Friday, March 5, 2004 | 11:25 a.m.
Batten down the hatches. This is one of those weekends that makes Las Vegas, well, Las Vegas.
Tonight, funnyman Chris Rock plays MGM Grand Garden Arena. Saturday night on the same stage, making her first Vegas visit since that marriage thing, is Britney Spears. We hear that tabloid reporters are already staking out the Palms and the marriage license bureau downtown -- just in case.
In a review of her tour-opening show in San Diego on Tuesday night, New York Times critic Neil Strauss wrote: "With a suggestive, racy show that contains very little actual singing, she seems to have outdone even her mentor, Madonna."
In one bit, Spears takes a simulated onstage bath and then romps around on a bed wearing only a pink bra-and-panties set -- frolicking with a virtually naked man.
At one point she gamely mocks herself, telling the audience: "Who knows? Maybe if you're really lucky, I might marry you."
Back in Vegas, Three Dog Night ("Joy to the World") plays the Silverton tonight. From 1969 to 1974 few bands had more Top 10 hits, moved more records or sold more concert tickets than those guys. If you're talking about "Legends in Concert," they are the real thing.
Also Saturday, HBO and Meadow Soprano -- Jamie-Lynn Sigler-Discala -- are hosting a private sneak-peek party of the season opener of "The Sopranos" at the House of Blues (Mandalay Bay). At the same time a dozen Playboy Bunnies are having an event at Studio 54 (MGM Grand).
Sunday culminates a weekend-long, coming-out party for the new owners of the Golden Nugget, as minority hotel partner Andre Agassi hosts a cocktail party before a joint concert appearance by Jewel and Tony Bennett.
Also, an estimated 140,000 racing fans will descend on the Las Vegas Motor Speedway for Sunday's UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400, in addition to smaller races and other events at the track today and Saturday.
Coif
The MGM Grand is preparing to open a salon in its spa facility this summer. But it will be far from your run-of-the mill haircut joint, according to Las Vegas Sun business reporter Liz Benston.
It'll be operated by Cristophe Schatteman, who professionally goes by his first name only. Christophe is well known for one particular haircut, done in 1993. He gave then-PresidentBill Clinton a $200 clip job on the tarmac at LAX.
Christophe's other clients include John Kerry, Barbra Streisand, Sally Field, Goldie Hawn, Ted Danson and Kate Capshaw.
Gambling nine
With March Madness and the requisite office pools -- and spike in business at Las Vegas casinos -- just around the corner, news comes that even members of the U.S. Supreme Court enjoy games of chance.
According to just-released papers of Justice Harry A. Blackmun, the justices have had occasional betting pools, including a wager on the 1992 presidential election.
The big winner for that one was Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, who pocketed the munificent sum of $18.30. Runner up was Blackmun, who won $1.70.
Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist and Justice John Paul Stevens each lost $6.30.
Same joint
Somewhat facetiously, we said here Wednesday that we didn't know if Rob Lowe, as part of his "Dr. Vegas" duties, would work in the same casino as James Caan does on "Las Vegas."
Well, whaddya know? It just might end up being the same casino.
According to Gina Lateef at Station Casinos, CBS' "Dr. Vegas" is in talks "to shoot all the location portions of the show at Station's Green Valley Ranch resort."
"Las Vegas" has also used GVR many times while in town, and has even featured the resort's actual bedroom furniture (shipped by Station to a Los Angeles soundstage) as the interior of the fictitious "Montecito" casino.
Nugget news
As we first reported Thursday, Amazing Johnathan is out at the Golden Nugget.
"The terms of his contract were fulfilled, and we wish him nothing but the best in the future," hotel veep Daniel Shumny told us.
Shumny added that there are no plans to replace AJ's late-night show with a regular act.
"The new owners are looking to do something like we have this weekend -- the Tony Bennett and Jewel show -- on a monthly basis. We want to start to bring the biggest names in music, and comedy, to downtown Las Vegas."
Shumny also said that Martin Nievera, whose Nugget run ended Sunday, was soon to leave for a national tour of the standards act he developed at the Golden Nugget. Shumny added that Nievera would be returning.
"We're looking to sign him to a one-year deal for 2005," Shumny said.
Deal goes on
Chrysler says it's reducing the role in its ads of Caesars Palace headliner Celine Dion. But its sponsorship of "A New Day ..." will continue.
In 2002 Dion signed a three-year, $14 million contract with Chrysler.
"I'm not at all saying she wasn't a good fit," David Barnas, a spokesman for the automaker, told The Detroit News. He said they were just going in "an exciting new direction."
Starting March 25, Dion will appear in a new series of Chrysler public service ads aimed at promoting child safety -- but which will not mention Chrysler by name.
VegasBits
Congrats: It's a girl -- popular KVBC Channel 3 news anchor Kendall Tenney and his wife, Alyse, welcomed Savannah Jane Tenney into the world at 6:39 p.m. Tuesday. She came in at 7 pounds, 10 ounces, and is 19 inches tall.
"I actually got to help deliver her with our doctor, Kirsten Rojas. It was one of the greatest experiences of my life," Tenney said ...
Meet: Screen gem Hawn and Las Vegas producer and agent Jaki Baskow were seen in conversation at Mandalay Bay on Wednesday. The two are going to work together on a new children's charity foundation Hawn is starting ...
Buffett: "Bagel Ball" founder Scott Post, DJs Mike O'Brien and Beth Lano from KSTJ 102.7-FM, novelties mogul Michael Levine, Wynn Las Vegas players Kevin Steussi and Grant MacPherson, and on guitar, Tommy Rocker, appeared at the monthly Parrothead gathering at Tommy Rocker's restaurant on Industrial Road on Tuesday night ...
Junior Cronkite: Cox Communications and MTV are holding local auditions to find the next "Choose or Lose" MTV correspondent for the upcoming presidential election. Tryouts are being held at 10 a.m. March 13 at Galleria at Sunset mall. Contestants must be between 15 and 25 years old. Call (702) 434-0202 for more information.
From Sun wires
NBC airs Diana tapes: A somber Princess Diana tells of a lonely and desperate existence in her early married life to Prince Charles, saying in interviews recorded by her biographer that she "had tremendous hope in me which was slashed by Day 2."
In audiotapes aired Thursday on NBC, the Princess of Wales described her early knowledge of Charles' affair with Camilla Parker Bowles, her battle with bulimia and several suicide attempts.
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