‘American Ninja Warrior’ gets shot of ‘Absinthe’ as Almas Meirmanov storms course

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Members of the act that would eventually be called The Frat Pack are reflected in a mirror as they perform during the Wednesday, March 28, 2012, performance of “Absinthe” at Caesars Palace. The woman in the middle is Lijana Wallenda. At the front is Paul “Fat Frank” Lopez and at far right is Almas Meirmanov.

Thu, May 28, 2015 (7:30 p.m.)

‘Absinthe’ Fourth Anniversary

“Absinthe” celebrates its fourth anniversary Wednesday, April 1, 2015, at Caesars Palace. Launch slideshow »

The Kats Report Bureau at this moment is in a hard-rock mode, between Dee Snider and Twisted Sister appearing at the Joint in the Hard Rock Hotel on Saturday night and Robert Plant this evening at Brooklyn Bowl in Linq Promenade.

This weekend it’s the “Raiding the Rock Vault” crew, of whom Snider is so fond, performing a free show at Trop and the Strip. That gig is at 5 p.m. Saturday. Carlos Santana is back at House of Blues in Mandalay Bay, too, as he nears completion of the recording for “Santana IV.”

It’s rock and roll at the Hollywood Bowl, or, rather, all across VegasVille: As Snider himself says, “I wanna rock!,” and let’s do that now:

• Almas Meirmanov is the type of guy who can perform a one-handed handstand at any waking moment and, therefore, is not to be trusted.

A member of “The Frat Pack” high-wire team at “Absinthe” outside Caesars Palace and an original cast member of that show, Meirmanov is among the contestants on Season 7 of “American Ninja Warrior” on NBC. The show, in which hundreds of contestants from across the country attempt to complete a series of obstacle courses, culminates in the finals to be staged June 24 at MGM Resorts Village in Las Vegas.

The series premiered Monday night, revealing that Meirmanov reached the City Finals round in Venice Beach, Calif. The series moves to Kansas City for Monday night’s next qualifying round.

Contestants who survive the final round in their designated regions (and Meirmanov is in the Venice region) advance to the national finals in Las Vegas. The four-stage finals course is modeled after the Mount Midoriyama course in Japan, which is the destination of the show “Sasuke” in Japan, from which “American Ninja Warrior” was derived. The winner takes home $1 million, but the catch here is that no contestant has ever finished Mount Midoriyama.

Meirmanov remains alive in the contest and talks about his involvement — up to this point, at least — on the next edition of “Kats With the Dish,” airing at 8 p.m. Friday on KUNV 91.5-FM. We’ll post the show after it airs, as Meirmanov describes the process that led him to the “ANW” tryouts and the courses he’s learned to navigate to remain alive in the competition. Of the 30 who qualified to the Venice finals, Meirmanov was one of just seven who completed the course. The guy just can’t be trusted.

‘Frank: The Man, The Music’ Opening Night

Opening night of Launch slideshow »

Makeup for ‘Frank: The Man, The Music’

Kazu Tsuji works on the makeup for Bob Anderson, who plays Frank Sinatra in “Frank: The Man, The Music,” at Palazzo on Friday, Jan. 23, 2015, in Las Vegas. Launch slideshow »

• Bob Anderson welcomed some Rat Pack royalty to his show Tuesday night when Deana Martin, daughter of Dean, visited “Frank: The Man, The Music” at Palazzo Theater. “You’re doing great, Uncle Frank!” Martin called from the audience. She is in town to headline at South Point Showroom on Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 7:30 p.m. (tickets are $30, $35 and $40, not including fees, and available at SouthPointCasino.com and by calling 702-796-7111).

Martin’s appearance was a boost to the Sinatra tribute show, which is in the process of being extended through September. Preliminary indications, though not formal confirmation, is that it will happen, and Anderson and everyone involved in the inspired production will have more time to work on gaining traction on the Strip. Expect a more inventive marketing campaign if and when that extension is announced.

• On the topic of Classic Las Vegas showmen, Earl Turner is back Saturday and Sunday at 7:30 p.m. at Suncoast, and these shows are something special even beyond Turner’s fiery stage act. He’s joined by longtime Checkmate Sonny Charles, late of The Steve Miller Band and a genuine Las Vegas lounge legend.

I mean these two guys? Together? Forget it.

As The Checkmates, Charles and Marvin “Sweet Louie” Smith stormed Las Vegas lounges and showrooms for decades, including a long and storied run at Nero’s Nook in Caesars Palace. I caught them at Casbar Lounge in Sahara and Naughty Ladies Saloon at Arizona Charlie’s in their later years. Sadly, Sweet Louie succumbed to a heart attack in December 2007 when the guys were on a cruise ship tour. “Black Pearl,” a Top 10 hit in 1969 produced by a pre-firearm Phil Spector, was their signature song.

And there is yet more to this one-stop entertainment package: Expect pop-in comedy action from George Wallace, as the former Flamingo headliner has been ducking into various shows lately and performing a few minutes. It’s like a pitcher throwing between starts just to keep loose. Tickets for E to the T are $15.95 (not including fees) and available at SunCoastCasino.com and by calling 702-636-7111).

Turner is worthy of stage rushing at almost any moment. Just a thought …

• Something more from Dee Snider, from our interview last week: He has been approached about reprising his role as Dennis Dupree in “Rock of Ages” at the Venetian. Snider played the role on Broadway in 2010. “If my schedule permits, I would absolutely love to do it,” Snider says. “But we’re looking at next year, at the earliest, to do it.”

Follow John Katsilometes on Twitter at Twitter.com/JohnnyKats. Also, follow “Kats With the Dish” at Twitter.com/KatsWiththeDish.

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