Comments () | Add a comment
Norm Clarke | NORM
Headliner wrote about pat-down
-
Penn Jillette chronicled pushback on airport pat-down
Long before the airport pat-down screening flared into a national uproar, Las Vegas headliner Penn Jillette invoked the magic words: hands off.
The 6-foot-6 member of the comedy duo Penn and Teller wrote a colorful account eight years ago of a midnight altercation at McCarran International Airport.
He chronicled his pushback in a column that appeared on the DrudgeReport.com on Nov. 13, 2002.
It started with a beep as he was going through a security checkpoint. He was moved to another line, where he "assumed the position" as a security staffer began a hand check.
"He reached around while he was behind me and grabbed around my front pocket," wrote Jillette. "I guess he was going for my flashlight, but the area could have loosely been called 'crotch.' I said, 'You have to ask me before you touch me or it's assault.' "
The security officer responded, "Once you cross that line, I can do whatever I want," according to Jillette.
"I said that wasn't true. I say that I have the option of saying no and not flying. He said, 'Are you going to let me search you, or do I just throw you out?'"
Jillette said he told him to "Finish up, and then call the police please."
After passing the search, he was told he could continue to his flight.
Jillette informed the security officer that he had been "assaulted" and repeated his request to call a cop.
When a Metro officer showed up, he recognized Jillette, and, it turns out, he's a "big" Penn & Teller fan, wrote Jillette.
Jillette told his story to the cop, who informed security that touching a citizen's private area without permission is crossing the line.
Jillette corrected him, saying there was no contact with his genitals.
"I don't care," said the cop, "you can't do that to people. That's assault and battery in my book."
Jillette concluded: "my advice to everyone is complain all you can and call the cops."
THE SCENE AND HEARD
Following up on Friday's mention of the new book "Eating Las Vegas: The 50 Essential Restaurants," here are the top 10 in alphabetical order: Alex (Wynn); Bar Masa (Aria); Bartolotta (Wynn); CUT (Palazzo; Joel Robuchon (MGM Grand); L'Atelier (MGM Grand); Picasso (Bellagio); Restaurant Guy Savoy (Caesars Palace; RM Upstairs (Mandalay Bay); and Twist (Mandarin Oriental). ...
The choreography team of Napoleon and Tabitha D'umo, well known for their work on "So You Think You Can Dance," are teaching UNLV's dance team a routine to be used later this year when the RebelGirls go to Nationals. He's a former UNLV cheerleader and she was a RebelGirl. It's their way of giving back to UNLV, I'm told. The RebelGirls are considered one of the top dance teams in the nation, up there with Tennessee, LSU, Cincinnati and Memphis. ... Bellagio pianist David Osborne, who has played at the White House for every president since Jimmy Carter, was honored Thursday at the Los Angeles Music Awards with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame recognizing his lifetime achievement. ... I'm hearing attorneys Michael Cristalli and Marc Saggese will be auditioning today from 2-3 p.m. on KXNT-AM 840.
SIGHTINGS
Former baseball All-Star Larry Walker, dining at Japonais (Mirage) with friends on Thursday... "Deal or No Deal" host Howie Mandel, having fish tacos at Hussong's Cantina (The Shops at Mandalay) Thursday and tweeting "great food."...
THE PUNCH LINE
"AAA is predicting that 42 million people will travel this year for Thanksgiving. Not only that -- 30 million of them won't be talking to each other by the time they reach their destination." -- Jimmy Fallon
Norm Clarke can be reached at (702) 383-0244 or norm@reviewjournal.com. Find additional sightings and more online at www.normclarke.com.
RSS
Twitter
Facebook
