Celebrity Gossip From Las Vegas With Robin Leach | Luxe Life Digest

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It might just be the worst timing in the world and cause the one collision nobody wants. In the bitter divorce battle between Britney Spears and bad-boy ex Kevin Federline, neither were expecting to bump into each other, but looming Vegas dates indicate by eerie coincidence that their angry paths may well cross here just days after Thanksgiving.

Brit has a concrete, big-bucks offer to be here November 27-29 for a major personal appearance at the very same time as Fed-Ex tries to prop up his fast-fading rap-tour and flop CD with an emergency Strip concert date. Maybe after reading this Luxe Life journal their divorce lawyers will try to switch one of the dates!! It's already ugly and getting uglier. Now that her $12-million Malibu mansion has a "For Sale" notice hanging outside to satisfy part of their prenup, she's an ideal candidate for a new spread here. After all, the pop-princesses' good friend, Palms hotel mogul George Maloof has already given her an open invitation to perform anytime there in his new 2,500-seat theater opening in February for NBA All-Star weekend. And now, with fast plans for a comeback hit CD, that would also give the 24-year-old singer access to his new recording studio that she's already worked in. Plus, there's still a reported $1-million-a-night offer on the table for a run of Strip resort shows a la Celine next year.

The 28-year-old Fed-Ex got the Brit divorce news via text message while trying to boost 'Playing with Fire' CD sales in Toronto. And, although promoters have had to give away scores of free tickets, he's still planning shows in Hollywood and San Diego next week before flying intoVegas. Top-flight legal eagles say Britney's prenup is ironclad and will prevent Federline seeking more of her millions, which explains why he's filed for custody of their two babies and spousal support as the answer back to her divorce filing. You never know whether leaked details of that air-tight prenup are totally accurate, but safe to say he'll get between 20% and 50% of the luxurious Malibu estate and about $30,000 a month for half the time of their marriage (make that 12 months pay for 2 years marriage). Neither will Brit pay for the up-keep of his two former children from his previous ex, actress Shar Jackson. Sorry Kev, but gifts that cost more than $10,000, such as the custom motorcycle, the Ferrari and the Lamborghini, go back to Brit! Originally he'd hoped for a $10 million payday if they broke up, but by planning to use sons Sean Preston and Jayden-James as leverage, that could have gone up to $30-million according to Hollywood insiders. Filing fast and furious, Britney's surprise divorce tactics on Election Day not only headed that off at the pass but prevented a 3rd marital year of payoffs to him. So, he'll get approx $2.5 million less his legal fees as it now stands but hopes his own new divorce filing against her will net him $20 million out of the child custody issue. And that's why lawyers fight and why divorce battles get really ugly and at some point they'll settle and walk away madder than hell!

It all depends who folds first, as they say at the Vegas gaming tables. But as Brit launches her comeback with or without Vegas, Luxe Life will keep as close a track of it all as is possible. After all with all their visits, parties and public feuding here (Click here for Luxe Life's previous coverage of their fights, feuds and breakups related to Vegas visits) there's no way that "What happened here between them could possibly stay here."

THE MINDFREAK'S NEW VEGAS HOME

'Mindfreak' magician Criss Angel now calls the pyramid-shaped Luxor "home." He's begun filming the 3rd season of his hit A&E series and I joined him for the very first shoot of the 26, half-hour episodes planned for season three, which will end with a 1-hour finale. Here's our candid conversation about him risking death by levitating inside the Luxor's spotlight and his early days of bleak poverty arriving in Vegas.

Robin Leach: Why make the Luxor your new home?

Criss Angel: This pyramid is a symbol of Mysticism. It is the best home that I could possibly be in, in Las Vegas to perform my television series. I really want to float in the light, in the pyramid, which is the strongest light in the world. You can actually see it from outer space. There are only two things you can see from outer space the light from the Luxor and the Great Wall of China. I plan on floating in the light right in the Luxor, people are welcome to come down and see me actually floating. It is so high that you don't want to look down. I think it's 30 stories and some 400 feet high.


RL: Will this be the highest you have ever done?

