A careening look back at a year in blogging in The Kats Report

By John Katsilometes

Friday, Jan. 1, 2010 | 6 p.m.

So the year ends with me sequestered on consecutive nights in two unalike lodging posts: The Best Western Paradise Inn in Nephi, Utah, on Wednesday, during a rugged drive back from holidays with the family in Idaho; and The Rio in Las Vegas on New Year's Eve. It figures I'd work from both spots in this year of writing from strange places, including sports books (especially Suncoast), diners (especially Binion's Cafe), coffee bars (including Seattle's Best at the South Point), real bars (Beano's, the expansion of which I helped finance in the five years after I moved to Vegas) and even Las Vegas Athletic Club. It is not easy working from a laptop while jogging on a treadspill. Er, treadmill.

On New Year's Eve it was Wetzel's Pretzels at The Rio as I awaited a spin at the top of the main tower, command central for the "America's Party" fireworks show. This was the event during which explosives were fired from seven Strip rooftops during a cleverly timed 7-minute, 11-second explode-a-thon set to such rocking tunes as Gloria Estefan's "Will You be Mine (Party Time)," the theme from "Star Wars" and "God Bless America."

Downtown it was a visit from Mayor Oscar Goodman and a fleet of cover bands (including the inspired Fan Halen) for TributePalooza, and can we agree that maybe the use of "Palooza" should be retired as we enter a new year and decade. That term is so overused. It's ClichePalooza.

But during the time away and upon return, I had ample time to ponder the year past. Warming your feet at the fire provides ample opportunity to ponder, and here are some of the moments and asides that made 2009 a year unto itself:

Show I would list as Show of The Year if I were to build such a list: Paul McCartney, opening weekend at The Joint.

Show I would list as a very close second: Beyonce at Encore Theater.

Near the bottom of that list if I were to give a top-to-bottom list: Britney Spears.

How many words did Spears actually utter to the crowd during her 90-minute performance: Fewer than 10.

You know who is hot! Hot, I tell you? Marie Osmond.

Czar of downtown Las Vegas: Downtown Cocktail Room owner Michael Cornthwaite.

What Mayor Goodman said on New Year's Eve 2008 about running for governor: That he was encouraged about his chances to win because his own poll showed him performing quite well statewide.

What Mayor Goodman is saying now about running for governor: The only poll that matters is the one at Costco.

Do I think he's going to run? No.

What about Carolyn Goodman run for mayor of Las Vegas? Maybe.

Think they'll both run for office next year? No.

My thoughts about Motley Crue's final show at The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel and it's subsequent appearance during CrueFest at the new Joint: I cannot hear you.

Revelation that, upon closer examination, wasn't such a revelation after all: That Andre Agassi wore a hairpiece during his playing career.

A real revelation:That he snorted crystal meth during that career.

A good idea that is not happening: Harrah's exec Don Marrandino returning to Vegas to run Planet Hollywood.

Something to know about Scott "Carrot Top" Thompson: He was once in talks to portray Curley in a feature film about the Three Stooges, a project that never came to be.

Whenever I am in Idaho, Las Vegan I am most asked about is:Sun Belt Communications head Jim Rogers, who owns the NBC affiliate KPVI Channel 6 in Pocatello and Idaho Falls and has donated millions to Idaho State. It's like, "You've interviewed Jim Rogers?" He's an icon in those parts.

Popular question during this holiday season? "Is that CityCenter going to survive?"

Poignant moment from Wayne Newton: The way he unwinds after rough days is to walk alone to the stalls at Casa de Shenandoah and sit with his Arabian horses.

Something I say on Dec. 1, 2010 that would have made no sense on Dec. 1, 2000: I keep getting pitched on my Facebook wall.

Publicist who might need his own publicist: Dave Kirvin.

A line Danny Gans gave to Donny Osmond: When Donny is cheered during "Puppy Love," he says, "I still got it." Osmond still uses it in the show at Flamingo.

Something to know about Holly Madison: While interviewing her in June, she said her favorite Vegas production was "Superstars of Magic" at Las Vegas Club and she was not kidding.

Hilarious, heretofore unreported from the whiz-bang Madison profile from June: We went to "Jubilee" at Bally's, to check out the lone Vegas adult production remaining that helped inspire "Peepshow." The next day, word seeped out that the cast was really curious as to why Holly Madison was in the audience.

A once-great show whose time, sad to say, had really passed "Folies Bergere" at Tropicana, which barely had the legs to finish its 49-year run.

