Rearranging the deck chairs

Although bankruptcy at the Riviera is more a matter of “when” than “if,” the only casino in town with three CEOs hasn’t stopped trying on the entertainment front:

In a town that has Frank Caliendo and Terry Fator, any impressionist is battling for distant third place. (Very distant. Like, you know how far away Neptune is? Yeah, about that distant.) This does not stop Mr. London’s publicists from making some brassy claims …

“Among the ‘ICONS’ that are part of London’s fascinating repertoire are Elvis Presley, Neil Diamond [hey, the Riv used to have one of those], Billy Joel, Tina Turner, Ray Charles, Sammy Davis, Jr., Rod Stewart, Michael Jackson, Macy Gray, Tony Bennett, David Cassidy, Dean Martin, David Ruffin and Eddie Kendricks of The Temptations, Smokey Robinson, Freddy Mercury/Queen, Barry Manilow, Elton John, Joe Cocker, Bruce Springsteen, Dire Straits, Eric Clapton, Jim Morrison of the Doors, ZZ Top, David Bowie, Axl Rose, Neil Young, Gordon Lightfoot, Bob Dylan, Robin Gibb of The Bee Gees, Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Garth Brooks, Randy Travis, Kenny Rogers, Willie Nelson, Julio Iglesias, Tom Jones, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Ozzy Osbourne, Kermit The Frog, James Bond (Sean Connery version*), Austin Powers and the ‘Phantom of the Opera.’”

(* — And there I was expecting an imitation of the George Lazenby version. Who doesn’t?)

Whew! Not even Danny Gans at his most egocentric was that all-encompassing. (At least London doesn’t promise any George Burns or H. Ross Perot imitation.) Also, I’m foxed by how the title part in Phantom of the Opera counts as an “impersonation,” as the role’s been played by everyone from Michael Crawford to Robert Guillaume — who I’m told was extremely good in it. Perhaps London could ape the Venetian‘s Phantom-in-residence, Anthony Crivello, whose gnarled, set-in-cement vocal mannerisms are ripe for imitation. As for Mr. London’s resumé, I’m not sure I’d want to remind people that I was in an exceptionally forgettable film called The Dukes. (I’ve got a DVD copy, if anybody wants it.)

But what worked for 2.5 years at Harrah’s Reno ought to be good for a few months at the Riv, right? Or is that an excessively optimistic forecast?

Further down the Strip, “comic singing impressionist” Larry G. Jones has finally made it to a good neighborhood, soon to drop anchor at Planet Hollywood‘s Harmon Theatre after playing the likes of Fitzgeralds and Royal Resort. Getting out of third- and fourth-rate casinos doesn’t necessarily mean Mr. Jones has landed in clover. Shows at the Harmon are prone to short lifespans. We wish him the best of luck in a venue that could use some.