Cee Lo’s the grinch who brings Christmas

Does it feel like Christmas yet? Because Cee Lo Green takes the holidays to Planet Hollywood Resort on Wednesday for "Cee Lo's Magic Moment," a Christmas show co-starring Rod Stewart and the Muppets.

The event is being filmed for online/TV. And it goes hand in hand with Green's Christmas album of the same title, scheduled for release Oct. 30.

His album has songs such as "Baby, It's Cold Outside" with Christina Aguilera, and Green's favorite, "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch."

Why does he love the "Grinch" song so much?

"It's imaginative and out-of-body, and I kind of get into that character. And it's charming. It has a lot of style and sense of humor to it," Green says.

Wednesday's show will let Green get his feet wet in the venue: In February he launches "Loberace," an extravagant production of music, showgirls and magic at Planet Hollywood.

The pop superstar has a crazy affinity for Vegas, filming music videos on the Strip and partying at clubs.

"Please rest assured I have had enough fun for a whole football team" in Vegas, which he calls an island oasis of freedom, youth and safe voyeurism.

"It is safe to be sexy in Vegas," he says.

"Loberace" will be an ode to Liberace and other Vegas icons Green looks up to.

"It's stylized Vegas glam made famous by Liberace himself. I've picked up that torch and carry it on in the tradition of those wildly imaginative icons. Those guys are monuments."

Green describes himself as "the most fabulous straight man ever."

"I love fashion. I love flair and all things fabulous. So Las Vegas is a place that really embraces and endorses that type of action and activity. It's all-inclusive in a way."

The "Loberace" shows will be giant productions that Green can't take on the road - "a mixture of original music, cover (songs), women, life, glamour, glitter, fortune and fame," he says.

For instance, it is not feasible to tour with his spinning piano trick, the 360-degree piano-in-the-air he pulled off at the 2011 Billboard Music Awards. It's not easy touring with Muppets. He performed with Muppets at the Grammys.

"I can give you the best version (of a live show) in Vegas," he says.

Green has become known as a judge on "The Voice." But he has a long list of hits that people will know when they hear them.

There's "Crazy" (his megahit with DJ-producer Danger Mouse in their act Gnarls Barkley). There are his R&B solo blasts "F---/Forget You" and "Bright Lights, Bigger City."

He also has hits from his days in the hip-hop group Goodie Mob and a catalog of songs he co-wrote and performed with Santana, Lauryn Hill and others.

"I have come to find out my audience is so varied, so diverse - and so is my listening taste," he says. "I've just got unconditional love, and I want to share it."

But whether he's talking about his "Grinch" show this week, or his "Loberace" production, he is urging people across America to get their butts to the Strip.

"Get a first-class ticket, ride a bus, ride a bike, carpool, tailgate - whatever the (expletive) you gotta do to come to Vegas!"

SIGHTINGS

Russell Brand with Julianne Hough at Simon Restaurant at Palms Place on Sunday night, with a group of friends. ... Sophia Bush of sitcom "Partners" and "One Tree Hill," partied at Hyde Bellagio on Saturday with actress Josie Loren and friends.

Doug Elfman's column appears Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. Email him at delfman@reviewjournal.com. He blogs at reviewjournal.com/elfman.