*A backstage glimpse of the sexy Fantasy cast at Luxor

Robin Leach

Wednesday, June 25, 2008 | 8 a.m.

All the backstage secrets of the topless Fantasy adult revue will be revealed when the new super-sexy 2009 calendar is released in early fall –- but Luxe Life has an advance peek at all the fabulous photos. I’m the first to tell you that a perfect picture of pulchritude is worth a thousand words -- so I’ll be brief deliberately so you get to enjoy more art than ink!

Last year’s Fantasy poolside calendar, which was pretty steamy and sexy in its own right, sold more than 50,000 copies. I’m betting that the new one, which fashion photographer Jerry Metellus, shot entirely behind the scenes at the girls’ Luxor theater, will be an even bigger success. All eyes, however will be on the 12 beauties and not the secrets shown in their dressing rooms, their makeup and costume rooms, or in the peek-a-boo temptations on stage and in the back-stage scenery and rigging.

Led by host-singer Stephanie Jordan, the team of temptresses included Lindsay, CeCe, Dee, Dar, Amber, Salina, Tara, Jaylene, Jennifer, Ann, Natasha, Season and Tracey- all in erotic exotic poses in various stages of undress. Jerry and Fantasy producer Anita Mann let our Luxe Life camera-ace Scott Doctor shoot our exclusive coverage- and there’s no denying Jerry has created the ultimate hot layouts for a smash hit best seller. He shot for two full 12-hour days capturing thousands of photos.

They’ll be edited down to the final 12 monthly pinups and the cover pages during July and go for printing in early August.

Luxor President Felix Rappaport, who I persuaded to pose with his showgirls, told me: “We are so pleased that Fantasy calls the Luxor home. They have become a key and integral part of our entertainment family. This year we’re going to add additional Fantasy merchandise including their own playing cards which will be available for fans to buy.” Everybody loves the Fantasy girls and they are here for a long time to come. They are the best topless revue dancers in town!”

PHANTOM CELEBRATES 2ND ANNIVERSARY WITH RECORD BOX OFFICE SALES:

Phantom – The Las Vegas Spectacular is hitting a whopping $1 million a week in box-office ticket sales as it begins its third year at The Venetian! That message from executive producer Scott Zeiger to his cast and crew at their private second-anniversary celebration party Tuesday night won rousing cheers and applause! "In our second year we're beating our first year's box office," he said. "Phantom has become the No. 1 theatrical show on the Strip and is a very real part of the landscape and fabric of Vegas. We'll definitely be back a year from now with a third anniversary to celebrate and we're looking confidently ahead to a fifth year, too!"

Scott , head of Base Entertainment, also revealed that because of the Vegas success of Phantom the other theatrical companies producing the Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber musical around the world will each close for one week to “upgrade” their sound and light systems along with the Vegas theatrics. He explained: "London just closed for the one week overhaul. New York will close in September for the one-week upgrade. Vegas is without a doubt the best of all the Phantoms and this was simply a case of all the others wanting to catch up to what we do in Vegas."

It was a low-key, private party for cast, crew and families in the balcony bar after last night's performance, and Luxe Life was invited to be part of it. Phantom star Anthony Crivello had told the sold out audience how grateful the company was for their support over the first two years. "We get people coming back time and time again to see our show -- and they come from all over the world. I've performed as Phantom now over 400 times and it’s still an amazing thrill every night," he told me. Anthony now holds down the lead role without an alternate actor for the eight weekly shows, which increase to 10 performances over holiday periods. Former alternate Brent Barrett left for the summer touring company of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels.

Tina Walsh, who starred in Mamma Mia at Mandalay Bay when it opened before joining the Phantomcast as the Phantom's courier Madam Giry told me: "With the black wig, severe long black dress and makeup it’s so different from everything I've done before that nobody recognizes me. But it’s really wonderful to be in the two longest-running Broadway hits in Vegas."

The show's executive producer, who is handling the Cirque du Soleil spectacular for the Venetian Macau, told me he's got lots of additional theatrical plans for both Macau and Vegas. "We are developing three or four more shows for the Las Vegas Sands resorts in Macau which are without language so we cross the problem of all the different Chinese dialects," said Scott. "We've got new shows in the works for Vegas -- and Robin, I promise you'll be the first to know." In fact, he told me and then swore me to secrecy. I'm honoring the vow so that Luxe Life can reveal all of them first and exclusively. The most I can tell you for now is that the first for early next year will be an extraordinary surprise with an amazing new theater and several unexpected stars!.

Happy second anniversary to all at Phantom of the Opera. Click here for yesterday's Luxe Life interview with creator Lord Webber.

