Las Vegas: Here She Comes…

When the Miss America pageant premieres in Las Vegas this weekend, a host of celebrities will be on hand for the festivities: Desperate Housewives‘ James Denton will handle hosting duties, and judges include NFL great Jerry Rice, recording artist Brian McKnight, Jane Kaczmarek of Malcolm in the Middle, Brenda Strong of Desperate Housewives and Miss Arizona 1980, TV-radio host Leeza Gibbons, fashion expert Robert Verdi and Sharlene Wells Hawkes, Miss America 1985. The Pageant will take place on January 21 at the Aladdin Hotel. Besides the new venue, the 52 contestants also will elect a Miss Congeniality, an honor last awarded in 1974.