Each time I see Jersey Boys at the Palazzo, I’m reminded of all the twists and turns our lives take. First of all,  let me say this show is an absolute must-see if you have even a remote interest in the sounds of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons. The show is filled with great music and tells the story of real people who made a contribution to the world of music. Congratulations to everyone involved with Jersey Boys at the Palazzo, and especially to my great friend, Frankie Valli.

The original producer of The Four Seasons, which at the time included lead singer Frankie Valli, was Bob Crewe. Of course, this was several years ago when I was a young man in New York City, but I had heard about this genius who was writing and producing hits for the pop generation. By the time I landed in Hollywood, I had already been with Atlantic Records and Mercury Records. I was actually signed by Seymour Stein way before he signed Madonna, but no one could find me a hit record and a hit was what the doctor ordered. I had a lot of television coverage on the Tonight Show and Merv Griffin’s Show, but couldn’t crack the recording industry. Enter Bob Crewe, who decided to make a stab with one hitch. Change the name from Monti Rock III to Disco Tex and we’ll find the Sex-O-Lettes. At the time, I had nothing to lose. The first record, Get Dancin’, went to the top 10.  Next came I Want To Dance, which jumped to No. 3.  So far, so good.  Following three albums, there were litigations, lawsuits and no royalties for years. Bob Crewe became part of the legacy that is Monti Rock III and after all these years of twists and turns, I am grateful my life is full of many parts, my legacy.

Queen Victoria’s Pub celebrated their grand opening at the Riviera two weeks ago. There was an enormous crowd that evening,  so a return visit was in order. This is an authentic British pub serving authentic British food and offering an outstanding selection of brews. Nick Jones, the “London  Sausage Man,” says many of the items on the menu have been created with imported ingredients that keep everything up to standards. The menu has a selection of pies (shephard, steak and kidney) and bangers and mashed (traditional English sausages and buttery mashed potatoes) that would please any of our friends from England, who I understand are coming in larger numbers these days, thanks to the transatlantic flights available. Following our entrees of fish ‘n chips and lamb with rice, we were treated to desserts that included apple/blackberry turnover, blueberry turnover, chocolate volcano cake and ice cream. Again, for the real thing, it’s Queen Victoria’s Pub at the Riviera Hotel & Casino.

Not exactly sure what’s causing the lack of interest in some of the tours this year, but the American Idol tour hasn’t been a sellout and Christina Aguillera has canceled her tour dates. Similar situations have begun to plague our nightclub scene. Only two new mega-clubs will open this year as compared to five last year, and several of the smaller clubs will close or already have closed their doors. Tao and Pure remain two of the top clubs in town.

Since Louie Anderson has left the Excalibur and moved to Palace Station, the time slot will be taken over by  John Bentham’s production of Defending the Caveman, starring Kevin Burke

“Vegas! The Show” at the David Saxe Theater in the Miracle Mile at Planet Hollywood is Old Vegas at its best. Great singers, dancers, and costumes plus several variety acts make for a most entertaining production. This is the type of show that helped  make Las Vegas the entertainment capital, and we need more of them..

Criss Angel is making more changes to his show at Luxor. There reportedly will  be more Criss and less Cirque  in the revised show, which will be finished by October. This could quite possibly be the shot in the arm that Criss needs. Let’s face it, his illusions are what made him, not the Cirque backgrounds. Criss will be back from vacation on July 17th and begin introducing the new material.

Bob Cayne, of Global Entertainment, has been named president of Live Nation Concerts, Las Vegas. which recently merged with Ticketmaster. One of their goals will be  to bring in the type of shows that the locals would enjoy. Bob has been booking Michael Flatley’s Lord of the Dance and will contiue to do so.

Thanks to the efforts of our city officials and the Fireman’s Union, a new contract was ratified this week. Concessions by both sides will allow our great crew of firefighters to continue working to keep us safe.

Rock ‘n’ roll themed restaurants are very popular in this town. The newest, Rock & Rita’s Restaurant and Bar at Circus Circus, held a grand opening party last week. They feature the world’s best flair bartenders, rock ‘n’ roll, and an all-American menu by master chef Alsonso Contrisciani. Breakfast, lunch, dinner and late nite dining to be served daily.

As previously mentioned, Dennis Bono has moved his weekly radio show from Sam’s Town  to South Point. Variety Toast of the Town is the replacement. They held a grand opening “meet and greet” at Cafe in the Park at Sam’s Town.

Economic woes are still plaguing us here in  the valley. Town Square Mall, the beautiful shopping, dining, and entertainment center has gone into default.  Shoppers and everyday actilvities should not be affected, but it’s sad to see another attraction in trouble.

Speaking of trouble, Lindsay Lohan can’t stay out of it. Her recent sentencing to 90 days in jail followed by another 90-day stint in rehab is not, in my opinion, the answer. Three months in jail is a stiff sentence for a probation offense. Lindsay should be placed in long-term rehab that includes aftercare. I feel her parents are a big part of her problem, as they seem to seek publicity for themselves rather than be concerned with the welfare of their daughter.

And now a little note about me, (for a change).  I did my new one-man show at Hennessey;s Pub last week,  if I may say so myself, the show was a tremendous hit    Mimi Hines, choreograher Papote Varet,  pianist Paul Badia, and publicist Trish Williamson  helped make for a memorable evening.

Hopefully this show will be the first of more to follow.

PLEASE  REFER ALL BLOG RELATED CORRESPONDENCE TO:            revmonti@yahoo.com

What an evening it was when the Las Vegas Hilton hosted the Daytime Emmy Awards last week. It was a rare event, and for me one of the most pleasant I’ve experienced in a long time in Las Vegas. May I have the envelope please? And the winner is…… Las Vegas Hilton.

With the help of CBS network, the Hilton showroom stage was transformed.into a magnificent setting for the glamorous stars. Host Regis Philbin was at his best. Susan Lucci, who is truly ageless, Rachel Ray and Eric Estrada all managed to delight the audience with their live appearances, while Don Rickles and David Letterman were included with others in video spots. The evening became quite sentimental when Dick Clark was honored for his achievements and the importance to rock ‘n’ roll of his TV classic American Bandstand. Marie Osmond and Chubby Checker performed live and it was apparent a close relationship exists with Dick Clark and presenter Ryan Seacrest. In 1973, Dick Clark presented yours truly when I made my debut as Disco Tex. So it seemed only fitting that I attend such a special evening that acknowledged the contributions made by this man. Again, it was a great evening. Glamor, glamor, glamor.

There was a bit of drama after the awards show when Vince Neil regrettably got a DUI. Vince and his Lamborghini made the news. Vince, as you might know, recently opened his Tres Rios Cantina at The Hilton.

Rick White, VP of Brand Marketing & Entertainment.at The Hilton is recovering from back surgery and should return to work shortly. Rick has been instrumental in upgrading the entrtainment scene at The Hilton by bring in top acts just about every weekend ion addtioin to the residents such as Andrew Dice Clay, Steve Dacri, and of course, Lani Misalucha. We’re glad to see you getting better and getting back to work.

