‘Expendables’ shoot challenged Couture
UFC legend Randy Couture said he lived like a vampire while shooting "The Expendables" with a cast that includes Sylvester Stallone, Bruce Willis and California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.
"We were working nights for nine straight weeks in New Orleans. Six days a week, 12, 14 hours a day," he said during a red carpet interview Wednesday night prior to the Las Vegas premiere of the film at Planet Hollywood Resort.
That schedule was the biggest challenge, said Couture, no stranger to grueling workouts.
The film was his eighth and he's hoping to keep his acting career on the upswing as his cage fighting days wind down.
He's turned down several film offers this summer "that I was serious about." It's all about "making the right decisions," he said.
Action star Jason Statham said the star-laden cast took some of the physical pressure off him.
"With so many of the other big athletes and big actors, it kind of gives me a bit of a break because they've all got to do a little bit where normally I've got to do everything," he said.
"Don't get me wrong. I do as much in this as you would expect, a couple big fight scenes. There's not a day off when it comes to working for Sly."
The film also was shot in Rio de Janeiro.
Statham appeared on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" Wednesday afternoon before flying to Las Vegas.
HOLMES, CLINTON HONORED
Entertainer Clint Holmes was honored in New York on Monday by the famed Friars Club.
Comic Freddie Roman, Dean of the Friars, served as emcee for the night.
The entertainment lineup included Broadway vets Lee Roy Reams, Dick Capri, Karen Saunders, Avery Sommers, Billy Stritch, Carol Woods and Leigh Zimmerman.
Holmes' wife, Kelly Clinton, also performed. She was to be honored in Las Vegas on the same night with a Bella Award as Las Vegas Female Entertainer. Lena Prima accepted on her behalf.
The Bella Award, presented each year by the staff and students of Nevada Fashion and UNLV Fashion Design, goes to outstanding Nevadans for their example of lifestyle, entertainment and fashion.
THE SCENE AND HEARD
Pete Rose's latest deal: Buy a car from a Cincinnati-area car dealership and they throw in dinner with Rose.
The former baseball star, who played for the Reds, will be joined Saturday at the Field of Dreams (Forum Shops at Caesars) by NFL Hall of Fame member Joe Montana for autographs and photo ops from 1 to 3 p.m.
SIGHTINGS
Schwarzenegger, bypassing "The Expendables" media red carpet and going straight to dinner at Koi, where he was later joined by Stallone. Willis was one of the few no-shows. ... Steve Schirripa, breaking bread at Society (Encore) on Tuesday with Las Vegas 51s executive Don Logan. ... Sasha Vujacic of the Los Angeles Lakers, hosting the U.S. launch of Peak Sport at Lavo (Palazzo) on Tuesday night. ... At Hussong's Cantina (The Shoppes at Mandalay Place) on Monday: Juan Barbieri from Season 5 of "The Bachelorette" and Michelle Kujawa from Season 14. They were watching the premiere of ABC's new series "Bachelor Pad." Barbieri and Kujawa, who are dating, were voted off during the show.
THE PUNCH LINE
"A JetBlue flight attendant cursed out passengers, grabbed two beers, slid down the chute and took off. The pilots were furious. Those were their last two beers." -- Jay Leno
Norm Clarke can be reached at (702) 383-0244 or norm@reviewjournal.com. Find additional sightings and more online at www.normclarke.com.