SEXY DESPERATE HOUSEWIFE STAR EVA LONGORIA JOINS HALL OF FAMER WARREN MOON FOR HIS STAR-STUDDED SPORTS DREAM BOWL:

Over 35 top football and basketball stars, including love-mates Tony Parker of the San Antonio Spurs and his beloved Desperate Housewives star Eva Longoria, raised funds for NFL Hall of Famer Warren Moon’s eighth annual Sports Dream Bowl at the Red Rock resort lanes. The funds raised went to benefit the urban Youth Scholarship Fund, which awards college scholarship dollars to more than 400 underprivileged and deserving inner-city youth to pursue their college dreams.

Other sports stars included Tony’s Spurs teammate Robert Horry, plus from the 2008 Super Bowl champion New York Giants Brandon Jacobs and Amani Toomer, Carson and Jordan Palmer of the Cincinnati Bengals; Chad Hebnbe of the Miami Dolphins; Brian Brohm of the Green Bay Packers; Matt Schaub of the Houston Texans; Junior Seau of the New England Patriots; Baron Davis of the Golden State Warriors; and Reggie Wayne of the 2007 champion Indianapolis Colts.

In addition to the Red Rock bowling, the stars took part in a round of parties and receptions at the Planet Hollywood casino resort where owner Robert Earl even brought legendary actor James Caan with him. Thanks to our photographers Tom Donoghue and Steve Spatafore who were everywhere the Warren Moon contingent traveled around town for this extraordinary collection of sports star photos.

DOUBLE-HEADER FOR BARBARA & HER VIEW CAST:

It was another star-studded day on the location set of The View at Caesars Palace. Barbara Walters welcomed future Steve Wynn Encore entertainer Danny Gans, our hunk-hero Chippendale dancers, and American Idol singers David Cook and David Archuleta for the live show sent via satellite back east at 8 a.m., and then the cast taped Thursdays’ show with Venetian headliner Wayne Brady, Hills star Heidi Montag with a fashion show, and the long-running Jubilee showgirls from Ballys.

Little wonder with the early call “on set” that co-host Elisabeth Hasselbeck spent her afternoons relaxing with friends poolside at the chic topless optional Venus Pool Club at Caesars Palace. NO -- she didn’t doff her top and she only stuck to the strawberry lemonade! She returned for a second consecutive day and brought co-host Sherri Shepherd with her. Meantime, Sherri also took in the hunky Chippendales dance show at the Rio -- and big View fan, Larry Edwards, aka Hot Chocolate at our Krave nightclub here, joined her when she went onstage to participate in a cheer-challenge. She won, and Larry came in a close second, but she invited him to Tuesday’s taping, where he met Barbara. Barbara herself had a reunion dinner with her ex-husband and Tuesday night took all the ladies to see Bette Midler’s show at Caesars!

Today, Barbara’s guests are our Harrah’s favorite comedienne Rita Rudner and singer Jessica Simpson, who was here in Vegas two weekends ago for the gala opening of the new George Maloof Palms Place condo-tel. At 10:30 a.m., another pre-taped show will feature Midler, Monte Carlo magician Lance Burton and Kardashian sisters Kim, Kloe and Kourtney. It will air Friday morning.

From 1 p.m.-3 p.m. today, Barbara will also autograph copies of her new Audition book at the Fountain of the Gods near Wolfgang Puck’s Spago restaurant in the Forum Shops at Caesars.

AMERICA IDOL JUDGES HIS TAO BIRTHDAY BLAST A BIG WINNER:

It was the big 5-1-birthday celebration for American Idol judge Randy Jackson. With his wife, Erika Jackson, Randy welcomed the show’s executive producer Nigel Lythgoe who is also a judge on ‘So You Think You Can Dance’ along with actress Rosario Dawson. They dined first in Tao’s Asian themed eatery at the Venetian on assorted sushi platters, lobster wontons, Chilean sea ass and Kobe beef. He toasted his table and then the entire restaurant burst into a “Happy Birthday” sing-along when the servers brought out a birthday cake. Alongside joining the fun were Sex & The City actor Willie Garson and Brothers & Sisters star Dave Annable. When the birthday brigade went up to Tao nightclub afterward, there was yet another birthday cake and flashing sparklers and Dancing with the Stars instructor Karina Smirnoff joined the group putting on her own dance display on the catwalk while That 70’s Show star Wilmer Valderrama and My Boys star Kyle Howard partied on at the adjoining VIP table.

Earlier, Sopranos star Robert Iler, American Idol runner-up Blake Lewis, poker greats Phil Ivey and Antonio “The Magician” Esfandiari partied in the VIP dance floor section alongside Miss Nevada Veronica Grabowski and her three galpals. Also in Tao were San Antonio basketball star Robert Horry, Miami Dolphin Jason Taylor and his wife, and for the second consecutive night Dave Annable, who will be seen shortly in the new Meryl Streep movie Julia & Julia.

