Vinny G pumped for Chippendales role “J
ERSEY Shore” stalwart Vinny Guadagnino is feeling funny about his upcoming Chippendales guest-starring gig.
Meaning, he has a chance to actually perform comedy, onstage.
“People don’t realize I’ve done a lot of comedy and improv,” the man commonly known as Vinny G said recently in a sit-down for my Podkats! podcast. “I have spent six to eight years looking for the door into the Vegas show scene. I’m not a DJ or singer, but this is a weird lane and I just said, ‘Let’s do it.’ ”
Vinny G, who has made the Keto Guido Diet a nationwide phenomenon (he’s lost 50 pounds with the program), opens his monthlong run as Chippendales emcee Friday night at the Rio. He’s best known as a player in the “Jersey Shore” original series and the show’s recent reboot.
But don’t sell this entertainer short. Vinny G has stage experience, too, having trained in the Upright Citizens Brigade improv and theater group co-founded by comic actress Amy Poehler.
Vinny G also performed in the off-broadway play “That Bachelorette Show,” which he describes as “kind of like a ‘Tony ’n Tina’s Wedding’-type interactive show.” He played Giovanni Giovanni, a cliched sort known to groove in his red-velour jumpsuit.
“So Chippendales is nothing for me,” he says. “I’m fun. I might have to tone myself down. ‘Vinny! Chill out!’ I’m not a celebrity who will say, ‘Ladies and gentlemen, have a good night,’ and walk off stage.’ ”
Vinny G and his “Jersey Shore” sidekick Paul “DJ Pauly D” Delvecchio are starring in the new MTV series “Double Shot at Love, With DJ Pauly D and Vinny,” in which 20 female contestants compete to win either man’s heart. The show premiered last Thursday.
“It takes a lot of twists and turns,” Vinny G says. “It’s going to be wild. Everyone is saying, ‘You get to date all these women! This sounds like a lot of fun!’ But I just say, ‘You try it.’ Dating one woman is hard enough.”
Davis’ VGK moment
When Raiders owner Mark Davis hopped on a phone call to talk about his visit to the Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health, he shouted, “Go, Knights, Go!”
“Where are you watching the game?” I asked.
“Home, but I’m recording it,” he said. “I’m too nervous to watch it live.” He was prophetic. The exec wound up watching, and Wednesday passed along a sad-face emoji, a sure sign of displeasure.
The D rocks
Despite the loss, the D
Las Vegas put on another whopper of a watch party on Tuesday night. Though not an official event, the crowd swelled to about 3,000 at the outdoor Downtown Las Vegas Events Center. It was one of those nights where you say,
“If you’d told me a decade ago …” The sound system, the sharp and imposing big screens, and a classic Stanley Cup playoff game co-starring a Vegas NHL team — co-owner Derek Stevens and his team know how to stage a big-league experience.
Jarr closes in
Vegas lounge icon Cook E. Jarr is less than $6,000 from reaching the $20,000 required to award him with a spot on the Las Vegas Walk of Stars. We first wrote of this campaign a couple of years ago; now, organizers are about $5,800 away from securing The Jarr’s spot on the vaunted list. Money is collected to pay for the design and placement of the plaque.
The Jarr moved to town in June 1982 for a residency at the Sands.
More recently, The Jarr played the Piano Bar at Harrah’s prior to moving to his current gig, 6 p.m. Mondays at Napoleon’s at Paris Las Vegas. This month, Jarr was featured during a commercial break on “Jimmy Kimmel Live,” where he performed his trademark barking routine. Down, Jarr! Down!
Cool Hang Alert
Zowie Bowie marks his 13th anniversary of performing at Rocks Lounge at 11 p.m. Friday. Or, amble in at 11:40 or so, because Chris Phillips usually operates in the ZBTZ (Zowie Bowie Time Zone). But he and Nieve Malandra and a crack band always bring the party. High kicks, torn jeans and studded belts forever …
Showbuzz!
Recovering from surgery on his back Friday, Wayne Newton has set May 6 as his return to the stage at Cleopatra’s Barge at Caesars Palace … On the topic of superstars at the Barge, Dionne Warwick’s reps have been kicking around the moated enclave, which is continually seeking to advance as a small showroom rather than a lounge. Conceivably, Warwick could perform on weekend nights when Newton isoff… Robbie Williams has extended his residency run at Encore Theater — by one date. Tack June 25 onto his schedule … Keeping an eye on possible entertainment-exec departures at MGM Resorts International this week. Companywide cost-cutting measures might affect the entertainment brass …
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.
Wednesday’s show:
Las Vegas resident James Holzhauer, 34, won his 15th consecutive game, adding $73,621 to increase his total to $1,135,175.
In the form of a question: Daily Doubles: Final Jeopardy:
Single-game earnings: Holzhauer holds the singlegame record with $131,127 and has the seven highest daily totals in the 35-year history of the game show.
Chasing Jennings: Ken Jennings, of Edmonds, Washington, is the all-time regular play earnings leader with $2,520,700, winning 74 consecutive games in 2004. Holzhauer is second with $1,135,175.
Next show: 7 p.m. Thursday, KLAS-TV, Channel 8.
Source: As of 9 p.m. Wednesday:
1. Controversial call dooms Golden Knights in overtime loss — VIDEO
A controversial call against Cody Eakin midway through the third period with the Knights leading 3-0 triggered a five-minute major penalty and game misconduct, and the Sharks scored four goals on the ensuing power play to take a 4-3 lead and eventually end the Golden Knights’ season in overtime.
2. Golden Knights’ season ends with monumental collapse — VIDEO
There will be no repeat of a Western Conference title, no return trip to a Stanley Cup Final, nothing but nightmare memories of what transpired in the third period Tuesday night at SAP Center, where the Knights were unable to hold on to a 3-0 lead in Game 7 of their Western Conference quarterfinal with San Jose.
3. Rattlesnake season slithers into valley
Snakes typically come out of their dens on south-facing slopes, but as temperatures rise in the Las Vegas Valley, they will begin to search for food and mates, which makes it harder to pinpoint where rattlers might turn up.
4. Sting announces residency on the Strip
The show, which begins May 22, 2020, will include songs the artist has written over his 40-plus-year career, which started in 1977 with The Police.
5. Golden Knights fans’ excitement turns to disappointment — VIDEO
Vegas fans’ joy turned to sorrow as San Jose rebounded from a 3-0, thirdperiod deficit to beat the Golden Knights and advance to the semifinals of the Western Conference against the Colorado Avalanche.