Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2002 | 8:58 a.m.
You know how they have those misting sprayers over vegetables at the supermarket?
Well, Celine Dion will have a similar contraption hanging over her head at Colosseum at Caesars Palace, the facility being built to house her upcoming show.
Think of it as a $2 million humidifier.
At an event at Casears on Monday, Dion announced (via satellite from Belgium) that her Las Vegas show will be called "A New Day."
Then, Maurice Rheaume of Montreal designer Sceno-Plus, which helped create the $95 million, 4,000-seat Colosseum, led a tour through the unfinished space.
He explained to me how Dion wanted to avoid "Las Vegas throat," a malady that can cause vocalists to run dry.
Rheaume's firm came up with a humidifying process that affects the stage area, so Dion can hopefully avoid calling in sick with a sore throat during her three-year, $100-million gig.
The stage extravaganza -- Dion said it will feature more than 60 dancers and backup singers -- opens March 25.
The Colosseum, by the way, is pretty impressive. It was smartly built up, not out, so no seat is more than 100 or so feet away from center stage.
Mayor McCheese
Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman has finally had enough. To eat.
So he is going on a diet.
Partially inspired by a Men's Health magazine article in its November issue that called Las Vegas residents ... well, they called us fat, the mayor told VegasBeat that he is changing his ways.
He has signed on with Las Vegas Athletic Club trainer Bret Fitzgerald for thrice-weekly workouts and will try to cut down the caloric intake.
Bombay gin is still on Goodman's menu, but in moderation, he stressed.
The 5-foot-10-inch Goodman was man enough to admit his weight is 233 -- a real heavyweight.
His goal is to tip the scales at a much more modest 178. I was not a math major, but that seems to be more than 50 pounds.
Check this space regularly for updates on Goodman's progress.
Jersey's gain
One of the most popular men in town, Stardust sports book director Joe Lupo, is leaving Las Vegas.
"Yes, it is true," he told VegasBeat on Tuesday. "After the Super Bowl I am moving to a management position at the Borgata, a property this company is building in Atlantic City."
Lupo has been at the Stardust for 10 years.
"I'll certainly miss Las Vegas but I am very excited about the new opportunity."
Right again
So we were right after all.
Jack, Kelly, Sharon and Ozzy Osbourne are, in fact, going to stay at The Venetian.
But there will be no MTV cameras trailing them.
After VegasBeat reported that the family would stay at the hotel after Osbourne's Palms gig Friday night, they pulled out, claiming security issues. Then they booked the "Real World" suite at the Palms.
But since Sharon apparently really likes the Canyon Ranch Spa, The Venetian it is.
Instead of a longer visit, as originally planned, the Osbournes will return to their Beverly Hills, Calif., home after just a one-night Vegas stay.
Fly, Robin, fly
Robin Leach will give the keynote address at the Las Vegas Jewish Federation Business & Professional Luncheon Friday.
Well known as the host of "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous," Leach actually made a large chunk of his fortune as one of the original backers of the Food Network.
He'll talk about philanthropy, and his career, from newspaper reporter to broadcast icon.
Tickets for the event at Paris Las Vegas are $36 and are still available. Call 732-0556.
Info-tainement
Obviously, there are lots of other businesses besides gambling in Las Vegas.
One of the featured panelists at the recent Electronic Retailing Association's annual convention at Paris Las Vegas was Las Vegan Ben Kalb.
His local production company is one of the few in the nation that focuses exclusively on informercials. More than 500 people jammed his talk, titled "Making Lemondade From Lemons."
During the last 12 years, Kalb has produced spots for various diets and food supplements, beds and AbTronic, the famous stomach toning device.
Band boys
Maybe they were checking out the competition?
Band mates Ricci Martin, Billy Hinsche, Wayne Tweed and Bobby Figueroa -- who perform at Martin's tribute show to his father, Dean -- were all at Riviera's revue "Splash" the other night.
Clown call
Cirque du Soleil is looking for new talent.
According to a big ad in Callback, a guide to jobs for professional entertainers in Las Vegas, the famous revue is looking for dancers, actors, singers and musicians.
Cirque producers are opening a new show in the EFX space at MGM Grand next year.
Meanwhile, Callback publisher Minnie Madden is off to Italy to choreograph and direct "Point and Click," a show for the new Carnival cruise ship, Conquest.
"The boat and the show are both under construction," said Madden, also an "Ice Capades" choreographer and a former Alvin Ailey company dancer.
Madden directed the NBC seasonal favorite "Nutcracker on Ice" with world-class skaters Brian Boitano, Oksana Baiul and Viktor Petrenko.
Scenery
The syndicated television show "Access Hollywood" will film some segments in Las Vegas.
Producer Stephen Haarding and crew are set to shoot a segment next weekend to be aired Nov. 16 -- during sweeps -- titled, "Famous Films in Las Vegas ... This Is Where They Were Shot."
Look for them to hit Caesars Palace ("Rain Man"), the Riviera ("Casino," "3,000 Miles to Graceland") and Bellagio ("Ocean's Eleven") among others.
Lip service
Hot damn. We're better than we thought.
We could not figure out why have we suddenly experienced such a spike in calls and e-mails from readers around the country.
Turns out VegasBeat is now linked to GossipCentral.com, the Web's premier site for gossip.
There are no other gossips west of the Mississippi linked to the site.
We are grateful to join such nationally known lip-flappers as Liz Smith, Cindy Adams, the Village Voice's brilliant Michael Musto, George Rush and Joanna Molloy of the New York Daily News and of course, my friend and former colleague Richard Johnson at the New York Post's famous Page Six.
Other national gossip outlets such as TV Guide, E! online, Variety and People are also represented.
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