Columnist Kate Maddox: Poof! Illusionist Wyrick reappears

Kate Maddox

Tuesday, Sept. 5, 2000 | 10:47 a.m.

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

Just as he was about to slide off the entertainment radar, Steve Wyrick has finally set an opening date. The last-minute (and going on six months is a long minute) tweaking of his magic show at the Sahara appears to be all wrapped up and Wyrick will take the stage Sept. 13.

The Sahara signed the illusionist earlier this year and built him a high-tech (and pricey) stage. But Wyrick apparently became one of those guys -- an obsessive midrange headliner with potential star power. That's usually a lethal combo. Months and months of postponement were blamed on Wyrick's penchant for perfection. But according to insiders, the fixes were worth it -- the show is supposedly filled with spectacular stunts and lots of action.

Wyrick is sticking to an aerial theme. In one illusion (and stop me if you've heard this one) the magician goes from stage to audience, hovering over the crowd while hanging from a helicopter. Lukewarm on that? OK, how about the one where he walks through the blades of a 747 airplane engine?

Wyrick should do well at the Sahara. His show is in a friendly price range (coming in at around $35 a ticket), and once "The Rat Pack is Back" vacates the premises on Oct. 29 Wyrick will be without competition for a crowd.

I know it's a week away, but I'm already crossing my fingers, hoping for a pleasant outcome for Fox's latest reality show. And I'm sure the network is, too. After all, when you're following "Who Wants to Marry a Multimillionaire?" there's really no place to go but up. Right?

The producers of "The Sexiest Bachelor in America" competition arrived in town today and the single hunks, ranging in age from 21-37 and representing each of the 50 states, should begin flooding in later this week. God bless America.

This much we know: Cameras will follow the boys about town, a la "Multimillionaire," where we got to watch Darva and her pals try on wedding dresses and be feted at Planet Hollywood. Fox is keeping a lid on who the six female celebrity judges will be, but as of late last week only two had officially signed on. We can bet that's a career make-or-break call there. I'm sure there's more than one Hollywood agent biting his or her nails wondering whether their Sally Sue Actress client will heed the call and risk the media fallout.

Boldly going where Jay Thomas went before, comedienne Caroline Rhea of TV's "Hollywood Squares" and "Sabrina the Teenage Witch," will host the male beauty pageant when it tapes at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Sept. 12. The beefcake parade is scheduled to air in October.

Playboy, which is apparently obsessed with the bods at the Hard Rock, will once again return to look for a new batch of beauties. On Sept. 15 the magazine's home video division will be auditioning girls at Baby's, hoping to find suitable candidates for its upcoming "Girls of the Hard Rock" video.

And someone you won't be finding in Playboy, flamboyant Vegas personality Monti Rock III has found himself a real gig. Besides being a fixture at just about any party with free food, drink and press, Rock fancies himself the hostess with the mostess.

Rock will emcee and meet and greet guests and celebs at the anticipated 15th anniversary party for "An Evening of La Cage Starring Frank Marino" at the Riviera on Sept. 21. Rock, whose outfits always precede him, was Marino's personal choice for hosting duties.