The big news is "The Second City" is coming to Las Vegas with an 18-month contract. The nine-person company with five performers in each show will replace "Forever Plaid" in the 200-seat Bugsy's Celebrity Theatre at the Flamingo. Previews will begin on March 6, with a formal opening on March 20. Plans are for two 75-minute shows a night with tickets priced at $24.95.

"The Second City" was formed in Chicago in 1959 as a satirical comedy troupe specializing in sketch comedy. About a third of each show is improvised, incorporating audience input. Another one third of the material is the best material from the show's 40 year history. The remaining third is tailored and written for the area or city where the show is playing.

Las Vegas will be the fourth resident company for the troupe with theaters in Chicago, Toronto and Detroit.

"The Second City" also plans to launch a training center in Las Vegas to groom local talent. The workshop concept is popular with more than 1,000 students enrolled in Second City's Chicago workshop.

Due to popular demand Elton John and Billy Joel will perform a second concert of Feb. 18, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. The previously announced Saturday, Feb. 17 show is sold out. Tickets are priced at $75, $150 and $300 plus applicable service charges, call TicketMaster at 702-474-4000.

Howard Stern will bring his radio show to the Hard Rock for a live broadcast at the end of January over Super Bowl weekend. Stern's debut Vegas appearance will follow Regis Philbin who will be taping four episodes of "Live" at the Rio on Jan. 22, 23 and 24.

"Drew Carey's Improv All Stars" will take the stage at the MGM Grand's 650-seat Hollywood Theatre, Jan. 25-28. Live performances on Saturday, Jan. 27 will air live as Pay Per View television specials sponsored by Doritos at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT and at 12 a.m. ET / 9 p.m. PT.

Carey, the star of two hit ABC-TV shows, "The Drew Carey Show" and "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" has assembled fellow comedic talent for an un-scripted, un-rehearsed, no-holds-barred laughfest. His nine improv pals are familiar faces that Carey has worked with over the years, including cast mates from both shows. The ensemble will gather their subject matter from suggestions given by the live audience, and then transform the ideas into laughable vignettes.

Tickets for "Drew Carey's Improv All Stars" are $85 inclusive, call 800-929-1111, 702-891-7777.

"Legends of Comedy," which opened in December at the New Frontier will have a new home on the Las Vegas Strip beginning Thursday, Feb. 1. The tribute show will move to the Comedy Theatre at Flamingo O'Sheas and continue to feature impersonations of the greatest comedians of all time.

The show's cast highlights the timeless humor of George Burns, the wit of Roseanne, the topical jokes of Jay Leno, the story telling of Bill Cosby and the dead-pan expressions of Jack Benny. Tickets are $26.95 plus tax, call 702-737-5363.

Female impersonator Kenny Kerr is reportedly lined up as the next show to move into the New Frontier's intimate showroom.

The Lady Luck Casino downtown has extended "Hocus Pocus - It's Fielding West!" through June 2001. The show stars the hilarious antics of TV's award-winning comedy magician Fielding West and his co-star Bob the Bird.

West has worked Las Vegas and toured America for over 20 years, earning the reputation as "Master of the Moment where the laughs are always faster than the eye!" He's currently going to star in his first one hour one-man television special, "Live From Las Vegas Hocus Pocus - It's Fielding West." Being produced by magician Lance Burton's production company, the show will air eight times this year on the Fox Network premiering in March.

"Hocus Pocus" is performed at 8:30 p.m., Sunday through Thursday, and is comped with the purchase of a $5.95 drink.

More Super Bowl parties have been announced. The Luxor will hold it's Sunday football game event in the Blue Man Group's showroom. The Luxor Theater's focal point that day will be the biggest screen in the city measuring 30 x 60 feet projecting the football game. Stadium style food and drinks will be available, as well as, drawings for prizes. Showgirls from the resort's "Midnight Fantasy" topless revue will embellish the festivities.

Doors for the party will open at 1 p.m. and guests must be 21 years or older. Tickets are $24.95 with a Super Bowl XXXV commerative gift included, call 702-262-4400.

The Sahara Hotel and Casino will also hold its party in a showroom with the focal point being an 18 x 24-foot screen in the Sahara Theatre where "Steve Wyrick - Magician of the Year" performs his extreme feats of magic. The party will include free draft beer or soft drinks, lots of giveaways and stadium style food for a buck and under. Local radio station KMIX will be doing a live remote with hosts Mark and Mercedes and Steve Wyrick's dancers will be part of the atmosphere. Tickets are $19.95 plus tax and gratuity, call 702-737-2515. Doors open at 2:30 p.m.

