Abdul: Bolton was lousy baby sitter

Paula Abdul says having Michael Bolton as her baby sitter left her scarred for life.

In an interview Wednesday with "Mark and Mercedes in the Morning" at KMXB-FM, 94.1, Abdul said she was 7 when Bolton was her baby sitter.

"He never paid attention to me," she said, "because he was too busy jamming and aspiring to be a great singer-song writer and hanging out with other musicians in our neighborhood."

"I'll just put it this way ... we did not get along very well and I was a Brownie at the time. We had an L-shaped

couch, and every time he would go out of the room, I would run on my knees to lock the door and I ran over a sharp pencil that was stuck between the cushions. Let's just say that I still have a scar because Michael Bolton was not a good baby sitter."

But she forgave him. Twelve years later, she received a call from Bolton's manager asking whether she was the same Paula that Michael use to baby-sit.

A meeting was set up, and Bolton asked her whether she could choreograph his tour.

Abdul also told the radio show that she will "have to watch and see" how new "American Idol" judges Jennifer Lopez and Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler pan out.

"I hope they have at least one ounce as much success with the show that I was able to have," said Abdul, who left the show in 2009 after eight seasons.

Abdul's new show, "Live to Dance," debuts in January, when "Idol" starts its new season.

OPENING SOON

P.J. Clarke's, an iconic New York City watering hole, will open its first West Coast location in December at the Forum Shops at Caesars.

Nicknamed the "Vatican of saloons," P.J. Clarke's has long been a popular celebrity destination for big names, such as Frank Sinatra and Jackie Kennedy Onassis (who took John Jr. and Carolyn to lunches there on Saturday). It was regularly featured in films, songs and books.

Songwriter Johnny Mercer reportedly jotted notes on a napkin for "One for My Baby (and One More for the Road)," at the joint before collaborating with Harold Arlen on the 1940s classic.

Nat King Cole described the eatery's bacon cheeseburger as "the Cadillac of burgers," and it's still a menu favorite.

THE SCENE AND HEARD

Las Vegas entertainment regular Taylor Dayne and Michael Jackson's nephew TJ Jackson are the first performers on board for the Los Angeles-bound musical "Sisterella," which was developed by Las Vegan Larry Hart as a Broadway show starring Michael Jackson. Instead, "Sisterella" became the only musical project ever financed, executive produced or presented by Michael Jackson that was not a project of his creation. The show, which opens in the spring, is being produced by Jerry Greenberg and Frank Dileo, former Michael Jackson associates.

Speaking of the King of Pop, what better place than Las Vegas over Halloween weekend for his kids to go unnoticed out in public. That's a rumor I'm hearing.

MAY I RECOMMEND

Looking for party ghouls this weekend? Check out the ultimate Halloween list of haunt spots for party hopping at lvrj.com/halloween.

SIGHTINGS

New York Yankees All-Star Alex Rodriguez, dining Thursday at Jean-Georges Steakhouse (Aria) with MGM International Resorts executive Bill McBeath, president and chief operating officer of Aria.

THE PUNCH LINE

"I think I finally have my Halloween costume picked out." -- Jimmy Kimmel, on Charlie Sheen's latest incident.

Norm Clarke can be reached at (702) 383-0244 or norm@reviewjournal.com. Find additional sightings and more online at www.normclarke.com.