If magic man Criss Angel had his way, Britney Spears‘ 2007 VMAs Performance would have turned out much, much, much differently.

The L.A. Times recently spoke with the 40-year-old magician to hear his original ideas for Britney’s VMAs performance. Here’s what he said:

“With Britney I presented concepts to create, within her performance, illusions that would happen in the open. You would see Britney and then she would split into two Britneys and then four Britneys with no boxes or covers. It would just be a visual effect using no screens. People in the past have used the art of magic in music performances but mostly in a cheesy way. Magic has not kept up with popular culture and technology.

“Other things I wanted to do with her was to literally transform her into birds and then for her to reappear in the audience. I also thought of having her levitate over the audience. It was going to be really visual moments that were all epic tableaux that were beautiful, artistic, elegant and, most important, unique — things MTV hasn’t seen in music. I wanted to captivate people in the moment. That was the essence of what I wanted to do with the Britney performance, because I think the performance she did with the snake was a highlight of her career and I wanted to trump that and I thought we had it.”

So, what happened?

“Britney is really strong with her own ideas. And what I had planned wasn’t an easy thing to do and would have required a lot of rehearsals. Ultimately, I told her I needed 100% commitment or I wasn’t going to be able to do this. I told her that, ‘You have to feel comfortable.’ So, we explored it and she decided it wasn’t for her, and I completely understand.”

Sounds like it would have been an unforgettable performance to see Britney split herself into four. Not that her actual performance wasn’t unforgettable to begin with! If only Britney gave it her all…

One man who has some explaining to do: Criss Angel. Did the magic man infuse any magic into Britney’s comeback performance at the VMAs? (If you missed it, watch Britney’s VMAs performance here).

Even the Associated Press rips into Brit’s performance:

“Somewhere, Kevin Federline is laughing.

An out-of-shape, out-of-touch Britney Spears delivered what was destined to be the most talked about performance of the MTV Video Music Awards — but for all the wrong reasons. Kicking off the show Sunday night with her new single, “Gimme More,” Spears looked bleary and unprepared — much like her recent tabloid exploits on the streets of Los Angeles.

She lazily walked through her dance moves with little enthusiasm. It appeared she had forgotten the entire art of lip-synching; and, perhaps most unforgivable given her once taut frame, she looked embarrassingly out of shape.

Even the celebrity-studded audience seemed bewildered. 50 Cent looked at Spears with a confused expression; Diddy, her new best friend, was expressionless.

Some comeback.”

Hey, at least she was wearing underwear.

He really is a magician!

Mindfreak star Criss Angel works his magic on his next victim — Britney Spears!

The couple was spotted leaving the Tower Beverly Hills Hotel together at 4AM in the morning on Thursday. Conversation topic of the night? Probably their legal battles! Criss, 39, is currently in a messy divorce battle with ex-wife-to-be Joanne Winkhart. Britney, 26, is caught up in a custody battle with ex-hubby Kevin Federline.

Criss last hooked up with actress Cameron Diaz. They went on a “couple dates” before calling it quits. The smooth-moves magician has also been romantically linked to rehab fave Lindsay Lohan.

UPDATE: Thanks to JustJared.com reader Nick, Britney was likely plotting her comeback performance with Criss. “Rumor has it he’s helping Britney for a special performance at the VMAs,” says one spywitness. “They were discussing the VMAs in the restaurant.”

Criss Angel speaks up about his messy divorce and his relationship with Cameron Diaz. The Mindfreak star left a little long message on the blog of Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous host Robin Leach:

“It is with great sadness and disappointment that I feel the need to dignify and refute the inaccuracies, blatant lies and misrepresentations that my estranged wife and her attorney made last week in a New York courtroom and continue to make in the press.

Just under 50% of marriages in this country end in divorce and, as most people understand, it is a very difficult thing to endure. To have it played out in the court of public opinion with misleading statements, lies and innuendo is particularly disturbing and disappointing. I would like to set the record straight with the hopes that this process can proceed in privacy.

My estranged wife filed for divorce on May 5, 2006, over fourteen months ago. When she filed her complaint over one year ago, and when she amended it twice she made no mention of alleged adultery or lack of financial support. The fact that they decided to play both of those cards for the first time last week demonstrates their willingness to manufacture stories for their own purposes.

I have always supported JoAnn’s every expense in the past prior to her filing for divorce in May of 2006 and continue to do so to this day. She has had unlimited access to credit cards that I pay for. I have paid for her cell phone, her car, her gas, her car insurance, her health insurance, trips she has taken even the smallest thing like her cat food. Essentially, I have paid for her every expense. I have also paid for her housing the entire time. In fact, the townhouse where she is currently living and that I am paying for is larger than any place she has ever lived and is also a rent-free home to her brother, the brother who had no problem taking shots at me in the press while he is separated from his wife and small child. JoAnn’s claim that I stopped supporting her is simply false. The statement about lack of support by her and her family is both shocking and a prime example that they will stop at nothing to paint me in the press as some sort of monster in order to extort more money out of me.

Her claim that she was my “secret” wife is preposterous and inaccurate. Our marriage was well known to my friends and all of my fans worldwide. She was featured prominently in the first two seasons of my show. She and her family were thanked and credited in every episode and in my recent autobiography.

The fact that they have tried to use Cameron Diaz to accomplish their ends is a sign of their desperation. Here too they have their facts wrong and are attempting to mislead. Anyone that reads the press can figure out the timeline. Cameron and I met in May of this year at the VH1 Rock Honors show, over a year after JoAnn’s initial filing. She and I went on four or five dates and there is no current relationship between us. Cameron is a good friend and an amazing person and to defame her and myself and paint her as the reason for my marriage’s demise is factually inaccurate, ridiculous and just plain wrong. It seems clear, and very unfortunate to me that JoAnn and her attorney both hope that these false statements will provide my estranged wife, who has also been dating during this time, the financial windfall she is obviously seeking.

I hope that this statement of facts can help clear the air about the myriad of preposterous and salacious accusations that have come out in the past few days and put the process back in the courtroom where it belongs. It has never been my intention to play this out publicly but JoAnn’s false public statements have left me no alternative. I am very confident when all of the facts are presented in court that JoAnn’s true motive will be revealed for what it is.”
Signed, Criss Angel

Drew Barrymore parties at Las Vegas nightclub Jet on Saturday sporting a bold pair of patent leather gloves.

The Lucky You star was accompanied by illustionist Criss Angel, who stars in the television magic show Mind Freak on the A&E cable channel.

For an interesting read on Criss, check out this Reuters article that was published last week.

Would you copy Drew’s style and wear this glove trend while out clubbing?