Columnist Kate Maddox: LV to be feeling ‘Rocky’

Kate Maddox

Saturday, Oct. 7, 2000 | 2:59 a.m.

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

VH1 will be helping "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" celebrate its 25th anniversary in Las Vegas on Saturday. The music channel's annual celebrity karaoke special will feature stars singing songs from the cult classic.

Last year's VH1 sing-along rapidly deteriorated as B-level celebs, such as Corey Feldman and a raunchy Roseanne, hogged the microphone and writhed on stage with porn stars. A classy affair, to be sure.

This year's to-do promises much more fun, especially for those hundreds of "Rocky Horror" fans expected to flock to Vegas for their annual convention that week. And, yes, they still plan to celebrate the world's largest Time Warp in front of the Hard Rock before the party.

This year's scheduled karaoke participants are Jesse L. Martin of "Law & Order," actress Dominique Swain and wild child Bijou Phillips, Eric McCormack of "Will & Grace," Ashton Kutcher from "That '70s Show," supermodel Kylie Bax and many more.

Also, original "Rocky Horror" cast members Richard O'Brien, Patricia Quinn and Nell Campbell will be on hand -- not singing, just signing autographs.

VH1's karaoke special will air on Halloween, along with special "Rocky Horror Picture Show" versions of "Where Are They Now?" and "Behind The Music."

Well, without an entertainment department, I guess there's no need for entertainment. The entire team at the Regent Las Vegas got its walking papers last week. From Director of Entertainment Jim Griffal on down, the department was let go immediately -- no two-weeks' notice, not even a severance package.

One poor staff member received the news while vacationing on her honeymoon. There are no plans to book any acts at the property in the immediate future, and anyone who's left on the business side is looking for a new job.

Las Vegas is becoming the Burbank of game shows. Except, the ones we get are the types Bob Barker would snub. Take this newest gem, which will be taped in Vegas in November: "I Want a Divorce." Yes, now you can take your spouse to the cleaners on national TV and maybe win a beautiful new car!

"I Want a Divorce" contestants will be couples who have already filed for divorce and would like to play for cash and prizes -- such as their own marital assets. Can't decide who'll get the entertainment center in the den? Spin for it! Hey, it's divorce ... have fun with it!

The two-hour prime-time show is seeking six couples (thankfully, those with children are not allowed to audition) who are in the process of splitting up. The producers also add that couples with restraining orders will not be considered.

OK, for everyone whose moral barometers are a little more in check, there's "Last One Standing." The show, which is scheduled to be taped at a Las Vegas hotel in early December, will be kind of like "Big Brother" and "Survivor," only without the house/island, the cameras, the unsightly nude fat guy and the tedious dialogue.

Instead, all you have to do is simply be the last one touching $1 million -- it could be in a glass box, or in the form of an oversized check or bill -- and hope that the 11 other contestants fall out before you do. If you're the last one standing, you get the cash.

Participants are allowed a five-minute break every hour and a 15-minute break every six hours. Producers from the show are predicting the whole thing will take somewhere between 69 and 73 hours. Now you just have to decide if that's better or worse than a few minutes with Regis.