Jerry Fink

Entertainment Reporter

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Story Archive

Latin band Indigo sizzles Summerlin Saturday nights: Wednesday, July 2, 2008; Add vibrant Indigo to the brilliant pinks and oranges of the Mexican restaurant Agave. That’s one recipe to put color into beige-centric Summerlin.
Luaus amid the towers: For 17 years, the Imperial Palace has hosted Polynesian feasts around its rooftop swimming pool; Tuesday, July 1, 2008; For a couple of hours about 500 people escape reality and forget they are sitting poolside at long banquet tables on the roof at the Imperial Palace, surrounded by hotel towers.
Late comedian’s friends collect money for trees to honor his memory: Monday, June 30, 2008; Comedian Bernie Allen left behind a host of friends who are now raising money to plant a living memorial to the man who made Frank Sinatra laugh.
TAKE FIVE: CLINT BLACK: Friday, June 27, 2008; Fans won’t ever confuse country singer/songwriter Clint Black with country singer/comedian Rodney Carrington, but Black might be edging onto Carrington’s side of the stage.
Misfits’ icon cracked wise: Comedian abandoned nice-guy-in-tie shtick early on — in Las Vegas, no less — and wrung laughs with brilliant, irreverent social essays; Tuesday, June 24, 2008; I recall seeing George Carlin for the first time in the early ’60s on “The Tonight Show” when he was still wearing suits with pegged pants and narrow lapels and thin ties and trying to be a stand-up comedian who told jokes in the vein of Jonathan Winters that made everyone laugh.
Making up a character: Cosmetics magician Ron Wild creates the Phantom on the face of actor Anthony Crivello; Monday, June 23, 2008; Makeup artist Ron Wild carefully stretches the paper-thin elastic bald cap over Anthony Crivello’s thick head of wavy black hair, the first step in transforming the handsome actor into the deranged character in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Phantom, the Las Vegas Spectacular.”
Not even critics are going to slow this guy down: Thursday, June 19, 2008; Fans love Michael Bolton. Critics hate him.
Crosby, Stills and Nash: Thursday, June 19, 2008; Graham Nash still burns with the same passion he had in the ’60s.
Take your pick: Country crooner, ‘Crazy Girls’ or edgy comedy: Thursday, June 19, 2008; “Hicktown” catapulted country artist Jason Aldean into the national limelight in 2005. This week, Aldean will open for Tim McGraw when the country superstar stops Saturday at Mandalay Bay.
After 50 years, this master still knows what makes America laugh: Wednesday, June 18, 2008; Shelley Berman has worn a lot of hats during his 50-year career — stand-up comedian, author, teacher, lecturer, TV actor, movie star. Berman, 82, brings his stand-up act to the Improv at Harrah’s this week.
Jesters follow fads, but jokes remain in demand: Wednesday, June 18, 2008; Comedy changes with the times, ebbing and flowing with each hot comic, says Mark Lonow of the famed Improv Comedy Club franchise. “Comedians have changed. They come and go, stylistically,” Lonow says.
Modern comedy is his offspring: Improv founder has watched dozens of comedians take wing; Wednesday, June 18, 2008; Slightly built, with thinning hair, wearing glasses and casually dressed, Budd Friedman looks more like a retired advertising executive than the King of Comedy.
One way or another, these bands are hot: Deals with UFC, a Grammy-winning producer up their odds; Tuesday, June 17, 2008; When the Killers and Panic at the Disco hit the big time, it made local bands realize that Las Vegas could be their launchpad for fame and fortune.
Garland’s daughter embraces legend’s legacy: Monday, June 16, 2008; Lorna Luft, youngest daughter of Judy Garland, is a card-carrying member of a small club. The members include the likes of Lisa Marie Presley, Frank Sinatra Jr. and Sean Lennon.
Country alive and kickin’ at Dixie’s: Monday, June 16, 2008; The 100-year-old fiddle sounds new as Scotty Alexander bows through lively versions of Charlie Daniels’ “The South’s Gonna Do it Again” and George Strait’s “The Fireman.”
Face lift doesn’t alter spirit of old Vegas jazz bar: Thursday, June 12, 2008; Pogo’s is being jazzed up.
