VegasBeat — Timothy McDarrah: Romijn-Stamos joins Bellagio talent pool

Wednesday, June 9, 2004 | 10:19 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.

Model, actress and VEGAS Magazine cover model Rebecca Romijn-Stamos has a new job -- and it is in Las Vegas.

She is going to choreograph the fountain displays in the man-made Lake Como in front of Bellagio.

The beauty from "X-Men" and "The Punisher" -- who announced in April that she and her husband, John Stamos, were separating -- revealed her Vegas fantasy to Jay Leno a couple of months ago.

First, Romijn-Stamos explained how she and a friend now make CDs with "songs that build to a crescendo, songs that lift you," she said.

Then she told Leno in some widely reported remarks: "What can be better than listening to your very favorite songs with dancing fountains? I mean, we're gonna wear diapers if we see it happen!"

She also told Leno that she has "made all these calls and no one's taking us seriously."

Well, they are now.

Bellagio spokeswoman Jenn Michaels told us that the famous fountain shows are not designed in-house -- they are coordinated by Los Angeles-based designer Mark Fuller and the company WET Design.

"It was an unusual request (to design a fountain show), but Rebecca is really passionate about it," Michaels told us. "She is really into music and is very serious about doing this."

Bellagio officials put her in touch with Fuller, and several meetings have taken place. There is no firm date for the debut of her show, but all systems are go, Michaels said.

Michaels said the Bellagio changes its water shows "a couple of times a year, and there is a regular Christmas show, but other than that there is no fixed schedule."

Long shot

Local casino bookmakers were reluctant to post odds -- even though they would be for entertainment purposes only -- on how long Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony will stay married.

"They are sometime customers of ours, so we don't want to go there," a normally media-hungry casino source said.

However, the Brits have no such corporate shackles.

Ladbrokes, a leading London betting house, says that the betting line is 3-to-1 that the pair will divorce by the end of the year.

With a payoff of 10-1, you can also bet that Lopez "marries more than eight times in her life, beating Elizabeth Taylor," a Ladbrokes spokesman said.

Of course, this is all assuming they're even married. During an appearance on NBC's "Today" show Tuesday, Anthony refused to confirm to co-host Matt Lauer whether he's married or not.

As reported by the Associated Press, Lauer asked Anthony how he'd spent his weekend.

"I see where you're going with this, and I'm going to preface it with just saying -- y'all know I don't talk about my personal life," Anthony said.

Lauer replied: "So, I -- do I need to congratulate you?"

"Yeah, I have two albums coming out, man. Absolutely. And I would appreciate it," the 34-year-old singer said.

When Lauer continued to ask whether a wedding had taken place Saturday at Lopez's home in Beverly Hills, Calif., Anthony responded, "That would fall into the category of personal. And that's where I'm going to leave it."

Palms face

Want to be the public face of the Palms?

The current jobholder, George Maloof, is looking for a young woman to represent the resort in its advertising campaigns, events, concerts and daily promotions.

Ford Models is conducting and sponsoring the search.

We told the bachelor Maloof that the entire talent search sounded like a new way for him to meet ladies. But he said no.

"Everywhere I go, women ask me how they can be featured in the Palms advertising, on the billboards and so on. This will allow those women the opportunity," Maloof said. "I will be involved in the project, but purely on a professional level."

The search is open to women between the ages of 21 and 35. Contestants are encouraged to strut their stuff on June 27, and again on July 25 and Aug. 22 at the hotel's Skin Pool Lounge.

The June 27 event starts at 1 p.m. and will include a concert by Everlast and a poolside barbecue. Throughout the day women will be evaluated on their interview skills and camera presence, among other attributes.

The winner will receive a one-year, $100,000 contract, a wardrobe allowance, spa and beauty allowance, one-year car lease, possible film and television work and a housing allowance. She'll also appear in a 2005 Palms calendar.

Jerry's 'Idol'

Jerry Lewis is also on a talent search.

For the second year "The Jerry Lewis Labor Day Telethon" for the Muscular Dystrophy Association is looking for new talent to feature on its live national broadcast.

To audition, send a VHS-format videotape of your performance (no more than four minutes) to: Jerry Lewis MDA Talent Search 2004, 7800 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90036. Deadline for receipt of tapes is July 16.

Party hearty

Two large parties are going head-to-head Saturday night.

At Bellagio, the Lili Claire Foundation has its annual Vegas benefit. "Seinfeld's" Jason Alexander hosts guests such as Tori Spelling, David Alan Grier and Melissa Manchester, who will perform.

At the Hard Rock Hotel, Maxim magazine is having its annual Hot 100 party to mark its issue featuring, well, the hottest 100 women in the land.

Maxim Editor Keith Blanchard tells us that the selection process was a harrowing and difficult one.

"The selection process is top-secret and extremely labor intensive. We had two interns working full time just keeping our wives and girlfriends out of the room," Blanchard said.

Among the expected guests include Hot 100 list-makers Carmen Electra, Amber Brkich, Nicole Richie, Kim Smith, Shannon Elizabeth, Missi Pyle, Eva Longoria and Romijn-Stamos.

The all-star jam band Camp Freddy -- Matt Sorum, Donovan Leitch, Dave Navarro, Billy Morrison and Scott Ford -- will perform.

Other RSVPs: Jimmy Kimmel, Snoop Dogg, Tommy Lee, Method Man, Tara Reid, Shannen Doherty, Aisha Tyler and Rachel Leigh Cook.

VegasBits

Star: Tony Vincent, who won raves for his portrayal of Galileo in the London production of the Queen musical "We Will Rock You," has been signed for the same role in the Paris Las Vegas production of the show that opens this summer. Vincent is a musician and former "Rent" star on Broadway ...

Job: Former Las Vegas news anchor and "Real TV" host John Daly is being pitched to replace Clint Holmes as a co-host on "The Vegas Show" ...

Eat: Musician Macy Gray had dinner Sunday night at P.F. Chang's (Aladdin) ...

Buy: Boxer and Las Vegas resident Floyd Mayweather Jr. was showing off his new yellow Ferrari at the valet outside OPM (Forum Shops at Caesars) the other night. He was saying that it used to belong to Sammy Sosa ...

From Sun wires

Love charged: Courtney Love was charged with attacking a female friend of her former manager's in April with a bottle and a metal flashlight, authorities said.

The felony charge of assault with a deadly weapon stems from an April 25 incident at the Los Angeles home of former manager Jim Barber. An arrest warrant for the rocker was issued, a district attorney spokeswoman said.