Las Vegas Sun

March 29, 2024

Columnist Kate Maddox: Penn focus of Rush to judgment

Kate Maddox's column appears Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays. Reach her at 259-2309 or [email protected].

Is it a good thing when right-wing radio personality Rush Limbaugh announces on the air that you're a genius?

That's the dilemma facing Penn Jillette.

Following his column last week for the Cato Institute, which was picked up by the Washington Post and the New York Post among others, Jillette was praised by the popular radio guru for his outspoken political insight and his support of free speech.

In the column Jillette, who calls himself a "libertarian, atheist, free speech whackjob," speaks his mind about everything from the FCC to campaign-finance reform to appearing on "Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher."

Jillette's writing gig will be semi-regular now that the loud-mouthed magic man has been tapped as a fellow at the Washington, D.C., think tank. Partner Teller already sits on the board of directors at Cato. Penn & Teller begin a four-week stint at the Rio on Friday.

Ben Affleck should just move into the Hard Rock Hotel. The actor, brunette again after a brief stint as a surfer-boy blond, was once again betting big at the hotel's blackjack tables early Sunday morning.

Frequent partner in crime Matt Damon was also at Affleck's table, and so were three young ladies. Not that Affleck took the time to notice.

The "Pearl Harbor" star rarely looked up from his cards, and when he did it was only to glare at the dealer after a bad hand.

Affleck and Damon, although bona fide Hard Rock high-rollers, did not attend the hotel's VIP poolside PJ/lingerie bash earlier in the evening.

So how much will Carmen Electra get paid to shake it up on the Strip? Some insiders say the former "Baywatch" star will be making peanuts, compared to Vegas' other celebrity headliners.

"I know for a fact she's not making big money," said one source close to the deal. "Next to nothing," echoed another insider.

Will she at least be in the same ballpark as, say, a Rick Springfield or a Sheena Easton?

"No. Probably not."

Ouch, that's gotta hurt.

"She's signed on for Broadway money," continued the mole. "She's making somewhere in the $10,000-$20,000 per-week range."

Electra opens in "Lumiere" at Aladdin in early 2002.

Which well-known upscale Italian restaurant, inside one of Vegas' most popular hotel-casinos, becomes a swingers' party once the doors close to the public?

Regular dining patrons of the swank eatery would be surprised to learn that tables are moved out and strip club-style dancing poles are moved in for the sexy guests, most of whom wear next to nothing while scoping other couples and single women. One person, who regularly attends the adults-only festivities, says the fun gets under way at around 3 a.m. and lasts until well after the sun comes up.

Cost of admission? One hundred bucks.

Danny Gans' Chevy Bel Air finally sold on ebay.com for $23,100 to an anonymous buyer. The car, which was given to a local attorney at a charity bash and then put back on the auction block, was re-sold to raise money for the UNLV-Lili Claire Life Skills Center.

Sheena Easton will reportedly sign a deal to return to the Las Vegas Hilton in January, this time for a full year. Easton, who currently performs in the hotel's 750-seat showroom, will be the only act in the NightClub, should she agree to the terms of the new contract.

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