Jackson in action possibly in Vegas
Something's up with Michael Jackson.
The way it was explained to me: Jackson has been in talks with a local hotel boss who wants to make a major statement.
Last week, Jackson's brother Jermaine showed up twice at the Las Vegas Hilton in his white Rolls-Royce.
Michael Jackson moved back to Las Vegas late last year and has been rushing to finish his long-delayed new album. It was reported last week that he has been working with Akon and RedOne in the Palms recording studios.
ON THE ROAD AGAIN
We've been in Chicago this week, taking in all that the Windy City offers, including trips to two local shrines: Wrigley Field and chef Rick Bayless' Topolobampo restaurant.
We watched the Cubs drop a 4-3 nail-biter to Milwaukee on Thursday in a game that featured a home plate collision involving the Brewers' 260-pound Prince Fielder, PETA's new poster child.
Fielder isn't hitting his weight since giving up meat after becoming the youngest player in major league history to hit 50 home runs. But the sight of him rumbling home at full speed would leave most catchers questioning their career path.
Not the Cubs' Geovany Soto, who survived the train wreck after tagging Fielder out. It gave a scary new meaning to bang-bang play.
"I thought I lost my ticket connection," said the guy next to me, Jack Torano, manager of Jilly's Too on Rush Street.
And of course we're here to research Chicago's legendary pizza. Our first impression: Geno's thin crust combo didn't come close to our favorite neighborhood pizza joint, Magura's, 1305 Vegas Valley.
Send me your recommendation for Chicago's best pizza, and I'll run the results on Sunday.
THE SCENE AND HEARD
It's splitsville for Miss Nevada USA Veronica Grabowski and a local illusionist who would like to see this writer test a human vaporizer machine. Celebrity blogger Robin Leach reported that the magic has disappeared from the three-month relationship and that it's been called off. ...
KVBC-TV, Channel 3, is pulling the plug today on analog TV for short periods during all of its broadcasts. ...
Michelle Rodriguez is confirmed to attend an event tonight hosted by former "Dancing With the Stars" hottie Stacy Keibler at CatHouse, in the Luxor. Rodriguez, the former "Lost" star, has been keeping a low profile since getting out of jail in January for a probation violation related to her DUI arrest.
MAY I RECOMMEND
"Jersey Boys," the Tony Award-winning story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons, opens to the public Saturday at the Palazzo. Showtimes are Monday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday at 7 p.m.; Tuesday and Saturday at 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. Ticket prices range from $65 to $135. Ticket information: 1-866-641-SHOW or 702-414-9000 or online at www.palazzolasvegas.com.
SIGHTINGS
Lenny Kravitz, shopping Thursday at Barneys, in Palazzo, before heading for the Palms. ... Hall of Fame NFL quarterback John Elway and former Denver Broncos teammate Mark Jackson, hanging out Wednesday at LAX nightclub, in the Luxor, after dining with a large party at Company American Bistro. Also at LAX: Chris Tucker, actor Will Sasso of "Mad TV" and actress Joan Allen, who recently starred in "The Bourne Ultimatum" and "The Bourne Supremacy."... A bulking-up Mike Tyson, ordering crab leg linguine, a platter of Alaskan king crab and orange roughy for lunch Wednesday at The Coachman's Inn, at Desert Inn and Eastern. ... Tucker returned to Tao Asian Bistro, in The Venetian, for the second night in a row Wednesday.
THE PUNCH LINE
"Hillary Clinton will be making her first ever appearance on Bill O'Reilly's show 'The O'Reilly Factor.' Hillary should do well because she has years of experience yelling, 'Shut up, Bill.'" -- 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.
