Hometown girl steps away from KLAS
LISA Howfield has always loved TV, even as a kid. She remembers sneaking out of her room to watch Johnny Carson or the local news.
Howfield has made a career of that passion, spending 27 years at two Las Vegas network affiliates.
That run ends in December, as Howfield is retiring from her post as general manager at KLAS-TV, Channel 8, after six years. She spent the previous 21 years at KSNV-TV, Channel 3.
“I’m hanging up my broadcasting boots,” Howfield said in a phone chat Thursday morning. “The hardest thing was picking a date. But I am leaving at the right time.”
No replacement has been named to move into Howfield’s position, which is the Las Vegas market’s lone network affiliate GM. The station also has a news director position still open.
Howfield has general plans to start something on her own in 2022.
“I haven’t really mapped it out,” she said. “But I do want to do something for myself.”
Howfield is a Bonanza
High School and Pepperdine University graduate. She left Vegas for college. As is often the case, her hometown lured her back.
“I grew up here,” Howfield said. “I am very proud that I got to serve the community where I grew up.”
Snyder on leave
KSNV News 3 anchor Jim Snyder has not been on the air since Sept. 10, leading many viewers to wonder about the popular anchor’s status with the station. KSNV general manager Larry Strumwasser said Snyder is still with the station, is on personal leave and no timeline is established for his return to the air.
Drop dropped
The Great Drop has been called off.
Ten CEOS did not rappel down the side of Circa as originally planned.
A spokeswoman for the hotel said the Wednesday event was canceled hours before it was to happen, with no immediate explanation and no plans to re-book the stunt. Hotel CEO Derek Stevens said he had no idea why the event was spiked.
Stevens earlier had announced that 10 CEOS from across the country had arranged to scale the south-facing hotel tower, descending to the Stadium Swim pool deck.
The group had originally approached him between six and eight months ago with the idea, having read up on downtown Las Vegas’ newest resort, said Stevens, who had no plans to scale the property himself.
Go West!
“America’s Got Talent’s” reigning champ, magician Dustin Tavella, says his ride since winning the title has been a “super whirlwind.” As opposed to your regular whirlwind, I guess.
Tavella moved his family out from his home in Virginia Beach so he could join the “America’s Got Talent: Live!” cast at Luxor. His wife and two adopted sons are also relocating to Las Vegas.
“My parents were helping with the boys, loading stuff into a trailer to be shipped out here,” Tavella said during a preview of the show’s act at Luxor. “The shipping company was like, ‘Where are we taking this stuff?’ I said, ‘We don’t have an address yet, but just start driving west. Drive to Las Vegas. By the time you get there, we’ll have it figured out.’ We finally found a place and we’re unpacking.
“It’s been wild, but it’s been great. We are absolutely loving it.”
Play among the stars
Veteran Las Vegas entertainer Bob Anderson has realized his mission to present his Frank Sinatra tribute show at Carnegie Hall. He’s got it booked baby, with “One More For The Road” set for Dec. 11 in the Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage. The show is being presented by producers for potential Broadway theater operators.
Several Vegas players are joining Anderson’s backing band, including bass player Bob Sachs and keyboardist/ music director Joey Singer .I know this because they told me so at Bootlegger Bistro.
The show is Anderson’s latest adaptation of the Sinatra autobiographical show he fronted at Palazzo Theater for about a year ending in November 2015. Anderson is a fantastic vocal interpreter who has mastered Tony Bennett, Tom Jones, Sammy Davis Jr. and Dean Martin, among many others. I told him years ago that if he ever made it to Carnegie Hall with this show, I would be there. So, cats, see you in NYC.
Cool Hang Alert
The aforementioned “Singer & Sachs” from 6:30 p.m.9:30 p.m. in Bootlegger’s main dining room. Pianist Doug Taylor is 6:30 p.m.9:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Sundays, George Bugatti from 6:30 p.m.- 9:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and harpist Mariano Gonzalez from
6:30 p.m.- 9:30 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays. And! Joey Melotti of Barry Manilow’s band pilots his “Joey Melotti & Friends” late-night hang from 10 p.m.- 1 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays. No cover. The jar is for tips.