Media's coverage of Michael Jackson's death exposes the failures and corruption of the Las Vegas news media in covering the death of Danny Gans

“In New York and Los Angeles, when a major star
drops dead of unknown causes, there is a repulsive
ritual that takes place. A certain breed of journalist
will begin a vigil outside the deceased’s residence,
will rifle through their trash, will bribe all sorts of people
for all sorts of reasons and will call up anyone and
everyone even questionably related to the person for
even the most unlikely comment.

“In Las Vegas, when left to our own devices,
we do things a little differently.”

--Steve Friess, Las Vegas Weekly

Someone asked us about the parallels between the deaths of Michael Jackson and Elvis Presley. We're more interested in the parallels between the news media's respeonse to the deaths of Jacko and Danny Gans (who imitated Jacko in his show): the biggest star in the world (consummate showman and Christian), and the biggest star in Las Vegas (consummate showman and Christian).

The actions of public officials and the Fourth Estate in each case reveal a stark contrast in transparency and fulfillment of responsibility:

Michael Jackson, genius performer, dead at 50.
Danny Gans, genius performer, dead at 52.
Michael Jackson, found not breathing at home in his bed
Danny Gans, found not breathing at home in his bed.
Michael Jackson, pulled to the floor for CPR as a 911 dispatcher gives instructions.
Danny Gans, pulled to the floor for CPR as a 911 dispatcher gives instructions.
Prescription drugs are immediately suspected as the cause of Michel Jackson's death.
Prescription drugs are immediately suspected as the cause of Danny Gans's death.
Police say they want to speak to Michael Jackson’s many doctors immediately.
Police do not seek out Danny Gans’ many doctors.
Police impound the car of one of Michael Jackson’s doctors in search of drug evidence.
Police allow Danny Gans’ wife to gather “all of her husband’s medications” for them to examine.
The world media swarms onto the Michael Jackson story.
The Las Vegas media tiptoes around the Danny Gans story.
Michael Jackson’s “secret” dependence on prescription drugs is immediately laid bare by journalists and their editors, who can finally publish what they’ve known for years.
Danny Gans’ “secret” dependence on prescription drugs is immediately covered up by journalists and their editors, who decline to publish what they’ve known for years or to investigate further.
Michael Jackson’s family members, friends, doctors and colleagues say they knew about his drug problems, but were helpless to save him.
Danny Gans’ friends and colleagues lie about him and claim ignorance, and the gullible and cynical local media print and broadcast what they know is not true.
Respected publications like The New York Times and Los Angeles Times go with major front-page splashes on Michael Jackson’s death, with details about his final hours and many sidebars about his secret life and speculation about what killed him.
Publications like the Las Vegas Review-Journal publish major front-page splashes on Danny Gans’ death, but report only the information that was handed to them.
The Michael Jackson 911 tape is released immediately and analyzed by police, journalists and the public.
The Danny Gans 911 tape is kept under wraps.
Journalists investigate the actions of the paramedics who treated Michael Jackson and get immediate answers, erasing any mystery.
Las Vegas journalists go with the official statements, with one (who is a stringer for The New York Times) stating that it is improper to “harass” the paramedics who attended to Danny Gans, adding to more mystery.
Police and the coroner hold a press conference in which journalists ask many obvious questions about Michael Jackson’s habits and cause of death.
Police, the coroner and Danny Gans’ boss Steve Wynn issue terse statements regarding Danny Gans’ death.
Police and the coroner answer all of the questions they can in the case of Michael Jackson.
Local journalists ask no questions at all in the case of Danny Gans.

Newspapers and media cover every aspect of Michael Jackson’s life, art, influence and legacy, filling column inches for days with fascinating detail about the troubled superstar.
Local newspapers and media get reactions from people like Carrot Top and run out of Danny Gans coverage in a day and a half.
Newspapers and media offer forums for fans to vent their grief and confusion over Michael Jackson.
Las Vegas media outlets censor any correspondence criticizing their performance, publishing only letters that demand the Danny Gans details be kept private.
The coroner says it will take four to six weeks for the toxicological report to reveal exactly what killed Michael Jackson, but with all bases covered and all secrets laid out, there will be no shock or mystery when the details come out.
The coroner says it will take as long as six weeks for the toxicological report to reveal exactly what killed Danny Gans, and the local media close their notebooks and walk away, claiming they are helpless to report or publish any of the easily-verifiable information about the superstar until the government official hands them his statement. When the coroner’s report turns out to be a politically-parsed, incomplete, confusing explanation that only deepens the mystery, the local media whine for a day and then drop the story.
In the Michael Jackson case, members of the news media show what they do best, clearing away mystery, cutting through the spin and laying out the unpleasant truth.
In the Danny Gans case, members of the local news media reveal their corruption, adding to the mystery, clouding the truth and holding back what they know to be true.
Fans understand that the great Michael Jackson was only human and love him only more.
Fans wonder if the great Danny Gans they loved was actually a fraud, and their perception of him darkens amid the coverup.
Revealed as myth and man—thanks to the news media-- Michael Jackson’s legacy is burnished.
Transformed from man to mystery—thanks to the local news media-- Danny Gans’ legacy is tarnished.

