It’s just one guy’s opinion, but this fall’s casino entertainment schedule heralds a most interesting season in our town’s showrooms.
Right off the bat, there is an unexpected Hollywood vibe to the talent roster, as four — count ‘em, four — separate events feature movie and TV stars. A fifth spotlights the columnist-author behind a television series that became a turn-of-the -21st-century pop culture touchstone.
Add to that a small army of Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees, an immortal pop diva, one of the most successful standup comics of the past 20 years and the funnyman who precipitated Bill Cosby’s descent into shame and infamy, and you have the makings of a fun autumn.
Below (in chronological order) are just some of the more noteworthy bookings set for the next three months. Tickets to all events are available at ticketmaster.com.
Sebastian Maniscalco (Sept. 18-21, 25-28; Ocean Casino Resort)
After a few dozen sellouts over the past decade at the 3,200-seat Event Center at Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa, the Chicago-born Maniscalco kicks off the season with eight shows spread over two weeks at a new address: The 5,500-capacity Ovation Hall. While Maniscalco is certainly about the jokes, his slice-of-life material is enhanced by his impeccable, and highly physical, delivery.
Steve Winwood (Sept. 26; Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City)
Winwood is truly an “OG” classic rocker. He hit the scene as a teenager with The Spencer Davis Group (“Gimme Some Lovin’”), during the “British Invasion” of the mid-1960s, then co-founded the seminal band Traffic (and its offshoot, Blind Faith). He cemented his place in rock annals with his 1986 solo album, “Back In the High Life.” A true living legend.
YES — The Fragile Tour 2025 (Oct. 4; Hard Rock)
The British progressive rock outfit that has been a particular favorite of Philly-area audiences for more than 50 years will be keying on the 1972 album that included its signature song, “Fragile.” But it should be noted that while guitarist Steve Howe joined the band more than 50 years ago, no one in the quintet’s current lineup is an original member of the group that was formed in 1968.
‘Scream’ screening with David Arquette (Oct. 10; Ocean)
This will be your chance if you’ve ever wanted to watch the flick that launched the beloved slasher franchise with Arquette, who starred as Dewey Riley in five of the six installments of the horror series. He’ll discuss the movies after the screening.
Hannibal Buress (Oct. 24 and 25; Harrah’s Resort Atlantic City)
During a 2014 standup set in Philadelphia, Buress publicly took Bill Cosby to task in absentia for the latter’s castigating the hip-hop culture of young Black people by saying, “You rape women.” That, of course, set off the chain of events that ultimately led to the total decimation of Cosby’s sterling reputation — as well as his (subsequently mitigated) conviction on aggravated sexual assault charges.
Eleven years later, it can be assumed Buress still has some interesting (and funny) things to say.
Diana Ross (Oct. 25; Ocean)
What can be said about “Miss Ross” that hasn’t been regurgitated a thousand times? Suffice it to say that based on recent local appearances, she still has what it takes to send an audience into pop concert heaven.
John Fogerty (Oct. 31; Hard Rock)
“Proud Mary,” “Down On the Corner,” “Who Will Stop the Rain?” and “Centerfield” are just some of the myriad signature tunes the one-time guiding light behind Creedence Clearwater Revival Fogerty has had in his half-century-plus-spanning career. Given that Fogerty has dubbed his road trip (which he’ll launch at Hard Rock) the “Legacy Tour,” expect a full accounting of his canon of hits.
Greg Gutfield (Nov. 8; Ocean)
The Fox News stalwart, who gives a right-wing tilt to late-night TV with his blend of politics and comedy, brings his small-screen act to the live stage.
Tony Danza (Nov. 13; Tropicana Atlantic City)
The multi-talented star of “Taxi” and “Who’s the Boss?” shows off his singing, dancing and comedic skills in an old-school format that includes a heaping helping of autobiographical elements.
Sting (Nov. 14 and 15; Borgata)
As one of the world’s biggest rock stars for almost 50 years, it’s noteworthy whenever the former Police man hits the region. But what makes this tour especially cool is that he will be performing — for the first time since 2008 — in the same bass-drums-guitar format with which The Police achieved megastardom.
Candace Bushnell: True Tales of Sex, Success and Sex And the City (Nov. 15; Caesars Atlantic City)
Bushnell is the author-columnist whose 1990s New York Observer column, “Sex And the City,” was the basis of the still-wildly popular HBO dramedy of the same name. At Caesars, she’ll talk about her creation and its impact on her life, as well as dish the dirt on what went on behind the scenes of the TV show.
Macaulay Culkin & ‘Home Alone’ (Dec. 7; Ocean)
This presentation might depress some people as it’s being staged to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the beloved film comedy — one of the few that can legitimately be described as “iconic.” The movie screening will be followed by an onstage interview with Culkin as well as an audience Q-and-A session.
Chuck Darrow has spent more than 40 years writing about Atlantic City casinos.
