After all, any schedule that includes the likes of Madonna, Celine Dion, The Who, Robin Williams and Jerry Seinfeld can hardly be considered second-rate. And throw in a slew of other household names, from movie-musical icon Debbie Reynolds to new-wave avatar David Byrne to blues idol B.B. King, and you have a typically eclectic gambling-den lineup.

As for specifics, Her Madgeness and Dion - on her first road trip since she ended her multiyear run at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas - are due at Boardwalk Hall Nov. 22 and Sept. 30, respectively. Both are working for the local operation of the Harrah's Entertainment Inc. empire.

Caesars Circus Maximus theater is where Seinfeld will roost Oct. 11, now that his contract with Colony Capital LLC, which owns the Atlantic City Hilton and Resorts Atlantic City, has expired.

Not surprisingly, Borgata, which has a partnership with the Philly branch of Live Nation, the concert-promotion giant, has a slew of interesting big-name bookings. Besides Williams (Oct. 24-25), The Who (Oct. 31) and Byrne (Nov. 1), the Big B's talent roster includes two stops for the New Kids On The Block reunion tour (Sept. 27 and Nov. 7), Alanis Morrissette (Sept. 27, Music Box) and the return of stoner templates Cheech & Chong (Dec. 13).

As for the aforementioned legends, Reynolds opens a five-night Resorts run Sept. 7, while King returns Nov. 29 to House of Blues inside Showboat.

Other bookings of note include: "Wonder Woman" star Lynda Carter (Sept. 7-27, Harrah's); hot-as-blazes country act Sugarland (Sept. 20, Taj Mahal); Willie Nelson (Sept. 27, House of Blues); dirty-mouth comic Louis C.K. (Oct. 11, Borgata); erstwhile teenybopper faves Hanson (Oct. 23, HOB); original shock-rocker Alice Cooper (Oct. 30, HOB); "America's Got Talent" champ, ventriloquist Terry Fator (Nov. 21, Taj Mahal); new age-y Christmas troubadours Mannheim Steamroller (Nov. 28, Harrah's); and political satirist Lewis Black (Dec. 19-20, Borgata).

Harrah's Entertainment is continuing its policy of booking nontraditional headliners with more "Celebrity Chefs" and "Lifestyle Series" events. These include appearances by uberchefs Tom Colicchio (Sept. 7), of Bravo's "Top Chef," and the Travel Channel's Anthony Bourdain (Oct. 12), both at Caesars. Plus, self-help gurus such as the Oprah-ordained Bob Greene (Sept. 28) and Dr. Mehmet Oz (Oct. 19) are slated for visits to Harrah's.

Production show fans, unfortunately, will find slim pickings this autumn. So far, only one revusical, "Piano Men" (Sept. 14-Oct. 25, Tropicana) is scheduled. The program pays tribute to the likes of Billy Joel, Elton John, Fats Domino, Barry Manilow and Ray Charles.

Oh, yeah: If you're already thinking about New Year's Eve plans, so far only one gaming hall has penciled in a headliner for that night: The Goo Goo Dolls will be ringing (and rocking) in 2009 at House of Blues.

Heir apparent

But those conversant in the topic insist there's a new gun (brush?) in town. His name is Bill Lopa, and he's the official artist of such events as the Super Bowl, World Series and Kentucky Derby. Ex-NBA player Michael Jordan is said to own five Lopas.

Lopa and his work will be at Whim, the retail store at Borgata, Saturday through Tuesday, beginning each day at 2 p.m. Besides seeing (and possibly buying) the 22 pieces on display, you'll get to watch the artist work on his latest creation, a rendering of Olympic superhero swimmer Michael Phelps.

For more on Lopa and to get a gander at his paintings, go to www.billlopa.com.

Room at the inn

Chuck Darrow has covered Atlantic City and the casino industry for more than 20 years. Read his blog at

http://go.philly.com/casinotes. Or e-mail him at darrowc@phillynews.com.