Nick the Gardener Gets Audition for Magic Mike XXL

“Nick the shirtless Gardener” meets with Warner Brothers exec Greg Silverman

On Thursday’s episode of ELLEN, “Nick the Gardener” was hooked up with a “meet and greet” for a role in the upcoming MAGIC MIKE XXL.

On Friday, viewers got to see how the (shirtless) meeting went with Warner Brothers exec Greg Silverman. Things are looking good for Nick! Fingers crossed 🙂

Plus, as many noted the tattoo on Nick’s back, it turns out it’s a classic joke. And since it’s Classic Joke Friday, Ellen had to share the joke with the audience. That meant, of course, that Nick had to remove his shirt, once again…

Magic Mike Stage Show May Debut At The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino

Channing Tatum and Alex Pettyfer in promo pic for “Magic Mike”

Word is Channing Tatum is planning on bringing his own male revue, inspired by his hit movie Magic Mike, to Las Vegas.

And it looks like the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino may land the new production.

Tatum was in Las Vegas for a long weekend, in the company of what appeared to be executives. It was reported here that he was spotted having lunch with a group on Monday at Spago inside the Forum Shops at Caesars.

Then the plot thickened when he showed up Monday at the Hard Rock, with men in suits and, according to a spy, a top Hard Rock executive.

Magic Mike was a huge Hollywood success, with a global gross of $167 million based on an investment of $7 million.

The sequel – Magic Mike XXL – is currently filming under the direction of Gregory Jacobs. Most of the original cast – including Tatum, Joe Manganiello, Matt Bomer and Alex Pettyfer – are returning.

Magic Mike XXL is scheduled for release Summer 2015.

Check out the tweet Tatum posted two days ago…

Joe Manganiello teaches stripper moves to Conan

Joe Manganiello demonstrates required stripper moves for Conan

Joe Manganiello – star of HBO’s True Blood and the much beloved feature film Magic Mike – stopped by Conan last night to talk on his directorial debut La Bare, the new acclaimed documentary about the men of the famed Dallas male revue.

Along the way, Conan received some sage advice for a possible future in male stripping.  For instance, you need a really good name, says Managaniello. His suggestion for Conan – “Big Red – here to pillage your village.”

Then, Joe gets up to demonstrate some required choreographic vocabulary in the world of male revues, “the body roll.”

Happy Thursday!

Channing Tatum tweets work on “Magic Mike 2” has begun

Hunky movie mega-star Channing Tatum tweeted this pic out this weekend saying, “What better way to start writing #MagicMike2 than with my old friend Dallas?  #runatribe

Can’t wait, Channing.  Bring it on 🙂

As if ANYONE needed a reminder…

Shirtless Channing Tatum and Alex Pettyfer serve up some classic Chippendales style

Channing Tatum: “Magic Mike 2” is in development

The shirtless men of Magic Mike

Get ready to “Channing all over your Tatum”, kids.

Channing Tatum tells The Hollywood Reporter that the sequel to Magic Mike is in development:

“We’re developing Magic Mike 2, but [director Steven Soderbergh] really wants to be done directing movies,” says the new dad, who revealed that he may direct the follow-up himself. “We’ll see. I wish people would lobby him to finish what he started: ‘Come on, man! Stop being stubborn and come back.’ I’ve said that to him, but he is a very fixed-in-his-ways guy, and if he says it, it is hard to change.”

So what will Magic Mike 2 be about? “It will be a road-trip movie, and it will essentially be the movie that everyone thought the first one was going to be: crazy and fun and less slice-of-life and less drama. The first one, we had to make not so cheesy and campy; this one we are going to swing for the fences.”

Ian Ziering opens in Las Vegas as celeb guest host for Chippendales

Ian Ziering on the cover of Las Vegas Magazine for Chippendales
Shirtless Ian Ziering on the cover of Las Vegas Magazine for the Chippendales

I really don’t have to add much, do I?  Other than maybe, “hello abs…”

You may remember that shortly before Ian took on the gig of being Chippendales’ new celeb guest host, TMZ called him out for being out of shape.  Well, that’s that…

I caught Ian’s debut this past Saturday and the completely packed house went WILD for Ian.  He’s a terrific host for the show; he’s featured in a couple of dance numbers; and he has one of the best “t-shirt tear aways” I’ve seen. 

“Magic Mike” isn’t the only place you can see Hollywood’s hunkiest. Head to Las Vegas to check out Ian at the Rio All-Suites Hotel at the Chippendales Theater.  Limited run through June 2013.

Check out video and pics from Ian’s first night below:

Ian Ziering on the red carpet with Chippendales (L to R) Jon Howes, Jaymes Vaughan,
James Davis and Gavin McHale

Pre-show meeting

Just before the first performance, Ian chills in his dressing room

Ian Ziering opens the show at Chippendales in Las Vegas

Ian hosting “Chipp Shot” segment of the Chippendales show

Ian Ziering goes shirtless for guest at Chippendales
Lucky girl gets an early show peek at Ian Ziering’s ripped bod.

Shirtless Ian Ziering is the next Magic Mike
Seconds after tearing off the t-shirt.  You don’t keep a Porsche in the garage…

Men of Chippendales in motion
Me with Ian Ziering on the red carpet before the show

Ian Ziering gets ready to become the next Magic Mike for Chippendales

Ian Ziering gets ready to become the next Magic Mike at Chippendales

A couple of pics from Ian Ziering’s final rehearsals for Chippendales in Las Vegas at the Rio All-Suites Hotel show he’s ready to become the next “Magic Mike” – or we should really be saying “Magic Ian.” Clearly the semi-finalist from Dancing With The Stars has the moves down.

Ian Ziering opens tonight with the Chippendales and appears as the celebrity guest host for the remainder of the month.

I’m attending Ian’s opening night, so planning to have pics of the event tomorrow. Even in rehearsal clothes, Ian looks AMAZING. Shoulders, pecs, biceps, triceps – he’s got it all.  We should all look so good at 49!

Ian Ziering rehearses with the Chippendales in Las Vegas for his opening night

(Photos By Denise Truscello)