Facebook
Fark
Digg
Reddit
Stumble
David Sadleir
Carrot Top, with fellow Luxor headliner Criss Angel, celebrates his fifth anniversary at the Luxor on Dec. 20, 2010.
Tuesday, Dec. 21, 2010 | 12:43 p.m.
“I never thought it would last this long,” said an ecstatic Carrot Top last night at his private VIP party celebrating his fifth anniversary headlining at the Luxor. “And then to realize I’m also marking my 25th year in comedy, that makes it doubly amazing.”
Carrot Top pulled out photos for the celebration of his debut appearances in Las Vegas in 1985 headlining at the original MGM Grand, then named Bally’s. “It’s been great to give up most of the touring and have a home here at the Luxor,” he said.
Angel Porrino at Carrot Top's fifth-anniversary celebration at the Luxor on Dec. 20, 2010.
Recycled Percussion at Carrot Top's fifth-anniversary celebration at the Luxor on Dec. 20, 2010.
His showbiz pals turned out in force to mark the milestone. Everybody from porn legend Ron Jeremy to Holly’s World reality TV show sexy starlets Angel Porrino and Laura Croft walked the zany prop comic’s orange carpet. Other party revelers included Mindfreak magician Criss Angel, rock artist Michael Godard, hypnotist Anthony Cools, Excalibur headliners Thunder From Down Under, Tropicana headliners Recycled Percussion and The Mirage singing ventriloquist headliner Terry Fator with his stunning new wife Taylor Makakoa.
The Tonight Show host Jay Leno sent a videotaped greeting from his NBC set in Burbank, Calif., and got his studio audience to give a standing ovation to Carrot Top. In the theater, Carrot Top left the stage to introduce his mom, who flew in from her Florida home, to the audience and gave her a kiss and a shot of Jack Daniels! Also there, “Thong Song” singer Sisqo, who sat alongside Vinnie Paul from Pantera. The comic introduced the rocker to the audience and asked him to show off his hairy chest a la Burt Reynolds!
Carrot Top, aka Scott Thompson, kept the audience in howls of laughter with his 80 minutes of nonstop humor. He even recruited fellow Luxor headliner Criss Angel from Cirque du Soleil’s Believe to “call in” from his seat on his cell phone to fake protest Carrot Top’s hysterically funny impression of the magician.
Criss told me: “Scott is the funniest guy I know. We’re such a great family here at the Luxor that I didn't mind him poking fun at me at all. I get my own back at him when we go out socially.”
Our esteemed Editor Don Chareunsy was there, too, for his observations.
“It was so Las Vegas to be seated near Terry Fator and his beautiful new wife Taylor, who was ravishing in red; Sisqo right in front of me; Criss Angel, who bellowed with laughter throughout the evening; and Vinnie Paul. Behind me to the left were Laura Croft, Angel Porrino (also ravishing in red), Mr. Vegas DeLuxe Robin Leach and his two gorgeous guests.
“This is untoward to mention, but I also ran into BMX rider Ricardo Laguna and Fator in the bathroom after the show. Anyway … it was my first time seeing Carrot Top’s show, and he was hilarious from start to finish. I’ll now add his show to my list of must-sees that I recommend to everyone. Carrot Top and Criss Angel both stopped to pose for photos with fans on the way from T&T to the theater, with Angel quipping ‘You’re from Canada, eh?’ upon meeting a group of Canadian fans.”
As always, Carrot Top turned his evening upside down by having a pre-party rather than an after-party. He took over a section of the nearby Tacos & Tequila, where contributing photographer Dave Sadleir was on hand to capture the action. Our thanks, too, to contributing photographer Scott Harrison on the orange carpet.
After the performance ended, Luxor chefs wheeled a giant orange cake onstage. The audience was treated to cookies with carrot-shaped frosting as they left the theater.
Carrot Top summed up: “I couldn’t have asked for a better celebration. I never guessed so many of my showbiz friends were showing up. I’m happy that my regular fans, some of whom had flown in from Canada, got to enjoy the party, as well.
“Here’s to another 25 years of comedy history. I'll be using the props by then for support to keep on going!”
Follow Robin Leach on Twitter at Twitter.com/Robin_Leach.
Follow Vegas DeLuxe on Twitter at Twitter.com/vegasdeluxe.
Follow VDLX Editor Don Chareunsy on Twitter at Twitter.com/VDLXEditorDon.
Last year I was taken to Carrot Top's show at the Luxor by my oldest grown son. I wasn't looking forward to it - it turned out to be the FUNNIEST THING I HAVE EVER SEEN. From the moment he took the stage until the end of the show I was laughing so hard my stomach was killing me! I had to hold my hands over my ears during the show just to keep from cracking up more and exacerbating the pain! I'm a local, and I was totally impressed. It's a show I'll remember for a long time.