Conan O’Brien has announced the dates for his Legally Prohibited From Being Funny on Television Tour and Atlantic City has made the cut.

O’Brien will be at The Borgata Event Center on May 30. Tickets are priced at $155, $125 and $95 according to The Borgata’s Website, though tickets in other cities start at $39.50.

Other stops are at the Tower Theater in Upper Darby Pa. on June 7 and Radio City Music Hall in New York June 1 and 2.

O’Brien, who of course was controversially bounced from his Tonight Show gig earlier this year, bills the 30-city tour as “a night of music, comedy, hugging, and the occasional awkward silence.”

He also tweeted “Hey Internet: I’m headed to your town on a half-assed comedy & music tour. Go to www.teamcoco.com for tix. I repeat: It’s half-assed.”

The tour begins April 12 in Eugene Ore.

Join Hearts Afire Radio Show Hosts Carl and Martie Granieri as they welcome special guests Don Williams, Barbara Altman, Michele Dawn Mooney of NBC TV 40, Political VIPs and people of Good Will from churches and organizations from all over South Jersey to an uplifting musical event to benefit the earthquake victims in Haiti.
The show will broadcast live on WOND Radio, 1400AM from 1- 6 pm on Sunday, March 14, from the Ocean City Music Pier. It will feature the 100 Voice Hearts Afire Inter-Denominational Praise Choir and 10-piece Praise Band, made up of musicians and singers from the casino showrooms of Atlantic City. It is sponsored by Tropicana Hotel Casino.
All proceeds go directly to Food for the Poor, a Miami-based U.S. non-profit that has been on the ground in Haiti for 25 years and receives annually the highest ratings possible for efficiency and reliability. With only four percent operating costs, 96 percent of every dollar goes right to those in need. Donations are being accepted 24 hours per day by clicking here.

Rants and raves about burning topics that have caught my attention midweek, be it greedy corporate shenanigans, frustration or joy in regards to the Philly sports teams, a movie, show or DVD that has fired up my imagination, an intriguing personality, or my on-going battle to lose weight in our fast food world. — Lori Hoffman, Associate Editor, Atlantic City Weekly

It became official on Monday, March 8.  New ownership led by Carl Icahn took over the Tropicana Casino & Resort, signaling a new era. Multi-billionaire Icahn has been a wheeler-dealer in the Atlantic City market before. Back when the Sands Casino Hotel filed for bankruptcy in 1998, he swooped in two years later and bought controlling interest in the property, winning in bankruptcy court over Park Place Entertainment. At the time Icahn also wanted to purchase the Claridge, but eventually Park Place Entertainment won that battle. Park Place Entertainment, now known as Caesars Entertainment Inc., owns Bally’s/Claridge, Harrah’s Resort, Caesars and Showboat/House of Blues.

Carl Icahn

Icahn, who has been described as both a corporate raider and a corporate savior, sunk significant money (reported at $65 million at the time) to try and improve the bottom line for the Sands. Still, the smallest casino in town, once home to Frank Sinatra and Cher as regular entertainers, continued to lose money. Eventually Icahn sold the Sands to Pinnacle Entertainment in 2006.

The Tropicana has a lot going for it as a destination casino with the dining, shopping and nightclub complex, The Quarter, and 2,129 hotel rooms. Despite that, the previous owners mismanaged the property into the loss of its casino license and bankruptcy. In essence, Icahn and his partners have brought a property sold for 2.75 billion in 2005 for the fire sale rate of $200 million of the property’s mortgage for equity.

The Tropicana has managed to survive quite a bit of chaos the last decade and Icahn should certainly bring financial stability.

In a press release, Mark Giannantonio, president and C.E.O. of Tropicana Casino & Resort said, “It’s a whole new year, new energy, new era at the Tropicana. Now, with a great partner like Carl Icahn at our side and our staff of dedicated and hardworking employees, we can really move the Tropicana forward as the pre-eminent entertainment resort in Atlantic City.  We’re thrilled about the possibilities.”

