Note: Due to travel, the May 15 podcast link will be up on the blog on time. It'll appear here by Friday, May 16.

(FIXED) May 8: Bob Gaudio, Erich Bergen
Comment on the show here

Bob Gaudio is the legendary songwriter responsible for such hits as “Sherry,” “What A Night” and “Can’t Take My Eyes Off Of You.” Gaudio’s first hit was “Short Shorts,” a novelty song he wrote when he was 15. More recently, Gaudio he wrote a musical based on the film “Peggy Sue Got Married” and he tells Steve that it may yet come to Broadway sometime soon. Gaudio is joined in this conversation by Erich Bergen, a 22-year-old actor from New York City for whom the Jersey Boys role is his first major part. Bergen is also a former podcaster whose show, Green Room Radio, was a Broadway version of “The Strip” in which he would interview celebrities of the Great White Way.

* * *

SPECIAL VIDEO EDITION: JERSEY BOYS PREMIERE
(See more pix and blogging on the event here)

* * *

May 1: Kerry Simon, Charlie Trotter

Steve Wynn – again! No, sorry. Gotcha! A podcaster cannot dine on Wynn alone. But speaking of dining, how about we serve you up a generous helping of two hot Vegas chefs, Kerry Simon and Charlie Trotter? Both have new restaurants in town, Simon at the Luxor and the Palms and Trotter at Palazzo. So we ask them about the dining scene, about their foie gras aversions and, of course, about what kind of fast food they eat.

Plus, in banter: Perez Hilton sucks, the Donnie and Marie idea sucks, a Hustler hotel-casino would suck and the broken Encore sign sucks.

Links:

Kerry Simon’s website is here
Simon’s Cathouse is here and Simon at Palms Place is here
Charlie Trotter’s Las Vegas site is here
A CBS piece about the Chicago foie gras law is here
Steve’s USA Today piece on the Oprah-Tina-Cher event is here
Kerry Simon’s local favorite place, Go Raw, is here
VegasTripping.Com’s amusing take on Donnie and Marie is here
Steve’s post about the Perez Hilton rip-off is here
Richard Abowitz’s item about the Hustler idea is here
The Las Vegas Sun’s piece on Vegoose’s cancellation is here
Steve’s LVW column on Tamara is here

* * *

April 24: Steve Wynn
4/23 VIDEO SPECIAL: New Vegas Ads

Twice in one month! Wow! Steve Wynn is back to discuss the recession, reveal some intriguing new plans for the future of his golf course and declare Spamalot, closing this summer, a success. Oh, and he explains how it is he did NOT lie to Steve a few weeks ago about those Danny Gans rumors. Sorta.

In Banter: Powerful people are listening, Harrah's IS punishing the R-J, Criss Angel has not repented, the "What Happens in Vegas" trailer is good, Andrew Lloyd Webber is writing a batty "Phantom" sequel and more.

Links:

The Al Phlipp and the Woo Team band that gave us our special music can be found here
"Las Vegas" Executive Producer Matt Pyken's IMDB profile is here
Pyken's new show, "Knight Rider," can be found here
That god-awful third-ever episode of this program, then called Vegas S&M, is here
Steve's Harrah’s ad-halt blog entry is here
The trailer for "What Happens in Vegas" is here
See the tasteless headline for Richard Abowitz' Criss Angel-Norm blog item here
Read the bizarre plans for Phantom II here
The R-J's piece on the Westin giving the money back is here
The R-J's coverage of Las Vegas Sands on trial is here
The site for Town Square is here

* * *

4/21 SPECIAL: Steve on KNPR, re: the R-J v Harrahs issue

* * *

April 17: Terry Lanni

You know a recession is pretty bad when it’s felt even in Las Vegas. Terry Lanni, the CEO of MGM Mirage, spoke to Steve earlier this month about these challenging economic times, about which of the young moguls of Vegas he admires and about the struggle to name the CityCenter Hotel.

In Banter: MGM layoffs, Harrah's dumps the R-J, mobile billboards under the microscope, Steve Scores and the Criss Angel nightmare for Cirque.

