PodKats! Las Vegas Entertainment

Our guest this week is Ken Henderson, who has opened Notoriety on the top floor of Neonopolis. The multi-theater annex takes over the old Galaxy Theaters and Krave Nightclub space. Notoriety has hosted comedy, magic, and live music throughout COVID. Henderson told us of his vision for the venue, what’s coming next, and also his history as a Vegas native, including his time portraying Caesar at Caesars Palace.

Our guest this week is Sam Wills, better known as the comic mime Tape Face. The “America’s Got Talent” alum has been headlining at Harrah’s Showroom throughout COVID. He has added some speaking, some new props, and fake fans to his new socially distant show.

Our guest this week is Anne Martinez, who arrived in town in 2012 to sing in the adult revue “Bite” at the Stratosphere. She has since appeared in several top-notch productions on and off the Strip, including “Baz” at the Palazzo and “Fantasy” at Luxor. She is currently the main singer at “Sexxy After Dark,” at Larry Flynt’s Hustler Club. The show is an offshoot of Jennifer Romas’ topless revue at Westgate Cabaret. Martinez has been busy throughout COVID, singing and performing at multiple venues, showing off her ample talent, versatility, and work ethic.

Our guest this week is the amazing Chris Wink. The inventive artist helped establish the Blue Man Group, which has headlined in Las Vegas since 2000. He split with the Blue Men in 2017, to take a creative position at Area15. He also developed Wink World: Portals To The Infinite.” The 15,000-square-foot, multisensory art experience is a celebration of Wink’s neon dreams

Our guest this week is a legend in the world of entertainment. He’s a 40-year performer and headliner in Las Vegas headed up his own show at Monte Carlo for 14 years ending in 2010. He’s since moved back to his original family farm in Kentucky, no longer a Las Vegas resident. But he made his mark in the magic world on the Strip. He is Master Magician Lance Burton.

Our guest this week is a longtime standup comic and also the manager of Laugh Factory at the Tropicana, Harry Basil. Harry has a history of headlining in Las Vegas dating to 1984 when he shared the bill with such rising stars as Louie Anderson, Andrew Dice Clay, and Jim Carrey. These days he is booking veteran comedians, including Dice Clay. He tells us of the challenges he has running the room during COVID, and also some memories of Rodney Dangerfield AND Jerry Lewis.

Our guest this week is the champion of Season 9 of “America’s Got Talent” and a five-year headliner at Linq Hotel, magician Mat Franco. Mat is set to return to the stage on December 17th. He tells us how he’s worked to keep sharp during COVID with online performances. He’s also adopted meditation over the long break in performances.

Our guest this week is MGM Grand headliner and TV star Brad Garrett. Brad has returned to Brad Garrett’s Comedy Club, which has moved from the Underground at MGM Grand to Studio A & B at the entrance of MGM Grand Garden Arena. Garrett has returned to the stage for the first time in eight months. He is getting accustomed to the spaced-out seating arrangements, and pandemic protocols. He also talks about how he ran afoul of the Disney HR department during the taping of his ABC sitcom “Single Parents.”

My guest this week is the co-owner of Circa Las Vegas, and also co-owner of the D and Golden Gate, on Fremont Street, Derek Stevens. We met with Derek just a couple of days after Circa’s opening, at Victory Burger overlooking the Circa sportsbook. Derek explained his vision for the property, the challenges of opening during a pandemic, his signature amenities -- including Stadium Swim -- and who exactly is his clientele. This interview was also a Review-Journal Facebook Live broadcast, which Derek learned DURING the interview.

