Among Maheu’s last requests: a taco

It may have been Bob Maheu's last request.

One day before Maheu died, an old friend, Denny Weddle, stopped by Desert Springs Hospital to chat with Howard Hughes' righthand man.

"He was pretty weak, a bit fuzzy but engaged in conversation," said Weddle, a longtime public relations and advertising executive.

When Weddle asked if he could get him anything, there was suddenly a sparkle in the 90-year-old Maheu's eyes.

A man of exquisite tastes, who was wined and dined at the best tables around the world, responded, "I would love to have a taco."

Weddle headed to Del Taco and brought back a chicken taco and a Coca-Cola, after first checking with the front desk at the hospital to be sure that it was OK.

Maheu was too weak to feed himself, so Weddle said he "sort of fed it to him, and along with eating about half of it he really also enjoyed the Coke."

Maheu died Monday, surrounded by family, satisfied with a life, full and well-lived.

STEVE GOES SOLO

Steve Lawrence performing without Eydie Gorme is "like peanut butter without jelly," he says.

But his lifelong wise-cracking and singing sidekick is battling a bad knee and an aching back, so he's going solo next week at The Orleans, when he fills the dates vacated by the death of comedy giant George Carlin.

"I had Marvin Hamlisch write some music to George's 'Seven Dirty Words You Can't Say,'" said Lawrence, who is booked Aug. 15-17. Carlin's last public appearance was at The Orleans June 15. Carlin died June 22.

One of the most enduring, and endearing husband-wife show business acts, Steve and Eydie have been an entertainment staple since they teamed up on stage for the first time in 1960 at the Lotus Club in Washington, D.C.

They celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on Dec. 29 with champagne and caviar at their beach home in Malibu.

"I'll bring a tape, and I'll just argue with the tape," said Lawrence, referring to their trademark back-and-forth patter.

They got hitched at the El Rancho Hotel, where Eydie was the opening act for comedian Joe E. Brown.

Brown was as generous as they come, Lawrence said.

One day, Eydie drove up to the El Rancho and was stunned to see her name dominating the marquee. "He gave her 100 percent billing. Brown told her people will say she must be really good, and they'll come in to find out."

PESCI COMEBACK

The comeback of Joe Pesci continues, and producer Lou DiBella couldn't be happier.

DiBella is producing "Love Ranch," starring Pesci as a Nevada brothel owner whose wife, (Oscar winner Helen Mirren), is enamored with a young boxer.

The film, which is coming out early next year, is loosely based on the story of Mustang Ranch owner Joe Conforte and the 1976 slaying of heavyweight contender Oscar Bonavena.

Pesci "hasn't done anything of this magnitute in a real long time," said DiBella, in a telephone interview from his New York City office. Pesci and Mirren are magic, he said.

Pesci's role in "The Good Shepherd" in 2006 was his first film in eight years.

DiBella added that "people are really going to notice" Sergio Peris-Mencheta, a former Spanish soccer player turned actor.

"Love Ranch" is directed by Mirren's husband, Taylor Hackford.

MAY I RECOMMEND

Sushi Samba, the Palazzo's latest eatery, celebrates the fusion of Japanese, Brazilian and Peruvian fare. For starters, there's a Sunday brunch from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. ($22.95 adults, $12.95 under 12). The brunch menu includes spicy egg dishes, Asian pear pancakes with maple syrup, and warm churros with spiced caramel and Peruvian chocolate dipping sauces. For dinner: lamb chops with guava ponzu, seviche and warm chocolate banana cake.

SIGHTINGS

At LAX Nightclub (Luxor) on Wednesday: Rapper The Game, R&B singer Bobby Brown, boxer Zab Judah, Baron Davis of the Los Angeles Clippers and Khloe Kardashian (hanging out together), and TV sports-show host show John Salley. ... In town for the Star Trek convention: Richard Kiel, best known for his role of Jaws in the James Bond films "Spy Who Loved Me" and "Moonraker," dining at Yolos Mexican Grill. Brown also visited Tao Asisan Bistro (Venetian,) on Wednesday.

THE PUNCH LINE

"After John McCain made a political ad that featured Paris Hilton, yesterday, she fired back with her own political ad calling Sen. McCain a wrinkly, white-haired guy, and talked about her energy policy, which until this point, has been vodka and Red Bull." -- Jimmy Kimmel

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