Sinatra tribute gets less-than-flattering review
Frank Sinatra impressionist Bob Anderson didn’t mince words: “A whole lotta people should be fired” for the CBS special on Sinatra, he said in a Facebook post Monday.
In a Sinatra-esque broadside, Anderson slammed just about everyone involved in the tribute marking the 100th anniversary of the crooner’s birthday, Dec. 12.
Anderson, whose Palazzo show — “Frank The Man. The Music.” — was canceled two weeks before Sinatra’s birthday, called “Sinatra 100: An All-Star Grammy Concert” a “tremendous letdown.”
Anderson told me it was “constructive criticism,” not a rant, my word for it in Monday’s online article.
“The artists should have known better and never agreed to be a part of a Frank Sinatra tribute. It sounded like a family get-together late night after a whole day of drinking, singing karaoke in Alger, Michigan.
“How could the Sinatra family and Steve Wynn, a friend of Sinatra’s, present that show to the world.”
He also wrote: “I don’t care if it was Alicia Keys,” he wrote. “She had no clue on how to interpret that Sammy Cahn song.” Keys sang “I’ve Got a Crush on You.”
Anderson finished his take with, “I am not upset about not being on that show, after all,” he said. “It was Garth Brooks who sang us the line ‘sometimes I thank God for un-answered prayers. Can I get an amen?’ ”
Full disclosure: Anderson called me to take issue with a clause I had in Monday’s online version, which said Anderson did not see the special.
I based that on this sentence: “I understand that the performers were out of their league, I just don’t understand why they were there.”
I apologized for misinterpreting what he said.
Harrison’s take on
‘Chum’
Rick Harrison of “Pawn Stars” joins me tonight for our first weeknight edition of “Conversations With Norm” at Cabaret Jazz at The Smith Center for the Performing Arts.
When we met this week to go over some of the topics, he revealed details of the heartwarming backstory of how Austin “Chum” Russell became part of the family.
Harrison’s son, and Russell were best friends. When they were kids, Corey asked his dad if “Chum” could come over for Thanksgiving because of some family turmoil, Harrison said.
Corey and “Chum” were inseparable. His bond with the Harrison family became even stronger when “Chum’s” father died in 2009 at the age 54 of pancreatic cancer, two weeks before the show aired.
That was 12 seasons and 450-plus episodes ago.
“He still gets me a Father’s Day card every year,” Harrison said.
Every year on his birthday, “Chum” asks Harrison what gift he got him.
“My answer’s the same every year,” Harrison said. “Fame and fortune.”
The show starts at 7:30 p.m. After our one-hour interview, Harrison takes questions from the audience for 30 minutes.
Asked about the best advice he ever got from his father, the response is priceless.
Tickets are $25 and $35, with proceeds going to the children’s education and outreach programs. Information: 702-749-2000.
On this day
Dec. 9, 2009: Jaimee Grubbs, one of several women involved in Las Vegas trysts with Tiger Woods in his burgeoning sex scandal, apologizes to his wife and children in an interview with the TV show “Extra.” But she adds, “If it wasn’t me, it was going to be other girls.”
The scene and heard
Turns out there are two U.S. Marine Corps Toys for Tots celebrity benefit shows. There’s the one at the Tropicana that I mentioned earlier this week, a spinoff produced by Jonathan Scott. That will be held Saturday night. The other one, sponsored by Cadillac of Las Vegas, will be held at The Orleans Dec. 18 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $20, but admission is free for a donation of a new unwrapped toy worth $20 or more that is dropped off at Cadillac of Las Vegas, 5185 W. Sahara Ave. The lineup includes David Perrico’s pop orchestra, Chris Phillips of Zowie Bowie, Chadwick Johnson, Elvis impersonator Justin Shandor, Rob Garrett, Laura Shaffer and Maren Wade.
Sightings
Country legend Tanya Tucker, dining at Andiamo Italian Steakhouse at The D on Monday. She performed at the Golden Nugget on Tuesday. ... Eighty contestants for the Dec. 20 Miss Universe pageant, with reigning Miss Universe Paulina Vega, dining at Buca Café Italiano and Tequila Taqueria at Bally’s on Monday after the welcoming ceremony at Planet Hollywood Resort. The pageant will be held in the Axis Theater.
The punch line
“Kim ( Kardashian) was carrying in a breech position — the baby was upside down, it’s supposed to be the other way. Doctors were able to insert a tiny cellphone at the base of the amniotic sac, and the baby turned upside down to grab it and take a selfie.” — Jimmy Kimmel — Norm Clarke’s column appears Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday. He can be reached at 702-3830244 or norm@reviewjournal. com. Find more online at www. normclarke.com. On Twitter: @ Norm_Clarke.