Television’s 2010 BET awards were the same night and the show was filled with Michael Jackson tributes. Thank heaven for the DVR. Bad boy Chris Brown’s renditions of Michael Jackson’s songs and dance brought down the house, and eventually brought down Chris whose sobs became uncontrollable. The lyrics of Michaels’ “Man In The Mirror” apparantly hit home for Chris. For me the highlight of the evening was when Patti LaBelle, who always gives her all, closed the show. Throwing off her shoes, she sang Prince’s Purple Rain while the audience cheered. Queen Latifah was stunning in her many gowns and the beautiful Alicia Keys showed the world her baby bump and held center stage several times, performing flawlessly.

Vegas! The Show at the Saxe Theater in Planet Hollywood was on my agenda this week. , and I was able to get to see it Thursday evening.This new production has been hailed as the new show in town. There’s a lot riding on this venture – I’ve been told it’s costing about $1.5 million for the performers and the state of the arts sound and lighting. The singers are amazing and the production is definitely “old Vegas”. Showgirls in great costumes, singers, dancers, and several variety acts make for a really entertaining show In an earlier column, I mentioned Las Vegas celeb Tony Sacca has a similar show downtown. And they say there’s no competition here!

Anita Mann, all things Fantasy at Luxor, was in town to catch David Saxe’s new show and invited me to join her, which would have been a delight. I’d be interested in her comments for sure. Unfortunately, my schedule couldn’t be changed. Anita and I will have to discuss this latest Las Vegas production at a later time.

Brad Garrett has opened his own comedy club at Tropicana, and from what I saw and heard the night I attended, Brad should become the Trop’s big hit. He’s a great entertainer and funny, funny. Most of us know Brad for his stint on TV’s Everybody Loves Raymond in which he showed his talent as a great comic actor. His standup shows him as a younger Don Rickles which, in itself , is an acheivement. George Bugatti, who I’ve seen around town singing and playing piano, was a delightful added attraction. Before the show, my partner and I were treated to dinner at Bacio. Two of my favorite dishes, calamari and rigatoni bolognese, were outstanding. I can say the renovation is well underway at the Trop and it’s beginning to take on that Miami’s South Beach look they’re shooting for. Nice change.

Queen Victoria’s Pub at The Riviera was another stop I made last week. This new jewel is an English style pub with a typical English pub favorites on the moderate priced menu. Homemade pies are made on premises and cooked to order. Sheppard’s Pie and Steak & Kidney Pie are a must as well as some of the best Fish & Chips in town. Among the appetizers is my favorite., Handmade Crisps”, the English version of American Potato Chips . Blackberry & Apple pie was my desert of choice. The British are coming!, the British are coming!

Economy trials and tribulations be damned! Take advantage of the offers being made! Tickets for Cher’s show at Caesars Colosseum are $50 for Nevada residents. Good seats, too. Also available are special performances at discounted prices for Frank Marino’s Divas. Contact Imperial Palace for dates,etc.

Yours truly, Monti Rock III, will be performing in concert for one night only, along with the Platters, on July 11 as part of the dinner show at Hennessey’s on Fremont St. Part of the proceeds will be going to Monti’s favorite charity. Please read the attachment.

The Juvenile Diabetes Relief Foundation, JDRF, is holding its Rockin’ Vegas charity show at “BB Kings Club on July 15. JDRF has been donating huge amounts of money to help find a cure for this dreaded disease.

Living legend Larry King announced his retirement from his nightly CNN interview show. Larry has been doing this for 25 years and is seen worldwide daily. He wants to devote his time to do specials, and more important, to his family. We will miss his show and wish him only the best. A replacement host has not yet been announced.

Hope you had a safe and enjoyable July 4th holiday. and, as always, the Rev. Monti wishes you all a great week

.Please refer all blog related correspndence to: revmonti@yahoo.com

American soccer fans were elated with Team USA’s recent win at the World Cup in South Africa. For the first time, our country has a real chance. It’s a great triumph for USA, USA, USA!  Too bad the lost their 3rd game.

This past weekend we were treated to two major awards shows, The Daytime Emmys  and the 2010 BET Awards. The Emmy awards held at The Hilton was one of the better recent Emmy shows. Regis Philbin, (a good coice for host). kept things moving smoothly and the overall production was great.  In recent years their viewership has been dropping, but hopefully this will change  and Las Vegas will get to host next years awards. The Hilton, CBS, and Las Vegas should all benefit from this. My staff tells me the BET Awards, hosted by Queen Latifa, was as much as a performance show as an awards show with Kanye West opening and Chris Brown doing a great Michael JAckson tribute,  Also performing among others;  Aicia Keyes, El DeBarge, Usher, and show-stopper Patti LaBelle. Prince was there to receive  the 2010 Lifetime Acheivement Award.

For those who’ve been waiting for a performance in Las Vegas by yours truly, Monti Rock III, the time has come. I’ll be peforming in a special one night event at Hennessey’s Tavern downtown on Fremont Street in two weeks.  Monti Rock III will appear at the supper club at Hennessey’s on July 11. Derek David is currently starring in a show that presents the sounds of Diana Ross, Frank Sinatra and others from earlier times in a well-polished manner. There are few dinner shows anymore in Las Vegas, so my first visit to Hennessey’s found me surprised by such a delightful meal, including dessert, and great service for a rather small room that holds aprroximately 80 guests. Dinner and a show in fabulous downtown Las Vegas for only $40, and this includes Monti Rock III. Some of the night’s proceeds will go to my favorite charities.

Fremont Street Experience has brought the disco sounds of the ’70s to downtown Las Vegas this summer. Soon, Disco Tex rides again at Hennessey’s!

At a small dinner party at JR’S on S.Durango where Armand Assante and Michael Tadross  and associates were discussing their plans regarding two theme restaurants for two major properties in Las Vegas, I was assured the ’70s are back.

Lots of show biz dignitaries were at the Luxor to attend a gathering at LAX nightclub. Sounds like it might become a regular event for show folks to gather and discuss finding performance venues, etc.  This evening included The Scintas, Jeff McBride, Catherine Hickland (David Hasselhoff’s ex) among others.  Unfortunately, I missed the gathering this time.

The man of many talents, Wayne Brady, opened to rave reviews at the Venetian. Wayne is back in fine form after a long hiatus taking care of his vocal cords. For right now, Wayne will continue to host his Emmy-winning television show Let’s Make A Deal.

Another outstanding performance of the week was Sting at the MGM Arena.  This was a first for Sting, who performed all of his hits with a full orchestra.  The show was a sell out.

Phantom at the Venetian celebrated their fourth anniversary last week. I’ve seen the show a dozen times or so and each time I find the music, the voices, the costumes, the theater…. all of it exhilarating. This performance was lilke no other I’ve seen. Anthony Crivello was unbelievable. This man acts as well as he sings and that is someting. Tina Walsh was also a standout. I know the show has been all around the world but it’s doubtful that any of the other shows could possibly compare with the Las Vegas production.

Suncoast has a great lineup for July, strting with Las Vegas favorite Clint Holmes, who returns to Suncoast on July 10 and 11.  Deanna Martin will star in her show, “A Tribute to My Father Dean Martin,” July 24 and 25 followed by Jay White performing his tribute to Neil Diamond July 31 and August 1.

Tournament of Kings at The Excalibur recently celebrated their 20th anniversary. Think of the poor porters who clean up after the horses!  However, it is a great one-of-a-kind show in Las Vegas.

As a charity fund-raiser, Ante Up For Africa could be one of the most fun, especially if you’re a poker player or a fan of the game. The event will take place Saturday, July 3 at the Rio All Suites Hotel & Casino and is hosted by Academy Award nominee Don Cheadle and poker pro Annie Duke. Several well-knowns are expected to attend, including Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Ray Romano, Brad Garrett, and Jerome Bettis, just to name a few. For full details contact bbell@harrahs.com.

