Miss USA hopefuls vie for stylist, too
The claws came out in the Miss USA camp last week, with Miss California, Miss Maine and a celebrity hair stylist caught in the crossfire of a nasty feud.
Tension has been building since Miss California USA's co-directors, Keith Lewis and Shanna Moakler, had a nasty falling out last year, with Moakler leaving the organization.
Moakler recently was named the new executive director of Miss Nevada USA. The Miss USA competition is at Planet Hollywood Resort tonight. It airs on tape delay at 9 p.m. on NBC affiliate KSNV-TV, Channel 3.
Sources confirm that Natalie Pack, California's entry, and Rani Williamson, the Maine winner, had appointments canceled Tuesday at Michael Boychuck's Color at Caesars Palace. Boychuck, who has been Paris Hilton's colorist and friend for years, said Moakler "wanted me to be loyal to Miss Nevada," so he politely declined to work with Pack and Williamson.
Boychuck couldn't be in a stickier situation. He was a judge for the Miss California pageant last year and has been a sponsor of the Miss Nevada USA organization.
And then there's this: Moakler made headlines in 2006 when she was accused of hitting Hilton in the face during a confrontation at Hyde Lounge in Los Angeles. Both filed battery charges.
Hilton had been romantically linked at the time to Moakler's estranged husband, Travis Barker, the Blink-182 drummer.
Moakler was Miss USA first runner-up in 1995 but was elevated to Miss USA when the winner (Chelsi Smith of Texas) won Miss Universe.
YET TO BE A REALITY
Bravo executive Andy Cohen said he's been pitched about 15 times in eight years for a Las Vegas reality show, but there's nothing on the table.
Rumors keep surfacing about a "Housewives of Las Vegas" show or spinoff because production companies keep "trying to get something going."
Cohen, in town to co-host the Miss USA pageant with Giuliana Rancic, is executive vice president of development and talent for Bravo.
Asked whether he's aware of a current project titled "Vegas Elite," featuring power couples, Cohen said no.
That fits with the scuttlebutt that Evolution Media, the production company behind "Vegas Elite," already might have a deal with The Learning Channel.
Evolution Media produced "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" and "The Real Housewives of Orange County" for Bravo.
Cohen, who hosts Bravo's "Watch What Happens Live," said he has been in talks with The Cosmopolitan about "doing some kind of remote here."
Added Cohen: "I'm dying to get Mike Tyson on 'Watch What Happens Live' because he's a big New Jersey 'Housewives' fan."
THE SCENE AND HEARD
Tobey Maguire is a judge tonight at Tropfest, the world's largest short film festival, at The Boulevard Pool at The Cosmopolitan. He will be joined by Toni Collette, Charles Randolph, Griffin Dunne, Rebel Wilson, Anthony LaPaglia, James Woods and Trevor Grother, former head of CineVegas. Rob Corddry hosts the event. ...
The Playboy Club's closing night party on Saturday included a buyout for half of the space. The purchase was made by a local VIP who is getting married. "He said he's closing down two Playboys - the club and himself," said George Maloof, who opened the club near the top of the new Fantasy Tower on Oct. 6, 2006, when the economy was raging. It was the first Playboy Club opening in 25 years. ...
I'm hearing rumblings that the Ultimate Fighting Championship is putting together one of its most ambitious fight weekends for UFC 148 featuring the rematch between middleweight champion Anderson Silva and Chael Sonnen on July 7 at the MGM Grand Garden. They're exploring fan add-ons such as UFC-sponsored pool parties, a pub crawl, etc., for the big weekend. ...
Kelsey Grammer and wife Kayte Walsh renewed their vows Saturday at The Little Church of The West. ...
Daniel "Rudy" Ruettiger, the inspiration behind the 1993 film "Rudy," has sold his home in Anthem Country Club. The sale comes about six months after the Securities and Exchange Commission charged Ruettiger, 63, and 12 other participants in a scheme to deceive investors into buying stock in his sports drink company. Ruettiger rode the bench at Notre Dame as a 5-foot-6-inch football walk-on. But he persevered and got a sack - the only tackle of his career - in his last game and was carried off the field. ...
Kim Kardashian has a 1-3 p.m. appearance today at Kardashian Khaos (The Mirage) for the launch of her latest perfume.
THE PUNCH LINE
"I am a very committed wife. And I should be committed too - for being married so many times." - Elizabeth Taylor
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.
