Columnist Joe Delaney: Conway, Korman give new life to old routines

Joe Delaney

Friday, July 28, 2000 | 8:43 a.m.

Joe Delaney's column appears Thursdays and Fridays. Reach him at 259-4066 or joe@lasvegassun.com

Fans of the long-running Carol Burnett CBS variety program are in for a special treat this weekend with two of her top regulars, Tim Conway and Harvey Korman, performing in "Together Again," tonight and Saturday at the Las Vegas Hilton ... This time they are joined by the brilliant comedian-impressionist, Louise DuArt, equally adept as a sketch comedian.

Conway and Korman are basically sketch comedians, a la Jackie Gleason and Art Carney or Phil Silvers as TV's "Sgt. Bilko," creating memorable characters ... Conway as Mr. Tudball, Mrs. Wiggins' employer, and Burnett as Mrs. Wiggins, his secretary, were classic TV comedy sketches.

Korman's other credits include featured roles in many of the Mel Brooks' film comedies ... DuArt's repertoire of impressions includes famous men as well as women and a George Burns-Gracie Allen segment that has been the basis of similar routines by other top impressionists.

Bits and pieces

Comedian Rita Rudner's run in the MGM Grand Cabaret Theatre has been extended through October; crowd counts continue at capacity ... Bob Anderson is back at the Stardust, tucked away in the convention area, no deterrent to numerous visitors and locals who come looking for this world-class saloon singer and incredibly accurate impressionist.

In addition to the comedy clubs at Harrah's, the Riviera and Tropicana, we recommend you also try the Monday nights at the Reserve, three good comics in a conducive setting; and starting Aug. 2, Sandy Hackett's Comedy Night, starting at 7:30 p.m. (Texas Station). In a recent Sun column dealing with impressionists, past and present, space constraints contributed to several notable omissions ... Debbie Reynolds does a devastating Barbra Streisand, plus excellent caricatures of other leading ladies ... More on this in next Thursday's column.

And a few more

"Always ... Patsy Cline," starring Sally Struthers, and Rachel Ricca as Patsy Cline, at the Silverton, came in as a sleeper and quickly developed into a winner ... Struthers gives her finest performance since TV's "All in the Family," in a bravura turn as Cline's No. 1 fan and newfound friend ... Ricca captures the Cline sound and persona.

Attention, big band fans, there is a Swing & Lindy Desert Dance Camp scheduled at the Riviera Aug. 4-5, with longtime Las Vegan Norma Miller as special guest star plus top dance teachers from all over the country ... Miller, an octogenarian, can still cut a rug with the best; check it out and have some fun.

"Bela Tabak's Riders of the Thunderdome" will set a new world record on Fox's "Guinness Book of World Records" Aug. 4 at 9 p.m. ... Tabak's Riders are a "Splash" mainstay at the Riviera.

A few recommendations

Catch movie buff Harry Basil, headlining in the Tropicana Comedy Stop through Sunday; Tommy Alvarado's Jazz All-Stars are in Bellagio's Allegro Room through Saturday; comedian Paula Poundstone, tonight only (Sunset Station); the World's Smallest Jazz Band, 1:30-4:30 p.m. Sunday (Swede's Corner on Charleston); Jimmy Wilkins Big Band on Monday (Riviera); and B.B. King's Blues Festival on Tuesday (House of Blues).

If you haven't done so already, there is still time to send a check to the Sun Summer Camp Fund ... See you next Thursday.