Frank Marino, the campy host of "An Evening at La Cage," hasn't always said nice things about the show's producer, Norbert Aleman, who is no wilting flower himself.

But they have buried their differences for the common cause of defending their show against recent comments made by Riviera President Bob Vannucci.

Vannucci cited the hotel's "dated" shows and a collective drop of 71,000 tickets last year as part of the reason for a near $3.9 million quarterly loss. Marino thinks it should be noted that all the Riviera's shows are "four-wall" deals where the producer rents the theater and assumes the financial risk.

"Whether we have one person or a million, the Riviera gets the same rent check," Marino says.

"La Cage" switched to the rental deal in January after years of working with a financial guarantee from the hotel. In the process, comp tickets dried up to casino guests and players. The Riviera "doesn't want to spend the money so they don't buy the tickets," Aleman says.

The producer insists "La Cage" is doing just fine, and in fact is selling 30 percent more tickets than "Splash," produced by former Riviera owner Meshulam Riklis in a larger showroom. "You think I'm crazy enough to stay at the Riv if I lose money?" Aleman says.

His other show, "Crazy Girls," is a different story, he concedes: "I have a lot of competition" from other topless revues. But he wants it to hang on at least another year to hit the 20-year mark.

"The only reason anyone goes to that hotel for any reason is the shows," Marino says of a property that's notably show-intensive, with eight titles for its 2,070 rooms. That raises another question: Do so many shows draw more people to the tired casino or merely pull tickets from one another? ...

Caesars Palace will resume a series of outdoor concerts that have been staged at various times and locations on the property over the years. The first of the new Concerts Under the Stars is Peter Frampton on April 22. Jon Secada is the second act on May 6.

The concerts will be in a 3,000-seat configuration in the Roman Plaza Amphitheater between the casino and Las Vegas Boulevard. ...

Clint Holmes will be the "Humanitarian of Choice" at a March 25 benefit for Choice Humanitarian, an overseas development program, and the Las Vegas Youth Council, in which high school students tutor younger students.

Holmes' future as a Harrah's headliner is doubtful past his current contract, which expires in October. Look for another of the Strip's current resident headliners to move in. Holmes may concentrate on a theatrical musical and/or join the musical-chair shuffle to another Las Vegas property. ...

Fans of Robert Goulet may be sick of waiting for redevelopment of the New Frontier, which, at one point, was to create a resident headliner showcase for the 72-year-old Las Vegas-based singer.

The good news is Goulet will sing here in town as part of the annual Joe Williams Music Scholarship Fund concert on April 9 at The Orleans. Also on the bill: Marlena Shaw, Kenny Burrell, Vincent Falcone, Pete Barbutti, Artie Butler, Freddy Eckstine and Tom Ferguson.

This is the 18th year for the concert Williams used to perform himself. Goulet helped once before, after Williams died in 1999. Tickets are on sale at The Orleans or by calling 365-7075. ...

While Bellagio singer Dian Diaz watches Billboard charts for further progress on her first single, another Las Vegas act, retro crooner Brian Evans, is testing another path for his CDs: An ad in SkyMall airline magazine, which he claims is the first ever for CDs in those pages. Evans will perform in the Rocks Lounge at the new Red Rock Casino on Friday nights starting in late April. ...

Time to lift the Vegas blinders for notes on a couple of productions with obvious ties.

The successful version of "We Will Rock You" will close in London's West End on Oct. 7, yielding its theater to a musical version of "The Lord of the Rings," a $23 million production that debuts this month in Toronto. (It would be interesting to see the Strip cut that one down to 90 minutes; it's three hours long.) "Rock You" will hit the road as a touring production.

London also is the home of "Sinatra: Live at the Palladium," a multimedia Frank Sinatra tribute show that opened earlier this month to mixed reviews. It's a retooled version of "Sinatra -- His Voice, His Music, His Way," which played Radio City Music Hall in 2003, originally with Vegas as the end-game goal. Though it was overseen by "Jersey Boys" director Des McAnuff, it was reportedly a bit of a mess and the new version is more focused and intimate.

The Mohegan Sun casino in Connecticut hosted the February premiere of the more modest Sammy Davis Jr. tribute show, "Mr. Bojangles, the Ultimate Entertainer."

The revue had two actors portraying Davis and was noteworthy because it was sanctioned by Davis' widow, Altovise Davis. But it also made you wonder why an "official" production had to use an "unauthorized"-type title. After all, the song "Mr. Bojangles" was written about hoofer Bill Robinson.

Mike Weatherford's entertainment column appears Thursdays and Sundays. Contact him at 383-0288 or e-mail him at mweatherford@reviewjournal.com.