Michael Jackson is gone

[The R]

Kinda hard to believe. :(


http://www.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/Music/06/25/michael.jackson/index.html

[samanthajane13]

King of Pop Michael Jackson is dead: report
By Bob Tourtellotte Bob Tourtellotte – 20 mins ago

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Pop giant Michael Jackson, who took to the stage as a child star and set the world dancing to exuberant rhythms for decades, died on Thursday after being taken ill at his home, the Los Angeles Times said. He was 50.

"Pop star Michael Jackson was pronounced dead by doctors this afternoon after arriving at a hospital in a deep coma, city and law enforcement sources told The Times," the newspaper reported on its website.

The paper's report followed news of Jackson's death first reported by the TMZ entertainment website.

There was no immediate comment from spokespersons for Jackson, who was known as the "King of Pop," for hit albums that included "Thriller" and "Billie Jean."

He had been scheduled to launch a comeback tour from London next month.

TMZ said on its website that "Michael suffered a cardiac arrest earlier this afternoon at his Holmby Hills home and paramedics were unable to revive him. We're told when paramedics arrived Jackson had no pulse and they never got a pulse back."

Earlier, the Los Angeles Times said the singer had been rushed to a Los Angeles-area hospital by fire department paramedics who found him not breathing when they arrived at the singer's home.

The newspaper said paramedics performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation at the scene before taking him to the UCLA Medical Center hospital.

COMEBACK CONCERTS

Jackson had been due to start a series of concerts in London on July 13 running until March 2010. The singer had been rehearsing in the Los Angeles area for the past two months.

The shows for the 50 London concerts sold out within minutes of going on sale in March.

His lifetime record sales tally is believed to be around 750 million, which, added to the 13 Grammy Awards he received, makes him one of the most successful entertainers of all time.

He lived as a virtual recluse since his acquittal in 2005 on charges of child molestation.

There were concerns about Jackson's health in recent years but the promoters of the London shows, AEG Live, said in March that Jackson had passed a 4-1/2 hour physical examination with independent doctors.

CHILD STAR TO MEGASTAR

Jackson was born on August 29, 1958, in Gary, Indiana, the seventh of nine children. Five Jackson boys -- Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon and Michael -- first performed together at a talent show when Michael was 6. They walked off with first prize and went on to become a best-selling band, The Jackson Five, and then The Jackson 5.

Jackson made his first solo album in 1972, and released "Thriller" in 1982, which became a smash hit that yielded seven top-10 singles. The album sold 21 million copies in the United States and at least 27 million worldwide.

The next year, he unveiled his signature "moonwalk" dance move while performing "Billie Jean" during an NBC special.

In 1994, Jackson married Elvis Presley's only child, Lisa Marie, but the marriage ended in divorce in 1996. Jackson married Debbie Rowe the same year and had two children, before splitting in 1999. The couple never lived together.

Jackson has three children named Prince Michael I, Paris Michael and Prince Michael II, known for his brief public appearance when his father held him over the railing of a hotel balcony, causing widespread criticism.

(Additional Reporting by Jill Serjeant; Writing by Frances Kerry, Editing by Jackie Frank)


http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090625/people_nm/us_jackson_8;_ylt=Ao0H5kfVT9dbSZk3MYi7tfUnHL8C;_yl u=X3oDMTE2anEycTM3BHBvcwMzBHNlYwN5bi1yLWItbGVmdARz bGsDZXYta2luZ29mcG9w

[samanthajane13]

Michael Jackson Dies After Cardiac Arrest
King of Pop, 50, Was Scheduled to Kick Off Comeback Series of Concerts in July
By SHEILA MARIKAR and LUCHINA FISHER
June 25, 2009

Michael Jackson, one the best-selling and most controversial recording artists of all time, died Thursday, ABC News has confirmed.

