Little leaves them little to laugh at

Playing to one of his toughest crowds, the Las Vegas impersonator received a chilly reception as the event’s headliner.

Little had promised he wouldn’t cross the line and he didn’t come close, sticking to ancient jokes and his presidential impressions.

Little sensed early on that he was going down in flames.

After several jokes bombed, Little, 68, asked the audience, “Did you people get this?”

The Toronto Star didn’t take it easy on the Ottawa-born headliner, running the headline: “Jokes leave Washington a Little cold.”

Conde Nast wrote: “The whole thing made us feel that we were not at the White House Correspondents Dunner, but rather frozen in a 1970s moment … stuck in a basement somewhere with orange carpeting, flower patterned couches, wood paneling and a black and white television with rabbit ears.”

Vanity Fair columnist Christopher Hitchens walked out during Little’s schtick.

Hitchens later told The New York Times, “The event was disgraceful, so lame and mediocre that it is beyond parody. It is impossible to decide which is more offensive: the president fawning over the press or the press fawning over the president.”

The Washington Post added, “As Little ended and people with pained expressions bolted for the exits to hit the after parties, actor Harry Shearer quipped, ‘He got a walking ovation.’ “

CANCELED

Six months ago, a Rat Pack act from Las Vegas booked a college gig for April 18.

When four local performers in the group flew to Atlanta last Monday on the first leg of their flight, they immediately figured out from the TV newscast that their booking was unlikely to happen.

The group, “Salute to Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr. and Dean Martin,” was booked to perform Wednesday on the Virginia Tech campus.

By the time they landed in Roanoke, Va., hours later, the Virginia Tech campus was closed after the massacre that left 33 dead.

The entertainers completed their contract with an appearance in Richlands, Va., before a small turnout and went on to Connecticut for their final gig on the show tour.

As they traveled through Virginia, the grief was palpable, said Rick Michel, a longtime Dean Martin impersonator.

“I have never experienced such sorrow,” he said. “We did the best we could under the circumstances.”

Michel said the canceled show was re-booked.

Other members in the group included musical director Greg Bosler, drummer Joe Malone and trumpet player Tommy Porrello.

THE SCENE AND HEARD

Jazz saxophonist Najee, commenting on the Virginia Tech shootings during a break in the show Saturday at the Suncoast, told the audience, “Isn’t it amazing when you replace God in colleges, he’s replaced by guns.”

SIGHTINGS

Bruce Willis, down $100,000 while shooting craps Sunday night at the Palms. … “C.S.I.” stars William Petersen and Marg Helgenberger, shooting scenes at The Venetian on Monday for the season finale. … Rocker Tommy Lee, dining with Palms owner George Maloof at Joe’s, Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab (Forum Shops at Caesars) on Sunday. … Hockey great Wayne Gretzky, at “Ka” (MGM Grand) on Saturday with two of his kids. … In the crowd at Bill Maher‘s show Saturday at The Joint (Hard Rock Hotel): Music icon Clive Davis and his party, in floor seats; Barry Manilow opted for the balcony view with a group of 10, including some of his band members. Both Davis and Manilow went backstage to chat with Maher. … Lee, at Saturday’s 10:30 p.m. Crazy Horse Paris show (MGM Grand), which is featuring burlesque queen Dita Von Teese.

THE PUNCH LINE

“In honor of Earth Day, Donald Trump‘s hair was declared a protected wetland.” — David Letterman

Norm Clarke can be reached at 383-0244 or norm@reviewjournal.com. Find additional sightings and more online at www.normclarke.com.