Brooks finishes with a flourish in Las Vegas
Garth Brooks’ Las Vegas farewell was the biggest show on television Friday.
The king of country’s two-hour CBS special “Garth Brooks: Live in Las Vegas” carried CBS to an easy win, according to several media reports.
Brooks brought in the most viewers (8.8 million) and the highest rating (1.8) in the coveted 18-49 demo.
Locally, the show was seen on CBS affiliate 8NewsNow (KLAS-TV, Channel 8).
“Thank you for my life,” Brooks said at the end of the show, which was broadcast from the 1,500-seat Encore Theater at Wynn Las Vegas. The DVD reportedly will be released next summer.
Rumors flew before the show that Brooks might use the national TV platform to announce details of his first world tour since the late 1990s.
Brooks made no mention of it but all signs — the TV special and last week’s release of a new CD/DVD box set — suggest a 2014 comeback launch is on track.
Friday’s show was a spinoff of the box set, which is titled “Blame it All on My Roots: Five Decades of Influences.”
Brooks was at his best on every level. During breaks from covering his musical heroes, he brought his wife, Trisha Yearwood, onstage.
She wowed the crowd with several of her hits and a stunning new look.
Yearwood, who has lost more than 30 pounds over the past year, wore tight jeans and red stilettos during one of her walk-ons.
The best post-show comment: “They should polish it and take it to Broadway.”
THE SCENE AND HEARD
Holly Madison makes her first stage appearance in more than a year on Wednesday with a guest singing performance in the “Million Dollar Quartet” at Harrah’s. She will perform “The Lady Loves Me,” made famous by Ann-Margret and Elvis in “Viva Las Vegas.” Madison played the lead character, Bo Peep, in “Peepshow” and also had the singing role of Goldilocks. ... “Cake Boss” star Buddy Valastro’s third spinoff, “Bakery Boss,” debuts Monday night on TLC. The unscripted show features Valastro traveling around the country, helping struggling bakers. Valastro opened Buddy V’s Ristorante in October in the Grand Canal Shoppes inside The Venetian. Valastro will be signing his new book from 1-2 p.m. Friday at Buddy V’s.
SIGHTINGS
Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Evan Longoria, a three-time All-Star, showed up at Nove Italiano (Palms) on Saturday to help N9NE Steakhouse chef Barry Dakake make pasta. They had dinner Friday at Musashi on Paradise Road. Dakake is working in the Nove kitchen, offering the best-of-N9NE on the Nove menu, while N9NE undergoes a renovation. ... Comedian Jim Gaffigan, with his wife at Rhumbar (Mirage) Wednesday.
THE PUNCH LINE
“Thanksgiving is the best. I was so pleased last year. Things were going great, having a lot of fun, the house was full of people, everybody getting along — and then I realized that I had picked up the wrong family at the airport.” — David Letterman
Norm Clarke’s column appears Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Reach him at 702-383-0244 or norm@reviewjournal.com. Find more info at normclarke.com. Follow @Norm_Clarke on Twitter. “Norm Clarke’s Vegas” airs Thursdays on the “Morning Blend” on KTNV-TV, Channel 13.