CA: Yes, this will be the highest I have ever levitated. I am looking forward to doing that to kick off season 3 of 'Mindfreak.' I am going to actually compete with all the other magicians Penn & Teller, Lance Burton, Amazing Jonathan, on my December 19 birthday. I think they are going to do some sort of roasting for me and I am going to convince them to come down here. It is my ploy to get them all in the same building. So I can make them all disappear, including the Luxor temporarily.

RL: There is also a report that you are going to go into the top of the atrium in the lobby and vanish the Fantasy girls?

CA: If I vanish the Fantasy girls I can tell you one thing, that I will reappear with them somewhere where nobody will know because it would truly be my fantasy.

RL: The other story I heard is that you are going to race the Lamborghini that you arrived in today, at some phenomenal speed and vanish in the middle of doing it?

CA: Yes. I will be doing that between 150-180 mph and I am going to be the first person to ever vanish in a moving vehicle. That will be completely open to the public to see. It has never been done before.


RL: How has magic changed from the days of Houdini? You said that he was your inspiration when you opened the gift book from Luxor president, Felix Rappaport.

CA: Well I think magic and what Houdini did with it is really phenomenal, but magic has not kept up with the times. It has not been provocative or popular culture. We still have magicians shoving girls in leotards in boxes and for the time it has not gotten the respect it deserves, it has gotten to be a novelty in entertainment. What I want to do is change that perception by creating demonstrations between the mind, body, and spirit that blur the line between reality and illusion. Hopefully by doing this it will get the respect that I know it deserves. It is just a wonderful art, but needs a kick in the ass to be up with the times and popular culture.

RL: You're shooting 26, half-hour TV shows and a 1-hour finale. How long does that all take to do?

CA: We will be shooting here at the Luxor for five-and-a-half-months, we have a production office, retail store, so everyone is welcome to come down. A lot of people watch my show on television and they all think it has to be trick photography. But with me, what you see is what you get. What you see on TV is what I am going to be doing live and we welcome everybody to watch me do the impossible and it doesn't cost anything. Come by the Luxor, we welcome you to participate in the tapings because your mind will be freaked. This is going to be a part of the opening episode which we hope to do we are still working on it, but we are hoping to do part of it live on May 31st, spring of '07.

RL: Partly live?

CA: Yes, that is what we hope. If we can get A&E to get onboard with that. By the end of the season we will have 70, half-hour episodes of television. We have already done more magic on TV than any other magician in the history of magic.


RL: It is still the top rated show on A&E?

CA: Yeah. We are the number one best selling DVD of A&E, the number 3 best selling DVD at Best Buy, the number one show on A&E, the best demographics in A&E's history. We are breaking all sorts of records and I just want to thank everyone that watches the show for their support. I wouldn't be here now if it wasn't for the fans. About 12 years ago I came to Las Vegas, I had no money, I slept in a hotel right down the block, I rented the cheapest car I could rent, I used to drive up and down the street and look at a Siegfried & Roy billboard and just fantasize and dream about one day ascertaining the kind of success that I could only imagine, I just lived every day of my life to achieve that dream. I took my mother's house, re-financed it, and did the show in Times Square right after 9/11. I did 600 performances, and I just lived each and everyday to get these dreams and if it wasn't for the help of my incredible manager and producer, none of this would have been possible. He believed in me and I believed in myself and it just goes to show that if you believe in yourself, that you too can ascertain any dream. Now, I actually drive down the Strip in a brand new Lamborghini and I am going to be sleeping, over-looking the Strip, in a panoramic view here at the Luxor and I just pinch myself because there is no substitute for hard work.

RL: What is the secret to the greatest magic in the world?

CA: It is to be unique. I don't care about how things work. I think the reason that we have connected to the public is because my mantra is to connect to people on an emotional level. It doesn't matter how you do something, it matters how you feel when you watch it. I think that when you are able to connect with people on an emotional level that is true magic.

Criss will be staying in the 30th floor Presidential Suite -- the uppermost suite in the resort's pyramid -- for the 'Mindfreak' filming spree. It's a 2-bedroom, 3 bath, 6,000-square-foot palace with its own kitchen and directly beneath the amazing Luxor spotlight beam. Since moving in Criss has been seen all over the hotel but also in New York's Coyote Ugly bar and at the TI's Social House restaurant with a new blonde bombshell that's definitely not Paris Hilton this go-round!

