Don’t tell Fido: The Dog Whisperer is back in town, as Cesar Millan returns to the Count Basie for February 25 event that’s strictly for humans only.
Not so very long ago it was an accepted, if unwritten, law of show business that said audiences seldom pay to see something “live” that they can get at home, for free, on the teevee.
Of course, that old showbiz playbook hit the shredder some time ago — right about the time that the Count Basie Theatre and other similarly sized venues discovered that TV stars — specifically, stars of realiTV — had become some of the most dependable draws on the entertainment circuit, regularly packing houses with relatively inexpensive, logistically uncomplicated presentations that were powered by the undeniable appeal of their newly minted celebrity centerpieces.
Within the past handful of months, the Basie stage has accommodated well-received shows starring a Cake Boss, a Real Housewife, a couple of Paranormal Staters and a No Reservations “bad boy of cuisine.” And on Friday, February 25, the Count’s crib welcomes back a personality who sold out the auditorium in his last Red Bank appearance: Cesar Millan, host of the National Geographic ChannelÂ’s Dog Whisperer.
The three-time Emmy nominee’s clients have included Jada Pinkett Smith, Charlize Theron, Scarlett Johansson, Oprah Winfrey, and Nicolas Cage — and he’s said to have worked wonders with some of the most “aggressive, scared, lazy, compulsive and jealous” creatures in creation (by which we mean the celebrity-owned dogs). In the process, this canine rehabilitation specialist has become a major celebrity in his own right, a top-rated cable ace, best-selling author, and a man who can sell out a major concert venue without singing, dancing or telling jokes that only dogs can hear.
Like the best of his fellow TV hosts, the down-to-earth Millan can turn even a 1,500-seater into a space as comfortable and intimate as your own favorite video viewing room — putting the crowd at ease with a polished presentation (and interactive Q&A) that’s guaranteed useful to dogs and humans alike.
The only caveat? Those who stand to benefit the most — our four-legged family members — are once again being asked to sit this one out (well, the management did put down a new carpet not too long ago).
Tickets for the 8p event are priced between $35 and $55 , with a VIP option that includes a meet and greet with Millan, and can be fetched right here.
