John Katsilometes
Story Archive
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A&EMonday By the Numbers: Billy Joel, with a dash of ‘Zark’
Monday, April 25, 2016 This week, Monday By the Numbers reminds, “I love you just the way you are,” in honor of William Martin Joel. ...
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A&EGeorge Strait rocks T-Mobile box office; Prince artist Jason Tenner ‘shocked’ but plays on
Friday, April 22, 2016 The Kats Report Bureau at this writing is Grand Luxe Cafe at Palazzo just ahead of the media night for Human Nature’s “Jukebox” show across the walkway at Sands Showroom. The difference between a media night and all the shows leading to ...
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A&EImprov Comedy Club to close show at Harrah’s
Thursday, April 21, 2016 Soon, there will be no more nights at the Improv. The Improv Comedy Club at Harrah’s, a house of hilarity since April 1995, is reportedly closing at the end of May. The Improv is a legendary brand among comics, ...
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John KatsilometesLionel Richie brings his enduring hit parade to Planet Hollywood
Wednesday, April 20, 2016 When he says he’s doing All the Hits, he means it.
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A&EBrad Garrett remembers ‘vibrant’ Doris Roberts; Jimmy and Robin Slonina ‘a Las Vegas weirdo power couple’
Tuesday, April 19, 2016 Brad Garrett is in a bittersweet mood this week, celebrating the fourth anniversary of his club at MGM Grand Underground while feeling the loss of his friend and “Everybody Loves Raymond” co-star Doris Roberts. ...
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A&EMonday By the Numbers: Point spread (for entertainment purposes only) of Tuesday’s Globetrotters game is …
Monday, April 18, 2016 On Tuesday night, the Harlem Globetrotters play the World All-Stars, formerly known as the Washington Generals, at T-Mobile Arena. I asked Jay Rood, sports book director for MGM Resorts, to establish a point spread ...
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A&EIt’s show time — and Showtime — for ‘Dice’
Monday, April 18, 2016 Andrew Dice Clay is in full stride at the moment, a TV star once more with a booking on the Strip. His sitcom “Dice” debuted April 10 on Showtime and has banked two of its six first-season episodes ...
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A&EPenn & Teller again play the ‘Fool’; Globetrotter recalls unseen win
Saturday, April 16, 2016 The Kats Report Bureau returned to the Rio on Friday night to witness the final taping of the third season of “Penn & Teller: Fool Us.” As John Lennon once said, “I play guitar, and sometimes I play the fool,” which fits some …
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A&E‘Bathroom law’ prompts Cirque to pull productions from N.C.
Friday, April 15, 2016 Springsteen. Starr. Now Cirque. Saying it “believes in diversity and equality for every individual and is opposed to discrimination in any form,” the Strip’s favorite theatrical company has pulled its touring ...
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A&EA ‘Vegas Nocturne’ movie? Yes — but not for you
Thursday, April 14, 2016 The Kats Report Bureau at this writing is the Bourbon Room at the Venetian, and isn’t it funny how we discover some of these cool hangs just a little too late. I’ve been in here twice in the past couple of weeks ...
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John KatsilometesClint Holmes reunites with Santa Fe & The Fat City Horns
Wednesday, April 13, 2016 It will mark the first ticketed show featuring Holmes and Santa Fe since his headlining Harrah’s run ended a decade ago.
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A&EMaybe Carrot Top should have opted for ‘Zoolander 2’; Intrigue seals Seal deal
Wednesday, April 13, 2016 The Kats Report Bureau at this writing is the food court at the atrium level of the Luxor, and from this position I can see the entry of the “Bodies” exhibit. So, I won’t be ordering any jerky (#sheckykats). ...
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A&EWayne Newton’s flu means ‘Tonight Show’ appearance won’t fly
Tuesday, April 12, 2016 Wayne Newton’s jam session with The Roots on “The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon” will have to wait for another night. Curtailed by a high fever and bronchitis, Newton had to ...
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A&EPerplexing decision: Clint Holmes-Santa Fe at M Resort or Frankie Moreno at Planet Hollywood
Tuesday, April 12, 2016 Well, this is a tough call between two “must” shows. First, before identifying that tough call, we’ll give props to the esteemed Clint Holmes. Over the weekend, Holmes unveiled a few songs from his upcoming CD during ...
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A&EMonday By the Numbers: Dice rolls to Showtime and looks to fill Tropicana Theater
Monday, April 11, 2016 Today, Monday By the Numbers hits the remote for “Dice,” the series starring Andrew Dice Clay set to premiere Sunday at 9:30 p.m. on Showtime. Following up on what we’ll call a “lingering” scoop, Clay is planning a one-off show at Tropicana Theater at 10 p.m. May 28 as part of ...
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A&EA pair of hot Las Vegas celebs? Wayne Newton and Jerry Lewis
Monday, April 11, 2016 Hey, idea time: Wayne Newton and Jerry Lewis might be able to parlay their Las Vegas affiliation into some genuine notoriety. It has been a whopper of a stretch for this pair of Las Vegas legends who see no need to cede the spotlight any time soon. Newton has helped open T-Mobile Arena and is set for a pair of ...