Yard House has two locations in Las Vegas but I was introduced to this restaurant at Red Rock Resort last week where I was surprised to find such a diverse menu, including 130 varieties of draft beer. It’s casual dining with outstanding food and service. A Las Vegas must, for sure.

It’s been a year since Michael Jackson died, and after recently seeing the documentary “This Is It”  for a second time, it still remains hard to accept.  Again I’m reminded of his tremendous talent and the genius of the great Kenny Ortega who managed to create “This Is It” even in Michael’s absence. Thank you Kenny for keeping the memories alive. Of course, the “scavengers” are all there trying to get a piece of the $250 million earned since his death. And then there’s poor Latoya, who had an emotional reunion with Bubbles, Michael’s pet chimp. Very touching, ahem, ahem.  Donny Osmand did a radio tribute to his friend Michael on the anniversary date of his death and Alicia Jacobs did a TV interview with Jermaine Jackson.

Frank Sinatra is still with us, at least in our thoughts (thankfully). His family as well as Steve Wynn and Andrea Hissom were all at dinner at Sinatra, the Italian steak house at Encore to celebrate the Sinatra Family Estates’ new “Come Fly With Me” wine.

A summer favorite television show, ” Hot In Cleveland,” is appearing on TV Land. Funny, Funny, Funny! The three “girls” – Valerie Bertinelli,
Jane Leeves and Wendy Malik – are great. And then there’s scene-stealer Betty White, who is the greatest!

Dennis Bono has moved his local show from Sam’s Town to South Point.   Salaries at contract renewal time were reportedly behind the change.

Vegas Magazine’s seventh anniversary party was the scene of a quiet catfight as one of our local female entertainment writers was supposedly told by one of the local co-hosts that she was not welcome. I wonder who that might be.

Just a reminder that Rev Monti is available to make your wedding ceremony a most memorable occasion.

Please direct all blog related correspondence to    revmonti@yahoo.com

David Saxe has just announced his newest creation. “Vegas! The Show” will open at the new Saxe Theater in the Miracle Mile at Planet Hollywood on June 18. This is reported to be the largest production to hit the Las Vegas Strip in the last 20 years. Yes, Las Vegas has big production shows…Cirque, Cirque, Cirque, Phantom, Jersey Boys and The Lion King, to name a few.  But David Saxe is bringing Las Vegas something fresh.

“The Show” will feature 40 performers, a full orchestra, and of course, fabulous Las Vegas showgirls. Sounds like a musical tour of Las Vegas history when the lounge acts introduced the audiences to super stars of the time. *The show is going into a theater that cost $30 million. The Saxe Theater was designed so that every seat provides an exceptional view of the stage and offers the audience the latest in cutting edge theatrical equipment*

The Hilton is on a roll with its great summer entertainment schedule and now they have  partnered with Vince Neil in their newest venture.  The Tres Rios Cantina and Tequila Bar opened last weekend.  They offer great food and inspired hand crafted drinks in a Mexican Cantina atmosphere. Vince, who lives in Las Vegas believes in giving back to the city and is always there when you need him.  This is a welcome addition to both The Hilton and to Las Vegas.

Back by popular demand, and good news for our military personnel from both Creech and Nellis Air Force Bases, the Venetian has extended to July 4 the offer of every ticket sold to the headline show Phantom will be matched by the Las Vegas Spectacular for our military heroes. That’s right! Each ticket purchased will provide a free ticket to a member of the military. Call the Venetian box office for full details regarding this great offer at (702) 414-9000. Thanks to the Venetian and to all the stars in Phantom and thanks to our heroes in uniform.

On June 12 and 13 the Orleans Showroom featured “Vocal Soup,” starring Clint Holmes, Susan Anton, Domenick Allen and Martin Nievera. Individually, these entertainers are known for their outstanding talents and came together to provide the audience with familiar sounds that left the audience begging for more. Clint Holmes was acknowledged previously by the Best of Vegas as Entertainer of the Year. Susan Anton is known for her performances on Broadway and in the movies. Domenick Allen is recognized as both a jazz and rock guitarist having performed earlier with the band Foreigner. And Martin Nievera’s voice brought him several gold record accolades all over Asia. The sound of these multi-talented performers is unmatched. Having Vince Falcone conducting was the icing on the cake. Vince was Frank Sinatra’s favorite when he performed here. Las Vegas fell in love with “Vocal Soup.”

I was also fortunate to get to see Craig Ferguson at the Venetian last week. Fans of his TV show cheered as he began with his nightly catch phrase, “It’s a great day for America everybody!” And the closer? Lip sync and choreography to Britney’s “Oops, I Did It Again.” A happy, positive standup comedy show…those are getting hard to find.

Monti Rock III and crew went to the Tropicana to witness the new “Las Vegas Mob Experience.” Walking into the lobby of the Tropicana, we were immediately surprised by the gorgeous marble floors and the casino’s overall fresh look. With the refurbishing well underway, the transformation into a South Beach/Miami-type venue will make the Trop the jewel it once was.

This was an introduction to The Las Vegas Mob Experience, which is scheduled to open to the public in December 2010. The Las Vegas Mob Experience is not connected to the Mob Museum in Downtown Las Vegas, which has been supported by Mayor Goodman and will eventually open at the old downtown Post Office. The Experience will have a permanent home at the Tropicana and promises to deliver never before seen items of interest and interactive settings of intrigue and suspense. The Experience will highlight the glamor of the days when gangsters ruled. It’s history of this wonderful Las Vegas, the Third Coast.

Present for the event included “family” members of Lansky, Segal and Giancana. Missing was the beautiful Phyllis McGuire, whose love affair with Sam “Momo” Giancana made headlines. Phyllis is reported to be one of the richest women in the world and is an icon of this earlier era.

Paul Rodriguez is about to end his stint at the Tropicana, and rumor has it that he will be moving to another venue. The Tropicana will be opening Brad Garrett’s new comedy club. Brad became a comedy favorite on the classic sitcom “Everybody Loves Raymond.” Until recently, he was a semi-regular at The Mirage and had his own TV comedy, “Til Death”. Besides headlining at the club, Brad will perform surprise guest spots and serve as a door greeter from time to time.

George Wallace has been signed to an additional three years at the Flamingo.  His show is billed as the best 10 p.m. show in Vegas and that it is! His easygoing nature and quick wit make him a favorite with a variety of audiences. Bravo, George!

Louie Anderson will end his five-year run at Excalibur in August and concentrate on his “Stand Up Boot Camp” workshops for aspiring comics. This project has been working well for both Louie and his students.

Another closing is ESPN Zone restaurant in Las Vegas and four other cities on June 16. Walt Disney Company Inc., the owner of the five restaurants, says the closing’s are due to the economic challenges of the times.

Steve Wynn has been complaining about the trend of some of his competitors in reducing room rates and not completing places like the Fontainebleau and the Cosmopolitan. He is also critical of President Obama and some of the Nevada politicians for the direction that Las Vegas is heading.

Never let it be said that yours truly never makes mistakes. When I do, I try to correct them as quickly as possible. Case in point, “Only You,” starring Derek David, can be seen nightly at HENNESSEY’S  Dinner Club on Fremont St.

