Sinatra impressionist could face legal showdown

Frank Sinatra’s heirs and Sinatra impressionist Bob Anderson may be heading for a legal showdown.

Anderson, who has been starring in “Frank: The Man. The Music.” at the Palazzo since January, said he’s not backing down.

“They know about it and they wish I would stop, and I’m not going to,” he said, to a cheering crowd at Cabaret Jazz at The Smith Center on Sunday.

He made the remarks during an audience Q&A portion of “Conversations With Norm,” a quarterly interview series.

Sinatra’s estate has a history of taking legal action against shows and individuals who they contend are profiting from Sinatra’s fame.

“They were not happy about me doing it,” Anderson said.

“They still aren’t,” interjected Vincent Falcone, Sinatra’s former conductor, who holds the same position with Anderson.

A third member of Sunday’s “Conversations” panel, Pia Zadora, announced she is appearing on the “Celebrity Wife Swap” reality show, which airs July 8.

She is matched with 89-year-old Broadway veteran Cloris Leachman, who won a best supporting actress oscar for “The Last Picture Show” in 1971.

The show pits two mothers from radically different types of households in a weeklong lifestyle challenge.

THE SCENE AND HEARD

The NHL’s showcase awards event returns this week, with Rob Riggle hosting and Daughtry providing the entertainment at the MGM Grand Garden on Wednesday. It is the sixth year the awards show is being held in Las Vegas, the first time at the MGM Grand. The two-hour event is open to the public. It starts at 4 p.m. Presenters include former stars Mark Messier and Cam Neely. Ticket information: www.mgmgrand.com or www.ticketmaster.com …

The comeback officially begins this week for the Miss Nevada Pageant. Jodi Fonfa and Heidi Hopper are co-producing the Miss Teen (Friday) and Miss Nevada pageants (Saturday) at The Smith Center. Clint Holmes and his wife, Kelly Clinton, are emceeing the shows. Fonfa, since moving into the executive director post, has raised more money than the Miss Nevada Scholarship Organization had brought in over the previous five years. …

Las Vegan Ricky Moreno is among the top five finalists in the running for the first-ever Travel Channel competition to host a show. Yep, he’s the brother of entertainer Frankie Moreno. You can vote for him here: www.travelchannel.com/shows/travel-channel-star. …

Australian billionaire James Packer is courting Caesars Palace headliner Mariah Carey. They were photographed holding hands during a romantic trip to Capri, Italy, last week, reportedly on the way to the Riviera on Packer’s yacht. Her twins, Monroe and Moroccan, are on the trip. Nick Cannon filed for divorce from Carey five months ago.

SIGHTINGS

At Saturday’s Premier Boxing Champions event at the MGM Grand Garden: NBA Finals MVP Andre Iguodala, boxing greats Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Mike Tyson, Justin Bieber, NBA veteran Paul Pierce and homegrown NFL standout Randall Cunningham. … Harrison Barnes, celebrating the Golden State Warriors’ NBA championship with friends on late Saturday at Chateau nightclub (Paris). … Bieber, riding the High Roller with friends on Sunday. He surprised revelers at Drai’s Beach Club (Cromwell) with an impromptu performance over the weekend. … Bishop Gorman star Inbee Park, the No. 1-ranked female golfer in the world, playing table games at Red Rock Resort on Saturday. … UFC sensation Conor McGregor of Ireland and Jamie Heaslip, captain of Ireland’s national rugby team, dining with fellow countryman and celebrity bartender John O’Donnell at Crush (MGM Grand) on Sunday night. A crew following McGregor was filming the first meeting of the UFC and rugby stars. McGregor faces champion Jose Aldo on July 11 in a title fight at MGM Grand Garden.

THE PUNCH LINE

“According to The New York Times, one of the biggest doping scandals in the history of track and field is coming to light. It involves Russian athletes in the sport of racewalking — or as it’s known to billions of people who do it every day, ‘hurrying up.’ ” — James Corden

Norm Clarke’s column appears Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Reach him at 702-383-0244 or norm@reviewjournal.com. Find more at www.normclarke.com. Follow @Norm_Clarke on Twitter. He also appears on KTNV-Channel 13’s “Morning Blend” on Thursdays.