From autopsy reports to red carpet, 'CSI's' Dr. Telgenhoff has it covered

By John Katsilometes

Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2009 | 6:35 p.m.

Sometimes it takes a red carpet event at a behemoth resort-casino to remind just how uniquely small Las Vegas can seem. It is a city where even a county-employed forensic pathologist can be the focus of celebrity photographers during a teeming-with-stars media event.

That scene unfolded just this weekend on the Strip, and we … were … there.

On Saturday at the MGM Grand, which soon should supplant Reno as the Biggest Little City in the World, “CSI: The Experience” celebrated its grand opening gala VIP/media event. Paraded across the blood red carpet were executives and actors connected with the project, chief among them series creator and Las Vegas resident Anthony Zuiker. Also walking the strobe-lit carpet were “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” mainstays Marg Helgenberger, George Eads, Liz Vassey, Jorja Fox, Robert David Hall, David Berman, Wallace Langham, Paul Guilfoyle and Eric Szmanda.

And hanging around this crew was our favorite Pete Barbutti look-alike, Clark County forensic pathologist Dr. Gary Telgenhoff. I’d not seen this man since June, at a radically contrasting event: the announcement by Clark County Coroner Michael Murphy that Las Vegas entertainer Danny Gans died of a toxic response to the powerful painkiller Dilaudid.

During that event, Telgenhoff and Clark County Coroner Michael Murphy were stoically informing the public of how Gans perished on May 1 at age 52. But Saturday, Telgenhoff was a lot more ebullient, explaining his participation in the “CSI” event and his role as consultant for the series and the new interactive attraction.

“A long time ago, Anthony approached me about this idea he had for a TV show about forensic medicine and wanted to see what went on in a morgue,” Telgenhoff said during a quick red carpet chat (and this is the only type of chat you’ll participate in on a red carpet) as photographers fired away at Zuiker and the more-recognizable celebs. “I wasn’t sure what he was up to other than that, but I’ll talk to anybody with an idea.” In a story that has since become part of Las Vegas lore, Zuiker was working as a Mirage tram operator at the time (and as Zuiker success blooms, his former low-level employment has taken on even less and less prominence, and soon I’m expecting him to say, “I was but a lowly tram operator, being fed only the spare pizza crusts of kindly tourists,”). In his early research phase, Zuiker culled the needed technical forensic education to produce a sensible storyline for a TV series, and consequently cut loose with a hit with the explicitly detailed “CSI.”

The show has since branched out to two other death-defying series, “CSI: Miami” and “CSI: New York,” and has even taken the form of a board game. The attraction at MGM seems the next logical step, if your interpretation of logic is to follow the inspired “Star Trek Experience,” which was a hit at the Las Vegas Hilton for a decade.

Even beyond his role as a “CSI” consultant, Telgenhoff favors entertainment. He’s a drummer and vocalist for the Vegas heavy metal band SkinnerRat, which this month released the aptly titled CD “You Kill Me.” (Telgenhoff’s dual life has been previously reported by then-Las Vegas Sun music writer Spencer Patterson back in our Accent heyday, click here for that story; and more recently, in August, by colleague Abigail Goldman; click here for her Six Questions piece.) A song sampling: “Mama’s in a Can,” “Cold Dead Hands” and “Mabel’s Marbeling.”

As a songwriter, Telgenhoff urns every accolade.

Ouch.

Telgenhoff describes his position with Clark County as “my day job,” and Saturday did offer that he was relieved inquiries into Gans’ death had finally ceased. He’s not big on the celebrity-autopsy form of newsmaking, saying, “I’m just glad Michael Jackson didn’t come through here.” Then he turned away, off to the carpet to pose for the camera on a different sort of crime scene investigation.

More “Zuik”

The first time I met Zuiker was a few years ago in one of the more random circumstances, ever. He was standing next to me at the Green Valley Ranch sports book looking over college football betting lines. On Saturday, I asked him who he liked in the afternoon games. “Today, USC,” he said. I’d just been watching the referred-to game, USC-Ohio State, and said, “It’s 10-3 OSU, second quarter.”

“No!” he said. “It’s 10-10 now! I’m ahead of you.” He snuck a peek at his handheld, I guess, but he lost the bet as USC won 18-15, failing to cover the 7. I’m sure as a result he’s in financial ruin …

P.H. invasion

There is a pulse at Planet Hollywood Theatre for the Performing Arts. For the first time since the ’80s-shaded “Freestyle Jam” was held at TPA on May 15, a ticketed show is scheduled for the venerable entertainment venue on Sept. 26-27. The production is “Paris by Night,” a Vietnamese variety show filled with music, comedy, dancing and (as I understand it) more magic than you’ll see in “Believe.” This show’s appeal is narrow but strong, with a huge Vietnamese following. I just called the number (714-894-5811) and was instantly asked by someone with what sounded like a heavy Vietnamese accent, “DO YOU SPEAK VIETNAMESE?”

“NO!” I answered as we were both speaking in needlessly loud voices, “I AM STILL STRUGGLING WITH ENGLISH!”

“OK!” the person said. “THEN SPEAK SLOWLY!”

We managed to reach a level of English with which we both could cope, and tickets are still available for the evening show (7:30 p.m.) Sept. 26 or the afternoon show (1:30 p.m.) Sept. 27 if you call that number. Good luck!

Tap! Into America!

Siegfried & Roy will be on hand at one of their favorite Vegas haunts on Saturday when they tap the first keg of Oktoberfest at Hofbrauhaus. They are set to tap dat keg at 7 p.m. As my man URL reported this week, the duo have joined the charity MagiCares, and they continue to keep busy and make appearances for their fans in Las Vegas. Roy Horn has said he still loves being around the fans.

Follow John Katsilometes on Twitter at twitter.com/JohnnyKats.