Kilmer explores Twain stage show

Would a one-man stage show featuring Val Kilmer as humorist Mark Twain, a la Chazz Palminteri's "A Bronx Tale," work in Las Vegas?

Kilmer was in town last week asking that question.

During dinner at Ruth's Chris Steak House, he ran it past longtime Las Vegas restaurateur Marcel Taylor.

Kilmer, who played Jim Morrison in "The Doors" and Doc Holliday in "Tombstone," told Taylor he was interested in shopping a stage version of the Twain film in Las Vegas.

Kilmer, 50, portrays Twain in the project, "Mark Twain and Mary Baker Eddy," which was filmed last year and based on the author's relationship with Eddy, the founder of Christian Science.

Twain's writing career took off when he got a job as a feature writer for the Virginia City Territorial Enterprise, where he began signing his work as Mark Twain after growing up as Samuel Clemens.

MEDIA UPDATE

Starting June 13, Flamingo headliner Donny Osmond's new radio show will be heard weekdays on KKLZ-FM, 96.3, from midnight until 5 a.m. A "Best of Show" will air Saturday mornings from 5 until 10 a.m. Osmond will make the announcement June 11 on stage at KKLZ's Junefest concert at the South Point...

A friendship that started with Sherm Frederick and Tim Dahlberg meeting on their first day as reporters in the Review-Journal newsroom in 1976 has gone full circle. They are starting a newspaper chain. It was announced Tuesday that Stephens Media LLC has sold the Ely Times and Eureka Sentinel to Battle Born Media LLC, headed by Frederick, publisher of the R-J from 1992 to 2010. "We started the same day and sat behind each other. We've been like brothers ever since," said Dahlberg, a longtime Las Vegas-based national sports columnist with The Associated Press. Also in their sights: the Mineral County Independent-News, also a weekly.

SIGHTINGS

U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, having hummus and Italian wedding soup at Vintner Grill on Wednesday night. ... ESPN baseball analyst Orel Hershiser and his wife, Dana, having lunch at Grimaldi's Pizzeria at Boca Park on Wednesday. ... Washington Redskins cornerback DeAngelo Hall, with a party of 24 at N9NE Steakhouse (Palms) on Tuesday. ... At Lavo (Palazzo) on Tuesday: New York Giants running back Ahmad Bradshaw, after the club's champagne presentation with cheerleaders, said his only complaint was that the girls were wearing the colors of the Dallas Cowboys. At another table: San Francisco 49ers tight end Vernon Davis, with friends. ... Rio headliners Penn & Teller, receiving a ceremonial key to the city from Mayor Oscar Goodman on Monday to recognize their support of Aid for AIDS of Nevada (AFAN). Penn & Teller have served as grand marshals for the AIDS walk for 10 years and have helped raise more than $709,000.

THE PUNCH LINE

"In an encouraging departure from Kimmel family tradition, my son was able to get a woman to go to the prom with him." -- Jimmy Kimmel

Norm Clarke can be reached at (702) 383-0244 or norm@reviewjournal.com. Find additional sightings and more online at www.normclarke.com. Follow Norm on Twitter @Norm_Clarke.