John Katsilometes

Story Archive

‘Forever Purple’ Prince tribute show set for June 7 at Smith Center: Tuesday, May 17, 2016; The Kats Report Bureau at this writing is Beach Cafe at Tropicana Las Vegas on Monday night. The news out of this building tonight is the announcement of a new restaurant fronted by ...
Monday By the Numbers: ‘Power of Love’s’ 35-person turnout in 1995 — and 16,000 since: Monday, May 16, 2016; This week, Monday By the Numbers turns its spotlight on one of the year’s great philanthropic events — and events of any kind — the Keep Memory Alive “Power of Love” charity gala benefiting ...
L.V. doubleheader: Paul Zerdin opens ‘vent’ at P.H.; Scorpions blackout at Joint: Sunday, May 15, 2016; Once more the lineup of shows was uniquely VegasVille. Early in the night, it was ventriloquist Paul Zerdin with his “Mouthing Off” show at Planet Hollywood Showroom. Later, it was a scramble to the Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel to catch veteran German rock band …
Frankie Moreno is ready to rock audiences at Planet Hollywood: Friday, May 13, 2016; The multitalented musician plays just about every style of music imaginable. Oh, and he's awesome.
‘Magic Mike’ muscling onto crowded stage; Criss Angel moves back ‘Mindfreak Live!’ opening: Tuesday, May 10, 2016; Caesars Entertainment is abuzz lately with new or updated shows, including Paul Zerdin’s “Mouthing Off” toggling with Frankie Moreno at PH Showroom and Wayne Newton’s “Up Close and Personal” at ...
Next weekend’s Helldorado offers updated take on Old West: Sunday, May 8, 2016; This is not our first rodeo. It is our 82nd. We speak of the annual Helldorado Days rodeo, parade and festival staged each spring in Las Vegas …
‘X’ turns XIV at Flamingo; Steve Wynn not grooving to overpaid DJs: Friday, May 6, 2016; A product of the Matt and Angela Stabile “X” empire, “X Burlesque” at Flamingo is advancing with new numbers and visuals. ...
Operation Frankie Moreno is finally at full force at Planet Hollywood: Friday, May 6, 2016; I won’t say the man was nervous. He handled that himself Wednesday night. “Why am I so nervous?” Frankie Moreno asked everyone and no one in particular ...
Steven Tyler to tell all in Venetian appearance: Wednesday, May 4, 2016; The man who has long demanded, “Walk this way, talk this way,” will be doing some talking — along with singing — on the Strip in July.
Long-awaited ‘Magic Mike’ adult revue headed for Hard Rock Hotel: Wednesday, May 4, 2016; Primarily naked, dancing men are to descend on the Hard Rock Hotel. “Magic Mike Live,” starring Channing Tatum of the movie of the same name, is set to open at the hotel in March. ...
Prince’s death has shaken up Vegas tribute artist Jason Tenner’s world: Wednesday, May 4, 2016; “We’ve been getting calls from arenas and things of that nature … But I am here to make sure his music, and his legacy, lives on in the right way.”
‘Twisted Vegas’ halted at Westgate; Lionel Richie marks ‘crazy’ start at Axis: Wednesday, May 4, 2016; On Sunday, Lionel Richie was justifiably impressed by audience reaction to a show on the Strip — his own. “The crowd, last night, was crazy,” Richie said before taking the stage to close ...
Billy Joel nods to Elvis, Elton in return to the Strip: Tuesday, May 3, 2016; Let’s take a look at the audience in the new T-Mobile Arena who turned out to see a man who has sold out Madison Square Garden for 35 consecutive shows. ...
Animated Seth MacFarlane puts on showstopper at Encore Theater: Sunday, May 1, 2016; During Seth MacFarlane’s orchestral spectacle at Encore Theater in Wynn Las Vegas on Friday night, a gentleman seated near the stage in the middle of the venue sang in duet with the star ...
No tall tales: 20 facts to mark 20 years of the Stratosphere: Sunday, May 1, 2016; When I explain to folks how long I have lived in Las Vegas, I tell them, “I have lived here as long as the Stratosphere.” True. I moved to Las Vegas from Redding, Calif., the weekend of April 30, 1996. I was …
Wynn’s empire is never ‘Never’ land; we hit stage with Mr. Las Vegas: Saturday, April 30, 2016; The Kats Report Bureau cut a swath through the Venetian/Palazzo and Wynn Las Vegas over the past two nights. The Palazzo porte-cochere was the unlikely venue for a sit-down dinner of 300 refined scenesters during the …
Intrigue, Jewel delivering some extreme club makeover: Friday, April 29, 2016; I visited Jewel at Aria on Tuesday, which was just a hard-hat tour amid a skyscape of LED lights, but it does represent a club experience. ...
