Mayor to ride in for ‘Knight’ stunt

When it comes to grand entrances, Mayor Oscar Goodman is the king.

At 6 tonight, he is arriving on the ride of all rides: K.I.T.T., the iconic talking car from David Hasselhoff's hit 1980s show "Knight Rider," will come down Fremont Street balanced on two side wheels.

It's known as the ski stunt and the last time it was seen on Fremont Street was 1971, when a yellow Mustang performed the maneuver during a race scene in the James Bond flick "Diamonds Are Forever."

K.I.T.T., a customized Shelby Mustang, will deliver Goodman to a First Street stage, where he will join 18 celebrities and designate Saturday as Knight Rider Festival Day. Some 50 K.I.T.T. cars, including the new one that appears in NBC's new "Knight Rider" series, will be on display on Fremont Street. Among the celebrities will be Justin Bruening, the star of the new series, and Catherine Hickland, who appeared in three episodes of the original series while engaged to Hasselhoff. The original "Knight Rider" ran from 1982 to 1986.

Also attending will be custom car icon George Barris, who created the Batmobile, the Ghostbusters Ecto-1 and flashy wheels for Zsa Zsa Gabor, Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, Bo Derek and David Lee Roth.

The event is part of a benefit for the Children's Miracle Network.

Paul Casey, a local Elvis impersonator and car enthusiast, organized and produced the event. The Children's Miracle Network is a nonprofit network that raises funds for children's hospitals. Casey got involved with the charity after after his daughter Jobyna, now 14 months old, was born with special needs.

PLAYMATE CORONATION IN LAS VEGAS

Playboy's Playmate of the Year coronation is moving from the Playboy Mansion in Los Angeles to Las Vegas this year.

It will be held at Palms Place on May 2, part of a Saturday night dinner instead of the luncheon format.

All the 2008 issue Playmates are scheduled to attend.

The after-party will be held at The Playboy Club. Playboy founder Hugh Hefner is scheduled to be there, but his two new girlfriends, Karissa and Kristina Shannon, won't be able to attend because they are not 21.

Hefner will be celebrating his 83rd birthday at The Playboy Club on April 2.

THE SCENE AND HEARD

A budding "American Idol" romance has a Las Vegas connection. We hear Kai Kalama, who made the Top 36 of Season 8, has been seen with finalist Megan Corkery, offering support. She's the tattoo-sleeved single mom from Sandy, Utah. Kalama's father, Ron Kalama, heads The Venetian's gondolier program for Best Agency. The son lives in San Clemente, Calif., where he cares for his mother, who has cancer.

MAY I RECOMMEND

Vote early, vote often for the "Dancing with the Las Vegas Stars" charity competition, which is being held April 19 at the Palms' Rain nightclub. Goodman, Chet Buchanan of The Morning Zoo at KLUC-radio, 98.5 FM, and Chris Phillips of Zowie Bowie are among the contestants. A vote costs $1, and voting is under way at the Web site, dancingwiththelasvegasstars.com. Awards are $10,000 for first place, $5,000 for second and third, and $2,500 for fourth and fifth. All proceeds will benefit the Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation of Nevada, American Cancer Society, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, The Caring Place and Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

SIGHTINGS

NFL Hall of Famer Dick Butkus, getting a haircut at Primp salon at Palms Place on Thursday. ... At LAX nightclub (Luxor) on Wednesday: Busta Rhymes, former NFL star Marshall Faulk, former NBA standout Antoine Walker and San Diego Chargers wide receiver Vincent Jackson. ... Former NASCAR champion Rusty Wallace, relaxing at Drift Spa at Palms Place on Thursday. ... Retired New York Giants star Michael Strahan and Fox Sports writer/commentator Jay Glazer, with friends at Revolution Lounge (Mirage) on Wednesday night. ... UFC lightweight champion BJ Penn, dining at N9NE Steakhouse (Palms) on Wednesday.

THE PUNCH LINE

"Here's an important lesson I learned last night: Do not use Scope to make green beer." -- 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.