Planet Hollywood promises big bash

Planet Hollywood founder Robert Earl is promising one of the city's biggest celebrity bashes for the Nov. 16-17 grand opening party of Planet Hollywood Resort.

The event, he said, will exceed the 100 red carpet attendees at the 1993 opening of his restaurant at Caesars Palace.

Earl announced the new grand opening dates Wednesday, along with a Sept. 20 premiere of "Resident Evil: Extinction," which was filmed in Las Vegas. It will be the first in a series of one a month, he said.

Earl had planned a Sept. 28-29 grand opening but had to juggle the dates for several reasons, including the logistics of trying to schedule the two events a week apart.

Two major performers will be part of the grand opening entertainment, he said.

Topping the 1993 Planet Hollywood opening will take some doing. Earl had Steven Seagal ride an elephant for that one, while Bruce Willis performed in front of more than 15,000. Whoopi Goldberg was carried in by centurions from Caesars Palace and former President George H.W. Bush was among the attendees.

"Resident Evil: Extinction" stars Milla Jovovich, Ali Larter, Ashanti, Oded Fehr and Mike Epps.

CLOONEY'S NEW LADY FRIEND

George Clooney left the June 6 Las Vegas premiere of "Ocean's Thirteen" with a new companion.

Sarah Larson, who was working for N9NE Group at the Palms, has been identified as the mystery woman accompanying Clooney during a European promotion tour of his new film "Michael Clayton."

Larson, 28, "sent me a text message to say she can't make it back any time soon," N9NE Group's Chris Bruno told Vegas Confidential's Jeremy Pond.

Larson, who had worked for N9NE Group for three years, teamed up with then-boyfriend Dan Randolph to win NBC's "Fear Factor: Las Vegas Duos" competition in early 2005.

THE SCENE AND HEARD

Chip Lightman, who worked as Danny Gans' manager for 14 years, has rejoined The Mirage headliner in that position after a three-year absence. Lightman, who went into the restaurant business, said they renewed the working relationship as of last Friday. "We both missed working together," said Lightman, who owns the Courthouse Bar & Grill and is co-owner of the Coachmen Bar & Grill with attorney Bucky Buchanan. Gans' schedule of four shows a week will allow them to pursue TV and motion picture opportunities, Lightman said. ...

Beyoncé Knowles will attend Jay-Z's and Palazzo president Rob Goldstein's joint announcement today unveiling plans for the 40/40 Club at The Venetian's sister hotel. ...

TV game show legends Bob Eubanks, Chuck Woolery, and Jamie Farr will team up for the $250,000 Ultimate Game Show at the Las Vegas Hilton, starting Oct. 8. ...

Las Vegas singer-songwriter Ne-Yo will host the pre-MTV Video Music Awards "Platinum Party" Saturday at Polly Esther's at the Stratosphere.

SIGHTINGS

Boxing champion Floyd Mayweather Jr., Pussycat Dolls creator Robin Antin and singer Melody Thornton of the music group Pussycat Dolls, partying Tuesday at Pure nightclub inside Caesars Palace.

THE PUNCH LINE

"This weekend marked the 86th anniversary of the invention of the bowling shirt. Cause prior to this, people in Cleveland had nothing to wear to weddings." -- Jay Leno

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