VegasBeat — Timothy McDarrah: Security concerns spark changes in show

Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2003 | 10:51 a.m.

VegasBeat appears Sunday through Friday in the Las Vegas Sun. Timothy McDarrah can be reached at tim@lasvegassun.com or at (702) 259-4096.

Terrorism concerns have found their way to Las Vegas' New Year's Eve celebration.

Because of a variety of unspecified (for security reasons) concerns from the Clark County Fire Department, the company putting on the planned $500,000 fireworks show Wednesday night has had to revamp its show.

One source involved in the planning of the event said the entire show had to be scrapped and redone. The two ranking officials involved with the project confirmed that security concerns were being taken into consideration, but downplayed the changes.

"Typically the fire department is very stringent on their requirements. But needless to say this year, with all that has recently happened, there is a lot of concern," Pat Christenson, president of Las Vegas Events, told VegasBeat on Monday.

"Of course, the threat of terrorism is a concern for everyone these days, but everything is being done to make sure New Year's Eve in Las Vegas is trouble free," Christenson said.

"We are working with the Clark County Fire Department in the design of the shows," said Ron Smith of Rialto, Calif.-based Pyro Spectaculars. Smith is the project manager of the Vegas fireworks show.

He would not elaborate on specific changes or what they cost.

Clark County Fire Department spokesman Bob Leinbach did not return a phone message left at his office Monday.

The 8 1/2-minute show remains on course despite the alterations, Christenson said.

"All systems are go. All of the safety requirements will be met and Las Vegas and the rest of the country are going to see a spectacular show."

Before the fireworks explode, producer Rick Garson is putting on an impressive production for the Fox "America's Party" broadcast. It will be locally broadcast via tape delay at 11 p.m. on KVVU Channel 5.

That means Las Vegas TV viewers will not see the broadcast as it happens, but three hours after the fact. The actual event will take place at 8 p.m. Pacific time and shown live on the East Coast to accommodate those viewers.

Metallica, Ashanti, Puddle of Mudd, Keith Urban, Hootie and the Blowfish, OutKast and Wyclef Jean are among the scheduled performers.

"American Idol's" Ryan Seacrest hosts the broadcast. US Weekly West Coast Executive Editor Ken Baker will be on hand to give away a car to a randomly selected person who responded to a reader's poll.

And in the shameless cross-promotion department, the stars of the Fox reality show "The Simple Life," Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie, will announce the final countdown to 2004.

Bad boys

There are some camera crews from Fox television that you probably do not want to be caught by on New Year's Eve.

Crews from "Cops," the ride-along reality show with the men and women of law enforcement, will be accompanying Metro cops as they make their holiday rounds.

Auld lang

Perhaps the most fun at a reasonable price on New Year's Eve can be found at the Greek Isles. Really.

Lounge singer Steven David is performing a free show and is having as his guest Michael Cagle, one of the best unsigned talents in town. Besides his killer voice, Cagle also has a delightfully wicked sense of humor and his interaction with David can be hilarious.

New act

David Lee Roth -- returning as a Strip headliner? Stranger things have happened, right?

On Saturday night Roth and Harrah's exec Don Marrandino took in the Lake Tahoe production of the adult revue "X" at Harvey's hotel and casino.

Afterward the pair chatted with "X" co-producer Bobby Boling. Long story short, Roth asked Boling and co-producer Angela Sampras to put together a show that would feature Roth as an emcee.

Boling and Sampras -- who are still looking for a new Vegas venue for "X," which was canceled at the Aladdin to make way for Steve Wyrick's new magic show -- are now furiously tweaking their show to include Roth, which they feel is a sure way to secure a Strip venue.

Well, maybe not. Longtime Vegas residents recall that in addition to various concert appearances, Roth had a six-day engagement at Bally's in October 1995.

"The good news is that around 700 people showed up to see his (Roth's) Strip debut. The bad news is that Bally's Celebrity Showroom seats 1,400," the Sun reported at the time.

The 1995 article went on to say that Roth "has become the consummate Vegas entertainer: talented and amusing but sadly irrelevant."

Times take

Vegas tourism is about to spike.

The Travel section of the Sunday New York Times was all about Vegas.

After reading their package of stories, we'd book a trip ourself if we didn't already live here.

The front-page picture is a half-page color stunner of the Strip seemingly taken from atop Mandalay Bay.

First came an article titled "Gawkers in Paradise" about wandering from casino to casino along with hitting the outskirt highlights, such as Red Rock.

A feature on steakhouses singled out Charlie Palmer Steak, Craftsteak, Palm, Prime and Delmonico.

A nongaming Times staffer offered a hilarious take on his Elderhostel trip to Vegas.

The suggestion box for dining, lodging and entertainment highlighted the three Cirque du Soleil shows ("O" at Bellagio, "Mystere" at Treasure Island and "Zumanity" at New York-New York), Simon Kitchen and Bar at the Hard Rock Hotel, Aqua (Bellagio) and the rooms at Harrah's.

Finally, there was also a sidebar on New Year's Eve shows and activities, featuring everything from Wayne Newton and the Fremont Street Experience to Debbie Reynolds at The Orleans.

VegasBits

Guests: Paris Hilton, Nicole Richie, Shannon Elizabeth and Bryan MacFadden, the former MTV personality and Nicky Hilton's former boyfriend, are expected at the 10 o'clock opening tonight of "Jeff Beacher's Comedy Madhouse," the new headline show at the Hard Rock Hotel ...

Happy: Frequent Vegas visitor and annual Tiger Jam (Mandalay Bay) charity host Tiger Woods turns 28 today ...

Tee off: Cris Judd, Robert Wagner, Joe Regalbuto ("Murphy Brown") and Kevin Sorbo are among the confirmed participants at the fifth annual Canon Celebrity Golf Challenge at Tournament Players Club at The Canyons on Jan. 10. The event benefits Metro Police and the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children ...

From Sun wires

President Bush again ranks as the man most admired by Americans. But first lady Laura Bush came in third among women in the annual poll.

For the second year in a row, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y. , was the most admired woman.TV host Oprah Winfrey was second this year and in 2002. Laura Bush also was third last year. Secretary of State Colin Powell and Pope John Paul II tied for second place this year with 4 percent.

Lawrence show cut short: Vicki Lawrence's show was smokin' Sunday night at a Laughlin casino.

A smoldering curtain forced the singer off the stage, and sent about 750 people scurrying out of the showroom at Don Laughlin's Riverside Resort.