‘American Greed’ turns eye to Vegas

When a TV show's titled "American Greed," Las Vegas looms as an inevitable destination.

Sure enough, CNBC's new prime-time series about white-collar crime finds its way to Neon Nirvana Wednesday and Thursday.

The Vegas segment focuses on the Sterling Group and founder Eric Stein, who, in the 1990s, perpetrated "the biggest telemarketing scam" in Nevada history, explains Rachel Goldenberg, associate producer for Kurtis Productions, which produces "American Greed."

Among the scheduled stops: an interview with retired postal inspector Marie Timms, plus visits to the local offices of the FBI and the securities division of Nevada's secretary of state.

The segment will air later this year, Goldenberg reports.

Rollin' at the Rock: Spike TV's "Casino Cinema" and host Steve Schirripa return to the Hard Rock Hotel this week to shoot additional interstitials. (That's TV talk for the transitional sequences during commercial breaks.)

The show visits the Riviera to chat with "An Evening at La Cage" headliner Frank Marino; other guests joining Schirripa at the Hard Rock range from magician Lance Burton and "Spamalot's" John O'Hurley to comedians Bobby Slayton and Dom Irrera, Las Vegas-based motocross maven Carey Hart and VIP host Rich Wilk.

Casting "Phenomenon": My crystal ball (OK, my e-mail) tells me NBC is searching for 10 mentalists and/or illusionists for the upcoming "Phenomenon."

Future Luxor headliner Criss Angel and mentalist Uri Geller, who hosted an Israeli version of "Phenomenon," will judge the live weekly competition. Viewers will vote for their favorites when the show debuts Oct. 17.

Starting Friday, casting officials will scout possible Las Vegas contenders.

In addition, an open call will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at a venue that hadn't been finalized by deadline. Log on to www.nbc.com/casting for more details, including Sunday's audition location.

And if you can't make it Sunday, you can audition by sending a videotape, featuring at least three tricks -- as long as they're not card or hat tricks -- to Tribune Studios, "Phenomenon" Casting, Attention: Laura Knoll, 5800 Sunset Blvd., Building 11, Suite 104, Los Angeles, Calif. 90028.

Looking for "Losers": Another NBC series, "The Biggest Loser" also is casting about in Las Vegas this weekend.

An open call for twins, family members, co-workers, friends, retirees and other individuals, 18 and over, will be held from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday at Towbin Hummer, 5550 W. Sahara Ave.

More details are available at (you guessed it) www.nbc.com/casting, where you'll also find information on auditioning via video.

Carol Cling's Shooting Stars column appears Mondays. Contact her at 383-0272 or e-mail her at ccling@reviewjournal.com.