The award for Most Awards Shows on the Strip this spring goes to …
The MGM Grand Garden Arena.
The emerald city of live entertainment is due for a renovation beginning this fall. But until then it’s busy with the Academy of Country Music Awards on May 17, followed by the American Music Awards show on May 25, also known as Memorial Day. Both shows are from Dick Clark Productions.
The AMAs announced the date and the MGM Grand Garden Arena as venue last week. The show broadcasts on CBS at 5 p.m. and streams on Paramount+. Hosts, performers and ticket on-sales are to be announced.
Nominees will be revealed April 14, with fan voting also opening that day and running through May 8.
MGM Resorts officials confirm is the first time the Grand Garden Arena has hosted a pair of awards events of this prominence on consecutive weekends. It’s also the first time in my own memory of covering the city for 30 years that major awards shows are running in the same venue on back-to-back weekends.
Some say this is a crazy schedule, which it is, and why Las Vegas-based design ace Andy Walmsley is designing both stages.
The AMAs played the Fontainebleau’s BleauLive Theater last year. Those appearing and performing in the live telecast included Jennifer Lopez hosting, Rod Stewart, Janet Jackson, Gloria Estefan, Benson Boone, Lainey Wilson, Reneé Rapp and Alex Warren, Becky G and Manuel Turizo. Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani’s appearances were previously recorded (a move that set off a boomlet of controversy from fans who expected to see them in person at BleauLive Theater).
The Grand Garden Arena was reportedly being held for the ’25 show, before producers decided on the smaller Fontainebleau venue.
Last year’s AMAs were a ratings success. The show reached more than 10 million unique viewers across CBS and Paramount+ for its premiere on Memorial Day and in its encore presentations on MTV, CMT and BET. The CBS broadcast marked the show’s largest audience since 2019 with a 38 percent increase over its last live airing on ABC in 2022.
The ACM Awards’ week of music kicks off May 15 with “ACM Lifting Lives Country on the Green: Riley Green & Friends.” The up-close event is scheduled for Topgolf. “ACM Next Wave: Country’s Beach Bash” is set for May 16 at Mandalay Bay Beach and Wave Pool. The open-air party will spotlight several of the industry’s most promising rising stars. Go to acmcountry.com for ticketing and related intel.
Sebastian to the third
Sebastian Maniscaclo crushed it once more at the Encore Theater at Wynn Las Vegas over the weekend. The veteran headliner did a little more crowd work than I’ve seen in previous appearances. He dropped some profanity while asking a 15-year-old in the second row how he liked the show, then mocked the father’s decision to bring his kid to the show, speaking as the dad, “I thought he was going to be clean, like Nate Bargatze.”
That reference might have been a subliminal plug. Bargatze plays the Encore Theater from Monday through Wednesday.
Maniscalco also commented on social media Sunday, after Harry Styles’ brilliant impression of Marcello Hernandez’s impression of Maniscalco on “Saturday Night Live.” This was in a trial lawyer bit in Saturday’s show, with Hernandez as defense attorney and Styles the prosecutor. Both did their best Maniscalcos.
Find it online; it’s a classic. Styles is assuming the recording superstar/comic performer role Justin Timberlake made famous.
In a comment on X, Maniscalco said, “I’ve been on SNL twice now, which sounds impressive until I tell you neither time was as the host. At this point, Harry and Marcello have logged more rehearsal time as me than I have. Both of them were hilarious and absolutely nailed it. Maybe the third time I come in and do it myself.”
In our interview for Neon published last week, Maniscalco referred to his wish to host “SNL.”
“I’d just love to be on” the 52-year-old comic actor said. “We’ll see what happens.” It has to happen, and soon.
The Bryce is right
Bryce Krausman, former proprietor of DW Bistro at The Gramercy, has long been known for his wonderful brunches. We devoured many a muffin at his Sunday events. But Krausman wishes he had more opportunity to chat up his guests.
He’s made the time now, joining the growing podcast community (where it is tough to get a table). The pilot for “Brunch With Bryce” is streaming on Krausman’s YouTube page. This is a chat with his buddy Ace Daniels, all about the Academy Awards. Krausman has a lifelong fascination with the Oscars, and a budding fascination with hosting a podcast. “More to come,” he promises.
Cool Hang Alert
The stylish, and mirthsome, Vegas crooner Jonathan Karrant presents “Luck Be a Lady” at Myron’s at The Smith Center on Tuesday. Karrant’s “On and On” rose to No. 4 on the Billboard jazz charts, and his album “Live” hit No. 2 on the iTunes jazz charts.
Given that this is St. Patrick’s Day, Karrant and the band will play some Irish saloon favorites. Otherwise, he’ll imbibe the classics from the Great American Songbook. Go to thesmithcenter.com for intel.
John Katsilometes’ column runs daily in the A section. Contact him at jkatsilometes@reviewjournal.com. Follow @johnnykats on X, @JohnnyKats1 on Instagram.
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