Strip Scribbles: Cher a Buddhist ‘who should always be in after-school detention’

Yui Mok/The Associated Press

Cher performs onstage at Wembley Arena in London on May 21, 2004.

By Robin Leach (contact)

Wednesday, June 9, 2010 | 5:39 p.m.

The History Channel's Pawn Stars

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Erik Kabik/Retna/www.erikkabikphoto.com

2009 Miss America Katie Stam at the Planet Hollywood PH Towers Westgate grand opening on Jan. 29, 2010.

Superstar entertainer Cher has said she is now a Buddhist, but added with characteristic self-deprecation, “who should always be in after-school detention.” In an interview with Architectural Digest, the record-breaking Caesars Palace headliner shows off her spectacular 4,000 square-foot, two-floor “apartment” perched high above L.A. The magazine describes it as an irrepressible mix of spirituality and spunk.

“My houses,” Cher muses, “are passions.” They also are decorative barometers of the state of her never-boring, ever-expanding consciousness. “I’ve played around with Buddhism for years,” continues the actress, a devotee of the American Buddhist nun Pema Chodron. “The soul of the universe, everything that I need, I can find in its practice.” Cher turned to friend and interior designer Martyn Lawrence-Bullard to help her conjure “something ethnic, spicy and romantic” in creams, ivories, whites and buttery beiges.

“Though I loved collecting Gothic and can spend hours drawing with every shade of Pantone pen, I prefer a neutral palette, especially in my bedrooms, because the colors are so easy to live with.” You can read more in the July issue of Architectural Digest.

*The stars of Pawn Stars can appraise the value of anything under the sun, but even The Old Man can’t predict what a fabulous weekend in Las Vegas with The History Channel’s biggest stars will fetch. Coinciding with Season 3 of the hit series, which premiered this week, THC is working with eBay for the first time on a Pawn Stars Charity Auction beginning Monday. The winner enjoys a weekend here with a stay at the Palms and dinner with the show’s stars. After dinner, the winner joins the guys in a poker tournament with $1,000 in chips to start.

The next day includes an internship at the pawnshop with the Harrisons -- The Old Man, Rick and Corey, plus Chumlee. Airfare and limo service to and from the resort are included, and the auction runs for 10 days, ending June 24. All proceeds will be donated to the YMCA of Southern Nevada. For more info, go to eBay.com/pawnstars.

*Dream big! It’s way more than tiaras and talent and sashes and swimsuits as the Miss America Organization celebrates its 90th anniversary. Now comes Miss America Brands, a line of clothing and apparel for toddlers and tweens. “We are so excited to launch this new, contemporary, age-appropriate clothing line during our 90th anniversary celebration, inspiring little girls everywhere to dream big,” said Art McMaster, president and CEO of the Miss America Organization.”

The designs were unveiled yesterday at the International Licensing Expo here and includes French terry hoodies, purses, rugby-striped polo dresses, bathrobes, ballet slippers and other styles and all in girl-approved hot pink and purple to patriotic hues of red, white and blue. “The utmost goal is to make girls look and feel good about themselves,” said 2009 Miss America Katie Stam, one of the spokesmodels for the line. “It’s not only providing a wardrobe to little girls. It’s providing inspiration as well.”

*Today marks the start of three days of girl power at the World Series of Poker at The Rio when the High Heels Poker Tour struts in to kick off Ladies Week. Female poker pros and players join together for poker’s most prestigious event with two ladies-only tournaments. Tomorrow, the High Heels women offer their annual Ladies Academy to prepare players for Friday’s play.

Tiffany Brown

Chef Wolfgang Puck and his wife, Gelila, on the red carpet on the way into the 13th Annual Power of Love Gala at the Bellagio in Las Vegas on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2009.

*Here’s an extraordinary summer celebration for our Las Vegas locals. Star chef Wolfgang Puck has decided that every day from now through the end of September, Las Vegas residents will get 20 percent off their food checks. The discount applies at Spago in the Forum Shops of Caesars Palace, CUT in the Palazzo, Postrio at The Venetian, Lupo at Mandalay Bay and the new Puck Pizzeria and Cucina at Crystals inside MGM’s CityCenter.

Biz Markie at Lavo

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STAR SURVEILLANCE

Jessica and Ashlee Simpson’s manager dad Joe Simpson ordered steaks while watching the Lakers-Celtics game at Simon in Palms Place last night. … Lavo in the Palazzo celebrated Rewind to the ’90s with singer Biz Markie. After hamming it up on the red carpet, he dined at Lavo and then performed his hit “Just a Friend” for the upstairs club crowd. After his mini concert, he continued his hosting duties in the DJ booth, taking pictures with fans, beat boxing and singing along as DJ Five spun the wheels of steel. … Rohan Marley, the son of the late Bob Marley, partied with 10 friends at Moon in the Palms until 3 a.m. today.

TONIGHT’S TIPS

RM Seafood in Mandalay Bay is the site of a viewing party for boss man Rick Moonen in the final round of Top Chef Masters. … Eva Longoria Parker’s Eve nightclub has the King and Queen of the Beach contest at Crystals. … It’s the first of 13 performances at Spring Mountain Ranch State Park of Super Summer Theater’s production of Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory.

TOMORROW’S TEASES

Superstar singer Julio Iglesias arrives in Las Vegas to receive two prestigious awards. We also have our interview with rock photographer Neal Preston, who picks his favorites from 40 years of shooting the stars from Led Zeppelin to Madonna for a new exhibit at the Hard Rock Hotel, plus a hot photo shoot with Hannah, the human mermaid, at Luxor pool.

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