Newton, Gaz star in new Caesars ad
CAESARS Palace has recruited a pair of headliners — one a living legend, the other a faux legend — to trumpet its return.
Wayne Newton is starring in and providing the voiceover for a national TV commercial set to debut Friday morning on “Good Morning America.” The Gazillionaire of “Absinthe” notoriety is tagging along.
The “GMA” connection is through Caesars Entertainment’s sponsorship of the show’s “Summer Concert Series,” announced Monday. Katy Perry is premiering the series Friday. As part of the deal, Newton and Gaz, along with famed Caesars models Caesar and Cleopatra, co-star in the new ad campaign.
Caesars officials say the intent is for the spot to air Friday. Less likely is that it could debut next week.
Newton, the anchor of Cleopatra’s Barge, recorded his clip at the hotel on Saturday. He also is providing the voice-over for the campaign, designed to instill a spirit of optimism as the Strip reopens. Caesars also fired up its fountains facing the Strip this week before the filming.
And on Tuesday night, the ubiquitous Gazillionaire of “Absinthe” plugged in the Absinthe Electric Oak in the courtyard adjacent to the show’s Spiegeltent. The Ledtrimmed tree is an electric relic from Burning Man, obtained by the zany production company to add Instagrammable moments to the hit production.
“When Caesars said that they wanted to do a television commercial that indicates Vegas is really ready to open, I said, ‘I’ll plug the tree in,’ ” Spiegelworld founder and “Absinthe” producer Ross Mollison said Wednesday. “If the tree’s not on, Vegas is not ready to open.”
Caesars Entertainment has not made its reopening plans public, but the Friday advertising debut lines up with a Memorial Day weekend relaunch. The respective shows are still in a holding pattern for a return to the stage, but Mollison is committed to bringing all three of his shows — “Absinthe” at Caesars, “Opium” at The Cosmopolitan and “Atomic Saloon Show” at The Venetian’s Grand Canal Shoppes — back to the stage.
The veteran producer says, “When we have that opening night, whenever it is, it will be the most important night of my career.”
Human Nature’s down
Human Nature is rescheduling its “Good Good Life” tour of Australia, which was set for July-august. The guys announced the move Monday on social media. It’s a disappointment as the natives of Australia typically do great business in their home country.
Tickets are on sale for a
June 16 return to Sands Showroom at The Venetian — plans that are tentative, to put it mildly.
Kiwi experiments
Billboard reports that each week Live Nation is test-driving a series of socially distant concerts and comedy shows in Auckland, New Zealand. The “Together Again” shows start May 29-30 at The Tuning Fork in central Auckland, which is part of Spark Arena. The series showcases a rotating lineup of local artists and comedians.
Live Nation New Zealand Chairman Stuart Clumpas said in a statement the shows are “an opportunity for us to unite and celebrate the power of live entertainment with some of the country’s first socially distanced shows.” Las Vegas venue operators, entertainers and fans should watch with a discerning eye.
Saddle up
The deal that led to the PBR staging no-spectator events at South Point Arena next month seemed to arrive out of nowhere. But hotel owner and Vegas resort legend Michael Gaughan herded the talks to the pen, as it were.
It’s not Gaughan’s first rodeo, either. In 1985, Gaughan’s negotiation tenacity helped uproot the National Finals Rodeo from Oklahoma City to the then-2-year-old Thomas & Mack Center. The NFR has sold out every event since.
Di Domenico dances
John Di Domenico says he was “dragged” onto Tiktok by his fiancée, Michele Rothstein. That’s some drag. The video of him dancing as Donaldtrump on Rothstein’s Vegas Michele Tiktok account has drawn 16.2 million views.
“I didn’t want to do it,” Di Domenico says. “I’m like, ‘What? Another platform? What’s my audience? Nineyear-olds?’ They come online in the comments during my Tiktok and say, ‘You’re a poopie-head!’ “
Di Domenico reached another benchmark on his Cameo platform on Wednesday, recording his 700th customized message. He joined Cameo in October, and several Vegas entertainers have followed.
The inexhaustible Di Domenico says, “I’ve been working morning ’til night, but I’m not complaining.”
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.
As of 9 p.m. Wednesday:
1. MGM to reopen first U.S. properties Monday
After roughly two months of shutdowns, MGM Resorts International will reopen its first U.S. properties.
2. VICTOR JOECKS: Gov. Sisolak could start Phase Two reopening on Saturday
According to Gov. Steve Sisolak’s own standards, Nevada is on track to begin Phase Two on Saturday.
3. Casino reopening clues may come in Gaming Control Board workshop Tuesday
Six health and safety experts are scheduled to address gaming regulators in a workshop meeting that could provide information on when casinos would reopen. 4. Buffets in Las Vegas casinos might have had their day
Casino companies have been characteristically cagey about when — and if, and in what form — they might reopen buffets in the wake of the coronavirus shutdown, but it appears most will hold off, at least for a while.
5. Three Las Vegas Valley bars not likely to survive COVID-19
The independent, locally owned gaming bar No Regrets on West Sunset Road has announced its permanent closure, and the Miller’s Ale House chain has confirmed its locations in Town Square and Henderson will remain shuttered “for the foreseeable future.”
As of 9 p.m. Wednesday:
1. Buffets won’t reopen soon, but they may return eventually
In a Tuesday earnings call, Frank Fertitta III, CEO of Station Casinos parent company Red Rock Resorts, said buffets won’t be among the amenities included in the early stages of the resorts’ reopenings.
2. MGM reopening in Mississippi while Las Vegas casinos lay out plans
The big six casinos have released their health and safety plans to reopen for the public. Business Reporter Bailey Schulz and Renee Summerour discuss what visitors can expect.