Las Vegas Weekly

DivineMisterD:

I've never been on or near a lear jet in my life. And I was defending my work amid charges that I know nothing and don't do research. Now, apparently, my conversations with primary sources are also not credible, either. Convenient. Do you even realize that you've done several blog posts in the past on my work? (see links below) That in the past you referred to "my friends over at The Strip Podcast"? So I was credible to you when I wrote stuff you liked but, rather than simply civilly disagreeing with this view, you decide anyone with a different view from yours must be attacked, insulted and discredited. That's nice.

http://www.bootlegbetty.com/2009/09/15/v...

http://www.bootlegbetty.com/2007/12/24/h...

http://www.bootlegbetty.com/2008/12/20/t...

http://www.bootlegbetty.com/2008/02/19/m...

http://www.bootlegbetty.com/2008/03/01/t...

http://www.bootlegbetty.com/2009/05/27/t...

http://www.bootlegbetty.com/2008/02/19/t...

http://www.bootlegbetty.com/2008/01/08/i...

http://www.bootlegbetty.com/2007/12/28/l...

Dresser: I'd be absolutely fascinated to spend time backstage in any capacity whatsoever. The hard work of producing shows was never relevant to my arguments as it's similar for all sorts of productions and yet others who do it also participate in other ways in the community. But it's an invitation, if real and legit, that I'd love to take you up on. It was one of the main reasons I did the MJ show, to get a glimpse of what it takes to produce the shows I attend, critique and cover for a living. Email me.

Marissa: What kind of opinion isn't "totally biased?" Just wondering. It's a column. "Totally biased" is the point. Also, if she's given anonymously, how could you know? Itsy bitsy logic lapse there, but to be expected.

Sigh. Of course crazies are going to be more exercised and motivated to comment than normal people. Normal people read the article and get on with their lives and don't look back one way or the other. They don't read nutty diatribes from people who get angry about things that don't actually matter in the grand scheme of things. And, besides, the majority of the comments were written by four people (in theory) including one who pretends they work for Bette!

The lady puts her name on a sign on a major New York highway advertising her good deeds. Why would she be donating anonymously in Las Vegas? What would be the point? How is it that no charity in Vegas has stood up to say, on the record, "Whoa, Friesster, she did this, this and this?" The silence of the show and charitable communities here in defending her is as telling as the hysterics with which some of you bawl your defenses. You have to wonder what I would've been in for if I *didn't* own all of her CDs and love her music.

As for journalistic reporting requiring knowledge and research, look again, kiddo, at the enormous body of my work. While you make defenses up out of whole cloth and pretend to be close to the matter, I spend my life actually speaking and interviewing executives and experts at all levels.

Then again, why am I even responding to someone who claims to know the inside scoop but is obviously a delusional fan? Something tells me, by the by, Bette would be equally offended by your constant harping on her age.

I've gotta move on, so go ahead and say what you want and, within the boundaries of what they allow on this site, I'm sure it'll be posted. But don't mistake my silence for admission of being "obliterated." I've just had enough fun and need to move on. And thank you, any which way, for taking the time to express your view.

MisterD: Just cuz you say something doesn't make it so. There has been no obliteration. My piece is supported by several facts: Bette promised something she did not fulfill, her ticket sales were weaker than her counterparts recession or no recession, she was the only artist in the history of the Colosseum to discount tickets and her show was largely derivative of an earlier tour of which I saw two performances. So all that's left is whether you agree or disagree with me on my definition of being community-involved and that is something that most rational people ought to be able to disagree on without being unreasonable or unpleasant.

As for David202's reference to Elton, I actually did blog some about Elton's dissatisfaction with Vegas and chatted about it even more on my weekly podcast when he went on Larry King Live and basically said he found playing in Vegas uninspiring.

Furthermore, the reason we include such disclosures as the matter of the MJ concert is so that readers can decide for themselves whether my view is tainted. I don't believe it is, but either way it is an effort at transparency so the notion that there's some secret ulterior motive for daring to critically assess your precious goddess is a little silly. Nothing's hidden. Make of it what you will.

Finally, the Cher folks have already come after me: http://thestrippodcast.blogspot.com/2008...

So, basically, the crazy Bette folks and the crazy Cher folks, while disparaging one another, are more alike than different. Hooray to you all.

DivineMisterD: Dunno what you're talking about. I didn't remove any links. I don't have any control over the site, but the web folks do take things down if they get out of whack and you do seem to be becoming increasingly hysterical. Spend a little time looking at what I write; I'm not afraid of anything, let alone people who treat pop stars like religious icons.

Her community involvement here was nonexistent. Sorry. Elsewhere, that's great. Here? Nope. And she said she would do it here. Can't rap Cher or Elton cuz they never said they would. She did.

Rick Moonen actually had to cancel, but he sent along 3 cookbook and a gift certificate to be given away! See everyone there!

AZNative, etc: I actually don't disagree -- it is a great show and has ranked in my top 5 in my two guidebooks, several of my travel pieces and in my LVW column earlier this year. But she claimed she would be a part of this community and she wasn't and that's a fact. Several other major headliners of her caliber do attend the openings of other shows and are involved in important charitable efforts in ways she didn't despite her promise to do so when she arrived. And, as I said, her seats were being discounted BEFORE the fullest impact of the recession took hold. I'm a fan, I adore her work and think her charitable efforts elsewhere are great. But she left a LOT of people in this city with a distaste and I'm real sorry you think it's wrong to report that.