Madison says she’s in Vegas for the long haul; ‘Ribbon of Life’ powers through No. 24 at Hilton Theater

By John Katsilometes

Monday, June 14, 2010 | 9:24 a.m.

She has adeptly walked the tightrope between accessibility and overexposure, and you wonder if Holly Madison will run the same around-the-clock schedule five or 10 years from now.

But she doesn't wonder that.

"Five years? No way," she said during a conversation a hair past midnight Sunday after the viewing party for her E! Entertainment reality show "Holly's World," began to unwind. "Hell no!"

Madison has taken on an almost ceaseless schedule since arriving in Las Vegas about 18 months ago. As she noted, it seems she's been in Las Vegas far longer than that, given how quickly she's been ascended to celebrity omnipotence here. During the two-week run-up to the premiere of "Holly's World," she appeared on every and any media outlet that would have her. She's also still starring, in a topless sort of way, in "Peepshow" at Planet Hollywood.

Madison does envision what life will be like post-insanity. She wants to start a family and raise children in Las Vegas, but says, "I haven't been really lucky finding any father candidates yet. Maybe I'll ask Josh (Strickland, her "Peepshow" co-star) to be a sperm donor."

Well, maybe, if you want to name your child "Tarzan."

Madison intends to remain involved in her favorite charities in Las Vegas, including The Animal Foundation and burgeoning Burlesque Hall of Fame. If she wants to build a legacy in Las Vegas beyond her current show on the Strip, those are admirable organizations.

In the show, she's also indicated she might use her fame to enact political change. One subplot in the pilot was her efforts to promote her "More Fun, Less Traffic" platform, and engaged in a pretty funny summit with her sidekick Angel Porrino and Mayor Oscar Goodman at City Hall.

"I would like to be more politically active," she said. "I would have to start at the ground level, though. I'd say I want to be an intern, but Monica Lewinsky ruined that option for everyone."

Can I order up a rimshot here for Miss Madison?

Golden Rainbow's coalition

What I appreciated about Golden Rainbow's 24th annual "Ribbon of Life" fundraiser Sunday afternoon before an audience of about 1,300 at Las Vegas Hilton Theater:

• Running into Siegfried out at Tempo Lounge before the show and asking him if he was nervous about the World Cup match that was about to start. "Which match?" he asked. I said the one pitting his native Germany against Australia. "No interest," he said, which also meant asking if he'd bet on the outcome would be pointless.

Siegfried usually attends these shows and is a famous supporter of "Ribbon of Life," which helps raise money and provide food, shelter and clothing for those afflicted with AIDS and HIV in Southern Nevada. He was with Darren Romeo, protege of Siegfried & Roy who once performed at the Mirage and now is crisscrossing the country with his own magic show.

• The dozens of kids and their show-people parents dancing to a "Grease" medley. At one point a line of motorized toy vehicles was driven onto the stage and we nearly had a 10-kid pileup. But this is a delightful number each year and could be made cuter only if all the kids were to bring out puppies. (A few years ago hotel guests at the Bally's valet were amused to find all of these performers, with their costumed kids, milling around and waiting for their vehicles.)

• Travis Cloer of "Jersey Boys" at Palazzo, Bobby Black of the Las Vegas Tenors, Lani Misalucha of "Voices" at Las Vegas Hilton, and Kristen Hertzenberg of "Phantom — The Las Vegas Spectacular" at Venetian, a few of the city's great vocalists. I've seen these singers in showcases from time to time, especially at Liberace Museum, and they rock-rock-rock the house.

• Paul Spiers, whose demonic brain was responsible for the "Red State Love Song' that featured Pietra Sardelli as Sarah Palin (Sardelli is the daughter of longtime Vegas performer Nelson Sardelli). Sardelli's opening line, "God bless you all! Except for the gays!" A flaying of the far right is a staple of the "Ribbon of Life" production, though these numbers seemed to have more bite when George W. Bush was in office.

• The Viper Vixens, featuring Ottavio Gesmundo firing his crossbow at balloons worn by performing partner Naomi Brenkman (this act was featured a few weeks ago in "Broadway Bares," too) and Maria The SnakeBabe working with what is believed to be an equity boa constrictor.

• Emcee and accomplished drag artist Christopher Kenney as Edie from "Zumanity," introducing members of the Green Valley High School Performing Arts department, who performed a medley from "Rent." Edie mentioned the controversial nature of the number, and that was no joke — some parents tried and failed to halt the performance last year by going to court, citing the show's mature themes. The number fit in perfectly Sunday, though.

The event raised $175,000 for Golden Rainbow. One suggestion on the local AIDS/HIV fundraising front: "Broadway Bares," the Broadway-inspired performers' show that also raises money for the cause, is just a few weeks before "Ribbon of Life." They should give these shows a little more space. I know a few performers who would have liked to have taken part in each but didn't have time to do that.

A stir for Soup

Clint Holmes, Susan Anton, Domenick Allen and Martin Nievera wrapped their quick two-night run in "Vocal Soup" at the Orleans Showroom on Sunday night. Anton and Nievera told a couple of great stories from the stage:

• Competing as Miss California in the 1968 Miss America pageant, Anton was asked by host Bert Parks when would be the right time to get married. "I answered like any other California girl would — when you're pregnant!" Anton said, laughing. She did not win the title, no.

• A native of the Philippines, Nievera said one of the greatest thrills in his career was singing the Filipino national anthem before the Manny Pacquiao-Ricky Hatton bout in May 2009 at MGM Grand Garden Arena (Pacquiao also is from the Philippines and is a national hero there). But Nievera was threatened with criminal action in his home country after he sang a rather "popped-up" version before the fight. The problem: He sang the front part slower, and gave the final phrase a little extra oomph. This is so frowned upon in the Philippines, a country which has not been subjected to national anthems sung by Carl Lewis or Roseanne Barr.

However, though a government official in the Philippines said the rendition was in "bad taste," it was not criminal act. "Call it artistic license exercised in bad judgment, but it is still constitutionally-protected free expression and therefore not subject to criminal prosecution," was the official explanation.

"I was lucky," Nievera said. Holmes added, "In the United States, we change our national anthem ad nauseum." Nievera responded, "Yeah, that's the problem."

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