VegasBeat — Timothy McDarrah: Goodman’s plans are loose and Clark

Wednesday, May 26, 2004 | 10:18 a.m.

Pretty good day Tuesday for Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman and that downtown redevelopment thing.

First, Hizzoner appeared alongside the venerable Dick Clark at a news conference at the Plaza. Barrick Gaming introduced plans for a new stage show, produced by John Stuart and based on Clark's long-running "Rock, Roll, Remember" syndicated radio show.

The downtown hotel also announced that it will open a music memorabilia museum filled with items Clark has collected over the last few decades, starting with original footage from "American Bandstand."

Goodman then told VegasBeat that Ohio businessman Don Troxel, whose plans for a gay-themed club at Neonopolis went bust last year, has come to terms to operate at a different downtown locale.

"That project is now a go," Goodman said. He said the official announcement of the Troxel project would likely be late next week.

The mayor also said that a move first reported on this page -- a Vegas branch of the famous New York City bar Hogs 'N Heifers -- is also a done deal.

The bar, an inspiration for the movie "Coyote Ugly," is known for its wild female bartenders and patrons leaving ties and brassieres hanging over the bar as mementos.

"I have to credit not myself, but the private sector, for having the brains to realize that downtown Las Vegas is the place to be," Goodman said, adding in his typically humble manner, "Of course, without me none of this would be happening."

Clark county

At the Plaza event, Clark also offered some details on his latest TV project, an update of "American Bandstand," which he is now shopping to the networks for a summer 2005 debut.

He said the show will also incorporate some "American Idol"-type competition, but his show would be a dance-off, not a sing-off.

"I have been putting this together for three years," Clark told VegasBeat. "Now, the time is right.

"I think we have a great opportunity to use a TV show to not only promote today's music, but to have a little (dance) competition and hopefully we'll come up with a hit," Clark added.

Clark, who does not look one bit his 75 years, said he would not host the new show.

"I am a little bit out of the demographic," he said.

But Clark will serve as executive producer, along with Simon Fuller, whose 19 Entertainment company created and produces "American Idol."

'Idol' odds

So who is going to win "American Idol" tonight?

Our favorite go-to odds guy, Johnny Avello, of Bally's/Paris Las Vegas, has 19-year-old single mom Fantasia Barrino posted as a 1-2 favorite over Diana DiGarmo, 16.

DiGarmo, Simon Cowell's pick and a finalist in last year's "America's Most Talented Kid" competition on NBC, is a 9-5 underdog, according to Avello.

Comeback

In other Clark family news, Dick Clark's son Rac Clark is also in town -- Clark the Younger is the producer of tonight's Academy of Country Music Awards being broadcast from Mandalay Bay.

But he is conducting some other business in Las Vegas as well. He and entertainer Allen Fawcett may be going back into business. Rac Clark was the producer of Fawcett's 1980s "Puttin' on the Hits" lip-sync TV show.

At a two-hour lunch meeting at the Border Grill (Mandalay Bay) they discussed a Vegas-based syndicated reality game show based on table games of chance, which would be hosted by Fawcett.

Fawcett is living in Las Vegas and hosts a Superstar Karaoke show at the Tropicana on Wednesdays through Saturdays with entertainer Kellie Karl.

Rock donation

An outpatient facility at the UCLA Medical Plaza will now be known as the Peter Morton Medical Building.

The Hard Rock Hotel boss made a $10 million donation to the facility last November after his son fell out of a tree and was treated by a UCLA neurosurgeon.

The Peter Morton Medical Building funds are paying for renovations to the outpatient building as well as to support the Mattel Children's Hospital at UCLA, according to UCLA Medical School Dean Dr. Gerald S. Levey.

Power song

Several members of Tower of Power stopped to see Lon Bronson and the All-Star Band at its new Golden Nugget home on Monday night.

They were so impressed that group leader Stephen "Doc" Kupka offered Bronson a new Tower of Power song to include on the "Live From the Golden Nugget" CD that Bronson and his band are recording.

"I was pretty flattered," Bronson told VegasBeat.

Wax prophetic

Faux versions of Beyonce, Britney Spears and Jennifer Lopez are part of a new interactive attraction called "Divas Las Vegas" that officially launches today at Madame Tussauds at The Venetian.

Among other things, you can dress up and perform songs with the models.

But what about a chance to pretend to perform with one of our real resident divas, such as Celine or Elton? When is Madame Tussauds going to feature one of them?

"Actually, we do have Elton John here," the museum's Melisa Horacek told us. "But no Celine -- yet." She noted the museum has a wax Elvis.

VegasBits

Paid: Rapper 50 Cent attended Cirque du Soleil's "Mystere" (Treasure Island) Monday night ...

Alert: The crowd around the ambulance in front of Hamada restaurant on Flamingo Road on Sunday night was not because of any medical emergency. Seems that Hard Rock Hotel comedy headliner Jeff Beacher had bought a decommissioned rig to promote his show and was letting people play with the lights and sirens. "Beacher's Madhouse" returns June 4 ...

Pay: Some people may scoff at off-Strip places such as the Greek Isles, but their money is as green as anyone else's. The hotel's headline lounge guy, Steven David, had a party Saturday night to show off his new swimming pool and other home renovations ...

Party: Former Stardust hypnosis headliner Anthony Cools had a housewarming party at his new digs Monday night. 3 Doors Down performed.

From Sun wires

Madonna sick: Madonna canceled the second date of her Re-Invention tour in Los Angeles because of a stomach flu, according to a statement posted on her Web site. She is scheduled to perform tonight in Los Angeles and at 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

Love pleads guilty: Rock star Courtney Love pleaded guilty Tuesday in Los Angeles to a misdemeanor count of being under the influence of a controlled substance and agreed to enter a drug rehabilitation program.

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