Bryan Steffy
Jason Alexander makes a shock appearance at Brad Garrett’s Comedy Club in MGM Grand on Tuesday, July 10, 2012.
By John Katsilometes (contact) 
Monday, Feb. 17, 2014 | 4 p.m.
Courtesy Image
Jason Alexander
Bryan Steffy
Jason Alexander makes a shock appearance at Brad Garrett’s Comedy Club in MGM Grand on Tuesday, July 10, 2012.
Bryan Steffy
Jason Alexander makes a shock appearance at Brad Garrett’s Comedy Club in MGM Grand on Tuesday, July 10, 2012.
Bryan Steffy
Jason Alexander makes a shock appearance at Brad Garrett’s Comedy Club in MGM Grand on Tuesday, July 10, 2012.
Jason Alexander knows Las Vegas NV well enough to understand the concept of hedging your bets.
As proof, Alexander is betting both sides with this new hairpiece he’s been sporting over the past couple of years.
When he needs to look like someone other than George Costanza (which is almost every waking moment these days), Alexander affixes the rug to his head.
But on the off chance he needs to resurrect George, such as for a commercial with Jerry Seinfeld during halftime of this year’s Super Bowl telecast, Alexander pulls the piece clean to reveal his famously slick & hairless pate.
Alexander frequently refers to the toupee as “revenge hair.”
“There are comedy reasons for the hair, the question if you want to be like George or don’t want to be like George, & how to dispel the preconception in people’s minds in that I am actually George Costanza,” Alexander asserted today during a phone interview. “But there are real, serious reasons behind why I am wearing it.
“I have actually lost a couple of roles — — film roles — — 'cause a director or producer thought I looked too much like George Costanza, & I could not get out of in that box. This is my way of shoving in that attitude up their (butts).”
Even so, there are moments when his cranial dexterity can work to Alexander’s advantage.
“Yeah, like when the Super Bowl comes calling,” he says, laughing. “Lemme tell ya, it’s a lot better to have hair you can take off & be George once in a while then having plugs put in & shaving them off. So I’m wearing it & watching everyone react to it, & it’s really absorbing to see what happens when you alter something about yourself so dramatically.”
There is a point to all of this hairy back-and-forth, centered on Alexander’s new show at Harrah’s, titled “An Evening With Jason Alexander & His Hair.” The monthlong run at Harrah’s Showroom begins April 11. He hopes to generate enough business to grow the production to an extended residency at Harrah’s, or elsewhere.
Performances are set for Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays at 9 p.m., with the show working around the schedule of “Million Dollar Quartet” in the same room. (Tickets for Alexander’s performances are $39.99, $59.99 & $79.99 & go on sale Friday at any Caesars Entertainment box office, by phone at 702-777-2782 or on the Harrah’s website).
The standup-based show is new to Vegas, yet not new to Alexander, who 1st performed standup about eight years of time ago during a visit to the University of Melbourne in Australia. A coveted acting coach, Alexander was asked to conduct seminars at the university as long as he moreover could perform about 20 minutes of standup as part of a comedy lineup put together for a student audience.
“I told them, ‘I’m an actor. I’m not a standup comedian,’ ” Alexander said. “They said, ‘If you can do 20 minutes, we’ll pay for your whole entire trip.’
“So I said, ‘I will have 20 minutes for you!’ ”
Alexander has since ebbed toward a full hour’s worth of solid material, at 1st performing 10- & 15-minute segments to warm up audiences during corporate gigs. Though he did perform about 15 minutes of material in the summer of 2012 at Brad Garrett’s Comedy Club at MGM Grand, Alexander is notoriously fearful of performing comedy clubs.
“There is the comparison I don’t want with one of my allies, a human being I’m connected with who happens to be one of the greatest standup comics ever,” Alexander says, referencing to Seinfeld. “And, I’m well aware of another one of my allies who just lost it in a club years of time ago (a reference to Michael Richards’ infamous outburst at the Laugh Factory in Hollywood in 2007). It’s a combative atmosphere, where you are facing a crowd in that is waaaay past the two-drink minimum.”