The Los Angeles Fire Department was called to Jackson's residence at 12:26 p.m. P.T., according to the Los Angeles Times. The paper reported that paramedics performed CPR on Jackson, who was not breathing when they arrived at his home. He was rushed to UCLA Medical Center, just six miles from his home.

Watch "The Life and Death of Michael Jackson" on a special edition of "20/20" TONIGHT at 9 p.m. ET.

Jackson's death came less than a month before the start of a scheduled series of so-called comeback concerts. From July 13 to March 6, 2010, Jackson was scheduled to perform 50 sold-out concerts at London's O2 Arena.

During a news conference at London's O2 Arena in March, Jackson assured about 2,000 fans -- some who applied for tickets to hear his announcement, others who walked in off the street -- that come July, he would be giving his "final curtain call."

"I just want to say that these will be my final show performances in London," he said to the screaming crowd. "This will be it. When I say this is it, this will be it."

Looking fit and heavily made up, his straightened black hair a contrast to his scarlet mouth, the self-proclaimed King of Pop showed up at the news conference 90 minutes late after traveling by bus in a motorcade. Jackson appeared to soak in the crowd, who shouted his name and "I love you," by pausing several times during his very short statement. He also seemed to make a point of showing how fit he was by pumping his fist a couple times in the air.

"I love you," he said to his fans. "I really do, you have to know that. I love you so much. This is it. See you in July."

Many wondered whether Jackson was healthy enough to perform again when he announced his plans earlier this year.

Recent pictures have shown him being pushed in a wheelchair, appearing frail and gaunt and wearing a face mask while being helped across the street. In December, there were reports that Jackson was on his deathbed, suffering from a rare lung condition, which his publicist denied.

"I find it astonishing that he's physically able to do it," Stacy Brown, a former Jackson family insider who co-wrote the Jackson biography, "Michael Jackson: the Man behind the Mask," told ABCNews.com in March. "Michael will be 51 this year. This is not 'Benjamin Button.' He is not growing younger."

Jackson Showed Signs of Failing Health

Brown recalled seeing Jackson's last live concert performance at Madison Square Garden in 2001 for his 30th anniversary show. Jackson buried his head in brother Jermaine's chest. Later, Brown talked to Jackson's brothers about it.

"Most people thought it was part of the show, but Michael was exhausted," he said.


http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/Music/story?id=7931645&page=1

[lorettalockhorn]

What will become of his children?

[samanthajane13]

News of Jackson's death first spread online
By JAKE COYLE, AP Entertainment Writer Jake Coyle, Ap Entertainment Writer – 1 hr 4 mins ago

NEW YORK – It was a where-were-you moment in a digital age: Michael Jackson's death was not learned from a fatherly TV news anchor. Instead, the news first spread online.

Some of the initial reports from various outlets were confusing: Was Jackson still alive? Was he in a coma? They spread like wildfire across news sites, social media networks and Twitter.

The celebrity Web site TMZ.com. site broke the news of Jackson's death at 5:20 p.m. Thursday.

It was a huge scoop for the AOL-owned TMZ, though many did not believe TMZ's report until it was matched by more established news organizations.

"Everything starts with a tip," said Harvey Levin, managing editor of TMZ. "We wouldn't have put it up if we weren't positive."

Jackson's death was confirmed by the Los Angeles Times and then The Associated Press just minutes before the nightly network news began. The anchors relayed the news at the top of their broadcasts, though CBS and ABC quickly moved on to their prepared obituaries for Farrah Fawcett, who died earlier Thursday.

MTV, the channel that had so much to do with Jackson's incredible rise to fame, played Jackson's iconic music videos "Beat It" and "Thriller," and continued with a Jackson marathon.

On Twitter, the dialogue took strange forms. As times Thursday night, Jackson-related search topics were the most popular on the site. The service was slowed for a time following Jackson's death, but it did not appear to crash. (Twitter did not immediately respond to an e-mail Thursday.)

Celebrity users on Twitter — including Lindsay Lohan, Ashton Kutcher, John Mayer, Ryan Seacrest and ?uestlove of the Roots — posted their remembrances.

