Comedians offer views on Obama

Brunch came with a side of one-liners Saturday, until the subject turned to politics.

With more than 150 years of stand-up comedy among them, nothing was sacred as David Brenner, Bobby Slayton, Tommy Smothers and George Wallace took turns needling one another in a rare gathering that reminded them of the good old days.

They had spent two hours reminiscing in a booth in Mesa Grill at Caesars Palace -- "This is great," said Smothers, "we don't do this anymore" -- when a newspaper man who was invited to the yukfest brought up politics.

The question was how much would comedy change if Barack Obama becomes president, after eight years of Bush whacking.

Wallace, the Flamingo headliner, said that he expects the jokes would be "gentler" for a spell.

"But we'll find something; his ears, his facial expressions," he said.

It goes with the territory, Brenner said.

There will be a certain amount of kindness but the "dedicated right-wingers aren't going to be nice. I think you're going to hear the prejudice come out."

They're not buying into Obama's plan for a U.S. exit from Iraq in 16 months.

"It's going to be four years," Brenner said.

"I think it will be eight years," Wallace said.

Smothers said he has not voted for a Democrat or a Republican in 20 years but he will vote for Obama this year.

Wallace said his experience has been that comedians have a good sense of "the pulse of the country" and he's picking up a vibe that "people are starting to feel good already."

"He's causing changes in the world. I don't see race in him. I just him as a good man and we need to stop saying he's black. He's just as much white."

THE SCENE AND HEARD

Monte Carlo headliner Lance Burton told one of his favorite stories Friday while co-hosting with Clint Holmes during their one-hour gig on the KWWN-AM, 1100 radiothon for The Caring Place. Burton said his assistant got a call years ago while he was performing at the Hacienda from a "strange lady" in California.

"She said she accidentally opened a portal to another dimension and demons were chasing his children." Burton said he told his assistant, "tell her David Copperfield is in charge of portals."

SIGHTINGS

Hanging out at the 40/40 Club (Palazzo) on Thursday night: Prince Abdul Aziz Bin Fahd Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia, with his wife. He is the last of six sons of the king of Saudi Arabia, who ruled from 1982 to 2005, when he died. ... At Tryst: Mexican telecom tycoon Carlos Slim Helú, reportedly the second richest man ($67.8 billion) in the world behind Warren Buffett, and members of the Cuervo family, Walgreens family and a Saudi prince. Slim Helu is rumored to be interested in buying an NBA team. ... Boxing Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum honored as Sportsman of the Year Friday night at the third-annual ESPN Radio benefit for The Caring Place at the Palms. ... Actress Eva Longoria and her husband, Tony Parker, of the San Antonio Spurs, dining at Spago inside the Forum Shops at Caesars on Friday. ... Actress Amy Smart with her boyfriend actor Branden Williams, attending Ashley Scott's birthday party Friday at Christian Audigier The Nightclub (Treasure Island). ... Kobe Bryant, sipping Cristal champagne in the VIP room at Blush (Wynn) on Friday after Team USA's 55-point rout of Canada. Also in the house: LeBron James, Jason Kidd and Deron Williams. ... At the Planet Hollywood poker room for the Chris Webber Foundation Bada Bling poker tournament on Friday: Moses Malone, Shawn Marion, Finesse Mitchell of "Saturday Night Live," and San Diego State head basketball coach Steve Fisher, Webber's coach at University of Michigan. The party later moved to Privé.

THE PUNCH LINE

"It's only been called National Tequila Day for about five years. Before that it was called National This Toilet Bowl Feels So Cold Against My Face Day." -- Jimmy Kimmel

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