‘Divas’ star Frank Marino in British TV reality series
“Divas Las Vegas” star Frank Marino has flown round trip between Las Vegas and London to film the first part of a British TV reality series that will wrap its final scenes here on the Strip Oct. 7. He’s playing the role of a Vegas show producer who will bring eight big 1980s names from British TV to see if they can make it as today’s superstars in the Entertainment Capital of the World. Yesteryear’s overseas celebrities will live in a valley home while preparing their spotlight appearances. They’ll get one dress rehearsal where judges will help them with critiques and criticism, plus last-minute tips. Then, two hours later, as fish out of water, the has-beens will seek stage stardom all over again. English producer and show designer Andy Walmsley who lives here in Las Vegas is the mastermind of the unique reality production.
TATTOO TITANS:
Our four Las Vegas tattoo artists faced three separate challenges in last night’s (Sept. 5) hourlong “Ink Master” episode on Spike TV — and now are among the five remaining contestants. Christian Buckingham and Noelin Wheeler from Basilica Tattoo and Cleen Rock One and Aaron Is from Golden Skull Tattoo are still standing after creating an American traditional tattoo and executing a marketability challenge to convince customer clients they were successful artists. “The customer is always right” expression was put to the test as the artists sold themselves to their human canvases for the opportunity to tattoo them. The duo from the Empire State tattoo salon in New York was eliminated. Our four local artists are now left battling for the $200,000 cash grand prize and the title of Master Shop.
WICKED WHISPERS & RACY RUMORS:
• Which TV chef is about to announce a second restaurant on the Strip just as I originally hinted. The two venues will literally face each other!
• Former Caesars Palace headliner Shania Twain is getting ready to drop her first studio album in 15 years on Sept. 29 and one of its tracks will be the hauntingly beautiful “Soldier,” which is to be used for the upcoming movie “Thank You For Your Service.” Here’s the tear-jerking trailer on YouTube:
Shania has already teased the highly personal “Life’s About To Get Good,” “Poor Me” and “We Got Something They Don’t” tracks from the new “Now” album.
• As Halloween approaches it’s easy to remember that Michael Jackson used costume themes, disguise and character transformations during his career. Now, despite his death, there’s a new King of Pop album “Scream” set for release Sept. 29. It will contain 13 of Michael’s most electrifying songs, including the only duet between Michael and sister, Janet. His songs “ Torture” and “Somebody’s Watching Me” will appear for the first time on a MJ album. “Scream” also includes the newly created bonus track “Blood on the Dance Floor,” which will be a high-energy, five-song mashup of “Dangerous,” “Leave me Alone” “Is It Scary,” “This Place Hotel” and “Blood” remixed by the White Panda duo. Listen here:
• Ever wanted your portrait on one of those prized caricature portraits that decorate the walls of the Palms restaurant in the Forum Shops? Four of them for your family will be available during the live auction at Saturday night’s (Sept. 9) Dessert Before Dinner Girl Scouts Gala in Caesars Palace. Eight chefs will compete to use this year’s signature Girl Scout cookie for the first time with an imaginative S’mores-inspired dessert. Three top winning chefs will be announced by the judges from Brittany Castro (Paris Las Vegas), Brigette Contreras ( STK at The Cosmopolitan Las Vegas), Michelle Flore (Caesars Palace), Mei Shimizu (Aria), Elizabeth Stolarick (Wynn), Adrienne Toward (Mandalay Bay), Cynthia Werth (Stratosphere) and chef Kristen Hutton (Wolfgang Puck’s Bar and Grill at MGM).
• Before the end of the month, there will be a name change for a roadway just off the Strip to salute a veteran Vegas performer who is flying in from her Paris home with a plane load of fellow French entertainers and journalists. The now 90-year-old singer headlined at the old Dunes hotel in 1963 through 1965 and resumed here again in 1968. Clark County officials gave their approval for the new sign yesterday (Sept. 5). I’ll reveal her name later but I was with her in the French capital the night she tried to sing when the American Secret Service agents guarding President Jimmy Carter accidentally got their radio frequency tangled with hers so their POTUS and FLOTUS protection orders were broadcast in the Casino de Paris theater as the dancers began to shed their clothes and tango topless!
• It’s already being projected to become the ultimate hangout for chefs and kitchen crews: The new Hamptons restaurant opens today (Sept. 6) at Tivoli Village. Finally, the Wild Thyme Restaurant group will shake off the bad luck that dogged celebrity chefs Alex Stratta and Angela Sosa when they opened their venues — and shuttered them — in the same space. Hamptons will serve modern American cuisine with a twist in its two-level industrial chic space. Tip: The avocado fries and peach cobbler are two definite menu order items.
STAR SURVEILLANCE:
• Superstar Usher kicked off the Kevin Hart three-day charity fundraiser at The Cosmopolitan Las Vegas with comedian Dave Chapelle closing out the shows. Kevin performed with hip-hop superstar Jermaine Dupri and rapper Tyga. Kevin raises money to improve the quality of life for children with cancer and for the BrittiCares organization, which designs custom dreamlike bedrooms specific to each child’s wish. Later, Usher turned up at the Nobu restaurant in the Hard Rock Hotel for a sushi and sashimi.
• Actor Chris Rankin, best known for his role in the Harry Potter film franchise with his girlfriend at the Blue Man Group show in the Luxor.
• Champion undefeated boxer Floyd Mayweather made a 3 a.m. appearance at Marquee nightclub in The Cosmopolitan Las Vegas with T-Pain, Damien Wayans, Tyga, Kevin Hart and his wife, Eniko Parrish. Kevin also was spotted at the Tao Beach party in The Venetian and at the TopGolf sports facility behind the MGM.
• Three days of revelry at Drai’s beach club atop The Cromwell brought out such stars as Flo Rida, Ty Dollar $ign, Wiz Khalifa and DJs Rae Sremmurd to enjoy the seven rooftop pools with music by Boombox Central and Adventure Club’s Young Bombs.
TONIGHTS TIPS:
• Jennifer Lopez returns to a new round of her residency at the Axis Theater in Planet Hollywood through Oct. 7.
• Comedy ventriloquist Jeff Dunham returns Achmed the Terrorist and Jose Jalapeno on a stick in concert at the Colosseum in Caesars Palace.
• X marks the spot to raise the roof at the Brooklyn Bowl in the Linq.
• The Cornell Gunter Coasters perform at the Santa Fe Station. Cornell was one of the lead singers of the group until he was killed in 1990 by unknown assailants, but his co-singers ensure his memory lives on.
• Grab a canoe, a kayak or even a dinghy for the sunset Full Moon Paddle party at Lake Las Vegas.
• Whiskey Maiden provides the two-step line-dancing music at Gilley’s in Treasure Island,
• DJ’s Neva and Crooked partner up behind the wheels of steel at Light Nightclub in Mandalay Bay.