Links:

The R-J on the MGM Mirage employment cuts is here
Steve’s NYT piece and blog post on the Harrah’s-RJ issue is here
RateVegas.Com’s challenge to me and Christina Binkley is here
Read about the Las Vegas Monorail’s good news is here
Read about the Harrah’s name change is here
The Sun’s piece on the mobile-billboard issue is here
Steve’s Newsweek piece on salt-water pools is here
See Kool-Aid on Family Guy on YouTube here

* * *

April 10: Raising the Barr

The last time we heard from Roseanne Barr was before she signed to do a run at the New York-New York. That gig came and went and now Barr is playing through May at the Sahara. She spoke to Steve about the differences between working at opposite ends of the Strip, about giving Judd Apatow and Joss Whedon their writing starts on her legendary sitcom and about when she started calling herself the Domestic Goddess.

In Banter: More on the Binkley book, rival podcasters take their shots, strip clubs add fancy food, show ticket prices are rising and the Plaza's on ice again.

Links:

Roseanne Barr's website is here
Get tickets to Roseanne's Sahara show here
The Las Vegas Advisor's show-tix survey is here
Howard Stutz' column about Trump's delays is here
Steve's blog item on the Plaza is here
The Vegas Tourist podcast is here
Norm's item about Amazing Johnathan's hidden-cam claims is here
Read about the Binkley book controversy here
The YouTube clip of Roseanne's first Carson appearance is here
The image of a raunchy Roseanne on the cover of Vanity Fair is here

* * *

April 3: Steve Wynn

Guess who! It's Wynn on the young lions of Vegas, Encore, Christina Binkley's book "Winner Takes All," Eliot Spitzer, public art and Sheldon Adelson's delusions.

In Banter: Chewing on the best part of "Winner Takes All" by Christina Binkley, wondering who would swim in a salt-water pool, laughing about the Westin charging conventioneers, baffling over a McCain remark in Vegas and admitting being punk'd on April Fool's Day.

Links:

Kathleen Hennessey's brilliant piece on the Westin charging conventioneers is here
The gushing press release for what the MGM Grand is calling the first "ultra pool" is here
Planet Hollywood's good news is here
Steve's pictorial on the Forbuss Elementary student project is here
See Steve's USA Today review of Christina Binkley's book "Winner Takes All" is here
Buy a copy of Binkley's book here
Buy a copy of Tom Breitling's book, "Double Or Nothing," here

* * *

March 27: Attack of the Reality TV Champs
...with Terry Fator and Stefanie Schaeffer

Is Terry Fator ("America's Got Talent") worth $100,000 a show at the Hilton? Will Stefanie Schaeffer ("The Apprentice") stick up for Donald Trump and stick around after the opening of the Trump Las Vegas? Find out that and more as these recent reality-show champs talk about their Vegas work and their futures.

In Banter: Our Swiss recap, the Blue (wo)Man Group and the Plaza's on-again, off-again thing. Also, we take apart the Las Vegas Review-Journal's 27th annual Best of Las Vegas poll in the Tourist Tip Section this week.

Links:

Terry Fator's site is here
Get tickets to Terry's Hilton show here
Stefanie Schaeffer's site is here
The site for Trump's Vegas property is here
See all of Steve's blog posts on the Swiss trip here
See the YouTube clip of the weird thing in the Zurich airport tube here
See Terry Fator's winning "America's Got Talent" moment here
See Fator on Oprah here
See Stefanie Schaeffer's "You're Hired" moment on "The Apprentice" here

* * *

SPECIAL: Maria Bartiromo

* * *

March 13: Maya Lin

There are a lot of artists you’d expect to find on the Las Vegas Strip. Performing artists, that is. But it’s a pretty sure bet that you never expected to find an artist like Maya Lin there. Neither did she. And yet the Vietnam Veterans Memorial sculptress is about to become a Vegas headliner, one of the major attractions in an ambitious $40 million public arts collection being assembled by MGM Mirage for its $8 billion CityCenter project. Tonight we’ll hear all about what sort of piece she’s getting $3 million to create for Las Vegas, about her first impressions of our fair town and, for the first time, about how she’s re-envisioning her most famous works.

