Rat Pack fan has ‘Ocean’s 7’ idea

Music producer Jermaine Dupri is on a mission to bring back The Rat Pack vibe.

Dupri, Janet Jackson's longtime beau, wants to see Las Vegas return to the era when the coolest dudes in town wore tuxes and suits.

He has recruited Usher and Nelly into a group Dupri has dubbed "Ocean's 7," after the Rat Pack movie, "Ocean's Eleven," starring Frank Sinatra (as Danny Ocean), Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Joey Bishop and Peter Lawford.

"Las Vegas is begging for a new breath of energy," Dupri told me in a telephone interview. "I think a lot of people want to see Vegas go back to what it was."

Dupri, usually in a white tuxedo with a black bow tie, and his crew have been the talk of the Las Vegas club scene, with their impromptu singing performances, a la the Rat Pack.

He's hoping to add Bow Wow and "the right girl to play the Ocean's Girl. The big debate with Bow Wow is that he won't dress up. He's 21," said Dupri.

Others in the group include music producer Bryan-Michael Cox, singer/songwriter Trey Songz and four-time Grammy winner Johnta Austin ("the Sinatra of the group," said Dupri), and Tyrone Davis, Dupri's personal assistant.

The new-image idea came together earlier this year when Dupri was producing Usher's new album at the Palms recording studios. Somebody in the group wore a suit one night, and a couple nights later "everybody came in all dressed up and we all went to Lavo. It felt nice."

Dupri's mix tape of the group comes out Friday at www.global14.com. Dupri has big plans for "Ocean's 7:an album, a movie and "the ultimate is a show in Vegas."

MEDIA UPDATE

Jay Leno told entertainment reporter Alicia Jacobs at NBC affiliate KVBC-TV, Channel 3, that he'll have a big surprise during his final "Tonight Show" tonight. His guests include his successor, Conan O'Brien, and singer-songwriter James Taylor. The latter will be Leno's final guest after a 17-year run, a la Bette Midler being Johnny Carson's last guest. ...

Las Vegas Sands chief Sheldon Adelson, in an interview with free-lance writer Steve Friess (VegasHappensHere.com), is blaming the company's crash on former LVS president Bill Weidner, who resigned in March. "Would I have done anything different? Yes, I would've fired Bill Weidner a long time ago. He created a financing situation that was completely inappropriate. Now we're getting financing that's more appropriate." ...

Mike Gilmartin has been named director of public relations at Pure Management Group. He previously headed PR at The Stratosphere for 8 1/2 years. Andy Levey is PMG's new director of relationship marketing. Levey recently married Elizabeth Share, who was understudy for the role of Sophie in the Las Vegas "Mamma Mia!" production at Mandalay Bay. Share just made her Broadway debut this month with "Mamma Mia!" in the role of Sophie.

THE SCENE AND HEARD

Singing sensation Robin Thicke and Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Chaka Khan will perform at the NHL Awards on June 18 at the Palms. Also attending will be Snoop Dogg, Michael Buble and actors William Fichtner, Tricia Helfer and Lauren Holly.

MAY I RECOMMEND

A Las Vegas-style old-fashioned car wash -- featuring the dancers of Sapphire -- will be held from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. today to benefit United Way of Nevada. Located in the Rio's pavilion lot off Twain, near the entrance to the 40th World Series of Poker, the event will include a dunk tank and a McFadden's Irish Pub food booth. Cost: $5 for exterior wash.

SIGHTINGS

Cher impersonator Tiny Bubbles, a 450-pound drag queen, was voted best Joan Rivers look-alike at Annie Duke's Hard Rock Hotel poker benefit Wednesday that featured 20 Rivers impersonators. Frank Marino, who headlined as Rivers in "An Evening at La Cage" at the Riviera for two decades, walked the red carpet with Duke, who finished second in "Celebrity Apprentice" to Rivers. Rivers labeled poker players as "white trash" and "mafia" during "Apprentice." ... Country music star Bryan White, taking in the "Donny & Marie" show Wednesday night at the Flamingo. ... Carlos Santana, having chicken fried steak and eggs at Mr. Lucky's (Hard Rock Hotel) for the seventh time in a row on Thursday. ... Baseball free agent Frank Thomas, celebrating his 42nd birthday Wednesday at N9NE Steakhouse (Palms).

THE PUNCH LINE

"President Obama is in Las Vegas. So if things go well at the tables, General Motors just might make it." -- Jimmy Kimmel

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