Oldies revue put on ice temporarily

A preliminary injunction issued in Los Angeles last week put a temporary stop to a Sahara oldies revue that includes former members of The Temptations.

Producer Bill Caron said he hopes to have the show — which also features The Platters and Cornell Gunter’s Coasters — back up and running by Monday. He was working to determine whether the Temptations tribute would be replaced or carry on with different billing.

The group had been billed as "Legendary Lead Singers of The Temptations" before U.S. District Court Judge Gary Feess ruled the Temptations name infringed upon a trademark held by Otis Williams, the last surviving member of the group’s most famous "classic five" lineup.

The Sahara group included, usually not at the same time, Glenn Leonard, Damon Harris, G.C. Cameron and Barrington Henderson. The latter was involved in previous litigation with Williams after his 2003 dismissal from the group.

Caron said the group has used the billing for four years. "It wasn’t until it came to Las Vegas that it came under the microscope," he said.

"We try to stop every infringement, but it’s difficult to track down or sue these groups when they play single engagements all around the country," Williams’ attorney, Richard Trugman, stated in a press statement. "But when they start doing nightly shows in a major hotel, and putting up billboards on the Las Vegas Strip, it’s pretty hard for them to hide."

When the injunction was issued late in the day Friday, the producer — who is not one of the three defendants — said he had no time to do anything but cancel shows. Carrying on with the other two groups wouldn’t have been fair to audiences, he said.

The injunction doesn’t stop the group from performing, but only from using "The Temptations" in its billing. "Going back and getting a (new) name everybody likes is certainly a possibility," Caron said. But conveying who they are to customers would be a challenge "if you can’t say who they are."

The Temptations tribute replaced a Drifters spinoff after similar legal squabbles. Finding yet a third alternative may be easier said than done. …

After hanging tough in two nongaming venues for a year and a half, "The Soprano’s Last Supper" will land in the Riviera Comedy Club on Jan. 31; the last show at the Empire Ballroom is Jan. 22. Steve Schirripa, who booked the comedy club before he became famous on "The Sopranos," is supposed to show up for a grand opening Feb. 12.

The interactive affair will have an early 6 p.m. time slot, not affecting the usual stand-up shows. There will be two ticket prices — $65 and $95 before taxes and add-ons — and those who want to dine with the cast for the higher price can do so at 5 p.m. in the appropriately authentic Ristorante Italiano, one of the rare places on the Strip to retain the same retro decor it had when Frank Sinatra dined there.

The show is much changed from the one that opened in Krave nightclub in May 2006, said Maggie Cupp, who produces the effort directed by her husband, Ryan Sands. The show still parodies the HBO hit, and she estimates 90 percent of ticket buyers come in as fans of the series.

Most of the 13 cast members also perform in "Joey and Maria’s Comedy Italian Wedding," which will remain at the Empire for the time being. Potential replacements for "Sopranos" at the Empire include a magic-themed murder mystery dinner show. …

It’s going to be a crowded marquee when Martin Nievera joins the Society of Seven and Lani Misalucha for two months as a special guest, starting Feb. 13. The Filipino pop star took quite a beating last summer at Steve Wyrick’s theater in the Shops at Miracle Mile. Nievera’s father, Roberto, was one of the Society’s original members, and he grew up watching the show band. …

Toxic Audio, a comic a cappella quartet that has played off-Broadway, settles into the V Theater at Miracle Mile on Jan. 26. The group replaces "Fab Four Mania" in the theater’s lineup, but at a different time (9 p.m.) than the Beatles tribute that moved to the Sahara.

David Saxe, who oversees "Fab Four Mania" at the Sahara, said he is taking over as producer of the theater’s companion show, Trent Carlini’s "The Musical History of the King." He said he plans to add more production show elements to the effort formerly helmed by Joey Battig.

"Fab Four Mania" and a rival Beatles tribute at the Four Queens now have something in common: Both have parted company with the same producer, Jerry Peluso. But Peluso owns the trademark for the name "Fab Forever," so the Four Queens group had to change its name to "4 Lads from Liverpool."

After a week off, the show returned with the new name on Sunday with help from John Bentham, who oversees "Defending the Caveman" at the nearby Golden Nugget.

Bentham was holding meetings earlier this week to determine the club’s viability for a possible murder mystery dinner show and a hypnotist.

Mike Weatherford’s entertainment column appears Thursdays and Sundays. Contact him at 383-0288 or e-mail him at mweatherford@reviewjournal.com.