Ray "always says Las Vegas is becoming very well known for some of the best chefs in the world," says Wade Sheeler, co-executive and supervising producer for High Noon Entertainment, which produces the series.

Ray plans to visit fellow Food Network star Mario Batali at Carnevino, his Palazzo collaboration with winemaker Joe Bastianich.

The "Vacation" crew's Vegas itinerary ranges from high-end Strip outposts (The Venetian's Bouchon) to hearty breakfast spots (The Egg & I, Hash House a Go Go), downtown favorites (Triple George Grill) and ethnic outposts (Osaka, Artem Eliseevsky, Origin India, Nina's Osteria and Wine Bar) -- many of them suggested to producers by Review-Journal restaurant maven Heidi Knapp Rinella.

Although the show will visit nine to 13 restaurants, Ray usually joins the camera crew for only one day.

And, generally, "we don't know which day," Sheeler admits, noting that Ray's whirlwind schedule means "we do this show by the seat of our pants."

Courting Tark: Former UNLV basketball coach Jerry Tarkanian has shown up on screen in everything from "Honeymoon in Vegas" to "The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh."

But his next role could be on an upcoming syndicated TV competition, "America's Next Sports Star."

Production officials are in town to talk with Tark about coaching on the show, which will offer a second shot at a basketball career for 25 contestants.

Tark says he's "definitely interested" and "would like to be involved" in the series, which will climax with a 16-day competition expected here in June. "It's going to be a lot of fun," the former Rebel coach predicts.

This week's locations include the Palms' Hardwood Suite and Ghostbar, plus a cruise down the Strip for the show's opening sequence. The latter features host (and comic) Cort McCown, atop a flatbed truck, reports director-producer Steve Moss.

Musical notes: Singer Carrie Underwood is scheduled to hit town this week to shoot a music video, "Last Name," at a variety of downtown locations.

Casting about: The Screen Actors Guild's Nevada branch hosts a casting fair and meeting for SAG members Sunday at the Tropicana.

The casting fair, featuring local agencies, runs from noon to 2 p.m. in the Hawaiian Room; the membership meeting follows.

For more details, e-mail Hrair Messerlian, executive director of the Nevada SAG branch, at hmesserlian@sag.org.

Carol Cling's Shooting Stars column appears Mondays. Contact her at (702) 383-0272 or e-mail her at ccling@reviewjournal.com.