‘CSI’ stars expected to don the chaps

Cowboy up! That's exactly what CBS' "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" had planned Sunday as series stars William Petersen and George Eads were expected to join the bulls 'n' buckaroos at Thomas & Mack Center for the Professional Bull Riders World Finals.

Footage was expected to include both actors and bull riders in action for an episode slated to air early next year.

Ice, ice baby: It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas, at least at the Orleans Arena, where NBC's "Holiday Celebration on Ice" tapes Tuesday for broadcast Christmas Day.

Clay Aiken will sing eight numbers -- and take a skating lesson from Olympic silver medalist Sasha Cohen, who's joined by such skaters as world medalist (and Las Vegas resident) Surya Bonaly, plus past world champs Todd Eldredge and Yuka Sato.

"We're working hard to not just do a skating show," explains director and choreographer Lea Ann Miller.

And "it gives us some clout to be in Las Vegas," she adds, noting that the Vegas setting tells audiences "it's going to be a real show. You have a history there of quality performances."

La vida Vegas: Joining the arena action, Mandalay Bay says "¡Bienvenidos!" Thursday to the eighth annual Latin Grammy Awards.

Nominee Ricky Martin opens the show with Venetian headliners Blue Man Group, while the Tropicana's "Folies Bergere" and Planet Hollywood's "Stomp Out Loud" join the Strip contingent.

The show begins live at 5 p.m. on Univision for East Coast viewers. (As usual, we get the 8 p.m. tape delay.)

And while the show's sold out, locals can catch the stars arriving on the green carpet (the color saluting sponsor Heineken beer) at Mandalay Bay's south convention center parking lot. Arrivals are expected to begin about 12:30 p.m.; fans should be in place by noon.

Where's the fire: At the Fremont Street Experience, that's where, as the Firefighter Combat Challenge's World Challenge XVI gets under way, drawing firefighters from across the country to compete on an obstacle course and tower. The contest will turn up on cable's Versus channel, which is also PBR's TV home.

"Hustle" bustle: The BBC Three series "The Real Hustle" -- about a trio of tricksters who demonstrate scams, and how to avoid them -- has departed Las Vegas following an extended stay that's "gone fantastically well," reports series producer Myles Jenkins.

From "stealing luggage from a busload of tourists" to perpetrating the "wobbly tire scam" that leaves unsuspecting drivers stranded on the highway, "Real Hustle" regulars pulled off enough cons for eight half-hour episodes, according to Jenkins.

Carol Cling's Shooting Stars column appears Mondays. Contact her at ccling@reviewjournal.com. or (702) 383-0272.