An announcement, I'm told, could come as soon as today that the VMA's will be Sept. 9 at the Palms' new venue, The Pearl.

The celebrity Web site, TMZ.com, reported that MTV is moving away from the repeated reruns of the show. Instead, remixed versions will be created to lump together music genres such as pop and rap. Past ceremonies have taken place in New York, Los Angeles and Miami.

Rumors also are flying that the Latin Grammys will be in Las Vegas on Nov. 2.

BRITNEY EYES VEGAS

Britney Spears is taking baby steps toward a comeback, and there are growing signs she has Las Vegas in her plans.

The recently rehabbed pop star was in San Diego on Tuesday night for what was being billed as her first public music performance since 2004.

She made an appearance Tuesday night with The M+Ms, a group made up of her back-up band and dancers, at the House of Blues in San Diego.

Stacie Schmidt, talent booker for the Las Vegas House of Blues, confirmed that the group also has House of Blues gigs in Anaheim tonight, Hollywood on Thursday and Las Vegas on Sunday.

"I cannot confirm Britney will be here, but I can confirm the show will be sold out," Schmidt said.

FAST FRIENDS

Picture this: Tom Cruise and Brooke Shields, on the town in Las Vegas?

In one of the more bizarre scenarios in ages, Cruise and his wife, Katie Holmes, not only had dinner with Shields and her husband, Chris Henchy, at SW Steakhouse at Wynn Las Vegas, but the foursome were spotted gambling in a private salon at Wynn.

Two years ago, Cruise slammed Shields for her "misguided" use of the anti-depressant Paxil, while declaring her career as over.

Shields used the drug to battle post-natal depression after the birth of her daughter Rowan.

Cruise did an about-face and invited Shields and Henchy to the Cruise-Holmes wedding in November, and they accepted.

HOT SPOTS, COOL STUFF

Fashion designer Isaac Mizrahi is appearing at Sephora in The Grand Canal Shoppes at The Venetian on Friday, from 2-4 p.m. ...

Motley Crue's Vince Neil is donating two stage costumes from the band's last tour at 2 p.m. today at the Hard Rock Hotel.

THE SCENE AND HEARD

Lindsey Lohan tells viewers of "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" today that she's going to be celebrating her 21st birthday in Las Vegas, confirming what we reported here late last year. As we mentioned, Lohan's a lock to mark the occasion at Pure, the Caesars Palace hotspot. She turns 21 on July 2, a Monday. ...

It's good to be king: Entertainment for the annual Burger King convention, which is at Planet Hollywood Resort this week, included Jay Leno as Tuesday's special guest. Tonight: a sneak preview of "Spider Man 3."

THE PUNCH LINE

"The Yankees are in last place. Last place. The good news is, I am no longer the most overpaid disappointment in New York City." - David Letterman

Norm Clarke can be reached at 383-0244 or norm@reviewjournal.com. Find additional sightings and more online at www.normclarke.com.