CatHouse does without Barton

The Luxor's CatHouse Loungerie opened Saturday without celebrity host Mischa Barton. Sources said Barton, arrested Thursday on suspicion of DUI, backed out Friday, as first reported by Vegas Confidential.

CatHouse management was in talks with actress Rosario Dawson to replace Barton, but the restaurant/lounge issued a statement Saturday saying they elected to go with the celebrities who had committed to the red carpet.

They included Oscar winner Adrien Brody, David Spade, Jack and Kelly Osbourne, Tommy Lee, Jamie King, Michelle Trachtenberg, and rival porn stars Jenna Jameson and Tera Patrick.

A CatHouse statement read: "Because of Mischa Barton's current situation CatHouse has decided it is best for all parties involved that Mischa does not appear at tonight's grand opening. Given the other celebrity attendance that is confirmed, CatHouse did not feel it necessary to replace Miss Barton as host."

Barton, 21, was pulled over at 2:45 a.m. in West Hollywood. Officers said they found marijuana and a controlled drug in her possession. She also registered a 0.12 on a Breathalyzer test and told police she was smoking marijuana earlier that day.

THE SCENE AND HEARD

Eddie Van Halen's frail appearance caused concern at the Van Halen concert Friday at the MGM Grand. At one point, he attempted to jump and fell onto the bandstand. "His appearance was horrifying," a concertgoer told us. "He was shirtless the whole time and very frail." Although he has been treated twice for tongue and mouth cancer, Van Halen twice lit up cigarettes. His ex-wife, Valerie Bertinelli, attended with her boyfriend. They left their fourth-row seats about six songs into the show and went backstage. ...

Pamela Anderson is taking no chances of a dust-up between her husband, Rick Salomon, and Criss Angel. I'm told she sent word to Company American Bistro at Luxor that she and Salomon will cancel New Year's Eve dinner plans if Angel is there. Photos of Angel getting cozy with Anderson reportedly led to the blowup that led Anderson to file divorce papers in mid-December. She's hosting the New Year's Eve party at Pure Nightclub at Caesars Palace. Angel, we hear, is heading for LAX Nightclub at Luxor with KVBC-TV, Channel 3 reporter Alicia Jacobs. ...

Meantime, we're hearing Nicky Hilton and David Katzenberg might be getting engaged this weekend in Las Vegas.

SIGHTINGS

New York Yankees star Alex Rodriguez and his wife, Cynthia, at Tryst nightclub (Wynn) on Friday. Rodriguez recently signed a new 10-year, $275 million deal with the Yankees. ... Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, having a quesadilla Saturday at Cafe Rio, 9595 S. Eastern Ave. ... Mandy Moore, at Michael Boychuck's new salon Color (Caesars), on her way to UFC 79: Nemesis on Saturday. ... Actor-comedian Adam Sandler, sporting a mohawk, with comic Kevin James and friends at Craftsteak (MGM Grand) before heading to the Van Halen concert. They went to the grand opening party of The Bank nightclub (Bellagio) for the birthday of filmmaker Judd Apatow. ... UFC fighter Tito Ortiz, at Tao Las Vegas (Venetian) Friday to celebrate his upcoming appearance on NBC's "Celebrity Apprentice." Ortiz and Jameson dined with friends at Tao Asian Bistro before heading upstairs to Tao nightclub. Also at Tao: UFC fighter Quinton Jackson and "Beacher's Madhouse" creator Jeff Beacher. ... At Company American Bistro on Friday (Luxor): Moore, DJ AM, realilty TV stars Brody Jenner and Frankie Delgado, New York Yankees first baseman Jason Giambi, actress Jordana Brewster and Luxor headliner Carrot Top. ... Rapper Ice T and wife CoCo, hosting the Friday's opening party at Privé nightclub (Planet Hollywood. Also at Privé: boxer Zab Judah and Spade. ... UFC fighter Dan Henderson, meeting fans Friday at Dick's Last Resort (Excalibur). With Henderson was UFC model Anne Rivera. ... Bon Jovi's Richie Sambora, getting a sneak peek/private tasting at Ago restaurant (Hard Rock) from Agostino Sciandri. Ago opens today. ... Brody, having lunch Saturday at Cheesecake Factory in Henderson.

THE PUNCH LINE

"Your name is Robert Downey Jr. and your cellmate wants to give you a New Year's kiss." -- From David Letterman's Top Ten Signs You're At A Bad New Year's Eve Party.

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