Magicians Penn & Teller will bring their outrageous brand of comedy, magic and philosophical wit to the Rio's recently opened Samba Theatre, Jan. 5-17. Tickets are $45 through the Rio box office or Ticketmaster.

Penn & Teller are a couple of eccentric Las Vegans. Together since 1975, their award-winning theater show has been a long running hit both on and Off-Broadway. Keeping a busy touring schedule, the duo performed live more than 100 dates this year.

Jackie Mason will appear at the MGM Grand's Hollywood Theatre, Jan. 11-17. His hit show, "Much Ado About Everything The Millennium Tour," is direct from Broadway and examines everything from social to political issues and current events. Tickets are $40 plus tax and handling fees, calls 800-929-1111 or 702-891-7777.

Mason has received acclaim for all four of his hit Broadway shows. His first show, "The World According To Me," brought him Tony, Ace and Emmy Awards plus a Grammy nomination. An HBO special of his show, "Jackie Mason on Broadway," won him another Emmy and Ace Awards and his comedy albums received multiple Grammy nominations.

Mason has also demonstrated his speaking abilities by lecturing in Israel, Britain, New York and Washington, D.C. He's been invited to England for an unprecedented three Royal Command Performances.

"The "Legendary Ladies" who will headline are Leslie Gore, Shirley Alston Reeves (original lead singer of the Shirelles), the Shangri-Las and Little Peggy March.

Gore's classic recordings are "It's My Party," "Judy's Turn To Cry" and "You Don't Own Me." She even earned an Academy Award nomination for songwriting with "Out Here On My Own."

Reeves founded the Shirelles with three high school classmates in Passaic, New Jersey. Their best-known songs were "Soldier Boy," "Dedicated To The One I Love" and "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow," written and arranged for them by Carol King.

The Shangri-Las turned out "Leader Of The Pack" and March's biggest hit was "I Will Follow Him." Tickets to "Legendary Ladies of Rock `n Roll" are $19.95 with tax, tip and one beverage included, call 702-732-6325.

Last November, David Brenner opened his one-man show at the Golden Nugget downtown with firm plans to stay through January. His totally successful booking in the 400-seat, third-floor showroom already has him extended through April.

Brenner, 55, is resurrecting his career after a long absence due to a custody battle over his oldest son. He was off the road for most of the `90s and staged his HBO comeback special live at The Venetian in February.

Brenner came to Las Vegas originally only two months after his career-making debut on "The Tonight Show" in January 1971. He's famous for being one of them most frequent "Tonight Show" guests and guest hosts.

The observational comedian is back with a vengeance and reaffirming his incredible talent. He opens his shows by walking onstage with clips from the newspaper. The first half-hour of his shows focuses on timely current events. Tickets to see Brenner are $35, call 702-796-9999.

Name entertainment is becoming prevalent at Off-Strip resorts like the Orleans, Sam's Town and Suncoast.

The New Year at the Orleans will be off to a comedic start when Tom and Dick Smothers take over the showroom, Jan. 9-14. To this very day, the bickering duo featuring straight man Tom tolerating his brother Dick's famous buffoonery captivate audiences.

The Smothers Brothers went to high school and San Jose State University together. Tom was a gymnast and Dick was on the track team. Their first professional appearance was at The Purple Onion in San Francisco in 1959 and their first national television appearance was on "The Jack Parr Show" on Jan. 28, 1961. These brothers have become "An American Classic" winning over generations of fans with their timeless comedy.

Something that is free to do and heartwarming is visiting the Flamingo Wildlife Habitat spread out over 15 acres on the east side of the resort. The habitat that opened five years ago features 12 penguins, Chilean flamingos, wood ducks and Mandarin ducks, guinea fowl, swans, ibis, cranes, koi, turtles, grass carp, goldfish and the newest addition of 17 Chinese pheasants comprising nine different species. The pheasants are fed three times a day.

The habitat's scene-stealers are the penguins. Each one weighs about six pounds and consumes about a pound of smelt, codfish and herring per day between their two public daily feedings at 8:30 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. The tuxedoed birds are usually found in colder climates, but the African penguins on view at the Flamingo Wildlife Habitat like the Las Vegas weather. They can comfortably live in temperatures ranging from 32 to 100 degrees, but the hotel keeps the penguins' island at a comfortable range of 47 to 85 degrees. During the hot summers, a misting system cools the birds.