Yes, in Las Vegas, when left to their own devices, they do things a little differently. But is the public or the subject well-served by their fear to offend? It seems that the responsible and aggressive coverage of the newspack in the Michael Jackson case puts the lie to Steve Friess' excuses and proves there's a big difference between Reporting 101 and bribery. What do you think? And can you think of other contrasts in the case? Add your own!

COMING SOON: Analysis of the Danny Gans 911 tape and investigator’s report... They closed the case after this??

The curtain falls on an instant myth: Danny Gans didn't really close his last show with eerie, prescient Bobby Darin number

In the week since the untimely death of Las Vegas headliner Danny Gans, not a question has been raised by the Las Vegas news media about the exact circumstances of his death, or the factors in his life that may have led to it, Yet while the news pros, from Pulitzer Prize winners to Gay Guide writers, have sat obediently to wait the next press release, much has been done from that first (and last) news to burnish Gans’ myth.

As it turns out, the first has turned out to be untrue.

On Saturday, May 2nd Las Vegas Review-Journal columnist Norm Clarke write a column, Gans’ final act leaves mystery, which included quotes from Gans' manager Chip Lightman and focused on an almost spiritual moment in Gans’ last show:

"Something didn't feel right to Lightman.

"Looking back, 'that was the scariest thing,' Lightman said Friday, still in shock hours after the death of Gans at age 52.

"A creature of habit, Gans rarely ended with 'The Curtain Falls,' Bobby Darin's favorite closer.

"Through most of his thousands of shows as a 13-year Las Vegas headliner, Gans preferred ending with 'Apollo,' which featured snippets of songs by Sammy Davis Jr., Louis Armstrong, Ray Charles and others.

"No one will ever know for certain, but just maybe Gans knew something was amiss and sent a message through Darin's curtain closer at the Encore theater.

"… Near the end of Friday's walk-through to capture photo snippets of Gans' backstage life, Lightman brought up the mystery of 'The Curtain Falls.'

"It was one of many why's that didn't make sense to Gans' longtime friend and manager.

"I offered a theory.

"Maybe Gans' switch to 'The Final Curtain' was hinting about his health by channeling Darin for the finale.

"Darin had a meteoric run before dying of heart-related problems at the age of 37 in 1973."

This morning, Norm Clarke retracted the story:

“Allow me to correct something here: On Saturday in this space, I misstated that Gans closed his final show on April 29 with 'The Curtain Falls,' the signature close of legendary entertainer Bobby Darin, who died in 1973 at age 37.

“Gans closed with 'Apollo,' the medley he had ended his show with for years…

“During our interview May 1, the day Gans died, Lightman had noted a delay occurred in the curtain closing, which I mistakenly wrote down as a reference to Darin's ‘Curtain’ closing.

“Gans had performed ‘Curtain’ during his 12 weeks at Wynn Las Vegas' Encore hotel, Lightman said.

“And he said Gans, in his upcoming book that he finished April 29, ended the manuscript with the final words to 'Curtain.'"

Norm Clarke revealed yesterday the publisher of his own newspaper had entered into a deal with Lightman and the Gans family to publish that Danny Gans autobiography. The fact that we at Tabloid Baby have received readers complaints this week that the Darin story was untrue has led others to suspect Clarke and Lightman are in fact writing or completing that “autobiography” as we speak.

Interesting that The Encore website used a clip of Danny Gans singing The Curtain Falls as a tribute after his death.

In any case, add that bit of misinformation that's been spreading around the world for the past week to the Danny Gans mystery, and place your bets on how long the Danny Gans posters, billboards and taxi cab placards will remain in and around Las Vegas.

(The May 21 memorial to Danny Gans is by invitation only. The Gans family asks that cards be sent to Danny Gans Family, c/o Encore Hotel, 3131 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas, NV 89109. Instead of flowers, the family prefers donations be made to Danny Gans' favorite charities, the Junior Golf Academy and the Nevada Childhood Cancer Foundation.)

Danny Gans run "amazing experience"

"The spirit of the day-- that of kind and caring generosity--
was graphic witness to who Danny Gans was in life,
and now even in death."

More than two thousand people showed up and the first copies of Danny Gans' autobiography were unveiled at one of year's most poignant and emotional charity events.

The Danny Gans Memorial Champions Run for Life was hosted by Gans' friend Donny Osmond at the District community and shopping center in Henderson, Nevada Saturday-- benefiting a cancer charity close to Gans' heart, less than six months after the 52-year-old musical impressionist's sudden death at home just three miles away.

RG Ryan, co-author of Gans' autobiography, The Voices In My Head, was there, and says he was surprised when the book's publisher arrived with the first two hundred copies of the book.

We emailed to ask him about the event. He sent us this reply:

"The Danny Gans Champions Run for Life (benefiting children's cancer research) was an amazing experience. 2000 people participated in either a one-mile fun run or a 5K competitive run (which was won by a 13 year-old girl, by the way).

