Columnist Kate Maddox: New name springs to ‘EFX’ talk

Kate Maddox

Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2000 | 10:24 a.m.

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

Rick Springfield wishes he had Tommy's job. Tune, that is. Springfield is the latest name to crop up as a replacement for Tommy Tune, who will depart the show in January, when his contract expires.

Although there has been no official announcement from the MGM (a spokesperson offered a brief "No comment at this time"), Tune's pals back East are said to be eagerly awaiting his return to the Big Apple.

"New York is getting ready to receive him," said one source who has worked closely with the Broadway star for many years. "His apartment there is being prepared ... phones are already ringing with offers from old friends wanting to see him home soon."

That's not to say Tune hasn't enjoyed his two-year run on the MGM stage. A close friend of the performer added, "(Tune) has really enjoyed it there, and made gobs of money, so he's very happy he did it. But his heart belongs in New York."

OK. So, no more Tune. I'm hearing the MGM wasn't going to offer to renew even if he wanted to stay, but that's beside the point.

So enter Springfield. At one point, Donny Osmond's name was also in the running, but his publicist denied he was interested. My personal fave in the replacement rumor mill was Kathie Lee Gifford and her son Cody. The mother/son duo was slated to fill Tune's shoes -- for about a minute.

But Springfield looks like he might end up the lucky winner. A call to his publicist was not returned, but inside sources are certain the singer, who sells out the showroom at Sunset Station whenever he plays Vegas, is next up. In addition to Tune, the lead in "EFX" has also been played by Michael Crawford and David Cassidy.

Miss Universe, Lara Dutta, will be one of the celebs on hand this weekend for Tiger Jam III, Tiger Woods' annual charity event. The 22-year-old former Miss India will join Carson Daly, Charles Barkley, Glenn Frey, Joe Pesci, Alyssa Milano, Kevin Sorbo, Barry Sanders, Wayne Gretzky and Janet Jones at Saturday night's benefit concert at the Mandalay Bay Events Center, which stars Christina Aguilera, Seal and LeAnn Rimes.

So just how much did investors sink into magician Steve Wyrick's new show at the Sahara? According to someone very close to the star, somewhere between $60-65 million. That ranks Wyrick's who right up there as one of the most expense productions on the Strip.

Fashion designer and Las Vegas homeboy Randolph Duke wants to make his mark on the Vegas scene. Having conquered the runway, Duke is after a showroom on the Strip in the hopes of producing a dazzling remake of his most-beloved Broadway musical. I've promised to stay quiet on that part, but I will say two hotels are interested in the flashy show -- which will no doubt runneth over with style, Hollywood glam and, of course, Duke's original costume creations.

Another year, another birthday, another chance to stick it to your partner.

Yes, Roy, of Siegfried & Roy, turns 56 today, and the only thing he wants to do is be alone with his animals, and, oh yeah, kill Siegfried.

"Siegfried constantly tries to pour cold water on me," claims the birthday boy. "But he doesn't realize that my inside flame never dies."

According to Roy, the 40-year partnership has taught him many things about Siegfried, but he admits: "... you will still very often want to kill him."

Well, whatever it takes to keep the magic alive ...

It's nice to see that getting older hasn't taken the spunk out of this happy-go-lucky king of the Vegas jungle. Happy Birthday.