Friday, May 13, 2005 | 8:30 a.m.
With at least 5,000 reality TV shows being either shot, announced or proposed daily in Las Vegas, Wayne Allyn Root has created one that might actually be interesting.
"Donald Trump's 'The Apprentice' inspired me to come up with this," Root said. "The show was a great idea, but if you went to every young male in America and asked them which they would rather do, be with Donald Trump in New York selling real estate or in Vegas, the most exciting city in the world -- two out of three would choose Vegas."
Root has entered into an agreement with Spike TV (Cox cable channel 29) to produce "King of Vegas."
The series will air in the fall.
It will culminate with the winner receiving $1 million, being crowned King of Las Vegas and named the best gambler in the United States.
Root describes the concept as similar to an ironman race, with contestants testing their skill in every form of major gambling found inside a Las Vegas casino.
"To win, you can't just be good at poker," said Root, chairman and chief executive of GWIN Inc., a publicly traded sports handicapping company based in Las Vegas.
Contestants will play craps, blackjack, roulette, baccarat and other games.
"You've got to be good at all of them," he said.
Rules for entering the competition will be announced later.
Root has also announced that his sports handicapping television show -- "WinningEDGE" -- will air at 10 a.m. Saturdays on WGN (Cox cable channel 16) starting in the fall. The program formerly was on Spike.
'Erocktica' clogger
A clogging scholarship has led to an exciting career for the host and lead singer of "Erocktica," the steamy topless show at the Rio that combines '80s rock music and adult entertainment.
Clogging -- a type of American folk dance -- is big at Lees-McRae College in Banner Elk, N.C.
"We clogged for the first President Bush," said 29-year-old Raymond "Ray J" Jones. "That's how big it is in North Carolina -- everybody does it."
Although he had dancing and musical theater scholarships, the Vero Beach, Fla., native was torn between a career in entertainment and baseball.
"In my sophomore year I beat out everyone for the center field on the varsity team," Jones said. "I was really good. I sometimes wonder where I would be now if I had pursued baseball. I probably would be making a whole lot more money."
But Jones' coach forced him to decide between the arts and sports.
"He wouldn't let me do band, chorus, dancing and baseball because I would miss a couple of games," Jones said. "So I had to make a choice."
Jones' first love has always been singing and dancing, and so he went with those.
"I've been basically a ham all my life," Jones said. "I've always wanted to be the center of attention."
When he was growing up in the '70s two older sisters taught him to dance. He learned to sing in church. College fine-tuned his talents.
Jones' musical interests cover the charts -- he is rooted in country music and gospel. He enjoys singing R&B most; he also performs standards, rock 'n' roll, opera and show tunes.
Jones has never done anything else professionally but perform.
His career started with a '50s rock 'n' roll gig at the Fiesta Texas theme park in San Antonio, which lasted two years.
It has taken him to cruise ships -- where he performed "Broadway-ish" numbers, and to the resort community Myrtle Beach, S.C.
In 1995 he turned down an offer to perform for producer Greg Thompson, creator of "Erocktica," "Skintight" and other adult shows.
"I wasn't ready for it," Jones said. "I wasn't going to do topless shows. I thought it would embarrass my parents."
He finally overcame his reluctance and hooked up with Thompson in '99 for a couple of shows in Reno -- versions of "Skintight" and "Erocktica."
After another cruise gig, an engagement as a backup singer for Dian Diaz at the Bellagio's Fontana Lounge and a brief stint in Branson, Mo. (where he performed for John Stuart's "Ripley's Believe it or Not"), Jones rejoined Thompson.
He performed in the Reno production of Thompson's "Showgirls" before coming to Vegas to star in "Greg Thompson's Erocktica Live! Sex, Sweat & Rock 'n' Roll."
Jones plans to be with the show for its entire run, but eventually he will pursue a recording career.
"That's always been my dream," he said. "I don't want to do many more stage production shows -- I wouldn't go from this to a Broadway show, but this is the closest thing you can get to being a rock star."
