Kimmel to bring ABC show to LV for week
FOR the first time, Jimmy Kimmel is going live from Las Vegas. Kimmel, who grew up here, plans to air the show from a yet-announced location from April 1-5. The ABC stalwart is also busy developing Jimmy Kimmel Comedy Club at
Linq Promenade, across from Brooklyn Bowl.
The club is set to open this spring, or around the time the talk show hits town. Thus, it’s possible or even likely Kimmel will air the talk show from his new comedy haunt (Kimmel’s reps and Caesars Entertainment officials have not yet responded to questions about where the show will be staged).
In announcing the club in October, Kimmel said, “I have this idea that I can do my show and be out at 7:30 p.m. and then fly to Vegas for all of the action at the club and do my monologue there. I’m 95 percent sure I can make it there to do that. Also, I want the comics on my show to do their sets from Vegas. We can go live to the club and air the sets from there.”
Also a possibility is Caesars Entertainment Studios just east of the Strip at Flamingo Road and Koval Lane. That venue has staged “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire,” and such esports competitions as the Gears Pro Circuit Las Vegas Open. Caesars Entertainment has also opened the Roman Plaza at Caesars Palace for the “Today” show in January 2016.
The 51-year-old Kimmel graduated from Clark High School and attended UNLV. But he was born in Brooklyn and spent his childhood there, and has four times taken his show to shoot in front of a studio audience at Brooklyn Academy of Music’s Howard Gilman Opera House.
Still, Kimmel’s show and career carry a distinct Las Vegas flair. As he said in October, “My Uncle Frank worked at Caesars, my bandleader, Cleto (Escobedo III) played the Barge at Caesars, and his dad was a butler there for 30 years. The first show I ever saw was Sammy Davis Jr. at Caesars, when I was 13 years old. Vegas is an unusual place to be from.”
Reelin’ in more dates
Steely Dan, now fronted expressly by Donald Fagan, will return to Venetian Theater this spring. Announced Tuesday, “Reelin’ In The Chips” runs April 24-May 11.
Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday at Ticketmaster or The Venetian box office.
Fagan continues the robust musical legacy of the jazzrock band that lost co-founder Walter Becker to esophageal cancer in September 2017. The band played nine dates the previous spring at The Venetian’s Opaline Theater.
Fagan will lead a musically satisfying run through the band’s familiar cuts dating to its 1972 origin. He’s backed once more by top musicians Jon Herington (guitar), Connor Kennedy (guitar), Keith Carlock (drums), Freddie Washington (bass), Jim Beard (keyboards), a fourpiece horn section and three backup vocalists.
Celebration of life
A celebration of life for late Las Vegas radio personality Brittney Cason is set for a place she long supported, The Space, from 4-7 p.m. Thursday.
Cason, who for years hosted “B.S. In the Morning” on KOMP-92.-FM, died unexpectedly in Las Vegas on Jan. 23, a day before her 38th birthday. In lieu of flowers, her family has asked for donations to be made to the Nevada Coalition for Suicide Prevention, Safenest and Nevada SPCA.
Last June, Cason helped organize a Mondays Dark event for Speedway Children’s Charities at The Space. The invitation for Thursday’s event announces: “We all know Brittney loved to be extra in everything she did, so we invite friends, family and fans to celebrate her life, infectious spirit and uncompromising love with a life celebration fitting for this amazing angel!”
Engaging, witty and popular in the Las Vegas media community, Cason had moved out of town in November after her contract with the station expired, returning to her hometown of Harrison, Virginia, and living with her folks. She had been finishing a book and traveling when she returned to town last month to interview for an opening with Beasley Broadcasting and celebrate her upcoming birthday with friends.
Cason had also previously worked for CBS Sports radio, KISS 95.1-FM in Charlotte, N.C., and had freelanced for The Charlotte Observer.
The Review-journal is owned by the family of Las Vegas Sands Chairman and CEO Sheldon Adelson. Las Vegas Sands operates The Venetian.
John Katsilometes’ column runs daily in the A section. His Podkats podcast can be found at reviewjournal.com/ podcasts. Contact him at jkatsilometes@reviewjournal. com. Follow @johnnykats on Twitter, @Johnnykats1 on Instagram. As of 9 p.m. Tuesday:
1. 55 Clark County schools to lose millions in federal funding under new formula
Fifty-five Clark County schools will lose millions in federal funding next school year due to a change in the way the Clark County School District distributes the money intended to help low-income students. 2. Las Vegas developer selling mansion for
$30 million
Las Vegas homebuilder Jim Rhodes is trying to sell his suburban megamansion — and, his broker said, it’s the most expensive home on the market.
3. Duran Duran heads roster of upcoming
Las Vegas concerts
Duran Duran headlines
The Chelsea at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas on Feb. 22 and 23.
4. Bruno Mars announces 11 shows on Strip
A recurring headliner at Park Theater, Bruno Mars is back for 11 dates beginning April 29 and running through Sept. 14.
5. Summerlin-area family regroups after active teen’s paralysis
Faith Lutheran senior Mark Wilbourne’s chances of walking again are slim, his parents said. He is 18. As of 9 p.m. Tuesday:
1. Developer Jim Rhodes lists his mansion for
$30 million
Jim Rhodes, a developer, has listed his mansion in Spanish Hills community for $30 million. 2. Bellagio Conservatory transformed to celebrate Year of the Pig
The Bellagio Conservatory Team transformed the 14,000-square-foot conservatory to commemorate Chinese
New Year.
3. Las Vegas police address officer-involved shooting on Jan. 31
Las Vegas Metro Police Assistant Sheriff Brett Zimmerman address members of the press regarding the officer involved shooting that took place on Jan. 31.