Thursday, Dec. 21, 2000 | 9:49 a.m.
Joe Delaney's column appears on Thursdays and Fridays. Reach him at 259-4066 or [email protected].
This is the season to reflect and rejoice; to observe, each of us in our own way the true meaning of Christmas, Hanukkah, other traditional beliefs, and/or the winter solstice ... There are many show changes in works, so this period just before Christmas is a good time to play catch-up ... There will be a full slate of shows next week; seats are available this week.
For a full quota of good laughs and current events made very funny, spend an evening with David Brenner at the Golden Nugget ... Casino Center is warming up again, thanks to Brenner and to Pete Barbutti, gentle humorist and deft wit, who is the redeeming feature in "Naked Angels" (Plaza), where "Houdini Lives Again," at 4 p.m. in the person of Dixie Dooley.
For the budget minded, it's Robbie Howard and the Walkers in "Stars of the Strip," afternoons, and comedy-magician Fielding West in his self-titled show, evenings (Lady Luck), for the price of a drink with an easily available coupon.
Outgoing shows
Tommy Tune is departing the MGM Grand's "EFX" Dec. 31, with Rick Springfield to take over the lead on Jan. 30 ... All three editions of "EFX" have been different, showing the vitality of the basic concept ... Michael Crawford had a mature approach and a tour de force attitude ... David Cassidy added a contemporary touch, with a romantic storyline ... Tune gave it a Broadway-musical feel.
We've reported favorably on all three editions to date ... Crawford was our favorite; Tune a close second ... Speaking of Cassidy, his Rio run will end Jan. 21, but his association with Harrah's continues.
Back at the MGM Grand, Rita Rudner is only booked until Dec. 31 ... There should be a room in Las Vegas for Rudner ... Look at what is happening at the Golden Nugget with Brenner.
No one asked but ...
Based upon his recent two weeks at the Stardust, there should also be a showroom in Las Vegas for Bob Anderson ... Anderson closes Friday to make room for a second edition of "Asian Nights," featuring top Vietnamese entertainers ... Wayne Newton returns Tuesday for a 13-day stand ... The Stardust did capacity with B.B. King last month and excellent business with "Legends of Rock 'n' Roll" groups on weekends when Newton is off.
"Legends of Comedy" (New Frontier) deserves better hotel support ... The re-creations of Jay Leno, George Burns, Roseanne, Rodney Dangerfield and Jack Benny are all accurate, well-produced and quite funny ... This has the potential to be a long-term winner.
For something different, try "A Really Big Shew," a re-creation of Ed Sullivan's TV show with a Sullivan act-alike introducing carbons of acts that once played the original television show. Read our review of it in Friday's Sun.
Comedy tonight
The Riviera Comedy Club is going with one of its strongest lineups in recent ken with Johnny Dark, George Miller, Mitchell Walters and Kirt Dow through Sunday ... Dark made his LV debut in the early 1970s, opening for Ginger Rogers at the Desert Inn, primarily as an impressionist ... Miller has had more TV exposure than most top comics, while Walters was part of the late Sam Kinison's Outlaws along with Ronny Kenny and Pauly Shore.
Dark, Miller and Walters have in common the fact that they were Mitzi Shore Comedy Store regulars at the Dunes in the late 1980s ... Shore may be considering another Comedy Store here in 2001.
Howie Mandel, a Caesars Palace Circus Maximus regular these past few years, is at the Monte Carlo, Friday through Sunday ... Mandel made his first appearance at Shore's Los Angeles Comedy Store, doing so on a dare ... His "St. Elsewhere" role was the real career launcher.
Thursday addendum
Nevada Ballet Theatre's annual holiday classic, "The Nutcracker," continues through Tuesday, with special matinees added, in UNLV's Judy Bayley Theatre ... Mariachi Los Comperos de Nati Cano performs "Fiesta Navidad," 8 p.m. Friday in UNLV's Artemus Ham Hall ... The celebration of a Mexican Christmas includes the Ballet Folklorico Ollin ... Call 895-2787 for tickets.
Community College of Southern Nevada's annual Christmas Festival will be performed this weekend in the Cheyenne campus' Little Theatre ... International superstar Jackie Chan and his "superstars" are the MGM Grand Garden Arena attraction Saturday at 8 p.m. ... See you Friday.
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