PLEASE DIRECT ALL BLOG RELATED CORRESPONDENCE TO:  REVMONTI@YAHOO.COM

Badda Bing Gentleman’s Club was the scene for my annual 70th birthday celebration, which turned out to be an exceptional evening. The media was out in full force and even with a few stutter steps, the party actually went off without a hitch. Rick Belcastro, owner of Badda Bing’s, gave me the keys to the Chapel of Lust as a birthday gift and I proceeded to perform the Chapel’s first wedding ceremony. Guests at Badda Bing’s are always amazed by this impressive location, and Rick takes great pride in making sure his guests are enjoying themselves. It’s a fabulous private party venue.

The Monti Rock III annual celebrations would never be possible without Great Buns Bakery that provides their signature cakes, Susan and Jerry Rispoli of JR’s Place on Durango for all the Italian goodies, and my own harem of ladies, including Marci, Debbie, Roxanne and Trish, who spent hours decorating and making preparations for the birthday festivities. I love you ladies! Special thanks also goes to Ed Foster and  Roy Scimeca wth their trusty little cameras.

Many of the guests were caught by surprise when they saw yours truly after my latest transformation. No, it wasn’t a Britney Spears meltdown, it was simply time for a change. So my stylist, Teresa Graves, and I went for the buzz cut with a white blond color. The look has created a much more sleek and elegant Monti Rock III.  Feel free to comment on this…

This week brings us the sad news about 3 show business stars . Dennis Hopper, Art Linkletter, and Gary Coleman passed away within days of one another.  Art, age 94 was the daddy of many TV game shows,  and Dennis, age 74, became a Hollywood “Bad Boy:”  early in his career. Over the years Dennis had become a talented actor and did may things to change that image.  At the time of his death, he had become highly respected by his peers. Gary Coleman, age  42, made it big as a child star in TV’s Diff’rent Strokes. After the demise of the show, Gary seemed to fail at his attempts to keep his stardom.  Ill health and emotional problems followed him throughout the rest of his sad life.  May they all rest in peace.

I’ve decided to address the Mob Museum downtown and how Monti Rock III has always been on the side, in some ways or another of those baby gangsters, the Lollipop Mafia. How lucky I’ve always been to have them in my corner. When I got to Vegas in the early ’60s, it was them who, with a handshake, got me the jobs. From Maurice Levy to Lillian Reese, the mob has always been a part of the show business dynasty from the days of Frank Sinatra. When the corporates came in, the mob just put on better suits. Those of us who were privileged to be around them knew they were good guys with slightly shady backgrounds.

Years ago when I arrived in Chicago to play some club dates, the  mob was the best to me. They knew I was the first of a kind of gay, seedy act. Now we have Russian mob, Asian mob, Israeli mob…it never goes away.

In the works are three mob museums – all about the history of  LV. But in reality, it’s the history of the world. I would like to remind my readers that Benjamin “Bugsy” Siegel and Virginia Hill created the Flamingo in Las Vegas,  but it was Howard Hughes who brought ”corporate” into the mix. He and his Mormon Mafia.

Is there a Diva war going on between David Saxe and Tony Sacca? David has two theaters at Planet Hollywood in the Miracle Mile, and who by the way runs a very successful operation. Rumor has it that Tony is opening a new show downtown, and David will open a new show at Planet Hollywood. Each performer claims this show belongs to them, and now Tony is reportedly trying to push up his opening date ahead of David’s previously announced premiere.

Is downtown ready for a show starring Tony Sacca? The Fremont Experience does well on the weekends, as do some of the restaurants. The Golden Nugget has Gordie Brown but will bring in some other shows. PR/Marketing Director Justin McVay has just  signed to move to Golden Gaming. Seeing Justin at my party made me realize it was time to grow up.

The best man won on American Idol. Simon’s retirement from AI was heartfelt with Paula Abdul coming to the show to help bid farewell. By the way, Paula has been signed to a new TV series for the fall season.

There’s a movie coming out called Love Ranch. Joe Pesci (could this be a comeback role?) and Helen Mirren star as characters based on Joe and Sally Conforte, owners of Nevada’s first licensed brothel, Mustang Ranch. The film is a fictionalized version of the infamous love triangle of Joe, Sally and pro boxer Oscar Bonavena. The fighter was murdered in 1976. Congrats to John Bentham for Marriage Can Be Murder, the dinner show at Fitzgeralds and Cavemen at Excalibur.

The Holly Madison reality show/peep show on E! Entertainment Television seems to be picking up an audience.

Only You, a revival of the true dinner show, has opened at Hennessey’s Tavern on  Fremont St. This Motown-inspired show stars Derek David, a former member of The Platters, along with several other great singers from The Platters and The Marvelettes. For more information call 702-382-4421.

The Las Vegas Classic Jazz Band has ended an unprecedented 23-year engagement at The Gold Coast. We hope this group finds another venue in the very near future to keep this music alive.

Happy Anniversarty to Vinnie Favorito. He has just given his 3,000th performance in Las Vegas. We went to his special show last week at the Flamingo and as usual saw one of the funniest comics around do his stuff. Lorraine Hunt, Dennis Bono and a large contingency of the local and California press were in attendance, too. One thing for sure is that you leave his show exhausted from laughing. A private party followed the show. Vinnie is reportedly being considered for a TV sitcom.

As always, the Rev. Monti Rock III wishes you all a fabulous week!

Please direct all blog related correspondence to:   revmonti@yahoo.com

It was a big week for breaking news, especially if you’re a fan of Human Nature, the Motown sound spectacular, appearing at The Imperial Palace.  They are a bit of a phenomenon when you consider they arrived in Las Vegas from Australia and perform Motown hits as well as the originals – sometimes even better. To celebrate their first anniversary at the Imperial Palace they announced the group has signed a two-year extension and they unveiled the Human Nature Theater. On a personal note, I thought the theater should have been named after Frank Marino…. Oops, sorry, I slipped.

The media event for the anniversary celebration was filled with the usual suspects, but we were all surprised when Smokey Robinson took the stage and sang four or five songs. We shouldn’t have been entirely shocked because the marquee says, “Smokey Robinson Presents Human Nature.” The show is produced by Adam Steck, who also produces among others Thunder From Down Under, Louie Anderson at the Excalibur, and Frank Marino’s Divas Show at The Imperial Palace.  Adam is quite the gentleman producer in town, that’s for sure. At one time he was helping yours truly produce a show for Las Vegas. My hat’s off to you Adam. For my readers of Gaming Today, and for the record, this is a must see show.

This columnist doesn’t normally become starstruck, but if you can believe it, I was momentarily speechless when I met Armand Assante, star of the fabulous 1992 movie Mambo Kings and TV’s John Gotti with Hollywood producer Michael Tadross. Ken Ciancimino, of the Hilton, and his wife were with them for dinner. It was a pleasant surprise when Susan and Jerry Rispoli invited me to stop by JR’s.  Rumors about a ’70s theme show are in the air.  Anyway, I was more than happy to see Susan and Jerry, but I was truly delighted to meet Armand and Michael…. sigh!

Sunday night brought us one of the last of the “big” beauty contests.  Donald Trump’s Miss USA was won by the beauty from the State of Michigan, Rima Fakih, a Lebanese immigrant. Elizabeth Woolard, Miss Oklahoma, was runner up.

