Celine Dion’s band members feel cut off
It is a rare occasion when Celine Dion and controversy appear in the same sentence. But the dismissal of four band members this week apparently left some feeling like scapegoats.
The stunning move by Dion’s new manager, Aldo Giampaolo, was “a very difficult decision but judged necessary in order to breathe new life into (her show at Caesars Palace),” Giampaolo said in a press release.
Dion’s first all-new English-language album in six years, “Loved Me Back to Life,” quickly crashed in December. It debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 but fell to No. 35 after five weeks.
Boston Globe critic Steve Morse said the album is “littered with syrupy, easy-listening, trite-lyric ballads that undersell her talent.”
Dion’s longtime musical conductor Claude “Mego” Lemay didn’t sugar coat his dismissal after 28 years with Dion.
“It’s with great emotion that I receive the slap of my firing,” he wrote on his Facebook page.
Violinist Jean-Seb Carre, on his Facebook page, wrote: “It took only eight minutes to end 12 years of dedication and collaboration. It seems the new administration of Celine wants a new image for her (the reason they gave me!!).”
DR. RUTH SAYS NO
Dr. Ruth Westheimer will talk about sex all day.
But when it comes to politics, she just says no.
Asked for a comment on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech before Congress last week, her response was short and sweet.
“I don’t talk about politics, ever. Next question,” she said, with a long giggle, her signature.
Westheimer was in Las Vegas to address the Planned Parenthood fundraiser, which was held Thursday night at the MEET Event Center downtown.
Westheimer might be best known in the United States for her frank sex talk, but in Israel she’s a war hero. Orphaned during the Holocaust, she was in her teens when she joined Haganah, the Jewish military force that fought for Israel’s independence.
“I was a sniper but didn’t kill anybody,” she said.
Westheimer, who turns 87 on June 4, was seriously wounded on her 20th birthday when artillery shrapnel ripped through both of her legs.
She has been quoted as saying all she could think about was whether there was blood on the new shoes she got for her birthday.
Westheimer has three books coming out and is returning to Israel “at the ripe old age of 86” to address an international conference of attorneys, “and they want to hear about sex.”
THE SCENE AND HEARD
Veteran gaming executive Don Marrandino is out at the Hard Rock Hotel 10 months after his return. “As of March 9, Don Marrandino, senior vice president of operations for Warner Hospitality is no longer with Warner Hospitality,” Jody Lake, chief operating officer for Warner Hospitality, told The Lake Tahoe News.
The reason for his ouster was not disclosed.
Marrandino, who was president of the Hard Rock from 2001 to 2003, was also responsible for the operation of Lake Tahoe Hard Rock. In a text, he said “I am very proud of a successful opening in Lake Tahoe two months ago as well as the past year working with the Hard Rock Hotels in Las Vegas and Lake Tahoe. I have always had a strong belief in both the Hard Rock Hotel brand and certainly Las Vegas. I wish continued success to both.” ...
Veteran boxing reporter Jon Saraceno has been hired by KTNV-TV, Channel 13, as an exclusive analyst for the Floyd Mayweather Jr.-Manny Pacquiao superfight here on May 2. Jim Prather, executive vice president and general manager of KTNV, said the move gives the station “a special edge in making sure it’s reported right.” Saraceno, USA Today’s longtime lead columnist, has covered more than 200 championship fights “and is uniquely qualified to report on the Fight of the Century ... the biggest sports event ever in the history of Las Vegas.” ...
Here are Justin Bieber’s red carpet rules for his 21st birthday party appearance Saturday at Omnia, the new megaclub at Caesars Palace: photos only, no interviews. ...
The inaugural Derek Jeter Celebrity Invitational is today and Saturday at Shadow Creek Golf Course. Attendees include Michael Jordan, the face of the tournament for years; Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson, hockey great Wayne Gretzky, Ken Griffey Jr., and former NFL stars Marcus Allen and Jerome Bettis.
SIGHTINGS
At the Pac-12 men’s basketball tournament at the MGM Grand Garden for the Arizona-Cal game Thursday: Former Arizona coach Lute Olson, who led the Wildcats to 23 NCAA Tournament appearances in 25 years at the school. Side note: Olson followed Jerry Tarkanian at Long Beach State, which finished No. 3 in the AP poll with a 24-2 record but was not allowed to play in the NCAA Tournament because the school was put on three-year probation. Danny Ainge, Boston Celtics director of operations, was at Thursday’s session. At Wednesday’s session: former Oregon State stars Gary Payton and A.C. Green, watching Payton’s son, Gary, score 17 points in a 78-71 loss to Colorado. ... Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban, turning heads Sunday at the Jazz Brunch at the Country Club (Wynn).
THE PUNCH LINE
“Now in Utah if you get the death sentence, they have the firing squad. In Russia, they call that early retirement.” — David Letterman
Norm Clarke’s column appears Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday. He can be reached at 702-383-0244 or email him at norm@reviewjournal.com. Find more online at www.normclarke.com. Follow Norm on Twitter @Norm_Clarke.
