Kevin James’ MMA comedy filming at MGM Grand

Brace yourself: Here comes "Here Comes the Boom."

Considering Las Vegas' status as mixed martial arts capital, it's probably inevitable that the Columbia Pictures comedy would film here.

Kevin James plays a Boston-area biology teacher who moonlights as an MMA fighter to raise money to save his high school's music program.

Today's the final day of production on the comedy, which previously filmed in the Boston area. James and Henry Winkler, along with former MMA fighter Mark DellaGrotte , are expected on location at the MGM Grand, along with more than a hundred extras playing UFC fans.

Scheduled for release next summer, "Here Comes the Boom" marks the second collaboration between James and director Frank Coraci ; their first, "Zookeeper," hits screens July 8.

Wayne game: Chances are, when you hear the words "Wayne" and "Vegas" together, you think of Wayne Newton.

But another Vegas veteran named Wayne -- "Let's Make a Deal's" Wayne Brady -- will be center stage Sunday, hosting the 38th annual Daytime Emmy Awards live (to the East Coast, anyway) from the Las Vegas Hilton.

An Emmy-winner -- for his daytime talk show and for prime time's "Whose Line Is It, Anyway?" -- the former Venetian headliner previously hosted the awards bash in 2003, well before last year's move to Las Vegas reinvigorated the show by adding Vegas entertainment to the mix.

Brady teams with Monte Carlo headliners the Jabbawockeez for the show's opening number; Penn & Teller, Marie Osmond, Gladys Knight and Celine Dion are among the Vegas regulars expected to appear.

And while many associate Brady with improvisational comedy, presuming he's afflicted with "some sort of entertainment Tourette's" syndrome, "as a host, I'm hired to traffic cop," he acknowledges. "You do a little something when it's time to do a little something; otherwise, move on."

Pageant preliminaries: The Daytime Emmys aren't the only TV special returning to Las Vegas Sunday; NBC's telecast of the 60th annual Miss USA pageant goes live (to the East Coast; it's tape-delayed for us Pacific Time Zone types) from Planet Hollywood's Theatre for the Performing Arts.

In addition to live pageant coverage, the broadcast will include taped footage shot last week, featuring Miss USA contestants visiting around town, from the Palms pool to Red Rock Canyon.

It's the fourth consecutive year the pageant has called Las Vegas (and Planet Hollywood) home, according to executive Paula Shugart , president of the Miss Universe Organization, which presents the Miss USA pageant.

With the Las Vegas setting, "there's always something new to promote," she notes; Glitter City also provides an experienced crew for the show, Shugart adds.

"That's one of the reasons it's so great for us to come here," she says. "Las Vegas is one place we always come where we can find great people."

Quick takes: Immediately after the Miss USA pageant concludes, Andy Cohen -- who's co-hosting with E!'s Giuliana Rancic -- will segue to his Bravo series, "Watch What Happens: Live," from a nearby Planet Hollywood location.

Rio headliners Penn & Teller are scheduled to chat with Al Roker for NBC's "Today" -- and to stage a stunt at Sam Boyd Stadium for their upcoming Discovery Channel series, which is undergoing a title switch to "Penn & Teller Tell a Lie."

Spike's "The Ultimate Fighter" continues production this week, while National Geographic's upcoming series "Knights of Mayhem" focuses on preparations for, and competition at, the Ultimate Jousting Championships Saturday night at South Point Arena. And Bravo's "Millionaire Matchmaker" was scheduled to conclude a four-day shoot Sunday; locations include the Strip, the Imperial Palace and a Peccole Ranch residence.

Carol Cling's Shooting Stars column appears Mondays. Contact her at 702-383-0272 or ccling@reviewjournal.com.