Names dropped for ‘Vegas Elite’
To no one's surprise, sparks are flying as the selection process plays out for the long-rumored "Housewives" reality show knockoff.
After a month of casting interviews, taping got under way last week for what is being billed as the "Vegas Elite" project.
Meanwhile, there are rumblings that a competing group met last week, with cameras rolling, to put together a "sizzle reel" to shop elsewhere.
Among the names reportedly in the mix for the "Vegas Elite" cast include: Audra Hendley, fiancée of CityCenter president and CEO Bobby Baldwin; Alexandra Ruffin, former Miss Ukraine and wife of Treasure Island owner Phil Ruffin; singer/actress Pia Zadora, drag queen Frank Marino, Emily Jillette, wife of illusionist Penn Jillette, former KSNV-TV, Channel 3 entertainment reporter Alicia Jacobs, and Jessica Towbin of the Towbin car dealership empire.
Zadora was a Las Vegas headliner in the 1970s and 1980s while married to billionaire Meshulam Riklis, then-owner of the Riviera. Zadora, 17 when she married him, became the face of Dubonnet, one of his companies, and got into acting.
Sources say she taped her "Elite" interview with her children.
REMEMBERING MICHAELINA
A celebration of the life of Michaelina Bellamy is planned for May 2 at Mr. B's Ristorante & Piano Lounge, 3824 Paradise Road.
That piano is in for a workout.
Many of her friends in the entertainment community will be singing to high heaven.
Bellamy's close friend, Arlene Gibson, is hosting, with Ron Garrett emceeing.
The stories and songs commence at 6 p.m.
Bellamy, who toured with Engelbert Humperdinck as a backup vocalist and was a longtime principal singer in "Folies Bergere" at the Tropicana, died April 7 after a lengthy battle with bone cancer.
TRUMPET TRIBUTE
Lynn Hetrick, aka MC Johann, added a nice touch Friday at the Hofbrauhaus.
Instead of a toast to music legend Dick Clark, who died last week, Hetrick performed a tribute.
During a break by the Austrian band TrenkWalder, Hetrick played "Auld Lang Syne" on a herald trumpet. It was a nod to Clark's four decades as host of ABC's New Year's Eve telecasts from Times Square.
If you know of other Clark tributes or stories about him with Las Vegas angles, please email me at Norm@ReviewJournal.com. Put "Dick Clark" in the subject line.
THE SCENE AND HEARD
Corrections: Chef Vic "Vegas" Moea will appear at Jamm's from 9 a.m. to noon, on May 1, not this Monday. ... In the "X" Burlesque 10th anniversary item that appeared here Saturday, the last name of musician Frankie Sidoris was in error. It was based on information from the show's publicist. A guitarist for Slash's new band, The Conspirators, Sidoris is the son of Angela Stabile, producer of "X," and her ex, Frank Sidoris.
SIGHTINGS
Multiple Grammy winner Ne-Yo, surprising a crowd for Encore's opening weekend for the dayclub. He sang the club smash hit "Give Me Everything (Tonight)." ... Connor Cruise, 17-year-old son of Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman, performed as DJ C-Squared before a packed house on Friday at Hyde Bellagio, his latest high-profile gig. ... Spotted in a VIP suite at The Joint (Hard Rock Hotel) on Friday: Steve Wynn and Paul Pusateri, president and chief operating officer of the Hard Rock, rocking to the sounds of Crosby, Stills and Nash. ... Shaunie O'Neal, star of VH1's hit reality show "Basketball Wives" and Shaq's ex, with friends at Sugar Factory American Brasserie (Paris) and Gallery nightclub (Planet Hollywood Resort) on Friday.
THE PUNCH LINE
"The JetBlue pilot who went coo-coo recently will plead that he was temporarily insane - which explains JetBlue's new slogan, 'Don't worry. Our pilots are only temporarily insane.' " - Conan O'Brien
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.
