Jeff Timmons bridges 98 Degrees, hoops and Chippendales; David Cassidy has ideas about Vegas return

By John Katsilometes

Wednesday, May 11, 2011 | 7:18 p.m.

Across the table sat Jeff Timmons, a founding member of 98 Degrees and, for a time, a guest star of the adult male production Chippendales at the Rio.

Yet somehow, the conversation started not with how and why Timmons decided to spend some of his on-the-clock time with a bunch of oily dancers donning leather trou.

Instead, the ’90s era pop sensation bemoaned LeBron James’ inflammatory exit from the Cleveland Cavaliers to the Miami Heat. This conversation started without warning because Timmons hails from Canton, Ohio, and Tricia McCrone is from Cleveland. And McCrone is in play here because she co-hosts “Kats With the Dish,” which gives her a suitable platform to ask a member of 98 Degrees about NBA free agency.

Thus, two-thirds of those in the conversation had an interest in how and why James left the Cavaliers and signed with the Heat last off season, and McCrone swiftly asked Timmons if he is still a fan of the Cavs.

“I was, I was. But I am not,” Timmons said. When asked about James, he said, “I am disappointed in LeBron James. … I am in the entertainment business, and at the end of the day, fans think that you owe them something specifically, and you do -- great entertainment. But the way he left was very arrogant, in the way he presented it.”

Timmons, who said he understood James’ desire to win an NBA title with a better cast of players, also assessed James’ performance in last year’s NBA playoffs by saying, “He quit. He quit.” Never mind that James and the Heat just whipped the Celtics 4-1 to advance to the Eastern Conference finals of the NBA playoffs.

As the sports talk indicates, it was a pretty freewheeling, lacking-in-focus, interview segment, which you can link to at LasVegasSun.com/katsreport. We did get around to why Timmons is onstage with Chippendales beginning Thursday and running through June 5. We learned that Timmons is not actually applying the body oil and dancing with the troupe, but he’s slotted in the show to sing to the largely female audience and add some star propulsion to the 9-year-old Las Vegas production. The first three years were spent at Club Rio, then the show moved to its own theater at the Flamingo Road parking garage entrance to the casino.

Timmons will sing 98 Degrees’ hits (the band has sold 15 million albums, so there is plenty to pluck from), uncork some of his own new solo material and also emcee the show.

“I would never have thought of doing this in a million years,” said Timmons, who assigns responsibility (or, maybe, blame, depending on if he is buried under an avalanche of women during the performance) on Chippendales PR man Michael Caprio. “A lot of people might not remember me from 98 Degrees, and I have my own material out there. It might be a good way to get my name back out there. … It’s a multimillion-dollar production, I checked it out, and the elements that I would be providing would bring another sort of entertainment to a show that is already entertaining for a lot of fans who hit my demographic already.”

Which is, mostly, amped-up women.

“I’m really looking forward to the opportunity,” Timmons said. He might well be the one performer to take this team to the next level, something LeBron James himself would certainly understand.

Cassidy has plans! Big plans!

In the interview that preceded Timmons, David Cassidy disclosed that while he was in Las Vegas over the weekend to headline two shows at Orleans Showroom, he held meetings for a new production he wants to bring to Vegas. Cassidy spent five years in Las Vegas, from 1996-2001, starring in “EFX” at the MGM Grand, “At the Copa” at the Rio and co-producing “The Rat Pack Is Back” when it debuted at the Desert Inn.

“I’ve recently, in the last 3 months, started developing a very, very unique show that is edgy and strong in the 18 to 25 demographic,” Cassidy said. “I would star in it, or be a part of it, for a while, but it is unique, fun, scary and bizarre.”

Sounds like a night out with Holly Madison’s entourage. We joke, of course.

Cassidy also spoke of his brief fling with “Celebrity Apprentice” on NBC, when he was the first to be dispatched by possible Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump. Cassidy related a conversation between Trump and him that was edited out of the version that aired on NBC. Cassidy, Jose Canseco and Richard Hatch were summoned by Trump, and Canseco glowered at Hatch because of Hatch’s disrespectful treatment of Cassidy during a pizza-making competition that kicked off the show.

“We were in the board room, and Trump was saying to Hatch, ‘Everyone on your team said I should fire you, Richard, but I just can’t wait to watch Jose Canseco strangle you,’ ” Cassidy said, chuckling. “I responded with, ‘I’ve produced a lot of shows in my life, in movies and in television. If I were producing this show -- and this is the first and only reality television show I’ve ever done -- I definitely would fire me and watch that happen, because that’s what those shows live off of. I tell you, there was steam coming out of Jose’s ears during that show.”

I asked Cassidy if he would ever consent to participating in such a show ever again. “No, oh, no,” he said. “Never. I’m used to working in concert with people, not this.”

Flav does El Cortez -- but what about chicken?

One of the more remarkable recent sightings anywhere in Las Vegas was reported Friday night: Flavor Flav playing craps at El Cortez. This did happen, verified by those on staff.

It also can be verified by the photo of Flavor Flav sent to me showing him with a pair of women on the casino floor.

Say this for the man whose real name is William Jonathan Drayton: He can still draw a crowd.

As for Flav’s attempt at opening his House of Flavors chicken restaurant at Riviera, don’t bet on it. The deal is reportedly unwinding through allegations that Flav (through his girlfriend, Liz) has been delivered $30,000 by two investors in the project, only to see that payment vanish into the “Unaccounted For” file. This development was first reported last week by TMZ, and the whereabouts of that payment became an issue just as Flav was arrested here in connection with a series of misdemeanor traffic warrants May 2. Do not be surprised to this episode detailed in a lawsuit, or several lawsuits, any time now.

Faugno hits Shimmer Cabaret

“Jersey Boys” cast member Rick Faugno is stepping out of his Frankie Valli portrayal in what he terms an “eclectic mix of music in a pure club show.” He’s calling it “Body and Soul,” and the showcase is set for 8:30 p.m. May 27 at the Las Vegas Hilton’s Shimmer Cabaret. Faugno promises a blend of classics, pop, rock, Latin and jazz themes -- every music genre but rap. Tickets -- $39 and $49 -- go on sale Thursday.

Follow John Katsilometes on Twitter at twitter.com/JohnnyKats. Also, follow "Kats With the Dish" at twitter.com/KatsWithTheDish.