THE IMPROV CELEBRATES 15 YEARS OF LAUGHTER:

Back in 1963 Budd Freidman was a disenchanted advertising executive in New York City. He decided to establish a hangout “where Broadway show kids could get up and sing after work,” and he called it the Improv. Over the years it became home for the best up-and-coming comedy performers. Now his Improv Comedy Club here at Harrah’s is celebrating its 15th anniversary. The 350-seat, custom-built theater has received numerous awards over the years and presents two shows nightly. It has launched the careers of such headliners as Jay Leno, Robin Williams, David Spade, Wayne Brady, Drew Carey, Billy Crystal, Jerry Seinfeld, Adam Sandler, Jim Carey and Ellen DeGeneres, Rosie O’Donnell, Bette Midler and Liza Minnelli. Even I once hosted one of his Evening at the Improv series for A&E cable TV. There are now Improv clubs in Dallas, Miami, Reno and as far apart as San Francisco and London, England!

PASSION PARTIES ARE ALL THE RAGE WITH THE LUSTY LADIES:

Actress Denise Richards –- yes, she of the troubled Charlie Sheen bust-up -- called on Vegas headquartered Passion Parties for the premiere of her new E! Entertainment hit reality series It’s Complicated. Passion president Pat Davis, who lives here in Vegas, conducted the on-screen party with Denise squealing, “Who would have thought this is what I needed to get me out of my rut?” Pat’s company leads the party-planning industry as the premier supplier of sensual products for women -- and yes that does mean sex toys! Founded in 1994 by women, for women, Pat says she creates a unique environment for women that is fun, educational and confidential. More than 65,000 women have joined the operation as consultants operating their own passion parties since 1994 when Pat first joined as an outside business consultant. She was asked to take over as president after three years and under her leadership grew the business by 50 percent each month for the first five years!

Said Pat, who is a real-life Cupid having been born on Valentines Day 1944, “A passion party is just what every woman needs to have fun with her girlfriends and discover her inner passion diva. Denise was very receptive to the party, the toys and the education. A lot of times single mothers tend to get bogged down with the daily routine of being a mother that they tend to forget about themselves and their own needs. Denise is just like every other woman with children. She’s just trying to be the best mother, daughter and woman she can be. It was great working with her on the new TV show.”

Pat donates all the profits from the sale of her book, The Passion Parties Guide to Great Sex to her charitable foundation that benefits charities supporting women, children and families throughout the USA. She just donated $25,000 to the Vegas Race for the Cure in May for the Susan G. Komen charity group. Her parties have been featured on NBC’s Weekend Today show and ABC’s PrimeTime news program. Pat has been married for more than 45 years and is the mother of two children and has three grandchildren.

SPORTS STARS SCORE TOUCHDOWNS AT THE PALMS:

It was “celebrity central” with stars everywhere you turned at the Palms the past few days. In the main N9NE steakhouse restaurant, Miami Dolphins linebacker Joey Lawrence devoured the shellfish platter and several orders of popcorn rock shrimp; Fear Factor host and UFC commentator Joe Rogan tucked into sashimi, risotto, tomato salad and a N.Y. strip steak with a lemon-drop drink before dancing next door at Rain nightclub; Brady Quinn from the Cleveland Browns enjoyed lobster bisque, sides of mac and cheese with potato gnocchi and a bone-in filet steak with shots of absinthe; Warren Moon, NFL Hall of Famer and now broadcasting for the Seattle Seahawks, entertained five other guests to dinner there; baseball star Frank “Big Hurt: Thomas of the Oakland A’s ordered the rock shrimp, a Caesar salad and a petite filet and love-mates Tito Ortiz and Jenna Jameson --wearing the tiniest white short skirt possible -- shared the combo steak lobster, lamb chops and crab legs special serving.

Meantime, at neighboring Rain, Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, current UFC lightweight champion, brought his wife and friends to party; Denver Broncos players Jay Cutler and Brandon Marshall palled up for their festivities in Rain along with former NFL wide receiver Jerry Rice, who won three Super Bowl rings with the 49ers, all listening to the music of DJ Eric Cubeechee, who is engaged to actress Jamie Pressley.

