Las Vegas sure to have its own royal nuptials
Casino king Steve Wynn won't match the pageantry of Britain's royal wedding, but history tells us he may have some wow moments up his tuxedo sleeve.
The billionaire hotel developer and his British fiancée, Andrea Hissom, will be married Saturday in what figures to be one of the most lavish celebrations ever held in Las Vegas.
The three-day soiree, which includes a reception for 1,000 guests, will likely top the reported $1.5 million Celine Dion and Rene Angelil spent on their renewal of vows Jan. 5, 2000. That party, held in a Caesars Palace ballroom, featured a mosque setting with Berber tents, camels and exotic birds, and 200 guests.
Longtime Wynn watchers are betting Wynn, to many the undisputed master of grand gestures, will make another grandiose statement.
Wynn, 69, has many new successes to celebrate since a whopping divorce settlement in early 2010 that left former wife Elaine with 11 million stock shares worth $741 million.
For one, he's likely a billionaire again after his Wynn Resort stock doubled from $66 at the time of the settlement to $147.71 as of the end of last week, thanks to runaway profits from his partnership in two resorts in Macau.
For some wedding guests -- Wynn believers who stuck with him when shares slipped under $10 in 2002 -- it will be a royal celebration.
NO GO FOR BRAVO
A housewives reality show may be coming to Las Vegas, but it won't be under Bravo's "Real Housewives" banner.
Bravo executive and show host Andy Cohen said Friday in a posting on Twitter that the cable channel "is not shooting or casting" and has no association with similar concepts popping up in Las Vegas and Arizona.
Las Vegas producer Rick Garson teamed up with local talent scout Jaki Baskow and others on the project, and they zeroed in on local housewives and high-end entrepreneurial women.
Dozens of Las Vegas women, from socialites to strippers and local personalities, were invited to auditions April 16 at Anthem Country Club and the home of Garson and wife Carolyn.
Several invitees I contacted were under the impression the project was for the Bravo series. Nondisclosure agreements prohibit Garson and Baskow from discussing the untitled project, but sources close to the situation said a major Las Vegas reality show involving a prominent producer will be shopped.
The auditions were filmed for a "sizzle reel," which helps networks identify interesting characters.
THE SCENE AND HEARD
There's talk that Elton John, who is returning to Caesars Palace for a three-year residency in September, will be house-hunting soon in Las Vegas. He has stayed in a supersuite in the past, but that figures to change now that he's a father to 4-month-old Zachary via a surrogate. John confirmed last week that Lady Gaga will be the godmother. ...
Local actor Rusty Meyers, who had a speaking part in "Ocean's 11," is cast as one of Bruce Willis' gambling buddies in the upcoming film "Lay the Favorite." Willis is in town this week shooting at Caesars Palace and other locations. Also in the film: Catherine Zeta-Jones and Justin Timberlake. Meyers also appears in "Viva Elvis" at Aria (CityCenter) as a Col. Tom Parker understudy. ...
David Hasselhoff was back in town last week, giving his new girlfriend, Welch factory worker Hayley Roberts, her first tour of Las Vegas. They were spotted at Planet Hollywood Resort, "Absinthe," "Jersey Boys" and Blush nightclub (Wynn). They have been dating several months since she met him while asking for an autograph at "Britain's Got Talent," which he judges.
SIGHTINGS
Janet Jackson left 'em guessing Friday as to why she didn't make a costume change during her show at The Colosseum (Caesars Palace). ... Ellen Degeneres, dealing blackjack at the Playboy Club (Palms) Friday in a tuxedo T-shirt. She was filming for her talk show. Earlier she was spotted at The Venetian on a gondola ride, driving a golf cart on The Palazzo casino floor and at Azure, The Palazzo's pool. ... Former CNN talk show host Larry King, in the audience at "Aces of Comedy" headliner Lewis Black's stand-up comedy show at The Mirage on Friday. King begins a stand-up engagement in the Terry Fator Theatre on June 11. ... The Killers' Brandon Flowers and wife Tana at Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steakhouse on Thursday. ... Actor Jon Voight, getting a backstage tour of "The Lion King" (Mandalay Bay) with two nieces Thursday. ... Actor Fred Willard, at Mac King's magic show at Harrah's on Thursday. ... Poker star Daniel Negreanu, dancing on the patio at Chateau (Paris) Friday. ... Trevor Hoffman, baseball's all-time saves leader and a surefire Hall of Famer, at Carlos Santana's opening night Wednesday for his final run of shows at The Joint (Hard Rock Hotel).
THE PUNCH LINE
"If (Donald) Trump does become president, I hope he puts a wig on his plane and calls it Hair Force One." -- 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.
