Gossip grab bag: Britney to open VMAs, Criss Angel scores big, David Spade becomes ‘daddy’

By Robin Leach (contact)

Friday, Sept. 5, 2008 | 3:58 p.m.

Exactly as Luxe Life revealed more than a week ago, pop-princess Britney Spears begins her career comeback Sunday night when she kicks off the MTV Video Music Awards live from Los Angeles. It's exactly a year ago that she experienced a dramatic meltdown and wrecked her own performance at the VMAs, which were broadcast here from the Palms. Britney, who vacationed here last week at the Mirage on the anniversary of the disastrous show, won’t be dancing or singing this time around. Britney is nominated this year for Best Female Video, Best Pop Video and Video of the Year for "Piece of Me." She’s previously been nominated 16 times but never has won a Moonman award.

Mystery will surround Britney’s opening appearance activity right until the last moment of the telecast. But a network music president commented: "Britney has done everything from perform with a snake, lock lips with Madonna and prove that what happens in Vegas doesn't always stay in Vegas." The pop superstar herself stated: "MTV has long played an important role in my career. How can I not be there to kick off their 25th VMAs? I'm excited to open the entire show, to say hi to my fans and to be nominated."

A year ago our hometown hero, Mindfreak magician Criss Angel, had tried to assist her with some magical routines to add to her opening number but she backed out of them days before the show. 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.

Congratulations look to be in order for Planet Hollywood headliner David Spade, who was seen at its Prive nightclub and also at the Palms, and Lavo in the Palazzo all last weekend. He has just become the proud dad to a newborn baby girl. The 45-year-old unmarried comedy-actor says she was born days ago to Playboy Playmate Jillian Grace at her home in Missouri. Now filming Rules of Engagement in Hollywood, David plans to fly there to see the baby on his first break. He’s said he would accept responsibility for the child after acknowledging his brief relationship with her and if it was DNA positive he was the biological father.