Strip Scribbles: Jabbawockeez set for three-week MGM Grand run

ABC TV

Jabbawockeez performs during Dancing With the Stars.

By Robin Leach (contact)

Friday, April 2, 2010 | 4:35 p.m.

PR Plus

Top Chef's Tom Colicchio and Gail Simmons at Blush in the Wynn.

Jacob Dallegos/XS

Clockwise from front left, American Idol's Ryan Seacrest, Randy Jackson and Simon Cowell with Victor Drai in Victor's VIP booth at XS in the Encore on April 27, 2009.

Juliette Lewis at Haze

Launch slideshow »

Barry Manilow at the Paris Las Vegas

Launch slideshow »

Fresh from touring as the opening act for Jonas Brothers, Jesse McCartney and New Kids on the Block, Jabbawockeez has created a 90-minute production Music for a 20-day run at MGM Grand beginning May 7.

Jabbawockeez won MTV’s America’s Best Dance Crew hosted by Mario Lopez and have since been featured on TV series including Dancing With the Stars, So You Think You Can Dance and America’s Next Top Model. They also joined with Shaquille O’Neal to open the NBA All-Star Game.

Jabbawockeez, who recently completed a tour of the Philippines, appear at MGM from May 7 through 26. Here’s a clip of their performance on DWTS.

*Heavy and highly reliable rumors have begun that a major Strip entertainer is seeking to get out of his long-term contract with one of the gaming giants. Those in the know on the inside say some very delicate negotiations are taking place right now to end the multi-year ties that bind.

*The Venetian star chef Thomas Keller and MGM culinary king and Top Chef star Tom Colicchio are just two of the 60 celebrity chefs and 250 world-class winemakers converging on Pebble Beach for four days of the annual food and wine festival in California starting Thursday. Wolfgang Puck and just-departed Palazzo chef Charlie Trotter also will participate in the grand finale night.

*NASCAR driver and Las Vegas native Taylor “The Bomber” Barton completed his first NASCAR K&N Pro Series at the All American Speedway in Roseville, Calif. He was assigned to start the race last out of 22 drivers, after having no practice time and having not participated in a race since September, and finished 11th. Taylor was one of nine rookies in the race, and his next race is Thursday at Phoenix International Raceway. Taylor has been a competitive racer for nearly 20 years and has raced in more than 200 competitions.

*The brash and brazen New York Post listed its picks and pans of our nightlife scene. Victor Drai’s XS in the Encore came out on top, but the tabloid took five other nightspots to task.

STAR SURVEILLANCE

Actress Juliette Lewis performed at Haze in Aria last night, and photographer Denise Truscello was on hand for the action photos. … Marsha Thomason of Lost dined with her husband at Lavo in the Palazzo. Vegas magazine’s best-dressed honorees were in Lavo’s private dining room and after dinner adjourned to the nightclub to receive their awards and enjoy the Label Junkie party. The stylish group included Las Vegas headliners Matt Goss, Robin Antin, Rick Faugno, Holly Madison and Josh Strickland. The magazine’s Dame and Socialista categories were well represented by Elaine Wynn, Susan Molasky, Jane Schorr, Jennifer Harrington, Lacy Schorr and Barbara Bell. Fashionable foodies there to pick up awards included Carla Pellegrino, Franck Savoy and Tom Kaplan. Nightlife category honorees included Bree Cohen and Tao Group’s Jason Strauss and Marklen Kennedy, while Tim Poster represented hoteliers.

*Las Vegas’ A.J. Green is just 17, but he’s already recorded his debut album Whatever You Need and will unveil it at an exclusive media release event next Wednesday in the Studios of the Palms where he recorded most of it. The title comes from responses from writers and producers who stepped up to help A.J.’s project because all profits go to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. A local choir also participated in the recording.

*On the same day but in New York, my longtime friend Meat Loaf previews his new album Hang Cool Teddy Bear produced by Rob Cavallo and featuring guest appearances by Steve Vai, Brian May, Kara DioGuardi, Jack Black and Hugh Laurie. The offbeat title, taken from a line in Beyond the Valley of the Dolls, is 13 tracks of classic Meat Loaf and drops May 11.

Now it’s time for us to make some music this Easter weekend as we hunt through our own Easter basket of goodies that we refer to affectionately around here as the ROYAL ROBIN RUNDOWN:

FRIDAY, APRIL 2

Holly Madison hosts an auction that includes Laura Croft, her Holly’s World co-star, and nine other bachelorettes in the 3rd Annual Smokin’ Hot Bachelorette Auction at Ghostbar in the Palms to benefit Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth.

