Obama interview thrills LV deejays

Out of the blue, the White House is on the telephone, calling your radio station to arrange for the president to go on the air on Election Day. Your reaction?

"At first we were a little nervous that we were getting 'Punk'd,' " said Sherita Saulsberry, program director at KVEG-FM, 97.5.

In a coup for one of the newest stations in the Las Vegas market, KVEG landed a live interview Tuesday with President Barack Obama.

"Everybody's walking around going like, 'Wow.' It was supercool. We're jazzed. It's history," Saulsberry said.

Obama spent six minutes on the air with morning deejays JNoise and Krazzie Kat (Jessie Garcia and Katrina Maldonado).

Saulsberry joined them in the studio. "I had chills. I don't think I'll experience that again. Maybe on my wedding day."

JNoise's best question of the day got national play from The Associated Press after the deejay asked if first lady Michelle Obama refers to him as "Mr. President."

"She calls me some names sometimes, but it is not Mr. President," Obama said.

It's been an exciting year for the 9-year-old Top 40 station, locally owned and operated by Kemp Broadcasting, which also owns KMZQ-AM, 670, and the new KVGQ-FM, 106.9.

Earlier this year, KVEG deejay Mike P. (Michael Perry) took off eight weeks to join rap star 50 Cent filming "Things Fall Apart."

Perry, an afternoon deejay and stand-up comedian, plays a friend of 50 Cent, who portrays a Heisman Trophy candidate. The rapper lost 60 pounds for the role.

Perry and the singer met a year ago when 50 Cent dropped by for a five-minute interview.

"We just hit it off," Perry said. They stayed in touch and 50 Cent offered the role after seeing Perry's stand-up via the Internet. The movie is going to the Sundance Festival in January and is scheduled for release in mid-2011.

CITYCENTER STRUGGLES

The Wall Street Journal, citing documents filed by CityCenter partners Dubai World and MGM Resorts International, reported they "studied closing two of the site's three hotels and the 'Viva Elvis' Cirque du Soleil show."

Jim Murren, chief executive of MGM Resorts, verified the authenticity of the documents, filed this summer, in an interview with the Journal.

"We throw out many ideas to see if they're feasible, productive or destructive," Murren said.

Also revealed in the documents: MGM Resorts' concerns about disappointing numbers from Mandarin Oriental.

Bill McBeath, president and chief operating officer at Aria, was quoted in notes from an Aug. 5 meeting as saying Mandarin management had been informed that CityCenter's board had "drawn a line in the sand."

THE SCENE AND HEARD

Steve Richards, the Chicago tribute singer who last month landed a duet with Wynn headliner Garth Brooks, is auditioning this week for "America's Got Talent."

SIGHTINGS

Chef Rick Moonen, walking into his RM Seafood restaurant (Mandalay Bay) at noon Tuesday wearing an "I Voted" sticker and running into Democratic Rep. Dina Titus and her husband, Tom, who were having lunch. ... Paris Hilton, at Texas de Brazil on Monday with friends. ... Luxor headliner Criss Angel, at fellow illusionist Dirk Arthur's show Monday.

THE PUNCH LINE

"Brett Favre had to be carted off the field this weekend after taking a hit that required 10 stitches in his chin. ... Just to be on the safe side, the doctors also stitched up the front of his pants." -- Jay Leno

Norm Clarke can be reached at 702-383-0244 or norm@reviewjournal.com. Find additional sightings and more online at www.normclarke.com.