John Katsilometes

Editor at Large

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Lots of laughs: A look inside the Las Vegas comedy boom: Thursday, June 13, 2013; There is more comedy being performed in Las Vegas today—at any and every level—than in any other time during the city’s history. From new clubs to resident headliners and touring names, comedy is booming here. The wealth of options is great for fans, but for the comedians plying their trade around town, competition is heating up.
Standing ovation? Reflections on the Smith Center's first year: Thursday, March 7, 2013; For an organization that ballyhooed every dollar raised to build a performing arts center, cheered the arrival of 2,458 tons of Indiana limestone and posed for countless photo ops, the Smith Center for the Performing Arts seems, well, quiet this time of year. And just when there’s so much to get nutty about: 10 touring Broadway productions scheduled for next season; a lingering high from the six-week run of Wicked last summer, and who could forget the Las Vegas Philharmonic’s March performance of Mahler’s Second Symphony.
Good or bad, Super Bowl halftimes have produced some memorable shows: Thursday, Jan. 31, 2013; I was on the phone with my brother the other day talking about the Super Bowl. I mentioned to him that I am writing a column about the all-time memorable Super Bowl moments. “You have to have ‘Be Bop Bamboozled’ in there,” he said. “Of course,” I said.
Holly Madison ditches the 'Peepshow' corset and prepares for motherhood: Thursday, Nov. 29, 2012; Ready for her biggest challenge yet, the Queen of the Strip continues to keep everyone guessing. This spring, Holly Madison and the producers of "Peepshow," the adult revue in which she has starred as Bo Peep, announced she would leave the Planet Hollywood show on December 30. It was to be the end of an era, albeit a relatively short one, for the woman who arrived in town in the fall of 2008 and quickly embarked on a hard-focused campaign to become “Miss Las Vegas.”
In search of song: Headliner Frankie Moreno treks to Europe to find inspiration: Wednesday, Aug. 1, 2012; The objective is two-pronged, like a tuning fork. The three brothers will write songs. The accompanying journalist will write about them writing songs. But how does this process begin, exactly? It’s unclear how the Moreno brothers will embark on this 10-day creative adventure, this lengthy overseas road trip. The sites are laid open: Vienna, Florence and Venice.
The strange saga of the Stirling Club: Thursday, July 19, 2012; Late at night on May 17, the fate of the Stirling Club at Turnberry Place was hanging in cyberspace. Stephen Siegel had committed to buy the club, but he needed to move quickly. Stirling Club was set to close May 18, a Friday night, hosting its “last dance” at 10:30 p.m. A day earlier, Siegel sent an email to the Turnberry Place Master Homeowners’ Association saying he had agreed to buy the Mansion — home to the Stirling Club and all of its amenities — for several million dollars.
Four things to know about Surf the Musical, as it splashes down on the Strip: Wednesday, June 20, 2012; Surf's up.
Riviera CEO Andy Choy takes a gamble with classic casino: Sunday, May 27, 2012; Ask Andy Choy what he studied in college and he smiles slightly. “I was actually a probability major,” he says after a one-beat pause. “I was a statistics major. So, I actually study the odds and understand it beyond the periphery.” That quality, understanding odds beyond the periphery, is vital to the success of Choy and the hotel he operates, the Riviera.
Riviera CEO Andy Choy plays the odds on a classic casino: Thursday, May 24, 2012; The Riviera CEO is betting on classic amenities (and one bingo-ball costume) for casino resurgence.
Santana moves into House of Blues: Wednesday, May 2, 2012; The House of Blues will feel more like a big club for his new residency, which began Wednesday night.

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Blog Entries

KWTD: 'Naughty Mommy' is ready to rock the Riv: Tuesday, June 18, 2013; Maria Walsh has never headlined in Vegas before, but won a national contest to earn her right to the Riviera stage.
Count on 'Priscilla' to be the queen of fabulousness: Monday, June 17, 2013; "Priscilla — Queen of the Desert" is, shall we say, unambiguous in its sensibilities.
Suit against Sunset Thomas offers new wrinkle in the oldest profession: Monday, June 17, 2013; There are few “firsts” left in the world’s oldest profession, but never before has Sunset Thomas experienced this: She is being sued for not having sex.
Planet Hollywood no longer in a Sylver state; 'DWTS' ends its tango with the Trop: Sunday, June 16, 2013; Marshall Sylver once professed to have a plan to make millions at PH Live. Instead, his comp-heavy show at Peepshow theater is closing.
In a case of he said/she said, Sunset Thomas says, ‘I did’: Saturday, June 15, 2013; Sunset Thomas has worked exclusively at Chicken Ranch since the fall of 2011. In her long career, she's never been sued.
Richard Cheese making a grate return to Sunset Station: Friday, June 14, 2013; Richard Cheese & Lounge Against the Machine are bringing the swing back to Vegas, where they have headlined for 13 years.
Who would play Oscar Goodman in the musical? How about Clint Holmes?: Thursday, June 13, 2013; Oscar Goodman has been approached to make a musical of "Being Oscar."
With Funny Bones, Sammy Shore is still working doggedly to help the canines: Saturday, June 8, 2013; Sammy Shore is a famed comic and dog lover and has recruited a host of performers for Sunday's Funny Bones charity show at The Orleans.
It’s rally time for Ian Ziering as he links up with the Chippendales: Friday, June 7, 2013; Ian Ziering is showing he can take on risque roles as his stint with Chippendales at The Rio proves.
Life Is Beautiful's $99 tickets gone in a flash: Friday, June 7, 2013; The window of opportunity to purchase the least-expensive tickets to the Life Is Beautiful festival was about as narrow as a mail slot. The $99.50 tickets for the two-day festival offered today at 10 a.m. were listed as sold out almost instantly.