Columnist Kate Maddox: Puck scores again with Spago

Kate Maddox

Tuesday, Oct. 16, 2001 | 8:26 a.m.

Siegfried & Roy, Robin Leach and Rita Rudner were among the VIPs Monday toasting Wolfgang Puck and his wife, Barbara Lazaroff, on the recently completed renovation of Spago. The county, the governor's office and the mayor all sent proclamations naming Monday "Spago Day" (or some such thing), and Roy even went so far as to say Puck cooks just like Roy's mother. Siegfried continued the lovefest by playfully mocking the Austrian chef's thick accent and adding that Puck was the one who "taught Las Vegas how to eat."

For his part, a slimmed-down Puck spoke about how difficult it was to get the Las Vegas Spago off the ground in 1992, when the first customers at his chi-chi eatery were a bunch of cowboys in town for National Finals Rodeo. But after three weeks of his nail-biting and excessive drinking (his words, not mine), Spago became, well, Spago. And after all the fawning and praising, in true Spago star-service fashion, the celebs were treated to a special lunch, in a special booth, with special lighting and special champagne.

Leach, who brought lady-friend actress Joan Severance to the Spago event, said he wouldn't be able to make it to the Nov. 11 Las Vegas benefit for the USO, but will be videotaping a message. "I have to be in New York," said Leach, who will be on Broadway in "The Rocky Horror Show" when the tribute concert is taking place. "But I wish I could be there in person."

Someone who will be there in the flesh is Robert Goulet. The singer, who is also a Las Vegas resident, has just signed on to perform with the other headliners at the Mandalay Bay concert.

Light, the lounge/nightclub that's been in the works at Bellagio for months, will finally open to the public on Dec. 20. Movie producer and Planet Hollywood co-founder Keith Barish, and his son, Chris, who owns and operates a Light in New York, have selected an opening date, after much-rumored hemming and hawing and last-minute renovations.

But don't think the see-and-be-seen-sters will let just anyone into the sleek new place. Sources here say the Barishes, as well as partner Andrew Sasson, another longtime nightclub impresario back East, only want the creme de la creme at their upscale lounge. So if you look the part (whatever part that turns out to be), expect to be treated well at one of Light's reservation-only tables.

Poor David Brenner. The comedian, who lives here part-time while performing at Golden Nugget, has reportedly been pushing the E! Entertainment Channel for a "True Hollywood Story" episode based on his life. The docu-drama show usually chronicles the rise and/or fall of celebrities and TV programs, bands and child stars, but it just won't make room for Brenner.

Brenner had apparently been told that he would be the focus on an upcoming show -- E! even went so far as to hire a producer to film him in Vegas. So why does Brenner keep getting scrapped? Well, I hate to be the one to break the news, but there's a particular higher-up at the channel who doesn't think the funnyman is funny. And until that suit gets a sense of humor, Brenner shouldn't hold his breath.

Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds is in town this week, shopping for a showroom. The singer/music producer was sniffing around Vegas two years ago when it was rumored he wanted to bring his Atlanta-based LaFace Records here. Edmonds, who is apparently a big fan of the Vegas-style production show, has been in meetings with entertainment VPs at major properties up and down the Strip. Stay tuned for confirmation on which lucky property inks the music man.