Columnist Kate Maddox: In-heat crowd has cash to burn

Kate Maddox

Friday, March 23, 2001 | 5:17 a.m.

Kate Maddox's column also appears Tuesdays and Fridays in the Las Vegas Sun. Reach her at 259-2309 or kmaddox@lasvegassun.com.

Some pretty generous ladies paid thousands, literally, for dates with some of Clark County's hottest hosemen. One duo -- a double package -- went for $5,000. Hosts Sherry Swensk and Mark Pfister of KLAS Channel 8, along with sportscaster Al Bernstein, intro'd the beefcake heroes to a mostly female House of Blues audience.

One highlight was the auction of a fireman who proceeded to ask the winning bidder to marry him. I'm guessing they knew each other. She said "yes," and all the romantically challenged women in the crowd sent up a collective "awwww" as he carried her offstage. Cute.

Not quite so cute, maybe even a little weird, was the one lady who insisted on bidding on Pfister. Um, fireman auction, sweetie, not meteorologist auction. But she lived her fantasy and bought a date with him for $1,000.

The good news is that the event raised a whopping $81,580(!) for the county Burn Foundation. That's including money spent on dates, calendars and tickets to the auction.

The court battle to get affable weather guy Nate Tannenbaum on the air at KTNV Channel 13, and out of his noncompete clause with KVBC Channel 3, could have been a lot less mess, says Albert Marquis, an attorney for KVBC.

"There was an offer on the table to get Nate back on the air by September," Marquis explained. "But instead (Channel 13) chose to fight and they ended up shooting themselves in the foot." A court ruled that Tannenbaum, or any likeness of Tannenbaum, is not allowed on the air until Feb. 1, 2002. Had KTNV opted for the September deal, Marquis insists the matter would have been settled with minimal litigation expense.

Having lost the first battle, the Journal Broadcast Group, which owns KTNV, is appealing the Tannenbaum injunction to the Nevada Supreme Court.

Celebrity sightings were expected at HBO's post-fight party on Saturday night at Olio! in the MGM Grand after the Oscar De La Hoya-Arturo Gatti bout. Reportedly spotted in the crowd: George Clooney, Matt Damon and Mark Wahlberg.

There were also Elizabeth Taylor rumors floating around following Vegas' other big weekend event, Andrea Bocelli's concert at the Mandalay Bay Events Center. Dame Elizabeth herself purchased tickets to Saturday's sold-out performance.

If you're still looking for a place to watch the Oscars tonight, buy a ticket to Madame Tussaud's party. From 5-11 p.m., you can surround yourself with waxy star substitutes and pretend as though you're at the Shrine with Mel, Whoopi, Meryl and Harrison. There's even a Joan Rivers, just in case you want a second opinion on your party dress.

Watch the live telecast on Tussaud's multiple TV screens, while noshing on hors d'oeuvres and sipping (cash bar) champagne. Close to the real thing, but, really, oh so, so, so very far away.

The Aladdin has turned down the chance to host Fox's "Surprise Wedding II." After some back-and-forth negotiations, the Aladdin ultimately decided a previously scheduled concert was more important than putting on another ethically questionable special from our family friendly pals at Fox.

The producers of "Surprise Wedding II," L.A.-based Nash Entertainment, are now shopping the show elsewhere on the Strip. The Venetian was approached, but has also reportedly given the project a thumbs-down.