On the other hand, the flamingos are native to South America in the wetlands of Chile so they are not so fond of cold weather. In the winter, the habitat boosts the colder temperatures with heat lamps.

TOP OF NEXT COLUMN

Country singer Collin Raye will perform at the new Sam's Town Live venue at Sam's Town, 5111 Boulder Highway, on Jan. 5 and 6. Tickets are $25, call 888-464-2468 or buy on line through tickets.com.

Raye is a multiple Country Music Association Top Male Vocalist of the Year nominee and one of only eight country artists to have each of his first four albums reach platinum. His latest album, "Tracks," was released earlier this year on Epic Records.

Ambrosia will perform at the new Suncoast Hotel & Casino on the West Side of Las Vegas from Jan. 5-7. Tickets are $19.95, $22.95 and $25.95 plus tax, call 702-636-7075.

Ambrosia is enjoying their most successful touring year since 1990. Their tour follows the release of their entire catalog, in addition to a greatest hits anthology all on Warner Brothers Records.

The group was formed in 1970 in the south Bay/San Pedro area of Southern California. Ambrosia's musicians were inspired by the progressive rock era. They toured extensively with Fleetwood Mac and the Doobie Brothers who cemented their reputation as a stellar live act.

Comedian Bobby Collins will headline The Improv Comedy Club at Harrah's, Jan. 9-14.

Born and raised in New York, Collins started out as corporate vice president of Calvin Klein before embarking on a career in stand-up comedy. In 1994, he earned a Cable Ace nomination and, in 1998, The American Comedy Awards nominated Collins for "Best Male Stand-Up."

Collins travels throughout the country headlining concert halls and clubs as well as making television appearances. He has been the celebrity spokesperson in two national television ad campaigns for Certs breath mints and has opened for powerhouse entertainers such as Julio Igelsias, Cher, Dolly Parton and Frank Sinatra.

Collins will appear with fellow funnymen Jack Thomas and host Don Barnhart. Tickets are $24.95 plus tax, call 702-369-5111.

Wayne Newton is continuing his current gig at the Stardust through Jan. 7. The "Legendary Ladies of Rock `n Roll," will follow Jan. 10-13. The show featuring singers who crashed the male-dominated domain of pop music in the 1960s was signed for the January dates after its successful engagement at the Stardust last November.

The Comedy Stop at the Trop has booked a strong three-headliner week, Jan. 1-7, with John Knight, Melvin George III and Mitchell Walters. Each man has many television credits and has appeared in concerts with major stars.

Knight is an every man storyteller with a deadpan cutting edge. George III is tall, lean, bespectacled and armed with a brazen sense of "cool!" He's known as "The King of Smooth." Walters goes for a laugh every 15 seconds. Tickets to see this grouping of laugh makers are $17.50 with tax, gratuity and two drinks included, call 702-739-2714.

Comedian Jeff Hobson, a master of the double entendre, will star at the Riviera Comedy Club, Jan. 8-14. He is currently the producer and one of the stars in the "Carnival Of Wonders," a magical extravaganza currently at the Flamingo Hilton in Reno. Before entering the producing arena, he was the featured specialty act in the long running hit revue "Spellbound" formerly at Harrah's Las Vegas.

Hobson has twice been awarded "Best Comedy Magician" by the International Magic Awards Association. He will appear for a week with funnymen Mickey Joseph and Jim Lauleltta. Tickets are $15.95 plus tax and fee, call 702-794-9433.

A special exhibition of modern masterworks from The Phillips Collection, Washington, D.C. is featuring 26 major paintings and sculptures through March 25, 2001. Some of the artists represented are van Gogh, Picasso, Degas, Manet and Cezanne. Viewing hours are 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. Admission is $12 with an audio tour included, call 888-488-7111 or 702-693-7722.

"Disney On Ice" celebrating 75 years of magic will take over the Thomas & Mack Center, Jan. 17-21. Ticket prices start at $11.75, call 888-464-2468 or visit www.DisneyOnIce.com.

The American Heart Association will hold its 15th Annual Heart of Gold Ball on Saturday, Feb. 3 at the Aladdin Resort. The black tie Arabian-themed event is expected to generate more than $225,000. Gala tickets are $200 per person. Belly dancers, turbaned snake charmers and an incense-enhanced room are part of atmosphere for the fundraiser. There will also be a raffle with more than 100 donations. For reservations, call 702-367-1366.

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