Hough lands role in dance movie
Three-time "Dancing With the Stars" winner Derek Hough has taken a leap into acting, following in the footsteps of his sister.
He's cast as the male lead in "Cobu 3D," an East meets West film version of the "West Side Story."
He's at the Palms today to teach a private dance routine to 15 Clark County School District students.
Hough has been a Las Vegas regular because his mother has lived here for a decade and his sister, Julianne Hough, attended Las Vegas Academy.
She also left "Dancing With the Stars" to test her acting chops in London, in a remake of "Footloose."
Derek, who learned most of his dancing during 10 years in London starting at age 12, will be starring opposite BoA, who is Asia's top recording artist.
Their characters fall in love as dancers, but the relationship is tested by a rivalry between their brothers' competing dance clubs in New York City.
"It's a classic love story, with kind of Romeo and Juliet tones," Hough said by telephone on Friday.
"I'm pushing myself to do things I never thought I could do. I'm kind of like a kid in the candy store , energized and pumped," said Hough, who won his three DWTS titles with Nicole Scherzinger, Brooke Burke, and Jennifer Grey.
His dance lesson at the Palms today was "an opportunity to connect with fans of dancing."
WHITE HOUSE INVITE
Byron Georgiou, one of the first to announce he's seeking the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by John Ensign, has been invited to attend the St. Patrick's Day Reception at the White House on March 17.
He recently served as a commissioner, appointed by President Barack Obama, on the Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission to investigate the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression.
Georgiou spent about 18 months on the commission, which included fellow Las Vegan Heather Murren. She and her husband, MGM Resorts chairman and CEO Jim Murren, were invited by Obama to attend the January state dinner held for the president of China at the White House.
Georgiou, who will be attending the reception with his wife, Therese, has lived in Las Vegas since 2005.
He spent most of the past decade investigating and prosecuting financial fraud, including the Enron scandal.
THE SCENE AND HEARD
Flightlinez, the zip line that runs under the canopy at the Fremont Street Experience, should have changed its name to LongLines during NASCAR Weekend. Business was booming.
During a 40-minute wait on Sunday, I was told that the attraction had a record 1,300-plus rides the night before and that there are plans to expand the cable line almost the full length of the canopy.
SIGHTINGS
At the Mountain West Conference men's basketball tournament on Friday for the semifinals: coach Jerry Tarkanian, Larry Johnson and Moses Scurry from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas' national championship team; Danny Ferry, vice president of basketball operations for the San Antonio Spurs and former NFL quarterback Doug Flutie, who's been known to show up to support San Diego State. ... Former heavyweight boxing champ Evander Holyfield, with friends at "Vegas! The Show" at the Saxe Theater (Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood Resort) on Thursday. The night before he was hanging out with his entourage at the Crown & Anchor on Wednesday. It was Karaoke Night, and a no-hitter broke out -- no one hit a note.
THE PUNCH LINE
"The Dalai Lama is stepping down as the political leader of Tibet. Apparently, he heard there was an opening at "Two and a Half Men." -- Conan O'Brien
Norm Clarke can be reached at (702) 383-0244 or norm@reviewjournal.com. Find additional sightings and more online at www.normclarke.com.