There are new booths and carpeting. Even the stage, moved from the west wall to the east, is new.
Musical is tribute to ‘Wizard of Oz’ composer: Thursday, June 12, 2008; Convention Center Way becomes the Yellow Brick Road for the next few weeks, ringing with the sounds of Harold Arlen.
Casals of comedy doesn’t do jokes: Tuesday, June 10, 2008; It’s always worth checking in with caustic comedian George Carlin.
She wants you to 'Find Your Sexy': Monday, June 9, 2008; Finally a seminar about feelings and emotions that men can drag wives and girlfriends to and not be embarrassed to tell the guys.
Duo to see if play’s the thing for Vegas: Monday, June 9, 2008; Comedian Rita Rudner and producer Martin Bergman sound like a team.
Philharmonic concert is UNLV’s birthday gift to community: Friday, June 6, 2008; UNLV has been celebrating its 50th birthday for a year. But the party comes to an end Saturday with a partly free concert featuring Broadway star Linda Eder and the Las Vegas Philharmonic.
Comedian piles on the insults for his shows at Hooters: Wednesday, June 4, 2008; Saber-tongued comedian Bobby Slayton hasn’t mellowed in the year he has headlined at Hooters’ Night Owl Showroom.
DJs’ ride up peaks in Vegas: Here they give nightlife its pulse, drawing the young and hip — and making a killing; Tuesday, June 3, 2008; Partyers packed Jet and The Bank, intoxicated not only by high-priced drinks and the frenzied nightclub atmosphere but also by loud, pounding music created by DJ Tiesto.
Action theater by design: Architect’s vision for a plunging chandelier brings dramatic effect to ‘Phantom’; Monday, June 2, 2008; The 1-ton, $5 million chandelier looms above the Venetian’s Phantom Theatre, falls from the ceiling and almost crashes into the audience during each performance of “Phantom, the Las Vegas Spectacular.”
When Vegas tenors perform Sunday, original member won’t be singing along: Friday, May 30, 2008; Fans of the four Las Vegas Tenors will notice something missing from the photo advertising an upcoming performance at the Las Vegas Hilton.
Drama of Wright’s comedy is all about the understatement: He calls his humor ‘kind of surreal, kind of weird’; Thursday, May 29, 2008; The secret to laconic comic Steven Wright’s humor may be found in abstract expressionism.
Latino tribute show debuts: Producer hopes the high-energy song and dance routine will resonate with Hispanics; Thursday, May 29, 2008; Las Vegas producer Stephen Sorrentino brings a new show, “Superstars Latinos,” to the 1,200-seat Dallas Events Center at Texas Station on Friday.
Mencia says: If you don’t like me, don’t come to my shows: Wednesday, May 21, 2008; It’s enough to blow the mind of Carlos Mencia, so many projects coming to fruition at the same time.
Songwriter, singer ﬁnds the right mix for his life: There’s time to make toys for the grandkids as well as a new album; Tuesday, May 20, 2008; Hal Ketchum has found a perfect balance in life — writing, performing and woodworking.
Inspiration of Dusty Springfield helps land a gig in Vegas: Monday, May 19, 2008; Still suffering from jet lag and the heady experience of being named the best tribute artist in Great Britain, Katy Setterfield began rehearsing last week in Las Vegas.
This magician’s also a card: Book mixes his life story with a healthy dose of humor; Monday, May 19, 2008; Michael Close’s book, “That Reminds Me: Finding the Funny in a Serious World,” is a painful read.
Cher fans are the real show: Friday, May 16, 2008; The man walking across the casino at Caesars Palace had a boxer’s mug — a hard, chiseled face with a nose broken so many times it looked like something drawn by Picasso.
Theater makes the man: He’s passing on the legacies of Paul Robeson and James Earl Jones to a new generation; Wednesday, May 14, 2008; Age may have slowed his step a bit but it has only sharpened Walter Mason’s vision and his intellect.
Comedy is magician’s secret: Realizing accordion wasn’t his ticket, Vegas entertainer made himself funny; Tuesday, May 13, 2008; There wasn’t much call for a dancing accordion player, so Murray SawChuck turned to magic and comedy. Probably a good choice. Today the 29-year-old comic magician lives in Las Vegas and performs around the world.
