I don't know Criss Angel personally, but from what I have observed he is definately a perfectionist, and this is why the show keeps getting delayed. I love to write short fictional stories and when i write I have to have things perfect, if they are not perfect the reader does not get the same effect from the story. It's no different with Criss Angel's illusions and performance, if all tracks are not covered the person does not get the same effect. He wants his fans and people that attend the show to get the full effect. Everybody will understand when they see his show what is involved and why it has taken so long. Hang in there!!! I loved the trailer clip of "Believe" and I Believe that it will definately be worth the wait!!!
Jenn

The problem boils down to Cirque and Angel speaking different languages. The Cirque people speak French; Angel speaks Bozo.

Sorry, Richard, but I have to chime in here again. It just adds more to what I believe it going on. If I may, let's put everything in perspective and recap what has transpired up to this point as I see it. This is just a quick summary with just the highlights:

Back in April 2008, Criss Angel, a so called magician, who is going through a divorce with a woman who helped his career, now living here in Las Vegas, was at the Miss America Pagent held at Planet Hollywood (formerly Alladin) and clearly sided with and promoted his girlfriend, who was then Miss Nevada. He finagled subtly to try to influence judges to get her placed high in the top 15, flipped fingers and ultimately ended up threatening to blind a respected Las Vegas Review Journal reporter (Norm Clarke) because Criss Angel didn't like what that journalist asked him and was insinuating about his blatant attempts at trying to get his girlfriend placed high. Rather than either ignore him or answer the question Norm asked him, he decided to threaten him. The threat was unprovoked. And possibly alcohol imbibed by Criss Angel was involved (which is by no means an excuse for this bordering on criminal behavior). Shortly after this, he dumps Miss Nevada, thereby ensuring her career is so totally destroyed she can't even appear at the opening of a new McDonald's hamburger joint.

This is all while shortly after he signs a multi-million dollar contract (for 10 years (?)) with Cirque de Soleiil of Canada to perform a headline magic show at the Luxor, to which the Cirque people do not comment at all about the above mentioned threat incident...they state it's between Criss Angel and Norm Clarke. Criss Angel, following their lead, spouts that same line also, but before he does spout that, he explains to another reporter that it is "more complicated than that" and "It would take awhile to explain". Of course that reporter asks him to explain it, and of course, Criss Angel, being the weasel that he is and not wanting to own up to his mistakes nor anything other than the idea of making money, gaffs off that reporter by basically implying he doesn't have the time to do that.

Another press release comes out shortly later stating that "cheap seats" will be available for his show. In Las Vegas casino speak, this means that there is "high end" price seats availabe, but also there are cheap seats available...which basically means that the Luxor is going to do anything they can to ensure that every show is sold out...even if they have to sell cheap seats...a kind of hidden verbage kind of implying that we feel the show is not going to sell, so we are cutting the costs of tickets to try to get our money back.

But shortly after that edict, there is an announcement that his show is delayed because of something or other (not fully explained).

At another press conference, he gaffs off reporters by stating "I don't want to talk about that" but starts to talk about some crucifix around his neck, and stating some stupid stuff about some dumb inscription etched on the back or something or the other, which the reporters are totally uninterested in because it's totally forgettable, clearly pissing off the reporters because they are not able to ask any questions that people want to know the answers to or anything newsworthy at all, clearly trying to control the interview to suit his own purposes of making money.

Skip forward to July 23 this year at a party at the Luxor for his MindFreak Show on TV. When interviewed by reporters, he begins by stating "excuse me, I'm buzzed" or words to that effect (clearly implying he had been drinking a bit), and avoided questions again, especially when asked about the aforementioned threat back in April to Norm Clarke, he gives some vague answer that neither claims responsibility for it at all, but does agree that was on the same planet and the same city where it happened, but takes that opportunity for that question by deflecting it and having the gall to turning it around to hawk his new upcoming show at the Luxor! He basically states that it is "between Norm and him." He also stated he invited Norm Clarke to that party (which is false because Norm never even talked about it in his column...clearly showing that Criss lied). Norm Clarke, in his column, has never reported on Criss Angel since that incident, clearly branding him personae non grata in Las Vegas news (good for you, Norm). And, in a snowball effect, other reporters have joined in that bandwagon too in not reporting on Criss Angel because he clearly shows how difficult and un-newsworthy anything he says is.

Now, here's the latest, reported by Mr. Richard Abowitz, stating his show is delayed AGAIN, for the second time, pushing his show back further. And the excuses for it are just as vague as the first time it was pushed back. But they seem to point at that his attention is either (1) Directed elsewhere than his own stupid show or (2) Pointed at perfectionism that micromanages the show and things and events that cannot be attained to even offer a glimmer of the show beginning to even be planned to show to the public.

