Sex star may give burlesque a try

The new marquee stars of 2009? Rest assured that in an austere season, we're not talking about the likes of Bette Midler and Cher anymore.

Tera Patrick? That's more like it. Holly Madison? Less likely, but at least you're on the right track now.

Patrick is the hard-core sex star with the most mainstream name recognition since Jenna Jameson. And she has entrepreneurial skills, building her Teravision production company into big business. Now, Adam Steck, producer of "Thunder from Down Under" and "American Storm," confirms a deal with Patrick to develop a burlesque show and try to place it on the Strip.

"It would take her out of the porn world and into the burlesque world and make her more mainstream, which is a desire she has," Steck says. But he stresses that it's too early in the process to talk about a specific showroom or target launch date.

The minute Madison flew Hugh Hefner's nest and "The Girls Next Door" to take up with Criss Angel, talk began that she, too, would headline a Las Vegas burlesque revue. The rumor has logic -- after all, how many times can she watch "Believe"? -- and it would be particularly convenient if Madison decided to join "Fantasy," which would keep her under the same Luxor pyramid as her boyfriend.

"She would be great in the show. I would love it," agrees "Fantasy" producer Anita Mann. The only problem is, "I never met her." That, and the fact that Mann has been told, "She's not going to do a (live) show right now. I'm told she's making some other career decisions."

Steve Flynn, the publicist for Angel and now Madison, agrees the starlet is in "a unique place right now" in terms of her career options. But he says a live Las Vegas show hasn't gone beyond brief talks initiated by a show producer, not Madison.

While Mann says, "Of course I would want her before any other hotel could get her," the producer is instead rehearsing new numbers for the current, less-famous cast. The new edition of "Fantasy" will be even more dance intensive, in keeping with the current TV vogue, and two more dancers will be piping in with live vocals alongside singing host Stephanie Sanchez. ...

It's not as though "Defending the Caveman" had a lot of choice about moving to (mostly) afternoons if it wanted to stay at the Excalibur after a trial run. When comedian Louie Anderson returned from a break this week, "Caveman" bumped to 3 p.m. for most of its eight weekly shows; it moves to 7 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays when Anderson does his out-of-town dates.

But at some point in the past year, afternoons became more of an open field. Yes, there are still eight choices beyond the one-man comic play performed by Kevin Burke, according to a recent tally of the Neon Showguide. But four of them are magic shows, which some people just don't care about.

Just as significant are what departed in 2008: "Viva Las Vegas" had the most afternoon longevity, while ventriloquist Ronn Lucas had been a daytime fixture since 2001. And the Society of Seven was a Hawaiian variety act that drew both islanders and fans of old-school Vegas.

If you look at what's left, "The Price Is Right" is a category unto itself. That leaves impressionist Tom Stevens, Gregory Popovich's pet tricks and the variety revue "Find Your (Inner) Sexy." "Caveman" is the only title south of the Tropicana intersection, and the only one (other than Mac King) that appeals to those looking for a brighter, more theatrical choice.

"It's an opportunity to test the market and see what people really want to see in the afternoon," says producer John Bentham. "If they want to see a smart show as a break from their other activities, we're there for them." ...

Briefly updating a couple of other shows in transit: "Legends in Concert" has delayed its move from the Imperial Palace a few weeks. It now plans to say goodbye to the Palace on Feb. 21, and reopen at Harrah's on Feb. 23.

And the interactive comic mystery "Shear Madness" has again delayed beyond its most recent target start of Jan. 23. The free-standing venue in Town Square shopping center is still not ready, says executive producer Terrence Williams.

Contact reporter Mike Weatherford at mweatherford@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0288.