In Banter: Encore's opening soon, Steve loses 95 cents at Mandalay, Blue Man Group is looking for men and women (?), Bill Maher gets it wrong and Billy Crystal's odd "classics."

* * *

March 6: Emeril Lagasse and Tina Walsh

Bam! Emeril Lagasse, the Food Network’s most famous alum, has opened his third Vegas restaurant, Table 10, at the Palazzo. Steve caught up with the chef a few weeks ago for a chat about the Vegas food scene, his culinary empire and, yes, his fast-food preferences. That’s coming up. Also, Steve chats with Vegas stage veteran Tina Walsh, who has made a tremendous comeback by landing a major role in The Venetian’s “Phantom: The Las Vegas Spectacular.”

In Banter: Bye, Hooters, a NYT writer hates Vegas, andhepatitis and ricin scares.

Links:

Emeril's website is here
Buy the Vegas Phantom tix here
Steve goes after a fellow local journalist here
Steve goes after a fellow NYT writer here
See pieces about the Hep-C and ricin here and here
Norm reports on Paul Stanley's Phantom turn here

* * *
Feb. 28: Alanis Morissette

A decade ago, it was impossible to avoid Alanis Morissette on the radio. Her “Jagged Little Pill” album remains the biggest debut record of all time, selling 30 million copies worldwide and winning her seven Grammys. Yet Morissette has always been a bit of an enigma. On the outside, she seems rather girl-nxt-doorish, but her music and her lifestyle have often reflected someone working through quite a bit of torment. Morissette now believes she’s past a lot of that, telling Steve about her "recovery" and sharing her sympathetic thoughts on the trials and tribulations of Britney Spears other troubled young stars. The Canadian singer is just now returning to the music business after a two-year break during which she broke off an engagement with actor Ryan Reynolds, a topic that she addresses bluntly on her upcoming album, Flavors of Entanglement. She also explains the story behind her video spoof of the Black Eyed Peas’ “My Humps,” which is one of the most watched clips in YouTube history. Morissette is concluding her current tour in Las Vegas on March 18.

In Banter: More Bette Midler updates, is Elton John bored, Pure is raided and more on the coins-in-the-fountain question from MGM Mirage.

Links:

Alanis Morissette's website is here
Get tickets to Alanis' 3/18 Palms show (with Matchbox 20) here
The R-J piece on the Sahara remodel is here
Alanis' YouTube of "My Humps" is here
Richard Abowitz writes about the Pure raid here
Steve's blog post with new MGM response to the fountain coins question is here
Joe Brown's brutal Bette commentary is here

* * *

Feb. 21: Bettemania! With Toni Basil

Bette, Bette, Bette. These days, that’s all you hear about in Vegas entertainment circles. So here’s some more. This week, we bring you Steve’s first-hand preview peek at the show, a review from a loyal listener who also saw it this weekend, a new poll with a Bette-tinged theme and even a related Top Secret Tourist Tip of the Week. Plus, Steve spoke with Toni Basil, Bette’s long-time choreographer and the singer behind that one-hit wonder “Mickey.” Basil explains how she used G.I. Joe figurines to plan the production, what sort of work she does for films like “Charlie Wilson’s War” and why she’s OK with being known as a one-hit wonder.

In Banter: A listener’s review of Bette’s show, new details on CityCenter, a new show for Palazzo, Wayne Brady renewed and a run-in with the Houseseatslv.Com tonidude.

Links:

Toni Basil’s website is here
Get tickets to see Bette at the Colosseum here
The site for HouseseatsLV.com is here
Mike Weatherford’s Cher v Bette column is here

* * *

Feb. 14: Lance Burton

Three weeks ago, when the Monte Carlo erupted in flames, magician Lance Burton was forced to cancel shows for only the second time in his 12-year run there. This Friday, though, it’s back to work for Burton as the beleaguered resort reopens to the public -- along with the best illusionist spectacle in Vegas. Steve spoke to Lance earlier today about the fire, his future and a surprising phone call he got from Roy Horn.

