I do find it funny that every time Criss gives something to Charity he needs his publicist to make statements. Most famous people donate anonymous, I just don't get it why he needs to turn it into a media event every time.

Criss Angel, Holly Madison, the Luxor and Cirque du Soleil donated a total of $ 7,500.00 dollars and they got a whole newspaper page plus three PR pictures for it. Sorry I mean 4 pictures and a radio interview.

Now that's what I call generous.
Just for comparison: 1 night at the VIP Main stage cost more.

But none of this matters to me, Criss! I still love you! I moved to Las Vegas just to be near you! I will be at the Luxor for your birthday party, whispering my wishes into your ear! I have black hair and my name is Mary, I'm from Holland. Look for me!

I've just dyed my hair red, so please don't look for a girl with black hair!

LOL

Thanks for reading. Funny you should ponder this issue. I have actually thought about this. I don't think more comments always means more readers, especially when you are dealing with a "cult" following. I mean cult in the nicest way here, the way that I am a Bob Dylan freak. But a cult following, while passionate and loud, and, well, loyal (Yes, I listen to Empire Burlesque)--- also is limited. I think that is one of the issues Cirque is going to have to deal with trying to sell seats to Believe for 10 years. Only so many people care. That, and "Criss Angel Believe" right now is a horrible show. I actually put two separate items on Angel together here so that those who follow Angel can get their fix, and those who don't can pass on more easily. Yrs., Richard

Hey thanks Richard for your comments. You have hit the nail right on the head. And will there be a going away party? I'll be the first one there. "Time To Say Goodbye." Maybe I'll even hire Andrea Bocelli to sing it. And we can donate the money I pay for his performance to a Las Vegas Charity.

And yeah, have to agree about Brad Pitt. Good man. And to rebuild New Orleans? What did Angel do when he squirmmed out of the straight jacket on Bourbon Street? Nothing. I don't believe he ever gave a dime to those poor people.

u people make me angry u know how many people do not donate to charities that could afford to. like you for example y dont u take some of the money u make from this website and donate to charity. i dont get y everyone says believe sucks u have said it many of times once is enough. people make mistakes and things are not always perfect but rubbing it inthere face is not helping. Take the energy you use to judge others and put it to good use like helping those less fortunate or stopping global warming. grr u selfish people make me mad!

The bigwigs are here and are throwing technical terms like “fixation” out there. Fixation. Yeah. Right. Good word. I guess that means they say there’s something wrong with Believe and they have to do something, but they want to use a term that makes it sound not as bad as the train wreck it is. They don’t want to acknowledge that they Believe (sorry for the stupid pun) there is something not right about their screwy show. And they likewise don’t want it advertised the temporary closing is for damage control, so they say it ain’t nothin’ but a thing, it’s normal, not to worry, just giving everyone a break, wear and tear on the set, blah blah blah bullpuckey. After all, they have to keep the money rolling in right now...even though it’s a horrible show. If you ask me, it sounds like a heckuva bunch of double talk clearly meaning they are confused on what to do, but they know they have to do something, but what the heck, we'll keep taking money pouring in while we act like we're doing something. I am amazed. I expect to hear that kind of spew come from Criss Angel, not Cirque du Soleil.

I want to thank you for the warning about them being here though, Richard. I’ll make sure to stay away from the Luxor as much as possible. Because I don’t want pieces of fiberglass, conduit, concrete and glass shrapnel from the Luxor pyramid raining down on my car after the Canadian fixaters dynamite to rectify the problems with their dumb show.

Mr. Rappaport from the Luxor stated that we don’t know who the real Criss Angel is. That is absolutely correct. And we won’t never know because we don't have any way of finding out. (And actually a lot of us don't care.) He chooses to go through his publicist to speak for him, who makes sure he peruses the "Criss Angel Handbook" of prepared mouthings before he says something. Because Criss Angel isn't trusted to speak for himself. When he does open his mouth, he screws up. He usually spouts lies, untruths, half truths, half wits, double speak, idiocy, evasiveness and avoidance. But he has demonstrated in the past an uncanny knack for occasionally throwing out there things that herald him as the greatest thing since sliced cheese and the creation of the port-a-let. And he does have a peculiar talent for knowing when to get his mug in photos on tabloids all the time. I would imagine this is all predictable and tiresome to photographers/journalists here in Las Vegas because it’s the same old arrogant, selfish and self serving blabber. Nothing new. Same transparent stuff. Even TMZ is probably tired of it, and that's the kind of reporting they do to earn their bread and butter.

The charity work is admirable. It has reaped incredible rewards for him. But in light of all the predictable transparent stuff, Criss Angel not only stays in the news in a rare favorable light without getting laughed at, but the donations are tax free too! It just seems to demean him more and reduce him to new lows of pitifulness.

