Notes a la scramble from the weekend just past. We start with the musical question, “What’s up, Holmes?”
• Clint Holmes’ new holiday release, Hallelujah, is out this week. Go to his Web site, ClintHolmes.com, to order a copy. Great stuff from Holmes, which should surprise nobody. He also is performing a set of at Suncoast on Dec. 17 and 18.
And Holmes’ wife, the eminent Kelly Clinton Holmes, continues her run with Nunsense at the Las Vegas Hilton on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Those shows are at 4 p.m. Nevada residents with valid ID get in for $19, absent fees. The show leaves pew — I mean few — puns unturned. It also is reportedly doing pretty well at Shimmer Cabaret, so it does still ... have a prayer (ka-pow!).
• Oprah Winfrey enjoyed her best ratings week since February 2008 for the week covering Nov. 7-14. One of those shows was her wrenching interview with Marie Osmond, in which she spoke tearfully of the death of her son Michael Blosil in February. After Saturday’s show at the Flamingo, Donny & Marie headed out to the Marquis Theater for Donny & Marie — A Broadway Christmas, their Broadway debut. That show runs Dec.9-30, having been extended beyond its initial Dec. 19 closing date for high ticket demand. The Dec. 9 show is the beginning of previews (and also the beginning of birthday No. 53 for Donny Osmond), and Dec. 19 is opening night.
I caught the Donny & Marie show at Flamingo on Friday, and this might be the best show in town for taking your mother. My mom, Kathleen, wouldn’t argue, nor would Mac King’s mother, Betty, as his family was in the audience, too. It’s hard to find the words to describe the look on Mom’s face when Donny clambered from the stage and gave her a high-five, but one of those words would have to be “elated.”
An aside: The D&M signage inside the Flamingo and the show’s programs still list Chip Lightman as the production’s producer, even though he sued Donny & Marie for releasing him from that position. The two sides have settled -- amicably -- out of court.
• Entertainers in Las Vegas are doing what entertainers in Las Vegas often do by their very nature: helping one of their own through health problems. Set for Dec. 5 is a fundraiser for longtime Vegas performer Jeneane Marie, who is suffering from avascular necrosis, which is a lack of blood flow to her hip that has caused constant pain and as a result requires hip replacement surgery. Marie has no medical insurance (sound familiar?), so to help pay for her surgery and care, Grant Griffin and The Showbiz Society are putting on a show at Las Vegas Rocks Cafe at Neonopolis.
Marie has opened for some of the biggest stars ever to take the Las Vegas stage, including Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Don Rickles. She has toured with Wayne Newton, too. Celebs announced as those taking part in the show, which runs from 2 to 4 p.m., include Steve Rossi, Newton, Rich Little, Clint Holmes, Babe Pier, Denise Clemente, Laurie Caceres and Griffin. The Jerry Lopez Band will provide the musical healing. Tickets are $22 at the door.
Lopez and Santa Fe & The Fat City Horns also are donating their take from their shows at The Lounge at the Palms to help fight Marie’s plight. Those gigs are 10:30 tonight and again next Monday. Tickets are $7 and $15.
• Brody Dolyniuk is (brace for a boxing metaphor) entering the ring for Round 3 of his “Brody’s World” one-man rock ’n’ roll impression/comedy showcase at Ovation Lounge at Green Valley Ranch. The show is at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday and is free to the public. Brody’s show is terrific. To quote Rick Derringer, it’s a rock and roll hoochie koo.
Follow John Katsilometes on Twitter at twitter.com/JohnnyKats.
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