Guitars & Saxes adds feminine touch to cool jazz: Tuesday, May 13, 2008; Guitars & Saxes began as a modest idea — a group of world-class guitarists and saxophonists traveling across the country playing cool jazz during the hot summer months.
A night of classic country, coming from Ireland: Monday, May 12, 2008; When Daniel O’Donnell pours his heart out in such country hits as Buck Owens’ “Love’s Gonna Live Here Again” or Conway Twitty’s “Hello Darlin’ ” you won’t hear a twang, although you might catch just the hint of an Irish brogue.
Osmonds, Osmonds everywhere: Donnie and Marie plan summer stop before Flamingo run; brothers also to visit; Monday, May 12, 2008; When the Osmond clan invades Europe this month, it’s going to look like D-Day.
Story, music of ‘Jersey Boys’ pop the lid off memories: Monday, May 12, 2008; The ink was still drying on my driver’s license when I first heard “Sherry,” the song that ignited the career of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons.
Eclectic musical mix makes familiar sound: Thursday, May 8, 2008; Singer Matt Bishop of the band Swtiches proclaims his group “a neurotic bunch of obsessive-compulsive weirdos.”
Opening act has Las Vegas spirit with British accent: Thursday, May 8, 2008; Your Vegas hails from ... a small English market town northwest of Leeds.
30 years later, still hungry: Icon of MTV generation speaks about longevity, technology and music piracy; Thursday, May 8, 2008; Duran Duran turned on the lights — and cameras — for music in the ’80s by parlaying their tech savvy and cinematic good looks into stardom.
Top ‘popera’ names in Vegas lights: Fans can choose from 2 lineups, ticket-price ranges; Wednesday, May 7, 2008; Good news for popera fans: Andrea Bocelli and Josh Groban are performing at Mandalay Bay in a star-studded concert with Michael Buble. And for the budget conscious, prominent female singer Romina Arena heads to the Cannery.
Revamped Pogo’s will be a cleaner place, maybe more musical: Monday, May 5, 2008; Jazz fans and musicians stood wall-to-wall inside Pogo’s on the night before the neighborhood tavern closed temporarily so new owners could clean off some of the dust that has settled over the past 50 years.
Staging a comeback: Arizona Charlie’s plans to revive its showroom — once a proving ground for young artists; Monday, May 5, 2008; Like the Phantom of the Opera, ghosts lurk behind the false wall in the 24-hour bingo parlor on the second floor of Arizona Charlie’s on Decatur.
He may fold ’em to just be Dad: With two boys at home, The Gambler mulls the final change in his chameleonic career: retirement; Thursday, May 1, 2008; Kenny Rogers is still turning out hits. He can still hit the notes. But while The Gambler was riding on his tour bus in Northern Nevada, doing a phone interview, he casually mentioned he was giving serious thought to retirement.
Beneﬁt for singing legend a success: Performers donate time, talent to help out Norman Kaye; Tuesday, April 29, 2008; Fans and friends contributed more than $20,000 to the recent fundraiser for legendary lounge entertainer Norman Kaye — $17,000 during a concert in which dozens of veteran Vegas entertainers performed.
Vegas-style impressionism: Tom Stevens rides the surge in his art form’s popularity, transforming himself as many as 53 times a night; Friday, April 25, 2008; Tom Stevens awes Riviera audiences with 53 voices from his repertoire. But his best is Martin, hence the title of the one-man show.
Octogenarian music legends jazz up a Las Vegas embroidery store: Thursday, April 24, 2008; Jazz legends Louie Bellson and Clark Terry will perform one of their more unusual gigs this week — at EmbroidMe, a store that features custom embroidery, screen printing and promotional products.
Onstage, they’re in sync: Scott Brothers’ show is just 5 minutes, but audiences at MGM Grand eat it up; Wednesday, April 23, 2008; The Scott Brothers have about five minutes to impress an audience whose attention for the evening is focused primarily on a troupe of topless dancers stirring the libido. Amazingly, Robert and Michael Scott succeed.
20 bands to rock for a shot at $50,000 record deal: Wednesday, April 23, 2008; The hills of Lake Las Vegas will be alive with the sound of rock this weekend from the unsigned bands competing in the first Live Indie Rock Wars.