Strip Scribbles: Registration for World Food Championships begins

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Posted Apr 15, 2013

Monday, April 15, 2013 | 5:39 p.m.

Cirque du Soleil founder Guy Laliberte was in Las Vegas over the weekend and learned that his “One Night for One Drop” spectacular at Bellagio last month and its weeklong Internet broadcast raised $5.3 million for the charity One Drop.

He’s already given the go-ahead for a second annual production, which will be at Mandalay Bay next April, and The Tenors (formerly The Canadian Tenors), who performed at the after-party this year, will be in the main show next year. The boys are becoming Las Vegas regulars and will appear at The Smith Center for the Performing Arts in a June 2 concert.

On Sunday, Guy also got to see the first run-through of the new “Michael Jackson One,” which premieres this summer at the former Lion King theater in Mandalay Bay. Guy’s reactions and notes from watching the full-length Jamie King production are unknown, but executives beforehand were confident that he’d be thrilled with it.

We get a preview of four of the acts and an interview with Jamie on May 7. The opening-night preview is May 23, and the official premiere is June 29.

FOOD POISONING: It wasn’t the best weekend for comedian Don Rickles. “Mr. Warmth” was felled by food poisoning as he landed here for two nights of shows at The Orleans with my pal Robert Davi. Doctors had to treat Don for serious dehydration and after canceling his first show, they’d all hoped that he’d be able to do Sunday night’s show. But doctors nixed those plans, too, for the 87-year-old comic, and the trip was rescheduled for September.

It is Don’s 54th year in Las Vegas showbiz, and this was to be the first time that Robert had performed his song and musical salute to Frank Sinatra, who knew both men. Robert told me over dinner at Heraea in the Palms on Sunday night that he offered to perform his full-length show rather than just the opening act, but legal and insurance complications prevented that.

BARE CHESTED: TV heartthrob Ian Ziering of “Beverly Hills 90210” has signed on to 89103 for a June 6-30 run of guest-star appearances with Chippendales at The Rio, and we have TMZ to thank for his decision to bare chest -- and his wifeErin for giving it her blessing. My pal Ian told me their second daughter may be born as early as the end of this month, and both are hoping to be here for his run.

He says that TMZ called him fat after showing a photo of him with friend Jason Priestly leaving a restaurant. “I might be hunky, but I’m not chunky,” he laughed. “I am passionate about health and fitness, so I’ve kept in shape. The call from Chippendales came on the heels of that, and my jaw dropped. Dancing is something I’ve always enjoyed, so I figured why not?! Plus, I’ve got two front-row seats for TMZ to prove just how wrong they were. I am so excited to be a part of Chippendales, an iconic worldwide organization.”

Ian follows in the dancing footsteps of Joey Lawrence, Jeff Timmons, Jake Pavelka and Ronnie Ortiz-Magro. Ian added: “I’m going bare chested. I had no problem posing for photos today with my bow tie. You’ve seen me almost shirtless on ‘Dancing With the Stars,’ so even at 49, I can hold my own. … This is going to be a ton of fun because I’m the host of the wildest party.”

TV AUDITIONS: The “Wheel of Fortune” folks will tape six weeks of shows this July and August with Pat Sajak and Vanna White, so The Wheelmobile will pull onto the Strip this weekend for auditions for the summer tapings.

If you are an unknown contortionist or comedian, a singer, juggler, magician or ventriloquist, you have until Thursday to submit an audition video for the April 20 Las Vegas showcase of “America’s Got Talent.” Go to AGTAuditions.com for rules and information. The live episodes this summer take place at New York’s Radio City Music Hall staring July 23, although the series premieres June 4.

BACK TO THE ’80s: The National Geographic Channel kicked off its new three-day, six-hour series “The ’80s” on Sunday night, and I was a part of it. Thirty of us with distinct memories of The Decade That Made Us including Jane Fonda, Larry Hagman, Calvin Klein, Joan Collins, Linda Evans and yours truly took part in the ambitious production. The remaining four hours air in 2-hour blocks tonight and Tuesday.

We filmed the interviews in New York late last year. Hard to believe, but back in the 1980s, portable phones were the size of a shoebox; the Rubik’s Cube was solved by a teenager; Steve Jobs was just launching his first computers; and CNN, where I started my TV career, began. Naturally, when “Wall Street’s” Gordon Gekko said, “Greed is good,” the mini-series took a look at my old “Lifestyles of the Rich & Famous” shows. Rob Lowe narrates the series; it’s must-see TV -- fascinating stuff!

OFFICIAL RECORD: The Guinness Book of World Records has made it official and presented actor Kevin Burke with a certificate for completing the most shows in 50 days. Kevin’s solo run in “Defending the Caveman” at Harrah’s went uninterrupted with 60 performances.

JONAS BROTHERS: In advance of their Aug. 10 tour stop at Mandalay Bay, the Jonas Brothers talked about their upcoming album and summer travels.

DEF LEPPARD FAREWELL: Hard Rock Hotel entertainment executives marked the end of the successful Joint residency of Def Leppard’s “Viva Hysteria.” Band members were presented with a custom-wrapped mini Trans Am. Before heading home, guitarist Rick Savage stopped at Ri Ra Irish Pub at Mandalay Bay to listen to authentic Irish tunes from Hot Cockalorum. A fiddler friend of Rick’s joined Hot Cockalorum onstage.

TONIGHT’S TIPS

Paramount Pictures showcases its upcoming movies, with stars Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto and Alice Eve walking the red carpet at The Colosseum in Caesars Palace with “Star Trek: Into Darkness” producer Bryan Burk and “Pain & Gain” director Michael Bay on the opening night of 2013 CinemaCon.

Coachella headliners Beach House play House of Blues at Mandalay Bay.

It’s the Rocket Summer with Classic Crime, Joe Brooks, Almost Normal and No Fear in Love at Hard Rock Cafe on the Strip.

The EC Twins are Marquee in The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas.

The seventh-annual Summer’s Back party celebrates the season opening Bare Pool Lounge at The Mirage.

Online registration begins for the World Food Championships here from a second time from Oct. 31-Nov. 3.

TOMORROW’S TEASE

Exclusive interviews with “Splash,” Sports Illustrated and 2012 Miss Alabama USA beauty Katherine Webb, plus, NFL legend Terry Bradshaw on his new Mirage show.

Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.

Follow Robin Leach on Twitter at Twitter.com/Robin_Leach.

Follow Vegas DeLuxe on Twitter at Twitter.com/vegasdeluxe.

Follow VDLX Editor Don Chareunsy on Twitter at Twitter.com/VDLXEditorDon.

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Strip Scribbles: Registration for World Food Championships begins

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