Double amputee on ‘Amazing Race’
A Las Vegas woman who overcame the loss of both legs to become a professional snowboarder will take her inspirational story to CBS' "The Amazing Race."
Amy Purdy, who grew up here and now lives in Colorado, is among 11 teams competing in challenges across nine countries.
She will be joining a field that includes the Las Vegas Chippendales duo of Jaymes Vaughan and James Davis.
Purdy became a double amputee in 1999 after a bout with the usually fatal condition known as Neisseria meningitidis. She also lost her spleen and later underwent a kidney transplant at UMC.
Her father, who donated a kidney, and Dr. David Makil, who performed the transplant, are part of her story.
Purdy, 32, went on to become a world champion female adaptive snowboarder and a prominent motivational speaker.
"The Amazing Race" debuts Sept. 30 at 8 p.m. on KLAS-TV, Channel 8.
NIGHTCLUB DISPUTE
"Jersey Shore" star Michael "The Situation" Sorrentino has gone to court to get $60,000 after a $30,000-a-night Las Vegas appearance deal fizzled.
Sorrentino, in a lawsuit filed in Miami, alleges a promotion company agreed to pay him $90,000 for a total of three appearances at Chateau nightclub at Paris Las Vegas and Gallery nightclub at Planet Hollywood Resort.
According to the lawsuit, he was to get paid in full even if the clubs chose not to follow through with the bookings.
THE SCENE AND HEARD
It's down to 12 finalists for the $10,000 first prize for the "Ellis Icon" karaoke competition at Ellis Island. They will be judged a la "American Idol," with a panel offering critiques. Second prize is $5,000, and third place pays $2,500. Veteran entertainer Earl Turner will be a celebrity judge. Outdoor karaoke starts at 6 p.m. Saturday, with the finals under way at 8 p.m.
Las Vegan Bryce Harper is back on Twitter after shutting it down shortly after joining the Washington Nationals this season. Harper, whose Twitter handle is @Bharper3407, saw his followers jump from 1,000-plus to about 5,000 in five hours. He hit two homers in front of his parents on Wednesday, his 16th and 17th, and now trails only Mel Ott (19) and Tony Conigliaro (24) on Major League Baseball's teenage home run chart. ...
Political commentator Jon Ralston and his "Face to Face" producer Dana Gentry are now employees of KSNV-TV, Channel 3. The NBC affiliate announced the deal on Thursday. They were previously employed by Greenspun Media Group.
SIGHTINGS
"Peepshow" star Holly Madison, filming a voter registration education commercial at Las Vegas police headquarters on Thursday with Secretary of State Ross Miller. Olympics swimming star Michael Phelps, spotted in the casino at Aria (CityCenter) on Wednesday. ... Comedy magician Nathan Burton won a cameo callback to "America's Got Talent" and appeared on the show Thursday night.
THE PUNCH LINE
"Speaking of football, do you know who they hired to take Regis Philbin's place? Michael Strahan, former New York Giants All-Star. Regis has hip replacements older than this guy." - David Letterman
Norm Clarke can be reached at 702-383-0244 or norm@reviewjournal.com. Find additional sightings and more online at www.normclarke.com. Follow Norm on Twitter @Norm_Clarke.