"I will be mourning my friend, brother, mentor and inspiration," tweeted MC Hammer. "He gave me and my family hope. I would never have been me without him."

Comedian Rob Corddry, the former "Daily Show" correspondent, joked: "I wish it had been Michael Jackson that broke the story of TMZ dying."

Others sought to corrupt the memorializing of Jackson. A false rumor was spread that actor Jeff Goldblum had died. His publicist had to release a statement saying that Goldblum was fine.

So many people wanted to verify the early reports of Jackson's death that the computers running Google's news section interpreted the fusillade of "Michael Jackson" requests as an automated attack from about 5:40 p.m. through 6:15 p.m.

As a defense mechanism, Google's news section responded to requests for information about Michael Jackson with squiggly letters known as a "captcha." Just as online ticket buyers regularly do to complete their purchases, the Michael Jackson searchers had to enter the letters correctly to see Google's new results.

Searches made through Google's main search engine were unaffected, according to company spokesman Gabriel Stricker.

On YouTube, traffic flowed to music videos of Jackson, while thousands posted videos of themselves sharing their thoughts on Jackson.

___

AP Technology Writer Michael Liedtke in San Francisco contributed to this report.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090626/ap_en_mu/us_michael_jackson_online

[samanthajane13]

Michael Jackson's health woes took center stage
By ALICIA CHANG, AP Science Writer Alicia Chang, Ap Science Writer – 1 hr 11 mins ago

LOS ANGELES – Over Michael Jackson's chart-topping music career, his health has commanded as much publicity as his hit songs.

Plastic surgery, mysterious hospitalizations and reports of pill popping have long plagued the King of Pop.

The circumstances surrounding Jackson's death Thursday were sketchy, but the pop icon apparently collapsed from cardiac arrest at his rented Bel-Air home.

The reclusive singer was reportedly found unconscious and not breathing. Paramedics performed CPR and rushed him to the hospital — a six-minute drive away — where he was pronounced dead.

Jackson's unexpected death at age 50 during a comeback attempt stunned the world despite a history of health problems — some real and others rumored — that have been fodder for tabloids and gossip columns speculating wildly about his woes.

In the early 1990s, Jackson's dermatologist revealed the singer had a skin disorder known as vitiligo, which leads to white patches on the skin. Over the years, Jackson underwent numerous plastic surgeries, including a nose job.

Jackson was also widely reported to be addicted to painkillers from pain he developed after he was burned while filming a Pepsi commercial in 1984.

During his 2005 molestation trial in which he was acquitted, Jackson appeared gaunt and had recurring back problems he attributed to stress. The trial was interrupted several times by hospital visits. Jackson once even appeared late to court dressed in his pajamas after an emergency room visit.

Last year, a celebrity biographer claimed Jackson suffered from a rare respiratory disease and was in need of a lung transplant — a claim his publicists have denied.

Chatter about Jackson's health surfaced again last month after his representatives postponed several of his London comeback shows, citing the need for more rehearsal time. A previous attempt by Jackson to relaunch his career was sidetracked amid reports of ill health and court action.

Jackson was in the process of preparing for an epic 50-concert stand in London that had him rehearsing long hours. Jackson was described "very frail," but worked hard, Johnny Caswell, a principal at Centerstaging, where Jackson rehearsed for the concerts, told the Los Angeles Times.

Michael Levine, a Hollywood publicist who represented Jackson in the early 1990s, said that the pressures of emotional, physical, legal, financial and spiritual dysfunction caught up with Jackson.

"It's a toxic mix that nobody can withstand," he said.

Jackson died at UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles. His brother, Jermaine, told a news conference that Jackson was believed to have suffered cardiac arrest, a condition that afflicts 300,000 Americans a year.

"However, the cause of his death is unknown until results of the autopsy are known," his brother said.

