Pageants looking for new TV deals

The Miss USA and Miss Universe pageants are looking for new TV deals after being dropped by NBCUniversal.

However, both pageants, a joint venture between NBC and Donald Trump, will stay in the NBC family, according to Missosology, org, a pageant-centric website.

Miss USA has been picked up by NBC-owned Bravo and Miss Universe by Telemundo, which was purchased by NBC in 2002 and is now a part of NBCUniversal.

Neither pageant has announced which cities will serve as host this year. The Miss USA pageant, which has been held at Planet Hollywood Resort in Las Vegas since 2008, is June 3. Miss Universe, held at Sao Paulo, Brazil, will be held in the fall.

Miami Beach has been courting the Miss Universe Organization, which operates the Miss USA pageant as well.

THE SCENE AND HEARD

Boxing legends Leon Spinks, Thomas "Hit Man" Hearns, Earnie Shavers, Chuck Wepner and George Chuvalo will be in the MGM Grand lobby from noon to 2 p.m. today for an autograph fan festival. They are in town for Muhammad Ali's 70th birthday gala at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. The star-studded evening benefits the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health and the Muhammad Ali Center. ...

Author Wendy Mazaros and daughter Amy Hanley are flying to New York City today to film "I Married a Mobster" for the Discovery Channel. Wendy co-authored "Vegas Rag Doll: A True Story of Terror and Survival as the Wife of a Mob Hitman" with Joe Schoenmann. Mazaro was married to Tom Hanley, whose victims included Al Bramlet, head of the Culinary union, in the 1970s. Amy is Hanley's daughter. Full disclosure: The book was published by Stephens Press, which is owned by Stephens Media LLC, owner of the Review-Journal. ...

Ageless standup comedian Sammy Shore, who opened for Elvis at the height of The King's comeback, hosts the Funny Bones comedy show on Sunday at the Palms. The show, a benefit for local animal shelters, starts at 3 p.m., with tickets going for $29.50. The lineup includes George Wallace, Louie Anderson, Vinnie Favorito, Hal Sparks, Rick Fagno, Zowie Bowie and Geechy Guy. ...

Correction: Meyer Lansky II, mentioned here on Friday in the Mob Museum item, is the grandson of Meyer Lansky.

SIGHTINGS

Bruno Mars, performing as special guest for a crowd at Pure (Caesars Palace) that included the Sports Illustrated swimsuit models and host Mario Lopez of "Extra." Later the models, including 19-year-old cover girl Kate Upton, capped their 48-hour Las Vegas visit at The Bank (Bellagio).

THE PUNCH LINE

"A man in Ireland was arrested with more than 500 pounds of marijuana. So I guess there is a little pot at the end of the rainbow." -- Jimmy Fallon.

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