Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2007 | 7:03 a.m.
Somehow, the complementary visions of Eric Idle and George Harrison wound up converging on the Las Vegas Strip. "It makes sense to me - I call it a new British Invasion," Idle said Monday afternoon during a media/VIP launch event for "Monty Python's Spamalot" at the newly expanded and renovated Grail Theater at Wynn Las Vegas. The production opens for previews on March 8.
Participating in Monday's event were Idle, Steve Wynn, John O'Hurley (who will play King Arthur), composer John Du Prez and Nikki Crawford (who plays Lady of the Lake). As the troupe would say, in case you've been living under a giant foot for the past 40 years, Idle is an original member of Britain's groundbreaking "Monty Python's Flying Circus," which aired on BBC from 1969 to '74. "Spamalot," Idle's brainchild, is a stage adaptation of the 1975 film "Monty Python and the Holy Grail." In June he attended opening night of "Love" at the Mirage, which was a concept largely conceived by Harrison, who was for years a close friend of Idle.
"We've always been called 'The Beatles of Comedy,' and George was a very funny man and a fan of Monty Python. I think it is quite appropriate that we would have our shows in full productions in Las Vegas, which is a place built for fun," said Idle, who earlier from the theater stage recalled that Harrison paid $4 million of his own money to underwrite Python's "Life of Brian." "I think 'Love' is spectacular. I can't wait to see it again. I understand it is doing very well." Idle said "Spamalot" would be similarly well received: "If you are funny, people will come," he said. "That's what I have learned. And this show is funny. People start getting it in the first five minutes."
NoteMart
American Idle: More from the "Spamalot" launch gig, to erase any doubt about the tenor of comedy employed in "Spamalot," Idle greeted the audience by saying, "I am Eric Idle. If you're here to see Billy Idol - (expletive) off!" ... With a few self-effacing jabs, Wynn seemed to be tempering expectations for the production, saying, "We wanted 'Richard the Third,' but it was taken, and so were the other great plays. So we ended up with this." He also joked that the show is "an impending disaster." Idle was asked if the irreverence was Wynn's way of downplaying hype for the show. "I think so, and it's the smart thing to do. Nobody knows what will work. Nobody." ... Wynn also put a price tag on how much revenue Las Vegas nightclubs (which have cut deeply into audiences for production shows and headliners) pull in each year: between $400 million and $500 million. ... The 300 seats added to the theater from the 1,200 capacity for "Avenue Q" have all been placed in the balcony. ... O'Hurley made his appearance onstage by popping out of a giant box of Spam. "David Hasselhoff gets a prom dress (for his role as Roger DeBris in "The Producers") and I get to appear out of a can of processed meat." ... A limited-edition can of Golden Grail Honey Spam goes for $10 in the show's gift shop. ...
Miss America Pageant judge and "Hardball" host Chris Matthews has set a schedule for shows to be broadcast live from Las Vegas (the show airs at 2 p.m. and again, tape-delayed, at 4 p.m. PST). Thursday and Friday the MSNBC crew will take over the terrace on the roof of Pure at Caesars Palace. On Monday it will move to one of the Sky Villas at the Fantasy Suites at the Palms. On Thursday Matthews' guests will include Sen. Harry Reid (interviewed via remote from Washington, D.C.) and Las Vegas Sun columnist Jon Ralston. On Friday the lineup includes Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman, Gov. Jim Gibbons and Chuck Esposito, Caesars' assistant vice president for race and sports (who will discuss handicapping political campaigns). Palms owner George Maloof will be interviewed Monday from his oft-publicized haunt. ...
Owners of the Griffin, a new nightclub in downtown Las Vegas, hope to be ready to open by the end of the week, permits permitting. ...
"That dessert made me nauseous." At the risk of serving up another "Top Chef" item, I must clarify a reference to the eminent Marcel Vigneron that I made in Monday's column when I reported the "Top Chef" Season 3 auditions in Las Vegas. I led the item by saying, "You could be the next Marcel Vigneron," but that does not mean Vigneron wins the Season 2 "Top Chef" title in Wednesday's final episode. A couple of readers translated my reference to Vigneron as tipping off the winner. Not so. I have no idea who wins, other than it is definitely not Cliff Crooks. ...
Vegas moment: On Friday night at the Golden Steer Steak House on West Sahara Avenue (which has been serving up the red meat since 1958), just before closing, the crew was listening to a CD of oldies when "Mack the Knife" came on. The tune sparked an impromptu sing-along and the crew knew all the words. ...
Stain survivor? Or something else? An astute motorist passes along the plate STNSRVR on a silver Land Rover.
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