VegasBeat — Timothy McDarrah: Blizzard of Oz coming to The Venetian

Monday, Oct. 14, 2002 | 9:17 a.m.

Look out, Las Vegas.

Ozzy is coming.

Television's most (in)famous family -- Jack, Kelly, Sharon and Ozzy Osbourne -- is scheduled for a stay at The Venetian, and the MTV cameras that document every facet of its existence are coming, too.

The bat-biting, heavy-metal icon is performing at Rain in the Desert at the Palms on Oct. 25.

But Sharon Osbourne, wife and manager of the former Black Sabbath frontman, refused to stay at the Palms. She instead insisted on the most luxurious place in town, preferably a resort with a full-service spa.

After Sharon Osbourne's staff presented her with various lodging options, The Venetian -- with its onsite Canyon Ranch Spa -- was the choice.

The Osbournes and the MTV crew will take over 15 to 20 rooms starting Oct. 24 and stay at least through the weekend, an MTV personality familiar with the production told VegasBeat.

"We're excited to have the opportunity for them to stay with us," Venetian director of communications Kurt Ouchida said.

He said the hotel was not worried about the family's past outrageous exploits, which have made "The Osbournes" the highest-rated show in the cable network's history.

"We are big fans of the show, and we're curious to see how it all comes together," Ouchida said. "It will be a good experience for everyone involved."

Bottoms up

In local booze news, the Winter 2002 edition of Wine & Spirits Magazine -- on newsstands Tuesday -- names Montechristo Rum the "Best Rum of 2002."

The brand is the first product for Sidebar Spirits, which is owned and operated by a trio of local entrepreneurs: University of Nevada, Las Vegas alum Tim Haughinberry and partners Robert and Michael Frey. The Freys also run the popular Cigarbox chain, which has nine Las Vegas-area locations.

Robert Frey additionally is an owner of Coyote Ugly at New York-New York and the new club Bikinis, which will be inside The Rio. Bikinis is preparing for an Oct. 31 blowout of an opening.

Montechristo Rum launched in Las Vegas in January, New York in May and since then in other major markets.

Offered Wine & Spirits Magazine: "The name comes through a business arrangement with the well-known cigar company, and it's easy to see how cigar smokers would love this. Made from a blend of 12- and 23-year-old Guatemalan rums, it's rich and lush, brimming with vanilla butterscotch aromas and flavors to match."

Hot feet

Someone at KLAS Channel 8 has a wicked sense of humor.

We recently did an item focusing on station weatherman Mark Pfister's fixation with the feet belonging to a comely Las Vegas publicist.

Well, the other morning we switched on the TV and got a jolt when we saw Pfister, reporting live from Summerlin Medical Center -- with a podiatrist, doing a segment on foot care.

Clock puncher

Got a call the other day from one of VegasBeat's most faithful readers, Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman.

He took issue with an item from last week, saying that he had stepped out on city time to film a movie scene with Daffy Duck. The shoot started at 6 p.m., and the mayor said his work day ends at 5 p.m.

However, in most major cities, being the mayor is a 24-hour-a-day proposition.

Remember, your honor, you weren't signed up to promote gin because you are Oscar Goodman, private citizen.

The distillery paid for Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman, who was elected on the back of notoriety earned for representing Meyer Lansky, Tony "The Ant" Spilotro, Philly mob underboss Phil Leonetti and such fine citizens as convicted rapist Mike Tyson and sanity posterchild LaToya Jackson.

Just be glad the Las Vegas police officers, firefighters and paramedics don't work Goodman hours.

Also, Goodman's office made the extra effort to point out that there are designated drivers at all his public drinking events, but did not provide specifics. While there are probably not enough drivers for every person whose blood alcohol level creeps over the legal limit, it is a start.

Helping hands

When he was a star at the Naval Academy and later a Los Angeles Raider, Napoleon McCallum rarely dropped the ball.

He hasn't changed.

But now instead of gaining yardage, he is accumulating food for the Salvation Army.

McCallum, who lives in Henderson, and Las Vegas-based producer and broadcast personality John Daly have teamed to host a food drive benefiting the local Salvation Army's food bank.

They will both be at the Smith's store at 2211 N. Rampart Blvd. from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 26 as part of the national USA Weekend Magazine "Make a Difference Day" charity event.

As part of the drive, residents are being asked to donate nonperishable foods and personal-hygiene items to replenish ever-dwindling supplies of the food bank.

Buddy's back

Enjoyed the Casino Legends Hall of Fame induction ceremony at Tropicana on Friday.

Unlike many similar events, the presenters killed.

Rich Little's impressions of the late President Richard Nixon and actor Jimmy Stewart still bring down a room, especially when performed for an older crowd that can remember them, as this was.

And while everyone says that Lezlie Anders and Buddy Greco are in a funk over the publicity that their recent bankruptcy filing generated, they appeared to be happy and in good sprits when they inducted Mamie Van Doren.

In the business

Bob Anderson is drawing an A-list crowd of fellow entertainers for his gig at Sahara.

Usually a pretty good measure of an act is which professional colleagues show up to see it.

Over the last few days, Anderson's audience has included Sheena Easton, Tony Bennett, Marty Allen, Clint Holmes, Mac King, Lance Burton and an entertainer in another profession, Lt. Gov. Lorraine Hunt.

Check out

Former Invensys Classic champ Bob Estes and family at the Clint Holmes show Saturday ... ABC's "Good Morning America" weatherman Spencer Christian at Aureole on Friday night ... Paul Stanley from Kiss at Darren Romeo's finale on Saturday ... "Days of Our Lives" star Melanie Reeves with her husband and children at Siegfried & Roy on Saturday night, then touring the Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat on Sunday ... Jerry Lewis -- looking at least 30 pounds lighter than he did during his Labor Day Muscular Dystrophy Telethon appearance -- dining Saturday night with his daughter Danielle, 10, at Fassolini's Pizza Cafe on Decatur Boulevard.