*Superstar entertainer Barry Manilow starts three weekend shows all month long at the Paris.

Courtesy

Aaron Kwok.

*Global star Aaron Kwok is known as “Asia’s Dance King,” and he makes an exclusive North American stop at Steve Wynn’s Encore Theater with one performance tonight and two tomorrow as part of his world tour. Aaron is the first Asian performer at Wynn, and this is his first visit to Las Vegas.

*Chicago blows like the Windy City itself -- at full blast of brass and with its very own sound of jazz, rock and pop for two nights at Las Vegas Hilton.

*The ring stars of tomorrow are the heroes of Golden Boy Boxing’s promotion at the Hard Rock Hotel featuring Erislandy Lara, Danny Perez, Carlos Velasquez and 2008 Olympic heavyweight bronze medalist Deontay Wilder.

*Now happily settled back in his late-night throne, comedy king Jay Leno returns with humor from today’s headlines for two nights of standup at The Mirage.

PARTY PATROL

Actress Bijou Phillips celebrates her birthday at Pure in Caesars Palace.

SATURDAY, APRIL 3

*Sexy siren Audrina Patridge will strut her stuff at MGM’s Wet Republic for an all-afternoon party with DJ Crooked at the controls. Doubtless Audrina will wear her trademark cutout dress before undressing down to a bikini. She hosts at Tabu Ultra Lounge in the evening.

Getty Images

Audrina Patridge shows her fashion sense at Wet Republic pool at MGM Grand.

*Incredible illusionist David Copperfield continues to make magic at Hollywood Theater in MGM Grand and adds performances for Easter.

*Singer Melissa Etheridge headlines at Star of the Desert Arena in Primm.

*It’s difficult to explain Ellis Mania because Jason Ellis is a Sirius XM satellite radio phenomenon with legions of fans who love his madness. His antics began with novelty fights inside the ring, and the tradition continues with Good Charlotte’s Benji Madden battling Riki Rachtman, the former host of MTV’s Headbangers Ball and VH1’s Daisy of Love. On the undercard, there is a brother-sister match with Rawdog vs. Gabi; a wheelchair fight between Jason and Mark Zuppan of Murderball; and what’s become the popular shock collar match.

*For boxing of a much more serious nature, it’s a showdown as longtime rivals Bernard Hopkins and Roy Jones Jr. settle a score dating back to May 1993, when Roy won the IBF middleweight belt in a unanimous but contested decision that’s lasted to this day. Our contributing photographer Tom Donoghue will chronicle the fight from weigh-in to decision time, and we’ll have the full photo coverage here at Vegas DeLuxe on Monday.

*If I had a dollar for every star in the sky, I would have $1 million. Taiwanese pop stars Aska Yang and Rachel Liang found stardom on Taiwan’s American Idol and have now teamed for a one-night performance at The Pearl in the Palms.

*It’s “Cara Mia,” not “Mamma Mia!” Legendary 1960s pop group Jay and the Americans sing their greatest doo-wop hits at the Cannery. … Alkaline Trio perform with special guests The Dear & Departed and Cursive at House of Blues in Mandalay Bay. … Carey Hart has booked Taintstick at his Wasted Space in the Hard Rock Hotel, while Paper Tongues, Lips Like Morphine and Picture Pilot play the Hard Rock Cafe on the Strip.

*Basketball legends Bobby Knight and Billy Packer team up for their final pre-game commentary of March Madness at Emeril Lagasse’s Stadium in the Palazzo. They’ll use their professional insight to predict which school wins, and admission is free.

PARTY PATROL

British singer Leona Lewis celebrates her birthday with a performance at Pure. Watch for fellow Brit Matt Goss to stop by after his gig in The Gossy Lounge. … At sister nightclub LAX in the Luxor, Lolene hosts and performs. … DJ Tiesto spins at Haze.

SUNDAY, APRIL 4

Carey Hart will have Easter Eggs containing prizes and $1,000 scattered all over his Wasted Space when Dangerous Curves and Double Down perform during the Pajama Jam and Easter Egg Hunt. … Viva Las Vegas’ Rockabilly Festival ends at The Orleans.

MONDAY’S TEASES

We’ll have full photo coverage of Holly Madison’s bachelorette auction, the showdown between Bernard Hopkins and Roy Jones Jr. , and all the other exciting weekend parties and performances. Plus, a preview of Week 3 of Dancing With the Stars to see if beloved Buzz or controversial Kate is sent home, or will it be like last week with another unexpected shocker?

Follow Robin Leach on Twitter at Twitter.com/Robin_Leach.