Faux-J room joins Vegas knockoffs

To the array of Las Vegas knockoffs, from a lava-spewing volcano to an indoor Grand Canal and a petite Eiffel Tower, add the Faux-J experience.

A 335-square-foot replica of the Palace Station room where authorities allege O.J. Simpson committed armed robbery and kidnapping -- the existence of which was reported in Saturday's Review-Journal -- may be unveiled this week at his trial.

The tab for this one probably will cost more than the $35 the sports memorabilia dealers spent to rent the room the night that Simpson and others stormed into it.

According to local freelance writer/blogger Steve Friess, who is covering the trial for the New York Times, Clark County District Attorney David Roger ordered the reproduction of the room.

Friess posted photos of the room over the weekend on his blog, VegasHappensHere.com. The room mock-up was built in a basement conference room at the Clark County Regional Justice Center.

But here's where the story goes south faster than Simpson's infamous white Bronco.

Friess reported that presiding Judge Jackie Glass "took one look at the plywood structure and decided that this would not give the jury an accurate understanding of the alleged crime scene."

So, instead, she ordered a jury get a secret tour Friday of the scene of the alleged crime at Palace Station. Also making the trip with the 12 jurors were six alternates, prosecutors, defense lawyers, court officials, a reporter and photographer from the Review-Journal and a videographer from cable network TruTV.

I smell an uproar.

SIGHTINGS

Hall of Famers Tony Dorsett, Gordie Howe and Johnny Bench, dining together Saturday at Joe's Seafood, Prime Steak and Stone Crab (Forum Shops at Caesars). ... Vanity Fair celebrity crime columnist Dominick Dunne, having dinner Saturday with Simpson attorneys Yale Galanter and Gabriel Grasso and their wives at SW Steakhouse (Wynn). ... At LAX (Luxor) on Saturday: Oscar-winning actor Joe Pesci, sipping Cristal champagne with the cast of the Fantasy revue. ... Heidi Montag of "The Hills," celebrating her 22nd birthday at Christian Audigier The Nightclub (Treasure Island) on Saturday. Accompanying her was her longtime boyfriend Spencer Pratt. The crowd serenaded her with "Happy Birthday." ... Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf, as well as Tito Jackson, in the audience at Seal's concert at Green Valley Ranch's Ovation showroom. ... Choreographer and two-time Emmy winner Wade Robson, celebrating his 26th birthday at Blush Boutique Nightclub (Wynn) on Saturday night with his wife, Amanda, and friends. ... Female impersonator and longtime Las Vegas headliner Kenny Kerr, throwing out hints during his appearance at Saturday's Clark County Public Education Foundation that he'd love to return to a Las Vegas showroom. Honored at the event were Harrah's executive Jan Jones, with the education hero award, and former Clark County School District Superintendent Brian Cram. Before Jones became mayor of Las Vegas, Kerr appeared in some hilarious TV commercials as Jones' evil twin Elvira. ... Tyra Banks, at Cher (Caesars Palace) on Saturday, filming an upcoming Las Vegas episode of her daytime talk show "The Tyra Banks Show." She spotted Star Jones in the crowd and ran to greet her. ... Tennis star Serena Williams, working with her hitting coach Sunday at Club Sport in Green Valley. ... Chicago Bulls standout Drew Gooden, with friends in the owner's section at Tryst nightclub inside Wynn Las Vegas. Also at Tryst: UFC fighter Clay Guida and mixed-martial arts fighter Kim Couture, wife of UFC legend Randy Couture. ... The Las Vegas Tenors, composed of Bill Fayne, Teddy Davey and Bobby Black, sang the national anthem Saturday at the NASCAR Craftsman Truck race at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. ... Ashley Tisdale, her boyfriend, Jared Murillo, (a cast mate in "High School Musical"), and her two dogs Maui and Blondie, waiting for luggage at McCarran Airport after arriving from Burbank. She's in town for her sister Jennifer's 27th birthday. They celebrated at The Bank on Friday, where Jennifer was the celebrity host. ... Actor Laurence Fishburne, wearing a burnt orange suit while partying at Tao Beach (The Venetian). ... Hugh Rowland and Jerry Dusdal of the History Channel's "Ice Road Truckers" at the Qwik Liner Las Vegas 350 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Saturday night.