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A&EThe Park delivers as the Strip’s new playground
Monday, April 11, 2016 Having put T-Mobile Arena and The Park to the test over the weekend, I can first say the place is gorgeous and furnished to handle any arena-styled event. A stunner, I know. ...
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NewsSurvey describes Las Vegas’ average tourist
Sunday, April 10, 2016 If you’re on the Strip, there’s a good chance you’re going to run into a married 47-year-old from California who booked a hotel room online and earns more than $40,000 a year.
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A&EJanet Jackson calls off show at T-Mobile Arena, stopping tour to start family
Friday, April 8, 2016 For the second time in six months, a performance by Janet Jackson on the Strip has been called off. Jackson’s May 14 show at T-Mobile Arena has been ...
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A&EClint Holmes’ ‘Inspired’ rolls lucky 7; Lewis toasts his 90th once more
Friday, April 8, 2016 The Kats Report bureau is regrouping after an exhaustive week at T-Mobile Arena and The Park on the Strip. The next event is the Guns N’ Roses show at the arena ...
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A&EKiller collaborations from T-Mobile: Brandon Flowers and Dan Reynolds; Ronnie Vannucci and Blue Man Group
Thursday, April 7, 2016 Notes on a postcard from the opening of T-Mobile Arena on Wednesday night, with The Killers headlining a lineup that featured Wayne Newton in full Mr. Vegas regalia, an early performance by hip-hop artist Shamir and ...
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A&EWayne Newton: ‘I actually teared up’ during T-Mobile performance
Thursday, April 7, 2016 You might expect that Wayne Newton has seen it all after performing for Las Vegas audiences since 1959. Not so. Wednesday night’s opening of T-Mobile Arena presented a rare “first” in Las Vegas for Mr. Las Vegas. ...
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A&EAfter Monte Carlo overhaul, Jim Murren says MGM is ‘taking the show on the road’
Thursday, April 7, 2016 It’s funny to be writing from one of the few remaining themed hotels owned by MGM Resorts. The head of the company is finished with developing themed hotels. ...
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John KatsilometesHuman Nature lights up its 'Jukebox' for a revamped Venetian production
Wednesday, April 6, 2016 “We needed to go in a different direction. It was not a business decision—some people say we’re stupid for giving up a successful show—but we wanted to creatively branch out.”
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A&E‘Baz’ and ‘Puppets’ shack up at Venetian; Skye Dee Miles ready for some ‘53X’
Wednesday, April 6, 2016 The Kats Report Bureau this morning wound through T-Mobile Arena for early TV action with Kim Wagner of “Wake Up With the Wagners” on Channel 3. The arena was still undergoing final prep work for ...
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A&EL.V. all-star show, parking for T-Mobile opening; clock ticking on NHL announcement
Tuesday, April 5, 2016 The opening of T-Mobile Arena is going to be one of those singularly “Viva Las Vegas” moments, and we can never have too many of those in this city. Hopefully, someone in the lineup will ...
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A&EUpon further review: MGM Resorts’ Plan B was right with T-Mobile Arena, Monte Carlo Theater
Monday, April 4, 2016 In resort development, as in life, it is important to listen and … what else? Think it through. The position of T-Mobile Arena, the development of The Park and the construction of the theater at Monte Carlo remind of ...
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A&E
Gov. Sandoval on the Park: ‘In Las Vegas, anything is possible’
Monday, April 4, 2016 Gov. Brian Sandoval was sporting the same classic haircut but a new frame Monday at MGM Resorts' new attraction The Park. ...
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A&EChris Stapleton wins six, Jason Aldean snares top prize at ACM Awards
Sunday, April 3, 2016 The night started with a star-studded tribute to new country-music trailblazer Chris Stapleton and ended with Jason Aldean winning the evening’s biggest award. Aldean sauntered off with his first Entertainer of the Year award and ...
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NewsUpgrading Plaza hotel plans to make waves in downtown pool scene
Sunday, April 3, 2016 At the Plaza, movement is afoot, and that foot is wearing a flip-flop. The hotel is finishing plans to renovate its “rooftop pool experience,” or as we call it, “the pool on the roof,” in time for summer. The Plaza Pool is due for is due for significant upgrades over the next several weeks. Specifically …
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A&ENorth end of Strip is fired up with Party for a Cause and Lambert’s show
Saturday, April 2, 2016 It is the corner that needs to turn the corner: Sahara Avenue and the Strip. On the southwest parcel is the Las Vegas Festival Grounds. On the southeast, as you view the aerial mental map, is SLS Las Vegas. As recently as …
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A&EACM Awards returns to Las Vegas seeking Strip takeover
Friday, April 1, 2016 When the Academy of Country Music Awards uprooted from its Las Vegas home for its 50th anniversary show at AT&T Stadium, members of the ACM Board of Directors asked a pertinent question. “How do we go from Dallas, where we had ...
