TV time pays off for Flamingo magician

Wait a minute ... was that ... Nathan Burton? On "America's Got Talent"? Again?

Why, yes it was. The Flamingo Las Vegas magician owes his afternoon berth mostly to the NBC talent show's first season. "Nothing comes close to it," Burton says of the series that came in second to baseball's All-Star Game in last week's ratings.

That's why he's back as a contestant. He might not win this time either, but Burton figures his 31 seconds on the show last week -- yes, he counted -- cost much less than a commercial on prime-time TV.

It's a poorly kept secret that many contestants, including season two winner Terry Fator, already are working pros. "But I'm one of the few people that can benefit from it instantly," says Burton, who recently signed a three-year extension at the Flamingo.

Last weekend saw a bump in ticket sales, and a lot of people he greeted after the show said they watched. Many wanted to know why the judges didn't recognize him. Good question!

Turns out David Hasselhoff and Piers Morgan did, but their chat was cut to pack more into the hour. Burton also explains how he ended up back on a talent show that seems to make up its rules as it goes. The logic went something like this:

Burton has stayed in good graces with the producer, FremantleMedia, and continued to discuss being a guest performer or talent coach. But in the fourth season, they feared no one would remember him.

Well, if that's the case, why not just compete again?

Well, why not? As long as he auditioned, like everyone else.

So Burton went to Los Angeles, auditioned fair and square, and now it's 2006 all over again. ...

As mentioned last month, the Tropicana is filling up with more shows, even as a face-lift takes many rooms offline for remodeling.

The former Comedy Stop, now anchored by comedian Bobby Slayton, eventually will host four more titles, says Anthony Cools, who is overseeing the room. He's ready to talk about two:

Impressionist Rich Natole will move from the Harmon Theatre to anchor the 2 p.m. slot starting Aug. 1. Penny Lane, a Beatles tribute focusing more on the group's early rock years, will follow at 4 p.m. starting Aug. 3. Penny Lane is produced by hypnotist Cools, but Natole will lease his space.

Cools says he won't depend on Tropicana room guests, but will draw from outside. He doesn't think the diverse lineup will step on each other's toes. "They're such different draws." ...

On the Cools-related front, comedian/magician Bruce Block says he left "Freaks," the Cools-produced O'Shea's revue Block co-wrote. I reviewed the show in April, and don't know when I'll make it back. It might be worse or it might be better, but it will certainly be different without him. ...

If a producer tells you he needs a bigger venue because he isn't selling enough tickets, you might be tempted to answer, "Good luck with that."

But the odd logic made sense with "Country Superstars Tribute," which closed in Fitzgeralds' tiny downtown cabaret at the end of June. It ran for nearly 600 performances, but the large cast and live band was out of proportion to the lounge-size venue.

The costumed impersonators reopen July 30 in the 700-seat showroom in Whiskey Pete's at Primm.

"It looks like the showroom is built for our show," producer Leonard Quenneville says of the existing Western-themed decor. He hopes a country show will appeal more to the feeder markets of Barstow and Victorville, Calif., than the previous occupant, the topless "Sin City Kitties."

Ron Keel will continue to lead his strange double life, anchoring the Thursday through Saturday effort as Ronnie Dunn when he's not trying to relaunch his rock band Keel. ...

When times get tough, the walls come down. The House of Blues Foundation Room has become a bit less exclusive, letting in the general public for a $20 cover charge after 11 p.m. most nights.

And starting Sunday, the same cover charge buys "Maison de Burlesque," with four dancers and a three-piece jazz band at 11 p.m. ...

Blame Obama? Or thank him? "MGM Grand's Crazy Horse Paris" is the latest to offer 2-for-1 tickets for Nevada residents, Aug. 1 through Sept. 7.

I always figured the pricey topless cabaret depended on the kindness of expense accounts from MGM conventioneers. With so many corporate meetings canceled -- and the president drawn into the blame game for that downturn -- the Crazy Horse is casting its net closer to home.

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