As ever, Leno ready to talk, joke

Jay Leno does stand-up at The Mirage tonight and Saturday, just a few days after NBC said Leno will host a "Tonight Show"-like hour at 10 p.m. every weeknight, starting next fall.

Leno's prime-time power will land even more A-listers. He enjoys chatting with most celebrities, as he told me a few months ago:

"It's not, 'Oh my life is so awful, I have to talk to Anne Hathaway tonight, what a living hell.' Really, there are a lot worse jobs you can have than this. People (in show business) that complain about show business: Shut up; find another (expletive) job, OK? So you have to say 'hello' to people once in a while -- really? If you don't like that, get a real job."

ON THE CARPET

• Jamie Foxx takes his birthday and album-release party -- "Intuition" -- to The Venetian's Tao, which might be the most alluring club now. Red carpet arrivals start at 9:30 p.m. Saturday, though it's hard to get a good view of carpets at Tao.

• Spike TV goes live from the Palms on Saturday with its Ultimate Fighter finale between teams Nogueira and Mir. After the fight, UFC's George Roop appears at LAX at Luxor; UFC's Wilson Gouveia hosts at Privé at Planet Hollywood.

ENGVALL DOESN'T GET BRITNEY

Since the National Finals Rodeo wraps at the Thomas & Mack Center this weekend, country-friendly acts are in the city. Larry the Cable Guy does The Orleans on Saturday. Lorrie Morgan sings at Eastside Cannery on Saturday.

And "Blue Collar" comedian Bill Engvall (of TBS' sitcom "The Bill Engvall Show") jokes it up tonight at Treasure Island. He talks to me at length in today's Neon section. But here, have some bonus quotes.

On Britney: "What is the big attraction there to her?" Engvall asks. "She seems like a nice girl and all, but I thought she was dead in the water."

On his TV role as a therapist: "I get e-mails every once in a while, saying, 'My son is into drugs, I don't know how to get him off, can you help me?' I'm, like, 'Whaa? I don't know!'"

On Ron White, his drinking, pot-smoking comic buddy: "I tell ya, that cat is one of my dear friends, but somewhere in his body is a cure to alcoholism and pot and everything else."

'TOYS FOR TA-TA'S' AND CHEAP DRINKS

The breast trend of the year continues Saturday when a lucky lady wins a free pair of false bosoms at McFadden's Restaurant and Saloon at the Rio. Women: Bring kids' toys from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. Each toy will be assigned a dollar value.

She who brings the highest value of toys wins implants. Donations go to a toy drive led by KLUC-FM, 98.5, which has been working with HELP of Southern Nevada.

McFadden promises an economy-minded price point. Female admission is $10; dudes pay $20. That gets you an open bar from 10 p.m. to midnight. After midnight: $3 drinks! That's a relief. Plus, $2 buttery nipple shots all night.

Doug Elfman's column appears on Sundays, Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays. Contact him at 702-383-0391 or delfman@reviewjournal. com. He blogs at reviewjournal.com/elfman.