After Miss USA comes the universe
The Miss Universe contest is heading to Las Vegas for the first time since the mid-1990s.
Paula Shugart, president of the Miss Universe organization, confirmed the event is Vegas-bound and definitely in August, but she wouldn't confirm my Twitter report that Mandalay Bay will host it Aug. 23.
"Miss Universe is like Miss USA on steroids," Shugart said. It is televised to 195 countries and territories.
Miss Universe, co-owned by Donald Trump, was last held in the United States in Los Angeles in 2006.
Meanwhile, NBC has signed a new three-year deal with Miss USA, but the site has yet to be determined.
Steve Wynn, who reportedly is interested in hosting the Miss USA contest, was seated at the pageant Sunday with Trump and Planet Hollywood Resort founder Robert Earl.
FOUND HIS CALLING
The best Elvis story I've heard in many moons comes from Bruce Matza, president of Congregation Ner Tamid in Las Vegas.
Matza was on a flight back East earlier this year when he couldn't help but notice something quite different about the Elvis impersonator in the next seat.
"He was wearing a white jacket and white pants, and he has a priest's collar around his neck," Matza said.
After introductions, Matza inquired about the clerical collar.
The impersonator, who had just attended an Elvis convention in Las Vegas, explained that he had been an Episcopal priest in Memphis, Tenn.
When he sang in public, he got comments that his voice was Elvis-esque, and he began getting requests to sing the King's hits.
"He gave up his parish and took his show on the road," Matza said.
And he goes by Elvis Priestly, "The Bishop of Beale Street."
SIGHTINGS
Shugart, drenched with several glasses of champagne over her head in a bar area at Strip House (Planet Hollywood Resort) that was packed with Miss USA VIPs after the pageant. Lucky for her, two local hairstylists -- Robert Aganza and Jorge Rodriguez -- were standing nearby and rushed her to a suite for a quick makeover. ... Curmudgeon Andy Rooney, ripping on Las Vegas during his "60 Minutes" rant. ... "America's Got Talent" judge Piers Morgan, dining at N9NE Steakhouse (Palms) with John Ferriter, who reps Morgan and Marie Osmond. Morgan had just wrapped up four days of "AGT" audiences at the Palms' Pearl concert venue. Palms owner George Maloof, after meeting Morgan and Ferriter, joined Miss Iceland Ingibjorg Egilsdottir for dinner after hosting the Playboy Playmate of the Year party. Maloof and Egilsdottir met at the Miss Universe contest in the Bahamas last August, where she was competing and he was a judge. ... Trump, with wife Melania, her parents and friends at "Love" (The Mirage) Saturday night before the Trumps headed for XS (Encore) to join Wynn and Victor Drai at a VIP table. Wynn and Drai co-own XS and Tryst nightclubs. ... Leonardo DiCaprio and "Entourage" star Kevin Connolly, dining at Lavo (Palazzo) before heading to Tao nightclub (The Venetian) on Saturday. ... At Koi (Planet Hollywood Resort) on Saturday: "Today" show co-host Natalie Morales at the sushi bar. She was a co-host of the Miss USA pageant.
THE PUNCH LINE
"You answer every question with 'Who wants to know?'" -- From David Letterman's Top Ten Signs You're Not Going To Win The Miss USA Pageant
Norm Clarke can be reached at 702-383-0244 or norm@reviewjournal.com. Find additional sightings and more online at www.normclarke.com.
