By John Katsilometes
We’ll open with a feature copped from another publication for which I write, Las Vegas Life magazine, and do a “By the Numbers” on Clint Holmes’ musical “Just Another Man,” which Sunday night finished its monthlong test-drive at UNLV’s Judy Bayley Theatre:
15: The number of seconds it takes Holmes to mention the name of one of his heroes, Sammy Davis Jr.
42: The number on the back of the Brooklyn Dodgers’ jersey Holmes wears when portraying himself as a kid growing up in Buffalo (that’s the number worn by Jackie Robinson, and if anyone was confused the name “Robinson” is stitched boldly across the back).
175: Minutes the production runs (not counting the 15-minute intermission).
Two: Jokes told by Holmes that he carried over from his Harrah’s show. One is about having an African American father and British mother, “Which makes me Puerto Rican.” The other is about how Bill Fayne graduated from opera school and Holmes’ did not, “But now, you work for me,” as Holmes says to Fayne.
One: Disclosure I must make if I am to write about this show. One of the associate producers is Danny Greenspun, who is Chairman of the Board of Greenspun Media Group, which owns this site and every other publication bearing my byline.
I have looked forward to “JAM” more than most productions, because I know Holmes and consider him a friend. We are at least friendly, in that we spent New Year’s Eve together and we usually engage in lively banter. I have mentioned before that Holmes does far more than his share of philanthropic work in Las Vegas. His stage show at Harrah’s was the best of its type in the city.
As for “JAM,” the production is still stinging from a D-plus review leveled by the Review-Journal. As someone close to the show told me Sunday night, “You can’t imagine what kind of damage that review did to us.” Reviews aside, I did find much of the show entertaining – a cast that features Holmes, former “Mamma Mia!” lead Tina Walsh, powerhouse vocalist Earl Turner, Holmes’ longtime music director and best friend Fayne and Gayle Steele (Holmes’ real-life sister) is going to hold your attention, regardless.
But if Holmes keeps with his original objective to take this show to London, then perhaps to Chicago and finally Broadway (and I’m certain he still has those plans), I’m sure he’ll go back to work. So will Fayne and director Larry Moss. The show could use some tightening, better focus, more clarity. And that’s coming from someone inherently interested in the plot. Londoners who might not know much about Holmes or his story will need to have it told more crisply.
But knowing Holmes, he won’t rest until “JAM” is perfect. I have the feeling the version of the show at UNLV was far from the finished product.
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The search for an answer about Lynette Boggs’ status on the Miss America Organization Board of Directors has boomeranged from the MAO public relations department to her Las Vegas attorney, Bill Terry. Nobody seems to know, and really, why bother? She’s still listed as a board member on the official Miss America Web site, but Team Tiara has effectively disowned the former Miss Oregon without owning up to that fact.
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The guy who just needs to go, now, from the third-season cast of “Top Chef” is Joey from New York. He has a last name, Paulino, but after a gander at that belly it should be "Marblecake." Joey is one of these, “Dis is how we doit’ in New Yawk, ’cuz I hang on da streets wit my boys,” brand of native New Yorkers who think the world ends at the Jersey Turnpike. Oh, and he wears a headband, the type that Donnie Wahlberg wore in New Kids on the Block. A real bad-ass, is this Joey.
Joey’s lowest moment so far (which I’m sure he’ll surpass soon, probably in Wednesday night’s episode or the next time he opens his mouth) is when he said of Vegas entrant Hung Huynh, “He can’t handle da kitchen. Dat’s why he’s in Vegas.” Huynh is executive sous chef at a little eatery called Restaurant Guy Savoy at Caesars Palace, and so far has shown he can cook circles around Joey. And if you have seen this guy, you know that’s no small feat.
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Insert your own Frankie Valli reference here: Belated congrats to a former colleague of mine at the Sun, Erica Johnson-McElroy, on her move to Four Seasons Las Vegas. Between the Sun and Seasons, Erica spent three years at R&R Partners. She takes the spot vacated by Adeana Shendal, who has moved to Saipan with her new husband, Billy Greenlee Jr.
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Vegas moment: In the men’s room at Judy Bayley Theatre, before Holmes’ show, one man says to another, “Look at Clint Holmes – he’s about 50. A few years ago he had colon surgery, and it changed his life.” Holmes did have colon cancer surgery (the cancer is in remission and he’s a spokesman for the American Cancer Society); he’s also 61. But he looks 50, to most.
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Release me: The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has sent across the Top Ten Summer Fashions for Your Pet. One is, “Paws weren’t made for hot asphalt: If you’ve got a pet roaming around with you on those city sidewalks, look into the wide array of doggie shoes to protect those paws from the burning temperatures.” Or, doggie flip-flops would work. But it is a good idea in these parts. Maybe Nike can come up with a line of Air Dobermans or something.
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Plate in my head: Reader didn’t catch the make (suffering a blonde moment, maybe) on the grey SUV with the plate TTLBLND.
Fabulous Las Vegas appears daily (well, almost) at this Web site. John Katsilometes can be reached at 990-7720, 812-9812 or at [email protected]