There's a lot of entertainment news currently coming out of Las Vegas. For starters, David Cassidy's "At the Copa" will close at the Rio in the Copacabana showroom on Jan. 21, 2001. He will finish off his contract with Harrah's in a concert performance capacity by doing at least 30 dates at most of the company's 21 properties. Cassidy will return to the Rio next Thanksgiving weekend for concerts in the Samba Theatre.

The 50-year-old former teen idol and "Partridge Family" star plans to tour worldwide and work on recording again. He also wants to get back to acting. Additionally, Cassidy is a co-producer of "The Rat Pack Is Back!" show at the Sahara.

Billy Joel and Elton John are set to perform at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Saturday, Feb. 17. Tickets priced at $75, $150 and $300 plus applicable service charges went on sale this weekend, call TicketMaster at 702-474-4000.

Rocker Sammy Hagar, the former Van Halen frontman, has plans to bring his Cabo San Lucas nightclub to Las Vegas. He'll build a new multi-level, 20,000-square-foot club at Sunset Station. Cabo Wabo is scheduled to open in December 2001. The deal includes peformance dates for Hagar, who by the way, will perform at the Thomas & Mack Center on Jan. 26.

Chicago's famed improv comedy troupe The Second City will open at Bugsy's Celebrity Theatre at the Flamingo in early March. Currently, the show has permanent homes in Chicago, Detroit and Toronto.

The unfortunate news is the wonderful show "Forever Plaid" will close, after a six year run in Bugsy's mini-showroom, at the end of February in order to make room for The Second City.

The rumor mill now has Carmen Electra ready to announce a deal with the Aladdin. Her post-"Baywatch" life may include a lengthy stay at the new property for this actress, dancer, pin-up gal. Watch out Dennis Rodman, you may need your ex-wife in order to have pull in the neon city.

The Backstreet Boys will bring their "Black & Blue World Tour" to the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Saturday, March 8. This tour follows last year's mega-successful "Into the Millennium Tour." The group has sold more than 55 million records worldwide in less than three years.

"Black & Blue" is the follow-up to 1999's "Millennium" album, which is already certified platinum 12 times in the U.S. and remains on Billboard's Top 200 albums chart more than 77 weeks after its release. In addition to receiving gold and platinum awards in 45 countries, "Millennium" was honored with five 1999 Grammy nominations including Album of the Year.

Tickets to see The Backstreet Boys range from $57.50 up to $150 plus applicable service charges, call TicketMaster at 702-474-4000.

Headline entertainment has been reintroduced to downtown Las Vegas with David Brenner's appearances at the Golden Nugget in the 400-seat Theatre Ballroom through Jan. 27, 2001. The Nugget's showroom was closed 15 months ago. Now Brenner hopes to make it his primary base of operation where he works 40 weeks a year.

The veteran standup comic hopes to be part of a trend putting headliner names back on marquees. "Las Vegas-style entertainment has always been, to me, two headliners on a marquee," Brenner said.

The 55-year old skilled comedian with his own signature style is improvising a significant portion of his act. He's amazing to watch as he paces the stage for an hour and 15 minutes discussing everything from children and marriage to the ever-changing political news.

Brenner was out of the limelight for much of the 1990s because of a prolonged custody battle over his son in Colorado. To get back into the mainstream, last February he did a critically acclaimed HBO special "David Brenner: Back With a Vengeance."

Brenner's first Las Vegas performance was at the Sahara on Jan. 8, 1971. He was only 24- or 25-years old and had been discovered on Johnny Carson's "Tonight Show" by comedian Buddy Hackett. The line up was Frankie Avalon as the opening act, Brenner in the middle, and Sonny and Cher as the headliners.

"Christmas At The Liberace Museum" is a month-long celebration. The Liberace Museum is located about a mile off the Strip at 1775 E. Tropicana Ave. Some of the special holiday museum exhibits include: Liberace's red and white jeweled icicle cape and suit from his holiday extravaganza at the Las Vegas Hilton; Liberace's favorite holiday decorations; his collection of antique music boxes that play Christmas carols; and a handmade nativity scene.

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"The Colors of Christmas" this year at the Riviera is starring Peabo Bryson, Roberta Flack, Bill Medley and Marilyn McCoo on Dec. 12. Back by popular demand, the show has become a holiday tradition where four superstar performers unit to sing traditional Christmas classics and feature solo spotlight of their hit singles. This unique concert features a full live orchestra and Gospel choir in the Royale Pavilion. Tickets are $40 plus applicable taxes, call 702-794-9280.

