Columnist Kate Maddox: Doherty as ‘Charm’-ing as ever

Kate Maddox

Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2002 | 8:17 a.m.

If you had seen Shannen Doherty last week in Vegas (as I happened to by chance, at ghostbar), you wouldn't have pegged her as blushing bride. The pouty puss on Doherty's face, as she sat cushily on a reserved sofa, was not that of a happy camper. Or a Mrs. Happy Camper.

But, looks aside, Doherty was apparently a day away from marrying her beau, Richard Salomon. (Speaking from an eyewitness vantage point, it was kinda hard to tell which of the burly boys surrounding Doherty was her affianced. She didn't appear all that affectionate with any of them -- not that I was going to ask the hot-tempered Doherty. But I digress.)

On the bright side, maybe the union means things are looking up for Doherty, after a less-than-peachy 2001. In April she pleaded no contest to drunken driving charges and was sentenced to probation and community service. Then, in May, she was reportedly let go from her duties on the WB hit "Charmed."

It's nice to know that even if your 15-minute spotlight has significantly dimmed, you can still get a singing gig in Vegas.

Just ask "Survivor I" scene-stealer Susan Hawk.

Hawk will be truckin' for the GOP tonight at Cashman Center. The tough-talking former Wisconsin-ite is slated to be the "entertainment" at tonight's Republican Precinct Meeting. Rumor has it Hawk will sing for the crowd just prior to Gov. Kenny Guinn's keynote speech. The hourslong GOP shindig is being held to select the delegates who will be sent to the County Republican Convention in March.

Hawk and her husband moved to Las Vegas early last year after the former truck driver decided she liked our community spirit -- as well as Nevada's gun laws.

Just when will Darren Romeo officially announce his plans to move in at The Mirage? For months rumors have been floated that the much-hyped "Voice of Magic" (as Romeo now prefers to be known) will move into a venue at the hotel occupied by his mentors Siegfried & Roy.

Romeo and his team had been telling colleagues that his afternoon production show would debut on Valentine's Day. A source close to Romeo's camp says details on the Mirage deal (if he indeed does go into The Mirage) "still aren't final." Stay tuned.

Even though the wounds are fairly fresh from the last embarrassment extravaganza, I was still upset to hear that this year's Howard Stern press conference is a no-go. (If you don't recall the 2001 Stern Super Bowl mess, it's enough to say that Stern -- and not the reporters -- did most of the question asking. And it wasn't always ... how should I say this, professional.)

Apparently this time around Stern booked too much Vegas fun for his three-day visit and will be forced to forgo the official media ridicule -- which initially was to be squeezed between a Stern-hosted beauty pageant, the marrying off of a porn star and many, many celebrity guest appearances.

Crew from Stern's camp set up last weekend and the shock jock's first show is slated for tonight at the Hard Rock Hotel.

At least Dennis Hof will profit from Stern's presence. Hof, who owns the Moonlite Bunny Ranch Bordello, will reportedly ink a $2 million deal to feature his working girls in a respectable documentary on legalized prostitution. Details regarding the in-the-works production (which likely will be sold for distribution) are slated to be completed this week at the Hard Rock during Hof's visit with Stern.