VegasBeat — Timothy McDarrah: ‘Bravo’ appearance is so groovy

Friday, Sept. 26, 2003 | 4:29 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.

WEEKEND EDITION: Sept. 28, 2003

For Baby Boomers such as me, "The Brady Bunch" was a way of life.

Not that I have any complaints about growing up, but who didn't want to have such a perfect home, such understanding parents and such attractive step-siblings?

And who didn't want to grow up to be a rock 'n' roll star?

Greg Brady (Barry Williams) got that opportunity when -- in one classic episode -- he was recruited by greedy record company execs to become Johnny Bravo.

Sadly, it turned out that he only got the part because he fit into the costume that they had made for the teen idol.

But now Bravo is back, and he is coming to the Suncoast.

Williams performs in a two-show, one-night stand in "The Real Greg Brady Live in Concert with Special Guest Johnny Bravo" on Oct. 30.

"It is a fun show," Williams told us when we ran into him before the "Zumanity" premiere last weekend.

He sings most of a 1999 album, "The Return of Johnny Bravo," released to mark the 30th anniversary of the classic family sitcom.

And no, Williams said he no longer fits into the original Johnny Bravo outfit.

The guests having the most fun at Thursday's VEGAS Magazine party at Green Valley Ranch Station Casino's Whiskey Beach, which celebrated the release of the magazine's second edition, were also the ones who reluctantly had to leave early.

The stars of the new NBC drama "Las Vegas" -- including magazine cover girl Molly Sims,' James Caan, Josh Duhamel and Nikki Cox -- had to be back on set in Los Angeles for a 6 a.m. call Friday.

They left more than 1,000 revelers, including Siegfried & Roy, Clint Holmes and Penn & Teller, to fend for themselves.

Kudos to one-time UNLV basketball player Leon R. Symanski: He passed the state bar exam.

Symanski's 1987 Rebel squad set an NCAA Division I record that still stands for most victories in a season, with 37 (against two losses).

After a successful career in the Vegas hotel industry, he was a charter member of the William S. Boyd School of Law at UNLV in 1998, and he is now an associate at Craig P. Kenny & Associates.

The exam results were disclosed late Thursday. Altogether, 387 of 639 applicants passed the rigorous exam.

"American Idol" host Ryan Seacrest will again host the nationally televised Fox New Year's Eve broadcast originating from the Las Vegas Strip.

Producers hope to do live cut-ins from some of the local concerts around town that evening. Bands like Metallica, Goo Goo Dolls, REO Speedwagon and Journey are playing at various venues.

Also, several bands will perform on the stage that will again be constructed in front of The Venetian, according to the show's executive producer, Rick Garson. But he wouldn't say which bands would participate.

After some production snafus, Robin Leach's "Penthouse Vegas" finally airs around the nation next weekend.

The hourlong pilot, which features an opening theme song by Clint Holmes and The Scintas and appearances by everyone from Rita Rudner to Charo to Vince Neil, will be broadcast locally on KVVU Channel 5 at 9 p.m. Oct. 10, following that night's baseball division series game on Fox.

Clarice Geissel, who has danced with the Nevada Ballet Theatre for more than 20 years and appeared in more than 100 productions, gives her farewell performance Oct. 5 in the role of Cinderella.

"For 22 years, Geissel defined what it means to be a professional dancer," said artistic director Bruce Steivel.

Geissel will remain with the company in a teaching role, as ballet mistress.