Columnist Kate Maddox: Ready for an all-star gala? You BET

Kate Maddox

Friday, May 5, 2000 | 9:24 a.m.

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

Alive, televised, star-studded bash is scheduled for this weekend on the Strip. Black Entertainment Television (BET) will celebrate its 20th anniversary with a two-hour gala event at Bally's hotel-casino.

The bash, which has been surprisingly low-key in the hype department, is scheduled to showcase a large number of hot acts. Mariah Carey, Luther Vandross, Brian McKnight, Toni Braxton, LL Cool J, Mary J. Blige and Dr. Dre are all scheduled to appear and perform.

Actor/comedian Jamie Foxx, who was spotted partying at Studio 54 last weekend, is slated to host.

Highlights will include an "all-star salute" to Stevie Wonder and Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds.

The pre-show roundup will take place at BET's Tres Jazz restaurant and the VIP wrap party will be poolside, both at Paris Las Vegas.

After some tense weeks of negotiations and contract shopping, "La Cage" star Frank Marino has emerged with a tidy new multi-year, multimillion-dollar contract extension with the Riviera hotel-casino.

Marino, whose drag impression of Joan Rivers made him famous, was initially concerned that the folks at the Riv hadn't approached him with a renewal offer -- his contract was set to expire at the end of the year, his 15th with the hotel. So he did what any enterprising performer would do and went shopping at other properties.

"Some hotels were very receptive to me and my ideas, and others were downright negative," said Marino.

"I even got some 'We don't want your type' comments here and there."

But the "La Cage" star is getting the last laugh, all the way to the bank. Marino reportedly signed a $10 million contract that will keep him with the Riviera and show producer Norbert Aleman well into the first part of the new millennium.

Marino, who has always been his own best friend in the promoting department, says thanks to those properties that made him offers and extends a polite "screw you" to his naysayers.

The Showtime cable channel has just signed the papers to bring an original sitcom to Las Vegas. Based on happenings at a Strip property, the half-hour show will include some racy late-night humor and a brigade of Vegas characters.

The best news for locals is that the production will be entirely based here, with Vegas crews, equipment and actors.

Shooting on the series, yet to be named, is scheduled to begin this summer and the show is scheduled to air sometime early next year.

Just because "Nebulae: The Lifeforce" hasn't firmly landed at a property just yet -- although they're still looking good to nab a spot at the Venetian's C2K -- the troupe from Russia is trying its best to get some attention.

Some members of the show, which includes magicians, dancers, singers and two bodacious blonde twins, performed for tourists and hotel execs at the Flamingo Las Vegas earlier this week.

The packed crowd got a taste of the lights, lasers and sounds of the production and people who saw the preview were reportedly quite impressed. The billboards are up and now these guys just need a home.

Standing around all day doesn't sound all that exciting, but throw in Brad Pitt, Julia Roberts and 50 bucks and you just might have something there.

For those of you interested in being extras on "The Mexican" when it comes to town next month, send two Polaroids with your name and number to Kelly at Baskow & Associates, 2948 Russell Road, Las Vegas, 89121.

Or you can stay tuned here for info on an upcoming open casting call.