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A&EFestival Grounds has a cause: It needs more parties
Friday, April 1, 2016 Chris Baldizan, MGM Resorts’ senior vice president of entertainment, is eager to put on the party at that approximately 50-acre space known as Las Vegas Festival Grounds. That happens today through Sunday with the Academy of Country Music Party for a Cause …
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A&ENew acts in store for ‘Absinthe’; ‘Never Sleep Alone’ shacks up in N.Y.
Thursday, March 31, 2016 Elsewhere in the tented fiefdom operated by Spiegelworld founder Ross Mollison, discussion of a touring version of “Absinthe” has tempered a bit since the show ended its run through Australia in 2015. ...
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John KatsilometesExplaining the lure of 5-year-old ‘Absinthe’ at Caesars Palace
Wednesday, March 30, 2016 Absinthe charges along, rife with changes since it opened in April 2011.
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A&EWayne Newton to get ‘Up Close and Personal’ in Windows Showroom residency
Wednesday, March 30, 2016 To break “the fourth wall” of live performance, Wayne Newton first needed to find four walls. Mr. Las Vegas has found them at the second-floor Windows Showroom at Bally’s. In his first Las Vegas interview about ...
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A&ECriss Angel sets ‘Mindfreak Live!’ cast, casts net for Sept. 12 charity show
Wednesday, March 30, 2016 The magic in Criss Angel’s new show on the Strip is to arrive from two performers: Angel himself and Chloe Crawford. This is the overarching message from the casting of Angel’s “Mindfreak Live!” at Luxor ...
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A&ET-Mobile execs trumpet neutrality; Oscar Goodman rings in bellman saga
Tuesday, March 29, 2016 The Kats Report Bureau at this writing is Sands Showroom, a focus of intrigue for the last many months as shows have departed, been announced and — as is the case today — been relaunched. Human Nature’s ...
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A&EHair-raising 94th for Marty Allen and 1,000 of his friends
Monday, March 28, 2016 There is no older entertainer filling ballrooms than the man born Morten David Alpern on March 23, 1922, in Pittsburgh. Marty Allen celebrated his 94th birthday in grand fashion Saturday at ...
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A&EMonday By the Numbers: $0 from tip-less rapper and 9-er from L.V. Phil
Monday, March 28, 2016 This week, Monday By the Numbers touches on myriad topics, including Mike Tyson action and the twin towers of “Property Brothers.” ...
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A&EStar manager Larry Rudolph’s proposal turns picturesque
Monday, March 28, 2016 Say this for entertainment manager Larry Rudolph: He knows how to frame a moment. Rudolph is the longtime business manager of Britney Spears and also has managed Steven Tyler since 2014 along with ...
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A&ET-Mobile Arena makes a Titanic first impression
Sunday, March 27, 2016 As the final few seats are installed in advance of the April 6 opening (a night of music by the Killers and Wayne Newton), John Katsilometes looks at a few other highlights from the newest addition to the Strip ...
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A&EPenn Jillette juggles dieting in new book; leaner Jeff Beacher plays hide-and-seek
Saturday, March 26, 2016 In a highly coincidental development, or rather a coincidental reduction, Penn Jillette and Jeff Beacher have shed a combined 330 pounds dating to 2014. ...
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A&EShangela steps to the front as ‘53X’ takes shape
Friday, March 25, 2016 Shangela takes a seat at a table near the performance stage of “53X,” and it is apparent instantly that this person is a singular embodiment of the show: She … is … hosting. ...
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A&ECameo’s Larry Blackmon explains red codpiece; ‘Alice’ blows up at Brooklyn Bowl
Friday, March 25, 2016 “Alice: A Steampunk Rock Concert” played its most recent date Wednesday night at Brooklyn Bowl. The latest change in the production is in the form of the backing band. ...
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A&ENicki Minaj and Ariana Grande set for April 7 at T-Mobile
Thursday, March 24, 2016 Nicki Minaj and Ariana Grande are building the bridge between The Killers and Guns N’ Roses. Those two hot-selling artists and popular live draws are performing April 7 at T-Mobile Arena, according ...
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A&E‘Santana IV’ lineup is forever groovy in House of Blues reunion
Wednesday, March 23, 2016 The original members of Santana are architects of so many rock ’n’ roll traditions: Lengthy guitar jams. Thunderous percussive stops and starts. Calls from the stage for LSD intake. ...
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A&EChloe Crawford to co-star in Criss Angel’s ‘Mindfreak Live!’ at Luxor
Tuesday, March 22, 2016 Criss Angel has made official what has been apparent since last fall: He plans to make Chloe Crawford a star in his magic universe. Crawford is to be a co-star in ...
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A&ELorena Peril’s next port is a return to ‘Fantasy’
Monday, March 21, 2016 Having toured Europe and set up shop in Puerto Vallarta over the past three years, Lorena Peril is returning to Las Vegas for what she says is …
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A&EBilly Idol turns Punk Elvis in debut at House of Blues
Monday, March 21, 2016 Billy Idol playing Las Vegas was destiny. Take it from the man himself, as he stated lyrically many years ago: “When you hear the music, you make a dip into someone else’s pocket, then make a slip. Steal a car and go to Las Vegas, ... ”
