Erik Kabik/Retna/www.erikkabikphoto.com

Karina Smirnoff and Maksim Chmerkovskiy on the blue carpet at Azure Pool in the Palazzo.

By Robin Leach · September 9, 2009 · 2:02 PM

Check out this story with all the accompanying photos at VegasDeLuxe.com.

Seems that the professional dancers on ABC’s top-rated Dancing With the Stars soar with their fancy footwork but can’t prevent romantic missteps. The latest couple to fizzle are our Le Reve choreographer Maksim Chmerkovskiy and Las Vegas regular Karina Smirnoff.

Maks and Karina became engaged here on New Year’s Eve, and this summer while visiting us said the wedding would take place at the Wynn next June. Now the romance has hit the rocks, and they have officially split.

Maks confirmed the bust-up on his Twitter: “What was meant to be a life-long book turned into a chapter, and now that chapter is finished.” The breakup is blamed on their busy schedules, workload and tour appearances.

After a year of dating, pro dancer Derek Hough and contestant Shannon Elizabeth broke up a month ago. Karina had a previous relationship with celebrity partner Mario Lopez; the couple finished second in Season 3.

*Lance Burton’s new ad campaign has created buzz that’s reminiscent of Twilight, but it wasn't planned. Lance said: “It was a fluke. They were the two best photos the photographer captured.” Before leaving this week on a two-week vacation, Lance appeared on the 44th Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon at South Point and donated a bucket with more than $2,500 that his audiences had donated over the previous week. Lance now intends to spearhead a campaign to have buckets for Jerry’s Kids at every Strip show for the week before next year’s telethon.

*Miss America Katie Stam is back in town and last night was Terry Fator’s guest at his Mirage show. I joined her for dinner afterward at nearby Stack and she told me: “I can’t believe I’m already shooting and recording the promos for January’s upcoming 2010 pageant. It seems like only yesterday I got the crown!” Katie will spend today visiting community organizations, including volunteering at our Three Square food bank, reading to students at Warren Empowerment School and then a stop at the Boys & Girls Club of Southern Nevada.

You can meet Katie for an autograph and photo session at the Extra Lounge in Planet Hollywood tomorrow morning from 10:30 to 11:30. Then she will begin the promo shoots and recordings for the 2010 pageant. “My photo is going to be plastered all over the hotel,” she laughed. The 2010 Miss America Pageant will be broadcast live from Planet Hollywood on Jan. 30 after I emcee the pageant’s Dinner of Dreams there on Jan. 29 with Katie as my co-host.

*Tori Spelling, Dean McDermott and their children Liam and Stella drove on I-15 in a luxurious Volkswagen Routan for their road trip to Las Vegas. They checked into the Palazzo and, after relaxing in a lavish suite, hit the Canyon Ranch Spa Club for the hot rocks couples massage. They watched sassy comedienne Joan Rivers in her show at the neighboring Venetian and went backstage to greet her afterward. Dinner was at Wolfgang Puck’s CUT Steakhouse, and fans complimented her on her stunning long green dress.

*Fremont Street Experience wrapped up its Summer of ’69: Vegas or Bust events with an End of Summer, What a Bummer Bash. The closing highlights were two nights of concerts by Canned Heat followed by Three Dog Night. A record crowd of more than 20,000 attended the summer-long series’ last night.

Star surveillance

Actor Eddie Murphy strolled into the Bank at the Bellagio with a female friend and kept a low profile at a corner VIP table. … Entourage star Kevin Connolly kicked off his Las Vegas vacation with a dinner at Fix, followed by a night of dancing, champagne and beautiful women at the Bank. … Hip-hop maverick Shwayze, without partner Cisco Adler, who was under the weather, performed their hits “Corona and Lime,” “Rich Girl” and “Buzzin,’ ” at Jet in The Mirage, but not before stopping at The Beatles Revolution Lounge first to acquire an impressive entourage of females who joined him at the nightclub, and then for the rest of the evening. … Will.I.Am of the Black Eyed Peas posed for photos while on DJ duty spinning the wheels of steel for two hours at Prive in Planet Hollywood. He stopped spinning when band mate Apl.de.ap joined in on the group’s No. 1 hits “Boom Boom Pow” and “I Gotta Feeling.” … Across the mezzanine, actor Dorian Graham, Nick Cannon’s pal from TV’s My Crazy Life and Wild ’n’ Out, enjoyed dinner at Strip House. … Environmental activist and actor Ed Begley Jr. was the keynote speaker at the 2009 Energy Symposium in the Pahrump Nugget as the Valley Electric Association launched its renewable energy program. … Adam Gertler, host of Food Network’s Will Work for Food, was at Hash House a Go Go and ordered fried chicken Benedict and corned beef hash, recommended to him by Adam Richman, host of the companion Man vs. Food.

Tonight’s tips

The original Latin King of Comedy Paul Rodriguez begins a four-night run in Lance Burton Theater in the Monte Carlo while the magician is on vacation. Paul’s run begins each evening at 9 through Saturday. … Cracker in onstage at Carey Hart’s Wasted Space in the Hard Rock Hotel, and the glamour girls of Cabana Charms from Bravo’s Rehab add their sex appeal. … Harrah’s Improv presents Mark Curry with supporting acts Tommy Savitt and Dylan Mandlsohn through Sunday. … If you’re staying in tonight, at 10 p.m. it’s the season finale of Criss Angel’s Mindfreak on A&E, and fans will hear their hearts beating when the magician is locked inside one of five coffins as speeding cars smash them to smithereens! Will Criss escape from a horrifying disaster?

Three other unique events to mark on today’s calendar: First, Mayor Oscar Goodman and lovely wife of 47 years Carolyn will renew their wedding vows publicly in celebration of 09/09/09. Elvis tribute artist Jesse Garon will conduct the 6 p.m. ceremony, and my friends Zowie Bowie will perform, along with the Rat Pack and a Marilyn Monroe tribute artist on the 3rd Street Stage at Fremont Street Experience. … Madame Tussauds at The Venetian hosted nine simultaneous weddings at 9 a.m. today -- 09/09/09 -- but other couples can get hitched there all day long for just $99 in between witnesses Justin Timberlake and Britney Spears – well, their wax figures anyway. … Finally, to salute today’s unique digital date, Beijing Noodle No. 9 in Caesars Palace will roll out its Nine Tastes menu for $19.99.

Tomorrow’s teases

Our amazing story of how Siegfried & Roy will really make magic this weekend when they meet a miracle child from England whose only dream before he dies from a horrifying mysterious disease is to see them in Las Vegas. Teenager James Dunn arrived at The Mirage last night, and I met him with his parents as they checked into the lavish suite that Siegfried & Roy had given him for the heartbreaking visit. … Plus designer Christian Audigier gets his nightclub at T.I. ready for the fall as he plans to move into Michael Jackson’s mansion.

Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground. Read more of Robin's stories at VegasDeLuxe.com.

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