VegasBeat — Timothy McDarrah: Hoax springs eternal for ‘Bambi’ crew

Monday, June 28, 2004 | 10:20 a.m.

Fraud redux.

The "Hunting for Bambi' hoaxers are back.

Last July, KLAS Channel 8 first reported on the game where, for a $10,000 fee, men were invited to a private wooded reserve -- in the Las Vegas area -- to hunt down naked women with paintball guns. The report was picked up by media outlets around the nation.

Women's groups across the country blasted the alleged activity, but others wondered if the whole thing wasn't a staged media hoax designed to generate publicity, which is exactly what it turned out to be. Now, according to a faxed announcement that arrived on our desk over the weekend, "Team Bambi is back."

The fax says that a second video is being taped "at a top secret location in Southern Nevada." The release goes on to state that " 'Hunting for Bambi' is a highly unique, niched and controversial comical video series that spoofs hunting."

The fax also says that the new video is part of an expanded Bambi product and merchandise line, which will include clothing, a board game and a video game.

Uh-huh.

Last year after weeks of misleading the media, Las Vegas promoter Michael Burdick finally came clean about the original "Hunting for Bambi" scheme, admitting to officials that it was all a hoax and that his video production company, Real Men Outdoor Productions Inc., had never actually conducted "expeditions" in which male patrons stalked naked women.

"It was all staged," Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman told the Associated Press on July 24 after personally grilling Burdick.

The purpose of the scam was to sell videos, the mayor explained, the only business activity for which Burdick and his company are actually licensed.

Burdick's name is not included on the most recent "Hunting for Bambi" release, which lists a Los Angeles area code in its contact information, but he is credited as "the original founder and mastermind" behind the "Hunting for Bambi" "phenomenon."

We called the contact number on the announcement -- and sent an e-mail -- to ask why Bambi was back, but no one has gotten back to us.

We probably will not hold our breath waiting.

Million

During the course of the next few weeks someone will purchase the 1-millionth ticket to Celine Dion's "A New Day ..." at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace.

As part of the celebration, Diva Las Vegas will personally award the buyer a special plaque commemorating the milestone sale -- and a heck of a gift bag to go with it.

The package will include a couple of nights' stay in a luxury Caesars suite, golf at Cascata, some free meals at any Caesars restaurant, a $1,000 shopping spree at the Celine Dion Boutique, a complete Dion CD catalog and a couple grand in gaming chips.

"It's hard to believe we will have played for a million," Dion said in a statement. "We are so fortunate for the way that the fans have supported our show."

(Hard) Rock stars

Guests were treated to another busy evening of bumping into celebrities at the Hard Rock Hotel on Saturday night.

Diane Keaton was spotted watching a craps game.

Tracy Morgan and Martin Lawrence were joshing with some admiring females during "Beacher's Madhouse," the headline comedy show at The Joint. Morgan and Lawrence gave comic Robert Kelly a standing ovation.

Former major league baseball All-Star Chuck Knoblauch was deep in late-night conversation with party gal Tara Reid at the club Body English. (Hard Rock)

At the end of the night Jeff Beacher, hotel owner Peter Morton and Gary Busey were all in the Peacock Lounge talking about Busey doing a bit in next week's "Madhouse."

Club feud

The New York Post gave big play today to a Las Vegas nightclub promoter feud.

Cory McCormack was quoted in The Post's Page Six gossip page that Light (Bellagio) boss Andrew Sasson "hijacked" his cell phone number to steal McCormack's customers away from him. McCormack now does promotions at Body English.

Sasson laughed off the allegations.

"If I'm going to play dirty, I can play a lot more dirty than that," he told the paper.

VegasBits

Big: The man his successor calls "42," former President Bill Clinton, bunked down at the Green Valley Ranch Station Casino on Sunday night after his Nevada Democratic party fund-raiser at The Rio (see Kirsten Searer's story, page 1B). Earlier he played a round of golf at a private course and also attended a private fund-raiser for his presidential library ...

Fans: Among the local folk at The Rio for the Clinton event: N9NE group boss Michael Morton, Robert Goulet, Bernie Yuman and political types Harry Reid, Richard Bryan, Bob Miller, Richard Perkins, Dina Titus, Yvonne Atkinson Gates, Thom Reilly, Tom Gallagher, David Goldwater, William Horne, Morse Arberry, Adriana Martinez and Danny Thompson ...

Engaging: Enrique Iglesias and Anna Kournikova checked into the "Real World" suite at the Palms late Sunday, with a reservation through Tuesday. We'll be sure to check the wedding chapel logs this week about this one ...

Fans: Rap mogul Jay-Z, Tara Reid and Kournikova and Iglesias were in the crowd at Rain (Palms) at the No Doubt concert Sunday night. Gwen Stefani greeted them all at the afterparty at ghostbar ...

Simple: Nicole Richie was spotted window shopping at the Burberry's store at The Venetian on Saturday afternoon with her boyfriend DJ AM (aka Adam Goldstein), who spins at Body English ...

Party: Actor Anthony Anderson ("Kangaroo Jack," "Barbershop") partied at Studio 54 (MGM) on Saturday night ...

Celebrate: Las Vegas resident Pat Morita ("Karate Kid") is 72 today. He was feted by friends at a surprise brunch Sunday at the downtown Plaza ...

Media: There was a nice spread in USA Weekend magazine Sunday on Monte Carlo headline illusionist Lance Burton...

Meat: Political guru James Carville was part of a group having dinner Friday night at Charlie Palmer Steak. He was back by himself Saturday, having dinner solo at the bar ...

More meat: Shaquille O'Neal of the Los Angeles Lakers (as of this morning, at least) was the biggest name at the party marking the opening of the new steak house FIX (Bellagio) on Sunday night ...

Dance: About a dozen members of the Los Angeles Lakers cheerleading squad had dinner Friday night at Simon Kitchen and Bar (Hard Rock) ...

From Sun wires

McCartney in England: Rain didn't dampen the enthusiasm for Paul McCartney, who took the stage at the Glastonbury, England, music festival to cheers from tens of thousands of concertgoers.

The 61-year-old former Beatle opened his set Saturday with "Jet," a hit from his time with Wings. The gig, which ends McCartney's monthlong European tour, is his first appearance at Britain's leading summer music festival.

Barker inducted: Bob Barker, host of the television game show "The Price Is Right," has been inducted into the Academy of Television and Arts & Sciences Hall of Fame in Los Angeles.

Barker, 80, received the honor Saturday from action star Chuck Norris, his friend of 30 years. Barker has been hosting the popular show for more than 30 years.

Keaton honored: Because of her dedication to Western art, actress Keaton has been awarded the Utah Governor's Award for Devotion to the Arts.

Keaton, an Academy Award winner who's appeared in dozens of movies, including "Annie Hall" and "The Godfather" trilogy, received the honor Friday at a ceremony celebrating the new Museum of Utah History and Art in Salt Lake City.