Las Vegas Sun

March 29, 2024

VegasBeat — Timothy McDarrah: Pre-party leaves no memories of Paris

ON THE RED CARPET -- The tension is building: Will she or won't she?

We're outside Studio 54 (MGM Grand) at the Billboard Music Awards pre-party Tuesday night.

There are blown-up VEGAS Magazine covers everywhere, all featuring the image of Paris Hilton. Members of national media are assembled, most of them intent on talking to the hotel heiress, home video actress and "The Simple Life" reality show star.

Hundreds of spectators are on the scene, instant cameras in hand, waiting for a glimpse of anyone they recognize.

Finally, one of the reporters cracks. It is presidential relative (cousin of the current prez, nephew of the former) and "Access Hollywood" correspondent Billy Bush.

He grabs KVBC Channel 3 reporter Alicia Jacobs for support, stares at VegasBeat, then looks skyward.

"For the love of God," he shouts in mock horror, "Where, oh where, is Paris Hilton?

"Well, if we're going to be stood up," he concludes, "it may as well be in Vegas. I think every awards show ought to be in Las Vegas. This place is great."

Hilton is indeed a no-show, although we discover her sister is in town. (Nicky Hilton attended the opening of Meitel Grantz's new Talulah G. boutique Tuesday night at the Fashion Show mall.)

However, the carpet is busy nevertheless. First one down is VEGAS Magazine Publisher Michael Carr, who is creatively dressed in a brown, fringed suede jacket with beaded bald eagles decorating the shoulders.

"Frankly, I am flattered that Fox and the Billboards recognize us and wanted to have this party with us, " Carr says.

Next up, or down, is Darryl McDaniels, the latter part of rap patriarchs Run DMC. His main interest this evening, he says, is to eat.

"Why are we here?" Penn Jillette says to Teller, repeating our question to him. "I have no idea," Jillette says. "We're carny trash. We'll just keep to ourselves and stand near the buffet. I am starving."

Also making the scene is Lil John & The Eastside Boyz ("Get Low"), R. Kelly and Carrot Top.

"One of the rappers gave me a rap name," Rita Rudner tells us. "My name tonight is Stretch Mamma," she says before striking a typical rap pose -- she crosses her arms and cocks her head to the side.

Word up.

Expected guest Vanilla Ice skips the party, but we spot him playing craps at a table in front of Tabu (MGM Grand) after we leave Studio 54.

The Billboard Music Awards are being broadcast tonight from the MGM Grand Garden Arena. The show is at 5 p.m., and it airs in Las Vegas at 8 p.m. on the Fox affiliate, KVVU Channel 5.

Clairvoyant

From Monday's VegasBeat: "Look for an announcement as early as this week from 'Survivor' creator Mark Burnett about his new reality show. It will be called something along the lines of 'The Casino' ... A likely locale will be the Golden Nugget, which early next year gets a new ownership group."

From today's Variety.com: "Fox has pacted with the reality kingpin (Mark Burnett) for 'The Casino,' an hourlong reality drama that will focus on the pending relaunch of Sin City's famed downtown Golden Nugget."

Sighting?

VegasBeat was watching our favorite morning news team Tuesday, KVVU's Cher Calvin and Josh Talkington, when we heard our name come up.

Calvin told viewers that she and her gal pals had been evicted from their table -- and moved to another -- at Little Buddha (Palms) on Friday night because, they were told, a large party that included Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez was coming into the restaurant.

"Of course, we haven't heard from Timothy McDarrah to confirm anything," she said on the air.

After the broadcast, Calvin told us: "People (at Little Buddha) were freaking out. Security was everywhere and they were talking about making special food for them."

Calvin said she and her friends left after their meal without seeing any concrete evidence of Bennifer.

So, we called the restaurant and the hotel to follow up.

Turns out it was a false alarm.

It was Ben Stiller and his wife, Christine Taylor, who were at the hotel, but they ended up dining elsewhere.

Male call

Here's a good reason to join the military -- you can get adopted by the cast of "Midnight Fantasy," the adult revue at Luxor.

The women just sent 13 crates of goodies to Company C, 489th Engineering Battalion in Iraq.

"It was the least we could do," said one of the show's featured performers, Stephanie Jordan, when we ran into her and co-star Jennifer Young at a party at the new Sammy's California Woodfired Pizza on Sunset Road in Henderson on Monday night.

Also spotted munching on the pizza: entertainer George Bugatti, new Las Vegas Bugle columnist Monti Rock III and KVVU lovebirds (they're engaged), weatherman Ted Pretty and reporter Heidi Hayes.

VegasBits

Brainstorm: Brian McFadden -- the former MTV personality and Nicky Hilton's former boyfriend -- had breakfast Tuesday at Mr. Lucky's (Hard Rock Hotel), with the hotel's new comedy headliner, Jeff Beacher ...

Confirmed: MGM Grand officials announced Tuesday what we first reported last week: Britney Spears will perform there March 6. Tickets are $48.50 to $98.50 and go on sale Saturday ...

The most: Siegfried Fischbacher will be one of the featured folks on Wednesday's Barbara Walters special on ABC, "The 10 Most Fascinating People of 2003" ...

Knot: Gospel singer Vickie Winans -- who was nominated for a Grammy last week -- was wed in Las Vegas Nov. 24 to Detroit businessman Joe McLemore, her publicist announced Tuesday. Didn't say where ...

Good cause: Robin Leach is hosting a Children's Miracle Network benefit at Caffe Giorgio at the new Mandalay Place on Thursday night. Rocker Vince Neil and KVBC Channel 3 morning anchor Mitch Truswell are also slated to attend. Tickets are $75 and are still available by calling 383-2326. All proceeds go to kids and their families in times of medical crisis.

From Sun wires

Ozzy Osbourne is doing well after suffering a broken neck vertebra and other injuries in an all-terrain vehicle accident, doctors said today, and they hope to take him off a ventilator so he can breathe unaided.

"The plan for today is to wake him up, as he's been sedated while he's been on the ventilator," said Dr. Dick Jack, medical director of Wexham Park Hospital, west of London.

Charges weighed: Police considered Tuesday whether to pursue charges against singer Bobby Brown after officers responded to a domestic abuse call by his wife, Whitney Houston, at their home in an Atlanta suburb.

Officers arrived at the couple's home Sunday evening and found Houston with a cut upper lip and a bruised cheek, a police spokesman said. Houston told officers that Brown hit her in the face during an argument.

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