Columnist Kate Maddox: MGM extends Rudner’s run

Kate Maddox

Saturday, Nov. 18, 2000 | 2:55 a.m.

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

Rita Rudner is sticking around at the MGM Grand for just a little while longer. Her stand-up show was scheduled to end on Nov. 28, but Rudner has received an extension and will now be on stage through Jan. 1.

Good news for the comedian and her fans, but bad news for those anticipating a December arrival for Paris' fabled Crazy Horse revue, which was rumored to be ready to move in when Rudner moved out of the Cabaret Theatre.

Another project in the works for Rudner is an advice show on KVBC Channel 3 called "Ask Rita." Rudner will begin dispensing her tongue-in-cheek advice to locals with issues (as they say) on Nov. 30 and Dec. 1. The taping at the MGM will include scheduled guests Scott Thompson (aka Carrot Top), David Brenner and Jeff Foxworthy.

If you've got problems that only Rita can solve, then log onto kvbc.com and send her an e-mail about your troubles.

Changes are happening in the local upscale beauty scene. I know. You care.

But just in case you really do, the William Whatley International Salon is vacating its residence on West Sahara and taking over at Canyon Ranch in the Venetian.

Whatley, who has worked with his society and media clientele (he "does" the 'dos for most of the local news honeys in town) for a year, is moving his entire staff over to the hotel. Michael Boychuck, who was with the celebrity-popular salon Prive in Los Angeles, will also join Whatley at his new digs.

Prive, if you remember, tried to get something going at the swanky Bellagio Salon last year, but the management (including Boychuck) was unceremoniously fired by Steve Wynn after some alleged financial disputes. Meow.

But Prive, which is owned by hair guru to the stars Laurent D., hasn't given up on Vegas. The salon had reportedly made plans to set up shop in the new Maloof casino, the Palms, which is scheduled to open in December 2001. However, now it looks like they've begged off that contract and signed something new with the folks at upscale Turnberry Place.

But I digress ...

The new Canyon Ranch salon is scheduled to open under Whatley management by the first week of December.

If Las Vegas has taught actor Will Smith anything, it's a lesson. And it sounds like it came with a spanking.

Ripping a page from the Ben Affleck school of gambling, Smith recently lost $60,000 in about 20 minutes at the tables. Ouch.

Smith's golf coach for "The Legend of Bagger Vance," Ron Del Barrio, tells the story in this month's Maximum Golf magazine. Del Barrio says the two were in town brushing up on Smith's golf game, but that the gambling part of the trip ended abruptly after the actor's whopping loss. Del Barrio reports that Smith swore he would never gamble again and announced "... I learn a lesson, and I don't forget it." Now if he could just teach Ben that nifty little trick ...

Believe them or not but, here are a couple of will-they, won't-they rumors going around town:

For starters, the new version of C2K will be replaced by an "all-out nighttime experience," including shows, lights, food, drinks and music. A source says the Venetian will also end up running the place. OK, not hot for that one? How 'bout David Cassidy? Cassidy spies say the former teen idol will close "At the Copa" after co-star Sheena Easton departs in January, but he'll maintain a four-wall deal with the Rio and produce a new show starring ... him.