"But the highlight of the morning was the actual 'Champions Run.' The 'champions' were all children battling cancer in all of its various, hideous forms. Each child got to choose someone to "run" with them, from Center Court at The District down to the Elephant Bar and back. Quite emotional. Donny Osmond ran with the first little girl, dancing the last few yards (maybe getting in some extra practice for DWTS). The Pirates and Sirens from TI, as well as members of the UNLV Volleyball team along many others participated in honor of these amazing children.

"The spirit of the day-- that of kind and caring generosity-- was graphic witness to who Danny Gans was in life, and now even in death. I'm not sure people ever really got it that Danny was one of the most generous souls ever to walk the planet. From public events like this, to several dozen charities and religious non-profits, even to buying a wheelchair for a random homeless cripple he would see every day on his way in to work, he lived what he believed.

"We didn't even know if there would be copies of the book available by the race, but the printer managed to get a couple of hundred to us, so we sat up a table and didn't make a big deal out of it because the day wasn't about selling books, but about the children..."

UPDATE: The Voices In My Head is now available at Amazon.com.

Danny Gans book may debut at charity run

The first copies of the Danny Gans autobiography, The Voices In My Head, may be available and handed out at Saturday's Danny Gans Champions Run for Life in the Las Vegas suburb of Henderson.

R.G. Ryan, Gans' co-author of the book that he says was completed hours before the musical impressionist died unexpectedly and tragically on May 1st, tells Tabloid Baby exclusively:

"Hopefully, we'll have copies by Saturday morning out at The District for Danny's Champions Run For Life."

Ryan would not comment on the apparent dispute that delayed the publication of the book, which was bought up by the parent company of The Las Vegas Review-Journal within days of Gans' death and promised for rush-release in June.

Last week, Ryan wrote on his blog:

"After four, long months of needless delays, 'The Voices In My Head,' co-written with the late Danny Gans, is off to the printers and we fully expect to have copies in our hands by October 10.

"Our original plan had been to have the book in stores by the middle of June. Sadly, that didn’t happen for reasons too hurtful and complex to address in this forum. Citing the proverbial 'bottom line,' suffice it to say that the delays did not come from our side or from the publisher.

"I have given up so much for the sake of seeing this story in print, for all intents and purposes I am now numb to the process and fighting to find a reason to celebrate. I hope you read this book, for it is a compelling story of one man’s fight against debilitating pain and heartbreak, rising at last to the pinnacle of his profession… perhaps the best who ever lived. I’m anxious for you to meet my friend, Danny Gans.

"Hurtful and complex"? "The delays did not come from our side or the publisher"?

Ryan had first indicated that he was in a dispute with Gans' family when he blogged in July:

“After weeks of not knowing what was going to happen, I have come to an agreement with the estate of Danny Gans..."

This week, we again asked Ryan if the conflict had to do with his role, which may have morphed from anonymous ghostwriter to credited co-author on the cover of the book.

Ryan says this morning:

"I would like nothing more than to go into detail about what a stressful summer it was. Sadly, I cannot. Which, at the end of the day may be for the best as I am choosing to put it all behind me and press on. I've got many more stories to write and refuse to waste even one more hour, let alone another day, worrying about all that transpired.

"My name is on the book because Danny wanted my name to be on the book. Period! He was such a great friend, and I miss him terribly."


Ryan has added a section to his website in which he offers a tribute to his friend:

"Danny Gans poured his life into everything he loved—his family, his faith, his career and his city.

Sadly, the day after this book was finished, Danny died. His was a life well lived, and he leaves behind a story worth telling. This is that story.

From the dust and freshly cut grass smells of the baseball diamond, to the glitz and glamour of the Las Vegas Strip you will see the portrait of a man whose uncommon gifts as a comedian, impressionist and consummate entertainer were equally matched by a good, true and generous heart.

Love and loss, friendship and betrayal, glory and pain, all color the rich palate of his life.

Danny Gans, “The Man of Many Voices!” Although his voice has been silenced, his legacy lives on.

R.G. Ryan"

Click here to order The Voices In My Head

Donny Osmond to host Danny Gans memorial run in October

While Las Vegas hustlers rush around town getting more talent to appear at a cynical Michael Jackson birthday "tribute" at the end of August, at least one good man has not forgotten the great local entertainment legend Danny Gans, who died tragically eight weeks before the controversial music star.

Donny Osmond has announced he will host a benefit run for the new Danny Gans Memorial — Champion’s Run for Life-- on October 1st.

October is Danny Gans' birthday month (he was born October 25, 1956).

The 5K running race-- and walk (including one for kids) will begin at the The District at Green Valley Ranch). There will also be a raffle, prizes, food and entertainment-- including some from Donny, we'd hope.

Registration is $35. Proceeds go to the Nevada Childhood Cancer Foundation.

Donny Osmond and his sister Marie have seem their careers revived as a hit act at the Flamingo on the Vegas Strip-- thanks in great part to Danny Gans, who produced the show. Donny delivered an emotional eulogy at Danny Gans' memorial at what was Gans' Encore Theatre.

Danny Gans was well-known for his philanthropy. His website continues to urge fans and well-wishers to donate in his memory to the Nevada Childhood Cancer Foundation.

