Scene in the Tropics

WWE superstar John Cena files for divorce; wife hires Miami attorney

Tampa resident and WWE superstar John Cena has filed for divorce from his high school sweetheart and wife of only 3 years, Liz Huberdeau, saying the marriage is "irretrevably broken." The soon-to-be-ex-Mrs.Cena has armed herself with powerful Miami attorney Raymond Rafool, best known for going head to head with Hulk Hogan in his nasty divorce battle against ex-wife Linda. In that case, Rafool allegedly took Hogan for 70% of his assets. Huberdeau hopes for something similar, but it's not going to be easy. Cena, worth over $18 million, has a 2009 prenup that is said to include the ability to take back all gifts and presents.

That stipulation has forced the soon-to-be-ex to hire Rafool, who told us "Although it is indeed unfortunate that John Cena decided to divorce his high school sweetheart Liz Cena; particularly, after they have come so far in their lives and in his career together, Liz will and really has no choice but to pursue all of her rights and entitlements. Although Mr. Cena pushes a prenuptial agreement and that the parties have only been married for approximately 3 years, Liz Cena has always supported John Cena, even when no one else did, and stood behind him and pushed him forward to achieve their goals for the last 14 years. Sadly, divorce is not the way Liz thought her perfect love story would end."

Another insider warns that this isn't going to be pretty, saying "This is going to dwarf the Hogan divorce in nastiness." Yikes.

Singing the bleaus? Despite raking in the dough, Fontainebleau may still be on the verge of bankruptcy

Despite recent reports of raking in $9 in revenue per second and "leaving financial woes behind," the Fontainebleau may not be able to avoid filing for bankruptcy according to a leaked confidential memo sent out today by Fidelity National Title Group's Florida Underwriting Department to all Florida offices and agents of Chicago Title Insurance Company, Commonwealth Land Title Insurance Company, and Fidelity National Title Insurance Company.

Reads the memo, "You are hereby instructed not to close or process any title insurance transactions without prior written approval of the Underwriting Department in which the following individuals and entities are involved in the transaction: Bruce Weiner, Jackie Soffer, Jeffrey Soffer, and Ray Parello." The Soffers we know. As for Weiner, he's a former Turnberry CEO who has alleged that "Soffer siphoned millions of dollars from Turnberry companies for 'upkeep of his baronial lifestyle,'" while Parello is Turnberry's Director of Finance.

We sent the entire memo to our legal eagle, who, in layman's terms told us, "Sounds like he is going to have to file for bankruptcy. It also sounds like he is not going to be able to obtain title insurance for any of his properties that he either has or is planning to purchase in the future."

This, despite the fact that on April 3, the Herald's Doug Hanks wrote, "The 1,500-room resort that once publicly discussed bankruptcy proceedings now is impressing analysts with rapid profit growth and one of the most lucrative nightclubs in the country."

The Fontainebleau's Director of Public Relations Mabel De Beunza was unavailable for comment.

So were we just bam-bleau-zled (sorry) or is this not that shocking and no big deal? We'll leave that to the business experts like Hanks, who says "I would be cautious in assuming this will impact the Fontainebleau." We won't cry for them, but on second thought, for $9 a second we'll cry them a river.

Click here for the entire memo

Got game? Hyde nightclub opening at American Airlines Arena

Because sports and nightclubs go together like Kim & Kanye, Sam Nazarian, owner of the soon to open SLS Hotel South Beach, plans to partner with the Miami Heat to open a branch of his hyper hot celeb hangout Hyde at the AAA during next basketball season. “Arenas want to bring in the next level of experience, such as a nightlife component,” Nazarian told Bloomberg. The 200-person capacity club will have its own entrance. No cover for game and concert goers. If you're eager enough and don't have tickets, you will pay to get in. If you can't get in there, there's always Hyde Beach at the SLS South Beach or, oh yeah, LIV at Sun Life Stadium and the creme de la creme of stadium, er, scenery: The Clevelander at Marlins Stadium. Next up: A stadium built in a nightclub. Wait for it.

