Tonight is media night for "Peepshow"'s new star Holly Madison. She started in the show this week. While "Peepshow" received solid reviews and strong buzz, stars Mel B and Kelly Monaco were on three-month contracts. To resolve this Mel B's replacement is a professional from Broadway, and Holly Madison was brought into replace Kelly Monaco. Unlike Monaco, Madison does appear topless. This has been the direction of the show anyway as it adjusts to the Vegas market.

By coincidence for another story, I  recently interviewed Scott Zeiger, whose company produces "Peepshow"  (as well as "Jersey Boys," "Phantom: Las Vegas Spectacular" and Wayne Brady's Venetian show) . Zeiger was excited about Madison and her celebrity-driving sales when I asked him about that. He argued that while Madison may lack the profile of Mel B, in many ways the nature of Madison's celebrity is a perfect match for the Las Vegas market in general as well as a match to "Peepshow," a frivolous romp fantastically choreographed and carefully conceived by Jerry Mitchell, in particular. But he also said his vision of the show includes a rotating star every three months to keep the show fresh. Based on my interview with her Wednesday, Madison is hoping to change his mind on that. I think she probably has a reasonable shot at doing so. I've seen a lot of shows in Vegas plan rotating stars to keep up media interest and to bring in new people, but almost without fail they eventually settle into one star. Why? Because the tourists from around the world are the ones in the audience, and so with the audiences already rotating (as new tourists arrive and the old ones leave), eventually shows discover the work required to rotate a star is pointless.

I was told that Madison would not discuss Criss Angel. They share a publicist, and the publicist chose to stay in the room for the interview. This is not unusual in Vegas. The publicist for "Peepshow" made the same choice, and both remained discreetly in the background during the interview.

I am going to post separately my discussion with Madison about working at Playboy. When we met she was dressed casually like she was ready to go to the gym and was relaxed during the interview:

Richard Abowitz: How have the first couple of performances been?

Holly Madison: Really fun. The first night I was nervous. But it was so much fun. The cast and crew are amazing,  I just feel very lucky to be part of this talented cast. They have been so nice and so welcoming.

Abowitz: Do you have a lot of experience in front of a live audience?

Madison: "Dancing with the Stars" has a live audience. But I was never really thinking about that. I was thinking about the 22 million people at home. So it was scarier. So this live audience I have a lot more fun with. We have a scene with audience interaction.  Absolutely, this ["Peepshow"] is a new thing. But  I've seen the show several times, and I have been given a lot of rehearsal time.

Abowitz: You play the shy Bo Peep. Is she anything like you?

Madison:  I think that character is me. Even in the beginning when she draws the heart on the shower, I used to do that all the time. Everything about the character is exactly like me.

Abowitz: Are you doing the identical part that Kelly Monaco performed or has the character been altered for you?

Madison: I am allowed to improvise a little bit and throw my own personality into it. But right now I do the same dance number Kelly did and the same parts. But what I would like to do is work myself into it more. There are other dance numbers I would like to be a part of. So maybe after this week, I'll start bombarding the creative team with my wishes.

Abowitz: What part of the show were you most worried about opening night?

Madison: The dance number at the end, because the costume is so skimpy and I did not want to slip and fall in my high heels. But I have gone through a few in front of an audience and I have done OK and so I am happy.

Abowitz: You said you were like your character in "Peepshow." She is very shy and you on television seem very outgoing?

Madison. This is how I am in my personal life. I am shy,

Abowitz: How different is a reality show from a personal life?

Madison: I think it is very different. It captures a part of who you are. But in my case especially you have to step yourself up a lot more.

Abowitz: What do you mean by "step yourself up"?

Madison: Exaggerate your personality, because you have to be a little more funny and little more crazy than you would be in real life. Because nobody wants to watch a show about someone sitting alone in a corner working on a computer.

Abowitz: Do you think it has given people a mistaken impression of who you are?

Madison: Yes and no. If you watched the show you have a good idea about my work at the magazine and my hobbies and the things I like to do. That can give you a window into what I am like. But people come at it with their own opinions too, and people see other things. Anything I do on "Girls Next Door" is meant to be fun, funny and entertaining.

Abowitz: So you think of it as more entertainment than documentary?

Madison: Absolutely in the case of that show.  I think what people love about "Girls Next Door" is that it is a bit of an escape like a sitcom and kind of like a guilty pleasure. It is just fun.

Abowitz: You have said you want to be known as Miss Las Vegas. Does that mean you have other plans for Vegas after your three months in the "Peepshow"?

Madison: I would love to stay in the show if they will have me. I have moved here. I am looking for a house. The deals are good. I am hoping to buy by the end of the year, and I am just looking for the right house. There is something different about Las Vegas. It is a small town in a big city, and I am in love with it.

Photo: John Ganun