From the scene: A little Trudeau, Hannity and an early Christmas card from Human Nature
The Kats! Bureau at this writing is the famed FedEx Office across from Marquee Ballroom at MGM Grand. Later this evening I will attend the Washington Post’s Presidential Debate Pregame party, Washington Post Pre-Debate Party, where political reporter Ed O’Keefe will interview “Doonesbury” creator Garry Trudeau.
I am of the age where I remember in the mid-1980s when a few newspapers across the country — including the one I worked for, the Chico Enterprise-Record – balked at printing some of Trudeau’s strips. This editing of “Doonesbury” included a series that invoked Frank Sinatra’s reputed ties to organized crime. I do remember fielding a call one night on our newsroom’s general phone line from a Washington Post reporter seeking comment about the decision to spike “Doonesbury,” and answering sarcastically, “Did we really do that?”
Our managing editor reminded me that this was not the time nor place for an 18-year-old sports writer to start issuing editorial comments.
Anyway, just outside the high-glass doorway leading to Wet Republic pool, Lou Dobbs is setting up at the Fox News debate-coverage headquarters. I will chat him up later and download him on the details of my interview with Cher, a phone chat that will likely interrupt Trudeau’s stage appearance.
What a life, right?
More from the scene:
FORE!
Only during debate week will we have these where-they-were reports: Sean Hannity and Brett Baier of Fox News at Top Golf at the MGM. Baier was there Monday afternoon, Hannity on Monday night. We expect they were … teeing off.
RALENKOTTER’S ORIGINS
What does Rossi Ralenkotter have in common with magicians Mac King and Lance Burton? They are all from Kentucky, Ralenkotter born in the town of Newport, just across the Kentucky-Ohio border from Cincinnati. This is my way of correcting my description of Ralenkotter as a “native” Las Vegan. He moved here when he was 4. He is also a serious, serious Beatles fan who is counting down the days to the Ringo Starr and His All-Starr Band show Nov. 13 at Reynolds Hall at the Smith Center for the Performing Arts.
CLOER FOR TAKEOFF
Former “Jersey Boys” cast member Travis Cloer is accelerating his solo career (having a show close is an effective motivator). He will resume his “With a Twist” show at 9:30 p.m. Saturday at South Point’s Grandview Lounge (tickets are $20; go to the South Point website for info). With “Baz – Star Crossed Love’ music director Chris Lash as music director, Cloer customizes such familiar tunes as “Lovin’, Touchin’, Squeezin’ ” by Journey, the Thompson Twins’ “Hold Me Now,” Amy Winehouse’s “Valerie,” and Sinatra’s “I’ve Got You Under My Skin.” The band burns, and the 300-seat room grooves in an old-Vegas sort of way.
DOWN-UNDER HOLIDAY ACTION
The holidays are upon us, as I noticed while walking through the MGM Grand and being stopped by the Christmas display at the hotel’s Grand & Company store just off the main entrance (if you want to get a rise out of the cashiers, ask how much the giant lion in the middle of the lobby costs).
On that theme, the guys from Human Nature have set the dates for their 14-show holiday production of “Jukebox.” That series begins Nov. 29, and features such holiday classics as “O Holy Night,” “Winter Wonderland,” and “Christmas Baby Please Come Home.” If you’re not yet in the mood for mittens on kittens, you will be by the time these shows arrive.
REVA LAS VEGAS!
Column fave Reva Rice of “Vegas! The Show” is making her Cabaret Jazz debut Saturday with “Song Bird,” a collection of tunes from Broadway and the Great American Songbook. Rice is performing two shows, at 2:30 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Rice has performed numerous Broadway and touring shows and is best-known in Las Vegas for her roll through “Starlight Express” at the Las Vegas Hilton. She has also been featured in “Chicago,” “Fosse,” “Smoky Joe’s Café and “The Color Purple.” Joining her is Brent Barrett, the onetime Phantom in “Phantom – Las Vegas Spectacular” at the Venetian. He’s terrifically convincing, a real Billy Flynn type … which is also a role he has mastered in “Chicago.”
SWANK UPDATE
A haunt I once referred to as, “The swankiest place on the planet,” the Italian American Club of Las Vegas, welcomes Gene Ferrari to the stage at 8 p.m. Saturday. The man with the vehicular moniker is a heck of an impressionist, having opened for Don Rickles, Joan Rivers and David Brenner over the years. “His repertoire goes from Frank Sinatra to Jon Bon Jovi,” trumpets the news release. Ferrari is backed by a live band, and we give that a thumbs-up, sight-unseen. Tickets are $25; call 702-457-3866.
THE (USA) TODAY SHOW
Where mass media meets a chic Vegas bar: USA Today is partying it up at Clique at the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas at 5 p.m. Wednesday for a debate viewing party. The event is free but space is limited (is that not always the case?). Side bets on the outcome, as always, are encouraged.
QUICK LINE
“This debate should be sanctioned by the UFC.” I said that at the Thomas & Mack Center during the tour of the debate stage. At least one noteworthy official busted up.
John Katsilometes’ column runs Saturday, Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday 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.