My favorite CityCenter design effect: The David Rockwell-designed tree house structure that surrounds the concierge desk on the ground level at Crystals, and is home to Mastro's Ocean Club restaurant on the second level.

Wow, didn't see that one coming: The Luv-It Custard/Mindy Kaling controversy.

Downtown hotel projects worth checking out: Rush Tower at Golden Nugget and Cabana Suites at El Cortez.

Still waiting... for definitive word on when Star Trek Experience will open at Neonopolis, a concept that at the moment seems a galaxy away.

My crystal ball says: A familiar performer in Las Vegas is going to expand the horizons and become a rising star as a singing impressionist.

Another note from The Ball: A production featuring many musicians and music we all love will take up residency at a Strip showroom.

Prophetic quote: From then-UNLV football coach Mike Sanford, during an appearance on "Our Metropolis," when asked how big the upcoming game at UNR would be. "We have not won this game in the four years I've been here. This game is big. It's a huge game for us." The Rebels lost, 63-28, and Sanford has since been let go in favor of former Montana coach Bobby Hauck.

Why I won a bet on the UNLV-UNR game: I caught the Rebels at plus-35 ½.

Great site: Meeting Bill Clinton at Sam Boyd Stadium with U2's "Claw" stage in the background.

Hey, good for us for not rioting:The Las Vegas Locomotives won the inaugural UFL championship.

A guy who had a great close to 2009: Sam Boyd and Thomas & Mack Center Director Daren Libonati, who brought in U2 (and a record-breaking crowd of more than 43,000) to Sam Boyd, along with the always turnstile-turning NFR at the T&M.

Curveball of the Year: From Steve Wynn, whose mention of his past as a team roper on Ralph Lamb's ranch led to a great interview. "I got thrown over a steer once and was hit by a horn — pop! It was a very physical sport, and you don't last long in it. I was in it for about five years," said Wynn, who also disclosed that noted rodeo buff Jimmy Caan was "a great heeler."

Fashion Statement of the Year:The onstage hoodie worn by Garth Brooks.

Place to visit, I hear: The renovated Gold Spike.

We need more of his type in these parts: Las Vegas Art Museum board president Patrick Duffy, working to resurrect a museum that closed in February.

Someone who loves the city maybe as much as I do: Las Vegas native and artist Jerry Misko.

It's but a wee problem: The red-tiled pillars leading out of the Fremont Street Experience garage to the street itself are always stained with urine.

Leading candidate for Most Improved Resort for 2010: Tropicana, with Alex Yemenidjian, Tom McCartney and Tom Recine doing the required gutting and revamping.

A man entering 2010 in a fury of singleness: Zowie Bowie's Chris Phillips.

Whoa, are we in Vegas or what? B.B. King opened his blues club at The Mirage by performing with Steve Cropper, Buddy Guy and Robert Cray.

And across the hall, you can hear crappy dance music... from The Beatles Revolution Lounge.

Contact high! At the Dave Matthews-Tim Reynolds acoustic show at Planet Hollywood Theatre for the Performing Arts.

Strip Newcomer of the Year:Frank Caliendo at Monte Carlo.

Something I didn't believe I would be doing in 2009 that I actually did: Interview all four children stars of "The Lion King" for KNPR's "State of Nevada."

Why that show worked:I kept my mouth shut, mostly.

Choir of the year: The Las Vegas Mass Choir, which performed during President Obama's appearance at The Colosseum at Caesars and again at the Jerry Lewis MDA Labor Day Telethon at South Point.

Funniest show of the year: Robin Williams at MGM Grand Garden, beating by one guffaw Lewis Black at The Mirage.

Prop of the Year: Carrot Top's inspired "Balloon Boy" paper-doll cutout tied to a silver helium balloon.

Still working out the kinks: Criss Angel's "Believe" at Luxor.

Best opening party: Maybe of the whole decade, the opening of Mandarin Oriental at CityCenter. God we looked nice. It's fun to dress up once in a while. Amazing view, too.

Best moment of 2009, hands down, bar none: The Frankie Moreno Band, joined by members of the Las Vegas Philharmonic and Air Supply's Graham Russell (and even Elvis impressionist Harry Shahoian) for a rowdy late-night party at Golden Nugget's Rush Lounge. A night that reminded, even in the rocky year that was 2009, Las Vegas is the best.

Follow John Katsilometes on Twitter at twitter.com/JohnnyKats.