Jason Alexander.
Capt. James T. Kirk and George Costanza might not have much in common, other than exploring strange new worlds, Kirk's being the planet Risa and Costanza's being the underside of his desk, converted to a nap nest.
But William Shatner, for more than 40 years identified with his heroically cadenced "Star Trek" character, once gave Jason Alexander some solid advice about how to cope with being known as someone else. It was during the event of Alexander's 35th birthday, when Shatner showed up as an invited party guest (no crashing for James Tiberius) and pulled Alexander aside.
"We talked that day, and by then 'Seinfeld' looked like it would be a significant series and this (Costanza) character would be with me for a long time, and he told me how when he was recognized as Kirk, he really rejected it," Alexander said in a phone interview to promote his new one-man show at Planet Hollywood, "The Donny Clay Experience," which opens tonight and runs at least through March 14 in the Peepshow theater. "He had devalued it, and the people who respected it, but then decided it was inevitable and went back to embracing it, and it opened doors for his career and his life.
"I look at it this way: I realize that in any given career, for an actor to have worked on anything that will outlive him, to see lives affected by it, is lucky. That is absolutely the case with George."
But the role Alexander (who turned 50 last year) plays at Planet Hollywood is not George Costanza. Instead, it is something of a mutated version of noted life strategist Tony Robbins. Donny Clay is commonly described as the world's "fourth-best motivational speaker." Comically toupee-d, manic and self-unaware, the character pinballs from topic to topic and invites guests onstage for what appears to be purely improvisational motivational sessions.
"I will be very honest with you: The possibilities (for improv) are about 25 percent. The show is heavily scripted," Alexander said. "(Clay) expends a tremendous amount of energy fixing people's problems — here's a lesson, a topic, to focus on — but he's really just like any other schmo who has problems. He's just like everybody else."
Alexander has a long, distinguished stage career apart from his portrayal of Costanza on Seinfeld from 1989-1998. In 1989, he won a Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical for his performance in "Jerome Robbins' Broadway." In 2003, he starred opposite Martin Short in the Los Angeles production of "The Producers," and was later in talks join the cast of the production at Paris Las Vegas. He might still land an extended engagement here, as his contract at Planet Hollywood is open-ended if the Clay show is a hit.
"All the mechanisms to extend the run are in place if our four-week run is successful," Alexander said, adding with a laugh, "but it could take just one 80-minute show to make this call." As Costanza would say, "You're killing independent George!" and we can't have that.
Rohit Joshi, checking out the scene outside Neonopolis.
Commissioners, from left, Lawrence Weekly, Chip Maxfield and Susan Brager applaud as 3 of 6, a character from "Star Trek: The Experience," is introduced at the Clark County Commission meeting Tuesday. Star Trek was honored for its 10-year run at the Hilton.
More from the Trek galaxy
Remember when Fremont Street scion and Downtown Cocktail Room owner Michael Cornthwaite said he'd stake his bar that the Star Trek Experience would never open at Neonopolis? I do. Whether Cornthwaite is right is yet to be determined.
What a long, strange trip this Trek episode has been. It was reported a year ago, thanks to information provided by Rohit Joshi (who heads the company that owns Neonopolis), that the attraction would start to open last May. As the Romulans say, "Nyet!"
Romulans speak Russian, right?
Whatever, what can be reported today, through a spokeswoman for CBS, which holds the license to Star Trek merchandise and logos and whatnot, is that it still has a contract with Neonopolis to open the attraction. There are also plans to sell off some of the assets left over from the Las Vegas Hilton's version of the Experience that won't be needed in its now locale, wherever it is.
A statement from CBS, which was originally provided to the Trekker Web site trekmovie.com:
"CBS Consumer Products remains committed to opening a new and exciting Star Trek attraction. We continue to work with our partners at Neonopolis regarding the development of a new Star Trek: The Experience in Las Vegas. In the interim, there are elements from the original Star Trek: The Experience that we know will not be utilized in any new attraction and plan to make those items available to the many wonderful fans of Star Trek: The Experience either by sale or auction in the near future. The final dates and details of such sales are in progress and we hope to announce more very soon."
Beyond that, nothing's changed. But I am feeling there will be news soon about what's happening with Neonopolis and plans for the Star Trek Experience. Merely a hunch, but a year has passed since it was announced the Experience would relocate at Neonopolis and we haven't seen as much as a set of plastic Vulcan ears appear on the property. Maybe it'll be phased out, right? Or phased in.
Until then, Warp back to 1, Sulu ...
Former President George W. Bush is given a tour of the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health by Larry Ruvo on Feb. 10, 2010.
Former President George W. Bush is given a tour of the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health by Larry Ruvo on Feb. 10, 2010. With them is Camille Ruvo, Larry's wife.
Bush 43's Vegas vacation
The reason for President George W. Bush's visit to Las Vegas was more than just to tour the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health with founder Larry Ruvo. Bush 43 was in town to give Tuesday's keynote address for the National Grocery Association's convention at Paris Las Vegas.
And, check out the entertainment for the grocers: Paul Anka. Talk about a cleanup on aisle 7. The event was under super-duper, double-secret lockdown. No media permitted. Those trying to hit the express lane were double-bagged.
Brody Dolyniuk, onstage with Music of Queen.
We're doin' it live
It was the toppermost of the poppermost to catch up with my buddy Pat Woodward and the Fab at Eastside Cannery on Tuesday night. It was something of a walk down memory lane, or maybe it was a stagger, given all the wild nights we used to spend warbling along to Beatles' classics at such haunts as Mad Dogs & Englishmen and the old Palace Station lounge. But joining the band for a one-night-only reunion was David St. John of Yellow Brick Road, who, along with Woodward, started the Fab back in 1994-1995-ish. Remarkably, St. John has been with YBR for eight years now. How flime ties, eh?
These days The Fab plays Tuesdays at Eastside Cannery, in Marilyn's Lounge, at 8 p.m. YBR has shuffled its schedule a bit, and is now playing Wednesdays at Suncoast Showroom. Fridays and Saturdays are still at Boulder Station's Railhead, where the band started back in 1998.
Beyond those gigs, I get the impression that this is going to be a big year for YBR and its front man, Brody Dolyniuk, one of the city's unrealized talents. Keep an eye on these guys.
Buddy Greco and Lezlie Anders, heading to England.
Greco heading overseas
Entertainment legend Buddy Greco and his wife, Lezlie Anders, are leaving the country — for a time. The vaunted jazz pianist and his life and performing partner begin an engagement at the Leicester Square Theatre in London's West End on May 4. The couple have 20 dates booked in Britain to perform their show "Fever: The Music of Miss Peggy Lee." The two are expected back in the states in the spring of 2011, but have nothing planned for Las Vegas.
That's a bummer. Greco and Anders left Vegas about a decade ago, after Greco had forged a reputation as one of the city's great live performers while playing the Casbah Lounge at Sahara during the years the Rat Pack was blazing a trail there. He since opened his own dinner club in Palm Springs, which has subsequently closed, and is performing two send-off shows Friday and Saturday at the Cascade Lounge of the Spa Resort Casino in Palm Springs.
Those who grew up with Vegas entertainment back when legends played lounges will hope to see Greco back in Vegas one day.
Chips!
The move Randy Couture used to defeat Mark Coleman in UFC 109 was a "rear naked choke." In an unrelated development, tonight "Chippendales The Show" celebrates its 3,000th performance at the Rio.
Just havin' a little fun here ...
Follow John Katsilometes on Twitter at twitter.com/JohnnyKats.
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