Human Nature’s ‘Jukebox’ opens up request line at the Venetian: Friday, April 29, 2016; During opening night of their new production “Jukebox” at the Venetian’s Sands Showroom, the guys from Human Nature ask the audience to call out some of their favorite songs. At one point, the affable foursome ...
‘America’s Got Talent’ winner Paul Zerdin brings his puppets to Planet Hollywood: Wednesday, April 27, 2016; But how many ventriloquists can the Strip absorb?
Lisa Marie Smith of ‘Pin Up’ flips calendar for spin with ‘Baz’: Wednesday, April 27, 2016; When Lisa Marie Smith first saw “For The Record: Baz” at Light in Mandalay Bay last June, she gazed at the stage and said, “I am going to be in that show.” She is now in that show. The ...
Seth MacFarlane hits Las Vegas and is ready to swing: Tuesday, April 26, 2016; You try to cross this bridge with Seth MacFarlane, linking his affection for the crude/brilliant humor in “Family Guy” — where the highbrow canine Brian will talk of his in-progress novel and suddenly scratch at his fleas with his hind leg — and love of ...
Elisa Fiorillo summons Princely spirit in ‘Purple Rain’ performance: Tuesday, April 26, 2016; To ask Elisa Fiorillo that question late Thursday night would have been pointless. She had just walked offstage after singing “Purple Rain,” bravely and beautifully, at Sunset Station’s Club Madrid.
Star trek from Clint Holmes-Santa Fe to Frankie Moreno is Uber-eventful: Tuesday, April 26, 2016; There is a saying in my VegasVille universe that helps keep all this activity in perspective. It is, “What could possibly go wrong?” This phrase, always recited facetiously, came to mind ...
Monday By the Numbers: Billy Joel, with a dash of ‘Zark’: Monday, April 25, 2016; This week, Monday By the Numbers reminds, “I love you just the way you are,” in honor of William Martin Joel. ...
Successful Red Rock Resort offers evolving SLS something to aspire to: Sunday, April 24, 2016; The week of the opening of Red Rock Resort in April 2006, I toured the property with the president of the hotel, Scott Kreeger. I recall him being especially responsive to my questions about Rocks Lounge, Cherry …
George Strait rocks T-Mobile box office; Prince artist Jason Tenner ‘shocked’ but plays on: Friday, April 22, 2016; The Kats Report Bureau at this writing is Grand Luxe Cafe at Palazzo just ahead of the media night for Human Nature’s “Jukebox” show across the walkway at Sands Showroom. The difference between a media night and all the shows leading to ...
Get ready to party with Frankie Moreno: Friday, April 22, 2016; This longtime Vegas favorite promises an energetic night with ‘Under the Influence.’
Improv Comedy Club to close show at Harrah’s: Thursday, April 21, 2016; Soon, there will be no more nights at the Improv. The Improv Comedy Club at Harrah’s, a house of hilarity since April 1995, is reportedly closing at the end of May. The Improv is a legendary brand among comics, ...
Lionel Richie brings his enduring hit parade to Planet Hollywood: Wednesday, April 20, 2016; When he says he’s doing All the Hits, he means it.
Brad Garrett remembers ‘vibrant’ Doris Roberts; Jimmy and Robin Slonina ‘a Las Vegas weirdo power couple’: Tuesday, April 19, 2016; Brad Garrett is in a bittersweet mood this week, celebrating the fourth anniversary of his club at MGM Grand Underground while feeling the loss of his friend and “Everybody Loves Raymond” co-star Doris Roberts. ...
Monday By the Numbers: Point spread (for entertainment purposes only) of Tuesday’s Globetrotters game is …: Monday, April 18, 2016; On Tuesday night, the Harlem Globetrotters play the World All-Stars, formerly known as the Washington Generals, at T-Mobile Arena. I asked Jay Rood, sports book director for MGM Resorts, to establish a point spread ...
It’s show time — and Showtime — for ‘Dice’: Monday, April 18, 2016; Andrew Dice Clay is in full stride at the moment, a TV star once more with a booking on the Strip. His sitcom “Dice” debuted April 10 on Showtime and has banked two of its six first-season episodes ...
Penn & Teller again play the ‘Fool’; Globetrotter recalls unseen win: Saturday, April 16, 2016; The Kats Report Bureau returned to the Rio on Friday night to witness the final taping of the third season of “Penn & Teller: Fool Us.” As John Lennon once said, “I play guitar, and sometimes I play the fool,” which fits some …
‘Bathroom law’ prompts Cirque to pull productions from N.C.: Friday, April 15, 2016; Springsteen. Starr. Now Cirque. Saying it “believes in diversity and equality for every individual and is opposed to discrimination in any form,” the Strip’s favorite theatrical company has pulled its touring ...
