What happens at Jenna's, goes online
Hot on the stiletto heels of her autobiography, Las Vegas' favorite native daughter, Jenna Jameson, has a new website, www.justjennajameson.com—and it's free. Similar in look to ClubJenna.com (hey, it's our duty here at the Weekly to keep tabs on these sorts of things), it offers links to eBay auctions, her store, schedule (most of September was kind of quiet), and naturally, photos. But most interesting to us is her diary. Items gleaned after a quick glance include: She likes Road Trip, her assistant's name is Linda and she has implants, she gets sunburnt a lot, and she has too many dogs.
Idle Speculation
Celine Dion is said to be talking with Caesars to open a Canadian restaurant. Here's dishes we hope to see served:
Poutine: French fries covered in hot gravy and topped with cheese curds. Served by your better Quebecois McDonald's.
Winnipeg goldeye: First this smoked fish, then Monty Hall—this city never stops!
Prairie oysters: Calf testicles dredged in flour and fried. No, really.
Fiddleheads: a wild fern and a favorite in the Maritimes. It's no surprise eating grass is popular in Canada's poorest region.
BOOK
Nevada 24/7 (3 stars)
By Rick Smolan, David Elliot Cohen
$24.95
If you had your picture taken the week of May 12-18, 2003, there's a slim chance it might be among these 524 images. Photogs, pro and amateur, across the Silver State submitted their work and the best are here, from the stunning Desert of Fire to an Ely rancher giving a bottle of milk to a kid goat, from a field of painted bomb fins at Hawthorne to Ethiopian immigrants at prayer in Las Vegas, this coffee-table book, one in a series of 50, is certain to stir pride in calling Nevada home. Best of all, you can upload your own photo to www.america24-7.com/customcover for a personalized book jacket.
DVDs
La Dolce Vita (NR) (5 stars)
$34.98
Released in 1960 to acclaim and commercial success, La Dolce Vita still inspires debate among cinema lovers. Was it a masterpiece or just a harbinger of excesses to come from director Federico Fellini? Never mind. This study of divine decadence along Rome's Via Veneto remains one of the medium's richest entertainments. Overflowing with interviews and commentary, this generous two-disc set is what Fellini fans have been waiting for since the invention of the VCR.
MADtv (NR) (3 stars)
The Complete First Season
$39.98
When Fox announced it was taking on NBC's mighty Saturday Night Live with a series inspired by Mad magazine, the smart money said that, A) the only resemblance between the show and the magazine would be its title, B) it would be a bargain-basement imitation of SNL, and C) it wouldn't last more than one season. Wrong on all counts. The show has proven to be formidable competition for SNL—infinitely better on some nights. And, it's about to enter its 10th season, thank you.
How to Draw a Bunny (NR) (4 stars)
$29.98
Documentary filmmakers have enjoyed a heady run over the last few years, but many still struggle to get their work shown outside of the festival circuit. John Walter's illuminating profile of the late performance artist and "art-world prankster" Ray Johnson is just such an exercise. Like Warhol, Johnson was fascinating by America's obsession with celebrity. If you recognize names like Christo, Chuck Close, Richard Feigen, Morton Janklow, Judith Malina, Roy Lichtenstein and James Rosenquist, this film's for you.
LOCAL CD
Alister (2 stars)
Yesterday's Clown
Now this is music to put you to sleep. Singer-songwriter Alister is a staple of local open-mike nights, and maybe he makes a good host and collaborator. But his debut CD is 10 original songs of bland, whiny, dull folk music, plus a tepid cover of the Beatles' "Yesterday." Alister clearly idolizes the Fab Four (he even brags about being from their hometown in his song, "Liverpool"), but he only makes himself looks worse by inviting the comparison.