Diana Ross will play the Ocean on Oct. 25, in a casino season with its share of film and TV favorites.
It’s just one guy’s opinion, but the collective fall entertainment schedule at the region’s casinos heralds a most interesting season, show-biz wise.
Right off the bat, there is an unexpected Hollywood vibe to the talent roster, as seven separate events feature movie and TV stars. An eighth spotlights the columnist-author behind a television series that became a pop-culture touchstone at the turn of the 21st century.
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 for the next three months. Unless noted, all tickets 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-’60s, 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 Philly favorite for more than 50 years will key on the 1972 album that included its signature song, “Fragile.”
‘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 Reily 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 abstentia 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.
Eleven years later, it can be assumed that 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 has had in his career of more than half a century. Given that Fogerty has dubbed the road trip he’ll launch at Hard Rock, the Legacy Tour, expect a full accounting of his canon of hits.
In Conversation with “The Sopranos” (Nov. 8, Rivers Philadelphia)
Some 18 years after the groundbreaking mob drama’s finale, “The Sopranos” still resonates with fans around the world. Get insights and anecdotes from cast members Steve Schirippa (Bobby “Bobby Bacala” Baccalieri), Michael Imperioli (Christopher Moltisanti) and Vincent Pastore (Salvatore “Big Pussy” Bonpensiero). Get tickets at etix.com.
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 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; Nov. 20 and 21, Wind Creek Bethlehem)
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 that brought The Police 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 for 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 show.
Bill Murray & His Blood Brothers (Nov. 15, Parx)
Comedy giant Murray follows in the footsteps of his “Saturday Night Live” brethren Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi with his own band, which specializes in blues and classic rock. Tickets at axs.com.
Ken Jeong (Dec. 6, Parx)
Jeong may be best known for his work in film (“The Hangover” franchise, “Crazy Rich Asians”) and TV (“Community,” “The Masked Singer”), but standup comedy predates both. Expect much of his material to be based on his own life. Tickets at axs.com.
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 on-stage interview with Culkin as well as an audience Q-and-A session.
