Sunday, April 06, 2003
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

COLUMN: Norm!

New FX series, NBC pilot call Vegas home

Kid Rock talks with fans Friday during the NHRA SummitRacing.com Nationals at Las Vegas Motor Speedway's dragstrip. Photo by K.M. Cannon.

Tales of two cities ...

There's "Lucky," starring white-hot John Corbett ("Sex and the City" and "My Big Fat Greek Wedding") in a 13-episode comedy-drama series that debuts Tuesday on FX.

"Las Vegas," an NBC pilot starring James Caan as the head of a security surveillance team at a Las Vegas casino, wrapped Saturday here and goes to NBC's hierarchy in three weeks for a yea or nay.

Las Vegans got their first look at "Lucky" during a local premiere Friday at the Palms' Brendan Theatres.

The verdict: It's funny, edgy and won't please everyone with its darker image of Las Vegas, but it works, mainly because of solid writing and sidekick chemistry between Corbett and Billy Gardell and Craig Robinson.

But for "Lucky" to hit it big, female viewers are going to have to buy into Corbett's character, a gambling addict trying to rebuild his life. "That's asking a lot," said a well-known local lady, who wants to see more before she decides to stick with it. "They're asking me to love a loser."

Scott Steindorff, co-producer of "Las Vegas," has a good vibe about the potential series.

"It's the most expensive pilot in NBC history. We really develop the characters' lives away from the Strip."

Kid Rocks and reels

Kid Rock could not have been more emphatic: "I am not getting married in Las Vegas."

No date is set, the rock star said Saturday. But he made it clear that when he and fiancee Pamela Anderson tie the knot, the event will be "out in the country somewhere, in a nice church. Do something traditional, have a big-ass party."

"Everyone keeps asking me, `When are you getting married,' and I keep telling them, `Why do you want to know; you're not invited.' "

Looking green around the gills after painting the town red at Tabu (MGM Grand), Kid Rock learned a hard lesson Saturday: Nitromethane and a hangover don't mix.

The plan was to have the rock star meet the media at the NHRA SummitRacing.com Nationals at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. In town to help promote the race, his face has been painted on the side of Doug Kalitta's dragster.

First, Kid Rock arrived 45 minutes late. Then, during the photo opportunity, the rocker was immediately overcome by fumes when Kalitta's dragster was cranked up. Coughing and rubbing his burning eyes, he dashed back into the motor home and needed another hour before he recovered enough to face a camera crew and a newspaper guy.

The Scene and Heard

There's buzz on the Strip that Steve Wynn has set March 29, 2005, as the opening date of Le Reve. ...

The London papers are all atwitter, calling every local journalist they can reach at all hours, over Britney Spears' night on the town last week with George and Phil Maloof, co-owners of the Palms and the NBA's Sacramento Kings. ...

Nine-time Tony Award winner Tommy Tune, who headlined in "EFX" at the MGM Grand for several years, is talking with The Venetian about a deal, I'm told.

Sightings

Michael Keaton, taking in the Las Vegas premiere of "Lucky" on Friday and hanging out at the after-party at Little Buddha and later at ghostbar. Word is he's working on a film with the writers of "Lucky."... Leonardo DiCaprio and Tobey Maguire, with pals, at ghostbar on Friday night. They were staying in the "Real World" suites. ... Corbett and cast members of "Lucky" at Rain (Palms). Also at Rain: Former New Kids on the Block heartthrob Joey McIntyre at ghostbar on Friday. ... At Rain on Thursday: Stephen Baldwin and "South Park" creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone. ... Enrique Iglesias, Tara Reid and boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. at Bellagio's Light and Caramel on Thursday.

The Punch Line

"They lived in a typical suburban neighborhood with picket fences that resembled Nancy Kerrigan's teeth." -- From a Syracuse, N.Y., high school essay, featuring the use of analogies and metaphors.

Reach Norm Clarke at 383-0244 or norm@reviewjournal.com.