Las Vegas Sun

March 29, 2024

CES a mix of glitterati and gadgets

CES

Ronda Churchill / Associated Press

Actor Tom Hanks, left, and Sony CEO Sir Howard Stringer share a moment on stage during a demonstration of video-playing glasses, which are worn by Stringer, at the International Consumer Electronics Show Thursday.

Celebrities at CES

Akon talks with Bill Werde, editorial director for Billboard magazine, about music in the digital age.  Launch slideshow »

Expanded coverage

Beyond the Sun

Celebrity watchers, brace yourselves: CES is here and so are the stars.

Organizers at the Consumer Electronics Show began rolling out the red carpet on Wednesday, as rapper Soulja Boy Tell ‘Em and hip-hopper Akon made keynote addresses for Billboard’s “New Music Live!” series.

Fellow rap legend Ludacris was also spotted on the CES floor on Wednesday, at a morning event presented by Monster Cable.

Building on yesterday’s celebrity sightings, a solar system of stars dazzled across the Las Vegas Convention Center today.

Tom Hanks, Usher, MLB Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson, and Dr. Oz (a.k.a. Oprah’s doctor) all turned up at Sony CEO Sir Howard Stringer’s keynote address.

Ten-time All-Star NBA Hall of Famer Clyde Drexler put in two appearances at the Haier America booth, while “Big Papi” David Ortiz met with fans at the Sharp Electronics booth in the afternoon.

Akon visited CES for the second day in a row with an appearance at SanDisk’s booth in the LVCC’s south hall, which is where Indy 500 driver Sarah Fisher also mixed and mingled with fans, over at the SimCraft booth.

Later tonight, hip-hopper Will.I.am of the Black Eyed Peas will appear as part of the first annual Global Media Awards, which are being held at the Venetian.

Along with the Sands Expo Center, the Venetian serves as a satellite location for CES, which has grown too large for the LVCC to host on its own.

Also at CES this week are a range of NBC personalities from the Today Show and Access Hollywood. In addition, Brian Williams from the NBC Evening News and CNBC’s Maria Bartiromo are also on hand.

Legendary “Jeopardy” host Alex Trabeck will tape 11 episodes over the course of the four-day show, including a “Tournament of Champions” installment and an episode of “Celebrity Jeopardy.”

Tom Bergeron of “Dancing with the Stars,” Elizabeth Perkins from “Weeds,” and Aisha Tyler, whose latest movie, “Bedtime Stories,” premiered last month, will go head-to-head on Friday during the “Celebrity Jeopardy” taping.

The episode, which will be taped using a new “Jeopardy!” set that has been erected next to Sony’s booth at the LVCC, will air on Tuesday, March 10.

Also appearing at CES on Friday will be Chicago Cubs infielder Ryan Theriot, 2008 All-Star and Silver Slugger award winner Hanley Ramierz, New York Yankees pitcher Joba Chamberlain, and three-time All-Star MLB legend Matt Holiday. All will appear at Sharp’s booth in the LVCC’s central hall.

Haier America will also keep the celebs coming as CES continues. NBA Hall of Famers Robert “The Chief” Parish and Bill “Big Red Head” Walton are both slated to appear at the household electronics company’s booth before CES closes on Sunday.

Unfortunately for fans of sports stars and cutting-edge technology, CES is closed to the public. The annual industry-only conference runs Jan 8 – 11.

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