The Thin White Duke rides to the rescue, leading a syndicate of underwriters that includes rock legends Robert Plant and Sir Paul McCartney. With an investment of 69 cents on the dollar, Bowie's financial organization will acquire a controlling interest in The Cassandra Group, the stars will be paid back a substantial portion of what they're owed, and the US entertainment complex will be rescued from default. It is perhaps not the most charitable of offers, but Bowie is a businessman, and it's a buyer's market.

But no sooner has the Bowie offer been made than a celebrity backlash sets in. A coalition of former Cassandra Group investors, led by Ben Stiller, spells out the group's sense of its own entitlement in no uncertain terms.