The prince of pop Michael Jackson, who now calls Vegas home, is becoming increasingly visible as he gets more and more comfortable here.Recently he even took his children back to his favorite Wing Lei Chinese restaurant at the Wynn to show them Chinese New Year celebrations. Then it was a return visit to the Forum Shops at Caesars Palace before watching the near two-hour magic show which was the highlight ending of the World Magic Seminar at the Orleans. Siegfried & Roy actually spotted him and told the other magicians at the convention.
LUXE LIFE readers will know from our exclusive Michael Jackson interview a month ago that he is absolutely fascinated with illusions and magic tricks. Today, Michael is in meetings with movie theater executives for business discussions as he still plots and plans the next steps of his major show business return. His dad, Joe Jackson, who has now become involved again in Michael's future, is helping set up exploratory business negotiations and developments.
Two respected sources in recent days have indicated that Joe's return validates rumors of a "family summit" held a week ago to jump start plans for a new world tour with both Janet and Michael singing separately, then in duets and closing the show together with all the Jackson siblings! My NYC pal, Fox News gossip guru Roger Friedman reported that Atlanta concert promoter Leonard Rowe, who worked with the family during its heyday, wanted a new Jackson family tour with all its members -- Janet, Rebbie, Jermaine, Randy, Marion and Tito -- and Michael apparently agreed to it.
LUXE LIFE readers will again remember that the Jackson patriarch was reunited with his daughter at the Venetian's TAO Nightclub during last fall's birthday celebrations, as seen in the right photo above. Insiders have already polled selected worldwide promoters who have given the plan an enthusiastic thumbs up, saying it could start overseas where their fan base is still incredibly loyal and strong and then returning as heroes to the U.S., winding back up on the Strip where, ironically in the '70s, the Jackson Five were regular headliners! Fox News gossip reported that Michael recently refinanced new mortgages on his parent's home and Neverland Ranch and that if everything came together with the tour would help pay down all of the family's current financial obligations.
Michael is also "reviewing and evaluating," several offers for Vegas productions, according to his spokeswoman Raymone K. Bain. She's even issued a statement to refute rumors that he can't find work in Las Vegas and that he will appear or perform on 'American Idol.'
"Mr. Jackson has been presented numerous proposals -- proposals which he has not solicited, but were presented to him, several of which include performing in Las Vegas," Bain said in her press statement.
"Mr. Jackson is currently reviewing and evaluating each proposal. He does not believe that he is under any time constraint for making his decisions."
And for the first time she explained why Michael decided to move to Vegas last Christmas Eve: "Mr. Jackson did not move to Las Vegas to shop a Vegas show. Mr. Jackson is in Las Vegas because he likes the city and found it a convenient location to record with the artists, songwriters and producers who are working with him in the studio."
CRISS ANGEL'S CSI DEBUT
It was just three weeks ago that CBS show 'CSI: NY' shot a magic-themed episode here in Vegas with 'Mindfreak' Criss Angel. Network officials wasted no time in racing it right through editing to broadcast it tonight. The popular series stars Gary Sinise as detective Mac Taylor, a former Marine Corps officer who conducts investigations according to Veneziano's everything-is-connected theory of quantum physics, and Melina Kanakaredes as detective Stella Bonaserra. Criss plays magician, Luke Blade who becomes a prime suspect as his assistants die off! Criss who is currently filming the third season of his own A&E TV series at the Luxor will be guest of honor tonight at a 10PM screening party the hotel executives and staff are throwing for him inside the resort's theater lobby . "I almost wasn't around to watch the completed show," Criss told LUXE LIFE after he almost drowned doing a Houdini escape stunt in the Luxor's pool. (Click here for our exclusive LUXE LIFE interview yesterday about his near drowning death).GOLD DIGGER DOLLARS
Twice a year, the Bellagio's Light Nightclub throws a unique "gold diggers" party. Dancers from the club and female guests are able to collect "gold dollars" by performing legal, but wild, requests from customers and this time around even Grandmaster Flash and members of the alternative rock band Stone Temple Pilots were handing out super-sized tips. Naturally, this being Vegas, the girls who collect the most amount of money are able to cash in the coin for a little cosmetic help from a plastic surgeon!