“Girls Night: The Musical” at the MGM had their media opening last weekend. Five friends go to  a karaoke bar  for a party and end up becoming their version of “The Housewives of Anywhere.” It’s really another take on the current “gal pals” scenario. Breaking up the dialogue are a series of songs, which the ladies really belt out. The country-blues number is a particular showstopper. In just three years, they have sold more than 800,000 tickets! Studio 54 may possibly book this show for a long run.  Who Knows?

Fans have been tweeting about American Idol and also about the judges.  I’m going out on a limb, again. Ellen may like music and dance, but she doesn’t have the background to be a judge on the show. Obviously, Ellen doesn’t need American Idol, but American Idol needs Paula Abdul.

The Mandalay Bay has a special way of celebrating the first anniversary of The Lion King. It’s Lion King Loves the Locals! Two-for-one tickets are offered to Las Vegas residents for the show that has broken all records at the Mandalay Bay.

New and creative offers are coming in from all directions these days. MGM Mirage has joined forces with 50 of America’s top travel destinations in an attempt to stimulate travel. This is a brief one month promotion, so be sure to check it out at www.DailyGetaways.com right now.

While Garth Brooks continues to light up the Wynn and sell out every show, Celine Dion fans are already grabbing tickets for her March 2011 return to Caesars Colosseum. By the way, a new Harris poll has declared Celine Dion to be America’s favorite singer/musician. We need the Garth Brooks and Celine Dions of the world to stay in Vegas!

Alan Palmer performed his amazing one-man show, Fabulous Divas of Broadway, which was a one-man musical presented at the Onyx Theater last week.  Hopefully, he’ll return to Vegas because this is a one-of-a-kind show.

Lena Horne was truly a one of a kind. She was beautiful beyond words, a songstress like no other. Lena passed away in New York City last week at the age of 92.   She also helped pave the way for so many Afro American performers by opening doors that, at the time, were virtually closed to them.  At one point in her career, she was banned from staying at the same  Las Vegas hotel where filled the house for every one of her shows. Good enoug to work there, but not good enough to sleep there. .  We have come a long way since then.  I’m reminded of my days as a young performer at Trudy Heller’s in New York, where Lena would on occasion stop by to hear me sing. Unfortunately, I was a total bore but I was a great fan of Lena Horne.

Television hit the big time last week when Betty White, at the age of 88, became the hit of Saturday Night Live. The show had the highest ratings they’ve enjoyed since 2008. Now the talk is about Betty hosting the Oscars, plus she has a new series soon to air. Guess there’s no stopping Betty!

All week we’ve been hearing about Barbara Walters and heart surgery. Of course, we all wish her well but isn’t it about time for Barbara to retire?  She’s interviewed everybody on earth that has a recognizable name.

I’ve become a huge fan of Lady Gaga. Maybe it’s just the costumes. Adam Lambert, take a look at a marketing genius.

Beso, the highly popular restaurant owned by Eva Langoria Parker at Aria in CityCenter was the scene for an interesting event when a one time manager/investor of the restaurant was shown the door by a most efficient staff of security officers. You know what they say, where there’s smoke, there’s fire. I was told Eva immediately took control and her dedicated staff offered their applause in appreciation of her efforts.

In celebration of Cher’s second anniversary at Caesars Colosseum, tickets have just gone on sale for an additional 25 shows in September and October. Cher, another one-of-a-kind entertainer.

For those of you who keep abreast of Monti Rock activities, my annual 70th birthday gala will be held at Badda Bing Gentleman’s Club, where I’ll be unveiling my latest venture The Chapel of Lust. Wedding ceremonies are already scheduled for the new chapel. The birthday gala will offer food, drinks and music to celebrate my 5th decade in show biz. *Please be sure to read the attachment.

Remember, the Rev. Monti wishes you a great  week!

Please direct all blog related correspondence to:        revmonti@yahoo.com

With so much activity in Las Vegas last week, which included among other things the National Association of Broadcasters convention featuring an appearance by Oprah Winfrey, parties of one sort or another and spring breakers from one end of the Strip to the other; for yours truly the week was a triumph of my own. Jim Dougherty, my host for the NABA convention, is also the man behind my YouTube videos. He has been instrumental in compiling these videos and presenting them.

Palace Station was the scene where Tom Biscardi and John Stuart’s show Rock N Roll 2 Soul enjoyed Media Night hosted by Monti Rock. It was standing room only! The media was there in abundance and I was in my glory as the white knight, pearl master of Las Vegas. Without the help of Bobbi Katz (I love you, girl) and standout local reporter John Katsilometes, the evening would not have been as successful. My thanks to all who shared their time to make this such a special evening. Thanks also to Palace Station for making Media Night such a great event.

Rock N Roll 2 Soul features the Coasters, Jonathan Von Brana, and Mary Williams’ tribute to the Supremes, Shirelles and Vandellas. Again, this is a well-oiled show, a must-see, and offers something not easily found in Las Vegas at 7 p.m; a family show complete with music and light-hearted comedy.

My film crew from San Diego was in town and caught some of the action at Palace Station, which will be shown on YouTube and MySpace. Timing is everything and having the film crew here for media night was a great addition.

Tickets & Tours is the newest and one of the best options for purchasing entertainment in Las Vegas. They were formerly known as Travelocity on Location and have 18 locations including Las Vegas McCarran Airport. Tickets & Tours guests personally choose real seats selected from the venue’s seating map and take the tickets with them. This service makes T & T unique from the other ticket outlets. The Hilton has got a great linejup of entertainers coming this spring, the great Julio Iglesias, Petula Clark and Tim Conway, to name a few. This, in addtion to the ongoing shows such as Voices, The King, and Steve Dacri help make The Hilton a place to go.

David Alan Grier is coming to Mandalay Bay for a one-night-only performance. David is probably best known for his work on TV’s In Living Color. He has appeared in film and theater, receiving a Tony nomination for his work in Dreamgirls. He was also recognized as one of Comedy Central’s 100 Greatest Stand-ups of All Time.

Mary Wilson, one of the original Supremes, is making her debut appearance with The Fabulous Palm Springs Follies. She released her first solo album in 1977 and her autobiography in 1986. The book became one of the most successful rock ‘n’ roll autobiographys of all time. Mary then went on to stage appearances and recently went on tour starring in Duke Ellington’s Sophisicated Ladies. She has been a busy lady.

While fans say farewell to Lance Burton at the Monte Carlo, Zowie Bowie is still holding court and is doing quite well. In the meantime, rumors about the newest property for Lance continue to be just that – rumors.

American Idol, television’s phenomenon of the last decade, brought their top nine finalists to Las Vegas to see Viva Elvis at Aria. It also gave national TV coverage to the show at Aria. It’s hard to imagine, but these finalists weren’t even born when the King died in 1977, so they don’t have the connection to Elvis that others have. After their introduction to Elvis music, they headed back to L.A. to do their own renditions of Elvis songs for this week’s show. It was surprising to see last year’s runner up, Adam Lambert, mentoring this year’s finalists. I didn’t get it. But then again, I don’t get Adam Lambert – or his eyeliner. All the finalists have some level of talent, but my bet is on Crystal, the cutie little blonde with the sometimes gravelly voice.

Kitty Kelley, known for her unauthorized biographies, has done it again. This time Oprah is her target! Funny thing though, Kitty’s having a hard time getting appearances on TV talk shows to promote her book. Seems Oprah is just too powerful and no one wants to ruffle the queen’s feathers, especially since she’s getting ready to air her own network. That’s not show, that’s her own network! Supposedly this newest book has Oprah hooked up with John Tesh. Really?

