, a 50-50 joint venture between International Speedway Corp. and Speedway Motorsports.

SIGHTINGS

President Clinton, at Bali High Golf Course on Monday, playing golf as Secret Service swarmed the grounds. ... Democratic strategist James Carville and his wife, Republican political consultant Mary Matalin, at "Love" (The Mirage) on Tuesday with their children for the first-anniversary performance. ... "American Pie" star Shannon Elizabeth, having cobbler at Fix (Bellagio) on Monday.

THE PUNCH LINE

"I was sweatin' like Larry King trying to come up with simple enough questions to ask Paris Hilton." -- Jay Leno.

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