The memorial run begins at 7:30 a.m.

For more information, get in touch with race director Carolyn Battin at 702.480.1917 or the NCCF at 702.735.8434.

The Jackson tribute show takes place at the Palms Hotel on a Saturday afternoon. It is being produced and promoted, somewhat inexplicably, by New York Times reporter, local blogger, Gay Vegas author, hearing-impaired music critic and comp queen Steve Friess, who went to great lengths to prevent coverage of Danny Gans' untimely passing and has gone to equal extremes to remind the three-figure ticket buyers that he has no respect for Jackson as a human being, and wrote that his death was "the best thing that could ever have happened to Michael Jackson’s music"-- which is why his tribute show is called "The Michael Jackson’s untimely death was the best thing that could ever have happened to Michael Jackson's music show."

The Danny Gans daisy chain: Steve and Chip and Alicia and Norm and Miles and--

To quote Aretha: Who's zoomin' who? With those closest to the late Las Vegas headliner Danny Gans amending their stories of what they knew about the state of his health when he died in bed on May 1st at the age of 52, and with the relationships among the major media players-- the ones who are parceling out the "official" information, reporting it, and protecting it -- coming into a more clear focus, we're not sure what to to believe.

We've been called conspiracy theorists, and much worse, as we look for answers to what killed this supposedly healthy entertainer, but now, who knows? As the Las Vegas media waits patiently for the "official" report from the Clark County Coroner, did Gans manager Chip Lightman and Gans friend Alicia Jacobs toss up the "high blood pressure" story as a way to explain away drugs they know the toxicology report will list in Gans' system? Why is Norm Clarke of the Las Vegas Review-Journal transcribing whatever they say, only to retract it days later when they tell him something else? Are they and supposed freelancer Steve Friess hiding something more sinister? Are they hiding anything? Was Danny Gans just a good guy with a bad ticker?

We're not saying. We're still trying to keep track of the players, and their connections:


Steve Friess is the Las Vegas freelance reporter and writer (for publications including The New York Times and USA) who went ballistic and began posting obscene insults about us after we asked him why local reporters weren't investigating the events leading to, and speculation regarding the possible cause of Gans' death.


Chip Lightman was Danny Gans' manager for most all of 18 years. He phoned a local TV reporter with news of Gans' death in the early morning hours of May 1st. He's been working the media, while working with hotel-casino magnate Steve Wynn to book acts into Gans' showroom, ever since.


Alicia Jacobs is the woman who got the 4 a.m. phone call from Lightman. She's a beauty queen-turned-television entertainment reporter who boasted a close, 13-year friendship with Danny Gans. She broke the Gans death story on KVBC-TV News.


Norm Clarke is the Las Vegas Review-Journal columnist who often quotes Steve Friess and has run several stories about Alicia Jacobs and Chip Lightman since Gans' death, including their claims that they had no idea what caused the former athlete and "health nut" to pass away prematurely.

On Thursday, Norm Clarke wrote that his paper had entered into a deal with Chip Lightman to publish Gans' autobiography. Today, one day after we interviewed Alicia Jacobs about Danny Gans (and the day after Steve Friess increased his attacks on this news organization), Norm Clarke went online with the exclusive story that Chip Lightman and Alicia Jacobs both knew all along that Danny Gans was a ticking time bomb, with high blood pressure and a family history of "heart problems."

Miles Smith is the executive producer of KVBC-TV News. He is Alicia Jacobs' boss. And he brings us full circle to Steve Friess.

How?


Miles Smith, Alicia Jacobs' boss, is Steve Friess' "husband" (in quotes because Smith and Friess were wed by a rabbi at the Palms Hotel in Las Vegas-- same sex marriage is not legal in Nevada).

(UPDATE: We originally ran a great punchline photo of Steve Friess and Miles Smith in bed together. But Steve Friess has claimed ownership of many photos we've run and demanded we remove them. Mr. Friess, a journalist, has also taken action to have TabloidBaby.com shut down... )

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE PHOTO OF STEVE FRIESS LITERALLY IN BED-- UNDER THE COVERS-- WITH KVBC TV NEWS EXECUTIVE PRODUCER MILES SMITH.

Developing...

Stars' praise helps sell Danny Gans book

"Danny Gans poured his energy into everything he loved, from his family to his faith, from baseball to his career in entertainment. When it came time to document his life story, he poured his energy into this project as well. Sadly, one day after this manuscript was completed, Danny died.

"His inspiring story remains, offering a compelling mix of touching tales and life lessons. From the baseball diamonds of his youth to his sold-out stardom on the Las Vegas Strip, Danny charts the struggles and successes of his life. Along the way, he tells us of the heartwarming courtship of his wife, Julie, and his close relationships with his father and mother.

"An uncommon gift as an impressionist lifted 'The Man of Many Voices' to the pinnacle of the Las Vegas entertainment industry, where he will be long remembered as a much-loved performer and a generous man. Here is the story of Danny Gans, told in his own voice, and from his own heart."

