Comic Louie Anderson is just looking for a little room
It’s already a long week at the Kats! Bureau, and it’s still early in the week. Some blasts from the scene:
LOUIE GETS BACK
Saying, “I really love a small room, like a 100-seat room, for comedy,” Louie Anderson is hitting Rocks Lounge at Red Rock Resort on Friday and Saturday nights. Comedy is becoming a thing at Red Rock. One reason, maybe the chief reason, hotel officials built a glass wall separating the club from the casino two years ago was to shut off outside noise for comedy shows.
Anderson is parlaying his Emmy award win for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy for his portrayal of Christine Baskets on the FX sitcom “Baskets” last September. He would love a regular place to perform, and there has been strong indication he’ll find a home — a cozy place to be announced — after he plays Red Rock.
Anderson’s career in Las Vegas dates to his debut at the Comedy Store at the Dunes in November 1984.
“I’ve been working in Vegas, more or less, steadily ever since,” Anderson says. Of his Emmy victory, he says, “I think people saw me as a good stand-up comic, but were taken by surprise that I could perform this type of a role. I’ve created something with Christine.” Anderson is rejuvenated, and there are some room operators — one in particular — who would love to partner with him this spring.
DUELING KEYS
Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman and Clark County Commissioner Steve Sisolak both presented commemorative keys to Freddie Glusman on Saturday night during Glusman’s 80th birthday party at Piero’s Italian Cuisine. Sisolak brought a Key to the Las Vegas Strip. Goodman presented a Key to the City.
The unusual convergence of public servants led to some chippy comments from Mayor Goodman. The issue of who should give an official “key” famously surfaced a couple of years ago during “Britney Spears Day” at the Linq promenade on the Strip. Goodman was originally invited to present the key, but was quickly informed that Sisolak would present a key on behalf of the county commission because the Strip sits in unincorporated Clark County (in the end, no key was presented).
This dispute spilled over to Saturday’s party as the night’s emcee, prominent Las Vegas real-estate developer Mark Fine, reminded the crowd, Piero’s happens to be in Clark County.
Goodman dismissed that message, playfully yanking the mic from Fine to call out Sisolak.
“Steve Sisolak, I love him, but this is Las Vegas, the name belongs to everyone!” she said as a few well-wishers went, “Whooooah.” She continued, “It’s the Las Vegas Visitors and Convention Authority, and the University of Nevada Las Vegas! It’s not the University of Clark County!” Earlier, in his presentation, Sisolak diplomatically said, “If Carolyn Goodman is here, we can do this together.”
For what it’s worth, the Clark County key is far larger than the 2.5-inch-long key Goodman presented, which Glusman later gave to Pia Zadora.
JAZZ AND JARREAU
Clint Holmes had eagerly anticipated performing on the same bill with one of his idols, Al Jarreau, during “The Jazz Cruise” of the Caribbean from Jan. 28-Feb. 4. But as he arrived on the Entertainment Cruise Productions liner, he was told Jarreau — the headliner of that voyage — was ill and would not attend. Jarreau died Sunday at age 76.
Holmes hoped to join Jarreau onstage during a performance. It would not have been the first time. About 15 years ago, when he headlined at Harrah’s, Holmes took in a Jarreau performance at the old Blue Note Las Vegas jazz club (located on the south side of Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood).
Jarreau called Holmes to the stage, and the two performed an extended scat section.
“As far as my jazz influences, Al was probably the greatest, in terms of the style of singing,” Holmes says. He also remembers the way Jarreau announced his name that night: “It was, ‘Clin-TONE Holmes!’ ” Holmes says, laughing. “Clin-TONE, right? Nobody says it that way, but Al Jarreau did.”
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.