Columnist Kate Maddox: Tunney gazing longingly at Sunset

Kate Maddox

Tuesday, June 12, 2001 | 9:16 a.m.

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

Rumor has it John Tunney, owner of Olio! at the MGM Grand, might make a purchase in Hollywood. Tunney, the ponytailed New Yorker whose Vegas restaurant has become a hangout for scenesters, has reportedly been looking to buy the space formerly occupied by Wolfgang Puck's Spago.

The Hollywood Spago, Puck's first eatery, opened in 1982 and closed in March.

Insiders are saying Tunney plans to redo the building and open one of his specialty restaurants. But those whispering about the new purchase are pretty certain Tunney isn't merely cloning a Hollywood version of Olio!, but rather creating something different at the famed spot just above Tinseltown's Sunset Strip.

Tunney would only say he has had "discussions about the Spago space," and that he is definitely looking into "opening a Los Angeles restaurant with a large screening room.

"But," he added slyly. "I look at a million new things everyday."

Is anyone else a little unnerved by the restrictions imposed on the dancers of "La Femme"? I mean, they aren't permitted to speak. There's reportedly a special tunnel for them to enter their new home at the MGM Grand. They can't have their petit amis pick them up in public. Restrictions have been placed on how much they are allowed to weigh. And they can't socialize.

One insider was shocked when he noticed some of the dancers being physically pulled away from conversations with patrons and employees at the hotel. "They're literally turned in another direction," the eyewitness said. "And then they are told to be quiet."

Since their arrival in town, the silent temptresses have had to back out of more than one party because the grown women were simply "not allowed" to go. I'm sorry, but someone better explain this whole "mystique" thing to me, because now it just sounds creepy.

I'll let this die when people stop calling to tell me stories about Tonya Harding. (And the stories, by the way, are some of the greatest off-the-record quips I've ever heard.)

The last call from the "I represent Tonya!" "No, I represent Tonya!" brigade came from Phil Lobell, a publicist/press agent in Los Angeles. Lobell, who worked closely with the skater when she tried for a West Virginia comeback last year, said he had been involved in "discussions" regarding Harding's topless Vegas debut, and that Harding knew about the plans.

It would have been "(a show) that people would come to see mostly out of curiosity," said Lobell, adding that the producer in Vegas who was interested in the project "is immensely talented and has years of experience. He could have made it a tasteful kind of thing."

So, what do you think the chances are in the future for this show to really happen?

"Well, all I can say is denial or no denial, never say never," Lobell said.

Before focusing his energies on the U.S. Open, which tees off on Thursday, Tiger Woods let off a little steam in Vegas.

On Saturday Woods, in town to celebrate a friend's birthday, dined at his favorite local joint, P.F. Chang's.

But it was the late arrival of Playboy cover girl and volleyball star Gabrielle Reece that set tongues wagging.

Reece has been spotted with the golfer a number of times recently. In January the duo were seen shooting craps at the Bellagio. The pair met up again at the ESPYs in February and have since formed a close friendship. Reece also attended Tiger Jam IV in April.

This weekend Reece reportedly stuck close to Woods as the birthday group wound down the festivities at Woods' private villa at MGM Mansions.