A theatrical figure skating show, "Brian Boitano Holiday Skating Spectacular," featuring Olympic Gold Medallists Brian Boitano, Kristi Yamaguchi and Dorothy Hamill will play at the Mandalay Bay Events Center on Saturday, Dec. 16. Tickets are $20, $35 and $50, call 702-632-7580 or 702-474-4000.

Other special guest skating stars slated to appear inlcude world champions Brian Orser and Yuka Sato, world professional champions Elena Leonova and Andre Khvalko, national champions Renee Roca and Gorsha Sur, profession aerialist and principal performer for "Cirque du Soleil" Misha Matorin, and the acrobatic skating team Vladimir Besedin and Alexei Plishuk.

This week the Herbst family, famous in Nevada for their chain of convenience stores and gas stations, opened the $65 million Terrible's hotel-casino just a half-mile from the Strip. Formerly the Continental for 20 years, the 400-room property sits on a 10-acre corner lot at the intersection of Paradise and Flamingo roads. About 90 percent of the property's 750 slots are using the so-called "coinless" ticket-pay technology, which gives negotiable tickets instead of coins.

"Laugh the Night Away with Rita Rudner" has been extended in the 380-seat Cabaret Theatre at the MGM Grand through Sunday, Dec. 31. Besides Tuesday nights, her show will be dark Dec. 11, 12, 16 and 19-26. Tickets are $44.90 inclusive of tax and handling fees and will change to $49.90 beginning Dec. 27, call 800-929-1111.

For the first time, "The Best of the Folies Bergere" at the Tropicana is offering an entirely covered version of the famous French revue at 7:30 nightly except Thursdays. The "Folies" is the longest-running production show in Las Vegas, celebrating its 41st birthday this month. Tickets are $44.95 and $54.95, call 702-739-2411.

Master magician and illusionist David Copperfield has added special matinee performances of his latest stage production show, "Unknown Dimension" to his current schedule at the MGM Grand's Hollywood Theatre. He'll perform four matinees at 3 p.m. on Dec. 25, 26, 29 and 30. Tickets are $97 inclusive of tax and handling fee, call 800-929-1111.

The holiday season is being celebrated in different areas of the city. On the Strip at New York-New York, a 15-minute ice skating show is taking place at the base of at the Statue of Liberty replica through Dec. 26. This is the second year for the free show that features two solo skaters, an adagio team and an ensemble of six skaters.

The skaters perform to holiday music on a 48-foot by 37-foot ice rink. Toy soldiers and decorated Christmas trees with presents beneath adorn the set. The show runs daily except Thursday at noon, 1, 2, 3, 5, 6 and 7 p.m.

Another annual delight is the Magical Forest at Opportunity Village. The holiday fundraising event runs through Dec. 31 at 6300 W. Oakey Blvd. and it's open daily from 5 to 10 p.m. Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for children. Parking is $2 behind Opportunity Village.

The forest features three million lights, 15-foot candy canes and animated figures, Santa's toy workshop, a magical castle, a gazebo with Santa, train rides, a craft fair, Christmas tree lot, gingerbread house display, refreshments and an interactive park for children.

New this year is the Charles Dickens Park with snow and a choir of Dickens characters, plus chestnuts roasting on an open fire. The Magic Forest opened in 1992. For information, call 702-259-3741.

The 7th Annual "Light The Night" Holiday Spectacular is taking place at the Ethel M Chocolates Factory & Botanical Cactus Garden in Henderson through Jan. 3, 2001. Everyday from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m., the famous cactus garden comes alive with thousands of holiday lights brightly decorating the plant life and trees. This illuminating experience is free to the public.

"Marriage Can Be Murder" is taking a stab at holiday humor through Jan. 6, 2001, with its fifth episode called "St Nicked" at the Egg and I restaurant, 4533 W. Sahara Ave. For this Christmas mystery edition_"the man in the red suit is not safe." Those in attendance will find out who's been bad or good for goodness sakes!

The who dun it dinner shows inlcude a three-course meal. Your choice for the main curse is Roasted Rudolph, a half herb roasted chicken, Santa's Prime Rib Steak or Grinch's Goulash, pasta with zesty Italian sausage. "Marriage Can Be Murder" dinner shows are $39.95 plus tax and tip, call 702-616-3322.

Many Las Vegas shows go dark right before Christmas. The following is just a partial list: Clint Holmes Dec. 20-27, "Skintight" Dec. 21-28 and the "Mac King Comedy Magic Show" Dec. 19-23 at Harrah's; "The Comedy Stop" at the Tropicana Dec. 11-25; and Lance Burton at the Monte Carlo through Dec. 25.

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