Obama not thrilled over mob museum

Mayor Oscar Goodman's mob museum took another hit Sunday, with President-elect Barack Obama basically saying fuhgeddaboudit.

In an interview on "This Week With George Stephanopoulos," Obama was asked by Stephanopoulos if "this is the kind of project you want to fund or not?"

Obama said it wasn't among his priorities, explaining it "was a project that was proposed as part of the mayors' project. The country's mayors put together -- 'Here are a range of projects we can do.' We didn't include that."

Stephanopoulos again asked, "But would you want to fund it or not?"

"Well, I think that what we have to do is evaluate whether or not these are projects that, as I said, are going to provide long-term benefits to the economy. You know, I would prefer spending money on things like making sure that all federal buildings are energy efficient so the taxpayers are saving money over the long term."

Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich put it another way.

During a roundtable discussion with Stephanopoulous that followed the Obama interview, Gingrich said, "I think if the mob wants a museum, they have enough money to build it themselves."

THE HOFF RETURNS

Former Las Vegas headliner David Hasselhoff has a new reality show project.

Accompanied by a British film crew, The Hoff was shooting nightlife footage around town on Saturday.

He brought the house down at Hofbrauhaus Las Vegas by climbing on stage and singing "Looking for Freedom," the song he popularized after the Berlin Wall came down in 1989. The song was No. 1 in West Germany for eight weeks.

After the Hofbrauhaus crowd chanted "David, David," the former "Baywatch" and "Knight Rider" TV star led them in a traditional German beer hall salute, "Zicke, zacke, zicke, zacke," with the crowd replying, "Hoi, hoi, hoi."

Hasselhoff also showed up at Privé Nightclub at Planet Hollywood Resort, where he was filmed joining a go-go girl on a dance stand.

THE SCENE AND HEARD

Rumblings of the sale of The Mirage are heating up, with talk that an announcement is coming on the 15th. ...

Oldies star Bobby Rydell, who starred opposite Ann-Margret in the 1960s film "Bye Bye Birdie" and notched five Top 10 hits, including "Wild One," is getting married this month at Bootlegger Bistro. Former Lt. Gov. Lorraine Hunt-Bono, co-owner of the restaurant, and her husband, Dennis Bono, are putting the ceremony together in a private room behind the popular south Strip eatery. Hunt-Bono, by the way, is heading back to Washington, D.C., to attend an appreciation reception at the White House for President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney. She's among a group of Republican leaders who were invited.

SIGHTINGS

Jessica Alba, celebrating the 30th birthday party of her husband, Cash Warren, Saturday with family and friends in Tao's private Opium Room. Also spotted: adult film star Stormy Daniels, who arrived after the AVN awards show to host her after-party, and poker stars Antonio Esfandiari and David Williams. ... Thomas Dekker, who plays John Connor in the television series "Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles," celebrated his 21st birthday at Privé on Saturday. Dekker, who grew up in Las Vegas, was with his parents and several of his cast mates, including his TV mom Lena Headey and former "90210" star Brian Austin Green. Dekker's birthday was Dec. 28. ... Stevie Wonder and Usher, catching John Legend's performance at The Pearl inside the Palms on Saturday night. ... NFL Hall of Fame running back Eric Dickerson was spotted at XS nightclub Saturday inside Encore. Also there: UFC champ Quinton "Rampage" Jackson and San Francisco 49ers standout Vernon Davis. ... Actress Maria Conchita Alonso, with friends at AGO restaurant lounge (Hard Rock Hotel) on Saturday. ... U.S. Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., wandering the floor of the Consumer Electronics Show Saturday at the Las Vegas Convention Center. ... At the Canon charity event at Bellagio on Friday: Alice Cooper, Kevin Sorbo, Steve Weber, Bailey Chase and Davy Jones of "The Monkees" fame.

THE PUNCH LINE

"I sent in early for tickets for the Obama inauguration, but I got lousy seats anyway. I'm right between Govs. Spitzer and Blagojevich." -- David Letterman

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