United Way’s Volunteer Center of Southern Nevada is only a small part of the over-all celebration that will be taking place nationwide from April 18-24. Americans are known for their generosity and United Way has programs of help for both small and large efforts. Contact United Way direct or go online to www.VolunteerCenterSN.org.

Golf enthusiasts and curiosity seekers alike tuned in to catch Tiger Woods return at the Masters in Augusta Georgia. Apparently, there was keen interest because it was estimated that viewers increased by some 50 percent over previous years.

The More Buffet at Luxor is a favorite of mine. The More Buffet at Luxor is a favorite of mine. Manager Steve Katz continues to maintain outstanding dining standards. No one is ever disappointed and the service is top of the line. When it comes to buffet dining, the ambiance is just about the best in town and always has been. My sincere thanks to Steve and his staff for providing a wonderful evening for me and and my out-of-town friends. You can bet they will all remember The More Buffet at Luxor whenever they return to Vegas.

Larry King has just set a new record – at least a new record for himself. No, it’s not that he’s getting divorced for the eighth time. It’s that he was married for 13 years! He is accused for having an alleged affair with his sister-in-law. How does the 76-year-old talker do it?

Fortunately, the long, long, long-standing and somewhat tired Tropicana will soon start enjoying a $1 billion makeover. Of course, it will take some time to complete, but phase one should be finished by December 2011. A Tropicana upgrade will bring new life to the well-known destination and a welcome change for the Strip.

The planned end-result of the NEW Tropicana

Meanwhile, the Trop’s neighbor across the street, the MGM Grand, held the Academy of Country Music Awards last weekend. This awards show draws huge crowds of fans and stars. Carrie Underwood won Entertainer of The Year again and Brooks and Dunn, who are “retiring” as a duo, won for best duo to the year. Other winners include Brad Pasley, Lady Antebellum and Miranda Lambert. Country music is little by little becoming less traditional as it crosses over to a more polished pop-oriented theme.

Speaking of country music, LeAnn Rimes and her soon-to-be ex-husband are working out the details. If I knew she was worth $50 million…I would have married her! She was seen in Las Vegas making the rounds with her current beau, Eddie Cibrian.

One last shout out this week goes to Planet Hollywood, where I treated my friends to an evening of dinner, champagne, cake and one of the most entertaining shows Las Vegas has to offer, Tony & Tina’s Wedding. This fabulous production has a superb cast and dinner was divine. Thanks to the marketing staff for treating me and my guests to such a terrific night. It was first class!

The 2010 AFAN AIDS WALK takes place on April 25th at 9:30AM beginning at The World Market. AFAN, since 1984, has been working relentlessly to help improve the lives of those infected with HIV AIDS. For information as to how you can help, contact www.afanlv.org

As always, the Rev. Monti wishes you all a great week!

With so much brouhaha over Barry Manilow’s latest show at the Paris, I decided to make an incognito appearance and investigate. Oh, to be an investigative reporter as a career move, my darlings! I immediately became perplexed while remembering what my  mother once told me, “If you have nothing nice to say, don’t say anything at all.” Barry and yours truly have a background of  sorts. I knew him in New York and our paths have crossed professionally from time to time. And it’s true, I’m not quite a fan. With that said, I went to this latest show with an optimistic approach, even though I must admit I wanted to see for myself if Barry was lip-synching or not. First  of all, I can report he was not lip-synching, it’s just reverb. As a performer, I’m guilty of using the same technology to enhance my own voice. My opinion is the Paris theater has a sound  problem. When Barry talks, there seems to be an echo. His show at the Hilton was a much better performance because the staging and the  sound system worked. A couple of suggestions would be to find a new sound tech and make the stage at the Paris more intimate. I’ve always believed in constructive criticism, so take it or leave it.  Either way, Barry has become a Las Vegas icon.

No doubt everyone was shocked and appalled, like yours truly, when Ricky Martin came out of the closet. As a gay man how could I have missed this one, although I did suspect. My line is…who cares?! With  the aid of a surrogate, Ricky became the proud father of twins a year ago and still manages to do a lot of charity work. He’s gay, so what?! He  has added his name to the growing line of celebs – Rosie, Ellen, Lance  Bass, Neil Patrick Harris and Sean Hayes, to name a few. It takes lots  of courage to do this, especially for public figures.  This type of  honesty should also rub off in the political arena.

Can it be true that Wayne Newton, who is going through all  these financial and logistical problems, is considering a new reality  show? Rumors continue that he’s going to court or not going to court. I  called Wayne’s handlers and was told he still has the Meet and Greet for  his fans at the Tropicana. For some odd reason, I think Wayne will be OK and end up on his feet. He is reported to have a new reality show in the  works for WE TV. The Wrap.com Web site describes it as another version  of The Girls Next Door.

Rest in Peace, dearest Gail (picture here with Conchita)

A friend of mine, Gail Posner, passed away last week in Miami  after a reported battle with cancer. Gail, a true beauty and a Miami socialite, was known for her charitable contributions and  flamboyant lifestyle. I first met Gail when she was engaged to my producer of  the Disco Tex era. Gail’s father, Miami Beach business executive Victor Posner, died in 2002, shortly after revising his will and  leaving a fortune estimated at over $200 million to a longtime girlfriend and business partner. It’s reported that Gail has left her remaining fortune to her precious dog Conchita the Chihuahua, her  servants and various other charities. May she rest in peace.

Last week also marked the passing of June Havoc, sister of Gypsy Rose Lee, at age 97.  June began her career in vaudeville, acted in  Hollywood films and eventually became an acclaimed Broadway director.  Johnny Maestro, former lead singer of the Crests and Brooklyn Bridge,  died in Florida of cancer at age 70. They will be missed.

Adam Steck gave a great birthday party last week with his casts from Thunder From Down Under, Human Nature, etc. all doing a special performance for Adam.

The Venetian is building quite a stellar lineup of entertainers for  a series of limited engagements in 2010.  As mentioned last week,  Joan Rivers will perform in April and July, and now Craig  Ferguson, comedian and host of  CBS’s “The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson” will be performing in May and June.  Contact The Venetian for dates, etc.

Palace Station is presenting a new show, “Rock n’ Roll 2 Soul” Mondays-Saturdays at 7:00 pm *(flyer at left)* This highly entertaining show features The original Coasters, Jonathan Von Brana as Elvis, and Mary Williams Tribute to The Supremes, The Shirelles, and The Vandellas. Also at Palace Station is Grandma Lee from America’s Got Talent .Grandma is returning to Vegas and will appear at Bonkerz Comedy Club May 3-29. Her comedy is unique, and like Roseanne Barr, after being a housewife, a mother, and now a grandmother, she decided to try another avenue and created her own comedy routines that took this grandma to the top of television’s AGT.

The annual “Best of Las Vegas” was published last week. The Review Journal created a new format this year, but other than that there aren’t many changes and we see a lot of the same names, same restaurants, same events.  As a past recipient of an award for “Most Colorful Character”, I still look forward to the annual lowdown. It’s worth noting this year that Caesars Colosseum performers picked up five or six of the “Best” awards. “Best this”, “Best that”,  just the “Best”!

