Columnist Joe Delaney: Labor Day weekend is packed with stars

Joe Delaney

Thursday, Aug. 30, 2001 | 8:30 a.m.

Joe Delaney's column appears on Thursdays and Fridays. Reach him at 259-4066 or joe @ lasvegassun.com

Labor Day weekend is really the end of the summer vacation season ... Youngsters are already back in school at all grade levels; be even more careful when driving, especially in school zones ... The weekend's major event for more than three decades has been the "Jerry Lewis Muscular Dystrophy Association Telethon," carried locally on KLAS Channel 8, from early Sunday evening to late Monday afternoon.

Look for Lewis to put in a strong first hour then use himself sparingly, saving his strength for the big finish ... Ed McMahon usually heads a strong supporting group of annual star regulars ... Lewis' Sept. 6-9 Orleans engagement has been canceled ... Take it a little easier, Jerry, please.

Madonna's "Drowned World Tour" will be the big newsmaker locally as she fills the capacious MGM Grand Garden Arena on Saturday and Sunday at 8 p.m. Despite ticket prices ranging from $75 to $350, both shows sold out ... No performer has accomplished more, materially, with minimal talent than the "Material Girl" ... One has to admire her ability to market herself.

Tonight's arena-styled special is the "TRL Tour" starring Destiny's Child, plus Eve, Dream and 3LW ... Destiny's Child has achieved multiplatinum sales with its first three CDs, plus multiple Grammy Awards ... Showtime is 7 p.m. at Mandalay Bay Events Center.

Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band performs in the Rio's new Pavilion at 9 p.m. on Saturday ... The erstwhile Beatle's bandmates include Sheila E., Greg Lake (from Emerson, Lake and Palmer), Supertramp's Roger Hodgson; "Young Dude" Ian Hunter; Howard Jones, plus Mark Rivera, on loan from Billy Joel's band, as musical director and horn player.

Our recommendation, with all due respect to the three shows listed above, would be Tony Orlando, Saturday and Sunday at 9 p.m. in the Riviera's Royale Pavilion ... Orlando is a master when it comes to involving an entire audience in a party atmosphere ... At $34.50, it is by far the best entertainment bargain of the four shows listed.

Saturday evening, as part of the regular performances of "Splash" at the Riviera, Bela Tabak's Riders of the Thunderdome will perform their record-setting stunt of five motorcycles racing at 40 mph within a 14-feet-by-23-inch diameter iron-mesh cage ... Reminder: Friday's performances are the last this season for Nevada residents with proper ID to attend on a two-for-one basis (ages 18 or over).

Star-policy rundown

It's Bill Acosta (Flamingo Las Vegas); David Brenner at 8 p.m., the Amazing Johnathan, 10 p.m. (Golden Nugget); Mac King, afternoons; Clint Holmes, evenings (Harrah's); Sheena Easton, and Dwight Yoakum in separate venues (LV Hilton); Blue Man Group (Luxor); and Rodney Dangerfield, plus Rick Springfield starring in "EFX Alive" (MGM Grand).

Also, Siegfried & Roy and Danny Gans in separate theaters (Mirage); Lance Burton (Monte Carlo); Rita Rudner (New York-New York); Air Supply (Orleans); Howie Mandel (Paris Las Vegas); Scintas and Earl Turner in separate rooms (Rio); Orlando (Riviera); Michael Holly, afternoons, Steve Wyrick, evenings (Sahara); and Little Anthony & the Imperials and Sonny Turner (Stardust).

Still more: Rick Thomas (Tropicana); and Melinda, First Lady of Magic (Venetian) ... Acosta's "Lasting Impressions" show times are now 8 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, 7:30 and 10 p.m. on Saturday (dark on Friday).

One of Ireland's finest vocalists, Mary Black, formerly with the group De Dannan, will perform with her own six-piece band Saturday at 8 p.m., Clark County Government Center Amphitheater ... Locals of Irish descent will be checking out the new Jack's Irish Pub at Palace Station, starting this Saturday ... The Wild Celts will perform.

Don Burke's Big Band plays for dancing, 7:30 p.m. Saturday (Charleston Heights Center) ... On Sunday midwest favorite Bobby Crocker and his Orchestra will entertain at the New Frontier on Sunday, 3-6 p.m. ... Crocker is now a Las Vegan, welcome ... The Turtles featuring Flo and Eddie will perform at Silverton on Sunday at 8 p.m.

Jazz notes: Tenor saxophonist Scott Hamilton plays at the Riviera this Monday and Gus Mancuso has re-joined the Marv Koral All-Stars featuring trombonist Carl Fontana ... Their next Jazzed Cafe date is Wednesday ... Fridays, as always, the place to be is Pogo's with Irv Kluger and his all-star friends.

Back to Madonna: Her HBO special Sunday had a lot going on onstage ... It had to -- there was not much musical content ... See you Friday.