KTNV adds ‘terribly typecast’ newsman
THE man who once joked that he was “terribly typecast” as the newsman in “Casino” is coming back on the air in Las Vegas.
Dave Courvoisier ,aveteran of Las Vegas broadcast news for nearly three decades, is joining KTNV Channel 13’s Action News team.
Courvoisier will co-anchor “Good Morning Las Vegas” on the city’s ABC affiliate, partnered with Kalyna Astrinos, Justin Bruce and Marissa Kynaston. He’ll be with that team weekdays at 4:30, 5, 6 and 11 a.m., with his on-air debut set for Aug. 27.
Courvoisier has spent 27 years as a fixture on Las Vegas TV. He most recently closed a 14-year stint KLAS Channel 8 in December 2017. He was with KSNV Channel 3 (then KVBC) for 13 years ending in 1998, with a five-year break out of the market splitting his time in Vegas.
Courvoisier had spent time out of the business doing freelance voice-overs, and in August moved to Cape Girardeau, Missouri, his wife, Victoria’s, hometown.
“I found that I had a little gas left in the tank,” Courvoisier said in a phone chat Tuesday. “Channel 13 pursued me on this, and I thought, ‘Why not?’ ”
Of his new daily routine, Courvoisier says, “The hours will be a challenge, but I’ve done morning shows before, and I know I can come around to that schedule. …
I’ll spend weeks and weeks getting used to that, but morning shows have all the resources and attention now, and that’s where viewers are going.
“It’s a 2½-hour show, a big commitment, and I’m looking forward to it.”
KTNV Vice President Chris Way is welcoming Courvoisier as “a focused leader — ethical, loyal, an energetic team player who gets results.”
Added Way: “Dave has nearly 30 years of experience as a news anchor in the Las Vegas market, one who viewers have come to connect with and trust. He has a solid reputation of being a working talent, quick to roll up his sleeves to get results.”
KTNV’S announcement pointed out that Courvoisier will play a major role in the station’s online and social-media initiatives. The station is also tapping into a wealth of institutional knowledge and experience from the 67-year-old newsman.
Courvoisier’s career has spanned such significant national news events as Hurricanes Andrew and Katrina, the Oct. 1 shooting and three Democratic National Conventions. He’s won multiple Emmy awards and has served as a popular event host.
As for his turn in “Casino,” the Martin Scorsese film that marked its 25th anniversary this year, Courvoisier said he is still occasionally recognized for his role. He adds, “I thought I bought up all the copies of that movie.”
Bugsy & Meyer’s … and you
Finally made it to Bugsy & Meyer’s at Flamingo over the weekend. The new steakhouse faces the hotel’s Wildlife Habitat, in the space formerly occupied by Center Cut steak house, the Pizza Joint grab-and-run pizza place and the high roller Diamond Lounge.
The title of the place makes obvious its intended vibe. We are going back to the Vegas mob origins of Bugsy Siegel and Meyer Lansky. This is the second Siegel-fashioned restaurant in town, along with Siegel’s 1941 at El Cortez. The walk-in “bakery,” actually a takeout-sweets spot, is a fun walk-in. You get to wave at, and snap pics of, the kitchen staff through the glass as you enter the main dining room.
Food? Remarkable. I had not wanted a steak when I walked in but the dry-aged, bone-in rib-eye was so good I nearly ate it with my bare hands. The lobster mac and cheese is already a customer favorite. The versatility offered by Chef Lamar
Moore (champion of Food Network’s “Vegas Prizefight”) is a deal-maker. A full vegan menu was added after a half-dozen guest asked for those options. A dozen candy confections from the faux bakery are offered, to go, with the regular dessert listing.
All that said, GM Jonathan Pacheco’s restaurant is very much a venue in progress. The place has abundant potential. The speakeasy and open lounge — closed now, for COVID bar restrictions — would be terrific spots for solo singers or duets.
The original plan has been to provide entertainment in the lounge; the speakeasy could also be redesigned for a singer.
If you’re enforcing a mobera environment, hire an ambient act from the period to fill the out the scene. Stitch fedoras into the face covers.
The hotel is being extra-cautious during the pandemic. Understandable. But an inventive approach could put the mob-styled restaurant in line with such similarly fashioned venues as Mayfair Supper Club at Bellagio and Rose. Rabbit. Lie. at Cosmopolitan. The Vegas Room and Revelré at The Sand Dollar Lounge, even with space restrictions, have also managed to pair dining and live entertainment.
Word is that David Perrico’s Pop Retro band had been booked at the new supper club for Fridays and Saturdays, PRE-COVID. I expect the concept will be reviewed at Bugsy & Meyer’s place, with safety requirements in place. But already, it’s a cool hang.
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.
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A Caesars Rewards
Seven Star guest, who chose not be identified, hit a slots jackpot of $99,241 at Harrah’s.
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Vincent Okoye was arrested on Friday after he was found with more than 100 credit and debit cards that were not issued in his name.
3. Video shows random attack on Las Vegas senior citizen
A 77-year-old disabled man was attacked for no reason Thursday as he was pushing a cart into a shopping center in the 1300 block of East Flamingo Road, police said. 4. Driver suspected of DUI after crash leaves two Del Sol sophomores dead
The SUV left the road to the right, traveled over the curb and struck a traffic sign before continuing south and hitting the two girls as they were crossing Katie in a marked crosswalk
5. Sisolak announces targeted coronavirus response
It is designed to track and target specific outbreak trouble spots without relinquishing gains made in other areas where mitigation is working better.
As of 9 p.m. Tuesday:
1. Senior citizen randomly attacked
Las Vegas police detectives are asking for the public’s assistance to identify a suspect who walked up to a senior citizen and punched him in the head.
2. Sisolak unveils longterm COVID-19 plan with Nevada Health Response team
Gov. Steve Sisolak announced a long-term strategy for mitigating the spread of COVID-19 in Nevada through a targeted approach.
3. MGM Resorts laying off large portion of its sports and entertainment team
MGM Resorts International informed most of its sports and entertainment staff that they would be laid off.