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Country music and rock artist Juice Newton will be performing special Valentine's Day concerts on Feb. 14 and 15, in the Broadway Showroom at the Stratosphere. The "Queen of Hearts," who is also well known for her single "Angel of the Morning," has had over a dozen Top Ten singles on both the country and popular music charts.

Newton's latest album, "The Trouble With Angels," showcases her most requested hits along with three new songs that add to her musical diversity. Tickets for her Stratosphere shows are $19.50, call 702-380-7711.

"The Rat Pack Is Back!" at the Sahara has been extended again through Sunday, April 1 in the Congo Room. This latest extension; however, comes with times and day off changes. Beginning on Jan. 29, the new show times will be 6:30 and 9 p.m. on Monday and Wednesday, and 8 p.m. the remaining evenings with Thursday being the new dark night. For information, call 702-737-2515.

"Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus" spent the week between Christmas and the New Year making some show alterations including a new prologue, a new ending and new songs beefing up the relationship between the two lead characters. The show at the Flamingo Hilton is about two single people who are set up on a blind date by their co-workers who are already partnered.

A new elaborate showroom at Caesars Palace is in the works to be completed within the next couple of years. Also a posh nightspot is being built within the property and it is scheduled to be finished in about ten months.

The Riviera's "Crazy Girls" are featured in a new photography book about Las Vegas done by photographer Albert Watson. He came to the Neon City during September and spent a day photographing the girls in the hotel's showroom. The book rolls off the presses this month and will be distributed internationally.

Watson, who has photographed many celebrities such as President Clinton, Robert De Niro, Mariah Carey and Sharon Stone to name only a few, virtually turned the Riviera's showroom into a photography studio that required a 12-foot-high truck to bring all the equipment. His current work is featured in "Newsweek," "Time," "Vogue," "Esquire," etc.

Famous Las Vegan Wayne Newton and star of his own show at the Stardust was on hand this weekend in Washington D.C. to provide entertainment for George W. Bush's inaugural celebration.

A Canadian visitor recently won $9.3 million on the Megabucks machine in Harrah's casino after playing for less than an hour. Nevada Megabucks progressive jackpots have produced 55 major winners in its 13-year history. The game builds from a base amount of $7 million.

Gatsby's restaurant at the MGM Grand will close in February for remodeling after Valentine's Day. The new yet-to-be-named dining experience will reopen the room in late spring. The new concept is being directed by chef Michael Mina known for his Aqua restaurants in San Francisco at the Bellagio.

Another MGM eatery change is Olio has replaced Tre Visi. The new Italian restaurant on the resort's Studio Walk has a 40-foot antipasto table and private screening rooms.

Hilton Grand Vacations Co. has announced plans to build a 1,500-unit, 33-story timeshare project in four phases at the north end of the Strip near Circus Circus and across the street from the Sahara. The first phase of the project costing $111 million with the purchase price of the land will commence at the 10-acre site this summer with a 297-unit timeshare tower. The first phase will open in early 2003, with sales starting in spring 2002.

The project will be Hilton Grand Vacation's third in Las Vegas, joining timeshare projects at the Flamingo and the Las Vegas Hilton.

Developers of a proposed 77-acre Strip mega-resort across the street from Mandalay Bay have unveiled a London-themed concept that could include faux versions of landmarks like the Tower Bridge and Royal Albert Hall.

Judi Dench will be honored as supporting actress of the year in March at the ShoWest 2001 convention held annually in Las Vegas.

Writer/actor Jeremy Hotz will headline The Improv Comedy Club at Harrah's again, Jan. 23-28.

Canadian born and raised Hotz began his versatile career as a staff writer for the "Jon Stewart Show." He was nominated for a "Gemini Award" for the category of "Best writing in a Comedy or Variety Show or Series" due to his starring role in "Whatever Happened to Jeremy Hotz?" Comedy Central honored him with the starring role in the mini series "Married Life." Additionally, Hotz was honored in 1995 by "Eye Magazine" as "Comedian of the Year."

Hotz moved to Los Angeles in 1996 and landed a role in the feature film "Speed II." Tickets to the Improv at Hararh's are $24.95 plus tax.

After Station Casinos receives final approval from the Nevada Gaming Commission to purchase The Reserve in Henderson, they plan to spend $40 million to expand the property. The proposed additions include a 10,000-square-foot major restaurant, additional casino space, a parking garage and a food court with five or six fast food outlets. There's even a possibility of re-theming the local African safari-themed resort.

The purchase of The Reserve will be Station Casinos' seventh Las Vegas-area property.

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