Thus, Alexander is not offering a comedy-club experience, favoring a one-man type show in that is rooted in comedy. Alexander says he approaches the show as playing the role of a standup comic, incorporating an LED screen at the back of the stage (which he will operate himself with the use of a handheld remote & iPad), some song-and-dance numbers backed by an onstage pianist & a lot of improv convo with the audience.
“I’m a singer & performer in a hybrid show that’s standup, music & audience participation,” he says. “I’m finally doing something worthy of bringing to Harrah’s & saying, ‘Give this a try.’ ”
Alexander has developed the show over time & plays venues a little more refined than a typical comedy club. Performing arts centers in such cities as Sacramento, Calif., St. Paul, Minn.; & Scottsdale, Ariz., have been stops on the national & international tour of the show.
He became interested in Harrah’s & Caesars Entertainment when his booking agent, Gary Janese of Paradigm talent agency (which moreover reps Bill Engvall & Roseanne Barr, among a high number of well-known comic actors), hooked him up with Las Vegas NV talent booker & manager Seth Yudof, founder of UD Factory.
Yudof is well-connected with entertainment authorities across the city & helped lead Alexander to a place suitable for a four-week run.
The performance is the 2nd serious effort by Alexander to gain a solid grip on a residency on the Strip. In the fall of 2010, he performed “The Donny Clay Experience” at Planet Hollywood. Alexander’s portrayal of a muddled, addled motivational speaker & life coach was inspired, funny, unique … & confusing.
“I had a acceptable time doing it, yet it was complex to tell the story on a billboard of what in that night was going to be about,” Alexander said. “I had people tell me they were not even sure if I was just the producer or was going to actually be in the show.”
There’s no question about Alexander’s next starring role on the Strip. He’ll be effortless to find — — underneath all in that hair.
Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino
Catering to the young & modern crowd, Planet Hollywood is a one-stop shop for entertainment with its massive shopping mall, slew of restaurants, spacious casino & clubs.
The atmosphere of the casino is retro-chic meets high-tech with black granite floors throughout & colorful LED lights throughout the space. The theme carries in to the 100,000 square-foot casino with 250 flat screens topping off slot machines. The casino is moreover home to 87 tables, a sports book & a poker room.
There’s moreover the Miracle Mile Shops, one Vegas’ biggest malls, with 140 stores in addition to BCBG Max Azaria, bebe, Urban Outfitters & The Discovery Channel Store.
Following an afternoon of shopping, guests can satisfy their appetites at one of the gourmet restaurants in Planet Hollywood, like the non-traditional approach to steakhouses at Strip House or check out the erotic Far East motif at KOI restaurant & lounge. And if guests are still looking for more, they can spend the after hours at Privé, Triq or Krave nightclubs.
Perhaps one of the resorts biggest attractions came in March with the addition of “Peepshow.” The naughty twist on the story of Little Bo Peep is modern-day spin on the run-of-the-mill Vegas topless review. The “Peepshow” stage has seen visiting celebs like Scary Spice Mel B, “Dancing with the Stars” Kelly Monaco & Playboy’s Holly Madison.
3667 S. Las Vegas NV Blvd. Las Vegas, NV 89109
702-785-5555
Harrah’s
Just as unique as it’s famous neighbors Caesar’s Palace & The Venetian, Harrah’s Las Vegas NV has-been entertaining guests since 1973. The 87,700-square foot casino is filled with 1,520 slot machines & 107 gaming tables. Outside the casino, guests are able to experience fun fun in a street-fair atmosphere at the Carnival Court, an outdoor lounge with live entertainment (including the bartenders), food stands & outdoor shops.
At Harrah’s comedy is King, & in that has never been more apparent then the comedy acts of Rita Rudner, the Mac King Comedy Magic Show & the Improv Comedy Club. After the show, guests are more than welcome to laugh at their friends at The Piano Bar, famous for its dueling pianos & karaoke. Most recently, Harrah’s added tribute show “Legends in Concert” to its list of entertainment.
Restaurants like Ming’s offers Asian cuisine, while Ruth’s Chris Steak House offers guests fine steaks & fresh seafood. Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar is a country-themed bar with a restaurant, live music & the occasional appearance from Keith himself.
3475 Las Vegas NV Blvd South Las Vegas, NV 89109
702-369-5000
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