VegasBeat — Timothy McDarrah: ‘CSI’s‘ Zuiker is board by latest project

Wednesday, March 10, 2004 | 10:28 a.m.

Can't get enough of the that top-rated television drama set in Las Vegas, "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation?"

Then go buy the new board game.

CSI: Crime Scene Investigation -- The Board Game arrives in stores across the country this week with a retail price of $28.

"Playing the game is like watching the show," said show creator (and former Mirage tram driver) Anthony Zuiker. "As a kid, I invented several sports board games, and I thought I'd eventually become a big toy creator."

In the game, just like the show, players draw on cutting-edge scientific methods and old-fashioned police work in solving the crime. The object of the game is to be the first player with a correct arrest warrant, determining the suspect's means, motive and opportunity to commit the crime in question.

The game was developed by Canadian company Specialty Board Games and is available in English and French versions.

In other "CSI" news, "24" co-star Vanessa Ferlito has landed a lead role in the spinoff series "CSI: New York." Gary Sinise is in talks to head the cast.

CBS intends to introduce the main characters in this season's second-to-last episode, in May, of its first spinoff, "CSI: Miami."

Film fans

Dennis Hopper will serve as chairman of the Creative Advisory Board for the 2004 CineVegas Film Festival, organizers have announced.

Others on the board will include New York Times film critic Elvis Mitchell, Sony Pictures Classics exec Tom Bernard, Miramax veep Arianna Bocco and Paramount's David Dinerstein.

Sundance vet Trevor Groth returns as the festival's director of programming. The deadline for submissions is April 9; the festival plays at the Brenden Theatres (Palms) June 11-June 19.

Desert out

Two of the structures that were part of the Desert Inn, which now house the Wynn Collection of Fine Art and Wynn Resorts executives, are slated to be demolished in September, Steve Wynn told VegasBeat in a phone conversation Tuesday.

The remaining edifice, the employee parking garage, will be expanded.

"That's because I plan to have an awful lot of new employees," Wynn said.

The DI's signature 15-story Augusta Tower was imploded on Oct. 23, 2001. The Palm and St. Andrews towers remain standing.

Late this summer, Wynn staffers will be moved to a rented space near Industrial and Flamingo roads, where they will stay for about a year, until about a month before the planned April 2005 public opening of the $2 billion Wynn Las Vegas.

Wynn said the art collection might temporarily return to his living room wall. Or, it might be temporarily displayed at the new Nevada Museum of Art in Reno.

People at the museum "have spoken to me about it -- they have the ability, with the security and everything, necessary to display works like this. We'll see what happens," Wynn said.

The centerpiece of the collection is Picasso's "Le Reve" -- which was the working name of the new resort. It also features works by Rembrandt, Matisse, Manet, Van Gogh, Modigliani, Gauguin and a Wynn portrait by Andy Warhol.

Next month

"Vegas Live! With Clint Holmes and Sheena Easton" will not be returning to the airwaves this month, as had been discussed when the show went on hiatus a few weeks ago.

The show's co-producer Howard Lefkowitz told us Sunday that no specific return date had been determined.

Producers have yet to secure a new studio home for the daytime talker, and announcer Kelly Clinton is still a few weeks away from a full recovery from recent throat surgery.

And if and when it does return, it'll be without one of its four players, newscaster Casey Smith.

He is a KLAS Channel 8 anchor, and when "Vegas Live" was taped at his home studio it was easy for him to slide over and read the "Vegas Live" news segments.

But more importantly, he can't appear on KVVU Channel 5, where the show is likely to land, because it is a KLAS competitor.

"I am going to be remembered as the Pete Best of 'Vegas Live!'," Smith said, referring to the original drummer for the Beatles. "I wish the show nothing but the best. I had a blast doing it, and I hope it has a very long life."

VegasBits

Key: Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman will present the key to the city to Bill Medley of Righteous Brothers fame at 4 p.m. Thursday in a ceremony at Brendan's Irish Pub at The Orleans. Afterward, Goodman and Medley will join KJUL 104.3-FM DJ Duke Morgan for a live remote broadcast ...

Revamp: Hard Rock Hotel owner Peter Morton has brought on board Hollywood promoter Brent Bolthouse and world-renowned DJ Paul Oakenfold as part of the team that will transform what used to be Baby's nightclub ...

Happy: The Monte Carlo's headline illusionist, Lance Burton, turns 44 today ...

Retread: The "Farewell I" tour by the Eagles returns to the MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 22. Tickets, priced from $75 to $250, go on sale Saturday ...

Party: Kato Kaelin and about 10 friends hit Studio 54 (MGM Grand) on Tuesday night ...

Estimate: A Caesars Palace official tells us that our report Sunday that the hotel spent nearly $1 million to renovate a penthouse for headliner Elton John was not quite accurate. "We did do a renovation, but it cost a lot less than that," the exec said, refusing to divulge the exact figure ...

Services: Las Vegas ONE (Cox cable channels 1 and 19) will broadcast Mike O'Callaghan's funeral live at 1 p.m. Thursday. Services take place at the Shrine of the Most Holy Redeemer Catholic Church on East Reno Avenue. The Korean War veteran worked at the Las Vegas Sun for 25 years following two terms as Nevada's most popular governor.

From Sun wires

Horn reports progress: Illusionist Roy Horn of "Siegfried & Roy," who was mauled on stage by a tiger in October, says he's on the mend and is working hard with a physical therapist, a German magazine reported today.

"You know, I almost had two feet in the grave, but now I'm doing better," the weekly Bunte quoted Horn as saying in a telephone interview from his Las Vegas home.

"I have hired the same trainer as Christopher Reeve and am working with him for nine hours a day," Horn said. Horn, 59, asked Bunte to "spread the good news that you have spoken to me and that I'm doing well," the magazine said, adding that his voice was weaker than usual, but his mind was clear.

Singer pleads guilty: White Stripes lead singer Jack White pleaded guilty to assault and battery in Detroit Tuesday for a fight with the lead singer of another band.

White was accused of repeatedly punching Von Bondies lead singer Jason Stollsteimer and originally was charged with misdemeanor aggravated assault.

White must pay a $500 fine, plus $250 in court fees, and the judge ordered him to attend anger management classes. She also told him not to contact Stollsteimer.