Vegas choking killed $28 million HBO show
Mirage comedian Ron White was this close to co-starring in a big HBO show years ago, but the show was canceled before it ran because of an unrelated development: HBO’s CEO choked his girlfriend in Vegas. Christina (“Mad Men”) Hendricks and Luke (“Idiocracy”) Wilson.
“Roadies” is written by Cameron (“Almost Famous”) Crowe. It’s produced by J.J. (“Star Wars: Episode VII”) Abrams.
White portrays a band manager in a show about a rock tour as experienced by roadies.
For “Roadies,” White memorized a pep talk his character delivers on tour in New Orleans.
By coincidence, White went to New Orleans as a Mardi Gras star in February, drinking tequila in the captain’s float for the Krewe of Orpheus parade.
Before the parade, White was asked to deliver a pep talk. So he sent Crowe a message, asking if he could deliver the speech from “Roadies” to his Mardi Gras comrades. Crowe said yes.
So White delivered his HBO character’s “preachy, very high-powered” speech to stunned revelers in New Orleans.
“They were like, ‘(Expletive), what a speechwriter that guy is!’” White said. “I never told them it was Cameron Crowe, who is a great speechwriter.” ‘STAR TREK’ RETURNS
I never tire of complaining how the old Las Vegas Hilton (now the innocent Westgate) evicted the “Star Trek” rides, bar and walk-around characters, for absolutely no good reason whatsoever.
It was a great, popular theme, making Vegas the “Star Trek” capital of the world. And it’s not like “Star Trek” became unpopular, despite Abrams’ terrible, profitable movies.
Anyway, “Star Trek” fans will return this summer for Creation Entertainment’s official “Star Trek” convention, Aug. 6-9 at the Rio hotel.
The “100th celebrity guest” of the convention series will be Sir Patrick Stewart, who said in a 2011 “Nerdist” podcast interview he was a real bitter pill when he began his time on “Star Trek: The Next Generation,” but he turned over a new leaf and became a fun-loving man on set.
Stewart serves double-duty in sci-fi lore as Professor X in “X-Men” adventures.
Stewart will appear the Sunday of that weekend. He will sign a “limited number” of autographs (which usually cost money at ticketed sessions).
But he won’t be doing photo ops. Feel free to place your hand on your bald forehead and facepalm your head over that sadness. Or, if you prefer, stretch out your hand toward Stewart and ask, “No photos? What are you thinking?”
Stewart is in an upcoming Starz TV comedy coming called “Blunt Talk.” He plays a newscaster-turned-talk-showhost, aided by an alcoholic manservant. “Blunt Talk” is produced by Seth (“Family Guy”) MacFarlane for Starz CEO Chris Albrecht. JOE JONAS
Is Joe Jonas still a thing? I’m assuming so becuase the Jonas Brothers singer (remember, the Jonases were the ones who wore “purity” rings, uh-huh) and actor Alan Ritchson are filming a talent show.
So Jonas and Ritchson went to the fun Blue Man show in the Monte Carlo hotel back in March. They filmed and trained as “honorary Blue Men” for the NBC show “I Can Do That,” in which they do that and other stuff.
Jonas just did some Vegas “Jabbawockeez” routines on the NBC show, which debuted for summer and has been winning its time slot on Tuesdays.
Anyway, to play off of an old “Arrested Development” show joke, Jonas and Ritchson just Blue themselves for an episode that will air Tuesday. SOFT, SULTRY SIDE OF VEGAS
Las Vegas has embraced hard-core naughtiness in recent decades, welcoming porn awards, porn conventions, foot fetish storefronts, cam girls, and porn, porn, porn. But if you’re one of those people who likes old-school sexiness?
Through Sunday, the local Burlesque Hall of Fame boosts its annual Burlesque Hall of Fame Weekender at The Orleans hotel-casino.
You’ll either have to buy the dwindling number of remaining tickets to a few events or steal some tickets from your mom because Weekender passes are sold out, as are Miss Exotic World tickets for Saturday.
I’m sure you’re, all, “Why is this event sold out already?”
Well, let’s see. Events include Naked Girls Reading, 25th Annual Tournament of the Tease, Pin-up Photo Safari, Finishing School and Barecats Bowling. Aren’t you sad you didn’t plan ahead and buy tickets already?
According to BHofWeekend. com, a few tickets for some events remain available.
It’s not all naked-y. For instance, there will be a “Gender Identity in Burlesque” roundtable today featuring such talkers as Dr. Chauntelle Tibbals, author of “Exposure: A Sociologist Explores Sex, Society, and Adult Entertainment.”
But mostly, yes, it will be ladies doing burlesque things. Contact Doug Elfman at delfman@ reviewjournal.com. He blogs at reviewjournal.com/elfman. Find him on Twitter: @VegasAnonymous