--The Voices In My Head website

The Voices In My Head, the Danny Gans autobiography now on sale online (see the ad and link on this site) and possibly available at tomorrow's Henderson, Nevada charity run renamed in Gans' honor, is being launched with testimonials by the biggest stars in the world-- and his former manager:

One of the most unique human beings and entertainers in the world has been taken from us in an unexpected moment. We will all try to go on with our lives without our dear friend. At this moment it seems almost impossible.
— Steve Wynn

When you think of Danny Gans the first thing you think of is entertainer. The second word you think of is best. He is Las Vegas, and he was Las Vegas, and he will always be Las Vegas.
— Larry King

Danny Gans… worked tirelessly to entertain his audience and even harder to help the underprivileged in Las Vegas. With his loss, the world is a sadder place.
— Andre Agassi

Not only was he the best in his field, but he was such a kind and loving person.
— Celine Dion

The Las Vegas Strip is better for having had Danny Gans’ light shine so brightly, and will be forever impacted by his loss.
— Siegfried & Roy


Beyond his spot-on impressions, Danny Gans will be remembered for the impression he left as an entertainer, a humanitarian, and family man and friend.
— Louie Anderson

Danny Gans was quite simply one of the greatest entertainers ever to step foot onto the stage. In my twenty-seven years in Las Vegas, I have never seen anyone better.
— Lance Burton

We’ve lost an amazing entertainer. His friendship, charisma and talent will be greatly missed.
— Donny & Marie Osmond

Danny was an immense talent and a great friend. He brought so much to Las Vegas, both on and off the stage. I will miss him.
— Wayne Newton

Danny Gans will not only be remembered as a Las Vegas entertainer, but as a man who loved his family, loved God, and loved the city of Las Vegas.
— Chip Lightman

He could conjure up a vast array of the world’s most celebrated names, but when you think about his love for his family, or his many philanthropic interests, it’s clear that Danny’s finest role was playing himself. We have lost him far too soon and he will be greatly missed.
— Elaine Wynn

The book, published by the owners of the Las Vegas Review-Journal, is not being sold on Amazon.com. It's available in trade paperback or hardcover with an adudio CD.

Steve Friess sends us a photo of himself. We think he's in love with us in a gay way. Meanwhile, the Danny Gans mystery is entering its FIFTH week.

Someone sent us a nice photo of Steve Friess (left) and you won't believe who!

The Las Vegas civics-boosting, casino-beholden comp queen, Gay Vegas ("Vegas as a queer fantasyland? You bet!") author and freelance writer attacked us in public a few weeks ago when we emailed him privately to ask why no local journalists were investigating the mysterious death of Strip superstar Danny Gans... he tried to have our site shut down when we ran his photo... he actively attempted to stop us from covering the Danny Gans story in collusion with his "husband" the executive producer of Gans' close friend and legend spinner, beauty queen-turned-TV entertainment reporter Alicia Jacobs... and he admitted being involved in a conspiracy to spread false rumours about Danny Gans' death simply to throw us off the scent.

He threatened and harassed us every time we ran a picture of him or his "husband," so for weeks, we've been using facsimiles whenever we run a story on Steve Friess, while asking you to please send us in a nice Steve Friess photo so we don't have to keep using shots of Paul Lynde, Liberace, Peter Allen, Charles Nelson Reilly or Richard Deacon.

And now someone has sent us a photo and giving us her blessing to use it:

Steve Friess.

We're not making this up. We got an email at the Tabloid Baby office this afternoon from stevefriess@aol.com, titled "a gift from me to you."

We were hoping it was the Danny Gans toxicology report, but it was this note:

"I know you've been wanting an authorized photo. And I happened to see a cool little show last night at the Liberace Museum and they happened to have a Tussaud's wax figure on loan there. So here you are. Use it to your nasty conspiratorial irrelevant gay-baiting/hating heart's desire. Sorry it's a little blurry, my camera's not behaving right these days."

...and this photo:


We thought, hey, Steve Friess has a sense of humour! Until we saw that he'd x-rayed our heart and concluded that we are gay-baiting and hating! Then our note of appreciation was returned because Steve's blocked our email access and ability to reply! It seems that Steve Friess gives, but he won't receive (and to think we took him for a power bottom!)

What is it with this guy?

We think we've figured it out. Either Steve was on an amyl nitrate poppers bender, deep in a K-hole or had too many Cosmos when he sent the giddy email-- or he's flirting with us because he loves us. And in a gay way. Sorry, Miles, but the evidence is there. The teasing comments... the insults... the photos!

We only wish the little minx would spend more time looking into the Danny Gans case and less time bothering us.

Tomorrow begins Week 5 of the Danny Gans mystery and no one, in the Las Vegas news media from the rootin' tootin' Review-Journal editor in the cowboy drag to Richard Abowitz, Steve's competitor at the Las Vegas Weekly, gives a hoot. We'd figure today's issue of the "alternative" weekly might at least mention the fact that the promised two-to-four week wait for toxicology tests on Gans is now four to twelve weeks, but instead we get more Gans tribute-- and this time it's a week old.