On top of that, let's throw in that he has hit on leading "A" list actresses and faces such as Veronica Grabowski (Miss Nevada), Britney Spears, Cameron Diaz, Pamela Anderson and even an adult entertainment actress that lives in Las Vegas...Jenna Jameson. The only reason he has done this, and it is very evident, is to try to stay in the news. I have seen comments where he is branded as a "news whore" and grouped with the elite likes of people like Paris Hilton. And I don't really need to point out that these efforts have failed abysmally. Bascially, Criss Angel tends to seek female companionship that are at least 20 years younger than he is. I don't imply anything wrong with this at all, but it is a proclivity that Criss Angel clearly demonstrates, along with his other tendencies, that shows he's way off center from everyone else.

All while this really dumb behavior is going on, the Cirque de Soleil people are silent...deciding to let Criss Angel handle any and all questions about past, present and future behavior on his part that is questionable...even when it appears that this behavior will ultimately end up losing Cirque de Soleil money. (As a personal opinion...I believe that the publicists for Cirque should be fired for their handling of this...as well as their top management...for letting it go on so long and not reigning in this idiot. And further, in my opinion, it's too late though...they have done irrepairable damage to the show...and it hasn't even started yet...they've thrown a total bad light on it, backing a loser that keeps delaying the show...all CLEARLY during a time when the United States (and possibly the world) is in a serious recession...with Nevada and specifically Las Vegas...being hit hard.)

Let's add another thing in this too.... Criss Angel has these faithful blinded by the light unquestioning fans of his that judge him ONLY based upon his stage and television and some stupid book he penned....but not on his demonstrated reprehensible personal life traits that he has clearly exhibited here in Las Vegas....they all back him to the hilt and overlook all the above things that I have mentioned. This all causes Criss Angel to basically not hear what is happening, because he chooses to live in his stage/television world that he has created....a world where all he has to do is look cool and make money hand over fist and not care about what he does to anyone and everyone that thinks contrary to what he thinks. Basically, Criss Angel is unable to hear any criticism because it is drowned out by a small voice in his brain that tells him how awesome he is.

It all adds up to this: Criss Angel is a train heading down the rails at 60 MPH with no brakes and running out of track. And the Cirque de Soleil people are gonna crash with him, losing mucho deneiro.

Just chalk it up to another statistic in Las Vegas. Just one of many statistics. They all have something in common: They do it to themselves. Las Vegas chews them up and spits them out regularly, not because Las Vegas does that regularly, but because so called celebrities do stupid things to themselves. Criss Angel will join their ranks soon. The handwriting is on the wall in hieroglyphics already on the side of the Sphinx replica in front of the Luxor....

great comments from vegas...hire that dude as a reporter.

the perfection is not from angel ...its from the folks at cirque. sounds like chis cannot handle the cirque standards...

I just have a comment about Criss and his cross that is dedicated to his dad. Criss makes such a big deal about this cross and how special it is but he'll let any bimbo wear it. It's just another part of his idiotic image.

hey Colin, what's with the comments about Veronica not being to get a job opening a new McDonald's burger joint. Criss and Veronica were the real deal. They were a legitimate couple. I know, I witnessed it first hand. Their relationship just broke down due to all the negativity that resulted from the Miss USA fiasco.

Criss still rocks and he will be top billing on the strip.

I think it just kills you to witness this and to know that Criss Angel doesn't give a care what you or anyone has to say. He will be head of his game and no one is going to stop him.

Mmmm... wrong again Colin. LasVegas Weekly reports:

Believe makes the Weekly Top 10 before it even opens!

Now, Criss is about to open his new Believe show for Cirque du Soleil. Luxe Life revealed this week that opening previews have been delayed from next Friday until Sept. 26. Despite this third postponement, ticket sales at the box office are booming -- and amazingly, it's not an illusion. In fact, they are so big the show has just debuted onto the weekly Top 10 -- even before it opens with a grand premiere on Oct. 10! Huge advance sales have landed him in the No. 5 slot just behind two other Cirque hits, so the Montreal-based company has a clean sweep! His position puts him impressively ahead of Sir Elton John, Danny Gans and Donny & Marie Osmond, who open Tuesday at the Flamingo.

Criss Angel is such a huggable hunk. I have tried to meet him on a couple of recent trips to town, but I get rebuffed by his posse. One day, he'll meet me and hopefully, love me. Hi Criss!!

From what I hear, this show is gonna be like no other. I've caught clips of his show back in the day in NYC. Stunning then. Now, with Cirque involved and Luxor and everything else....I know people are gonna get a bang for their buck. I hope Las Vegas is ready. People will travel from all over to see this.