I am on the prowl, indeed! Welcome to PodKats! This is Kats, John Katsilometes, of the Las Vegas Review-Journal. My column is called Kats!, fittingly enough. Find it on page 3A every day, and online all the time. This is a landmark episode of PodKats! No. 100. We have collected a compilation of some of our favorite moments since debuting PodKats! in November 2018. Part 4 of 4

I am on the prowl, indeed! Welcome to PodKats! This is Kats, John Katsilometes, of the Las Vegas Review-Journal. My column is called Kats!, fittingly enough. Find it on page 3A every day, and online all the time. This is a landmark episode of PodKats! No. 100. We have collected a compilation of some of our favorite moments since debuting PodKats! in November 2018. Part 3 of 4

I am on the prowl, indeed! Welcome to PodKats! This is Kats, John Katsilometes, of the Las Vegas Review-Journal. My column is called Kats!, fittingly enough. Find it on page 3A every day, and online all the time. This is a landmark episode of PodKats! No. 100. We have collected a compilation of some of our favorite moments since debuting PodKats! in November 2018. Part 2 of 4

I am on the prowl, indeed! Welcome to PodKats! This is Kats, John Katsilometes, of the Las Vegas Review-Journal. My column is called Kats!, fittingly enough. Find it on page 3A every day, and online all the time. This is a landmark episode of PodKats! No. 100. We have collected a compilation of some of our favorite moments since debuting PodKats! in November 2018. Part 1 of 4

My guest this week is the first headliner to return to the Las Vegas Strip since the pandemic reopening, Piff The Magic Dragon. The comic magician whose legal name is John van der Put is moving from his self-named theater at Bugsy’s Cabaret to the Flamingo Showroom. He can play to 250 people, socially distant, and is returning with showgirl Jade Simone and Mr. Piffles, who turns 13 next month. Piff tells us what it feels like be ahead of the pack in returning to the stage in Vegas.

My guests this week are two acclaimed artists in Las Vegas, Brody Dolyniuk and Nina DiGregorio. He is the founder of the popular rock-cover band Yellow Brick Road. She is the founder of the rock-violin company Bella Electric Strings. They have performed around Las Vegas and across the country for many years, but their lives were turned upside down by the COVID shutdown. But the couple has found a silver lining in the arrival of their daughter Raina Marie, as they build a family during the pandemic.

My guest this week is the man forever known as Mr. Las Vegas, Wayne Newton. Our chat takes place at his residence of Flathead Lake in northwestern Montana. Wayne talks of his early days in Las Vegas, his defining song “Danke Schoen,” and his relationship with Elvis Presley and Frank Sinatra, and how he hopes to return his “Up Close & Personal” show to Caesars Palace.

My guest this week is the man in charge of Virgin Hotels Las Vegas, Richard Bosworth. We call him “Boz.” He is presiding over a $200 million hotel-wide renovation of the old Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas. The resort is set to reopen January 15th, nearly a year after the original Hard Rock closed. There are many 16 new restaurants, an expanded casino floor, a giant pool deck, and renovations coming to the former Joint music hall.

My guest this week is an NFL legend, a pro football Hall of Famer and co-host of Fox Sports NFL coverage. He’s also the star of “The Bradshaw Bunch” reality show on E! Entertainment, and the “Terry Bradshaw Show” at Luxor. He is four-time Super Bowl champion and -- as it turns out -- something of a Las Vegas Raiders fan. He is Terry Bradshaw.

My guest this week is a rock and roll legend and co-founder of the Righteous Brothers, Bill Medley, who has been met with several challenges during the pandemic shutdown. The Righteous Brothers show at Harrah’s is sidelined. Bill underwent surgery to remove a growth from his throat in May, and he also lost his wife, Paula, due to complications from Parkinson’s disease. Medley is eager to return to the stage, and has been performing live-stream shows with partner Bucky Heard at The Space in Las Vegas. Medley also turns 80 this week and talks about how he feels as he reaches that milestone.

My guest this week is Xavier Mortimer, the first Cirque du Soleil performer to ever headline his own show on the Las Vegas Strip. He has been the star of “Magical Dream” at two Las Vegas venues, most recently The Magic Attic at Bally’s. That’s where this interview was held, as we talk magic, social media, and reality TV with the great Las Vegas Strip magician.