Strip Scribbles: Criss Angel attempts to escape crate above Colorado River

CrissAngel.com

Season 6 of Criss Angel’s Mindfreak on A&E.

By Robin Leach (contact)

Wednesday, Sept. 1, 2010 | 4:58 p.m.

Tom Donoghue/www.donoghuephotography.com

Celine Dion in concert in Tampa, Fla., on Jan. 28, 2009.

Bryan Steffy

Top Chef's head judge Tom Colicchio partied with the cast of the show to celebrate a sixth season wrap Saturday, May 30, at Blush nightclub at Wynn Las Vegas.

Al Powers/Retna

Tinsel Korey, Alex Meraz and Julia Jones at Lavo in the Palazzo on July 24, 2010.

Courtesy

Steve Lawrence and Ron Dante.

Denise Truscello/WireImage

Bridget Marquardt, with director boyfriend Nick Carpenter, hosts The Playboy Club Circa 2033 Party at Moon in the Palms on March 9, 2010.

World famous illusionist Criss Angel will be shackled and locked inside a small, solid crate tonight in a new Mindfreak episode on A&E. Viewers will watch his face and hands throughout the dangerous stunt through holes cut into the crate.

Criss, who appears nightly at the Luxor in Cirque du Soleil’s Believe, performs the escape in front of hundreds of spectators at Grand Canyon West’s Eagle Point, home of the Skywalk that we featured today on Vegas DeLuxe with amazing aerial images from contributing photographer Tom Donoghue.

The crate will be hoisted over the edge of the canyon 4,000 feet above the Colorado River. Criss has to escape the bonds that bind and climb from the crate before it crashes to the river below. Our friends from the Hualapai Indian Tribe will help him with the death-defying feat! Criss will throw a celebration party at the Luxor tonight in Liquidity Lounge for fans after his two live shows.

WICKED WHISPERS & RACY RUMORS

Is it possible that The Light Group deal with Morgans Hotel Group for our Hard Rock Hotel here is actually a “planned merger” in which our Las Vegas head honchos Andrew Sassoon and Andy Masi would run the new joint venture and put all their nightclubs into the Morgans hotels? There’s been no denial since we broke this developing story last week. ... One of our top spies tells me of a conversation with O.J. Simpson’s local attorney Yale Galanter. Yale predicts that he’ll get a decision on the O.J. appeal next week, but expects to lose and thus promises to file with the U.S. Supreme Court. … There’s absolutely no truth whatsoever to the stories out of Florida yesterday that superstar Celine Dion was rushed to a Florida hospital because of pregnancy problems. I’m reliably told that there was no such hospital visit and that Celine is thrilled the pregnancy with two twin babies on the way is going very well. She’s not even on doctor-ordered bed rest yet! Everything is still on target for an early November delivery and her plan to move here the first week of March to start her rehearsals for the March 15 world premiere. Watch for a super surprise that Celine is orchestrating here March 12.

*Today marks the beginning of Hunger Action Month, a national initiative sponsored by Feeding America to raise awareness about hunger in local communities. In Las Vegas, more than 250,000 men, women and children struggle with having consistent access to food, and 50 percent of Clark County school students receive free or reduced-priced lunch. Our Three Square food bank is partnering with organizations throughout the month on more than a dozen events to increase awareness about hunger and to close the hunger gap. Efforts began Monday with the Fourth Annual Restaurant Week that runs through Sunday. Check out the Hunger Action Month page on ThreeSquare.org, and here are several noteworthy events:

Tonight, star chef Tom Colicchio’s Craftsteak at MGM presents A Night of High Spirits, while celebrity chef Kerry Simon presents A Night of Gourmet Burgers at his new KGB restaurant in Harrah’s. Tomorrow, Shibuya at MGM celebrates with a tasting of 28 Japanese sakes and beers. On Sept. 10, Neiman Marcus at Fashion Show hosts a Fashion Night Out runway show. Shoe and leather goods designer Donald Pliner flies in Sept. 25 to his boutique at the Forum Shops in Caesars Palace for a fundraiser, where 10 percent of sales goes to Three Square. And rockers Smash Mouth headline Dish at Rain in the Palms on Sept. 30, preceded with a culinary crawl of more than 20 restaurants at Palms Pool & Bungalows.

UPCOMING EVENTS

*Three other important dates for you to add to your schedule: This Saturday, Julia Jones, Alex Meraz and Tinsel Korey of The Twilight Saga: Eclipse (all three are werewolves in the blockbuster) are at Sugar Factory in Planet Hollywood’s Miracle Mile. … Please support the fundraiser to help with medical bills facing burn victim Jorge Hernandez, 26, who lost his legs in a car explosion. Rain cocktail model Lindsay House has 9 Group’s support to assist her friend, and the fundraiser is at Palms Pool on Sept. 13. … Vicious comic Vinnie Favorito hosts a 25th anniversary roast of female impersonator Frank Marino at Imperial Palace on Sept. 23 to raise funds for Make-A-Wish Foundation. The date coincides with Frank’s 20,000th performance with his drag spectacular Divas playing Joan Rivers and wearing 17 fabulous gowns designed for him by Bob Mackie.

STAR SURVEILLANCE

Las Vegas resident Steve Lawrence is back in the Studio at the Palms with our pal producer Ron Dante working on a new album. Ron told me: “Steve is singing better than ever and a joy to work with.” The guys wrap up here later this fall. … Jermaine O’Neal of the Boston Celtics and seven pals partied at a VIP table at Moon in the Palms during the weekly industry party Bang. … Bizarre carnival performer Jim Rose, aka the master of all things strange, unveiled his cast of sideshow acts at the Palms in advance of his $200,000 Curiously Strange slot promotion there next week.

TONIGHT’S TIPS

It’s the opening of the Brazilian-styled Sambalatte Caffe Lounge & Espresso Bar in Fashion Village at Boca Park with soothing samba sounds to accompany the relaxing “art of sipping.” … Vegas Royalty Clothing models showcase the newest fashions at Gold Lounge in MGM CityCenter’s Aria. … Todd Rexx has enlisted his comedy friends to join him for a new series of weekly comedy shows at The Lounge in the Palms.

TOMORROW’S TEASE

The Girls Next Door and Bridget’s Sexiest Beaches star Bridget Marquardt sits for an interview with our esteemed Editor Don Chareunsy, and our contributing videographer Richard Corey gets a video tour of Howard Stern’s studio. Then on Friday, our conversation with Master Magician Lance Burton as he brings his 15-year headline run at the Monte Carlo to a close.

Follow Robin Leach on Twitter at Twitter.com/Robin_Leach.