To see the Trop’s new direction, check out this Web site. (more…)

College students have made quite a mark on the poker scene the last few years and the Caesar’s World Series of Poker circuit event is no different. Event 5 of the 12-event circuit meet has gone to emerging poker star Alexandru Masek of San Diego, who won $39,372 in the $300 + $40 No Limit Hold’em event.

The 25 year old is attending law school at the University of San Diego (so technically he’s graduated college, but he’s been playing since his undergraduate days in Florida) and has already won a WSOP circuit event, which means he now has two WSOP rings. He won his first at Harrah’s Rincon in California less than a year ago. Masek had a fairly easy final table as he had the chip lead going in and outlasted the rest of the field.

Alexandru Masek

The Caesars event has shown a strong drawing power and has been bringing in players from around the country. Still, it’s nice to see a local player make good and in Event 5, Kerry Small, a real estate appraiser from Ventnor came in third collecting just over $10,000.

Today’s Circuit event (March 9) is a large one with a $1,000 + 80 buy-in, No Limit Hold’em tourney beginning at noon. Tomorrow features a $1,500 + $100 deep stack tournament ($20,000 in chips) and, of course, Friday starts the circuit meet’s Main Event, a $4,900 + 250 No Limit Hold’em tournament. The winner, along with cash winnings, gets a $10,000 seat at the WSOP Main Event in July at The Rio in Las Vegas. You can follow the Caesars action here and get a tournament schedule here.

Atlantic City has been a regular tour stop for the American Idol Tour for the last few years, but this year an Idol star is jumping the gun.
Singer-songwriter and Idol judge Kara DioGuardi will be taking a break from the show to remind fans she has talent as well. She’s coming to the Borgata to headline on Friday, April 9, 9pm, and Saturday, April 10, 8pm, in the Music Box. Tickets are $45 and $55 and go on sale this Saturday, March 13 via Borgata’s Web site.

It’s been a great showing for amateurs as things kept rolling through the weekend at Caesars World Series of Poker circuit event, with more winners being announced.

Event 2, a $500 + 60 No Limit Hold’em tournament saw Ithaca N.Y. plumber Michael J. Morusty face down pro Luis Nargento, (Queens N.Y.) for the tournament win.  The two players dominated the tournament from start to finish and appropriately found themselves in a final showdown. Morusty, 54, won $39,731 and added to an already impressive amateur record which includes a 4^th place finish in the 2009 Seniors World Championship at last year’s WSOP.

Earnest Whistler

Event 3 was a $300 + $40 tournament which attracted a big field of 662 and posted a $53,940 top prize. Virginian Earnest Whistler, 41, survived an about four-hour final showdown between himself and pros Adam “Lippy” Lippert and Vinny Pahuja, who have more than $1.6 million in tournament wins between them. According to the WSOP blog, the brash amateur challenging two pros heightened tension at the final table, but eventually Whistler outlasted both of them and is credited with getting more than a few improbable suck outs.

Event 4, a $500 + $60 No Limit tournament saw another amateur, John Hubiak, 29, of Taylor Pa. pick up a $58,937 top prize after agreeing to a final two-player deal with semi-pro William Daloisi, who pocketed $30,419. Hubiak won the WSOP ring which all winners of the events major tournaments receive.

Today’s event is another $500 + $60 No Limit Hold’em tournament beginning at noon. The circuit event also includes daily satellites for the event’s main tournament, a $4,900 + $250 No Limit Hold’em tournament beginning March 12 where the winner gets a $10,000 seat at the WSOP Main Event this July at The Rio in Las Vegas. To follow the action, check out The WSOP blog here. For a tournament schedule go here.

Tony Cheng

We have a winner in the first event of the WSOP circuit tournament now underway at Caesars (running to March 14). According to the WSOP blog, the first champion of the Caesars series is Yat “Tony” Cheng, from Atlanta, GA. The 32-year-old, Chinese born poker pro usually plays cash games and often plays in A.C. Cheng was short stacked for a time at the final table, but eventually coasted to his first major tournament victory, collecting $55,569 in the $300 + $40 tournament. That won Cheng a WSOP Circuit gold ring.

