Fator takes charge with latest DVD
This time Terry Fator is going to do it the way Frank Sinatra sang it.
His way.
The Mirage headliner, an impressionist and ventriloquist, said others were calling the shots for his first DVD, which was filmed shortly after he opened two years ago.
"Other people were kind of controlling it," he said "This is my baby."
Fator said he was proud of the first DVD, "but it wasn't exactly what I wanted. I wanted it to be my vision, not other people's vision."
More specifically, the "other people" were former managers and writers, he said.
"I didn't know how to assert myself. I let people run over me," he said.
The DVD will feature the new show, which debuted March 18 on his second anniversary at The Mirage, and will be shot starting in June and released at Christmas. Another DVD will be shot in March 2012.
He hopes to land Andy Williams for the Christmas DVD, and Fator is working on an idea that "if it pans out, it will be the entertainment event of the century."
The new show, he added, "is the best work I've ever done.
His newest puppet, a flamboyantly dressed character named Berry Fabulous, has been a hit, Fator said.
"He thinks he's the most fabulous entertainer, and his line is that he's in the cast 'because the show needs more fruit and less cheese.' "
TOUR DE PARIS
After her surprise appearance at Bartlett Elementary on Friday, Paris Hilton didn't stick around to catch performances by Britney Spears or Lady Gaga or hit the town.
She and boyfriend Cy Waits flew back to Los Angeles in the evening to prepare for a long business trip.
Waits told me they were heading to Mexico City for a meeting involving her shoe line with Sears stores owned by Carlos Slim, who at times has been reported as the richest man in the world; Russia, to discuss ways to boost tourism and economy with government officials; and New York, to meet with advertisers for her new show, "The World According to Paris," and promote her new perfume.
They are returning to Las Vegas on April 5.
HARPER'S HUSTLE IMPRESSES NATS
Las Vegas baseball phenom Bryce Harper made a big impression with a top Washington Nationals front office executive.
During my weeklong tour of Cactus League teams last week, I chatted with Bob Schaefer, former bench coach of the Los Angeles Dodgers and now the special assistant to the general manager of the Nationals.
He liked what he saw from Harper during spring training.
"The way you run to first base, keep doing it," Schaefer told Harper.
"I had read that he was a fan of George Brett. I told him, 'George never jogged once to first base,' " said Schaefer, who was a coach with the Kansas City Royals from 1988 to 1991 and twice an interim manager.
Harper couldn't have chosen better when it comes to a role model, Schaefer said.
"George told me once, 'They should put a speed gun on everyone going to first base.' "
SIGHTINGS
Film legend Jerry Lewis, dining Saturday night at Vintner Grill.
THE PUNCH LINE
"It will be great to have Charlie Sheen back on TV. Lights, camera, train wreck.'' -- 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.