POP STAR FOR A DAY

The wonderful Make-A-Wish Foundation grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions and today a 9-year old Vegas girl Alyssa gets her wish to be Pop Star for a day. She's on the air with Mark & Mercedes, then lunches at Planet Hollywood with an autograph and photo session complete with a TV news conference. The grand finale is tonight at the Suncoast showroom when Alyssa will sing 'Some Hearts' (by Carrie Underwood) live with Yellow Brick Road. She actually recorded 'Some Hearts' at George Maloof's Palms Studios and will autograph her CD after her gig. Go and make her feel like a superstar!

RAO'S GETS READY

Luxe Life has the first peek at what the interior of the new Rao's restaurant at Caesars Palace will look like, plus its world-famous dining dishes. The infamous uptown Manhattan landmark near Harlem is run by the Pellegrino family (pictured above) and they're duplicating its appearance here on the Strip complete with jukeboxes, but instead of a tiny real tough-to-get rez, our Vegas branch office will have 175 seats, an indoor garden area to play Bocce-ball and duplicates of the old Wurlitzer jukeboxes. The traditional booths and charcoalcaricatures start installation this week for the Dec 4 soft opening and then the grand celebrity opening is set for January 11. Talking of openings at Caesars, also jot down November 28 in your diaries for the opening of the new QUA super spa in its new Augustus tower.

BEAUTY QUEENS

Congratulations to 61-year-old Vegas fitness-center asst. Mary Richard (above, second from right) who almost won the Ms. Senior America 2006 beauty contest. She placed 1st runner up to 60-year-old Suzanne Shelley from Mississippi, who beat out 32 other contestants in the annual pageant held at the Imperial Palace. Shelley won with her classical piano performance in the talent contest and Mary's salsa dancing dazzled the judges. Patricia Starr, Ms Senior California placed 3rd with Jeannie Rossi, Ms Sr. Florida and Mary Walko, Ms Sr. Maryland as the other top finalists.

STRIP SCRIBBLES

All our scoops of last week have now been officially confirmed: Caesars Palace has set March 3 for the grand opening party for the Pussycat Dolls gaming pit after a February shakeout of the kinks; an AEG executive quietly confirmed the contract signings of Bette Midler and Cher to replace Celine next year and then Celine's own world-mega tour and finally a local gaming executive returned from Macau to say Cirque's new theater at The Venetian is in place for the springtime opening there! ... Boxing's favorite bad boy, Mike Tyson (above), was a 3AM sushi-and-sake snacker at TI's Social House, but closed with hot green tea and honey before bed. Earlier at Social House, basketball legend Dr J., Julius Erving had been enjoying cocktails. ... Blonde bombshell and 2006 Playboy Playmate of the Year Kara Monaco (above) hosted consecutive-night festivities at both PURE in Caesars and Tangerine in TI. At her PURE party, new WBC Welterweight champ Floyd Mayweather Jr. partied until the lights came on at dawn!! Next night Kara made it her mission to meet every guest at the Tangerine VIP tables while dancing to DJ Riz' turntable hits.

TONIGHT'S TIP
$20,000 goes to the hottest girl in Vegas at the SpyOnVegas.com Hot 100 party in PURE. It's the wrap of a month's long search for the best beauties and internet voting has narrowed down the Hottest 100 to tonight's final and the anointing of "The Sexiest Girl" in town!

TOMORROW'S TEASE
A grim week for newly-wed Pamela Anderson as she suffers a miscarriage and her just launched poker site is shut down to avoid breaking new gaming laws that could have sent her to jail! Plus, shocking scandalous secrets about Paris Hilton from a new unauthorized book and Lance Bass has a gay coming out party with new live-in love Reichen Lehmkuhl of the Amazing Race -- with the photo you never thought you'd ever see!! Veteran insult comic Don Rickles inaugurates the Caesars Walk of Fame and 12 MGM chefs do battle right under my eyes at the Global Gaming convention.

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