Top dogs to face off over wings and wedges

Las Vegas has seen its share of epic rematches, perhaps none more memorable than 1997's Mike Tyson-Evander Holyfield "Bite of the Century."

But a different kind of bite (or, more accurately, bites) inspires Tuesday's rematch at the Fremont Street Experience -- between champion chowhounds Joey Chestnut and Takeru Kobayashi.

You may recall that Chestnut ousted Kobayashi as top dog in the hot dog-eating world July 4 at New York's Coney Island.

Tuesday's "MLE Chowdown: Wedges and Wings," by contrast, will feature them -- and more than a dozen other competitors on the Major League Eating circuit. Cable's Spike TV will tape the live event for an Oct. 18 telecast.

Also joining the fray: Patrick Bertoletti (who won Spike's St. Patrick's Day Chowdown), Tim "Eater X" Janus and Henderson's Richard "The Locust" LeFevre, Nevada's top competitive eater.

As the event's title suggest, the menu consists of potato wedges (in the undercard bout, which begins around 7 p.m.) and chicken wings, the focus of the 8 p.m. main event. (Spectators should arrive by 6:30 p.m. to catch the action.)

"The wings are going to be flying," promises MLE president Rich Shea, who says Las Vegas provides an ideal backdrop for the eat-off.

After all, "Las Vegas is a food town," he notes. "Consumption at all costs."

Travel talk: Travel Channel "Globe Trekker" Ian Wright's scheduled to wrap up a weeklong visit Thursday for a new show, "America the Wright Way."

But he's got company on the travel circuit, from "German Wedding in Las Vegas" to a new Canadian TV series, "The List," which is expected to hit the Strip and downtown.

Skin is in: A national informercial for Susan Lucci's Youthful Essence skin-polishing system will shoot at The Venetian in November. Which means Baskow and Associates needs to cast 80 women of all ages (and some couples) for the project.

If you're interested, mail a Polaroid or two passport photos to: Baskow and Associates, c/o Rochelle, 2948 E. Russell Road, Las Vegas 89120.

Casting a spell: Local magician Will Roya, meanwhile, needs kids ages 8 to 12 for an upcoming instructional DVD shoot demonstrating that "Magic Tricks R 4 Kids."

Auditions will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at PM Digital Group, 5670 Wynn Road, Suite B.

Kids should bring written permission from a parent or guardian to participate -- and should be prepared to perform a magic trick on camera. (Roya will teach a simple effect to those who don't know any tricks.)

For more information, e-mail roya at will@willroya.com.

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