Of course, you can’t mention The Colosseum without thinking of Celine Dion who returns March 15, 2011. If you’re interested, Celine is offering special VIP packages in celebration of her March birthday. Show tickets range in price from $55 to $250, while the VIP packages cost  from $385 to $1,375. Future stars at The Colosseum  include Cher with multiple dates in April, May and June, and some weekend appearances  by Jerry Seinfeld and Chelsea Handler. Check with The Colosseum for dates and times.

The latest and newest of charity events is scheduled for April  17; the 5K Walk Benefit for Grant-a-Gift Autism Foundation. The event will take place at Town Square, which by the way is a great  shopping, entertainment and event center, and will start with  registration at 7:30 a.m. The 5K will take place at 9 a.m. with a family picnic furnished by Town Square restaurants at 11:30 and music for all.  Sounds like a true family affair for a great cause.

The wonderful Larry Edwards has done the Channel 13 weekly critique  of Dancing With the Stars on the morning news show. Let’s hope he keeps doing this because he has a fresh, new approach. He did the show as Tina  Turner – one of his fabulous alter-egos.

The Rosie O’Donnell television news is definite. She was on Oprah this week discussing her new relationship and her new love; talking about her many children and what she’ll bring to television. She will reportedly concentrate on one subject per show, and hopefully she will not become too confrontational.

Monti Rock III, yours truly, this week will be recording his new CD, produced here in Las Vegas by Platinum Rock and Louis Martinez.  I have to admit  that everything in connection with this new CD is being videotaped just in case there’s a reality show in my future.  A Spanish singer! A ranchero!

Good news! Cheap Trick will return to the Hilton on June 7 for an extended engagement. As most of you know, Cheap Trick is one of the best bands to come out of the ‘rock and roll’ era.

It’s time for Letterman and Kimmel to stop the Jay Leno “put-downs”.  It really is beneath them and not very funny.  There are enough things and people to poke fun at and not resort to this childish in-fighting.  Comedians, in general, will touch on any subject they want to, but the Letterman reference to Jay as “Big Jaw Leno” was uncalled  for.

Jesse James can add a new item to his resume: “The Most Hated Man In America.” Zeta Interactive claims his positive rating has fallen from 82 percent to 53 percent. This puts him in the range of  Tiger Woods or Kanye West.  He has now limited himself in terms of TV,  licensing arrangements and sponsors. Bottom line is that one should not treat a star like Sandra Bullock, or anyone else, in such a cruel  fashion that destroys the relationship and opens their private lives to  the gossip-hungry public.

The Rev. Monti wishes you a great  week!

If you thought there wasn’t much going on in Las Vegas last week, you must have been sleeping. We need to remember that on any given day or night we can find entertainment through out Las Vegas that includes such “regulars” as comedians Vinny Favorito and George Wallace who both star at The Flamingo, Frank Caliendo at The Monte Carlo, Rita Rudner at Harrah’s and Gordie Brown downtown at The Golden Nugget. If the comedy scene isn’t for you try an evening with Barry Manilow at the Paris or crooning sensation, new to the Las Vegas scene, Matt Goss at Caesars Palace,( weekends only). If you’re looking for production numbers that rival anything on Broadway, try The Lion King at Mandalay Bay, Phantom at The Venetian, or Menopause the Musical at The Luxor. Don’t forget the entertainment provided by such magicians as Penn & Teller at The Rio All Suites, Mac King at Harrah’s and Lance Burton at The Monte Carlo.

In addition to all our “regular” entertainers, last week offered up appearances by such featured stars as Lionel Richie at Caesars Colosseum, David Spade at The Venetian and David Copperfield at The MGM Grand. If you missed any of the shows mentioned, not to worry. As we say farewell to March 2010 we welcome a new month and featured stars will once again add to the current marquees of our regular outstanding entertainers. Las Vegas…. entertainment unlimited.

Fifty Years of Music & Movies featuring Michel Legrand & Friends provided a spectacular line up at The MGM Grand with appearances by George Benson, Steve Lawrence, Neil Sedaka, Jerry Lewis and Dionne Warwick just to name of a few. It was star power for sure and also featured a 66 piece orchestra, conducted by Legrand himself.

One of the most successful attractions on the Las Vegas Strip is the Donny & Marie show at the Flamingo. It was good news for everyone with the announcement of Marie’s return and the shows are once again sell outs. The Donny & Marie show was voted The Best in 2009 and from all reports the accolades will continue for this dynamic but delightful duo.

Cirque is providing a locals-only special offer through April 30th. Tickets for Ka, Zumanity, Mystere, and Believe are available at $49.00, These fabulous productions are now well within the reach of our Nevada residents. The Hilton is also running a locals-only special at their rBulffet on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Sunday Brunch. Bulffets start at $3.99-Check with The Hilton for details.

We went to see Barry Manilow’s new show at The Paris this weekend. Barry is still Barry, new show or not. His fans still adore him and his music. However, the sound system at this theater leaves much to be desired. Whoever engineered this system does not know what Barry needs in the way of sound, and adjustments should be made as quickly as possible.

How rude! A process server showed up at The Tropicana to find Wayne Newton at his own Meet and Greet, which is a feature offered to fans before the show. Seems Wayne’s financial problems keep chasing him. As of this date there’s no confirmation Wayne’s contract will be extended at The Tropicana. Maybe a helping hand like a benefit for this beloved and long time Las Vegas icon should be considered. Wayne was probably the biggest draw Las Vegas had in the 1980′s and 90′s. He’s the original Mr. Las Vegas.

ShoWest is one of the many tradeshows that makes Las Vegas their destination of choice. Bally’s was the scene for last week’s ShoWest exhibition which always attracts stars of the big screen. One of last week’s stars, Katherine Heigl, had a major wardrobe malfunction with the bodice of her gown while accepting her award. Luckily, host Billy Bush came to her rescue.

The queen of television, Oprah Winfrey, settled out of court with the head mistress of her girl’s school in Africa. Word is both sides were satisfied with the results. More news on the television front is that Rosie O’Donnell is returning to daytime television. Supposedly this time she’ll be featuring items on the more serious side such as health issues and inspirational themes. Are we ready for that?

Sinbad, a long time Las Vegas favorite, just lost his “job” on Donald Trump’s show The Apprentice. The comic quips that he may have to become a hit man for the mob. His financial woes have caused him to file for bankruptcy and he allegedly may loose his house What a shame. Sinbad is one of the funniest comis around and does not have to resort to four letter words to be that way.

Our favorite, comedy great JOAN RIVERS, whom you also know from TV”s Red Carpet events, QVC, and Celebrity Apprentice Champion, is coming back to Las Vegas. Joan will be appearing at The Venetian on April 8-10, April 15-17 and July 8-10 and July 15-17. See Venetian Tickets.com or call The Venetian for more info

Doo-Wopp Hall of Fame of America will be making its Las Vegas premier at The Venetian on April 23 and 24.The show will feature five acts featuring Hall of Fame inductees from the 50′s qnd 60′s. They include The Skyliners, The Marcels, The Drifters, The Mystic and The Royalty of Rock ‘n’ Roll All Stars. About eight years ago yours truly, Monti Rock III, was the host and emcee of a Hip Hop show at the old Castaways. After leaving the Castaways, the show moved to Caesars in Reno, where I continued as host and emcee. It was an experience.

