Civillico juggles his ‘Comedy in Action’ show; Lady Gaga ‘excited’ about Vegas

THE CYCLE OF LIFE

We checked in over the weekend with a note about the reliably magnanimous Jeff Civillico, whose “Comedy in Action” show is finished at Bugsy’s Cabaret at Flamingo Las Vegas. Civillico had planned to return Feb. 6, after arthroscopic surgery on his left knee on Halloween. Instead, his “Comedy in Action” (great title) production will move into Anthony Cools’ room at Paris Las Vegas on March 29.

Civillico will perform Wednesdays only, instead of daily, as he did at Bugsy’s, giving him more time to pursue other projects.

“I am thrilled to announce that Caesars Entertainment and I have agreed upon a mutual arrangement that will allow me to focus on TV hosting and my nonprofit Win-Win Entertainment’s national expansion beyond Las Vegas,” he said Monday in an email.

Civillico’s charity, which pairs entertainers with needy causes, is expanding to Minneapolis and Salt Lake City. Corporate keynote speaker Jason Hewlett has been tapped to lead the Salt Lake City operation, while magician Tim Gabrielson (who has occasionally joined Civillico’s show at the Flamingo) is heading up the Minneapolis office.

Civillico has been a headliner with Caesars Entertainment for five years, first at the Quad Showroom (now Linq Showroom) and later at Flamingo. He remains the host of “The Weekend in Vegas” and “Backline” TV shows. (For ticket refunds to canceled shows at Bugsy’s, e-mail office@jeffcivillico.com.)

No formal word yet from Caesars Entertainment officials on the long-term plans — if there are any — for the 5:30 p.m. slot at Bugsy’s Cabaret. The inimitable Tape Face, the most recent “America’s Got Talent” sensation to hit the Strip, is booked to play at 8 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday, Feb. 22-May 7.

GAGA FOR VEGAS

During an interview Monday on the Mix 94.1-FM morning show “Mercedes in the Morning” with Mercedes Martinez and JC Fernandez, Lady Gaga all but confirmed plans (generally, anyway) for an extended engagement on the Strip.

“I’m excited someday to do that,” said Gaga, who performed a $1,000-to$1,500-per-ticket show at Encore Theater on Dec. 30 and will headline the halftime show of Super Bowl LI on Sunday. “I love Las Vegas and the people there, and I love show business. I’m a real old-fashioned girl.”

BRAIN ACTIVITY

During a reception before Saturday’s Nevada Ballet Theatre’s Black & White Ball at Aria, Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health Director Dr. Jeffrey Cummings said the clinic is outgrowing its Symphony Park building.

The Center opened in May 2010 with enough space to care for 22,000 patients per year. The facility serves about 25,000 now, and Cummings said officials are beginning to study expansion plans on the Symphony Park parcel or nearby at Charleston Tower business offices.

ROCK SHOES

John Mayer is playing T-Mobile Arena on April 22, with tickets going on sale 10 a.m. Friday.

Mayer’s return reminds me of the first time I saw him perform, in August 2002 at the old Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel. Mayer had not played Vegas before that concert, and (similar to many Vegas newbies) he was impressed by all the gambling action on the casino floor.

“I would gamble if jackpots were something I could use,” he said that night. “Like, if I get three cherries in a row, I should get a new pair of shoes.”

WHO WAS WHERE

Over the weekend: Brad Garrett and Jay Leno on Fremont Street, filming an episode of the CNBC series “Jay Leno’s Garage.” Sunday afternoon: Clark County Commissioner Steve Sisolak and Red Mercury Entertainment co-founder Carlos Reynoso (separately) at Costco on South Pavilion Center Drive in Summerlin.

John Katsilometes’ column runs daily in the A section, and Fridays in Neon. He also hosts “Kats! On The Radio” Wednesdays at 8 p.m. on KUNV 91.5-FM and appears Wednesdays at 11 a.m. with Dayna Roselli on KTNV Channel 13. Contact him at jkatsilometes@reviewjournal.com. Follow @johnnykats on Twitter, @JohnnyKats1 on Instagram.