Welcome mat out for Dion, Jackson

The return of Celine Dion and the revival of Michael Jackson's career were hot topics on Wednesday at a Caesars Palace event.

This much was clear when questions stopped flying: the door is wide open for both at Caesars Palace, which appears to have the inside track based on their relationships with Dion, her husband/manager Rene Angelil and Jackson.

But Caesars Palace president Gary Selesner and John Meglen, co-CEO and president of AEG Live/Concerts West, were choosing their words carefully after inviting the media to an event marking the six-year anniversary of the Colosseum.

Selesner said there is no question that Dion misses Las Vegas.

He said he met with Dion during her world tour stop in Shanghai and "she told me she misses life and performing in Las Vegas as compared to life on a long world tour. She told me someday she looks forward to returning to the life of living and performing in Las Vegas."

He added, "The door is always open for her return at Caesars Palace."

"I believe Celine and Rene would love to see it happen," Meglen said.

Concerts West, a touring arm of AEG Live oversees programming at the 4,100-seat venue where Dion had over 700 sellouts during her 41/2-year run.

Meglen suggested it was premature to discuss the possibility of Jackson committing to a headliner gig in Las Vegas.

AEG has been the catalyst behind Jackson's comeback in London, where he is planning 50 concerts over the next 11 months.

"We want him to see this as an option," said Meglen. "But let him get his legs underneath him and moonwalk a bit."

On another subject, Meglen said AEG remains committed to partnering with Harrah's Entertainment, the parent of Caesars Palace, on a major arena that would be built behind Bally's.

But, because of the current financial issues, "It's setting on the back burner on low."

SCENE AND HEARD

AEG'S Meglen was stunned Monday when he saw a photo in the Los Angeles Times of the single-engine plane crash in Butte, Mont., that killed all 14 people aboard. He was raised near the cemetery where the Pilatus PC-12 crashed just short of the airport. The more he studied the photo, he told me, the more he was convinced the crash scene was near his family's grave sites. ...

A six-month exhibit from the Basketball Hall of Fame based in Springfield, Mass., will be unveiled at Planet Hollywood Resort on April 3, in time for the crush of March Madness visitors in town for the Final Four. The exhibit is currently being assembled on the mezzanine at Planet Hollywood. The Final Four semifinals take place April 4 in Detroit's Ford Field, with the finals on Monday, April 6. Among the items on display will be the basketball Wilt Chamberlain used in the game in which he scored his 20,881 point to break Bob Pettit's NBA career scoring record in 1966. A LeBron James jersey will be among the loaned items as well. ...

"Sex and the City" heartthrob Gilles Marini and Cheryl Burke are the updated pick to win "Dancing With the Stars," according to John Avello, director of the race and sports book at Wynn Las Vegas. They opened at 18-1 but are now listed at 3-1, slight choices over late-addition Melissa Rycroft and her partner Tony Dovolani, who jumped to 7-2 after opening at 14-1. Olympics gymnastic star Shawn Johnson and Mark Ballas are the third selection, at 5-1, which was their opening number. David Allen Grier and Kym Johnson, the opening favorites at 4-1, have fallen to 22-1. Avello's odds are for entertainment purposes only, not for wagering.

SIGHTINGS

Comedian Andrew "Dice" Clay, standing in line with an iced coffee at Terrible's at Sahara and Decatur on Wednesday afternoon. ... Mickey Thomas and Stephanie Calvert from the band Starship, performing a short medley of their hit songs during Terry Fator's show (Mirage) Tuesday. Thomas and Calvert will be joining Fator's shows through Saturday. ... MTV's "Nitro Circus" star Travis Pastrana racing with friends at Pole Position Raceway on Tuesday night. Pastrana is in town for this weekend's Monster Jam at Sam Boyd Stadium. He's a team owner

THE PUNCH LINE

"(President Barack) Obama was on TV saying Americans are angry. We are angry. But we don't want a press conference -- we want to see Obama pelting AIG executives with a sock full of quarters shouting, 'Here's change we can believe in!' " -- Craig Ferguson

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