Frank Sinatra Jr and his 20 piece big band will be paying tribute to “The Man’ at The Suncoast in mid April. Frank Jr performs many Sinatra classics,such as One For My Baby, I’ve Got You Under My Skin. . He’s also performed as a solo with such greats as George Burns, Flip Wilson, and Phil Harris, as well as becoming musical conductor for his famous father.

There may be news before long about the Steve Wyrick Theater at Planet Hollywood. David Saxe is still working to take over the theater and his resume reveals his success at Planet Hollywood.

Look for David Hasselhoff as a possible Strip headliner in the not too distant future. He his now shooting a reality show with is daughters and made an appearance at the Knight Rider Festival last week at The Fremont Street Experience. He also joined George Wallace on stage during George’s Flamingo show. The “Hoff” appeared here in the Las Vegas production of The Producers not too long ago. There are many who don;t know that “The Hoff” became a top recording star in Germany after starrring in TV”s Baywatch.

Rockhouse Bar and Nightclub celebrated its “First Annual Late Grand Opening Party from Las Year” This club blends a local dive bar with the glamour of “Sin City”. and is located in the heart of The Las Vegas Strip near Caesars Palace.

Robert Culp hadn’t been a feature of television for sometime but never the less we were saddened to hear of his death at the age of 79. Culp was a ground breaker of sorts when he and Bill Cosby became co-stars in the highly successful television show I Spy, one of the first shows in which a black and a white man had co-starring roles.

Asian star Aaron Kwok , who was signed to an exclusive appearance at The Wynn, has had to postpone his show. Seems his visa to the United States has been held up by the Sri Lanka government. Politics infringing on the arts once again!

As always, the Rev.Monti wishes you a wonderful week.

Even though a direct connection hasn’t been made between the death of Corey Haim and the arrest of prescription drug dealers in California, sources have recently written that an unauthorized prescription drug was found during the investigation of Corey’s death. Investigations are underway to determine if Rx pads stolen from doctors are being used to furnish celebrities and others with illegally obtained prescription drugs. Why is that a celebrity has to die or become seriously ill before the authorities investigate the source of the drugs they may be using or begin major research on a disease that has caused the death of a celebrity? Two cases in point: Rock Hudson-HIV/AIDS and Rita Hayworth-Alzheimer’s.

Audiences were disappointed with the latest cancellation of The Donny & Marie Show at the Flamingo. Most friends and fans thought is was just too soon for Marie to return to work following the loss of her son. This show can and will be waiting and Marie is reportedly returning on March 23. Once again we wish Marie and her family only the best.

Show biz lost veteran performer Cheri DeCastro of the famous DeCastro Sisters last week. They went from the Cuban nightclub scene to Miami in 1945 and then on to appearances in films and TV. They were inducted into the Casino Legends Hall of Fame as”Las Vegas Living Legends”in the late 1990′s. Cheri, in addition to her singing, was known for her great beauty and resemblance to Elizabeth Taylor.

Actor Peter Graves also passed away last week at his home after having brunch with his family Peter, brother of actor James Arness, was best known for his Mr. Phelps role on TV’s Mission Impossible, and for the movie Airplane. He also appeared in the classic Stalag 17 movie and was the host of TV’s Biography for several seasons.

In the days of yours truly, Monti Rock III, who had an addictive compulsive personality, it wasn’t just A drug. I was an addict. When I talk to anyone in this situation, I tell them intervention worked for me, and it wasn’t even a television reality show. In those days the plan was just work on the addiction, not work on a television show. I’ve been clean for 16 years. Bottom line for any addict, until you are willing to address the problem, there’s no cure.

It was just announced that Tiger Woods is coming back. He’s returning to play in the Masters, scene of some of his many triumphs. According to rumor, Elin has seen a divorce attorney and is not wearing her wedding ring. Tiger may be good for golf but his sex life need not be splattered all over the scandal sheets. That’s between him and his wife. The media should leave it alone.

For months I’ve been writing about Menopause the Musical at the Luxor, starring my friend Paige O’Hara. The show continues to run at capacity business. But one of it’s featured stars, ANNETTE VERDOLENO, appeared in Seattle at the annual Moisture Festival last week, where she recreated her character, Blanche DeBris. True to her character’s attitude and name (which in French is white trash) she brought down the house. It’s always nice to see local Las Vegas talent make an impact in other shows nationwide.

Unfortunately the Sandra Bullock and Jesse James rumors turned out to be true. Her gracious acceptance speech at the recent Academy Awards was even more touching when the camera showed Jesse near tears. Hopefully, he hasn’t joined the Tiger Woods Fun Foundation. Can’t help but wonder if Sandra is another victim of the Oscar curse – winning the top honor only to have her marriage implode. Especially the same week as last year’s Best Actress Kate Winslet split from her husband, Sam Mendes.

Last weekend Jay Leno appeared at the Mirage to his usual full house. Jay likes to use stand-up gigs to introduce some of his new jokes. He continues to be one busy man, with personal appearances and helming the Tonight Show. Other late hosts seem to find a certain sense of self-satisfaction with their mean-spirited banter about Jay’s return to late night television. Maybe it’s just sour grapes on the part of these other guys, especially Jimmy Kimmel. They should learn from the network evening news anchors, who compete on a daily basis but do not resort to putting each other down,

American Idol may not be my favorite TV show any longer, but I do find myself tuning in to catch glimpses of the action each week. I didn’t catch any of the young singers last week, but I did see Ryan Seacrest and Simon Cowell exchanging sharp verbal jabs. Are they really feuding or is it just part of the show? Maybe it’s all just for ratings. Could it be they’re trying to create some new interest in the show since former Idol judge Paula Abdul is reportedly considering hosting a revival of Star Search? Her new show would be in direct competition with Idol.

Another television favorite of the masses is Dancing With the Stars, which returns on March 22. They have a diverse line-up this year, as well as a new co-host, Brooke Burke. Brooke is well-known to TV viewers after winning Dancing’s mirrored-ball trophy two seasons ago. The show will also have as its oldest contestant, 80-year-old moon-walking astronaut Buzz Aldrin.

It’s expected that March Madness will bring in the revenue for Las Vegas. This is one of the most popular sporting events for the year, according to Vegas casinos and sports books.

The Las Vegas Hilton will feature rock band Chicago with their long-time familiar sound on April 2 and 3. Vocal virtuosos Earth, Wind & Fire bring their unique sound and energy to the Hilton on April 16 and 17. Also on the agenda are Little Anthony and the Imperials on April 30 and Petula Clark on May 1. Several tribute shows to various music legends fill in the other April/May weekends.

Frank, Sammy and Dean live on at The Rampart Casino on March 26 and 28 with Ryan Baker (Frank), Bryan Clark (Sammy) and Rick Michel (Dean). They, of course, will be doing the standards, as well as new songs done in the style of those greats.

A newcomer to the Las Vegas scene is Aaron Kwok, who will make his exclusive appearance at Wynn Las Vegas April 2-3, where he’ll perform in Dancing King Concert – World Tour. In both Hong Kong and Asia, Aaron is known simply as the Dancing King and considered a star of both song and dance. Las Vegas is at the absolute top of the list when it comes to entertainment, so it’s no surprise Aaron Kwok picked Wynn Las Vegas as a stop on his world tour. Call (702) 770-7469 for tickets to this extravaganza.

Coming soon: more information about the Rick Belcastro’s Badda Bing Club special feature, The Monti Rock Chapel of Lust

Once again the Rev. Monti wishes you all a great week.