Columnist Kate Maddox: Osmond rumors still ‘Alive’

Kate Maddox

Tuesday, July 31, 2001 | 8:22 a.m.

Kate Maddox's column appears Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays. Reach her at 259-2309 or kmaddox @lasvegassun.com.

Insiders are talking as if it's already a done deal, but Donny Osmond has yet to officially sign on as Rick Springfield's replacement in "EFX Alive!"

Springfield agreed to helm the show for just one year. Facing lower numbers than those earned by previous star Tommy Tune, Springfield reportedly won't be sticking around for a contract extension -- nor, notes one source, has he been offered the opportunity.

Enter Osmond.

The former teen idol made no secret of his desire to find a permanent Vegas show while performing a three-night engagement this month at New York-New York.

Osmond was apparently disappointed with the turnout at those shows and decided to push for a production with a little more theatrics than just a singer, a band and a handful of dated songs.

So even though the timing wasn't right when he was previously offered the "EFX" gig, Osmond now feels he's prepared to headline the show for at least a year following Springfield's departure.

Britney Spears and her boyfriend, Justin Timberlake, tried to steal a little quality time together here this weekend despite 'N Sync's concert date and the band's Challenge for the Children festivities.

But unfortunately, even though they may look grown-up, act grown-up and have all the trimmings enjoyed by most adult celebrities, they still aren't legal.

The power-pop couple assumed it would be kosher for them to take over Baby's, the nightclub at the Hard Rock Hotel, for one night this weekend and party in private, far away from the band's other scheduled bashes (one Friday night at Ra at the Luxor got off to a late start and was surrounded by paparazzi. Ditto for Saturday night's fete at C2K).

Hotel personnel, who usually don't think twice about bending the rules for their celebrity clientele, bantered back and forth about whether or not to let the 19-year-old Spears and 20-year-old Timberlake into the club. But in the end, they were too baby for Baby's.

Age requirements didn't stop hard-partying 'N Syncer Joey Fatone (dubbed "The Fat One" by fans.) On Sunday Fatone, sporting telltale bags under his eyes and a sickly greenish/gray skin tone, could barely drag himself up and down the court at the Thomas & Mack, site of the band's charity basketball game.

On Friday Fatone performed in concert, grooved with bandmates and backup dancers at Ra, moved on to MGM Grand, gambled big bucks, and at 8 a.m., grabbed a bite to eat at McDonald's.

It's got to be nice to have a friend like Steve Wynn.

The casino visionary has been kind enough to open a few of the Desert Inn's still-intact executive suites to close pals. The lucky couples are still awaiting the finishing touches on their posh penthouses at Park Towers.

A few of Wynn's friends have been living opulently in the 8,000-square-foot suites at the deserted DI for the past several months.

Vegas Throat has apparently become the trendy illness. So interested is the public in learning more about the affliction that the Discovery Channel is doing yet another Las Vegas-based documentary. Clint Holmes, who suffers from the ailment, is the focus of the show.

It seems Monti Rock III will make good on his threats to return to performing. I hear the over-the-top former disco king/queen (and current Vegas gadfly) has made a deal to perform his schtick once night a week at the San Remo.