Abowitz, the hipster Penn Jillette fan who publicly called us insane for asking questions about the Gans case before the officials hand over the answers, has taken an elite public stand against deigning to touch the Gans story, so it was surprising to see him in the Weekly this morning with a piece on the Gans memorial that took place a week ago, and not only buying but promulgating the evangelist Christian idea that the angels simply carried away a great man:

"Gans... believed in immortality and eternity. He just never thought they came from a performance on a Vegas stage. But according to his preacher, Gans felt eternity came from his religion and how he lived his life up until the last of it no matter how long or brief."

Four weeks of hosannas. What would Penn Jillette think? When's someone in Vegas going to pick up one of the threads in the story of the year? With every passing week, it's more evident that the Vegas media is not only lying down on this story, they're bending over. Sorry, Steve. There we go again.

Danny Gans photo: Las Vegas Sun

Two weeks after the death of Danny Gans, Las Vegas writer Steven Friess admits he knew of steroid rumors, confesses to covering up death theories

It's been two weeks since Las Vegas headliner Danny Gans was pronounced dead in his home of still undetermined causes.

From the first we heard the news of the passing of this great, historically significant and unique entertainer, the Tabloid Baby team has pursued the story day after day, while being struck by the fact that Las Vegas journos didn't find the story worth pursuing beyond adulatory quotes from the likes of Carrot Top (Nothing against Carrot Top. We think he's cool and he makes us laugh). The official excuse was that there was no news to report until the officials released the official cause of death with the official toxicology report, since the official autopsy could not determine what caused this ox of a man's heart to stop at the age of 52.

The first solid clue there was something amiss came when we were attacked, threatened and insulted online by a character named Steve Friess (above & left), a local booster and comp queen who authored a book called Gay Vegas and writes for a number of national publications.

Friess' online hissyfit when he learned of our dogged pursuit of the Gans story was puzzling, until it was revealed that his conflicts of interest only began in his bed, which he shares with Alicia Jacobs' executive producer, and that this self-promoting freelancer exists at the pleasure of the casino kings to whom the words "What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas" are more than a catchphrase.

Well what a difference two weeks, or as he writes on his blog, a "fortnight," makes.

Today, Friess continues his name-calling:

"Some gay-obsessed lunatics -- well, he refers to himself in the plural, anyhow -- believes anything said about the matter at this stage is thanks to his 'vigilance.' I've since realized that Internet nutjobs will say and do what they wish regardless of accuracy, propriety or basic common sense and never back down even in the face of contrary evidence or reasoning..."

Friess goes through his usual motions: attacking RadarOnline, The National Enquirer and Perez Hilton for covering a story that he could have made a bundle on had not his freelance status been so compromised; denying there's "public appetite" for the story; insisting that "short of those tests being completed, there's not a lot for legit reporters to do."

But then Steve Friess (above left) does something more. While apologizing on behalf of the ones who tried to obfuscate the facts, he admits that he realizes a coverup took place. And while making excuses all along the way, he even slips up and admits he was part of it.

Most spectacularly, Steve Friess admits he has been covering up the story of the real Danny Gans for at least, well, at least... a "fortnight":

"...Gans' suspected steroid use has been out there for years."

He also prints the alternative theories that are out there, though carefully labeling them "bizarro":

"Danny Gans was (a) actually killed in a DUI hit-and-run; (b) was having an affair with a local news personality who has tried to get Mayor Oscar Goodman and Wayne Newton* and Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce (!?!) to help cover up Gans' actual cause of death or (c) committed suicide because Steve Wynn booked Whoopi and Beyonce..."

Read Friess' entire column here.  It is an incredible document of self-righteousness, delusion and ass-covering.  Bottom line: Everything Steve Friess denied, he now says he knew all along.

Real Journos

Meanwhile, real journalists, like the ones at The Las Vegas Review-Journal, responded professionally to our prodding. Insiders tell us they feel bound by "rules," and are hamstrung to do much before an official report is released.

But they admit our prodding has had an effect.  Mike Weatherford's chilling account of Danny Gans' depression on his final day was published after sitting around for more than a week. And Norm Clarke's hastily-added one-liner begs a followup:

"No one's willing to discuss it, but there's an insurance issue involving Danny Gans and his deal with Encore at Wynn Las Vegas that suggests Gans had concerns about his health."

Sure, they say we at TabloidBaby.com seem to be "obsessed" or even "insane." And there are those who'd try to lump Tabloid Baby with the new generation of bloggers who conjure fantasy and post whatever comes into their heads.

They're wrong.

Danny Gans was an Old School entertainer.  We're Old School journos.

This is the Old School talking.

Decades of newspaper and broadcast journalism experience. Contributors on four continents. Experienced two-finger typists who've taught a generation of journos to follow a good story where it leads.

Murder?

The case of Danny Gans should have been, and should be covered from all its angles. That's how important it is, and as uncomfortable and ad-revenue endangering some of those angles may be, those are the angles that manage to be covered up as time passes.

Was Danny Gans murdered in his bed? We'd not pose that question, but thanks to the wait-and-see attitude of the Las Vegas media, that story is floating around the Internet as we type.

