Strip Scribbles: Criss Angel at odds with Britain’s Steven Frayne

By Robin Leach

Wed, Aug 29, 2012 (4:59 p.m.)

“Mindfreak” magician Criss Angel is on the warpath against an alleged British copycat, and our “Believe” at the Luxor headliner started an overnight campaign to have his fans shut down the supposed imposter.

Steven Frayne has been performing on a reality TV series in England. Criss says that Dynamo, as he bills himself, has copied his trademark look and is performing his tricks, too.

Criss created, produced, directed and starred in “Mindfreak” on A&E for six seasons from 2005 to 2010. Dynamo’s TV show in Britain is titled “Magician Impossible,” and Criss just learned that a second season began there last month.

Blasted Criss: “I was disappointed and disgusted by this. Someone in the U.K. is blatantly ripping me off. I need help from all my fans to spread the word about it, to show their support and let their voices be heard.”

Criss also points out similarities with his “Mindfreak” advertising and promotions. Producers of the British series promptly pulled down its YouTube video of Dynamo after learning of Criss’s outrage.

‘WICKED’ IN, CEE LO OUT: Today was the day Cee Lo Green was to premiere his musical “Loberace” at Planet Hollywood. Instead, the spotlight is focused on the Tony- and Grammy-winning “Wicked” at Reynolds Hall in the Smith Center for Performing Arts running through Oct. 7.

“Wicked” kicks off Smith Center’s 2012-2013 Broadway subscription series. Esteemed Senior Editor Don Chareunsy will report from there Thursday night as I am in Manhattan tonight checking out Cirque du Soleil’s “Zarkana,” which heads to Aria in October for its November premiere and replaces “Viva Elvis,” which ends Friday. Cee-Lo, bound by NBC filming for “The Voice,” promises that he’ll launch “Loberace” in time for New Year’s.

COUNTER INTELLIGENCE

Hot off the grill! Chef Sammy DeMarco of First Food & Bar at the Palazzo is getting ready to open his restaurant Rattlecan in the adjoining Venetian. Antonio Ballatore of HGTV fame has been tapped to design the space.

Former Palazzo chef Charlie Trotter is reportedly “retiring.” He closes his remaining, outrageously fantastic restaurant in Chicago on Thursday night.

Pinkberry, America’s #1 tart frozen yogurt brand, has landed on the Strip, and to celebrate Thursday’s opening of the first store here at Crystals in CityCenter near Mandarin Oriental, there is be no charge for yogurt from 5 to 8 p.m. Expect local celebrities there for the VIP celebration.

If you need a leg, a breast or a thigh on Labor Day, be sure to buy the chicken bits from the five Raising Cane outlets here. Proceeds benefit the Las Vegas chapter of Speedway Children’s Charities. The company does four similar profit donations a year. The Richard Petty Driving Experience show car will be on display Monday at Raising Cane’s at 7550 Las Vegas Blvd.

STAR SURVEILLANCE

Beauty takes upkeep, and sexy Caesars Palace headliner singer Matt Goss recently stopped by Dr. Suzie Su’s Sexy Vegas Smiles in Summerlin for a dental cleaning. Afterward, Matt, who also ordered a Sonicare toothbrush, said, “This is the best dental cleaning I’ve ever had!”

A PERSONAL NOTE: The late Michael Jackson and I once joked about being born on the same day -- Aug. 29. He would have been 51 today, and naturally I’m the older one! Thank you for all the e-cards and notes; they’re truly appreciated.

TONIGHT’S TIPS

The highly anticipated “Wicked,” the story of two witches in Oz before “The Wizard of Oz,” begins its run at Reynolds Hall.

Chef Thomas Keller hosts a dinner at his restaurant Bouchon in the Venetian to celebrate the hotel’s Cibo-Vino month.

Henri Bendel celebrates the gala opening of its first Las Vegas store in Fashion Show with “Pretty Little Liars” star Lucy Hale presiding over the red-ribbon cutting. The second Bendel’s, a NYC landmark of shopping, opens later this year.

Adult-film stars Teagan Presley and Alexis Texas bring the 20th annual Exotic Dancers Club Expo to an end with a party at Chateau Nightclub & Gardens in the Paris.

Static X performs at the new Vinyl in the Hard Rock Hotel.

And the Unleashed Swimwear bikini model party hosted by Cosmopolitan Connections is at Gold Lounge in Aria.

TOMORROW’S TEASE

Our long Labor Day weekend celebrity preview with the full Royal Robin Rundown of the nightclub DJ invasion, Shaquille O’Neal’s comedy jam, comedians Whoopi Goldberg and Jay Leno -- and more.

Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.

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

Follow Vegas DeLuxe on Twitter at Twitter.com/vegasdeluxe.

Follow VDLX Editor Don Chareunsy on Twitter at Twitter.com/VDLXEditorDon.

— From LasVegasWeekly.com