Another bright idea from Maloof

George Maloof was driving west on Flamingo Road about three weeks ago when his imagination ran wild.

The owner of the Palms hotel and casino was watching a skytracker beam of light sweep over suburban Las Vegas when it hit him.

"I thought, 'Instead of traditional fireworks, let's do something different,'" he recalled.

Something different turned out to be what could be a Guinness world record of 200 skytracker beams to commemorate opening night of The Pearl, the Palms' new music venue. Gwen Stefani kicked off her tour Saturday night in The Pearl.

Maloof mobilized his staff, telling them, "Get as many as you can, and while we're at it, let's go for the world record."

Counting Las Vegas, skytracker units were lined up from six cities, including Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, Sacramento, Calif., and Stockton, Calif.

Based on early information, Maloof believes he will shatter the world record.

"We've heard it might be 40, either when they dedicated the refurbished Statue of Liberty or the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, New York. We'll blow it away by five times."

The Guinness Book of Records will require photographic proof before the record is certified, Maloof added.

THE SCENE AND HEARD

Some bad fast food knocked David Hasselhoff out of "The Producers" (Paris) on Friday night and for Saturday's matinee, publicist Judy Katz said. Hasselhoff returned to the show on Saturday night. His three-month contract ends May 6, when he returns to NBC's "America's Got Talent" as a judge.

SIGHTINGS

"American Idol" judges Simon Cowell and Randy Jackson, with host Ryan Seacrest, at Tryst nightclub (Wynn) after dining at SW Steakhouse. ... At Prince's show (Rio) on Friday: Paris Hilton, Steffi Graf and Taylor Dane, in separate parties. ... Hilton and Kevin Federline, chatting it up Friday at Tao nightclub (The Venetian). Nicky Hilton and David Katzenberg were also in town to celebrate Tao co-owner Jason Strauss' 33rd birthday. ... Seattle Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, dining with friends Friday at Fix restaurant (Bellagio). ... Actor/comedian Brad Garrett, stopping in for a drink at Stack restaurant (The Mirage) before his Friday show. ... Anna Kournikova, lunching at Sushi Roku (Forum Shops at Caesars) on Saturday. ... Paris and Nicky Hilton, at N9ne Steakhouse (Palms) on Friday. At another table: Luke Wilson and his brother, Andrew Wilson, with Palms owner Maloof, before they headed for Brenden Theatres to watch Luke's new movie, "Vacancy." Later, the Wilsons headed for the Playboy Club and Moon nightclub. ... Jamie-Lynn Sigler of "The Sopranos," having lunch on Friday at Joe's Seafood, Prime Steak and Stone Crab (Forum Shops at Caesars).