Columnist Kate Maddox: For Escobar, luck stops here

Kate Maddox

Friday, May 25, 2001 | 9:05 a.m.

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

On Tuesday I reported a new Fox show was being cast to shoot here and be produced here, and the show would chronicle the lifestyles of Vegas' junior elite. The source, Robert Escobar, claimed to be co-executive producer of "The Desert Club" with Randy Spelling, Aaron Spelling's son.

Mr. Escobar dropped all sorts of names, contacts and details. He said the show was being picked up by Fox and would start shooting episodes, on location, by the end of the summer. Escobar even held a party on Thursday to cast "sexy strippers" and extras for his production. He added that he had informed the Nevada Film Office of his shooting plans, and said that the NFO suggested he contact me.

On Wednesday my phone started ringing.

First, a woman in Los Angeles who works with Randy Spelling and has been with Spelling Television for 15 years called to say that Spelling the younger had no plans to produce a TV show and that he had no idea who Robert Escobar even was -- and neither did Aaron Spelling.

Here we go ...

My next call was to Fox. "No. Fox Broadcasting is not casting anything in Las Vegas at this time," said Scott Grogin, vice president of corporate communications. He checked around and later added, "(None of the departments) here know anything about 'The Desert Club.' " But Escobar's party invitations claim the shindig is a "Fox Television Casting" event? Why, it even suggests that the ladies bring swimwear ... ? Oh, Mr. Escobar, I think you're in trouble.

I informed the suits at Fox what Escobar had told me, and told them to have a nice day because they sure didn't sound very happy. I guess a casting party for strippers being held under the guise of a phony Fox/ Spelling Television production isn't something to be excited about.

Kevin Sasaki, Randy Spelling's publicist, added a little more information. "Randy was approached months ago by this guy (Escobar) about (the show idea) but he just wasn't interested and that was it," Sasaki said. "Randy's in the music business now anyway -- not TV. He has no association with Escobar at all."

I informed Sasaki what Escobar had told me and told him to have a nice day, because he sure didn't sound very happy either. I guess hearing that your client is being linked to a phony TV show and a casting party for strippers isn't something to be excited about.

Actually, I pretty much told everyone who called about Escobar's story. And, last I heard, the Spelling people were thinking about a cease-and-desist order, and Fox Broadcasting was sending someone from their Las Vegas affiliate to check out the so-called casting party and the use of Fox's name in the promotional information.

See, the only kind of burns I even remotely like are the kind I get after a pleasant day at the beach. Mr. Escobar, I think I just pulled the string that's gonna unravel your sweater. Have a nice day.

In other real entertainment news:

I hear Stevie Nicks is making a Las Vegas appearance in August. Nicks, who has just released a new album after seven years, will perform at the Aladdin Theatre for Performing Arts in late August. Tickets go on sale June 2.

Former President Bush made a visit to an old friend during his brief Vegas stopover on Tuesday. President Bush sneaked into the offices of Sig Rogich at the Hughes Center and surprised his pal with a birthday cake.

Get out another set of velvet ropes -- the Las Vegas branch of New York hipster hangout, Lotus, is scheduled to open on New Year's Eve, according to sources. Lotus will be at the one end of Restaurant Row, just down from V Bar, at the Venetian.