Stern grills Las Vegas’ Trump on air
IN a high-minded chat to start the week, John Di Domenico and Howardstern deliberated the problems with voting by mail.
“What’s this with you attacking mail-in ballots for voting?” Stern asked Monday morning during a segment on his Siriusxm show. “You know that people have the right to vote. You want them to vote, you want the country voting. Why would you be trying to block mail-in voting?”
Di Domenico, as Donald Trump, laid out his argument.
“Listen, Howard, mail-in ballots are so corrupt. They need to be outlawed. It’s massive fraud,” Di Domenico said. “You’ve got these 6-, 7-year-old kids knocking over mailboxes, stealing the ballots, giving them to the 9- and 10-year-olds, who forge them. They have very sophisticated printers, and copiers. This is a big operation, a big, big operation.”
Di Domenico-as-trump went on: “They are selling the ballots, and they are laundering the money through the lemonade stands, and the newspaper routes. I mean, these kids are doing Tiktok and Whatsapp and mail fraud. We gotta get rid of the kids. You know why? They are like the Junior Deep State.”
Stern listened to that dissertation, then casually said: “I’ll be honest with you. I never thought about the fact that young children could steal the mail-in ballots from mailboxes.”
Di Domenico’s 14-minute appearance was the culmination of several weeks of work to debut on Stern’s show.
The host had unexpectedly aired a clip of Di Domenico as Trump on March 30, when the comic bragged of his “perfectly negative” COVID-19 test (two days later, the president himself recited nearly the exact same claim).
Di Domenico typically works best when playing against an audience, or a staged interview, which wasn’t possible as Stern is still recording while quarantined in his home.
“We walked through the entire process, about how I should interact with Howard, and it was very helpful,” Di Domenico said. “I probably should have been more aggressive — but it’s Howard Stern, and it’s a little nerve-racking. I couldn’t tell if I was killing or bombing.”
Stern seemed impressed. At the end of the lengthy segment, he goaded Di Domenico into telling him who was his favorite comedian: “Isn’t there some guy named John that you really like?”
Di Domenico, still in character, said, “That guy John Di Domenico, and he’s been riding my coattails since 2004. Can you believe this guy?
I’m 6-3 and this guy’s 5-2. It’s really sad.”
Lounging around
Somebody summon Cook E. Jarr. We’re riding a lounge revival Las Vegas.
The reopening of Las Vegas resorts, restaurants and bars is leading to this welcome aftereffect. Lounges are driving the entertainment scene. This won’t last forever, of course. But until Gov. Steve Sisolak announces Phase Three directives to safely return largescale entertainment to the city, lounges own the scene.
“People want to experience entertainment, to see something, in these casinos,” veteran Las Vegas entertainment booker Stevebeyer said. “Until showrooms open, the lounges are where you’ll see entertainment.”
So during Phase Two, it’s been trips to such old faves as Bootlegger Bistro, with pianist Doug Taylor; Piazza lounge at Tuscany, with Kenny Davidsen and guest singer Justin Michael Martinez; and the already-chronicled visits to Mayfair Supper Club and the piano haven Petrossian Bar at Bellagio.
Kelly Clinton-holmes has performed Wednesday night, and Laura Shaffer on Monday,
at Piazza lounge at Tuscany. The hotel is also moving lounge-scaled entertainment into the Copa Room until “The Rat Pack is Back” is back, for real.
The recent spate of hotel openings announced by Caesars Entertainment on Tuesday has thrown open the Piano Bar at Harrah’s, home of Pete “Big Elvis” Vallee.
The King of Kings in Las Vegas returns at 2, 3:30 and 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday. I anticipate more announcements about acts in that venue, and also those returning the outdoor bar and music annex Carnaval Court, between Linq Hotel and Harrah’s.
On Thursday, Circus Circus revived its circus acts, and backing musicians, on its famous Midway.
Across the valley, Station Casinos is returning solo artists and DJS to Hank’s at Green Valley Ranch, and at T-bones, Onyx and the Lobby lounge at Red Rock Resort.
Downtown, Notoriety at Neonopolis has also taken the lead with the live-comedy show “The Hilarious 7” and is also planning to evolve to more live music in its Robin Leach Theater. Notoriety is unique in that it sells tickets to the comedy show, steering around Phase Two, mass-gathering restrictions as a bar that is operating at less than half capacity.
Jerry Tiffe, the man I refer to as “The Last Lounge Signer,” is set to return to Italian American Club on July 11. “I’ve been enjoying the time off,” he said Monday, “but I am always in favor of live entertainment. It’s my life.”
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. Number of new COVID-19 cases surges in Nevada, Clark County
The numbers of new COVID-19 cases in Clark County and the state spiked Tuesday to their highest levelsin2 weeks.
2. Sisolak says Nevada schools can reopen facilities immediately
Gov. Steve Sisolak on Tuesday signed a directive allowing Nevada schools to reopen buildings and athletic facilities immediately, ending a nearly three-month closure triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic.
3. Three Strip restaurants add optional COVID-19 surcharge
The president of the restaurants’ parent company calls the surcharge “a necessary step during a time when unanticipated costs have jeopardized the survival of our business.”
4. Linq casino, Luxor, Mandalay Bay, Aria set to reopen
MGM Resorts International and Caesars Entertainment Corp. on Tuesday announced reopening plans that will expand hotel and casino capacity in the city.
5. Fiore, through state
GOP, denies making “racially charged” remarks after rebuke by county party
Las Vegas City Councilwoman Michele Fiore was rebuked by the Clark County Republican Party on Monday for “racially charged” comments it says she made during the party’s convention Saturday.
As of 9 p.m. Tuesday:
1. Voter Guide
Welcome to Voter Guide 2020, an interactive tool designed to help Southern Nevada voters make informed choices in the state’s primary election.
2. Las Vegas casinos reopen Thursday
Nevada casinos reopened for gaming at 12:01 am. Thursday, ushering in guests eager to try their luck 78 days after resorts were closed because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
3. Treasure Island reboots operations after coronavirus shutdown
When casinos shut down, not only were tourists unseen on the Strip, but jobs were temporarily lost.