The 12 daily major events scheduled for the tournament are set for two days, but event one (which began Wednesday) went into a third day even though 90 percent of players went down in day one. The $198,462 prize pool paid the top 63 players. The final table started Thursday evening and didn’t wrap up until 7am today (March 5). Cheng wasn’t the only short-stacked player to persevere as chip leaders fell pretty consistently, including pro Chris Manouge of Philly who had the early chip lead.

Along with the daily events with WSOP rings at stake, the tournament includes daily satellites for the tournaments main event, a $4,900 + $250 tournament to begin March 12.  The winner of that tournament gets a $10,000 seat at the WSOP Main Event in July at The Rio in Las Vegas (as well as top prize from an expected $1 million plus prize pool).

Today’s major event, event three on the schedule, is another $300 + $40 tournament beginning at noon. Go here for a schedule of tournaments and here to follow the WSOP blog.

With all the news about the Pennsylvania casinos draining business from AC gaming halls, the Tropicana has decided to fight back by showing the love to local gamblers. The Tropicana is now offering special discounts for residents of Atlantic and Cape May counties. The “Trop Loves Locals” promotion began yesterday (March 1).

To participate in any of these offers, show your ID with a local Atlantic or Cape May county address, along with a Diamond Club Card at the designated outlet:

• Save 10 percent off all dining checks, including beverages at Il Verdi, Wellington’s, Golden Dynasty, Seaside Café, and Fiesta Buffet daily.

• Save 10 percent off beverages at Alto Vino, Rumba Lounge and Tango’s Lounge.

• Save 10 percent off standard retail banquet prices including office and birthday parties

• Save 15 percent off standard room rates, Sunday–Friday, at the Tropicana. To book call 1-800-345-8767 and mention code TLOCALS. Valid now through June 30.  Certain restrictions may apply.

• Save $2 off all IMAX movie tickets, Monday through Thursday. Offer is not valid during the first two weeks of a movie opening and limited at six (6) tickets per person. Visit here for movie details.

For a complete list of offers, news specials and events go here.

Anne Hathaway at the Oscars in 2008.

If you’re a movie buff and a fan of disco music, Boogie Nights at Resorts is the place to be this Friday. The company RedCarpetMVP.com is hosting a pre-Oscar party at the dance club. The 82nd Annual Academy Awards will be broadcast on Sunday, but Boogie Nights will be getting the party started Friday night, March 5.

Winner of the 2010 Atlantic City Nightlife Awards for Best Dance Club, Boogie Nights will roll out the red carpet for this event, hosted by the models of RedCarpetMVP.com, celebrating the celebrity fashions showcased at a variety of award shows and events.

“The Oscars are the ‘Super Bowl of Fashion,’” says Erica Salmon, creator of RedCarpetMVP.com. “It’s our biggest weekend of the year, and we are thrilled to kick it off with a pre-Oscar bash at Boogie Nights. It’s the perfect venue for us to get our big weekend started.”

Guests will arrive by walking the red carpet, lined by the “Paparazzi” of RedCarpetMVP.com. The “Paparazzi” will photograph each guest in front of a Hollywood-inspired step-and-repeat banner, and then email photos to each of the guests at the conclusion of the event.

Models will work the room and approach club attendees with “Guess the Dress” trivia cards. Each “Guess the Dress” trivia card will contain photos and trivia related to iconic red carpet celebrity fashion. For example, a card will contain a photo of the famous plunging sheer green Versace dress worn by Jennifer Lopez at the 2000 Grammy Awards. The face of the celebrity will be blurred out in the photo, and guest will be asked the name of the celebrity who wore that gown that evening. Those answering correctly will win a variety of prizes as well as be eligible for the grand prize drawing at midnight for a $200 gift certificate to the Spa at Resorts.

As Rueters reports, “Celebrity real estate developer Donald Trump, optimistic about a casino comeback, took the stand in U.S. bankruptcy court to fight for control of the three Atlantic City hotel-casinos bearing his name.”

Read more.