In Banter: Broadway West's death knell, Spamalot changes lyrics, Menopause is tops?!?, Bass Pro Shop is the No. 1 apparel shop?!?, a Robert Earl reconciliation?!? and more.

Links

Tickets to Lance Burton’s show is here
Steve’s current column about Broadway West is here
An AP piece on the changes of the Spamalot lyrics is here
Norm’s coverage of Tina Walsh’s new role at Phantom is here
Steve’s NYT piece quoting a listener about a flight school gone bust is here
The Silverton’s Bass Pro Shop’s website is here
Steve’s appearance on KNPR about Vegas paparazzi can be heard here
The blog post about coins in the Vegas fountains is here
Mike Weatherford’s column about Lance Burton as Monte Carlo’s face is here

* * *

SPECIAL: Steve on KNPR's State of Nevada on 2/11

* * *

Feb. 7: Wolfgang Puck and Frankie Avalon

Before Robuchon, before Palmer, before Lagasse and before Flay, there was Puck. Wolfgang Puck, of course. His Spago back in the early 1990s set off the star-chef boom here, and this month the most prolific restaurateur in Las Vegas is about to opens his sixth Strip restaurant, Cut, at the Palazzo. So Steve asked him about his proliferation and gets him to name his favorite fast food joint. Also, sticking with the theme of originals, Steve chats with Frankie Avalon, one of the original American teen heartthrob and a Vegas veteran.

Links

Wolfgang Puck's site is here
Frankie Avalon's Wikipedia site is here
Jeff Simpson's columns regarding the Trop are here and here
Steve's piece on the Monte Carlo fire from New York is here
Robin Leach's coverage of the Cher announcement is here
Steve's blog post about the Sahara's upscale rooms is here

* * *

Jan. 24: Mr. Sands Man

The first new Las Vegas Strip resort in nearly three years held its grand opening in grand style last weekend. The Palazzo is the taller, blonder, slightly more elegant 3,000-room addition to its sister property, the Venetian, and it served as an excellent time to sit down for an interview with Las Vegas Sands C.E.O. Sheldon Adelson. Sit back, relax, and get ready to hear some provocative comments from the Anti-Wynn.

In Banter: An incompetent Cathouse barrista, Menopause hits 1,000, Elaine Wynn at the casino caucus, and Oscar Goodman's queer query.

Links:

The Palazzo's website is here
Steve's USA Today Money-section cover story on Sheldon Adelson is here
Steve's AFP piece on the election, including Elaine Wynn's comments, is here
The Las Vegas Sun's brilliant new site is here
Norm's piece on Diana Ross' possible lip-synching is here

* * *

Jan. 17: Mayor Oscar Goodman

It’s been eventful nine years since the ultimate non-politician, a mob lawyer, became mayor of Las Vegas. Since then, Oscar Goodman has stirred up plenty of controversy, but he’s also proven to be a tireless promoter and defender of the city and a creative thinker when it comes to how to reverse the sagging fortunes of the beloved but blighted downtown area. All that work is starting to show some results, with downtown casino owners investing large sums to fix up their places and the city overseeing the development of land just to the east that will create a whole new downtown complete with a medical facility and a $150 million performing arts center. He even offers his prediction for the fate of the crappy part of town where we record this program.

* * *

Jan. 10: Bette Midler, Part II

Two weeks ago, Bette Midler talked about her new show, her movies and her music. So what’s left? Stick around and hear all about her early days playing in gay bathhouses and much more. Plus, an eight-hour casino, the life of the Vegas paparazzo and the astonishing Trippies results.

Links:

The 2007 Trippies results are here
Bette Midler's website is here
Get tix for Bette's Vegas show here
Steve's piece on Trailer Station from the New York Times is here and blog post/pix is here
The link to the Z100 phone tap regarding Vegas is here
The link to the Grits to Glitz episode discussing the Puck restaurant is here

* * *

Jan. 3: Our Top Moments of 2007

Another crazy year in Las Vegas has come and gone, and nowhere was it crazier than right here on this podcast. Fourteen times in the past 12 months, scoops you heard here first made it into Norm Clarke’s Review-Journal gossip column, but on this year-in-review roundup, we’re only revisiting the best moments -- as voted upon by YOU. So sit back, relax and enjoy the countdown. And, if you missed some of these shows, here’s your chance to hear them without having to wade through all those hours.

