The show's producer David Saxe, who also has the "V - The Ultimate Variety Show" at Desert Passage, is a show business veteran who knows how to package an upbeat show. Tickets are $49.95 and $59.95 plus tax, call 702-737-2515.

The first Comedy Festival (TCF) organized by HBO and AEG Live will be a three-day star-studded event, Nov. 17-19, held at Caesars Palace and the Flamingo with over 50 performances at more than nine entertainment venues. There will be appearances by Dave Chappelle, Larry David, George Lopez, Bill Maher, Dennis Miller, Chris Rock, Ray Romano, Garry Shandling and Jon Stewart. There will also be a special tribute to Jerry Seinfeld, who will be honored with the first Comedian Award.

Sponsored by TBS, TCF will host performances in live stand-up, sketch comedy and film, as well as special events and screenings. Festival ticket packages and individual tickets will go on sale on Sept. 30 at 10 a.m. PST, call 877-TCF-FEST.

Some TCF highlights should be noted. The kick-off on Thursday, Nov. 17, will be a star-studded television special "Earth of America," to raise awareness of global warming. It will be taped live at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace for later broadcast on TBS Sunday, Nov. 20. Scheduled to appear are Jack Black, Stephen Colbert, Larry David, Leonardo DiCaprio, Will Ferrell, Al Franken, Christopher Guest, Tom Hanks, Dustin Hoffman, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., Senator John McCain, Steve Martin, Ray Romano, Martin Short and Ben Stiller.

On Friday, Nov. 18, George Lopez will perform live in concert at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace. Dennis Miller, America's "King of Rant," will tape a new hour-long HBO special at The Colosseum. Bill Maher will host "For Adults Only" late-night at The Flamingo Showroom with special guests Gilbert Gottfried, Sarah Silverman and more to be announced. Dane Cook, the 15-year veteran in stand-up, television and film, will perform his own show at Caesars Palace.

On Saturday, Nov. 19, Jerry Seinfeld's award event will feature a 60-minute Q&A with the comedy star and his stand-up friends Chris Rock and Garry Shandling. Dave Chappelle, star of Comedy Central's "Chappelle's Show," will close out the festival late night at The Colosseum. Carlos Mencia, whose series "Mind of Mencia" premiered this July and was the third-highest debut ever on Comedy Central, will perform with special guest Pablo Francisco at Caesars Palace.

Dan Finnerty dressed as a mechanic with two accountant-styled back-up singers complete with suits and glasses form The Dan Band, a hot Los Angeles ticket. The Dan Band will make its Las Vegas debut at the Aladdin, future home of Planet Hollywood, on Saturday, Oct. 1 in the Aladdin Showroom at 10 p.m. Tickets are $29.50 plus applicable fees, call 877- 333-9474.

The Dan Band is a masculine band singing 80s and 90s diva pop hits. They have appeared on numerous shows such as "Jimmy Kimmel Live," "The Late Late Show" and "Last Call" with Carson Daly. In addition, they have gained some screen time in "Old School" covering Bonnie Tyler's "Total Eclipse of the Heart" and Roberta Flack's "Feel Like Making Love" in "Starsky and Hutch."

This past August the Dan Band was celebrated with an hour-long special on Bravo produced by Steven Spielberg and McG (of "Charlie's Angels").

The Blue Man Group will open an updated version of their show in a custom-built, 1,760-seat theatre at the Venetian on Oct. 10.

Rumors have it that later this year comedian Carrot Top will be taking over the early show slot in the same Luxor theater as the sexy adult show "Fantasy."

Construction is continuing on the $1.6 billion Palazzo resort going up next to the Venetian. The 3,000-room resort is expected to open in 2007.

TOP OF NEXT COLUMN

Powerful, world-rated middleweight Kelly Pavlik, 23, of Youngstown, Ohio, will go into his biggest fight with Fulgencio Zuniga, 28, at The Aladdin, on Friday, Oct. 7. The Top Rank championship event will include six bouts with the first bell at 5:20 p.m. The fight will be telecast on Telefutura beginning at 6 p.m. Tickets are $75, $40 and $25 plus applicable fees; call Ticketmaster at 702-474-4000.

David Brenner, who stars in his own show at the Hilton, is creating a film about stand-up comedy that will begin shooting in New York City and Los Angeles in mid to late October and in Las Vegas in December or after the first of the new year. The film will include some of his stand-up performance as well as feature casino action, a restaurant, and a lot of hotel life. Brenner created, wrote and will star in the film along with a cast of major stars.

Comedic country singer Milo Tremley will headline the Riviera Comedy Club for one week, beginning Monday, Oct. 10, with fellow funny people Brian McKim and Traci Skene. Tickets are $17.95 plus taxes with two drinks included for the 8:30 and 10:30 p.m. nightly shows, call 702-794-9433.

