ENTERTAINMENT: Manilow wraps at Hilton

  The Las Vegas Hilton announced today that Barry Manilow will wrap his five-year residency on Dec. 30. That fulfills half of a rumored jump to Paris Las Vegas, but no one is confirming a deal there. Nor is it a forgone conclusion that Cheap Trick’s “Sgt. Pepper” tribute is a lock to take over Manilow’s dates at the Hilton.

  The Hilton is the tourist zone’s only venue of 1,600-seat size — bigger than the MGM Grand’s Hollywood Theater, smaller than the Hard Rock or Colosseum at Caesars Palace — that hosts fully produced concert headliners, not just “front of curtain” comedians.

   Manilow’s residency was a Catch 22 in terms of billboards and ads. It was cheaper in the long run to brand him with the Hilton. But as he cut back on his dates, it was harder to communicate that the theater schedule was really more diverse.

  Manilow opened in early 2005 and will end with more than 300 shows there, grossing more than $70 million and pulling in nearly 450,000 people. There's no saying what he will do with the show between now and closing night, but his "In the Swing of Christmas" album hits stores Tuesday, so you might just hear some of it live during his holiday-season dates. But where will he be singing "The Greatest Love Songs of All Time" after that album drops in January?

  Paris has been rumored as Manilow's next destination, and he still seems a safe bet in a recession-battered town for as many dates as he wants to work. However, Review-Journal TV columnist Christopher Lawrence reported Sunday that "So You Think You Can Dance" producer Nigel Lythgoe envisions "American Idol" and "Dance" as a combined spinoff show on the Strip. That idea makes it seem like somebody — whether it's Paris, the HIlton or any other venue — is losing money each day that show isn't open.