Soprano, Spilotro could share link

Tony Soprano, meet Tony Spilotro.

The similarities are quickly extending far beyond their same-sounding names and violent reputations.

With three episodes remaining in "The Sopranos," counting tonight, Soprano appears hell-bent on ending up the same way as Spilotro, who terrorized Las Vegas in the 1970s and 1980s as the Chicago mob's hot-tempered pointman.

We've seen more of Soprano's self-destructive tailspin in recent episodes. The end appears to be near, and the moment we're all awaiting isn't whether he gets whacked, but by whom, and who takes over.

Here's where Spilotro, who was whacked by his Chicago bosses in 1986, enters the picture.

Soprano and Spilotro could have an ironic link.

Soprano appears headed for a bloody showdown with Phil Leotardo, the New York mob boss played by Frank Vincent.

Fans of the mob classic "Casino" will recall that Vincent was the hit man who beat Joe Pesci's character Nicky Santoro to death and dumped him in a cornfield grave (the scene was filmed in Las Vegas on land owned by local casino owner Michael Gaughan). Santoro's character was based on Spilotro, who was found beaten and buried in an Indiana cornfield with his brother Michael in June 1986.

Spilotro was back in the news last week.

Nicholas Calabrese, a key member of the Chicago organized crime family, pleaded guilty Friday to planning or carrying out 14 of 18 mob hits, including the Spilotro killings. The break in the case appeared in newspapers on Saturday, which would have been Spilotro's 69th birthday.

Back to Soprano, who made a trip to Las Vegas in last week's episode after killing off heir apparent Christopher Moltisanti (Michael Imperioli).

So we await the big finish June 10, and we all have our theories on how it ends.

Mine: Soprano's son, Anthony, ends up as the second coming of Tony Soprano, leaving the door open to a sequel.

THE NINA QUESTION

Nina Radetich was the news, not just reporting it, after her surprise resignation as evening anchor with KVBC-TV, Channel 3.

Rumblings have her headed for KTNV-TV, Channel 13 and San Francisco, her home area.

I asked her to respond to the KTNV rumor in an e-mail sent on Friday. She did not get back by deadline on Saturday.

Insiders say her departure came out of left field after lengthy negotiations.

With KVBC planning to name Radetich's replacement soon, that would suggest an in-house hire, possibly Beth Fisher or Sue Manteris, who have been in anchor roles at Channel 3 for years.

Fisher, with the station since 1999, has been anchoring the 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. newscasts, while Manteris has been the morning and noon anchor for many years.

Morning co-anchor Mitch Truswell has been eyeing another market for some time and plans to leave, I'm told.

There's been newsroom chatter that the husband-wife team of Kim and Dana Wagner might be moving to the morning anchor desk at KVBC, if Manteris moves up.

Kim Wagner has been weekend evening anchor, and Dana Wagner has been the evening weather forecaster.

THE SCENE AND HEARD

Steve Wynn, back from what is believed to be a government-approved experimental eye surgery, on Saturday co-hosted Bon Appetit's Vine and Dine, a culinary extrava-ganza at Wynn Las Vegas. He co-hosted with Bon Appetit's editor-in-chief, Barbara Fairchild. The four-day food spectacular wraps up today with the Farewell Bellagio Brunch.

SIGHTINGS

Barry Manilow, while singing "Moonlight" during Friday's show (Hilton), invited a stunning woman out of the audience to dance with him. "Are you having a good time tonight?" he asked her. "Now I am," she responded. The woman was Lia Neil, who returned to her seat and joined hubbie Vince Neil, frontman for Mötley Crüe. ... Rocker Tommy Lee, staying Friday in the Erotic Suite in the fantasy tower at the Palms. ... Actor Hayden Christensen, Mena Suvari and MySpace founder Tom Anderson, in the VIP area Friday at Pure (Caesars Palace) at rapper Fabolous' party. ... Cameron Diaz and illusionist Criss Angel, taking in the sights and sounds Friday on the terrace at Pure. ... Grammy-winning musician John Legend, at Light (Bellagio) for a celebration Friday after his concert at Lake Las Vegas.