Miss USA Pageant storms city

The 2008 Miss USA Pageant settles in for an extended Neon Nirvana stay, culminating in a live NBC telecast April 11.

The pageant may be based at Planet Hollywood Resort, but the 51 contestants will "do a little sightseeing" before one of them is crowned Miss USA, according to executive producer Phil Gurin.

At the top of the telecast, competitors will introduce themselves in on-location segments taped in recent days at locales ranging from The Venetian's gondolas to the Fremont Street Experience's Viva Vision light canopy. (A gathering of all 51 contestants at the iconic Welcome to Las Vegas sign also is planned.)

"The contestants themselves are very excited to be in Las Vegas," Gurin notes. "Most of them have never been here."

Besides, "there's no place quite like Las Vegas," Gurin comments. "We've tailored our show" to exude "a sense of fun" reflecting the setting, he says, complete with a "sexy, rock 'n' roll fashion show" vibe. "We're trying to make this the sexiest show we've ever done."

"Star" trip: MTV's "Making the Band" spinoff, "So You Want to Be a Star 2," continues production in Las Vegas through April.

But a road trip's on the itinerary this week as Jason Williams, aka "Jason the Diva Maker" -- the show's executive producer, director and star -- leads 17 aspiring performers to Los Angeles to meet with talent agency officials.

In Williams' view, "the response has been overwhelming" to the series, which features 25 young singers and dancers, ages 9 to 17 -- many from underprivileged backgrounds.

"Decision" decisions: Las Vegas presents all sorts of temptations. "The Decision," a short film bound for the festival circuit, will explore some of them Saturday during a scheduled shoot at a dry lake bed near Boulder City, reports producer April Palko.

Written and directed by Giovanni Sticco and Jonathan Sturak, the 20-minute short focuses on a visiting conventioneer (played by Australia's Michael Piccirilli) pondering a fantasy fling with a temptress (to be portrayed by Las Vegas-based Gio).

Shape your booty: Local informercial maven Ben Kalb returns with a national promotional spot touting tush-shaping women's jeans. Production continues this week at Henderson's Vox Wine Lounge, Summerlin's Savvi boutique and various Henderson residences.

Kalb regular Lynda Elkin and "Deal or No Deal" model Patricia Kara host.

The "Revolution" will be televised: Also this week, TV's "Metric Revolution" focuses on custom motorcycles Friday and Saturday at Fremont Street Experience, while the Australian TV documentary "Robot Revolution" follows Australian-born robotics expert Rodney Brooks to Mandalay Bay, where he'll deliver the keynote speech at the IPC Printed Circuits Expo, APEX and Designers Summit.

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