A ‘Vegas Nocturne’ movie? Yes — but not for you: Thursday, April 14, 2016; The Kats Report Bureau at this writing is the Bourbon Room at the Venetian, and isn’t it funny how we discover some of these cool hangs just a little too late. I’ve been in here twice in the past couple of weeks ...
Clint Holmes reunites with Santa Fe & The Fat City Horns: Wednesday, April 13, 2016; It will mark the first ticketed show featuring Holmes and Santa Fe since his headlining Harrah’s run ended a decade ago.
Maybe Carrot Top should have opted for ‘Zoolander 2’; Intrigue seals Seal deal: Wednesday, April 13, 2016; The Kats Report Bureau at this writing is the food court at the atrium level of the Luxor, and from this position I can see the entry of the “Bodies” exhibit. So, I won’t be ordering any jerky (#sheckykats). ...
Wayne Newton’s flu means ‘Tonight Show’ appearance won’t fly: Tuesday, April 12, 2016; Wayne Newton’s jam session with The Roots on “The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon” will have to wait for another night. Curtailed by a high fever and bronchitis, Newton had to ...
Perplexing decision: Clint Holmes-Santa Fe at M Resort or Frankie Moreno at Planet Hollywood: Tuesday, April 12, 2016; Well, this is a tough call between two “must” shows. First, before identifying that tough call, we’ll give props to the esteemed Clint Holmes. Over the weekend, Holmes unveiled a few songs from his upcoming CD during ...
Monday By the Numbers: Dice rolls to Showtime and looks to fill Tropicana Theater: Monday, April 11, 2016; Today, Monday By the Numbers hits the remote for “Dice,” the series starring Andrew Dice Clay set to premiere Sunday at 9:30 p.m. on Showtime. Following up on what we’ll call a “lingering” scoop, Clay is planning a one-off show at Tropicana Theater at 10 p.m. May 28 as part of ...
A pair of hot Las Vegas celebs? Wayne Newton and Jerry Lewis: Monday, April 11, 2016; Hey, idea time: Wayne Newton and Jerry Lewis might be able to parlay their Las Vegas affiliation into some genuine notoriety. It has been a whopper of a stretch for this pair of Las Vegas legends who see no need to cede the spotlight any time soon. Newton has helped open T-Mobile Arena and is set for a pair of ...
The Park delivers as the Strip’s new playground: Monday, April 11, 2016; Having put T-Mobile Arena and The Park to the test over the weekend, I can first say the place is gorgeous and furnished to handle any arena-styled event. A stunner, I know. ...
Survey describes Las Vegas’ average tourist: Sunday, April 10, 2016; If you’re on the Strip, there’s a good chance you’re going to run into a married 47-year-old from California who booked a hotel room online and earns more than $40,000 a year.
Janet Jackson calls off show at T-Mobile Arena, stopping tour to start family: Friday, April 8, 2016; For the second time in six months, a performance by Janet Jackson on the Strip has been called off. Jackson’s May 14 show at T-Mobile Arena has been ...
Clint Holmes’ ‘Inspired’ rolls lucky 7; Lewis toasts his 90th once more: Friday, April 8, 2016; The Kats Report bureau is regrouping after an exhaustive week at T-Mobile Arena and The Park on the Strip. The next event is the Guns N’ Roses show at the arena ...
Killer collaborations from T-Mobile: Brandon Flowers and Dan Reynolds; Ronnie Vannucci and Blue Man Group: Thursday, April 7, 2016; Notes on a postcard from the opening of T-Mobile Arena on Wednesday night, with The Killers headlining a lineup that featured Wayne Newton in full Mr. Vegas regalia, an early performance by hip-hop artist Shamir and ...
Wayne Newton: ‘I actually teared up’ during T-Mobile performance: Thursday, April 7, 2016; You might expect that Wayne Newton has seen it all after performing for Las Vegas audiences since 1959. Not so. Wednesday night’s opening of T-Mobile Arena presented a rare “first” in Las Vegas for Mr. Las Vegas. ...
After Monte Carlo overhaul, Jim Murren says MGM is ‘taking the show on the road’: Thursday, April 7, 2016; It’s funny to be writing from one of the few remaining themed hotels owned by MGM Resorts. The head of the company is finished with developing themed hotels. ...
Human Nature lights up its 'Jukebox' for a revamped Venetian production: Wednesday, April 6, 2016; “We needed to go in a different direction. It was not a business decision—some people say we’re stupid for giving up a successful show—but we wanted to creatively branch out.”
‘Baz’ and ‘Puppets’ shack up at Venetian; Skye Dee Miles ready for some ‘53X’: Wednesday, April 6, 2016; The Kats Report Bureau this morning wound through T-Mobile Arena for early TV action with Kim Wagner of “Wake Up With the Wagners” on Channel 3. The arena was still undergoing final prep work for ...