The one and only Wonder Woman, Lynda Carter, has a new business venture. She unveiled Bally’s new “Wonder Woman” slot machines at the Global Gaming Expo in Las Vegas. She also autographed photos of herself as “Wonder Woman” for fans. The slot machines are based on her TV character and we presume she gets a healthy cut of the profits. Lynda, 63, still performs as a singer occasionally.
Photo Credit: Pacific Coast News
Bill Murray has often been dismissed as a grouchy old guy – and indeed he has his moments. But he was a real hero last weekend in Las Vegas for a friend in need. Back in the 1970’s Bill and chef Kerry Simon worked at a Little Caesar’s pizza parlor in Chicago. They both found success – Bill as a comic on Saturday Night Live and Kerry worked his way up to head chef at The Plaza hotel In the 90’s. That’s when we met him – he was handsome and a major celebrity in New York. We’re sorry to hear that Kerry is now battling an incurable condition called Multiple Systems Atrophy (MSA) and he held a big fund-raiser to Fight MSA in Las Vegas. His old friend Bill Murray showed up and couldn’t do enough – he entertained and socialized and posed for photos with everyone. Review Journal reporter Norm Clarke couldn’t stop raving about him. Bill helped Kerry raise $550,000 for MSA.
Photo: Norm Clarke
Britney Spears’ handlers must be rather nervous about her headlining a huge Las Vegas extravaganza. On December 27 she starts her three shows a week schedule and the pressure is enormous for her. To make her feel more secure they’ve hired a massive entourage to be with her at all times and attend to every detail, She has a chef, a personal trainer, an assistant, a driver, a voice coach, plus hair, makeup and wardrobe people, and extra security – for the first time in her career. Everybody is there to make sure she is ready and able to perform.
Photo Credit: Pacific Coast News
Britney Spears is just in the process of settling into Las Vegas – she got a huge welcome as she prepared to start her two year residency performing there. So far so good, but she’s already starting to get slightly hoarse. Tomorrow the syndicated show The Doctors will talk about the possibility of her suffering from Vegas Throat. This condition has been described as an asthma-like bronchitis caused by a combination of the dry climate, powerful air conditioning, and smokey casinos. Back in 2009, Cher was out of commission with this disorder and had to cancel dozens of shows. Maybe that’s why so many singers lip-synch in Las Vegas.
Liam Hemsworth isn’t exactly suffering since Miley Cyrus unfriended him and called off their engagement this weekend. According to Norm Clarke of the Las Vegas Review-Journal, he spent the weekend partying in Las Vegas at pre-fight events before attending the Floyd Mayweather fight. Liam was with Jeff Beacher, responsible for Beacher’s madhouse in Hollywood, and “Twilight’s” Ashley Greene. He DID avoid cameras when he went to the fight.
(Above, Liam in “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire“)
AEG is trying to talk David Bowie into returning to the stage on a long term basis in Las Vegas. Several venues are very interested, according to Norm Clarke. Bowie, 66, has been “retired” since 2004 so it’s high time for another comeback. After all, he has his new album “The Next Day” to promote, and a grueling world tour doesn’t sound appealing. With a Las Vegas residential gig, he could become the Frank Sinatra of the Baby Boom generation.
Above, Bowie and Tilda Swinton in a scene from his video for The Stars (Are Out Tonight.)
Brad Pitt surprised visitors at CinemaCon in Las Vegas last week when appeared to promote his zombie movie “World War Z.” The next day Brad, Angelina and all the kids descended upon the Bonanza Gifts shop according to Norm Clarke, and spent 45 minutes picking out a remote control zombie among other toys, snowglobes, and gifts for the family. Later that day Brad took Angie for a special date to the Strip Gun Club. The club refused to divulge any details but did say that both Brad and Angie had a great time shooting. Keep in mind, Brad spent around $400,000 on a shooting range with pop-up silhouette targets for Angelina located in their estate in France. Apparently guns are a fun sport or maybe an aphrodisiac for both – remember there were plenty of firearms on the set of “Mr and Mrs. Smith” when they met.
In the course of reading about Las Vegas entertainer Wayne Newton and his bankruptcy and eviction problems, we were shocked to see a recent photo of the Danke Schoen singer. If he’s not a poster child for too much male plastic surgery, we don’t know who IS. Back in the day, he competed with Elvis Presley to be top dog on Las Vegas. Which made us ponder- what if Elvis were still alive- would HE have been pushed into having extensive surgical enhancement and be as unrecognizable as Wayne Newton? Probably.
#nobu #robertdeniro #janetcharlton
Robert DeNiro is keeping busy in Las Vegas where he’s filming the movie we told you about called “Las Vegas,” which is described as the “geriatric version of The Hangover.” DeNiro stars with Morgan Freeman, Michael Douglas and Kevin Kline. Besides catching the Beatles “Love” show at The Mirage with Douglas, he’s keeping an eye on construction of the new Nobu Hotel of which he is a shareholder. The Japanese inspired boutique hotel consists of 181 rooms and suites within Caesars Palace, anchored by a posh Nobu restaurant. Everything has a Japanese edge – from the décor, to the exotic drinks in the minibar, to the bento boxes for breakfast. DeNiro says they are aiming for a customers who like Japanese food.
#liberace #barbrastreisand #janetcharlton
Barbra Streisand is in Las Vegas this weekend and the Las Vegas Review-Journal’s Norm Clarke reminisced about her FIRST appearance there in 1963. She was the OPENING ACT for Liberace from July 2 to Aug 4 in 1963 at the Riviera. The ladies who adored Liberace didn’t warm up to Barbra, then 21, and her first two nights were disastrous. So Liberace started introducing her at the beginning of the show as his “discovery” and raved about her talent. After that great buildup people started paying attention to Barbra, and the rest is history.