Manganiello’s crush on Vergara blossoms into romance
Hollywood’s hottest new couple, Sofia Vergara and Joe Manganiello, has that seemingly ever-present Las Vegas connection.
Manganiello, the “True Blood” star, broke up with Las Vegas nightlife stunner Bridget Peters earlier this year after a yearlong relationship.
Peters met Manganiello in December 2012 when she was a ring girl at the MGM Grand Garden the night Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez met to fight for the fourth time.
A native of Texas, Peters was one of the original Coyote Ugly Saloon girls when the club opened at New York-New York in 2001.
She later worked at Rhumbar at The Mirage and was a tequila temptress at Taco &Tequila at Luxor, where she modeled seminude in a matador outfit for one of the large murals.
Manganiello recently let it be known he had a crush on Vergara and things moved fast.
The breakout star of ABC’s sitcom “Modern Family,” who is on People magazine’s “50 Most Beautiful” list, Vergara split with her longtime boyfriend and businessman Nick Loeb.
They got engaged July 10, 2012, her 40th birthday, and announced their breakup May 23, three weeks after attending the White House Correspondents Dinner in Washington, D.C.
Manganiello and Vergara reportedly met at the gala and have been romantically linked since early this month.
SIEGFRIED ‘SECRET’ SURPRISE
Siegfried Fischbacher has been making surprise appearances in the past week at Siegfried &Roy’s Secret Garden at The Mirage.
He has been seen performing coin tricks for kids.
Fischbacher, who turned 75 on June 13, has been checking in on the three rare snowy lion cubs that were unveiled last week.
Born near Johannesburg, the cubs are almost 15 weeks old.
BUGATTI’S BACK
George Bugatti is back in Las Vegas preparing for his October show “The Wonderful Wizard of Song: The Music of Harold Arlen,” at The Smith Center for the Performing Arts’ Carbaret Jazz.
Bugatti moved here in 1998 to open Bellagio, when Steve Wynn recruited him to open for Michael Feinstein in the Fontana Room.
In 2004, Bugatti partnered with Sam Arlen to create a show about his father’s iconic music, including “Over the Rainbow” from “The Wizard of Oz.”
“The Wizard of Song” was created in Las Vegas and reworked at The Debbie Reynolds Theatre before making its New York debut on Dec. 17, 2012. It ran until May 25.
Bugatti’s Cabaret Jazz show is Oct. 17, 18 and 19.
He will be performing from 6-10 p.m. at the El Cortez’ Parlour Lounge from Aug. 3 through Oct. 12 to promote the show.
SIGHTINGS
Shania Twain’s Tuesday show was being filmed by a number of cameras for a TV special and DVD release. Raj Kapoor, her director, told the audience from the stage that a DVD release would be scheduled before Christmas. Her two-year run ends in mid-December, it was announced this week.
THE PUNCH LINE
“These huge white flags were placed on top of the Brooklyn Bridge. And late this afternoon, word came from the FBI that the New York Mets have surrendered.” — Craig Ferguson
Norm Clarke’s column appears Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday. He can be reached at 702-383-0244 or email him at norm@reviewjournal.com. Find more online at www.normclarke.com. Follow Norm on Twitter @Norm_Clarke.