Elsewhere, UFC President Dana White enjoyed the whole Sea Bass at Nove in the Palms Fantasy Tower while his table of 10 stuck to steaks, Kobe beef and chicken parmignon and ending with tequila shots. Upstairs at the Moon nightclub was mixed martial artist Diego “Nightmare” Sanchez, who stuck to Fiji water for his near two-hour visit. Out at the pool in a private cabana was actor Dennis Hopper in his all-black suit, which he kept on for his brunch of burritos with his wife and daughter. The Easy Rider star and CineVegas chairman finished it off with a fine cigar!

STRIP SCRIBBLES:

-- Congratulations are in order for two good friends today: first to the Strip producer I can’t name at his request on his days ago engagement as he plans a September wedding, thus shattering all his friends who never thought he’d ever remarry … And to Flamingo headliner Nathan Burton, who will be presented with magic’s Merlin Award for Best Comedy Illusionist of 2008 this afternoon during his show. Tony Hassini of the International Magicians Society, formed back in 1968 with nearly 40,000 worldwide members, will present the award. Its magic’s equivalent of an Oscar and past winners have included our local superstars David Copperfield, Criss Angel, Penn & Teller and legends Siegfried & Roy.

-- Actress-singer Rosario Dawson, in town for her Half Life Award from CineVegas, just couldn’t resist the infectious song-and-dance routines of the Stomp Out Loud cast at Planet Hollywood. Rosario, who has starred in Sin City, Kids Rent and in Quentin Tarantino’s recent Death Proof (the second half of Grindhouse joined the troupe on stage to laugh along and make funny faces for the cameras!

-- The sexy, xotic, xciting X girls, who perform a nightly adult topless cabaret revue at the Flamingo, have found real fans in Morris Day and the Time -- who are now performing a series of special engagements there after Toni Braxton’s departure and until Donny & Marie Osmond take over the main showroom in September. First came two members of the Time and now Morris and the entire group visited. So impressed with the dance routines and perfect postures of the perky and provocative princesses they’ve even invited them to dance in their show this week as special guests!

-- A pack of Playboy beauties partied at the Torrid nightclub inside the Hawaiian Tropic Zone at Planet Hollywood’s Miracle Mile: Playboy model DJ’s Roxanne Dawn and Diamond, Playboy’s August 2008 cover model Sara Stokes and Playmate DJ Miss Lisa. Also adding to the beauty quotient was MTV’s ‘That’s Amore’ star Domenico Nesci. Guys don’t say I haven’t told you where the girls are!

-- In a roundup of resort news, I note that acclaimed chef Rick Sandoval will open a new unique contemporary Mexican restaurant at the Luxor in August. T&T (Tacos & Tequila) will have a rock-and-roll flair to modern elements of Mexican style in a design never before created especially for Vegas … congratulations to the Golden Nugget for being voted America’s Favorite Casino in Downtown Las Vegas by the readers of the 2008 American Casino Guide. The new accolade follows three other recent “best hotel-casino” awards … hard on the high-heels of the similarly named movie box office smash a “Sex in Sin City” package has been added to MGM Grand’s Signature towers. Four girlfriends can enjoy the highlife there for just $425 per person for two nights in a luxurious suite with gifts of pink robes, Cosmopolitans served in keepsake martini glasses, poolside massage services and even three hours in a limo for an extravagant Strip shopping spree. What hath Carrie Bradshaw and the Sex & The City girls started?

TONIGHTS TIP:

Ever wanted to be a contestant on Who Wants to be a Millionaire because you’re convinced you can answer the questions faster and smarter than anybody else? Well, Emmy Award-winning show host Meredith Viera is looking for a few good … players for the fourth film-themed Netflix Million Dollar Movie Week. Testing sessions begin at 7 a.m., and those lucky enough to go forward to proper auditions they will return in the afternoon and evening for interviews with a Millionaire producer. They are also looking for engaged couples for “Wedding Week,” “Halloween Week” and “Three Generations Week,” featuring grandparent, parent and child, and “Famous Names Week,” where an ordinary person has the name of a famous person. The auditions are all in the Club at the Cannery Casino hotel .. Please don’t forget Jay Leno’s comedy performance tonight and again Friday when he donates his time to raise funds for the Cedar Rapids, Iowa flood victims … I hope I have the date correct for original rap and hip-hop king Snoop Dogg playing a rare midweek show down at the Primm Valley resorts. If so hang the gas expense and drive the 25 minutes south on the I-15 to the Star of the Desert arena.

TOMORROWS TEASE:

Vegas is well-known as the wedding capital of the world with more matrimonial matters mapped out here than anywhere else- but its also becoming Cupid Central for some of the world’s most expensive and outrageous. Luxe Life says, “I do” as the cash register rings up a bonanza. Plus, one of New York City’s top chefs finally gives in to the lure of Vegas and joins Steve Wynn and the amazing aerial photos of Frank Gehry’s architectural wonder for downtown!