EXPENSIVE REAL ESTATE
One of the most expensive homes in America has just had a "For Sale" affixed to it. It's a 210-acre property north of here on Lake Tahoe. A mere $100-million will make you the new owner of "Tranquility" with its 20,000 square feet of living space and a 35,000-bottle wine cellar and 19-seat movie theater! It's owned by Tommy Hilfiger co-founder Joel Horowitz.
Just a little too steep for your budget? Well, ask singer Smokey Robinson for help. He's been quite a real estate wheeler-dealer since moving to Vegas and his Opai Valley, Henderson home (seen above) has just gone on the market for $1.9 million. He's also selling a luxurious $10-million mansion in California in order to develop nearby land in Chatsworth he acquired last year! Smokey's three-bedroom house in the gated Seven Hills golf club community is a one story, 4,420 square feet, nine room, three baths estate complete with a pool, spa, and three-car garage. Smokey bought the house in 2003 for $1.2 million.
ROCK THE RABBIT
Actor Dennis Hopper introduced the Whitestarr rockers at a special hour-long concert in Rain at the Palms. It was all to promote Playboy's new magazine music salutes 'Rock the Rabbit' and Rhymefest followed with another performance. All the commotion brought out the Playboy bunnies and Whitestarr's Cisco Adler (seen above) proposed at first sight and almost married Miss March 2007, Tyran Richard right on the spot! After their shows, the groups partied up at the Fantasy Towers rooftop Playboy Club with a bevy of beauties including Monica Leigh (Miss Mar 06) Amanda Paige (Miss Oct 05) Shallan Meira (Miss Sept 02) and Jordan Monroe (Miss Oct 06)
STRIP SCRIBBLES
Some diary dates not to miss out on: the unique Lucky Strike Lanes that PURE nightclub group is launching as a sports ultra-lounge at the Rio is set for March 15, with comedy heavyweight Jeff Beacher starting his own celebrity bowling league tournament. ... Four days later, on March 19, Wolfgang Puck opens his new RIVA poolside restaurant serving from 8AM to 4PM daily at The Venetian and then TAO opens up the same pool-deck for nightlife adventures with access right from the nightclub's dance floor. The wild, outrageous Rehab pool parties will resume as of April 29 at the Hard Rock.
My friend Stephen Sorrentino (seen above) is the new headliner at the Imperial Palace Legends in Concert show and his comedy impression of Sir Elton John, who appears in real-life directly across the Strip at Caesars Palace, is a total laugh-a-minute sensation. ... Amazing Johnathan has had to change his night off at his Sahara showroom so he can work on developing a new TV project in Los Angeles. So he will now "go dark" each Wednesday and Thursday to give him 48-hours of round-the-clock work in Hollywood.
TONIGHT'S TIP
Extraordinary hit-maker Neil Sedaka plays the piano and sings his chart toppers at the Orleans starting tonight thru Sunday. ... Musiq Soulchild is Prince's special guests at his 3121 Club in the Rio. ... Twenty of America's top pole-dancing schools perform at Rockhouse and the Miss Strip Las Vegas 2007 contest is underway at the Men's Club. ... The Tennis Channel Tournament continues at Darling Stadium.
TOMORROW'S TEASE
LUXE LIFE has an extraordinary interview with the Bellagio chef who went from the mean streets of the ghetto to a Strip stove. It really is a journey from dealing drugs to serving up gourmet delicacies. Jeff Henderson will appear on Oprah Winfrey's show tomorrow with his emotional turnaround life story but LUXE LIFE has it all first right here! Plus in an all-chef special edition we'll meet the Four Seasons miracle workers who flew to Hawaii for the Food network's carving showdown!
Also Pop-ular in Vegas Right Now:
- LUXE LIFE: Elizabeth Taylor's Celebrates Her Diamond Jubilee
- LUXE LIFE: Michael Jackson Talks Vegas
- AOL Vegas: The Hoff in Vegas
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1. Please, please do stop qouting Roger Friedman.
The man has no credibility whatsoever, so far everything his "sources" tells him, seem to belong in the "fiction" cathegory. Maybe he should try using his fantasy writing a novel? It would propably be slightly more entertaining than what he is writing at the moment, now hi is just annoying....
MC at 8:22PM on Feb 28th 2007