Tuesday, March 20, 2007 | 7:11 a.m.
If there's anything negative to say about Joe Piscopo's new gig at the Las Vegas Hilton's Shimmer Cabaret it's that he's too gosh-darn nice, too danged eager to please, too doggone anxious to have fans like him.
"I love ya" and "You guys are the best" are uttered so often throughout the evening it becomes distracting, like a nervous tic or an annoying catch phrase. You know what I mean? Maybe it's part of his New Jersey dialect and he can't help himself.
In any event, enough already. We love ya, Joe. You're a talented guy. You put on an entertaining show that should be on everyone's list of things to do in Las Vegas - especially those who want a taste of how things used to be here.
The six-piece backup band alone is worth the price of admission, one that Frank Sinatra would have been proud to have had behind him. Not surprising, since Piscopo's musical director and pianist is Vincent Falcone, who was Sinatra's musical director for 10 years. His sextet includes some of the city's best musicians: Tommy Check on drums, Chris Gordan on bass, Artie Schroeck on vibraphone, Jay Rassmussen on saxophone and the incomparable Joe Lano on guitar.
You can include Piscopo among the musicians. Not only is he adept at crooning the standards, joking with the fans and doing impressions, he also plays a variety of instruments - piano, flute, drums, saxophone and guitar.
Piscopo is full of energy, and fans can feel his love for entertaining and his all-consuming desire to make sure they have a good time.
It's an evening well spent.
You're the best, Joe.
Details: 9:30 p.m., Sundays through Tuesdays, dark Wednesdays through Saturdays; Las Vegas Hilton's Shimmer Cabaret; $39.95; 732-5755
Carlini channels the King
Speaking of shows that capture a sense of old Las Vegas, another worth checking out is Trent Carlini's "The Musical History of the King" at the Sahara.
Carlini, one of the top Elvis tribute artists in the nation, covers most of Elvis' biggest hits while taking fans through the various stages of his career, using costume changes to highlight the eras.
There's the Gold Lam Jacket Elvis, the Military Uniform Elvis, the Black Leather Suit Elvis, the Viva Las Vegas Elvis and finally the Sequined Jumpsuit Elvis. With all of the costume changes and an eight-piece band, "The Musical History of the King" has the feel of a much bigger production. Carlini resembles Elvis, physically, and captures a lot of the King's mannerisms. Generally, his voice is close to perfect.
While no one will ever recapture the electricity Elvis Presley generated in a showroom, if you're an Elvis fan - or just want a taste of what an Elvis show might have been like - this one's a winner.
Details: 9 p.m., Mondays through Saturdays, dark Sundays; Sahara Showroom; $53.40 to $63.90; 737-2878
Rita Rudner still droll
Rita Rudner's fans will be pleased to know that when the comedian left New York-New York last year for Harrah's she didn't forget to pack her dry wit, which may be the best kind for the desert.
She brought along a lot of the familiar jokes: "I don't care where you're from, Las Vegas is the opposite of it." "Gambling is legal, prostitution is legal. I guess the jails are just full of people who litter."
And added some new ones: "It's the only town where at 3 a.m. you can hear someone say, 'I'm going to lunch.' " "Wynn is a beautiful resort. It should be. It went $1 billion over budget. That's commitment. For $20 million I would have gone to Home Depot and finished it myself."
Details: 8 p.m., Mondays through Saturdays, dark Sundays; Harrah's Showroom; $59.40 to $99; 492-3960
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