By Robin Leach · November 12, 2008 · 7:25 PM

Courtesy BritneySpears.com

Britney Spears onstage with Madonna in L.A.

* Mastermind manager Larry Rudolph always told me that the royal return he was engineering for pop superstar Britney Spears would be “the biggest and best comeback in showbiz history.” He’s within 30 days of seeing that promise come true: He is in the midst of carefully executing his top secret plan, and Vegas has a mighty lot to do with it!

Here’s what I’ve learned so far since the rumor mill went into heavy overdrive:

- Negotiations are going down to the wire for Britney to appear on the Strip on New Year’s Eve with a special two-song performance on network television -- and she’ll co-host part of the year’s retrospective in music segment.

- Her new album, "Circus," will be released on her birthday, Dec. 2.

- Britney herself will soon announce a new world Circus tour, with tickets going on sale in early December.

- The pop princess has confided that she’s hiring three new male backup dancers to add to her current crew specifically for the tour.

Wednesday morning, Britney herself posted photos and details of the upcoming projects on her Web site, britneyspears.com. She even says the talent she found among the 70 dancers trying out for her and manager Larry Rudolph was “amazing.”

By the way, that’s guru Larry in the white T-shirt and baseball cap sitting right alongside her! He’s a Vegas regular and always stays at George Maloof’s Palms, where he is a partner in the Sunset Tan salon in the new Palms Place condo tower.

TVT

Miss USA Crystle Stewart with Mr. VegasDeLuxe, Robin Leach.

* The cameras clicked when stunning Miss USA 2008 Crystle Stewart turned up for dinner at Koi in Planet Hollywood.

* Music mogul Nelly celebrated his 34th birthday in the private dining room at the new restaurant Lavo inside the Palazzo, and then went up to the boutique Lavo nightclub for a birthday cake in the shape of a Ford Flex! In the party crowd were boxer Vernon Forrest, rapper Murphy Lee from St. Lunatics, poker player Antonio Esfandiari and E! Entertainment’s Clinton Sparks. Britney’s now-estranged former hubby Kevin Federline even jumped into DJ Vice’s wheels of steel booth for Patron shots!

*Newly engaged Kendra Wilkinson from Hugh Hefner’s "The Girls Next Door" played photo shoot model for the Marc Ecko Cut & Sew line ad campaign -- due in January -- in the Hugh Hefner Sky Villa at the Fantasy Tower of the Palms. The crew congratulated her on the recent announcement of her engagement to Philadelphia Eagles receiver Hank Basket. The wedding will take place next June at the famed Playboy Mansion with girlfriend Holly Madison playing bridesmaid. What former guy-friend Hef does at the ceremony is unknown, but he was the first to congratulate her and offer the estate for the “I Do’s.”

* Our favorite Italian chef Steve Martorano from Café Martorano at The Rio will take his South Philly-style Italian recipes to late-night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel, who used to live here.

Alec Loc Thieu

Mad Mike from Pimp My Ride.

* Former world middleweight boxing champion Bernard “The Executioner” Hopkins was honored at a Dub Magazine celebration in the Tryst nightclub at the Wynn. Joining in the party were former pro wrestling icon Bill Goldberg, Mad Mike from MTV’s "Pimp My Ride" and DJ Skribble. The next night, former two-time boxing champion Miguel Cotto was in the ring there with guests including rapper Too Short, mixed-martial artist Jay Hieron, Detroit Tigers slugger Gary Sheffield and Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle Tank Johnson.

* Retired boxing champ Floyd “Pretty Boy” Mayweather Jr. had a group of family and friends in tow when he hit Pure nightclub in Caesars Palace, and he gave high-fives to UFC fan favorites Keith “Dean of Mean” Jardine, Dan “Hollywood” Henderson and Vinny Magalhaes. World-renowned DJ Tiesto also was partying there and listening to the music.