Behind-the-scenes Real Housewives of Miami drama sizzles on Star Island

Photo/Manny Hernandez

You definitely didn't want to be in the shoes of certain Real Housewives of Miami cast members Wednesday afternoon at the just sold Star Island estate of shoe moguls Donald and Lisa Pliner. The couple hosted a classy ladies' luncheon thrown by intrepid caterer and producer team Michelle Areces and Heather Davis (who had to navigate around the army of TV production crew), followed by a fashion show of Lisa Pliner's 2012 fall collection of fab footwear, which some would argue were the real stars of the show.

All glammed up, made up, and wired like mafia rats were most of the cast: drag diva Elaine Lancaster, model Joanna Krupa who flew in from LA just for this particular scene--er, luncheon, plastic surgeon's wife Lisa Hochstein, dentist/model Karent Sierra, lawyer/chef Ana Quincoces, and returning cast members Lea Black, Adrianna De Moura, and Marysol Patton. Also in attendance and staying as far away from the cameras as possible was a gaggle of Miami society gals who were just there to see shoes and observe the scene.

And a scene it was, as the heat beat down on the glitz, creating a hot and bothered on-and off-camera situation between a few "Housewives" in particular, namely Patton and Lancaster, who had it out over some bad blood drawn long ago. To the disappointment of a few, no wigs flew, no tables flipped and no one ended up wrestling in the pool a la Krystle and Alexis.

Some of the on camera drama may be saucy, but even saucier was the off-camera drama between cast members and puppet master producers, who are most definitely stirring the pot with some carefully choreographed on-camera confrontation that's not quite Bob Fosse, but more like, say, an early 80s Paula Abdul. A source overheard Patton threatening to quit the show, a threat that was quickly rebuffed by a producer who warned her she had an iron-clad contract. A flustered Patton insists that there were no such threats made and that she just had to get back to work. Estrogen, egos and 80 degree heat isn't exactly a day in paradise, which is exactly what may make the second go-around--at least this episode, anyway--Must Tivo TV.

Style Network casting what sounds like the Boca Raton version of Big Rich Texas

Besides Police Women of Broward County, not too many reality TV shows have crossed the Miami-Dade county line. Other lines crossed are an entirely different story, however. That's about to change as Style Network is allegedly on the hunt for "dynamic" and "outspoken" Boca Raton-based mother daughter teams that sound very much like Big Rich Texas's Bon Blossman and Whitney Whatley---the most appall--er, amusing mother- daughter duo on TV since Lorelai and Rory Gilmore.

Big Rich Texas, for those who don't imbibe, is about a group of allegedly privileged women living the Dallas/Fort Worth country club lifestyle that's very similar to that which is found in Boca. Blossman and her daughter not only make it must see TV and should have their own show (probably already in the works), but they make most of the alleged Housewives seem to be what they really are: humdrum, wilty and witless. While reality television is far from rocket science, Blossman is as close to a rocket scientist as these shows get and a reality show's dream come true: a university professor of biology, biochemistry, parasitology, gene expression and physiology, as well as a published author of fiction, the CEO of a murder mystery party company and, of course, a recording artist. Her outrageous daughter is studying to be a doctor. You can't make this stuff up. Or can you? Like a good trainwreck, it's hard not to watch.

As for this mystery Boca show, the casting person couldn't reveal much and apparently the Style Network affiliation was supposed to be a secret, oops. We did ask them why Boca and not Miami and were told "Boca has the affluent people and the characters we are looking for which is why we picked it." The only real requirement here is that daughters be in their late teens or twenties; there's no age limit on the mothers. Those brave souls willing and able should email info@VintageSouthProductions.com.

Rosie O'Donnell puts Star Island mansion up for sale

After being axed by Oprah, Rosie O'Donnell has decided to pare down, first putting her Chicago home on the market for $2.5 million and now trying to unload her 11,000 square foot Star Island estate for the low, low price of $19,500,000, according to the South Beach Condo blog. She bought it back in '99 for $6,750,000. O'Donnell's not the only one to flee the island. Shoe designers Donald and Lisa Pliner are also outta there and moving to LA after reportedly selling their home, which was on the market for $19,999,999. We're sure the tour boats will miss O'Donnell mooning them from her Jet Ski.

