NBC STAR BUSH HAGER SERENADED AT MAGIC SHOW
In the news business, it’s scoffingly known as a tough assignment. But NBC’s “Today Show” stars Jenna Bush Hager and Natalie Morales were really working Friday when they showed up for the 10 p.m. performance on the opening night of Channing Tatum’s “Magic Mike Live” at the Hard Rock Hotel.
They were shooting a segment for “Today” (or so they say).
It went down like this: Instead of pulling an unsuspecting fan out of the crowd, “Magic Mike” cast members zeroed in on Bush Hager and Morales.
With a camera rolling, cast members serenaded the former First Daughter while Morales was placed on top of the piano.
At the same time, a drummer was lowered from the ceiling. Bush Hager got a slow dance with one of the performers.
As she left the stage, a female in the audience hollered, “Barbara!”
“I’m Jenna,” corrected Bush Hager. Her twin sister is Barbara.
Also on hand: actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt, actor Nick Zano, comedian Jillian Bell, “Magic Mike” actress Cody Horn, “Entourage” star Emmanuelle Chriqui (sitting with Tatum’s wife Jenna Dewan-Tatum) and “Absinthe” stars The Gazillionaire, Wanda Widdles and Melody Sweets.
At end of the show, Tatum came on stage to thank the sell-out crowd.
During a red carpet interview with People magazine, Tatum offered an explanation for the show’s popularity. It’s sold out for six months.
“Vegas is almost like an altar,” Tatum said. “People come here to release. It’s kind of like church. They release all their worries and get crazy.”
The scene and heard The Westgate’s exterior was illuminated in purple on Friday, the first anniversary of Prince’s death… Celine added “Purple Rain” to her show this week. Speaking of Celine, I’ve often sympathized with fans who book trips well in advance to see their favorite Las Vegas headliner, only to have the show cancelled after they had arrived.
I’ve wondered about how the headliner and hotel go about soothing the frustration. Well, a friend of mine who flew in from Cincinnati last week had it happen to her. Angel Joseph, 79, said she got an email two days before heading for Las Vegas that Celine had to cancel. “THEN,” she said, “I got a call from Caesars the next week saying they were sorry for cancellation.
“In this day and age when you get all these digital robo calls, this was a real person calling. I said, ‘Are you really calling 4,200 people?’ I was told yes. That’s impressive. And I think I had my credit restored before I got that call. “That’s mind-boggling to me,” said Joseph, who has been coming to Las Vegas since 1963 and paid $25 to see Polly Bergen.
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