Tremley born James Lee Reeves began his entertainment career while attending UCLA. He is a parody singer, a fiddler and guitarist, as well as cowboy-favorite comedian. He's had the No.1 song of the year on Dr. Demento. Tremley has opened for many top stars and was invited by Willie Nelson to perform at Farm Aid VI.

McKim and Skene are married. They are comedy writers, standup comics and editors and publishers of "sheckymagazine.com." an Internet magazine about standup comedy. Their witty comments appear in "US Weekly" (Wenner Media) and "Fashion Police," where they are regularly featured as "top cops." They have also been featured in "The Washington Post," on WCBS news radio in Manhattan, in the "Philadelphia Inquirer" and "USA Today."

The syndicated entertainment show "Extra" has launched a Las Vegas bureau based at the Hard Rock Hotel. The bureau chief has said that Las Vegas has emerged as "the place to be" for celebrity journalism.

The two-hour Billboard Music Awards telecast will return to the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Dec. 6.

Ann-Margret will return to the Stardust for a four-night engagement, Sept. 28-Oct. 1.

She has appeared in 47 movies, including the recent 20th Century Fox film "Taxi," with Queen Latifah and Jimmy Falon. She will reunite with Chuck Day and Mickey Jones at the USO Reunion Show during Aviation Nation, Nov. 11-13, at Nellis Air Force Base. They were members of the same USO tour in Southeast Asia in March 1966.

The new concert phenomenon "Celtic Woman" starring five Irish ladies direct from Ireland will play at the Orleans Arena on Oct. 8. Tickets are $40.

Delisco is making his debut at the Las Vegas Hilton's Shimmer Cabaret with a nine-piece band and two back-up singers in the Hilton's Shimmer Cabaret. Delisco, who was chosen "The Entertainer" on E! Entertainment Television's "The Entertainer" that was taped at the Las Vegas Hilton, performs at 7 p.m. and shares the Shimmer Cabaret with comedian David Brenner, who appears at 9 p.m., and the Frankie Moreno Band. Delisco takes the stage Tuesday-Saturday and tickets are $29 plus tax and service charge.

This month, "La Cage" star Frank Marino celebrated his 20th anniversary as the Joan Rivers' persona-host in the Riviera's hit female impersonation show.

For the first time, Las Vegas' "What Happens Here Stays Here" has been nominated for "Advertising Week's" prestigious "Slogan of the Year" award. Historic slogans such as "A Diamond is Forever" (DeBeers) and "They're Grrrrrreat !" (Frosted Flakes) have been nominated along with newer work. Two winners from each category (icons and slogans) will be unveiled this week.

From VH-1's hit reality series "StripSearch," American Storm is set to sign their official 16-month 2006 calendars at Borders located at 10950 W. Charleston Blvd., on Saturday, Oct. 1 from 1 to 3 p.m.

Franco Dragone, who has directed more than a dozen Cirque du Soleil shows including "Le Reve" at Wynn Las Vegas, will be directing and co-producing "Carmen the Musical" for the 2006-07 Broadway season.

The Riviera's Poker Room has been open since May with tables open 24 hours a day. The room is run by nationally-known Poker Room Manager Robert Romanos. Quite originally, the Riviera hosted the world's first Poker Tournament for the Blind.

Jeffrey Blake, BOA Steakhouse general manager and beverage director, was one of 42 bartenders selected from around the world to participate in the 2005 Cocktail World Cup held this past week in New Zealand. Competitors were thrown into extreme situations such as crafting creative concoctions while bungee jumping, jet boating, or dangling on the outside of a helicopter. Blake was on one of four American teams with two other Las Vegas bartenders.

Victor Drai, who owns Drai's restaurant at the Barbary Coast, has taken over operations of Lure, the ultra lounge at Wynn Las Vegas. After last month's takeover of La Bête nightclub, this move gives Drai and partners Cy and Jesse Waits control of all nightlife operations in Wynn.

Although the doors have been open for several weeks, the official grand opening of Hogs & Heifers downtown took place earlier this month with Las Vegas Mayor and martini aficionado Oscar Goodman doing the opening honors and entering the party on the back of motorcycle.

David Saxe, owner of many shows and the V Theater located in the Desert Passage at the Aladdin, lost his father to ALS some four years ago. His annual $500 black tie, celebrity-studded Richard Saxe Memorial ALS Benefit will be held next year on Friday, Feb. 17.

Four of the craftiest music makers in the country - including the best DJs from both coasts - will soon be calling Pure Management Group Nightclubs home since they have contracted West Coast DJ AM and East Coast mix-masters Mark Ronson, Grandmaster Flash and DJ Riz too.

Before AM kicks off his exclusive Friday night residency which should start in January, he will team up with drummer and MTV reality star Travis Barker on Oct. 7 in an event at PURE in Caesars Palace.

Ronson will bring his East coast flair to Las Vegas at least once a month.

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