PLP Exclusive Interview With Alicia Jacobs - Planet Hollywood's Peepshow

Here we discuss Planet Hollywood's Peepshow, the surprise departure of Mel B (aka Melanie Brown, Scary Spice), her replacement (Broadway star Shoshana Bean) and Holly's new role. You might be curious as to the use of the photo, and rightfully so. Alicia sent me this picture, featuring the adorably hot Robert Buckley and I was dying to use it. Also, I'd rather give the headlining photo to Alicia and Robert. I'm kind of a bitch that way. You can see Holly in her Peepshow getup here. Now for the details: 

Alicia Jacobs: Yes. I actually went to the premiere of Peepshow [the original with Mel B and Kelly Monaco] and I liked it a lot. New Yorker Magazine did a piece with me last month and asked my opinion on the best of Las Vegas and they quoted me saying that I thought Peepshow was the best adult show in town, which was great. I loved it! And now I have to go on the air and talk about it. She [Holly] debuts June 22^nd and I want to find a way to let my viewers know to see it before the 22^nd! [laughter] There's no way I'm going to help that girl! You know, both of them are leaving - Mel B is leaving too. [Kelly was already scheduled to leave. Mel B's departure is a surprise.] 

Jenna Zine: She is? I thought that was her [Mel B's] show!

AJ: She is. Her and Kelly will do their last performance on June 21^st. You're getting this before it goes on the air tomorrow. I'm bummed. Mel B does a great job! She looks incredible. Her abs and her body are amazing and she does a great job with the show. It's very sexy. There are some very hot men in the show as well, so there's something for everybody. The music, costumes and choreography are outstanding. I'm surprised [that Mel B is leaving] and I'm surprised that they cast Holly. I'm not going to lie to you. I don't consider her much of a dancer. It's a very dance oriented show. She's not a singer - which is fine, Kelly Monaco doesn't sing in the show either. But Kelly - she won Dancing With The Stars. Her body is phenomenal! If you do nothing else but look at her body, you'll be inspired. She's very charming and adorable. What she lacked in stage presence, she made up for. You still want to connect with her. And Mel B is incredible. They have another woman - Shoshana Bean, a Broadway star - who's coming in to take Mel B's place. I'm not familiar with her, but I will be. The show's about to be quite different.

JZ: That's a really big change! I assumed that Holly would be taking Kelly's place and Mel B would be staying.

AJ: We all did. It's shocking.

JZ: I thought, "Well, to me, that doesn't have the same draw." I assumed people would still go because of Mel B - but I thought people would see Holly, more because of the curiosity factor because of The Girls Next Door. I wonder how that will do? I don't know how shows go here, but my sense is that people will go see Holly out of curiosity and then it will drop off - especially without Mel B as an anchor. Now there's not really a star.

AJ: Well, you have to remember: to satisfy you're curiosity, you have to buy a ticket. And, again, this isn't a time where people are willing to spend money to satisfy their curiosity. Maybe some will... One thing I learned, after my issue with Holly, is that The Girls Next Door had a huge following. I had never watched the show in my life and I didn't know that much about Holly - until that day at the party [Hugh Hefner's Las Vegas birthday bash, when Holly was a bitch to Alicia.] Then I was like, "Wow." I obviously picked up on her attitude towards me and, whatever, it didn't affect me. But she definitely has a following and maybe that was they're [the producers] mindset in casting her. I don't think it was her dancing ability. I think we all saw Dancing With The Stars and she didn't fare so well...

JZ: She wasn't the winner, we can put it that way! [laughter] I just don't know how that show is going to do now. When I first heard the news, I immediately thought of you. "What is Alicia going to do? That's her town!"

AJ: I know! I think she came here with the intent of booking some gig. She managed to do it - I give her credit for that. 

[Photo Credit: Alicia's private archives.]