No kidding: Rock socks Lee at Palms

Kid Rock slapped and slugged arch-rival Tommy Lee during Alicia Keys' performance midway through Sunday's MTV Video Music Awards at the Palms.

The fight was the latest VMA moment on a night when Britney Spears turned in a lackluster comeback routine and Chris Brown's table-hopping performance sizzled.

The bad blood has been boiling between Rock and Lee since the two have been fighting for the affections of Pamela Anderson. Both Lee and Rock are ex-husbands of Anderson.

The incident occurred near the stage at The Pearl, the main venue of the VMAs.

Security broke up the altercation immediately and Lee was escorted out of the 2,500-seat concert hall.

Among the eye witnesses were Spears' manager Larry Rudolph and, at another table, Paris Hilton, who told me the dustup "made" the show funnier.

Anderson and Rock had had an awkward meeting earlier in the evening as she was about to go down the red carpet. Anderson was with illusionist Hans Klok, whom she assists in "The Beauty of Magic" at Planet Hollywood Resort. Anderson made the first move, calling out, "Hey Bob." But Rock turned away, snubbing her.

Anderson sat at a table near the stage with Klok and was seen sitting on Lee's lap just before the fracas. Rock and Lee were several tables away from each other.

According to a report from celebrity Web site TMZ.com, the Las Vegas Police Department was looking for Rock after the incident. Security officials at the Palms said officers had asked for Rock's hotel room number and any leads they might have regarding his whereabouts, the Web site reported.

Lee told friends that he was pressing charges, it was learned.

VMA presenter Jamie Foxx joked after the incident: "Stop all this white-on-white violence."

This isn't the first time Rock attempted to settle the matter with his fists. On New Year's Day, he and two bodyguards attempted to kick in a door at the Hard Rock Hotel, thinking Lee was inside. Instead, a high roller was occupying the room.

THE SCENE AND HEARD

Rock Harper, winner of Fox's Season 3 of "Hell's Kitchen" with chef Gordon Ramsay, makes his debut today as head chef at Terra Verde. It's an event: about 200 reservations already have been made.

SIGHTINGS

On the VMAs red carpet: Beyoncé, Rihanna, Jennifer Garner, Las Vegas singer-songwriter Ne-Yo, former UNLV basketball star Shawn Marion, Mary J. Blige, Palms owner George Maloof, Melanie "Scary Spice" Brown, and members of Panic! at the Disco. ...

Music mogul Diddy and Spears, attending music star Cassie's 21st birthday party Saturday at Jet nightclub (The Mirage). Also in attendance at Jet: Music producer Dallas Austin, and actor Mario Lopez and girlfriend Karina Smirnoff, from the hit TV show, "Dancing with the Stars." ... Pop music star Christina Aguilera, hosting Saturday's party at LAX nightclub (Luxor). Also at LAX on Saturday: Socialite Paris Hilton, illusionist Criss Angel, hip-hop star Akon, "Entourage" stars Adrian Grenier and Kevin Connolly, country music star Toby Keith, singer Melanie Brown of the Spice Girls, comedian Carrot Top, singer Ryan Cabrera, actress Ashley Scott, rocker Cisco Adler. ...

At rapper 50 Cent's concert Saturday at the Hard Rock Hotel pool: Music star Ciara, Carey Hart, model Rachel Hunter, "Desperate Housewives" star Josh Henderson, Connolly, Lopez and Adler. ...

At Pure nightclub's Saturday party hosted by singer Nicole Scherzinger of the Pussycat Dolls: music star Ne-Yo, record producers Sean Garrett and Polow Da Don, Los Angeles Clippers player Shaun Livingston and choreographer Chris Judd. ...

On the Rolling Stone 40th anniversary red carpet for Kanye West's performance: Rapper Eve, rapper Nelly, Fall Out Boy's Pete Wentz and girlfriend Ashlee Simpson, singer Ashanti, rappers Chamillionaire and T-Pain and actress Shar Jackson.

THE PUNCH LINE

"Have you seen Britney's kids? Aren't they the most adorable mistakes you've ever seen?" -- Sarah Silverman, who was the opening emcee of the VMAs.

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