* * *

Dec. 27: Bette Midler, Part I

Bette Midler has been entertaining America and the world in her unique, varied way for more than 30 years. She’s won four Grammys, an Emmy and a Tony and was nominated for Oscars for her roles in “The Rose” and “For The Boys.” Now she’s following in the footsteps of Celine Dion and Bette’s one-time pianist, Barry Manilow, by settling down for 100 shows a year for three years at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace. Steve spoke to Bette for a Vegas Magazine profile back in November as rehearsals for “The Showgirl Must Go On” were just starting and the show, at the time, had no title or director. In part one of the interview, Bette discusses her environmentalism, her film career and her new show.

In Banter: CityCenter's almost-name, McCarran changes, Palazzo's delay and a special visit from a couple from Florida who review their experiences this week at the Bellagio, Wynn and the Signature at MGM Grand.

Links:

Bette Midler tickets can be picked up here
Steve's blog entry about the fancy hospital in New York is here
Read more about the McCarran changes and the MIX ad here
CityCenter is Aria? Read about that here
The Palazzo's new delay is written about here
The New York Times report on Nevada's growth rate is here
Steve's piece from last year on the New Year's Eve Jesus freak is here
Newsweek on the new War & Peace here
Steve's explanation of what a Jewish atheist is can be found here
Dave Lifton's website and podcast "Wings to Wheels" is here
The site for the Signature at MGM Grand is here
The R-J's coverage of Vegas being considered the most expensive dining city is here

* * *
PRE-XMAS OFF-WEEK SPECIALS

SPECIAL #1: Debby Boone

SPECIAL #2: Vegas uberbuilder Tony Marnell Jr.

SPECIAL #3: CNN Anchor Wolf Blitzer

SPECIAL #4: "Sex & The City" actor Ron Livingston

* * *

Dec. 13: Celine's Director Tells Some!
SPECIAL: Dancer Naomi Stikeman, original "A New Day" performer

The queen of Las Vegas is abdicating. After nearly five groundbreaking – and highly profitable – years, Celine Dion is voluntarily flinging herself off her Colosseum throne and heading back out into the world of international touring, new albums and possible additional parenthood. So what has her reign meant for Las Vegas? Miles and guest-host Amy Turner of GritstoGlitz.Com talk live in the studio to Brian Burke, the artistic director of Celine’s A New Day as well as the Wynn production, Le Reve. Burke has also worked as a director or choreographer for Bette Midler, Gloria Estefan, Ricky Martin and Harry Connick Jr., and has been involved with such Broadway shows as Aida and Victor/Victoria as well as a performance at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City.

Plus: Donnie and Marie at the Flamingo, Caesars alters its betting maximums and Bette names her show. Also, where's Steve?

* * *

Dec. 6: Steve Wynn, Part II

Last week he talked mostly about business. This week, Steve Wynn talks about entertainment, revealing the details of his aborted deal with Bette Midler and disclosing just what he and Andrew Lloyd Webber have been doing together in recent months. In Banter: MEGACENTER, the Palazzo delay, more silliness from the free-ticket services, the Plaza v. Plaza scrum and Sig&Roy's possible return.

Links:

Steve's piece on the Plaza battle from the New York Times is here
The Wall Street Journal piece on MEGACENTER is here
The R-J's follow-up on the Palazzo delay is here
Information about the holiday lights at Sunset Park is here
The hullabaloo surrounding ShowTickets4Locals.Com is here
Norm's item on Sig&Roy's possible return is here

* * *

Nov. 29: Steve Wynn, Part I

Here we go – again. Steve Wynn returns to this program this week and next for an exclusive two-parter following his triumphant showing in the inaugural Las Vegas edition of the Michelin Guide. In this week’s portion, Wynn traces the rise of fine dining in Vegas, explains the Venetian’s failure to earn any stars from Michelin and reveals some shocking sales statistics for shops at Wynn Macau. In banter: Holiday decor, a new spur for the Strip, new tech at MGM Skylofts, cool new Mandalay Bay lounge EyeCandy, Jeff Beacher strikes back against a critic and bring your dogs to Mandalay Place.

