‘Witch Mountain’ looking for extras

The "Race" is on. The "Race to Witch Mountain," that is.

The big-screen update of the 1975 Disney favorite "Escape to Witch Mountain" (which also spawned a 1978 sequel and a 1995 TV movie) is scheduled to begin a weeklong Las Vegas shoot next week.

Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson stars as a hard-luck local cabby who picks up two "runaway" teens (AnnaSophia Robb, Alexander Ludwig) with paranormal powers, putting them on a collision course with ruthless enemies.

Wild Streak Talent needs more than 300 extras for the shoot. If you're interested, register from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday at 3355 W. Spring Mountain Road, No. 264; e-mail questions to wildstreakt@aol.com.

Shower power: In Las Vegas, the phrase "cleaning up" usually means something other than personal hygiene.

Today at 1 p.m. at the Planet Hollywood pool, however, they're trying to break the record for the world's largest group shower.

That record-breaking attempt is scheduled for 1 p.m. today at Planet Hollywood's sixth-floor swimming pool, where musicians Tommy Lee and Chris "Ludacris" Bridges try to lure participants for their "Battleground Earth" cable series.

The rocker and the rapper have been traveling cross-country in bio-diesel tour buses, exploring environmental issues through green-themed challenges. Water conservation has been their focus during their four-day Vegas visit, which is scheduled to wrap today, according to executive producer Leslie Greif.

"Las Vegas is a no-brainer" to host the dueling duo's power shower, Greif says. "Las Vegas is a glamorous city -- and a city that, in a good way, draws a lot of attention."

The 10-episode series debuts Aug. 3 on Discovery Network's new Planet Green cable channel.

Playing pool: Rock and rap aren't the only musical forms taking the pool plunge today.

Cable's Great American Country brings its weekly "Top 20 Country Countdown" to the MGM Grand's new Wet Republic "ultra pool," series host Nan Kelley welcomes guest host Keith Anderson, who was already in town for Sunday's Academy of Country Music Awards telecast. The countdown airs Friday.

"The View" from here: Barbara Walters and pals just can't resist the lure of Las Vegas; their ABC daytime chatfest, "The View," returns to Caesars Palace June 23-27. Ticket information is available online at abc.com/theview.

Going, going, "Gong": If "America's Got Talent" seems too tame, Comedy Central's "Gong Show" revival will audition "unusual, absurd, bizarre, twisted and unique performers" from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. today at Planet Hollywood's V Theatre. Call (310) 840-5721 to register.

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