VegasBeat — Timothy McDarrah: Celebs keep Beat in Las Vegas

Friday, May 14, 2004 | 4:31 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.

WEEKEND EDITION

May 15 - 16, 2004

It has been an extraordinary few days for celebrities in Las Vegas -- so by extension, it has been quite a run for VegasBeat as well.

It is not often that we get to chat at some length with the folks we did these last few days, who include Jay Leno, Donald Trump, Howard Stern, Carson Daly, Jerry Seinfeld, Paula Abdul and Simon Cowell.

That is in addition to the usual suspects we spoke to, including Celine Dion, Wayne Newton, Robin Leach and Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman. Also, Billy Crystal, Lenny Kravitz, Sandra Bullock, LeBron James, Rob Schneider, Pamela Anderson and Tom Hanks passed through town last week, but hey, we can't be everywhere.

So, we thought we'd delve back into our notebook to recount some impressions and other items from last week.

The only night that Leno ventured out after his tapings was Thursday night, when he attended a wrap party for his show at Crustacean (Aladdin).

Leno, announcing the new show at Siegfried & Roy's old Mirage showroom: Seinfeld & Roy.

After listening to their private green room chatter, we surmise that "Survivor" couple Amber Brkich and the show's runner-up (and her fiance), "Boston" Rob Mariano, are in love with money as much as they are with each other. Their delusional hope that Leno would try and get them to get married on his show -- and their loud discussion of how much they should make him pay for it -- was a good indicator.

Seinfeld, prepping for his June engagements at Caesars Palace, was telling jokes to anyone who would listen. His new term for suicide bombers who are so dumb they explode themselves before getting to their target: Jihad E. Coyote.

When does this run of Vegas celebrity end? No time soon, that's for sure. Today, for example, Democratic presidential contender John Kerry is here for an address at Bally's and to attend a couple of fund-raisers.

Then, before we turn the calendar page to June, we have appointments to see Tiger Woods, Prince and several other stars at Woods' "Tiger Jam VII" charity event, Madonna at her MGM Grand show and every country star under the sun at the Academy of Country Music Awards May 26 at Mandalay Bay.

Boy-wonder fashion designer Zac Posen will host a fashion show featuring his Fall/Winter Collection this evening at the Fashion Show mall.

Posen, 23, who recently joined forces with urban mogul Sean Combs' Sean John label, is the favored designer of young faces such as Natalie Portman, Claire Danes and first niece and model Lauren Bush.

The public will be able to view the presentation, which includes invited guests attending the International Council of Shopping Center Convention.

Mel Gibson has a passion for something else, too -- rodeo. Gibson, who helmed the box office biggie "The Passion of Christ," was at The Orleans with his family Thursday night watching the Pace Picante ProRodeo Chute-out.

Teri Hatcher was also spotted at the event.

The ubiquitous Vegas scenester Michael Shulman tells us that he has been hired by VEGAS Magazine to chronicle his partying life in a first person-column for the magazine.

"I will do some Vegas with a soupcon of Los Angeles events and a touch of New York," Shulman said.

Celebrity chef Kerry Simon of Simon Kitchen and Bar at the Hard Rock Hotel jetted to New York for a live appearance Friday on "Cold Pizza," the new ESPN2 morning show.

He discussed the plate preferences of some of the sports stars who have eaten in his restaurant lately ( Joe Montana, Mike Piazza, Peyton Manning) and his thoughts on how to improve ballpark cuisine.