Not only has “Gold Rush” become the No. 1 rated show for the Discovery Channel, but now that the new eighth season has debuted, it became the No. 1 show on all of television last Friday night. And Las Vegas played a central role in that premiere when gold miner Todd Hoffman was filmed a year ago placing a $100,000 wager against fellow reality co-star Parker Schabel during the Con Expo convention.
It’s an only in Las Vegas story of homelessness to stardom: When the new single “Champagne Clouds” is released Friday please be aware it has nothing to do with my old tagline of “Champagne Wishes and Caviar Dreams” on “Lifestyles of the Rich & Famous.” It’s the title of an extraordinary song that’s setting Vegas singer Malia on the road to super success.
Two hot-shot Vegas auto racers will do battle against 350 drivers from 18 countries at next month’s tough and rugged 50th anniversary of the treacherous Baja 1000. Rob MacCachren, 52, who has won four runs of the brutal course, and ballistic B.J. Baldwin, who is a seven-time national off-road racing champion, will compete in the experience that will actually start here at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Halloween Eve with the qualifying races.
Hard Rock made that celebrity culture more accessible by bringing everyone into close proximity with the things rock stars owned, wore, played. When the Hard Rock Hotel opened in Las Vegas in 1995, it brought that celebrity culture up-close, not only through the memorabilia, but live, in person.
With pop princess Britney Spears donating artistic work she has just painted and “Mindfreak” magician Criss Angel having his Luxor audience light up their cellphones,VegasCares is turning into what could be called “Night of 100 Stars.”
More than 8,000 fans, including 3,000 first responders, turned out for A Night of Healing last evening (Oct. 19) with Fox News TV host Sean Hannity introducing the country stars, who performed at The Orleans Arena. Among those who put on special presentations were Big Rich, who played the Rt 91 Harvest Festival concerts before the gun massacre. Others included Rascall Flatts, Sierra Black and blue-collar comedian Ron White. Garth Brooks sent a video message of support to the first responders who were saluted at the tribute.
Master magician Lance Burton has been officially retired from his 15-year-run at the Monte Carlo since September 2010. But every now and again, he slips back into Merlin’s cloak to perform mind-blowing magic to raise funds for charity. This weekend he’ll be making special appearances three times daily today Oct. 20-22 for our Zelzah Shriners.
The world’s greatest collector car auction gets underway all day today (Oct. 19) at Mandalay Bay with Barrett-Jackson unveiling valuable classic automobiles up for sale through Saturday night. It marks the 10th year for the world’s leading auto auction to call Las Vegas home. Millions of dollars will pass under the auctioneer’s hammer. The excitement in the auction arena easily rivaled anything our neon-bedecked city could offer.
Newly weds Larry and Jen Rudolph are expanding their XCycle sports fitness operation in Boca Park. And its not even a year old yet! Not only have they opened the next-door Xen Xen yoga fitness studio with renowned instructor Dray Gardner but they’ve bought his Silent Savasana classes that have revolutionized yoga coast to coast with thousands of people taking part in his unique mass public experiences.
In the midst of the Harvey Weinstein Hollywood “casting couch” scandal, a new furor broke out this morning (Oct. 17) when former “Pussycat Dolls” dancer and singer Kaya Jones outrageously claimed that the group was a “prostitution ring.” Founder Robin Antin, a regular well-known Vegas visitor and the original manager of singer Matt Goss at the Palms and Caesars Palace promptly slammed the accusations with strongly worded denials saying: “They are dsgusting ridiculous lies.” Robin claimed in her rebuttal of the charges that Kaya was a “Pussycat” reject who was never a member of the group and just looking for 15 minutes of fame.
Property Brother reality series star Drew Scott, currently appearing on “Dancing with the Stars,” is marrying his fiancée Linda. And the duo is not only moving from Las Vegas to Los Angeles but they are turning their new honeymoon house into yet another TV reality series. HGTV cable has contracted for a five-episode series of their massive renovation of the couple’s first home together and it will premiere on Nov. 22 when they are under the gun to complete the makeover in time to host their pre-wedding party!
This coming Friday (Oct. 20) at The Orleans is the second date of world-renowned violinist Andre Rieu’s latest American tour. His first date is in Phoenix on Thursday, (Oct. 19).
Beatles drummer Ringo Starr is competing with himself on the Strip, starting tonight (Oct. 13). He’s one of the Fab Four in the Beatles show “Love” by Cirque du Soleil at The Mirage and simultaneously starts an eight-performance run with his All Starr Band at Planet Hollywood.
When Latin American celebrity chef Lorena Garcia first came to Las Vegas seven years ago she had no idea she would one day be here with her own restaurant. Lorena came to shoot the “Top Chef” cooking show challenge but en route to the remote studio set up in The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas she passed by The Venetian where a wall displayed a lineup of all male celebrity icons.
Celebrity chef and Food Network star Giada De Laurentiis, confirmed yesterday (Oct. 11) that she’s set to open her second Vegas restaurant, Pronto by Giada, directly across the Strip at Caesars Palace in late January. The news confirms my earlier first rumor from last summer that she’s expanding her foothold with food in Vegas. She says Pronto will offer guests her signature Italian fare with California influences but in a fast, casual format.
