VegasBeat — Timothy McDarrah: Leach has suite time in ‘Penthouse’

Friday, Aug. 8, 2003 | 10:48 a.m.

Now that was some must-see-TV.

Robin Leach and the best of Vegas entertainment took over a palatial penthouse suite at the Las Vegas Hilton on Thursday night to tape segments for Leach's upcoming show, "Penthouse Vegas."

The segments will be used as the first four episodes of the syndicated half-hour show, which premieres around the country Aug. 22 (locally on KVVU Channel 5).

"At 11:30 on Friday nights, the choice is going to be either Ted Koppel or the amazing city of Las Vegas," Leach said. "I am confident that Las Vegas can more than hold its own."

One prominent Las Vegan is already a fan.

"Look at all the beautiful women ... the amazing entertainers ... the extraordinary views ... the historic location ... and Robin Leach as ringmaster of it all," Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman said after taping a segment where he discussed old Vegas with Robert Goulet.

Goodman surveyed the opulent 30th floor, 16,000-square-foot, $17,500-per-night digs where Elvis Presley used to bunk.

"Only in Las Vegas!" Goodman said.

Standing near Goodman, Charo, wielding a 100-year-old flamenco guitar, was preparing to give lessons to Motley Crue vocalist Vince Neil.

"Listen, Charo, I am the singer in the band, not the guitar player, so don't expect miracles," Neil said. He had flown in from Atlanta earlier in the day as a favor to his friend Leach, and left immediately afterward for a show in Washington, D.C., scheduled for tonight.

At one point, after repeatedly flubbing a chord and mumbling under his breath, the tattooed rocker -- free on bond after allegedly assaulting a prostitute at the Moonlight BunnyRanch near Carson City last month -- looked up at Leach and said, "Can I say (expletive) on this show?"

Cameras caught it all, along with a stunning procession of other acts and personalities.

Yugoslavian Vera Goulet proudly said she was being sworn in as a U.S. citizen today.

"I love this country," she said. "America has free speech, the right to vote and people like Robin Leach to make everyone smile and be happy."

David Brenner and Susan Anton sat together on a couch and marveled at "X" show contortionist Jennifer Collins.

Clint Holmes and The Scintas performed the upbeat theme song they composed for the show. Beatles tribute group The Fab Four sang "This Boy" as impersonator Rich Little did a quick Ed Sullivan impression.

Stardust headliner and naughty hypnotist Anthony Cools cast his mind spell on Kellie Karl, who plays the vampish Sadista character in "Shock!" at Bourbon Street.

Playboy's Miss August, Las Vegas veterinarian Dr. Colleen Marie, made the party scene, as did Rhonda Shear, Greta Blackburn, chefs Bradley Ogden and David Robins, ghostbar VIP host Marko Greisen, KJUL 104.3-FM personality Duke Morgan, old-school TV director Max Bryer, Jill Paice -- the impossibly cute Sophie in "Mamma Mia!" -- and the cast of "Chippendales."

The "Crazy Girls" had a spaghetti-eating contest -- with their hands tied behind their backs. All the work Michael Boychuk and his AMP Salon crew had done on the girls was quickly put to waste in a blur of marinara.

Frank Marino, in his Joan Rivers outfit, gabbed with Liza Minnelli impersonator Sammy Gonzalez.

The Amazing Johnathan and Pat Morita ("Karate Kid") raced around the room on a Segway as Psychic Tanya chased them on a scooter.

"It is about time Las Vegas had a show like this," Morita said. "We're a party town. Las Vegas is all about pleasure. The city stands for pure and total joy, and Robin Leach and this show is the perfect vehicle to get that word out."

Producer Nick LaPenna remarked on how all the participants were amazingly cooperative. Earlier, Ronn Lucas, Mac King, Rita Rudner, Lance Burton, Trent Carlini and the women from "Coyote Ugly" had shot sequences for the show.

Leach said the evening -- and morning, as the shoot ended early today -- was "unbelievably ambitious."

"It is a party and it is a television show," a still-charged Leach said as the clock passed midnight. "Two great things that go great together."

VegasBits

Ready: The new nightclub ICE opens to the public tonight. So far, VIP hostess Christina Trainor (the UNLV grad now appearing on MTV's "Real World Paris") has welcomed huge crowds into some of the pre-opening parties. So far, we've spotted James Caan, Portland Trail Blazer Bonzi Wells, Breck Wall, Kevin Steussi, Indiana Pacer Jermaine O'Neal, Mel Carter, Michael Morton, architect Deborah Bergin, TV sportscaster Chris Maathuis and KPXT 97.1 (The Point) morning host Steph MacKenzie ...

Cover girl: Supermodel and actress Molly Sims is on the cover of the September issue of VEGAS Magazine. She co-stars with Caan in the new NBC series "Las Vegas" ...

TV party: ABC News correspondents Chris Cuomo, John Quinones and Elizabeth Vargas from "20/20 Downtown" are coming to Las Vegas. This weekend and next week, Cuomo will be reporting on the authors of "Bringing Down the House" (about the six MIT students who conspired to beat the casinos at poker), and Quinones will be at the Bellagio interviewing high-stakes female poker players. Later in the month, Vargas will be here to report on the "new" Vegas ...

Eater: Phoenix Suns forward Tom Gugliotta had lunch Wednesday at Spago (Forum Shops at Caesars) ...

New post: Tony Orlando is a new vice president of the Muscular Dystrophy Association. In an e-mail, MDA telethon host Jerry Lewis told VegasBeat: "When I think of certain words like 'friend' and 'caring' -- not to mention 'brilliant' and 'talented,' the name Tony Orlando invariably comes to mind." Orlando hosts the New York portion of the MDA Labor Day telethon and then returns to the Suncoast Showroom Sept 12. to Sept. 14 ...

Age: Vegas regular JC Chasez of 'N Sync and Drew Lachey of 98 Degrees both turn 27 today. Lachey will be in town Saturday for his sister-in-law Jessica Simpson and brother Nick Lachey's performance at Rain in the Desert. And, recent Suncoast headliner Connie Stevens turns 65 today.

From Sun wires

Cambodia has approved a forest conservation project funded by "Tomb Raider" star Angelina Jolie in two former Khmer Rouge strongholds.

Jolie has promised up to $1.5 million for community-based work over the next five years in remote areas in northwestern Cambodia. The money will educate villagers about conservation awareness, draw demarcation lines to protect forest and wildlife sanctuaries and train local rangers.

Lynch plans book: Former prisoner of war Pfc. Jessica Lynch will tell her story in a book, a family spokesman said Thursday.

The Lynch family is expected to conclude a deal with Rick Bragg, a former reporter for The New York Times, for a book to be published by Knopf.

Meanwhile, Lynch has pulled out of a proposed deal with NBC to cooperate with a television movie about her ordeal.