Confirmed! Madonna will magically appear somewhere major, musical Saturday in Miami

The rumors are partially true. Like the person Carly Simon sings about in "You're So Vain," Madonna's where she should be all the time (though when she's not, she probably isn't with a spy or the wife of a close friend, but then again, you never know), and when you have a new (mostly) dance CD out, you go to Miami during Winter Music Conference. Madonna doesn't have to leave her house to sell records, but ever the savvy icon, she will indeed be at a major Miami Music Week event, but it's not the one everyone thinks it is, not the "official" MDNA release party tonight at the Delano. Nope. Madonna's been there, done that. And she won't do it tonight. What she will do is stop by somewhere major, somewhere sold out tomorrow night to spin the record and get the crowd hyped up. Says Miami Herald music writer Howard Cohen, "Tony Orlando at the Alper JCC! She'll tie a yellow ribbon around Dawn and take over the harmonies." We wish. Scalpers, you're about to make a mint and Madonna, well, you're Madonna. Enough said and welcome back. We've missed you.

Dr. Schnoz now offering plastic surgery scholarships to single Orthodox Jews

It wasn't enough for Dr. Michael Salzhauer to offer free nose jobs to anyone who could make a better video than the one made for The Groggers' questionable parody Jewcan Sam (A Nose Job Love Song). Today, the doc announced a plastic surgery scholarship for members of the Orthodox Jewish singles community. Salzhauer wants to do a mitzvah or two to "help singles in the Orthodox community who are struggling to find their perfect match." But there's a catch. "Applicants must be referred for the surgery through their local matchmakers or 'Shadchan' to determine their needs and for scholarship approval." “I was inspired to help after reading an article on JewishPress.com documenting a mother’s process of finding her son a wife. There are more women than men in the Orthodox community creating more competition to find their perfect man. I am more than happy to donate my expertise to help these men and women find their perfect match,” Salzhauer says. The singles scene is pretty cutthroat these days, so why not cut that throat and make it tighter while falling in love? Watch out, Patti Stanger, you may have some competition here.

Meet Karent Sierra: dentist, actress, model & yet another "Real" Housewife of Miami

Just when we thought we've unearthed them all, we uncover yet another new cast member of the retooled Real Housewives of Miami. This one, Karent Sierra, likes to multi-task. She's an actress, a spokesperson, a model and . . . a dentist. What she's not is a wife, so she'll fit right in with all the other unmarried women in the misnomer of a franchise. We met her Saturday night with her BFF and bon vivant, party animal Beau Beasley, who will also make his Bravo debut in season 2. We asked her what in her right (?) mind would have her subject herself to such a thing and she told us bluntly that she wanted to promote world peace prove to viewers that not all the women on these shows are classless fame addicts with low IQs and Botox for brains. We can count on one finger hand a few who are smarter than they appear, but smarts don't always equal sanity.  Sierra, a Colgate spokesperson with obviously very white teeth, says she has a passion for being out there in the public eye, and wants to do right by Miami. She also tells us that yes, there's fabricated tension between her and all the other ladies who, uh, drill her on camera for, among other things, being a dentist and having a publicist.  Sierra says she refuses to stoop to the level of some of the other gals--no table throwing, no screaming, no cursing. So what then? "I'll just kill 'em with kindness," she says, sharpening her teeth. That, or laughing gas. Stay tuned.

Miami plastic surgeon under ethics investigation holds contest for free nose job

 

Dr. Michael Salzhauer of Bal Harbour Plastic Surgery thought it would be funny to commission The Groggers, a self professed "Jewish pop-punk band with a comic twist," a song and video encouraging plastic surgery for a character whose nose is described as a "beak like Jewcan Sam." Incidentally, the band's lead singer L .E. Doug Staiman took the song's advice and had his own nose fixed by Dr. Salzhauer, who told ABC News that "the song is meant to be funny, not offensive." The American Society of Plastic Surgeons is not amused and "has initiated an investigation under its Code of Ethics which clearly requires ASPS members to uphold the dignity and honor of the medical profession." Salzhauer couldn't care less. He is now running a contest encouraging entrants to make their own videos for the song. Whoever gets the most views on YouTube will win a free nose job. Incidentally, Salzhauer is Jewish.