People need to stay away from this horrible show. He is an entertainer in Las Vegas who warrants absolutely no following at all. The show continues to prove to be of no entertainment value, a rip off, falsely advertised (touted as an extension of his TV show and magic, when it is clearly not), and definitely a waste of time and money for tourists (although for some it allows for uninterrupted sleep). I don’t see what can be done to fix a show when it’s head liner exhibits absolutely no talent, stage presence nor the ability to have any kind of rapport with a paying audience. Nothing Canadian fixaters can do can change that. They could throw more money at it and revamp the show and have Criss Angel up there in boxer shorts singing "Viva Las Vegas" with Holly Madison dancing topless next to him and it won't amount to a hill of beans. (Ooops! I better not give Luxor any ideas.)

Cirque du Soleil threw their money at the wrong guy. And the paying audiences CONTINUE to suffer by paying for this piece of crap show.

I am so tired of hearing people talk negative about Criss and his show. I guess you have nothing better to do. I cant believe that anyone would critize the amount of money he just donated recently. At least he donated, have you? To those people who think he doesn't have talent are blind to the truth and jealous. He has worked so hard to get to were he is at and I admire him for all his hard work. He is a hard working man. I wish there were more people like him who work hard because those people are the ones who deserve there success and are successful. Not those who get a free ride to there success. So Criss keep on working hard and just keep on ignoring the haters.

Nice to see you again, Colin! I see you still don't have a life beyond the internet and you're still as caustic as ever! Maybe we could get Criss to conjure something up for you?

What is that old saying about "Those that are not blind, are those who do not see?" Something like that.

I cannot believe the naivette about this man. He arrives in a $400,000 car with that playmate gal and then as a JOINT venture, he gives only $7,500? That was in conjunction with Luxor and Cirque. Should I think times are hard everywhere? Haha

And then we have the Walmart employee that probably is making minimum wage and is giving $32,000 jointly?

I admire the Walmart people for what they did and as written before, they are not rich by any means.

I am not impressed either with his endeavors to keep in the spotlight not by what he does but whom he is pictured with.

He plainly is not Las Vegas material. And it is amusing to me that the cult following is so hell-bent on supporting him. I suppose if he did what O.J. Simpson did, they still would be standing outside the courthouse with their signs of "setting CA free." This is really astounding the hold he has on these young kids or young women. Whatever they are.

I saw that show too. I'd rather go see a dog fight. IT is horrible! And he is dirty with his innuendos and talks blatantly about his sexual escapades with the Hugh Hefner girl. Needless to say, I was offended. But then I am a prude. I guess?

I went down to the lobby
To make a small call out.
A pretty dancing girl was there,
And she began to shout,
"Go on back to see the gypsy.
He can move you from the rear,
Drive you from your fear,
Bring you through the mirror.
He did it in Las Vegas..."

Do you know this one? Actually, out of all of Dylan's songs, "Went to see the gypsy" reminds me most of dealing with Criss. I really am sort of surprised that some of you think Criss Angel matters enough in my universe that I dislike him or have an issue with him. Every time I have dealt with him, Angel always comes across with an almost desperate neediness to be liked; how could I have a problem with the guy? He really goes out of his way to be charming. He is no different than other headliners that way. They all know how to work a room.

The problem is the quality of the show and occasionally the behavior of the star. Criss Angel Believe and Criss Angel's public behavior are what I have reported and commented on. But , one on one, I have never had anything but pleasant dealings with Criss, and I have reported that here.

For a long time, I thought that he and Cirque were playing up the whole controversial-bad-boy thing to hide the issue with show's quality. That is a legitimate strategy, and I did not blame them for it. They have tickets to sell. But I had no idea anyone involved really believed that about me until very recently when I was told that it isn't spin but, um, Belief, I imagine not too different from some of the comments above.

I still think that is odd, if true, as everyone involved, including Criss, has known me for years. I am neither a hipster nor hater; Cirque, Angel's camp and the Luxor folks all deep down know that.

Even Angel has met me enough to know I have no problems with him. Far from it. I am more indifferent about him. I care about all the jobs involved in Criss Angel Believe; and, I care about the future of Luxor; and, most of all, I care about the people being asked to spend hard earned money on tickets. But if it wasn't for my work, I would never have heard of Criss Angel. He was thrown in front of me and I was asked for an opinion and I gave and continue to give it as long as he is in Vegas. Still, I will never think about him when he leaves town. I think about my friends, my cats, Shakespeare, Bob Dylan and I recently jumped on the Roberto Bolano bandwagon in a big way. I have fiction that I write in my free time, and I don't watch television outside of work. I don't mean to get too personal, but I thought I'd give you all a sense of my world and where Angel fits. Does that give you a better sense of where I am coming from?

I am involved in this thread in part because Dylan was mentioned but also because I am sort of amazed and amused by the flurry of comments Angel regularly generates and I am trying to participate here to try to understand that better.

I applaud you Richard Abowitz.
Truth is sometimes hard to accept by all readers but it still needs to be told. Keep up the great work.

PS. I BeLIEve everything Criss Angel does in public is a show and that all is an illusion. Unfortunately I also BeLIEve Criss Angel lives in that illusion as well.

Happy Holidays

The BeLIEve show must be sinking fast.
I see many gossip articles are plugging their upcoming birthday celebration at LAX on December 19, 2008.
That's clearly a sign that they need exposure, happy wonderful "loving couple" exposure to take away from all the bad that the show continues to bring about.