Links:

The Skylofts at MGM Grand are here
EyeCandy Lounge's site is here
Jeff Beacher's website is here
The Lush Puppy shop's website is here
"Christmas In Las Vegas" songwriter Richard Cheese's site is here

* * *

Nov. 22: Ellen DeGeneres and Patti LuPone

It’s a Duo of Divas, Part Deux. First, Tony winner Patti LuPone talks about her long Broadway career, why she hated playing her signature role, Evita, and what she thinks (it's not good) of the stunt-casting trend on Broadway. Then, Ellen DeGeneres discusses the writer’s strike, her dog controversy and the TBS variety show she filmed in Vegas last week.

In Banter: Planet Hollywood opens, Robert Earl hates us, The Plaza may need a new name, Wynn's cheap on the drinks and the Crown keeps shrinking.

Links:

Ellen DeGeneres' website is here
Patti LuPone's website is here
Steve's piece in the Telegraph about Robert Earl is here
Steve's account of the P-Ho opening is here
The Grits to Glitz account of the P-Ho opening is here
The breaking news on Zumanity's Joey Arias is here
An R-J piece on the shrinking Crown Tower is here

* * *

Nov. 15: Joy Behar, Michelin Guide Director
BONUS!: FRONTIER IMPLODER SPEAKS!

If there was still a need to convince anyone that Las Vegas is now a major-league fine dining destination, the Michelin Guide put that to rest this week. Sixteen of the 127 restaurants included in the first Las Vegas edition from the world’s most respected food guide received stars, a higher percentage than San Francisco or Los Angeles. We speak this hour to the guide’s director, Jean-Luc Naret about the results. Plus, a somewhat crabby “The View” host Joy Behar banters with Steve ahead of her appearance at The Comedy Festival at Caesars Palace.

Links:

The Michelin Guides site is here
Our Frontier implosion video on YouTube is here
David Copperfield's Gaming Hall of Fame site is here
Steve's Las Vegas Weekly column on the Michelin stars is here

* * *

Nov. 8: Bob Eubanks, Chuck Woolery


On the TV, game show hosts are notoriously perky and pleasant, but, of course, that’s show business. Backstage, it’s more complicated. Just as with any other area of celebrity, there are feuds, disputes of money, petty jealousies and mood swings. Now that two of the legends, Bob Eubanks and Chuck Woolery, have landed in Vegas for the live game show at the Hilton, they both reveal to Steve this hour their never-before-discussed disputes with the recently departed Merv Griffin and much more.

In Banter: The WSJ boosts Steve's book, OJ Mania returns, Terry Fator is a $100K Man, Sexxpresso opens, Dolphin Habitat closes.

Links:

Get tickets to the $250,000 Game Show Spectacular here
Bob Eubanks' website is here
Chuck Woolery's website is here
Read the WSJ piece on gay Las Vegas and Steve's book here
Read about Terry Fator, Vegas' new $100K man, here
Steve's Newsweek piece on OJ's hotel woes is here
See more about the Sexxpresso coffee drive-thru here
Read more about the loss of the Tiger Habitat at the Mirage here

* * *

Nov. 1: Bonnie Tyler

Her voice isn't beautiful in a conventional way, but Bonnie Tyler’s scratchy rasp is full of a desperation and angst that has turned her into an icon and her biggest hits into anthems that never go out of style. Tyler, who this month does her first performance in Las Vegas since she sang "Holding Out For A Hero" for a David Copperfield special in the early 1980s, chats with Steve this hour about those kooks who lip-synch to "Total Eclipse of the Heart" on YouTube, running into Bruce Willis after he discussed her songs in the film "Bandits" and how her unusual voice got to be the way it is. Here’s a hint: It wasn’t whiskey and cigarettes after all.

In Banter: More on the MGM Mirage mess, fancy/slutty uniforms at some PHo restaurant, Robert Goulet's death, David Copperfield's voice mail and more.

