The Hoff looking into Las Vegas run

David Hasselhoff enjoyed his days -- and nights -- in Las Vegas so much he's looking to relaunch his career here.

The "Baywatch" hunk, who starred in "The Producers" at Paris Las Vegas for three months last year, is working on a one-man show called "Viva Hoff Vegas."

Hasselhoff was in Las Vegas last weekend to promote his hasselhoff.com podcast from his suite at Planet Hollywood Resort.

"It's a fun act," he was quoted as saying in Internet reports. "I had a ball in Vegas with 'The Producers,' and I think Vegas wants to see The Hoff, so I'm putting together a knock-down, drag-out, crazy, make-fun-of-my-life Hoff show that also tells my story.

"It'll be a little about 'Baywatch,' about 'Knight Rider,' about the Wall in Germany. I've got footage of all of this; I've saved everything.

"Then we might do a sexy after-hours show at the Hofbrauhaus, which already offered me the gig."

If that reference is to the Hofbrauhaus Las Vegas and Hasselhoff wasn't misquoted, that's news to Stefan Gastager, managing partner of the beer palace.

"We invited him to come out for a keg tapping and to sing 'Looking For Freedom,' but we've had no contact since," Gastager said. "But he would be welcome any time."

Hasselhoff turned "Looking For Freedom" into a megahit in Germany, where he is an icon. He performed the song at the Berlin Wall in 1989 as the wall was crumbling.

He also was quoted as saying he's working with composer Frank Wildhorn on a rock opera that he would perform with an orchestra in castles around the world.

Wildhorn and Hasselhoff teamed up in the dark, gothic-themed musical "Jekyll & Hyde" on Broadway in 2000.

THE SCENE AND HEARD

Steve Wynn has lured another star chef to Wynn Las Vegas. Larry Forgione, a pioneering chef from New York, will move An American Place into the Tableau space this winter, when Mark LoRusso opens a restaurant at Encore, the new luxury suite hotel at Wynn Las Vegas. "Larry Forgione was one of the first chefs to focus exclusively on American ingredients and cuisine," Wynn said. "His vision and commitment to sustainability paved the way for many of today's chefs." ...

Bette Midler will be the Nevada Ballet Theater's "Woman of the Year" at the Black & White Ball on Jan. 17 at Caesars Palace.

SIGHTINGS

Sting, dancing at The Bank (Bellagio) on Friday after The Police concert at the MGM Grand. ... Robin Williams, joining Cook E. Jarr on stage at Harrah's Carnaval Court on Saturday. ... Former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown, with a blonde at Spago (Forum Shops at Caesars) on Saturday. ... At Tryst (Wynn) on Thursday: LeBron James, and NFL great Jerome Bettis, with fellow Notre Dame alumni Brady Quinn and Braylon Edwards. Also there: Carson Daly and pro athletes Jermaine O'Neal, Al Harrington, Rashard Lewis, Donte Stallworth, and Reuben Droughns. At Tao (Venetian) on Thursday: singing star Josh Groban. ... Checking into Palms Place, separately: James and Chelsea Handler from the E! Network. ... UFC star Chuck Liddell, dining at Simon at Palms Place. ... Members of the Pussycat Dolls (Ashley, Kimberly, Melody, Jessica and Carmit) along with founder and choreographer Robin Antin, visiting the cast of "Love" (Mirage) after attending the 10 p.m. performance Friday. They were in town promoting their new single, "When I Grow Up" at Pure (Caesars Palace) on Friday. ... Hollywood moguls Michael Eisner and Barry Diller, having lunch at Olives at Bellagio on Wednesday. ... Miguel Zarate of Bravo's "Step It Up & Dance," meeting the cast of "Stomp Out Loud" (Planet Hollywood Resort) on Wednesday. ... Astronaut Buzz Aldrin, at the Eiffel Tower Restaurant at Paris Las Vegas.

THE PUNCH LINE

"If Indiana Jones wants to defeat evil, he should go after the oil companies." -- From David Letterman's Top Ten Things Heard in Line to See the New Indiana Jones Movie

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