Wednesday, March 26, 2003 | 11:14 a.m.
Viva the Diva!
Celine Dion made a triumphant debut at Caesars Palace on Tuesday night, exceeding her own expectations along with those of her fans, her mother, a red carpet jammed with celebrities and (perhaps most important) the Park Place Entertainment suits betting the house on her.
"If tonight is any indication of what we can expect, we clearly made the right decision building The Colosseum and investing in Celine," Park Place President Wally Barr said after the show.
He was joined at the premiere of "A New Day ..." by all 10 members of the company's board, including Chairman Stephen Bollenbach and Directors Eric and Barron Hilton -- yes, from the hotel Hiltons.
"It felt unbelievable," Celine said at a news conference hours after the performance. "We all had a wonderful time onstage."
"Pressure? What pressure? There is no pressure," she said when asked if she felt any. "Whatever the numbers are, and they are getting higher and higher, I do not even begin to think about it."
She has a $100 million contract with Caesars for the next three years. Plus, the property invested $95 million in building The Colosseum. Also, she signed an eight-figure sponsorship deal with DaimlerChrysler, and Coty beauty products has invested a reported $10 million in Celine Dion Parfums.
When asked if she was now bigger than hockey in her native Canada, Celine demurred, saying, "You be the judge."
Based on the number of Canadian press representatives at the opening, she is certainly getting more attention than the country's national pastime.
During the news conference a staffer wrapped a silver boa around her neck. Celine held her hand over her vocal cords, but insisted she was feeling no pain and that her voice was fine.
Celine's husband, Rene Angelil, said earlier that there was some concern about Celine potentially missing performances because of voice problems. A multimillion-dollar Lloyd's of London insurance policy had been taken out on Celine's vocal cords.
Also getting lots of attention was Celine's new shorter, blonder 'do.
"I am a mother now and I didn't want to spend three hours a day before every show getting my hair done," she said. "I'd rather spend the time with my son (Rene-Charles, 2). I think my fans like the fact that I am normal."
So, then, how was the show?
Celine's music and the Franco Dragone theatrics aren't my cup of tea. But there is absolutely no denying that Celine, Dragone and choreographer Mia Michaels are masters of their crafts and that the show will be a monster hit.
After each of the 20 songs in the 90-minute show, adoring and loudly audible fans shouted, "I love you, Celine." She may love them too, but she didn't show it with an encore.
Celebrities offered their opinions.
"The show was phenomenal," Canadian comic Alan Thicke said. "But it ought to be -- she stole my entire act."
"You know it is a good show because people actually stopped gambling to go see it," comic Kathy Griffin said.
Similar post-performance kudos came pouring out from "Dr. Quinn" herself, actress Jane Seymour, singers Paul Anka and Barry Manilow, the ageless Dick Clark, sitcom star Tim Allen, "Baywatch's" David Hasselhoff and boxer Laila Ali.
Gov. Kenny Guinn and Assembly Speaker Richard Perkins, D-Henderson, led a large contingent of Nevada elected officials.
"Celine is my new favorite diva," an exuberant Lance Bass of 'N Sync said after the show.
The only celebrities that got a bigger cheer than Bass from the huge crowd of fans surrounding The Colosseum were "Bachelorette" Trista Rehn and her boy toy, Ryan Sutter.
Vegas fixtures were also represented. Danny Gans, Darren Romeo, Monti Rock III and Siegfried & Roy all made the scene.
I asked Therese Dion -- Celine's mom -- if she would finally sleep soundly. During the show, Celine had told her mother to stop worrying about her.
My high school French is more than passable, but Montreal radio reporter Claire LaMarche helped me translate Mama Dion's answer.
"I won't sleep at all tonight. I am much too excited. I will dream that I am dancing with her," Dion said as she grabbed my pen out of one hand and my pad out of the other and started to dance a respectable Twist.
"I am so proud of her."
Dad Adhemar Dion was also there, but none of Celine's 13 siblings were spotted.
The live CBS special with host Justin Timberlake came off without a hitch.
And producer David Foster said that sales of Celine's "One Heart" CD, which dropped earlier in the day, were "solid, very solid."
"Everything is coming together today better than any of us could have hoped."
The evening began with a party at celebrity Chef Bradley Ogden's new restaurant, which is just steps from The Colosseum.
"Did I open here because Celine Dion is opening right over there? In a word, yes," Ogden said. "This is a unique opportunity to be a part of something special."
Before celebs paraded down the red carpet, Ogden served them caviar, oyster fritters, foie gras sandwiches, lamb chops, glazed crab legs and Creamsicle shooters for dessert.
Finally, what is next for creator Dragone now that this show is in the can?
"I am going to be working on a show for Steve Wynn at Le Reve, but there is no Barbra Streisand, no Cher. Steve Wynn will be the diva and the show will be the diva."
Huh? I knew Wynn was a smart businessman, but I didn't know he could sing, too.
VegasBits
Outspoken Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban was at ESPNZone at New York-New York for much of the opening weekend of the NCAA Basketball Tournament. His prediction: "Nobody is beating Pitt." He's right, so far ...
VH1 is sponsoring this summer's REO Speedwagon/Styx tour. The first stop is at the Aladdin Theatre for the Performing Arts on May 10 ...
One of the original celebrity chefs, Paul Prudhomme of Cajun blackened redfish fame, was at the Pizza Expo at the Las Vegas Convention Center on Tuesday ...
Baseball favorite Joe Garagiola appears at the Stardust race and sports book Thursday afternoon.
From Sun wires
CNN abruptly dropped one of its best-known anchors, Connie Chung, who had been hired only last spring as the centerpiece of a star-driven lineup.
"Connie Chung Tonight" had been criticized in some circles for its emphasis on crime and personality stories but had drawn strong ratings in a nondescript time slot.
Her show was temporarily replaced by an Aaron Brown-anchored news program after the war's start last week and she had asked management for a time when it would come back. Instead, she was informed Tuesday that the show had been canceled, CNN spokeswoman Christa Robinson said.
Chung was asked to stay at CNN in another capacity and declined, Robinson said.
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