VegasBeat — Timothy McDarrah: NBC ready to take Vegas for a spin

Thursday, July 22, 2004 | 10:36 a.m.

Another day, another announcement of a reality show set in Las Vegas.

Will it ever stop?

The latest entry is "Double or Nothing," from NBC.

This week the peacock network launched a nationwide casting search for its new unscripted show, which will feature one gambler who risks everything on a spin of the roulette wheel.

The show is based on the successful British show of the same name, which concluded in April in Las Vegas when Ashley Revell won $270,000 when he bet it all on "red" on a roulette wheel at the Plaza Hotel.

No casino has been announced for the setting of the show.

"Imagine the pressure of finding out what your total net worth is and then risking it all on one bet," the show's executive producer, Eric Schotz, said in a statement. "Following this daring maverick from hometown to Las Vegas, viewers will have an opportunity to meet their family, friends and even the psychologist who will certify that the contestant is of sound mind."

As a Vegas-based reality show, "Double or Nothing" joins "American Casino," "The Casino," Rick Hilton's upcoming "777" and a pair coming from Maloof Television and MGM, "The Whale" and "The Nightclub."

Also, Bravo is airing a reality series about Ivan Kane's Forty Deuce (the club opening at Mandalay Place in the fall), and A&E has announced plans to do "Caesars," a reality show set at Caesars Palace.

"Fear Factor," which is sort of a reality show, has frequent episodes set in Las Vegas. This is in addition to a plethora of poker programs and other shows set in Las Vegas, from "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" to "Las Vegas."

Ole!

What is the forecast for the new Mexican eatery Diego (MGM Grand), which had its big opening party Tuesday night?

"The restaurant was great and the forecast is a good one," KVVU Channel 5 weatherman Ted Pretty told us afterward. "A warm tortilla front is rolling in, with a steady diet of hot sauce to follow."

But Pretty did warn of brief cooling spells that may be caused by a downpour of margaritas.

"And watch out for that squirt of lime," said Pretty, who attended with someone much, uh, prettier than he is, wife Heidi Hayes, a reporter at the station.

Others doing the taste test: KNUU 970-AM afternoon host Andy Vierra, KTPE 97.1-FM morning ray-of-sunshine Steph McKenzie, Robin Leach, KVBC Channel 3's Dana Wagner and Kim Capozzo, former Gov. Bob Miller, Top Rank Boxing honcho Dena Duboef and MGM execs Gamal Aziz, Terry Lanni and John Redmond.

Winning idea

Chinois, the refurbished Wolfgang Puck eatery at the Forum Shops at Caesars, is offering a sweepstakes contest for local residents.

The winner will be flown to Hawaii, put up at the Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea and is awarded a dinner at Puck's Spago Maui.

The contest is open only to Las Vegas and Henderson residents. Guests are allowed one entry in the sweepstakes with each visit to Chinois between now and Labor Day.

The winner will be announced Sept. 13.

"The Chinois-to-Maui Sweepstakes is our way of saying thanks to our local patrons," said Tom Kaplan, senior managing partner of the Wolfgang Puck Fine Dining Group.

We hope the other restaurants in town are listening.

Tran fans

Either the entertainment world is having a summer slowdown or a new trend is quickly developing.

Execs at the Riviera report an overwhelming number of media requests to cover this weekend's transsexual beauty contest.

Outlets ranging from "Entertainment Tonight" to the Howard Stern show are planning to cover the inaugural showcase.

In memory

"The 39th Jerry Lewis Labor Day Telethon" for the Muscular Dystrophy Association on Sept. 5 will be dedicated to Mattie Stepanek, the 13-year-old poet who died last month.

Stepanek, who died of complications from the neuromuscular disease mitochondrial myopathy, was the National Goodwill Ambassador for the MDA. He wrote five books of poetry and was working on another with former President Jimmy Carter.

"Mattie was an amazing youngster," Jerry Lewis said in a statement. "He touched many people's hearts -- mine included -- in his short lifetime, which was devoted to helping others and spreading peace and love."

Designs

A few weeks ago we reported on the possibility of Brad Pitt, a keen architecture student, designing a hotel for Station Casinos on the site of the Wild Wild West.

Today we can report that Pitt has been doing some architectural research, which may come into play if he does in fact end up doing the Station project.

While in Europe recently for the filming of "Ocean's 12," Pitt visited Rem Koolhaas at his Rotterdam, Holland, offices. Among Koolhaas' projects are the Guggenheim Las Vegas and the spectacular new Seattle Public Library.

Pitt also toured the famed 1952 cabin of acclaimed Swiss architect Le Corbusier in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, France.

VegasBits

Sing: Frankie Muniz ("Agent Cody Banks," "Malcolm in the Middle") was at Club Seven on Tuesday night for the opening party of the New York International Independent Film and Video Festival. Crooner Michael Cagle performed ...

Eat: MTV personality Brian McFayden had a late dinner Tuesday at Simon Kitchen and Bar (Hard Rock) ...

Headliners: Bruce Willis brings his acclaimed blues and rock band, Bruce Willis and the Accelerators, to the Golden Nugget's ballroom over Labor Day weekend. Performances are Sept. 3-4. Tickets are $75 and are on sale now. Also coming to the Golden Nugget: Kenny Loggins (Oct. 8); Tony Bennett (Nov. 4-6) and Randy Travis (Dec. 3-5) ...

Party: Former Georgetown hoops coach John Thompson was among the revelers at a surprise birthday party for Flamingo Las Vegas headliner George Wallace at the hotel on Tuesday night.

From Sun wires

Hewitt arrested: James Hewitt, the former lover of Princess Diana, has been arrested on suspicion of drugs possession, Britain's domestic news agency Press Association reported today.

Hewitt's manager told the Associated Press that a client was helping police with inquiries but refused to name the client or give further details.

Citing unidentified police sources, Press Association said Hewitt, 46, was arrested late Wednesday in London on suspicion of possessing Class A drugs -- a category of hard drugs that includes heroin and cocaine. Press Association also reported that a 37-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of supplying drugs.

Reasons to vote: On "The Late Show With David Letterman" Wednesday, hip-hop mogul P. Diddy read a top 10 list on his voter registration effort.

No. 8: "Register today and receive a complimentary decanter of Courvoisier." No. 4: "Anyone who doesn't register to vote will receive nude photos of Ralph Nader." No. 1: "On the ballots the candidates will be listed as P. Kerry and George Diddy Bush."

'Pond' revival: James Earl Jones and Diahann Carroll will star in a revival of "On Golden Pond," the play by Ernest Thompson that later became an Academy Award-winning movie starring Henry Fonda and Katharine Hepburn.