Columnist Kate Maddox: Prospective (wealthy) brides enjoy LV

Kate Maddox

Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2000 | 9:13 a.m.

Kate Maddox's column appears Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays, only in the La Vegas Sun. Reach her at kmaddox@vegas.com.

Las Vegas played host to the 60 or so Mrs. Millionaire hopefuls this past week. The Fox show "Who Wants to Marry A Multimillionaire?" will be taped tonight at the Las Vegas Hilton and the ladies, many of whom had never been to Vegas before, spent the weekend checking out what we've got to offer.

On Friday the contestants were treated to a bridal shower at Planet Hollywood. Sure, only one of them will actually end up being a bride, but Fox wanted to cover all of the bases.

After lunch the ladies, who come from all over the United States, played some typical bridal shower games: stacking champagne glasses, going on a wedding-themed scavenger hunt, seeing who could toss the best bouquet, etc. Very tame stuff -- and it was all caught on tape by about a dozen camera crews, including one from "Entertainment Tonight."

On Saturday night the women were divided into groups and sent to various touristy-type attractions. One group played on the simulated race cars at Sahrara's Speedworld, another took in the sights at the Fremont Street Experience, and the others checked out the Big Shot and roller coaster at the Stratosphere.

The final weekend thrill ride came when all of the ladies packed into the Wayne Newton Theater at the Stardust to catch Mr. Las Vegas' show. Newton, who kindly comped the whole gang, dedicated the song "Suspicious Minds" to the contestants, and took the time to kiss each and every one of them while he was singing.

After all the hoopla, the women must now buckle down and start sending the "pick me" vibes to the willing multimillionaire. He, too, has been in town all week, incognito -- of course.

His identity has been kept under lock and key, but sources tell me he's a "fairly normal guy ... between the ages of 40 and 45." And from that in-depth description, who wouldn't want to marry him sight unseen?

The millionaire, however, shunned a G-rated bachelor party and apparently opted for a steamier version at one of Las Vegas' gentlemen's clubs.

Watch how it all turns out when the happy couple tie the knot. The show airs on Feb. 15.

Sheena Easton's 5-year-old son took an unfortunate tumble this weekend at a friend's party.

Little Jake, who was apparently warned not to jump on a trampoline that was set up to entertain the kids, climbed on anyway and fell off. A trip to the emergency room followed to patch up his lip.

Easton, whose great voice is one of the highlights of "At the Copa" at the Rio, was said to be very worried about her son's fall, but after he got a few stitches, all was well.

One of the best things about Saturday night's WB Stage 16 restaurant party -- besides the celebrity sightings -- was the classy Hollywood decor of the new expansive theme restaurant.

Guests, including music impresario Quincy Jones, supermodel Rebecca Romijn-Stamos and John Stamos, actress Jennifer Grant (daughter of Cary Grant and Dyan Cannon), Harry Hamlin and wife Lisa Rinna, "Green Mile" star Michael Clarke Duncan, Courtney Cox-Arquette with hubby David Arquette and actor Lukas Haas, were just some of the "beautiful people" lounging around on fabulous over-stuffed couches in the restaurant's various rooms. They were decorated to look like sets from the movies.

One hot interior designer was to thank for making what could have been another cheesy theme restaurant into something very hip and classy. Gregory G. Smith, who has a shop in town, was responsible for the furniture, including a mammoth zebra-striped sofa -- which was originally designed for Rosie O'Donnell, a former client of Smith's.

The interior designer's clients have also included a number of top brass at Warner Bros., whose homes he decorated in Beverly Hills. And because of the job he did for those heavy hitters, Smith was the movie company's top choice when it came time to decorate their new $22 million eatery.

New York's famed PAPER magazine will be coming to Las Vegas on Sunday for a launch party to celebrate the release of the magazine's first book, "From AbFab to Zen: PAPER's Guide to Pop Culture."

The party, which will be at Baby's nightclub in the Hard Rock Hotel, will be similar to the launch celebration the magazine held in New York a couple of months ago at that city's famous Russian Tea Room.

The Las Vegas version promises to be a much wilder event, with celebrities and fashion designers scheduled to fly in from both coasts. The main attraction at the soiree will be the American debut of "Starlust" -- a cabaret experience that has been touted as "the greatest drag show on Earth."