Will the toxicological report close the book on the Danny Gans case?

Probably not, no matter what is revealed, because the ones who should be on the front line of finding  the truth are content to wait for an official report from a controversial coroner's office.  It's these paid professionals, sitting around their news meetings debating whether a story's worthy of coverage, who've allowed the story to spin out of control.

A Review-Journal reporter said it himself when he wrote the lede to yesterday's coroner story that was copied somewhat inaccurately by every news station in town:

"The mystery of Danny Gans' death remains almost two weeks after he died in his home, leaving rumors to fill the information void."

Steve Friess confessed to it in his column today.


* The "Wayne Newton" reference, never made public, was part of a tip emailed to TabloidBaby.com offices. Friess' inclusion of it indicates that he was part of a deliberate effort to mislead journalists investigating the Gans story.
(Comp queen Steve Friess threatens us every time we post his picture, so we're forced to used fascimiles. Help us get it right by sending us a nice photo of Steve Friess today!)

Danny Gans book hits stores today

Danny Gans' autobiography makes its official debut in bookstores today-- the same day that Garth Brooks will announce he's starting a long run at the theatre left vacant by Danny Gans' death.

The Voices In My Head arrives five months after the Las Vegas headliner died of an overdose of the powerful opiate hydromorphone, also known as Dilaudid or "drugstore heroin." Gans' ghostwriter-turned-cowriter RG Ryan tells the Las Vegas Review-Journal what he told Tabloid Baby last month: that the book will not address Gans' drug use (or his ownership of a pharmacy supply house), but that "readers may get an idea from the book about why he took them":

"Gans sustained several injuries over the years that caused him long-term problems, including an ankle injury that ended his dreams of becoming a major league baseball player, surgeries, two car accidents and a diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis."


The paper says the book "spans more than 50 years, beginning with a brief history of how his parents met and closing with a chapter about how Gans came to be headlining at Encore after a long tenure with The Mirage.

"Much of what's addressed in the book-- Gans' love of baseball, his Las Vegas resume and even his inspirations-- won't surprise readers who are familiar with the entertainer, co-writer Ryan says. But Gans told his story in a way that will enable people to understand what drove him to be the 'man of many voices' and a longtime Las Vegas headliner."

Ryan says he met Gans while exercising at a local gym 13 years ago,and that he proposed the idea for the autobiography over coffee in May 2008. The book, told in Gans' voice, was based on 15 hours of recorded conversations that Ryan transcribed and shaped.

Despite Ryan's insistence that he book was completed the day day before Danny Gans died, the Review-Journal article states that he'd completed only a "first draft" on April 30th. Ryan emailed to correct us after we reported last month that Review-Journal columnist Norm Clarke wrote that a "rough draft" had been finished that day:

"The final draft was, in fact, completed at eleven AM on Thursday, April 30, 2009."

He tells the Review-Journal: "The day before he died, at 11 a.m., I sent him a text," Ryan recalls. "I just said, 'Done!!!' He wrote back, 'Great, let's get together Friday at 4 p.m.'"

The first copies of the book were made available Saturday at the Danny Gans Memorial Run for Champions. The paperback retails for $14.95 and is published by Stephens Press, a subsidiary of Stephens Media LLC, owner of the Review-Journal. It's available at Amazon.com (we're awaiting our copy), some bookstores and online at DannyGansVoices.com (see column at right).

Garth Brooks and Steve Wynn are scheduled to announcer the singer's extended stand at the Encore Theatre at one pm.

Andrew "Dice" Clay is excited about replacing Danny Gans at baggage claim

As Andrew "Dice" Clay begins a run at the Las Vegas Hilton, he speaks to Tabloid Baby pal Robin Leach and pays tribute to Danny Gans, the man who brought the Vegas one-man show to new heights in the 21st century:

“I wanted to prove that I could sell tickets anywhere. I wanted them to go, ‘You know what? We want him here. We need him here. He brings people here and sells tickets!’ I’m totally different from what’s here already. I look at Vegas almost like it is its own Hollywood. They could literally take a street bum if they want, put some music around him and put some midgets on bungee cords, and they would have a show and people would come into town and go, ‘Have you seen the midgets on bungee cords with the homeless bum?’

“By the time you start looking from the airport to the hotel, if you have never heard of this person, you do now. I used to kid about it with Danny Gans. Outside of Vegas, Danny Gans really wasn’t known. When you flew into Vegas and you saw the little advertisement Danny Gans, you go, ‘Oh, I wonder who that is?’ Now you are in baggage claim, now the woman is looking at her husband going, ‘Oh, is he a singer. I wouldn’t mind seeing him.’


“Now you are in the cab going to the hotel, in the cab that has another sign of him on the cab, you are looking at Danny Gans, ‘I almost can’t believe, we’re in town, and Danny Gans is here.’ You see a giant billboard at The Mirage, ya know, Danny Gans, the husband’s going, ‘Honey, you want to go get something to eat,’ and she’s going, ‘No, no, no, first go get the Danny Gans tickets, I don’t know if he is here just for the night, but I got to get in.’ That’s what Vegas does.

