Jacko looks for a jackpot in Vegas with 50-ft. robot
BY GEORGE RUSH AND JOANNA RUSH MOLLOY DAILY NEWS GOSSIP COLUMNISTS
Monday, March 26th 2007, 4:00 AM
Even Elvis didn't try this in Vegas. Michael Jackson has been reviewing plans for a 50-foot robotic replica of himself should he launch a show there.
"It would be in the desert sands," said Mike Luckman of Luckman Van Pier, consultants to large entertainment companies. "Laser beams would shoot out of it so it would be the first thing people flying would see. Neon is wonderful, but it's old school." Luckman's partner, Andre Van Pier, who designed the futuristic spacesuits worn recently by Bono and U2 at a benefit concert in New Orleans, designed the robot. He has also sketched out a stage set of a giant audience-interactive video game with human cyborgs controlled by the audience. Said Luckman: "Michael's looked at the sketches and likes them."
Jackson, who reportedly has bought a house in the casino capital, has met with tourism officials and hotel owners there about a long-term show, much like Celine Dion has done 20 weeks a year for the past four years at the Colosseum, which was built for her at Caesars Palace. Dion's last show is Dec. 15, and while Elton John does 10 weeks there a year and Jerry Seinfeld does three weekends, the 4,100-seat arena might be hard for the talented but controversial Jackson to fill. In 2005, a California jury found the entertainer, who turns 50 next year, not guilty of child molestation charges - but two jurors said later they felt he was guilty.
Still, Jackson might have a powerful backer. "Paul McCartney is thinking about investing in the show," claims a source, adding: "He has been very impressed with the Beatles show" that Cirque du Soleil is doing at the Mirage. Perhaps a deal could be worked out for Sir Paul to get back shares of the $1 billion Beatles catalogue, of which Jackson still owns 25% after selling half his half to Sony, The Wall Street Journal reported last year.
McCartney's rep told us: "I don't comment on the business of his business."
Meanwhile, Jackson's focused on his next album, which includes him rapping on a few tracks.
"He hasn't made up his mind about whether a Vegas show is in the cards for him," his rep, Raymone Bain, told us. "He's been in the studio since November working on his music. He's been presented with various proposals. A Vegas show isn't a priority.
"He's in Las Vegas now. He's pretty grounded in Vegas. It's very convenient for producers and songwriters to get to him. He's worked there before. He's been recording with producers Rodney Jerkins, will.i.am and Neffu."
Mind you, Jackson doesn't have a record deal. Says Bain: "He's finalizing distribution arrangements."
As for the 50-foot robot? No word on whether a 10-foot robot will be by its side.
