Celine to do duet with virtual Elvis

Celine Dion joins one of the original American idols tonight -- she's singing with Elvis on "American Idol."

The Caesars Palace headliner is singing "If I Can Dream" with a virtual Elvis, similar to Natalie Cole's electronically created duet "Unforgettable" with her late father, Nat King Cole.

Standing in for Elvis during rehearsals was Elvis impersonator Ryan Pelton, who has worked Las Vegas with "Legends in Concert."

"Idol" cast members also sang with the two during the taping this week, according to the celebrity Web site tmz.com.

MEDIA UPDATE

Kevin Iole, who has covered boxing at the Review-Journal since 1990, is moving to the Yahoo! Sports Web site as of May 1. He's a good guy and a terrific sports reporter. A four-time winner of the Nevada "Sportswriter of the Year" award handed out by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association, he was the 2007 winner of the Nat Fleischer Award from the Boxing Writers Association of America. He was named "Outstanding Journalist" in 1999 by the Nevada Press Association, the only sportswriter to receive the honor. Fans can continue to reach him at http://sports.yahoo.com.

Christina Brown, a weekend anchor and reporter at ABC affiliate KTNV-TV, Channel 13, is leaving June 30 to join MSNBC as an overnight anchor and host of "Early Today." Brown moved to KTNV five years ago after working in El Paso, Texas. She begins working at MSNBC on July 9. Brown "set the standard for community involvement and has been a tremendous 'newsroom citizen,'" KTNV said in a release. "I am thrilled about making the move, and I'm proud I'm going to be joining a tremendous news organization," said Brown. She is vice president of broadcasting for the Las Vegas Association of Black Journalists and a member of the National Association of Black Journalists. A military brat, she said the toughest part will be leaving the city that "became the home of my heart."...

Talk-show host Heidi Harris is back on the airwaves. She started a solo show at KDWN-AM, 720 on Monday from 8-10 p.m. Harris, who left KXNT-AM, 840 in October after five years on the morning show with Alan Stock, teamed up briefly with CityLife Editor Steve Sebelius on a KTNV's Sunday show "Political Insiders." Harris said, "I was ready to do a solo show again, and I aim to have the radio show of record for Las Vegas... entertaining talk that won't insult your intelligence (that'll be different...)," and, yes, that parenthetical reference is hers.

THE SCENE AND HEARD

A speedy recovery to longtime entertainment writer and publicist Norm Johnson, who underwent major surgery this week.

SIGHTINGS

Roseanne Barr, Carrot Top and George Wallace, surprising Louie Anderson on stage with a cake Monday on the one-year anniversary of his show at the Excalibur. The cake featured a cartoon character of Anderson. Later backstage, Excalibur President Renee West presented him with a plasma TV. ... Boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr., helping celebrate the birthday of Roger Mayweather, his uncle, at Joe's Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab at Caesars Palace on Monday. The event was filmed as part of the special HBO series featuring Mayweather and Oscar De La Hoya. ... Toni Braxton and her husband, Kerri Lewis, at the 9:30 performance Monday of "Mystère" (Treasure Island). ... Jenna Jameson, partying in the VIP section on Monday at Jet nightclub (The Mirage).

THE PUNCH LINE

"It's the allergy season. It's so bad here in New York City that the crack dealers have started to sell antihistamines." -- David Letterman

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