Columnist Jerry Fink: Gian a master of many mediums

Friday, Oct. 3, 2003 | 8:47 a.m.

Jerry Fink's lounge column appears on Fridays. Reach him at jerry@lasvegassun.com at (702) 259-4058.

When Joey Gian isn't singing Wednesday nights at Bootlegger Bistro, he's probably in Hollywood working on a film or TV project.

For the next couple of weeks he's in Hollywood, where he landed a role on an episode of the ABC-TV series "Life with Bonnie," starring Bonnie Hunt.

He first met Hunt when he appeared in the 2000 film "Return to Me," which she wrote, directed and starred in.

Gian played himself in the movie, and he also wrote two original songs for the soundtrack: "What if I Loved You?" and "Here I Am."

After he wraps taping the episode he will be back at the venerable lounge on Las Vegas Boulevard South, singing jazz and pop hits and some of his own material.

"One of the things I've noticed about Las Vegas (is) there are a lot of talented people here, but it has taken getting used to performers imitating others," said Gian, who moved here four months ago.

Although he sometimes sings others' songs, Frank Sinatra and Louis Armstrong for example, he does them his way.

Gian says he came to Vegas to develop a couple of shows he hopes to stage locally. While he's tied up with those two projects, he performs at the Bootlegger to keep up his chops and to get used to the Vegas weather, which can be hard on singers' throats.

"I've always had it in my spirit and soul to be a singer," said Gian, who came in second in the Ed McMahon-hosted "Star Search" in 1985.

After being touted as a singer, he got side-tracked into acting: "L.A. Law," "Lois & Clark," "Highway to Heaven" and "Beverly Hills 90210," to name a few.

"Knots Landing" fans may recognize him as a regular on that prime-time soap opera -- which ran on CBS from 1979-93 -- during the mid-'80s.

Gian broke some ground when he appeared as a gay police detective in Steven Bochco's ABC series "Hooperman" (1987-89), helping to pave the way for series such as "Will & Grace."

The star of "Hooperman" was John Ritter, who died of a heart ailment Sept. 11 while taping his latest series, "8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter."

"He was an incredibly talented actor," Gian said. "Every day taping the series was fun, every single day was fun."

He said Ritter was a generous person.

"There are a lot of egos in this business," Gian said. "But not John. He didn't hide in a trailer. He was there to assist the actors, always with a smile and a kind heart.

"He was great guy. He was what you saw. As a person he was funny, charming, considerate, compassionate, generous, thoughtful -- it was a joy to work with him."

The last time the Brooklyn native saw Ritter was in New York City about 10 years ago.

"I was having lunch with a friend in Times Square and there was John sitting in a booth by himself, having a bowl of soup," Gian said.

They greeted each other and talked.

Gian informed Ritter he had been in New York for a while pursuing his main interests, singing and songwriting.

"He said, 'Joey, you're a hell of an actor, but you should follow your bliss,' " Gian recalled.

The advice made an impact.

"Everytime I think of that word I remember how generous he was," Gian said. "I have used 'bliss' in a couple of songs."

The two friends hugged and went their own ways.

Among Gian's many projects after saying goodbye to Ritter was writing more than 40 songs with Charlie Midnight, composer and songwriter for James Brown.

In addition to his many acting gigs, he also has made commercials for such companies as Budweiser, Miller, Taco Bell, Texaco, Oldsmobile and Cadillac.

But he always returns to his music.

While cast in "Knots Landing," Gian performed with rock bands on weekends, but he says he gave up the ripped jeans, long hair and silver jewelry a long time ago.

"The music I'm doing today falls into more of the popular standards," he said. "That's what I write these days -- writing about romance in the styles of Johnny Mercer and Gershwin, timeless music."

Gian says his gig at the Bootlegger allows him to experiment.

"I'm exploring songs and material arrangements," he said. "I'm fine-tuning what I want to take to the big stage, doing the songs in different ways to see how they work.

"The Bootlegger is a wonderful home for me."

Lounging around

Tommy Rocker and Conched Out (a Jimmy Buffett tribute band) performs Friday and Saturday nights at Rocker's namesake restaurant and nightclub, 4275 Industrial Road.

Karaoke fans shouldn't overlook the Ellis Island Lounge, the birthplace of karaoke in Las Vegas more than 20 years ago. The drinks are cheap. Everyone has a good time, whether they are singing or listening.

Moose McGillycuddy's, on Maryland Parkway across from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, may be the best college hangout in town. Dancing, drinking and dating -- what college is all about.

Nefertiti's Lounge -- a classic Vegas party venue at the Luxor. Great place to rock the boat.