Jerry Lewis and Celine Dion make a happy picture Wednesday at Caesars Palace
Whoa, look at this. Celine Dion is almost in Jerry Lewis’ lap in this photo taken backstage Wednesday night before her show at Caesars Palace.
Check out that smile on his face. Pure contentment.
There is no news in this photo. Nothing untoward. It’s just a nice, friendly surprise on a day full of stupid news about Calvin Harris and Taylor Swift breaking up.
BOUNCE
Professional breakup artist Taylor Swift should put out a press release like this following her newest split with Hakkasan DJ Calvin Harris:
“The information-gathering process has concluded. New album forthcoming.”
Cynics believe she has enough material for a post-Harris collection of songs.
Swift (“Shake It Off,” “Blank Space”) and Harris (“Bounce,” “Summer”) said they were a real couple, so I will take their word for it, even if I assumed for entertainment purposes they were a “relationship by agent,” like Hollywood 1950s, especially when I saw photos of them wearing matching outfits on several occasions. I mean. Stop it.
Now the worst part has come. The breakup. The media’s “We’re so sad” cynical lies. The “sources.”
Her side: “Calvin Harris Ended Relationship with Taylor Swift After Being ‘Intimidated’ by Her Success, Source Says” (People magazine).
His side: “Calvin Harris Was ‘Bored for a While’ With Taylor Swift” (E Online).
The media’s side: “Why the Taylor Swift/Calvin Harris breakup hurts” (USA Today). Uh, who’s hurt? The publicity machine?
Meanwhile, the National Enquirer claimed a month ago Swift was “clearly going to town” with actor Tom Hiddleston at a party, and called this breakup weeks ago, despite denials from the stars (who I assume are totally telling the truth about everything all the time).
Back in October, Harris tweeted legal threats to sue people over reports that he (oh, I’m not even going to repeat this story attached to a widespread photo of him, because who cares, your honor?).
Harris’ only tweet to 7.4 million followers on Thursday: A promotion for his gigs Friday night at Omnia nightclub in Caesars Palace, and Saturday at Wet Republic day pool at MGM.
— Calvin Harris (@CalvinHarris) June 2, 2016
Hey, whoever Harris is into, look who’s singllle.
PALMS WINS AGAIN
CNN’s Morgan Spurlock wanted to bring a CNN crew to Las Vegas to film a gambling episode of his show “Inside Man,” so guess which hotel gave him access?
Yes, once again, the Palms rolled out the red carpet, letting Spurlock shoot the tables, and opening a big suite for him to bathe in opulence on camera.
“I tell everybody when they go to Las Vegas now, they should go to the Palms,” Spurlock told me with a laugh on Thursday.
The Vegas episode of “Inside Man” runs 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. Pacific Friday on CNN.
Certainly, I am not telling you this to plug the Palms, and neither is Spurlock.
It’s just intriguing to hear which hotels say yes and no to various TV projects.
The Palms greenlighted “The Real World.” Bellagio approved “Ocean’s Eleven.” Planet Hollywood got “Get Him to the Greek.” Wynn went with “Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2.”
According to Spurlock, other hotel execs said they would let CNN in, but the Palms opened its doors to broader access, except of course, in security rooms.
It’s notable Spurlock and CNN filmed here in July 2015, with the Palms owned by investment bankers TPG Capital and Leonard Green & Partners LP.
The Palms is going through a $312.5 million ownership change to Red Rock Resorts Inc., a transaction expected to be complete in desert autumn. The new owners will have to decide if they want to retain the Palms’ openness.
Spurlock said the Palms should be applauded for proving it had confidence in how it would come across on CNN, rather than coming down on CNN like a too-traditional “corporatacracy.”
He said plenty of corporations are clinging to an old-world legacy of branding, not realizing they don’t have as much control over external judgment, largely because of the universal journalism of phone cameras and social media.
Spurlock’s Vegas report is mostly upbeat, as are most TV reports of our city.
Although, the most gripping part of the CNN episode is away from the Palms, in a gambling addiction group therapy:
A suicidal millionaire gambling addict tells a harrowing story about how he realized he was friendless, so he put a shotgun in his mouth and only took it out because his dog saw his sorrow and brought him a dog toy.
“Quite literally, my thought was, ‘I can’t blow my head off in front of my dog,” the suicidal millionaire says.
Yikes, that is grisly.
Doug Elfman can be reached at delfman@reviewjournal.com. He blogs at reviewjournal.com/elfman. On Twitter: @VegasAnonymous