Criss Angel is a nozzle

I totally understand that, David. Very sensible approach to the issue and I agree with it. My main point I'm trying to make is that this guy did something bordering on criminal behavior. And he did it in Las Vegas here. And everyone acts like it's nothing but a thing. And he isn't held to any standards...it's okay, Criss...do what you want...it's in your nature to act like this....it's wonderful you did this and we'll reward you with this show...and your fans will back you to the hilt...we'll overlook this...blah blah woof woof stuff spouted over and over again. The most stupid thing I've ever heard in my life. EVERYONE is accountable for their actions..especially if they do something wrong. But Criss Angel has never come forward to talk about this, clearly shows no remorse for doing it and is trying his best to weasel out of it, hoping it goes away.

I'm not worried about Hollywood stuff. I'm not worried about George Clooney. I'm not advocating starting a club that slams celebrities around the world that threaten people. I could care less.

What I'm saying is Criss Angel did this reprehensible behavior in Las Vegas. And it's like a slap in the face to all locals as well as tourists who visit here, not to mention the professional journalists that work this town. And if he did it once and got away with it, he'll do it again. Because nothing happened after he did this the first time. The way he acts, he'll probably do something like that again. What I would love to see happen is if he left Las Vegas and did this stupid crap somewhere else. I'm basically saying take this Hollywood-star-acting-flagrant-arrogant-attitude-and-don't-apologize-for-anything-crap somewhere else. Las Vegas don't need him is my opinion.

And yes, the handwriting is on the wall for the longevity of this show. That is a very good point. Entertainment in Las Vegas has ALWAYS taken second fiddle to gambling. This is not Hollywood. The entertainment is so that people come into the casino and gamble. Just the way it is. Then you throw in the horrible state of the economy now. An economy that is so bad that casino owners here are looking for any way they can to attract tourists. It is dynamic, weird times now for Las Vegas. Even construction for new casinos has slowed down...in hopes for better times coming soon in which to resume building.

That's it in a nutshell, Chayna.

Criss Angel possibly did that to get publicity. I don't know for sure. But the publicity he got out of it wasn't probably what he expected. But then again, you have to agree, that with celebrities, any publicity, adverse or favorable, either or, is good press. In Hollywood, the truth are lies and the lies are truth.

And yes, that business relationship between Norm Clarke, a very respected Las Vegas Review Journal reporter who has ten years of service behind him and has proven his professionalism time and time again, and Criss Angel, an entertainer with highly questioned morals, clearly demonstrated awkward behavior and exudes total arrogance, is totally destroyed. Back on July 23, at the Luxor for some party thrown for the opening of his TV show, Criss Angel was asked by Richard here about the threat incident with Norm and if he had any comment about it. He basically said he invited Norm Clarke to this party. And he said it twice, as if to make Richard believe it or make Criss himself believe it, not sure which. And this statement was totally and completely false. Because Norm Clarke never, ever said anything about it in his column after that party. And he still hasn't to this day. Basically, Norm wasn't invited at all and Criss Angel just said that to blow off Richard. A blatant lie. When he answered Richard with this lie, he also had the temerity to say that he invited Norm Clarke to his show at the Luxor too! Which is probably also untrue, but what the hell, Criss Angel saw it as a chance to get more publicity for his stupid show. Unbelievable.

Norm has never reported much at all about Criss Angel since the threat incident. And, when Norm did mention something about Criss Angel, he threw it out there like "you know, that guy I'm not supposed to talk about" or words to that effect, and he did it for comedic effect, as if to say I'm supposed to be scared of this guy, but really am not. And most everyone caught his humor. Since then? Criss Angel is personae non grata for reporting in Norm's column. Good on you, Norm.

It seems like Criss Angel only selects reporters he feels are going to write things good about him and I get the distinct impression there's not many of those left, and if there is, their numbers are dwindling fast because they are sick of his controlling and evasiveness at press conferences. Soon, he's not going to have anyone to interview him except for his fans.

My main thing is that I'm horrified that people just let this knucklehead get away with things! Don't get me wrong, I live in Las Vegas and it's a crazy place. There are misbeliefs and misunderstandings about Las Vegas, stuff that is better suited for mystery novels. But still there are rules and laws that people must follow. Even in Las Vegas. You can have fun here in Vegas and stretch it a bit, but still there is things that you just don't do. Just like if you were anywhere else in the United States. And Criss Angel crossed over the double yellow line. What mystifies me is why didn't he get hit head on by another car? People are just letting him get away with his stupid behavior that borders on criminality. And he thinks he is free and clear, in hopes that it just goes away. Such arrogance, lack of remorse, uncaring for the well being of a fellow human being he shows and he is blatant about it too. That's why I'm taking this and running with it and making sure the word gets out about this guy.