Pure country
Several country singers are performing in town, coinciding with the 40th annual "Academy of Country Music Awards," to be televised live on CBS (Channel 8) at 8 p.m. Tuesday from Mandalay Bay.
Lorrie Morgan is at the Orleans tonight through Sunday, Adkins is at Sunset Station on Saturday and former professional baseball player Derek Sholl is opening for comedian Jay Leno at the Mirage on Friday and Saturday.
Sholl, a native of Torrance, Calif., is a relative newcomer to country -- he has been performing professionally for eight years.
His interest in the genre didn't develop until he was with the Kansas City Royals, where he was introduced to country music by some of his teammates.
Since trading in his baseball glove for a guitar pick, Sholl has recorded 22 songs, including such hits as "When it's Yours," "The Holdin' on Kind," "Red Blooded Country Girl" and "Don't Threaten Me With a Good Time!"
'Tropical Passions'
"Tropical Passions," featuring popular Cuban music and rock 'n' roll from the '50s, had a four-day engagement at the Hilton in December.
Except for the music of the 22-piece, Latin Grammy-nominee orchestra Tropicana All Stars, I was not too impressed with the production at the time.
Producer Recaredo Gutierrez, a Miami-based Cuban-American entrepreneur, brought the show to the Sahara in April for a longer engagement.
While the revue has shown great improvement, the best thing about it continues to be the Tropicana All Stars, who shake the house with mambos, cha-chas, rumbas and rock.
The production could lose several bits -- including a magician whose only purpose is to provide the cast time to change costumes -- without suffering.
The cast includes 22 dancers and performers.
Vocalist Israel Kantor is the star of the show, and those of you who speak Spanish probably will find greater enjoyment in his performance than those of us who speak only English.
Show times are 7 p.m. nightly except Tuesdays, with an additional late show at 9:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. For more information call 737-2515.
Ouch
Trace Adkins, whose latest CD -- "Songs About Me" -- is at the top of the country charts, has had a lot of accidents. His nose was cut off in an auto accident (it was re-attached).
His right pinkie finger was cut off (also reattached).
Both of his arms have been broken; several ribs were broken; a lung punctured; his right knee dislocated three times and he once was run over by a tractor.
During a recent telephone interview from Spokane, Wash., where he was performing a concert, I asked him if he was still accident prone.
"Not since I quit drinkin'," he said.
A healthy Adkins will perform at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Sunset Station.
The Louisiana native is on a national tour that won't wind down until November.
"I just flew out (to Spokane) to do the West Coast thing, some Washington stuff, and then into California and Boise, Idaho, and then Nevada," said Adkins, blessed with a rich, deep voice that captures the heart of traditional country music.
He's busy with the tour right now and not actively putting together a follow-up to "Songs About Me."
"But we're always looking and listening for the next crop of songs," the 6-foot-6-inch-tall singer said in his slow, Southern drawl. "It's a never-ending thing."
Sacca to me
Entertainer Tony Sacca, the Ambassador of Las Vegas, is walking on air this week.
The host of the syndicated interview show "Entertainment Las Vegas Style" has signed deals with actor Steven Seagal and with Wal-Mart.
Seagal, a singer and guitarist when he isn't acting, has enlisted Sacca and Marvin Lashever (partners in Sac-Pac Productions) to represent him in his effort to pursue his singing career in Vegas.
And Wal-Mart is going to begin distributing some of Sacca's entertainment works through their stores in regions that include Reno, Denton, Texas, and Auburn, Ga.
"They are going to open a Las Vegas segment in their stores in these regions, an area of the store where they sell Vegas-related items," Sacca said.
Included in the Vegas merchandise will be a Sacca CD ("Las Vegas Sings For America") that contains four of his original songs -- "Las Vegas, The Greatest Town Around," "Listen to My Heart," "Hey, What's Up Girl" and "Love Will Heal the World."
Also to be sold is a three-volume DVD that includes interviews he has conducted with celebrities during the 18 years he has produced his TV show.
Sacca says he wrote "Las Vegas, The Greatest Town Around" 23 years ago.
Hockey puck?
