VegasBeat — Timothy McDarrah: Charo is VH1’s ‘Surreal’ deal

Saturday, June 19, 2004 | 12:39 p.m.

VegasBeat appears Sunday through Friday in the Las Vegas Sun. Timothy McDarrah can be reached at [email protected] or at (702) 259-4096.

WEEKEND EDITION

June 19 - 20, 2004

Las Vegas, a city often described as surreal, once again has a representative on the cast of "The Surreal Life."

That is the VH1 reality show that drops six public figures into a Hollywood house to watch the folly of the human dynamic.

This year's Vegas entry is recurring headliner Charo. She and Public Enemy rapper Flava Flav, Dave Coulier ("Full House"), Jordan Knight of New Kids On The Block, Brigitte Nielsen and "American Idol" castoff Ryan Starr were introduced to one another and installed in their new home last week.

The first season of the show featured Vegas resident and former Motley Crue frontman Vince Neil, while the second season cast included Trishelle Cannatella from "Real World: Las Vegas."

The third season of "The Surreal Life" debuts Sept. 5.

Lt. Gov. Lorraine T. Hunt is moving on up. She just bought a six-bedroom, five-bath place with a swimming pool on Augusta Drive at the Las Vegas Country Club.

According to In Business Las Vegas Director of Research Ulf Buchholz (In Biz is a sister pub of this newspaper), who uncovered the information, Hunt bought the property from Dr. Roger M. Simon and Leslie K. Simon for $1.2 million. The transaction was completed June 4.

The Web site for the Clark County assessor lists eight other properties, mainly undeveloped land, also owned by Hunt.

Robert Duvall, in town for a CineVegas Film Festival appearance, had lunch Friday at Burger Bar (Mandalay Place) with six friends.

He ordered a Ridgefield Farm Beef burger on white toast, and told the staff he eats at least "one good burger" a month.

Bill Clinton does not plan to come to Las Vegas to promote "My Life," his sure-to-be-a-blockbuster memoir.

He'll be signing copies in New York on Tuesday and Wednesday and in Los Angeles Friday and Saturday.

Then it is off to San Jose, San Francisco, Seattle, Chicago, his native Arkansas, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C.

Clinton talks to "60 Minutes" tonight (7 p.m. on KLAS Channel 8) in his first extended discussion about the book.

The Pink Taco is growing. The swinging Mexican eatery at the Hard Rock Hotel is preparing to open a branch in Summerlin, hotel honchos have hinted.

Queen founding members Brian May and Roger Taylor, writer Ben Elton, producer Jane Rosenthal and Paris Las Vegas prez Bobby Yee are coming together in Las Vegas Wednesday to officially announce the details of the show "We Will Rock You."

A production of the London extravaganza is slated to open in Las Vegas in August.

The 11 a.m. press conference, which will feature "visually exciting rock concert theatrics," is open to the first 1,000 members of the public who show up at the hotel's Le Theatre des Arts.

Former Motley Crue drummer Tommy Lee will play DJ and then hit the skins this evening at a Father's Day party called "Who's Your Sugar Daddy?" at Light (Bellagio).

Admission is free for local residents.

Progress, not perfection.

MGM MIRAGE execs tell us that our item here last week was incorrect regarding Chef Joel Robuchon. His restaurant is indeed moving forward in the Mansion and is slated to open in 2005, spokeswoman Jenn Michaels tells us. We had reported the deal had fallen through.

MGM Grand President "Gamal Aziz and Joel are both extremely enthusiastic about the project and working closely to bring it to fruition," Michaels said.

Since we gave a shout out to moms for Mother's Day, we follow suit with a similar tribute today to pops.

So, Happy Father's day to my dad Fred; Father Time; George Washington (The Father of Our Country); Father Flanagan from "Boys' Town"; Father McKenzie of "Eleanor Rigby" fame (writing the words of a sermon that no one will hear); Father Guido Sarducci; Steve Martin, who starred in the remake of "Father of the Bride"; Siegfried & Roy, who are the basis of the new TV series "Father of the Pride"; and Bill Bixby, who starred in the old sitcom "The Courtship of Eddie's Father."

Please, kids, anything but a tie.

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