(Photo by Scott Harrison | Retna)

Donny and Marie Osmond have canceled more performances, from Tuesday until at least Saturday while Marie mourns the death of her son, Michael. The duo had returned to the Flamingo stage March 9. Previous canceled shows were scheduled with make-up dates April 13 to 17. Click for more words and pictures »

By Jason Scavone

(Photo by Scott Harrison | Retna)

Marie Osmond got three standing ovations in her return to the Flamingo stage lasts night, a day after the funeral for her son, Michael Blosil. Blosil, 18, committed suicide February 26 in Los Angeles. Radar has video footage of last night’s performance. Click for more words and pictures »

By Jason Scavone

OK, if you look too quick at this pic, the belly button on the left looks like a nipple.

Three years of doing the Lord’s work: Jiggling the goods for nightly crowds. X Burlesque at the Flamingo’s Bugsy’s Cabaret celebrates 1,095 days of T and/or A by unveiling a (non-surgically, we think) enhanced version with new dancers, numbers and costumes.

Among the new music is Britney Spears’ “3″ and a new show opening to Metallica. And really, who knew “The Thing That Should Not Be” could be so … sexy? (Actually, it’s “Roam.” A song less about Lovecraftian nightmares from the darkest corners of the world and more about Metallica’s deep, abiding love of the B-52s.) Tickets to the 10 p.m. show are $44.95. Click for more words and pictures »

By Jason Scavone

You just can’t mess with the official Smashing Time reverse mohawk. (Photos by Erik Kabik | Retna)

Now that Tiger Woods has derailed his run of undisputed-greatness-in-our-lifetime, it’s time to turn our attention to an established pattern of dominance that hasn’t been seen in a duo since Koufax and Drysdale: Ron Hamilton and Michael Popielarski, known by their nom de chug Smashing Time, have become the first back-to-back champions in the five-year history of the World Series of Beer Pong.

The Long Island pongers have competed in four of the five Series, and nabbed their second $50,000 grand prize at The Flamingo yesterday. More than 900 players came out to battle over their mutual love of small projectiles and cheap beer. The rest of us can go back to drinking Natural Light strictly for recreational purposes now.

By Jason Scavone

Gentlemen, start your plastic cups. (Photos by Erik Kabik | Retna)

Get your year started right — by involuntarily pounding enough cheap beer to strangle your hangover from tonight in its tiny little hangover crib.

The World Series of Beer Pong returns to the Flamingo Jan. 1 to Jan. 5. Last year, they got more than 800 pongers with Ron Hamilton of Brentwood, N.Y and Michael Popielarski of Massapequa, N.Y of team Smashing Time capturing the $50,000 grand prize. And you thought your college education went to waste.

By Jason Scavone

Even shinier than the MTV Moonman. (Photos by Erik Kabik | Retna)

We think the Arctic Monkeys said it best when they said, “Put on your dancin’ shoes, you sexy little swine.”

Actually, wait, no. That doesn’t work at all. Anyway. Donny Osmond came back the conquering hero to the Flamingo last week after his win on Dancing with the Stars where he met at the Flamingo Showroom by the band, dancers, crew, Harrah’s execs and Flamingo performers Nathan Burton and George Wallace. Who, incidentally, is a lock for the new series Kangol with the Stars. Well, as long as Samuel L. Jackson doesn’t get lured in by the promise of a quick TV payday.

By Jason Scavone

New Kangol hats don’t technically count as toys, but the donation is welcome. (Photo by Scott Harrison | Retna)

Well, we suppose it’s inevitable. Some people just can’t accept the True Meaning of Christmas is drinking spiced liquor, string absurd amounts of lights and buying us an Intellivision, and insist on making it all about giving. Too many Peanuts specials if you ask us. But anyway, George Wallace is jumping on this “hand off stuff to the needy” bandwagon by holding a toy drive. Bring two new, unwrapped toys to the show at the Flamingo Dec. 1 through Dec. 12 between 6 and 10 p.m., and you can score a free ticket you can use until Dec. 16. Donations benefit HELP of Southern Nevada.

Magician Mac King is spreading his holiday cheer with Spread the Word Nevada Kids to Kids with a magic show and storybook reading at 7 p.m. Dec. 11 at the Henderson Barnes & Noble. When is someone going to stand up to this crass anti-commercialism and remind us all what the season is really about?

By Jason Scavone

OBEY ME!

Here we go kids, it’s time for Halloween Week to get going with the first big party of the season with Devil’s Night 12 at the Flamingo. On the turntables: Infected Mushroom, DJ Dan, Uberzone, Jordan Stevens, Kinekt, Dert Cheep, Evol Intent, Ultrablack, MCXYZ, KJ Sawka, King, MCBPSS, Risky Business and Bad Beat. It’s all the joy of a good old-fashioned Devil’s Night without all the mess of setting Detroit on fire. Click for more words and pictures »

By Jason Scavone

Film buffs.

When you think of Toronto, naturally you think of … we don’t know? The Blue Jays? Vince Carter? Actually, is there really any non-sports reason to think about Toronto at all? It’s like the tofu of major metropolitan areas.

But! They do have a pretty significant film festival where arty fare like Lars Von Trier’s Antichrist the Coens’ Serious Man and Werner Herzog’s Bad Lieutenant reimagining/sequel/whatever-you-want-to-call-it-with-Nic-Cage was screened.

And in the middle of all that cutting-edge cinema? Girls from The Flamingo’s X Burlesque who danced for George Clooney, Elton John and others at Toronto International Film Festival parties after being invited by the Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority. Wait, they brought X Burlesque girls to an Elton John party? That had to be some kind of mix-up on the invoice.

By Jason Scavone

And by 2012 they’ll still look like they’re in their late 30s. (Photo by Scott Harrison | Retna)

It’s two more years for Donny & Marie … on top of the two more years they’ve already been extended, bringing the run of the show at the Flamingo through Oct. 2012. They opened Sept. 9 of last year and were extended through 2010 after six weeks.

“I guess this is a ‘lease to own’ situation,” Marie Osmond said. “It’s great that the Flamingo is so happy with our show that they want us to park it for another two years. We love the Vegas audiences, so it’s all good.”

“You mean I have to work with my sister for another two years?” Donny Osmond countered.

This does give them another few years to hash out the beats to a new series of Hawaiian Punch commercials.

By Jason Scavone