Osmond ponders resident status

Donny Osmond can see himself in Las Vegas in five years as a resident headliner.

The temptation is there, he admits.

"I've got some ideas I'd like to develop," the 1970s heartthrob said in an interview this week with Steve Friess and Miles Smith, co-hosts of TheStripPodcast.Com.

The Las Vegas crowd wants "a quick show," he said. "It's a different mentality."

"That's why I like the kind of show I bring in. It's all about as much variety in 90 minutes as you can possibly do without bringing in the kitchen sink. You bring in the toys, all that kind of stuff, the production, and then give them some personality and some great music."

His audience has broadened in recent years, said Osmond, who will be at The Orleans Aug. 13-14 for an Osmonds' 50th anniversary PBS special.

"I do concerts and I look out at the audience and primarily it's the 'Puppy Love' audience, the ones who grew up in the '70s with me and the 'Donny & Marie Show.' But because of the Weird Al (video) and appearances on Jimmy Kimmel and Jay Leno, it brings in a wider, different demographic. And they all know me for certain different things."

UFC DUSTUP

Dana White, president of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, is tired of hearing that former champion Tito Ortiz is underpaid.

"He's not the brightest bulb on the porch. He's a complete moron," White said in a recent interview on Fox Sports Radio 1460 with Steve Cofield and The Pig. "What makes it even worse, he doesn't think he is."

Dealing with Jenna Jameson, the porn icon who is Ortiz' girlfriend and manager, is like "double idiot power," said White.

"I'd rather talk to this table right here than have a conversation with that blonde."

THE SCENE AND HEARD

Luxor headliner Criss Angel and Uri Geller will team up on an NBC reality competition series to find the "next great mentalist." The series will be titled "Phenomenon." ...

Five Las Vegas entries are among the 10 finalists in ABC's "The Next Best Thing," which winds up July 25. Tonight's episode will feature the celebrity impersonating finalists. The local entries are: Elvis tribute artists Donny Edwards and Trent Carlini, Cookie Watkins as Tina Turner, Sharon Owens as Barbra Streisand and Sebastian Anzaldo as Frank Sinatra. The others are Natalie Reid (Paris Hilton), John Morgan as President George W. Bush; Suzanne La Rusch as Lucille Ball; Garry Moore as Little Richard; and Roger Kabler as comedian Robin Williams. ...

Former Playmate of the Year Jenny McCarthy will become the first celebrity Bunny dealer at the Playboy Club at the Palms Fantasy Tower. Palms owner George Maloof announced Tuesday that McCarthy joins the dealer staff on Aug. 4 from 9 p.m. to midnight.

SIGHTINGS

Wayne Gretzky, celebrating his 19th wedding anniversary with wife Janet and their children Monday at Fix restaurant (Bellagio.) Gretzky went back to the kitchen to thank the chefs. ... Cleveland Cavaliers star LeBron James, partying Monday with a group at Jet nightclub (The Mirage). ... Oscar De La Hoya and friends at Charlie Palmer Steak (Mandalay Bay) Monday night.

THE PUNCH LINE

"It was so hot today, (Los Angeles) Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa had an affair with Ann Coulter just to cool off." -- Jay Leno

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