Anthony Pellicano's racketeering, conspiracy, wiretapping, witness tampering, identity theft, and destruction of evidence trial is entertaining for oh so many reasons. Not only is there the star wattage – the latest round of which has Chris Rock releasing a 31-minute recorded conversation with Pellicano, from August 2001, discussing what to do about the one-night-stand Monica Zsibrita, who was accusing the comic of rape – but there's also the courtroom serial drama taking place as the former private investigator acts as his own attorney.

Throughout his years in the business, Pellicano proved money could always buy protection. These days, he's proving true the adage "only an idiot represents himself."

But even the most experienced lawyer knows better than to serve as his own advocate. "No sane person does it," says another attorney who's worked with you. The absence of faith in anyone but yourself is exactly the kind of dangerous hubris that led you to record yourself bragging to baseball slugger Matt Williams about your ability to wiretap phones. Now those recordings are being played in open court, your former assistant is discussing in rich detail how she listened to private attorney-client conversations at your direction and prosecutors say they can show that your services commanded big bucks — including $75,000 from former CAA president Michael Ovitz just to deal with nosy reporter (and former Hollywood Reporter editor) Anita Busch.

It doesn't look good, Anthony. The secrets are out. The industry that enabled your unique and successful enterprise has turned its back on you like an aging starlet. [THR Esq.]