Thursday, May 22, 2003 | 11:03 a.m.
Houston, we still have a problem.
That is, Whitney Houston apparently still has a problem.
Tonight the chart-topping yet troubled talent is scheduled to belt it out at the nationally televised VH1 "Divas Duets" concert live from MGM Grand Garden Arena.
Tuesday night, she acted as if she had a few belts too many and deteriorated into a "public spectacle" who looked "completely trashed" at the high-end Bellagio restaurant Picasso, according to an employee there.
"She was dancing in front of the restaurant and making a complete scene," according to the employee at Julian Serrano's four-star, five-diamond, luxury eatery that is adorned with actual Picasso paintings.
At one point, according to a different eyewitness, Houston headed to the outdoor patio area between Bellagio and Prime, the restaurant next door, and made as if she was going to jump into the faux Lake Como in front of the hotel.
Houston reportedly didn't start her meal. Her cell phone went off shortly after she was seated and moments later she got up and left, heading for another fancy Bellagio restaurant, Aqua.
There, she met her husband, Bobby Brown, and her William Morris agent, Nicole David. She immediately calmed down and enjoyed her dinner uneventfully.
In a December interview with Diane Sawyer on ABC's "Primetime Live," a candid Houston said she had been a regular user of marijuana, cocaine, alcohol and various prescription drugs and had "partied my tail off."
But she also said she had cleaned up her act: "You get to a point where you know the party is over."
Her husband has had numerous legal run-ins because of drug and alcohol abuse, and has spent time both in jail and at Hazelden, a rehab center in Minnesota that has treated celebrities from Eric Clapton to Liza Minnelli.
A person answering the phone at David's office in Beverly Hills, Calif., said they would have no comment on Houston's reported behavior.
A spokesman for VH1 also refused to speak about Houston.
Picasso was closed Wednesday. An Aqua manager confirmed only that Houston was indeed there Tuesday night.
Welcome mat
The hot new Vietnamese eatery Prana is hosting "Breathe -- A VIP Party for Locals" tonight.
There is an open bar for an hour starting at 10 p.m. and free admission -- providing you have a local ID.
Call 247-1434 to get on the guest list.
Mad hatters
KLAS Channel 8 reporter Carol Wilkinson could barely keep her head up -- and she was wide awake.
She had about 10 pounds of spackle icing on her head.
The Social Register of Las Vegas had its annual Ladies Fancy Hat Luncheon at the Stirling Club the other day, and Wilkinson won a prize for her wedding cake chapeau.
"Now I know how hard it is for showgirls to wear all that fancy headgear," Wilkinson said. "It was heavy."
Also winning was Elaina Bhattacharyya for her "animal magnetism" -- a hat with a magnet and dozens of Beanie Babies attached.
Rita Rudner, who was accompanied by her husband, Martin Bergman, and their daughter, Molly, hosted the event, which was a benefit for the Center for Independent Living, which helps neglected and abused girls learn life skills.
Love result
Now it is clear why Steffi Graf will not play mixed doubles with her husband, Andre Agassi, in next week's French Open -- she is pregnant with the couple's second child.
Today spokespeople for Agassi Enterprises in Las Vegas confirmed to VegasBeat and Graf's management company in Frankfurt, Germany, confirmed to the Associated Press that the couple will become parents again in November.
Their first child, Jaden Gil, was born days after the couple married in October 2001.
After he won the Australian Open earlier this year, Agassi said he wanted Graf to play with him at Roland Garros, but she demurred.
The couple's primary residence is in Spanish Trail.
VegasBits
Good sports: Laila Ali, 2000 U.S. Olympian and 2001 national champion gymnast Tasha Schwikert, members of the state high school baseball champion Green Valley Gators and Danny Gans celebrated the opening of the Nevada Sports Academy on Seven Hills Drive on Tuesday night ...
Country cooking: LeAnn Rimes and three pals had dinner Monday night at Aureole (Mandalay Bay) ...
No Tilt: Robin Leach, Ronn Lucas, a line of Chippendale's dancers and scores of television personalities filled the Tilted Kilt (Rio) at its opening party Friday night. Afterward owner Mark DiMartino took all his goils next door to the new Hamada ...
Pool party: James Caan, in town to start work on his new NBC casino-surveillance drama, stopped in at the first Skinny Dip on Tuesday pool party at the Palms. Later he hit ghostbar, as did Rimes and Floyd Mayweather Jr. Then, on Wednesday morning, Caan played some tennis at the Stirling Club with pro Marty Hennessy, Clint Holmes and Turnberry developer Don Soffer ...
Paws to help: The first "Best in Show," a fund-raiser and adoption event to benefit the Las Vegas Animal Foundation, has been scheduled for June 1 at The Orleans Arena. Recognized American Kennel Club judges will officiate. Tickets and information are at orleansarena.com ...
Wrap up: Def Jam records is about to announce "Roc the Mic" -- a rap extravaganza set for this summer at the Thomas & Mack Center. We hear Snoop Dog, 50 Cent, Jay-Z, Busta Rhymes, Sean Paul and Lil' Mo will all hit Vegas for a July 27 show ...
Star born: Nico Matinata, 16, a student at Odyssey-Charter High School, just shot a five-episode role on the soap, "Days of Our Lives." He is also a student of the John Robert Powers acting school on West Charleston Boulevard ...
X-rated: Cameras from "Wild On," the voyeuristic E! Entertainment Television show, are filming the "X" show tonight at the Aladdin ...
More X-rated: Tickets go on sale today for "Zumanity," the racy new Cirque du Soleil production opening in August at New York-New York. Ages over 18 only, please. They're available at zumanity.com or MGM MIRAGE box offices.
From Sun wires
Ruben Studdard outsang Clay Aiken to become the new "American Idol."
The cuddly mountain of soul aced out his lanky, spikey-haired rival for the title. The results were announced during Wednesday's conclusion of the wildly popular Fox amateur hour.
"I feel great, man! Thank y'all!" said Studdard, 24, of Birmingham, Ala. Then, filled with emotion, he sang a song of gratitude, "Flying Without Wings," as the crowd roared "RUU-ben, RUU-ben!"
As expected, the margin dividing them was slim. Of 24 million votes, 50.28 percent were for Ruben, putting him 130,000 votes ahead of Clay.
The way it makes him feel: An ailing Michael Jackson left Indianapolis without giving the court deposition that was his reason for coming.
The 44-year-old pop star was taken to a hospital for observation and treatment Wednesday after he began feeling weak before the deposition began, said Jackson family attorney Brian Oxman.
"He has, in some occasions in the past, not eaten when he should. He can become very concerned and nervous at depositions," Oxman said. "He doesn't like lawsuits, and it makes him ill to have to cope with litigation that people seem to heap on him."
Jackson was released after a couple of hours.
He arrived Tuesday for a deposition in a lawsuit alleging that the Jackson Five used the name of another Gary, Ind., band and two of their songs without license.
archive
