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March 18, 2024

Segway antics, Brad Garrett on fumes (and NBC) and more from ‘Power of Love’ Gala

2016 ‘Power of Love’ Gala Arrivals

Sam Morris/Las Vegas News Bureau

James Corden and Julia Carey appear on the red carpet for Keep Memory Alive’s 20th Annual “Power of Love” Gala at MGM Grand Garden Arena on Saturday, May 21, 2016, in Las Vegas.

‘Power of Love’ Gala Arrivals

Co-Founder and Chairman of Keep Memory Alive Larry Ruvo, honoree Tony Bennett and recording artist Steven Tyler appear on the red carpet for Keep Memory Alive's 20th Annual Power Of Love Gala at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 21, 2016, in Las Vegas. Launch slideshow »

It was a uniquely Keep Memory Alive “Power of Love” Gala type of moment when the guy on the Segway custom-painted with metallic flames arrived on the red (or make that purple) carpet.

“Guys, who is this coming down on the Segway? Does he think they are a new thing, that we’ll think he’s really cool?” asked James Corden, host of “The Late, Late Show” on CBS and one of Saturday night’s performers. “What is going on here?”

The man on the Segway was Noel Lee, CEO of electronics company Monster Inc. Lee rolled up during Corden’s session with the media saying he didn’t want to disrupt the interview, and his arrival only helped the process scoot along — and he offered a pair of headphones.

“Can we have a photo of you wearing these?” Lee asked a bemused Corden.

“I’d love to, but I can’t,” Corden said. “I just signed a deal with Beats. So sorry.”

“Oh, I created Beats, too,” Lee said (which is true, as he worked on the development of those headphones with Dr. Dre).

“You did?” Corden said. “Well! I have to say, well done! But I’m still not wearing them.”

More pre-gala action from the “Power of Love” event at MGM Grand Garden Arena:

• Brad Garrett took a look down the line at my buddy, colleague and fellow scenester Michael Shulman, noticing Shulman happened to be wearing a gold-sequined turban.

“Who’s the guy in the turban?” Garrett asked. “Has he not read the news?”

“He’s Michael Shulman, and he’s a buddy,” I said, then joked. “I think he furnishes turbans. He’s a turban outfitter.”

“A turban outfitter!” Garrett called out. “I’m using that!”

Not anymore …

I also expressed to Garrett, who is a dear friend and overachieving in his engagement to longtime girlfriend IsaBeall Quella, that Mike Tyson consistently sells out his show “Undisputed Truth.” Tyson and producer Adam Steck’s SPI Entertainment lease Brad Garrett’s Comedy Club at MGM Grand.

“Yes, he’s selling out, and I’m on fumes,” joked Garrett, whose club also about sells out when he is in town (and he is this week). “I’m only doing well enough to be Mike’s driver.”

Garrett is in the middle of a two-episode stint on the season finale of “Law & Order” on NBC. The climactic episode of Season 17 of the show, in which Garrett plays a corrupt corrections officer, airs Wednesday night. Part 1 was last Wednesday.

Also, know that Garrett’s Maximum Hope charity poker tournament returns to MGM Grand on July 2. More on that event in subsequent columns after we have a chance to return to Tyson’s show … and maybe see Garrett, too.

• Steve Schirripa, the great actor and former entertainment director at the Riv, plays cop Anthony Abetemarco on the CBS crime-drama series “Blue Bloods.” And, he noted, “I have a movie coming out in a couple of weeks called ‘Chasing Yesterday,’ where I actually play a priest.

“So I’m playing a cop and a priest, anything besides a mob guy is OK with me.” Ever since his role as Bobby Bacala in “The Sopranos,” Schirripa has been hit up repeatedly for similar mob-fashioned roles.

“I’m really proud of ‘Blue Bloods,’ which I joined in October,” he said. “Great cast, really well-written.” Also worth noting is Schirripa’s line of organic pasta sauces, Uncle Steve’s, which is hard to find (order it online at UncleStevesNY.com) but easy to digest …

• New UNLV men’s basketball coach Marvin Menzies strolled the carpet with a buddy of his who also has been previously mentioned as a possible Runnin’ Rebel coach. So I asked this guy about his connection to Las Vegas.

“Every time the UNLV coaching position comes up, I am mentioned,” said Rick Pitino, the head coach at Louisville and a friend of Menzies’ who was attending the gala for the first time. “This goes back to my friendship, years ago, with Steve and Elaine Wynn.”

Pitino said he seriously considered taking the UNLV post in 2001 when he was coaching the New York Knicks. He would have replaced then-interim coach Max Good, who had taken over for Bill Bayno in 2000.

“Many, many years ago when this possibility was for real, I wanted to come here,” Pitino said. “I would have left the Knicks, but I had three small children at the time, and my wife said, ‘No, I want to stay east of the Mississippi,’ and she won out.”

Menzies, the former coach at New Mexico, said he is eager to launch his first season. “I am very excited about the guys we’ve got coming in, very excited for the season to start.” Then he quickly added with a laugh. “And so is my wife.”

• The night’s co-honoree, Bill Boyd, experienced two firsts: “I’ve never been on a red carpet before — even though this isn’t red,” he said. “And I’ve never met Tony Bennett.” True. Boyd had seen Bennett perform in Las Vegas but hadn’t shaken the man’s hand until moments after this chat when the two were asked to stand for photos.

“He’s just amazing,” said the 84-year-old Boyd. “He sounds as good at (age) 90 as he did 40 years ago.” Boyd founded Boyd Gaming with his father, Sam, and established the William F. Boyd School of Law. He was honored with the KMA Leadership Award.

• Closing with more from Corden, who drolly fielded questions during his time on the carpet, but only after taking issue with my attire. I was in a tux, needlessly because the night is not a black-tie affair. No matter. Corden zeroed in on my shirt.

“You’ve got the winged collar?” he said. “I like it. It’s the talk of the night. Everyone’s talking about Wing-Collared John. You sure you’re not going to do a shift at another restaurant after this? … But seriously, you look beautiful.”

I would have responded, but I was late for my gig at Joel Robuchon …

Corden also spoke to the popularity of the Carpool Karaoke segment on “The Late Show,” which has become a phenomenon with guests such as Elton John, Adele, Justin Bieber and Jennifer Lopez joining in the sing-along-ride-along. The YouTube clips of these segments have drawn nearly 20 million views.

“Asking me which is my favorite is asking which of my children I like the best, but my children would never read this, where my guests might actually read this.” Corden said. “So I’m not going to tell you — I just don’t want to piss Elton John off, so I love them all the same.”

Follow John Katsilometes on Twitter at twitter.com/JohnnyKats. Also, follow Kats on Instagram Instagram.com/JohnnyKats1.

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