Michael Gaughan says no to return of ‘Vegas Stripped’ to South Point; Steve Wynn has enough nightclubs

By John Katsilometes

Friday, May 25, 2012 | 6 p.m.

Some of what I have seen on the scene:

• This comes from the top: Do not expect South Point to be featured again on “Vegas Stripped.” The unscripted, documentary-style Travel Channel series recorded six half-hour episodes at the hotel and aired them all this spring at 7 p.m. Wednesdays.

The show was produced by Leftfield Productions, which also produces History Channel’s monster hit “Pawn Stars.” The show taped from October to December and gave a glimpse at the undercarriage of South Point operations. The hotel’s Fetish & Fantasy Ball, gourmet food truck festival, celebrity poker tournament and World Series of Team Roping were all chronicled in the series.

If you’re a fan of the show, I hope you recorded those episodes. When asked during a phone conversation a couple of weeks ago if there would be another season of “Vegas Stripped” filmed at his hotel, South Point owner Michael Gaughan rifled back, “I hope they cancel it.”

Gaughan has certainly had a change of opinion about the series. After watching the first two episodes during a party at South Point Showroom, he had originally given the show an "8" on a 1-to-10 scale. But now it seems that number would be on a scale of 1-to-100. Gaughan was not pleased at how the editing of the show often cast his employees as something less than bright.

“I didn’t like how we came across,” Gaughan said. “That’s why I wasn’t in it.” Gaughan was skeptical about being in front of the camera from the beginning of the project and never appeared.

Even so, there might be another TV concept centering on the hotel at some point. South Point Director of Marketing Tom Mikovits, who helped broker the deal to stage the show at the hotel, says the series did boost business. He also says his team is not ruling out allowing cameras back into the hotel. It is pretty clear who he’ll need to convince to allow that to happen.

• The following give-and-take took place Sunday on the white carpet of the Billboard Music Awards at MGM Grand Garden Arena. On the white side was Steve Wynn. On the other side were such commoners as myself:

Me: “I know this is not true, but I have to tell you about a rumor I heard a couple of days ago.”

Steve Wynn: “OK, let’s have it.”

Me: “You were interested in buying the Stirling Club.”

S.W. “What? Why would I want to buy the Stirling Club?”

Me: “I don’t know, to have a place to hang out?”

S.W.: “(Laughs) I already have Tryst and XS and Encore Beach Club. I have enough places to hang out.”

• Michael Grimm is issuing his new album next month titled “Gumbo.” The drop date is June 6. Grimm, the 2010 champion on “America’s Got Talent,” recorded and produced the album at his Las Vegas home. He’s joined by longtime band members Bruce Wallace, John Wedemeyer, Dave Hart and Jim Buck. Grimm is performing at 8 p.m. Saturday at Ovation at Green Valley Ranch, one of the best values in town at $5 a ticket.

• A rarity, I’ve been receiving negative feedback for being too positive. Audience members, including one prominent entertainment industry figure in Las Vegas, have sharply disagreed with my kind words about Liza Minnelli’s show at LVH on May 12. I found it to be pretty enjoyable, although Minnelli was admittedly slowed by ankle problems and frequently was short of breath while singing a series of classics, including “Cabaret” and “New York, New York.”

My point, in the face of her physical limitations, was that it was fun to spend time with Minnelli, who is a genuine international entertainment legend.

Not everyone agreed with my kindly assessment, and a couple of readers in the audience conveyed to me that they asked for and received refunds for the show after complaining about Minnelli’s performance. It was a short stint — that’s inarguable — a little less than an hour by my clock. But the most relevant consideration is if LVH officials invite her back for a third performance at the theater (where she also headlined in October).

As LVH Vice President of Brand Marketing Rick White said last week, the hotel is still interested in the option of bringing Minnelli back, and if that happens, it would be in about nine months. “I found the show really enjoyable,” White said. “My problem was that it was too short.”

It is hardly uncommon for performers, especially veteran performers, to come back strong after an off night. Maybe we’ll see that with Minnelli. Check back in nine months.

Follow John Katsilometes on Twitter at Twitter.com/JohnnyKats. Also, follow “Kats With the Dish” at Twitter.com/KatsWithTheDish.