Another intriguing article put out by my favorite freelance writer Richard Abowtiz. Please keep them coming.

Robin Leach who reports in Luxe Life has now apparently eliminated all his readers from posting comments to his posted articles. I suspect this is a form of retaliation due to the overwhelming amount of negative feedback that takes place within a daily basis. For such a well-established celebrity reporter of 45+ years one would think some minor objective criticism would not be taking so hard.

On the flip side, Criss Angel's BeLIEve is advertised only on the Robin Leach Luxe Life page of the site which makes me ask that burning question. Is Robin Leach a well-respected celebrity reporter for Las Vegas or an employee of Criss Angel?

I have noticed that about Robin Leach, highlydisgusted. I think it's kind of interesting that others see that about him too.

I have to admit that I never had a high regard at all for Robin Leach's reporting. Even before the catastrophe of Criss Angel saying he is headlining an act in Las Vegas and before Criss Angel threatened a reporter here. Maybe it's just me, but I never even consider him as a serious reporter that anyone can without any question believe. All I see is that he was a guy that was on TV that had a very interesting show. And it seems he built off of that and somehow gravitated over to celebrity reporting. And he does it here in Las Vegas since he lives here. And he built himself a niche in that area, solely based on celebrity rumor reportings.

And I'm not sure if he's paid off by Criss Angel, but let's just say he sure is sucking up to him. I'm sorry, but I have even less of a regard for Robin Leach because he is more interested in his own popularity rather than being a serious reporter/journalist. Because from his screening of comments about Criss Angel, any attempt to try to label him alongside other respected unbiased journalists in Las Vegas, he don't even make a pimple on their.... Grass in front of the Luxor is pretty green, isn't it?

I think he's just bouncing off of the controversial Criss Angel to get business and get his face out there in the public eye. Either that or Criss Angel is good for buying him a drink once in awhile. I just label Robin Leach as a certified shill/mouthpiece for Criss Angel press blather and propaganda. And it's funny because Criss Angel will levitate over towards him all the time because he feels safe in his reporting, in that the reporting can be manipulated in a light that's favorable for him...much more than with other reporters who report factually. Criss Angel has found out in the past that he cannot speak openly to them at all...because they'll reveal the idiocy of what he's saying and blast into him and tell him he's full of crap.

Whatever it is, Robin Leach's reporting just don't interest me...even if it's about something other than Criss Angel. I usually skip over it and read something else.

some people just like to be bashers. that's what I think you people who post in here are doing. Just bashing with no merit

liars

Mike Weatherford from the LVRJ had a small article out lately. Season 4 of the CW TV show "Supernatural" had an episode about magicians recently. The title of the episode for this show? "Criss Angel Is A Douche Bag."

I haven't seen the episode, and I don't know how they came up with this insight, but I wholeheartedly agree with the title's assessment. I consider it a very astute observation.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. I know. All the Loyals will just label him as another basher, another hack reporter, etc., etc. Make sure the list is tallied up, adding another one on the ever increasing list of reporters/journalists that say bad things about Criss Angel, a list that increases every day with Criss Angel Loyals labeled apostates. And still they don't see the light of day when this list WAY surpasses the other list of those with positive comments about Criss Angel.

Anyways, Hollywood can't seem to fathom and add legitimacy to this guy neither. Apparently, he is a laughing stock. But the problem is we are still stuck with him here in Las Vegas. A clear black mark that is seemingly indelible, earning an overwhelming thumbs down from theater critics who ranki BeLIEve at the top of the list for the worst and/or over hyped show in 2008 (and perhaps ever) in Las Vegas. It was indeed a sad day for the world famous Strip when Criss Angel was signed, headlining a show that ensures the DVD "Attack of the Killer Tomatoes" offers a worthwhile option to view over and over again for better entertainment value.

And the reason why he is still here is because of a greedy entertainment company that loves to rake in money all while providing a falsely advertised show with a lackluster talentless headliner, stubbornly following their over inflated ego that they cannot and/or never will fail flawed way of thinking.

Add to this the fact a large casino/hotel conglomerate hosting the show that don't know what to do other than wring their hands, look worried and hope and pray Criss Angel gets a talented bone in his body to carry the show and not destroy the reputation of their casino/hotel chain, wondering if the money figures in their accounting books will get better (when there is every indication that it won't).

