Honolulu-based Duane "Dog" Chapman, star of A&E's "Dog the Bounty Hunter," knows how to tie up his man.

Chapman, his wife and partner Beth, sons Leland and Duane Lee, and associate Tim Chapman have been on the Mainland for business commitments. In Las Vegas last week, they were part of a nearly fatal stunt on the set of A&E's "Criss Angel Mindfreak" involving the show's star.

According to Las Vegas Review Journal reporter Norm Clarke, the Chapmans, in town for a national bounty hunter convention, participated in a demonstration with popular Las Vegas-based illusionist Angel in the Luxor pool.

Per Angel's request, the bounty hunters tied and shackled Angel and pushed him into the pool for a classic Houdini trick, which he had performed successfully many times on dry land.

Angel was submerged for 4 1/2 minutes trying to get free before his handlers got the sign to go in after him. Angel rarely has stayed under for more than 2 1/2 to three minutes, so it was "a close one," a representative said.

A show representative said it was the first time in 15 years that Angel has failed a magic trick.

The bounty hunters used a Samoan knot, which proved too much for Angel. He has challenged Dog and his posse to a rematch in Hawai'i, which the Chapmans accepted, causing Dog to quip, "So, that's Hawaiian bounty hunters one, magic guy none!"

TV DOCTOR FINDS HEALTHCARE VEXING

NEW YORK — He's a doctor on television's "Grey's Anatomy," but offscreen, Patrick Dempsey faces the same questions as anyone else when a loved one needs medical care.

"Well, it's overwhelming because it's like, there's too many options sometimes. It's like, well, why should I believe the doctors? Shouldn't I get a second opinion? Shouldn't I find a specialist?" he said in an interview with George Stephanopoulos broadcast yesterday on ABC's "This Week."

"You feel very naive and childlike in a lot of ways," said Dempsey, whose mother needed treatment for cancer several years ago. "You have to give over a lot of power to these people who may or may not understand what your needs are, or care, just because of the volume of work that they're going through."

He said his mother has been cancer-free for nine years. Since then, he has teamed up with Breakaway from Cancer, a support initiative founded in 2005, to help others.

'GURU OF GANJA' GETS COMIC'S HELP

PIEDMONT, Calif. — Comedian Tommy Chong will help raise money to defend the self-proclaimed "Guru of Ganja," who is charged with growing hundreds of marijuana plants for a dispensary.

Chong, who starred with Cheech Marin in stoner movie classics "Up in Smoke" and "Nice Dreams," will appear at a $125-per-person event for Ed Rosenthal.

Rosenthal, 62, famed for his marijuana cultivation books and the "Ask Ed" column he wrote for High Times magazine, will host the event Sunday at his Piedmont home.

"The party will celebrate how far we've come in legalizing medical marijuana as well as provide me with the money I need to fund my current trial that is defending all of our rights," Rosenthal said.

Rosenthal, who's scheduled to appear in federal court March 19, estimates his trial and related expenses could cost more than $300,000.

Federal prosecutors accused Rosenthal of growing marijuana, laundering money and falsifying tax returns from October 2001 through February 2002.