Columnist Kate Maddox: Vanishing act at MGM Grand

Kate Maddox

Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2000 | 10:03 a.m.

Kate Maddox's column appears Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays. Reach her at kmaddox@lasvegassun.com.

Don't look for illusionists Penn & Teller at the MGM Grand anytime soon. The duo have up and left their Vegas performance home of the past two years and moved to new digs at the Rio.

Glenn Alai, a spokesman for Penn & Teller, was tight-lipped about the hotel switcheroo, saying only that the magicians intend to perform "several" shows at the Rio in 2001. Alai briefly added that Penn & Teller are "excited" about the new opportunity.

An MGM spokeswoman was mum on the split, offering a simple "no comment."

Rio Vice President of Marketing Skip Sayre wasn't quite so modest.

"We have the January date, and at least two others to follow. We're thinking of something long term (with Penn & Teller)," he said.

Good news there for the Rio's oft-vacant Samba Theatre. Post-"Footloose," the only action that showroom has seen has been two nights of comedian David Spade's act. Plans call for the Samba to be used as a headliner room, Sayre said. "We haven't come to any decisions for the space beyond next year, but we know we want to bring in some high-quality acts, like Penn & Teller."

The only challenge for the comedy-magic team will be whether they can sell enough tickets. Making the leap from the MGM's 680-seat Hollywood Theatre, where they consistently sold out, to the 1,500-seat Samba might prove slightly difficult.

Before the MGM, where they played about 10 weeks a year, Penn & Teller spent seven years in a deal with Bally's. The funnymen of magic kick things off at the Rio Jan. 5 and continue through Jan. 17.

I know my stuff pretty well. I check things out. Proper dates, locations, spellings, you know what I'm talking about. So how 'bout we not call me "bogus," at least not without checking the facts.

Fact is, following an ego-driven altercation, David Cassidy did fire Sammy Davis Jr. character singer-actor Tony Tillman, despite what my counterpart at the morning paper reported Sunday.

Sure, they kissed and made nice over the weekend (Tillman will stay with "The Rat Pack is Back" at least through the end of the year), but there was no disputing that Cassidy handed Tillman his walking papers after hearing Tillman's gripes.

Jo-Ann Geffen (also take note, that's the correct way to spell her name), publicist for "Rat Pack" producer Cassidy, confirmed Monday that before the makeup session Tillman "absolutely was fired. He was fired." All's nice enough now, but unlike another bogus report filed elsewhere, Cassidy still hasn't signed a one-year renewal deal for the "Rat Pack" to remain at the Sahara. He's waiting on that decision until after he returns from vacation.

KTNV Channel 13's chief meteorologist, Ted Textor, called to say why he's saying goodbye to Las Vegas. As I reported on Sunday, KVBC Channel 3 weatherman Nate Tannenbaum is joining the ranks at Channel 13, but that has nothing to do with Textor's departure.

"My family and I just aren't desert people," explained the popular weather guy. "We're looking to move back to the Midwest to be near our family and friends."

Textor submitted his resignation to the station six months ago, long before Tannenbaum entered the scene. His bosses asked him to stay through the end of the year, and that's what he has agreed to do. His last day will be Dec. 29.