‘Pawn Stars’ signs on for 40 new episodes
WE keep wondering when the “Pawn Stars” phenomenon will subside. So far, the answer is, “Not today.”
The Gold & Silver Pawn juggernaut just keeps rolling along, and has signed on for 40 new episodes for Season 17, premiering in October on History.
The new set of shows is the equivalent of 80 episodes under the series’ original, 30-minute format. It’s the largest commitment of time in the history of “Pawn Stars,” which on July 19 notches the 10th anniversary of its premiere.
“It’s confirmed, and each yearwetrytoswitchitupa bit,” series founder and Gold & Silver owner Rick Harrison says. “We’ll be traveling around the world, looking for items of interest.”
It used to be that the world came to Gold & Silver. But the pawn industry’s holy trinity of Harrison, his son, Corey Harrison; and Austin “Chumlee” Russell has gone worldwide. On cable TV, the sun never sets on Chumlee.
Vinny G’s return
“Chippendales” has announced its summer blockbuster, and he is Vinny Guadagnino. The co-star of “Jersey Shore” and “Double Shot at Love” attracted enough business to merit a return July 26-Sept. 1 (Fridays through Sundays) at the Rio. The show has invited myriad guest stars to the stage (including Tyson Beckford, Ian Ziering and Joey Lawrence), but Guadagnino is the only one to bare all.
This, in the show’s shower scene, the steam obscuring any body parts that might get the hotel in … hot water.
And, know this: Guadagnino’s return to “Chipps” coincides with the scheduled
July 29 opening of Thunderland at Excalibur, the new home of rival male revue “Thunder From Down Under,” along with magician Hans Klok and the Australian Bee Gees. We expect there will be enough bachelorette parties to go around …
Nelson to roll in
Announced Thursday,
Willie Nelson will headline “Vegas On My Mind” at The Venetian Theatre at 8 p.m.
Oct. 18, 19, 22, 23, 25 and 26. Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday (prices start at $59.95, not including fees, at Ticketmaster.com, venetian.com, any box office at The Venetian or by calling 702-414-9000 or 866-641-7469).
Nelson remains the only interview subject in my career to offer me a “pre-roll” marijuana cigarette. This happened in February 2017 at a launch event of his Willie Nelson Reserve line of cannabis products at the since-closed Exile Boutique in the Arts District in downtown Las Vegas.
“We have a good product, and I think they’re having fun,” Nelson said, lighting up some of that product and pushing it forward. I politely declined. I’ll stick with the music product.
Griffin’s covered
Aswesay,“Eddie Griffin’s (stuff ) is fire!” Can’t use the actual saying in a family publication, but Griffin is one funny individual, and certainly not for the meek.
The longtime Las Vegas headliner is taping a comedy special over two shows Tuesday at The Sayers Club at SLS Las Vegas. Showtimes for the special performances are 7 and 9:30 p.m. Griffin is shooting for Netflix or HBO with these performances. Project director Brian VolkWeiss has such relationships, through his Comedy Dynamics company.
Volk-weiss has produced stand-up specials, TV projects and albums for such comics (and occasional Vegas headliners) as Kevin Hart, Jim Gaffigan, Tiffany Haddish and Craig Ferguson, among a host of others.
Away from his unvarnished, N-word-peppered stage act, Griffin has developed as an adept and busy film actor.
He’s cast in the remake of
“The Comeback Trail,” alongside Robert De Niro, Tommy Lee Jones, Morgan Freeman, Zach Braff and James Marsden. The film is due this year.
Griffin is the rare stand-up who has developed a specialty cocktail. His mix of Veuve Clicquot champagne and Patron tequila is dubbed Liquid Blunt. As he says, “You don’t go up, and you don’t go down.” We’ll believe him.
Marie Christmas!
Marie Osmond is planning a holiday TV movie, and has been recording vocals for music in the project at the Studio at the Palms. More to come on this, of course …
Cool Hang Alert
The Baritones of Love ,a counter to the many “Tenors” singing groups, is a passion project from College of Southern Nevada music professor Mark Wherry and “Zombie Burlesque” star Enoch Augustus Scott. The comedy-vocal group highlights Las Vegas Little Theatre’s Fringe Festival at 10 p.m. Friday, 2:30 p.m. Saturday and 5:15 p.m. Sunday. The festival wraps this weekend at Las Vegas Little Theatre at 3920 Schiff Drive, near the corner of Spring Mountain Road and Valley View Boulevard.
Randal Keith (late of “Steve Wynn’s Showstoppers” and “Baz”), Carnell “Golden Pipes” Johnson and Colin Cahill fill out the BOL lineup. The crew sings six original songs, Keith takes on “That’s Life,” and as Scott says, “Our ‘Impossible Dream’ is no joke.” Gotta love that Enoch Augustus Scott. Accept no substitute.
The Review-journal is owned by the family of Las Vegas Sands Chairman and CEO Sheldon Adelson. Las Vegas Sands operates The Venetian.
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. A 30-day grace period for 24-hour-a-day high occupancy vehicle lanes on portions of Interstate 15 and U.S. Highway 95 ends on Thursday. There are multiple ways for a motorist to violate the new HOV lane regulations and face a $250 fine. Infractions include:
Vehicles that don’t enter or exit the carpool lane at one of the broken line enter/ exit points.
Vehicles with just one occupant.
Electric cars, unless with two occupants, as per Nevada law.
Trucks with more than two axles, even with two occupants. As of 9 p.m. Thursday:
1. Sisolak signs bill raising minimum wage to $12 an hour in Nevada
Under the new law, the minimum wage in Nevada will increase gradually to
$12 per hour over the next five years for employees who are not offered health insurance and $11 for those who are.
2. Gruden ends Raiders’ minicamp early; Antonio Brown shines in spring
Coach Jon Gruden scaled back minicamp and along with general manager Mike Mayock spoke glowingly about the former Steelers wide receiver’s work ethic.
3. Las Vegas man gets 5 to 13 years for beating dog, posting video online
Along with a charge of cruelty to animals, Daman Holmes, 36, pleaded guilty but mentally ill to one count of aggravated stalking.
4. Golden Knights’ MarcAndre Fleury sells Las Vegas home for $2.3M
The single-story home, built on a .63-acre lot in 2015, measures
5,285 square feet, has a 717-square-foot casita, a three-car garage. and five bedrooms and six baths.
5. Secondary principals: No confidence in CCSD superintendent Jesus Jara
Secondary principals across the Clark County School District voted no confidence in their superintendent, just two days after he announced in a video that he would eliminate all 170 dean positions from middle and high schools. As of 9 p.m. Thursday:
1. Man who beat dog and made death threats gets 5 to13years
Daman Holmes, the man who filmed himself beating adog,whilesayinghewould do the same and worse to women, was sentenced to 5 to 13 years.
2. CCSD budget reductions
Clark County School District Superintendent Jesus Jara has outlined proposed 2019-20 school year budget reductions.
3. Tim Burton’s imaginative artwork coming to Las Vegas
“Tim Burton @ the Neon Museum” in Las Vegas will feature both new and previously exhibited largescale pieces beginning in October 2019.