Richie to toggle Axis, ‘Idol’ appearances
The Kats! Bureau at this writing is MacKenzie River Pizza, Grill & Pub at City National Arena, the Vegas Golden Knights’ practice fortress and office complex in Summerlin.
You can watch our new NHL team cut across the ice while eating, or writing, from this perch. I highly recommend the Cowboy Nachos. This stack of chips, cheese, beans, olives, tomatoes and avocado sour cream is a mountain of guilt and decadence. Just 2,580 calories, too. They should name it the Elliptical Nachos, because that’s where they’re sending me.
I also recommend wearing a jacket in this tavern that sits just off the ice. It’s chili, and chilly, up in here.
More from our scene:
Idolatry move for Richie
Lionel Richie is joining country superstar Luke Bryan and pop-music and fashion stalwart Katy Perry as judges on next season’s “American Idol” as the the show “reboots,” as Bryan would say.
Richie’s run on “Idol” coincides with his appearances next year at Axis at Planet Hollywood. “Idol” is set to premiere in March; Richie’s shows at Axis run March 7-20 (his next dates are Nov. 29-Dec 16).
Strip stars have juggled TV and stage shows before: Donny Osmond appeared onstage at Flamingo during his appearances on “Dancing With the Stars” in 2009. Marie Osmond also doubled up during her run on the show in 2007.
The new “Idol” judges panel will make its debut appearance on ABC’s “Good Morning America” on Wednesday.
Wilkinson remembers Hef
Kendra Wilkinson has passed along a fond remembrance of Hugh Hefner, who died Wednesday at age 91. Wilkinson rose to fame along with Holly Madison and Bridget Marquardt as one of Hef’s girlfriends on the E! series “The Girls Next Door” reality series from 2005-2009. Wilkinson is also co-star, with Jai Rodriguez, of “Sex Tips for a Straight Woman from a Gay Man” at Paris Las Vegas.
“Hef changed my life. He made me the person I am today,” Wilkinson said in a statement. “I couldn’t be more thankful for our friendship and our time together. I will miss him so much but he will be in my heart forever.”
Green’s party
Tom Green is returning to the VegasVille stage with his “Tom Green Show” at The Back Room at Bally’s. Green’s show premieres 10 p.m. Oct. 29 and runs at that time Sundays through Wednesdays.
Green, an original comedy flamethrower is adding a midnight show on Sundays. That late-night performance should be something special, given Green’s bawdy material.
Green has a brief history as a stand-up in Las Vegas. He and Steve-O co-headlined in “The Original Pranksters” double-bill at Vinyl at the Hard Rock Hotel in 2013. Green came back, solo, in 2014. One of Green’s bits centered on his battle with testicular cancer.
As Green recited, just before his doctor was to perform replacement surgery, he tossed the prosthetic testicle at Green, who was of course bedridden. “He says, ‘Here! Catch!’ “ Green joked from the stage. “Oh, thanks, Doc!”
This is the best, and so far only, comedy bit I’ve seen about this particular prosthetic.
It’s Fab!
Our longtime faves The Fab, the city’s pre-eminent Beatles tribute band since 1995, hosts a benefit concert at Henderson Pavilion 3:30 p.m. Saturday for Connor and Millie’s Dog Rescue. One way to get the attention of front man Pat Woodward is to shout “Rocky Raccoon!” during the intro of some other Beatles classic. I did this about 20 years ago during a particularly wild, ale-fueled set at the since-closed Man Dog’s and Englishmen in downtown Las Vegas …
Anyway, The Fab is donating all proceeds to the charity that saves animals near death. Tickets to the all-ages show are $10-$15 general admission, $30 VIP (meet-and-greet with souvenirs in that package), a mere pittance to hear a band that can perform the whole Beatles catalogue. Even “Rocky Raccoon.”
‘Golden’ moment
“Golden Girls Live” is in the midst of its weekend shows at The Back Space at The Space, which is the smaller performance venue at that complex and not to be confused with the already mentioned Back Room at Bally’s. Performing 10 p.m. Saturday, “Golden Girls” is a parody of the famous sitcom, featuring an all-male cast (including married couple John and Peter Mac).
The show was in serious jeopardy of even opening in Las Vegas after a deal it had at Baobab Stage at Town Square unraveled just two weeks ago. But The Space had open dates and proprietor Mark Shunock slotted the production into this weekend’s open dates.
“Both Peter and I were devastated when our shows would not go up as scheduled,” John Mac says. “We are grateful that Mark has saved the day and make room for our shows, and we are touched by the awesome outpouring of support the Las Vegas arts community has offered to us.” The Macs are next bringing “Judy Garland Live in Concert!” to The Space on Oct. 13.
John Katsilometes’ column runs daily in the A section. Contact him at jkatsilometes@reviewjournal.com. Follow @johnnykats on Twitter, @JohnnyKats1 on Instagram.