And then lastly you throw the loose cannon undisciplined Criss Angel in the mix, a so called star who has a completely atrocious past in Las Vegas, who disregards any and all criticism about anything he does nor how stupid he looks to the general public, arrogantly concentrating more attention on his overly hyped and ramped up to a sheer saturation volume and commercial inundation personal life, way more attention focused on this buliding of a public image than salvaging a certified horrible show.

I don't profess to have a crystal ball which can foresee into the future. But regarding all of this, you don't need to gaze into one to wonder what's going to eventually happen. I BeLIEve there will be a catastrophic disaster.

For the most part of the past month, things have been quiet in the Criss Angel/Holly Madison media/press blitz attack since this stinker of a show started back up. Not a peep from either of them. Probably their higher ups that control the money told them to shut the heck up, nobody cares about the pampered lap of luxury rich lifestyle, especially in these worsening economic times, concentrate on the show, act like a star and get out there and make us some money. It's like they realized it's getting old, people are sick and tired of this flood of kissy/huggey/lovey dovey stuff plastering the media (it was so much and so often that people were actually starting to think they were either joined at the hips and/or lips), it seems they reluctantly decided that it indeed makes them look foolish and it's probably a good idea to just be quiet, to not inundate the airwaves with their stupid more user than being genuine lover lives. And the fact they finally got a clue...to put the word private in front of their lives. This is indeed a blessing. Go ahead and suck the life out of each other, bounce the bling off of each other to further themselves, but do it by yourselves out of the public eye. And all of Las Vegas (and perhaps the world) is thankful that they finally got a clue to pursue this sound thinking endeavor.

The silence appears to serve another purpose though. They decide to do this in hopes that the "name star" attracts people to his horrible show, plus the "name company" of Cirque du Soleil draws those that have went to their other shows, with the mistaken belief that this show is just as good when it isn't. It appears they finally figured out its best to have those billboards/pamphlets do the talking for them. This subtle form of misdirection, misperception and false advertising seems to serve a purpose and keep them rolling in the dough. Got to attract those unwitting tourists and relieve them of their money.

But word of mouth is actually STILL killing this show. On December 16, 2008, at the Las Vegas Wranglers/Ontario Reign hockey game at the Orleans, from an article in the Las Vegas Sun by Steve Silver (quote):

"No angels allowed: During the second period, the Orleans Arena public address announcer read through the list of groups attending the game in what is a rather mundane ritual at Wranglers game. But when he uttered "Criss Angel's Believe," the crowd erupted in a raucous chorus of booing. Apparently Las Vegas does not believe in the glorified street magician after all."

(Note to the Loyals: Please add Steve Silver to the list of journalists/reporters that bash/bad mouth/harangue/hate/whatever you want to call it Criss Angel. The list is increasing in volume so much that it is now considered chic to be included amongst its hallowed tomes.)

Anyways, the bad press slowly continues. The word of mouth continues to spread about this horrible show. Even the pseudo-journalist, lean-towards-his-buddy-Criss-Angel Robin Leach has discontinued comments on his articles about him because of the flood of discontent...as a matter of fact, the comments were increasingly so bad that the Leacher is totally quiet about Criss Angel now. The whispers about it have finally increased volume though. From paying audiences, it's more like shouts, howls and screams of rage by people who feel they have been ripped off. The silence and keeping out of the press in hopes that it "blows over" has been decided to be the best avenue to pursue now. But the show still continues to take money from tourists and leave them nothing for entertainment value. I get the impression they could re-vamp this show, add new tricks to it, get more animals and clowns, hand out four-for-one tickets and it won't do anything better for it...the only thing better would be to take a bulldozer through the show room.

Las Vegas entertainment has reached the dregs because of BeLIEve with a reputation that now suffers. Criss Angel and Cirque du Soleil have successfully scraped the bottom of the barrel now.

For some reason, you fail to mention the other celebs that are also quoted on the Criss Angel BeLIEve site aside from Holly Madison:

Celine Dion
Sully Erna
Jennifer Lopez & Marc Anthony

Criss' official site has additional quotes from Lance Burton, Ice T, and Paula Abdul, all of whom have seen the show and love it.

--Jessica