SHOW BIZ
Make that 'aloha wear' at Island news station

By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Writer

But station g.m. Rick Blangiardi said the suggested code won't be enforced; the memo, which even offered hair and makeup advice for those who needed it, has been withdrawn. Casual dress is back in, except for anchor people who normally dress up anyway, so the reporting crew is happy. Considering Hawai'i's clime and affinity to a casual lifestyle, one wonders why anyone would address or alter the dress issue to emulate a Mainland station.

The happy word from Blangiardi: "Moot point; there will be no change." And no, it was not an April Fool's prank. ...

CLUBLICITY: The Society of Seven Las Vegas resumes its two-shows-nightly schedule, starting tonight, with performances at 6:30 (earlier yanked) and 8:30 p.m. daily except Mondays, at the Main Showroom of the Outrigger Waikiki Hotel. It's a good indication that tourism is on the rise again. A dinner option precedes the early show. Call 923-SHOW (7469). ...

Chanteuse Claudia Vasquez, lead singer for Soul Café at Aaron's atop the Ala Moana Hotel, is back after a month of filming "Princess Diaries 2," in which she plays Princess Claudia. Garry Marshall, the director who is a frequent Hawai'i visitor, even had Vasquez record a tune, "Keeping the Faith," for the movie soundtrack. Way to go. ...

Paul Ogata, appearing Fridays and Saturdays with Andy Bumatai (following Frank DeLima) at the Ohana Reef Towers Hotel's Palace Showroom, has been dubbed the funniest Asian-American comedian in the country. He out-gagged a field of eight competitors in the Take-Out Comedy Competition (semi-finals were held in Hawai'i, California and New York), with World-Asia TV, a start-up cable network for the Asian-American community, which built a stage at the Hilton Hawaiian Village lagoon for the run-off. Brook Lee emceed; judges included Robin Shou ("Mortal Kombat"), SuChin Pak (MTV's "TRL"), Dustin Nguyen ("21 Jump Street"). Ogata soon journeys to New York to tape the first episode of "Take Out Comedy" that airs this summer. And Ogata's stint on CBS' "The Late Late Show With Craig Kilborn" finally airs June 15. ...

Asian rapper Jin Tha MC will appear April 9 at Volcanoes, performing tracks from his "The Rest Is History" CD and his single, "Learn Chinese." Kutmaster Spaz and DSB also appear.

SIGHT 'EMS: Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam was hanging out with a few buddies at Wave Waikiki last Saturday, soaking up the antics of DJ Keoki. Claudette Bond, p.r. director of On Stage Hawai'i, was there with Double D and Blunt from K-POI FM's morning Rock Show, and they chatted with Vedder, who opted for a low profile but was nonetheless approachable. "He appeared to be incognito — with a bleached blond look," said Bond. ...

The aforementioned DD and Blunt organized a car wash last weekend for teen-aged cancer patient Leilani Emosi, raising $1,500 to help with hospital costs. Another fund-raiser is set tomorrow at the Hard Rock Cafe. ...

And that's Show Biz. ...

Wayne Harada's Show Biz is published Tuesdays and Thursdays. Reach him at wharada@honoluluadvertiser.com, 525-8067 or fax 525-8055.