“Now you’ve got me almost full time!... We will be all over Vegas. They are giving us more digital billboards. They gave me that big thing at the airport, where Manilow’s thing was in the airport, at baggage claim. It is unreal."

Why was Danny Gans planning his obituary?

"When I die and you

do my obituary piece,

it will be

the most brilliant work

of your career."

--what Alicia Jacobs says

Danny Gans told her

a week before his death

With Tabloid Baby's ten days of investigation and muckraking fulfilling its goal of getting the national news media to take notice of and dedicate their extensive resources to the Danny Gans death mystery, the press corps and media elite in Gans' Las Vegas kingdom have gone back into business-as-usual mode, as if the uproar of the past 72 hours never took place at all.

The local newspapers, The Las Vegas Review-Journal and Las Vegas Sun, weathered the eruption and have offered no new stories on what may have led to to Gan's untimely death at 52. Local television news never moved beyond the headline that "speculation swirls," and, most intriguingly, Steve Friess, author of Gay Vegas and Las Vegas-based national freelancer (above right-- we have to run an approximation because he threatens legal action every time we run his photo), has returned to his blog with no mention of the weekend fracas.

While the locals wait for the results if the toxicology report from the Clark County Coroner;s Office (which could come this week), investigators and authors will start from scratch in the investigation, looking back far beyond the sketchy 24-hour timeline leading ti the seemingly healthy showman to die in his sleep on May 1st.

As they do, an overshadowed anecdote that Norm Clarke of the Review-Journal has written twice now is taking on new significance. The columnist wrote that a week before Gans died, he shared a death premonition with his friend, local TV entertainment reporter Alicia Jacobs:

"They were having a telephone conversation about his new music video 'What a Wonderful World' being produced by Hollywood director Brett Ratner. Jacobs said she wanted to interview him about it, that it would be 'a fun story.'"

"Gans then stunned her with a comment that came out of left field.

"He said, 'When I die and you do my obituary piece, it will be the most brilliant work of your career.'"

Is this more mythmaking on the part of the Vegas media elite (Norm was forced to retract a story that Danny Gans ditched his usual closing numbers at his final show for an eerily prescient Bobby Darin song at his final show-- people who were in the audience were refuting the story in our comment sections)?

Or did Danny Gans have some reason to be thinking about his death-- or to believe his own death was near?

Developing...

(NOTE: In the Vegas journo tradition of writing a story whose real meaning must be hidden between the lines, check out Steve Friess' blog post entitled A Sad Morning Chat. Friess, who in an email to us Monday acknowledged his role in helping attract media attention to the story and congratulated us for our work ("Had I not been so unwise as to actually write about you, nobody would ever know who you are. So, sure, congrats on that"), writes of the death of his "industry" and hints at the power wielded over him by a certain casino owner connected to Danny Gans (you can do the work and figure out who that might be.)

Paul Tanner wants to be Danny Gans

It's a busy week for fans of the late Danny Gans. His autobiography arrived in stores, Garth Brooks announced he'll be moving into his theatre, impressionist Frank Caliendo began what could be a ten-year run at the Monte Carlo in hopes of drawing in the Gans crowd, and an impressionist named Paul Tanner says he's ready to take over the Las Vegas superstar's celebrity musical impressionist mantle. He told us in this press release that showed up at the Tabloid Baby offices:

Celebrity Impressionist Paul Tanner
Tapped to Follow in the Footsteps
of Legendary Las Vegas Entertainer Danny Gans

Press Release Distribution Staff

(EMAILWIRE.COM, October 15, 2009 ) LAS VEGAS – It’s been six months since the untimely tragic death of one of Vegas’ top entertainers, Danny Gans, and his absence has left a noticeable void in the entertainment community. Celebrity impressionist Paul Tanner may just be the one to fill that void. He has been contacted by several “interested parties” who see Tanner as the next star following in the footsteps of the beloved entertainer.

A performer who did his first impression at the age of seven, Tanner recalls Danny Gans with the utmost respect and admiration.

“I’m thrilled and humbled every time someone compares my show to Danny’s,” Tanner said “When I heard he passed away, I felt like someone kicked me in the stomach. It was shocking. Danny’s passing is a huge loss for anyone who appreciates great entertainment. I would be honored to carry the torch and honor his tradition.”


Like Gans, Paul Tanner’s show is filled with the great voices of comedy, celebrity, and music. His audiences around the world have included the likes of Pope John Paul II, who upon meeting Paul, gently made the sign of the cross over Paul’s vocal chords.

And when Neil Diamond’s mother came to see Tanner in Los Angeles, she told him, “You sound more like my son than my son does!” He smiles while retelling the story, “You don’t get a better review than that.”

When asked how he felt about the opportunity to step into the spotlight departed by Danny Gans, Paul replied, “No one could ever replace Danny Gans. But I think he would love my show.”

Paul Tanner was classically trained at The Juilliard School and spent time in opera as well as acting on Broadway before he developed his show, “Paul Tanner’s First Impressions”which he has performed all over the world. For a preview of Paul Tanner’s show visit www.youtube.com/paultannerofficial.