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kats@lasvegassun.com

Thursday, Dec. 15, 2005 | 8:12 a.m.

John Katsilometes

on NBC's pole position as it pertains to Pamela Anderson

Why can't Pamela Anderson behave herself? And how was it that the producers of Monday's special "Elton John: The Red Piano" did not foresee a problem with pairing a scantily clad Anderson with a dancing pole?

John's performance, which originated from The Colosseum at Caesars Palace, was to feature Anderson doin' that thang she does on a big screen as John performed "The Bitch Is Back."

But as the Associated Press reported Wednesday, NBC made a late decision to pull the risque material -- which is part of John's show, open to ages 5 and older, at Caesars -- after conferring with its standards and practices department.

In a statement, NBC said, "We believed the content was not appropriate for 8 p.m. -- 7 p.m. Central Time -- and decided to pull the song from the special."

The rest of the show was untouched by network censors, including a bit in which Justin Timberlake portrays a garishly bespectacled John during his "Malibu" years. Standards, indeed.

NoteMart

More from NBC: The hot (hot, we tell you!) NBC series "Las Vegas" is adding a Wolfgang Puck restaurant to the show's fictitious casino. The network reported Tuesday that the restaurant will be featured beginning Jan. 9. The Wolfgang Puck Fine Dining Group owns and operates six restaurants in Las Vegas ...

We love U2: Billboard has released its year-end figures for the year's top-grossing concert tours. Topping the list is U2, which filled the MGM Grand Garden Arena in November. A total of 3 million fans populated 90 U2 concerts, all of which were sell-outs, in 2005. The Grand Garden also hosted the year's No. 6 touring act, Paul McCartney.

As for the Rolling Stones, who also appeared at the MGM Grand in November, they are still on tour and not part of the Billboard year-end list ...

Wall of sound: The Orleans has announced the next set of dates for Neil Sedaka: Feb. 15 to Feb. 19. During his most recent Las Vegas appearance Sedaka told the Orleans Showroom audience about a trip he and his wife recently took to China.

As they rode a tour bus to the Great Wall, the driver announced he was going to sing "an American song" and led the group in "Oh, Carol." When Sedaka thanked the driver for singing "my song," the driver said, "That's not your song. It's a Neil Sedaka song." ...

Book 'em: Las Vegas author Jim Bickford's book "Las Vegas Dreams" has been released, and this week he said he already has plans for a sequel to the tome filled with rags-to-riches stories. Bickford started interviewing subjects for the book in 2003 and finished in November, and those who could not participate because of time constraints included Robert Goulet, Steve Wynn and Sheldon Adelson ....

Cheerz!: On Monday a Las Vegas company, Cheerz USA Inc., sent us a hangover cure. No, it wasn't a fistful of extra-strength Tylenol and a liter of Gatorade. It's called Cheerz Lime Peelerz, and it is sold in a box of 48 25-milliliter plastic shot containers. The drink is available by going to www.CheerzHangover.com and is also being served at Mist at Treasure Island.

Cheerz is said to be a safe, all-natural counter to the short- and long-term effects of excessive drinking. This stuff works -- last night I knocked back three of these babies and no hangover. Of course, I don't drink ...

Fabulous Las Vegas runs Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday in the Las Vegas Sun. Reach John Katsilometes at 259-2327 or 812-9812, or by e-mail at kats@lasvegassun.com.