After all these years, Penn Jillette still a fan of AFAN

By John Katsilometes

Friday, Aug. 21, 2009 | 6:01 p.m.

So, Penn Jillette, how long has it been since you’ve been the spokesman for Aid for AIDS of Nevada (AFAN)?

“Ten years,” he says. “Ten or 37.”

Why did you choose this particular cause and organization?

“The same reason Jerry Lewis chose muscular dystrophy,” he says.

Which is …

“I have no idea.”

He finally adds, “Sometimes you fall into things and you have no idea why.”

The speaking, juggling and tall half of Penn & Teller sort of just wings the answers and shoehorns opinions into the conversation whether invited or not. He’s a lot of fun to talk with, actually, and he’s a good fit as one of AFAN’s chief supporters in that he’s such a lightning rod for attention. Jillette is the type you’d take even if he were not famous and worked as a valet or casino host. He and Teller will be onsite walking the perimeter of the pool and otherwise appearing Saturday night at the 23rd annual AFAN Black & White Party at the Hard Rock Hotel Beach Club Pool.

Celebs who are scheduled to be on hand and perform include Charo (the actual Charo, not an impression-ista), Pepper MaShay (of the “Queer As Folk” anthem “Dive in the Pool”), the double-barreled X empire (women from “X Burlesque” at Flamingo and “Men of X” at Hooters), stunningly resilient Joan Rivers impressionist Frank Marino and comic-magician Nathan Burton. The show starts at 9 p.m. and is scheduled to end at 1 a.m.; this year guests are encouraged to wear pink (the color, not the artist). The event started many years ago as a simple house party for which guests were asked to bring canned goods to support the then-burgeoning organization. Food is still involved, of course. Restaurants setting up eating stations include Ago, Rare 120 and Pink Taco from the Hard Rock Hotel. The Cupcakery, PF Chang’s, Sushi Roku, BOA Steakhouse, The Cookie Zoo, Dos Cominos, Brio Tuscan Grill and Outback Steakhouse are among other eateries setting up onsite. Imbibers can be sated by liquor offered by Ketel One (some of us just can’t stop at Ketel One) and Montecristo Rum. The cost for all this is $35.

An avowed and vociferous atheist, Jillette’s philanthropic message has been that people should help people in need, period. “Why AFAN is important to us, one reason, it’s secular and not political. It really is about helping people,” he said. “I don’t think there’s anything mysterious about it. I don’t know if I’ve met someone who doesn’t like helping other people. In AFAN, we get to see firsthand the kind of changes it makes in other people’s lives. That’s just really good.”

Kings of Leon

I’d not delved into the music catalog -- which is to say, I’d not listened to any music by -- Kings of Leon until this month. These guys just crack you over the head with hook-laden rock ’n’ roll. Wednesday night, as they ripped into what is their biggest hit, “Sex on Fire,” during a sold-out performance at The Joint, I couldn’t help but think of the original Creedence Clearwater Revival. Kings of Leon has that kind of no-frills punch. KOL, made up of three brothers (Caleb, Nathan and Jared Followill) and a cousin (Matthew Followill), were named for their Pentecostal preacher father who stormed the South spreading the Word with the three brothers in tow. After their full-sprint performance, a Hard Rock exec texted me saying the show was one of the top five ever at The Joint -- including the old place. It was definitely one of the best shows I’ve seen that I didn’t expect to like so much, if that makes sense.

More from a night at a rock show, and elsewhere:

At the balcony bar at The Joint, I ran into Graham Russell of Air Supply (the tall blond one) and Frankie Moreno, who heads the terrific Frankie Moreno Band that plays the Golden Nugget Rush Lounge and backs Russell on tour. The two were talking up Odds On Studio in Green Valley, where Air Supply has been recording its latest CD. … Ushers say the Kings of Leon crowd was the best-behaved of any at the new Joint. Avenged Sevenfold’s fans on the opposite end of that spectrum, still. … Top six events at the new Joint: Paul McCartney, The Killers, No Doubt, KOL, Crue Fest 2, “Pinoy Power 2” fight card. … Earlier today, we conducted a video interview with Don Marrandino (president of the Flamingo, Harrah’s, O’Shea’s, Imperial Palace and Bill’s Gamblin' Hall & Saloon) and Rick Mazer, the exec the company is moving from Hammond (Ind.) Horseshoe to take Marrandino’s place when the latter heads off to an expanded role in Atlantic City. As Marrandino talked of how much he would miss Las Vegas, he got a little verklempt. I’ve not seen him that way. … Mazer is a well-suited straight talker who seems quite capable of articulating a message and balancing the books. He learned the gaming biz from Jack Binion, one of his business inspirations. … After we all chatted, I was asked by a lot of casino employees, “What’s he like?” speaking of Mazer. He’s been here just three days and is heading back to Indiana tomorrow morning, still something of a mythic figure among the staff. One question he seemed not to care for was, “Would you feel comfortable walking the red carpet with Donny & Marie?” His answer was, in effect, he knows a lot of celebs and is looking forward to meeting those two. Mazer has not seen a single show on the Strip yet. That will be something of a learning curve for someone stepping in for one of the city’s more astute entertainment minds.

Update at 6:15 p.m. Saturday Because of inclement weather, the AFAN event has been moved to The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel. It still begins at 9 p.m.