George Carlin could take a lesson or two from sharp-tongued comedian Don Rickles, who will be at the Stardust through Sunday.
When Carlin was performing at the same venue a couple of weeks ago he became irritated by comments from the crowd and angrily lit into his fans.
Crowd comments are fodder for Rickles, who has spent most of his career trading barbs with audiences.
The comedian started out working clubs in Manhattan, mixing stand-up with impressions.
One night Rickles became angry with a particularly boisterous group in his audience and fired a salvo of insults in their direction -- and a star was born.
Great Scott
Hypnotist Scott Lewis is doubling his workload at the Riviera's Le Bistro Theatre.
Beginning Tuesday, Lewis adds a second show to his engagement, which is in its fourth year. He can now be seen at 9 p.m. Mondays and Tuesdays.
The Tuesday night performance will have a '70s disco theme.
"Retro is in now and I've always loved the music of the '70s," said Lewis, who is a chiropractor by day. "Disco is inherently fun and I've always felt that having fun is the most important element of any hypnosis show."
Lewis says he will be wearing a "Saturday Night Fever" polyester white suit and hypnotize volunteers to be Hot Stuff dancers, finalists in a Shake Your Booty Contest, the Village People and more.
Dion fundraiser
Celine Dion raised more than $1 million for UNICEF's Tsunami Recovery Fund during a Mother's Day performance in which she dedicated her performance of "A New Day..." to the relief organization. Reportedly, the total raised was $1,029,714.
The evening's event was hosted by Larry King.
At the end of the performance, Celine and King presented United States UNICEF President Charles J. Lyons and Canadian UNICEF President David Agnew with a donation check.
The funds were raised through sponsorship packages, a special commemorative program book and collection boxes in The Colosseum, as well as a silent auction that preceded the show.
Parkinson's run
The American Parkinson's Disease Association of Southern Nevada has challenged all Las Vegas entertainers, media and other personalities to a fundraising walk on the Strip on May 21.
The "I Walked From New York to Paris" benefit walk begins at 8 a.m.
The event will be followed by a breakfast at Paris Las Vegas, which will feature entertainment and a silent auction.
Among entrants will be cast members of Excalibur's "Thunder from Down Under."
For more information call 839-4327.
Fast track
Veteran entertainment columnist Norm Johnson (no, not the one with the patch) will be burning up the highway Sunday near Ely.
Johnson joins more than 100 racers for the 17th annual Nevada Open Road Challenge. Last year Johnson, driving his 1999 Camaro Z28, nabbed a first place trophy in the 135 mph class.
The 90-mile race begins on Nevada 318 near Lund, about 30 miles from Ely, and ends near Hiko.
Vegas views
"Forever Plaid" cast members will be among entertainers at the annual Israel Independence Day celebration at the Venetian beginning at 10:30 a.m. Sunday.
More than 8,000 celebrants are expected to attend the event, which will be held in the Venetian Ballroom.
Israel became an independent nation on May 14, 1948.
Tickets are now on sale for Kenny Loggins' and Jim Messina's "Sittin' In Again Reunion Tour," to be held at 8 p.m. July 3 at the Aladdin Theatre for Performing Arts.
Loggins and Messina were one of the top duo acts of the '70s, with such hits as "Sittin' In," "Your Mama Don't Dance," "Vahevala," "Angry Eyes" and "Danny's Song."
Tickets range from $45 to $75. For information call 474-4000.
Comedian Jerry Seinfeld has added a third performance to his June 10-11 engagement at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace.
Performances will be at 7:30 p.m. on those two days, with a third show beginning at 10:30 p.m. June 11.
The Las Vegas Chamber Music Society will perform a benefit concert, "John Clare and Friends," at the Las Vegas Art Museum, 9600 W. Sahara Ave., at 6 p.m. June 5.
Clare will be joined by violinists Blair Nesbit-Jackson, Rebecca Ramsey and George Stelluto in the recital "Viva Vivaldi."
The Silverado High School Chamber Strings with conductor Chuck Jackson will perform music by Purcell and Samuel Adler in addition to accompanying the Vivaldi concerti.
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