Links:

Bonnie Tyler's website is here
Buy tix for Tyler's Nov. 3 show at the Santa Fe here
Two particularly silly YouTube versions of Tyler songs are here and here
A solid obit on Robert Goulet by Mike Weatherford is here
TMZ.Com on David Copperfield's voice mail is here

* * *

Oct. 25: Miley Cyrus' Pa

Call it the revenge of the one-hit wonder. Most of us thought we’d heard the last of Billy Ray Cyrus when he faded from the height of the pop culture scene in the early 1990s following his ubiquitous novelty hit, “Achy Breaky Heart.” But Cyrus continued to make music and even starred in a TV show of his own for the past decade. And now he’s back thanks to the huge success of his actress-singer daughter Miley, known to tweens the world ‘round as Hannah Montana on the Disney Channel TV show. The elder Cyrus, who plays Miley’s TV dad, chats this hour about working together, about his new album and about why Disney’s own bio of him is wrong.

In Banter: More on David Copperfield, Miles' exercise thing, the Ladies' Night complaint and the MGM Mirage Reservations Mess.

Links:
Billy Ray Cyrus' website is here
Buy tix for Cyrus' Oct. 27 show in Primm here
Miles' new workout thing is here
Steve's coverage of the MGM Mirage reservations mess is here
The latest on David Copperfield is here
The Las Vegas Weekly's piece on the Ladies' Night challenge is here

* * *

Oct. 18: A Very Cirque-ish Friessmas
BONUS: A Chat With An Original Mystere Performer

Steve wasn’t the only one celebrating a birthday this week. Tuesday was the ninth anniversary of the debut of perhaps the most successful show in Las Vegas history, the Cirque du Soleil production “O.” In honor of that, we chat with an original performer of the aquatic spectacle at the Bellagio, Russian diver Anastassia Dobrynina.

In Banter: American Idol and Cirque-Bono may be coming, the Scintas sucks, the weight-your-wife Vegas game and much more.

Links:

Buy tickets to any Cirque show here
An explanation of "Friessmas" is here
The NPR show "Wait Wait Don't Tell Me" can be found here
Steve's report on Hans Klok's demise is here
All about Sheldon Adelson's lawsuit against John L. Smith is here
The Myspace page that Troy made for Miles is here
Get tickets to the Hilton's live $250,000 Game Show Spectacular here
Kayak.Com is here

* * *

Oct. 11: Pete Rose

From doping to dogfighting, illicit gambling to alleged armed robbery, this has been a year of sports scandal in America. And yet a recent ESPN poll found that the public still views the uproar that led to the banishment of Pete Rose from Major League Baseball as one of the five worst ever. Rose, probably the best player of his generation, now spends 15 days a month signing autographs at the Forum Shops at Caesars Palace, where he took a break to chat with Steve about everything from his gambling habit – or lack thereof – to his empathy for Paris Hilton.

In Banter: Harrah's hotel-room problem, Steve's gambling bender and more.

Links:

Pete Rose's website is here
Field of Dreams website is here
The ESPN poll on sports scandals, ranking Rose's #5, is here
Buy Pete Rose's book here
Nominate The Strip Podcast and The Strip Podcast Blog for a Trippie here
One of the R-J's pieces on the Rio remodel mess is here
Steve's blog post about the Larry Craig bathroom is here
Steve's blog post about the Golden Nugget's O.J. rate is here

* * *

Oct. 4: The Daily Shows
...with Ronn Lucas and Mac King

The nightclub scene may be giving Vegas shows a run for their money, but daytime entertainment is thriving like never before. Tourists flock to them to get out of the heat, to avoid those wretched Hoover Dam tours or maybe to take advantage of a great deal, but once they’re seated they more often than not feel they’re having a much better time than they might’ve expected. Two veterans of Vegas daytime, Ronn Lucas and Mac King, join us this hour to talk about their shows and their impressive careers.

In Banter: A Palms-based reality show, why Vegas paparazzi are tame, the Scintas make a move and Barry Manilow's View kerfluffle.

Links:

Ronn Lucas' website is here
Mac