Oscar nominee’s mom’s got talent
NBC's "America's Got Talent" may have come up with America's Susan Boyle.
Among the biggest surprises to emerge from the four-day audiences in Las Vegas last week was Alice Tan Ridley, the mother of Oscar nominee Gabourey Sidibe, who starred in "Precious."
An insider tells me the judges -- newcomer Howie Mandel, Sharon Osbourne and Piers Morgan -- were agog over Ridley, who has been singing in New York City subways for almost 20 years.
Ridley reportedly quit her day job a decade ago to become a full-time subway performer because it paid better.
Boyle became an international sensation at age 48 last year when she finished second on "Britain's Got Talent."
Three years ago, a little-known ventriloquist named Terry Fator hit it big on "America's Got Talent." After years of hopping from honky tonks to county fairs, he won "AGT" and landed a headliner job at The Mirage for a reported $100 million.
Season 5 of "AGT" begins June 1.
THE SCENE AND HEARD
"CBS News Sunday Morning's" offbeat correspondent Bill Geist spent two days in Las Vegas recently filming a piece on the musical Hart family. Airing Sunday, it was filmed at Hartland and delves into the history of the delightfully eccentric Harts, with Grammy-winning gospel singer Larry Hart and his mother, Toni, 84, a former evangelical preacher and gospel singer. She recently made headlines for the messy eviction of Elvis impersonator Jesse Garon, who was leasing a condo from her at Las Vegas Country Club. Garon has been Mayor Oscar Goodman's unofficial Elvis for years. ...
Starting July 6, KTNV-TV, Channel 13 is launching "The Morning Blend," a locally produced weekday lifestyle and infotainment show. The hosts will be Dao Vu, a former national host for The Weather Channel, and Shawn Tempesta, a former personality with KMXB-FM, 94.1 (Mix). Many of the segments will be sponsored by local advertisers. "The show will be a unique opportunity for advertisers to talk about their products and services," said Jim Prather, executive vice president and general manager. "These businesses and organizations are an important part of our community, and we wanted to create a way for them to reach out to local viewers in segments longer than the traditional 15- and 30-second commercials." ...
A special media screening tonight of the comedy "Get Him to the Greek" at Planet Hollywood Resort includes a 6:30 red carpet for co-stars Jonah Hill and Russell Brand and writer/director/producer Nicholas Stoller. The public is invited to the red carpet. Sean "P Diddy" Combs had to cancel.
SIGHTINGS
Former President Bill Clinton and Democratic strategist James Carville, with a large group at Piero's Italian Cuisine on Tuesday. ... Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, dressed as Cher for a skit in Fator's show Tuesday. Fator sang "I've Got You Babe" while dressed as Sonny. Huckabee is in town filming his Fox News shows at The Venetian. They will air starting June 5. ... Maroon 5 frontman Adam Levine, serenading girlfriend model Anne V throughout the night at Lavo (Palazzo) on Tuesday. ... At Rehab (Hard Rock Hotel) on Sunday: MTV's newest reality stars, The Dudesons of "The Dudesons in America," rapper Crunchy Black, the Three 6 Mafia band and Greg Oden of the Portland Trail Blazers. ... World-class violinist Joshua Bell, playing blackjack at Rush Lounge in the Golden Nugget on Sunday. He was there to see Frankie Moreno of the Frankie Moreno Band, with whom he recently recorded a remake of "Eleanor Rigby."
THE PUNCH LINE
"A congressman from my state of Indiana, Mark Souder, has been forced to resign because of a sex scandal. Finally, I'm not Indiana's biggest embarrassment." -- David Letterman
Norm Clarke can be reached at (702) 383-0244 or norm@reviewjournal.com. Find additional sightings and more online at www.normclarke.com.
