VegasBeat — Timothy McDarrah: Bally’s oddsmaker ‘Gangs’ up on Oscar

Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2003 | 10:18 a.m.

Wonder if the Academy Awards telecast would allow Las Vegas television commercials?

After all, Oscar odds were just posted.

But of course, they are for entertainment purposes only.

Johnny Avello, Bally's/Paris Las Vegas oddsmaker, released his odds for the major categories on Monday.

His pick for Best Picture is "Gangs of New York," which is a 3-1 favorite, followed by "Chicago" at 4-1, "The Hours" at 5-1, "About Schmidt" at 8-1 and the "Lord of the Rings" sequel at 10-1.

"My Big Fat Greek Wedding" is a 100-1 shot.

For Best Actor, Jack Nicholson is a heavy favorite.

"I have him at 6-5 for 'Schmidt.' He plays himself in it, and he does that very well," Avello said.

Nicholson is followed by Daniel Day-Lewis, who is at 3-1 for his "Gangs" role, and Adrien Brody for his star turn in "The Pianist" at 5-1.

Nicole Kidman, Avello says, is no shoo-in for Best Actress.

"I have her at 2-1 for 'The Hours.' But Diane Lane (at 5-2) could win for 'Unfaithful' or Julianne Moore (3-1) in 'Far From Heaven.' "

Avello has not seen all the movies, he told VegasBeat.

"I couldn't have seen them all; the release dates on eight of my top 10 were in December, and some weren't released locally until a few days ago," Avello said.

So how does he prognosticate?

"I go by a few things -- first is my gut based on what I am reading, and I also talk to a few Hollywood insiders who give me their opinions. Who won the Golden Globes also carries some weight."

He likes Martin Scorsese for Best Director (for "Gangs") at 2-1, followed by Rob Marshall at 5-2 for "Chicago" and Alexander Payne at 4-1 for "Schmidt."

Avello's track record is pretty good. His pick for Best Picture of 2001 was "Gladiator," which won.

Last year he predicted "Moulin Rouge" would nip "A Beautiful Mind."

About 5,700 nomination ballots were sent out this month to members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Official nominations are due Feb. 11.

The 75th annual Academy Awards presentation takes place March 23 at Hollywood's Kodak Theatre.

Here she comes

Miss Nevada Teresa Benitez was the third runner-up in the nationally televised Miss America pageant. She walked off with a $25,000 scholarship.

Now, local beauty-contest folks are looking for candidates to become the next Miss Las Vegas, an official preliminary to the Miss America contest.

If you are between 17 and 24 years old, unmarried (and not divorced), a U.S. citizen and seeking a college education, shoot an e-mail to starofvegas3117@aol.com before Feb. 8.

The event takes place March 20 at Community College of Southern Nevada's Nicholas J. Horn Theatre.

Super, continued

There were no Las Vegas ads during the Super Bowl telecast, but that doesn't mean Sin City wasn't represented.

In case you were gone for a moment, the omnipresent Robin Leach filled America's television screens at the two-minute warning at the end of the first half.

He and the lovely Melissa Rivers appeared in a commercial for the upcoming ABC reality series in which they appear, "I'm a Celebrity -- Get Me Out of Here!"

And Penn & Teller put their predictions into a jar of pickles in the middle of Times Square, had some Marines guard it and then had a passer-by smash it open after the game.

Sing it

Nice honor for Judy Alberti, vice president for entertainment for Station Casinos: She's been asked to serve on Pollstar magazine's Concert Industry Conference panel for casino talent buyers next month in Los Angeles.

The annual confab this year brings together, among others, executives from Columbia, Arista and Epic records, Clear Channel Entertainment, power talent agencies William Morris and CAA and production managers from acts ranging from Creed to Paul McCartney.

Alberti started at Station as a secretary and has worked her way up, way past the glass ceiling.

VegasBits

Daryl Hannah "splashed" down at Charlie Palmer's steak house at the Four Seasons with five male dining companions the other night ...

Auditions for the Donny Osmond-hosted game show "Pyramid" take place Saturday and Sunday at The Rio. Arrive at 10 a.m., noon or 3 p.m. and head over to the Samba Lobby in the Pavilion area. Osmond will be there ...

"The belated Tito Puente"? That's how a media advisory announcing that Jan. 30 will be proclaimed Tito Puente Day referred to him. The Latin legend gets a lifetime achievement award at the Grammys on Feb. 23. His son Tito Puente Jr. headlines at the Sevilla inside the Aladdin's Desert Passage Jan. 30 to Feb. 8 ...

A former colleague, Beth Landman Kiel, wrote up several spas with Las Vegas ties in the current New York magazine, including Canyon Ranch in the Berkshires, Four Seasons Palm Beach and Hualalai and Turnberry Isle in Florida ...

The "Our Way" tribute show to Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr. that Gary Anthony recently brought to Westward Ho is a smash. They were turning away patrons 20 minutes before curtain the other night in the 700-seat showroom. It continues Wednesdays and Saturdays through March ...

Philip Koslow has been appointed executive director of the Las Vegas Philharmonic. He studied music in Vienna, Austria, and played horn for 21 years in the Richmond, Va., symphony ...

Entertainer Tony Sacca kicked off an open-ended weekend gig at Le Bistro Theatre at the Riviera in style. Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman proclaimed Jan. 20 "Tony Sacca: Ambassador to Las Vegas Day." Producer Marlene Ricci presented the accolade onstage after his debut.

Simon Kitchen and Bar manager Amy Rossetti reports that when Terrell Owens signed his credit card receipt after dinner the other night, he did not use a Sharpie pen.