Cardiac arrest strikes without warning. It occurs when the heart's electrical system goes haywire and the heart suddenly stops beating. It can occur after a heart attack or be caused by other heart problems.

"In the absence of details, it's hard to know if he had a cardiac arrest or if he stopped breathing," said Dr. Leslie Saxon, chief of cardiovascular medicine at the University of Southern California.

Fewer than 5 percent of those who suffer cardiac arrest survive, according to medical experts.

During cardiac arrest, brain cells die within minutes. It is reversible if a person receives an electric shock to the heart to restore normal heartbeat.

Each minute that passes without restoring normal heart rhythm, the odds of survival decreases by 10 percent.

"There's a huge public health message," said Dr. Clyde Yancy, a heart specialist at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas and president of the American Heart Association.

"When someone collapses abruptly, call 911, and if they're not breathing, start CPR," Yancy said.

___

AP Medical Writer Marilynn Marchione and AP Special Correspondent Linda Deutsch contributed to this report.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090626/ap_on_re_us/us_michael_jackson_health

[One2Snoop]

A legend lost - very sad IMO. :(

[JLette]

i cannot say i was a fan of his but i am still shocked by this news. he certainly was a legend, there was not one person on the planet who hadn't heard and liked at least ONE of his songs, and his name was one known throughout ever household in the world.


RIP Michael :rose:

[samanthajane13]

Leaders, superstars, fans mourn King of Pop
By GREGORY KATZ, Associated Press Writer Gregory Katz, Associated Press Writer – 2 hrs 1 min ago

LONDON – Michael Jackson was due to make his triumphant return to the stage in London next month — but instead his sudden death has left millions of fans feeling they've lost a lifelong friend.

The dramatic death of the brilliant singer seemed to obscure his recent controversies and kindle warmer memories of Jackson the child star and Jackson the show-stopping, moonwalking headliner.

The worldwide chorus of grief united the famous — statesmen and superstars alike — and the legions of ordinary people who grew up with "Thriller" and "Beat It."

Word of Jackson's death jolted nearly everyone, from a young man in Colombia who was named after the King of Pop, to Malaysians who named a soy drink for him, to a generation of people around the world who have tried, in vain, to moonwalk.

"It's horrible news, so unexpected," the Italian actress Sophia Loren told The Associated Press by telephone. "The world has lost an icon and music has lost treasures. He wrote songs that generations of yesterday, today and tomorrow will all keep on singing. What he wrote was amazing."

Loren and her children had been frequent visitors to Jackson at his Neverland ranch in California, developing an enduring friendship.

"I hope that Michael will find that peace that maybe he did not have in the last 15 years."

In London, shocked fans gathered at the Lyric Theatre, where a live show based on Jackson's record-selling album "Thriller" is being performed, and waited for news about refunds for some 750,000 tickets to his sold-out, 50-night run.

A spokeswoman for AEG Live — the promoters for the London concerts — declined to say how ticket refunds would be handled. She spoke on condition of anonymity, saying she was not authorized to speak to the media.

There were poignant memories of his final public appearance when he came to London for a March news conference to announce his "This is it" concerts, which he said would mark his farewell to the London stage. A candlelight vigil at London's Trafalgar Square was planned to honor the singer.

Former South African President Nelson Mandela issued a message through his foundation saying Jackson's loss would be felt worldwide.

Jackson sang at a birthday concert for Mandela in 1998. In 1999, according to local media reports at the time, he lunched with Mandela at a small gathering at which the South African anti-apartheid leader celebrated both his 81st birthday and his and wife Graca Machel's first wedding anniversary.

The Nelson Mandela Children's Fund, UNESCO and the Red Cross were given proceeds from a huge benefit concert in Germany in 1999 that featured Jackson and other international stars.

Former Beatle Paul McCartney, who recorded with Jackson before they had a falling out over ownership of the Beatles catalog, said his prayers went to Jackson's family and fans.

"It's so sad and shocking," he said. "I feel privileged to have hung out and worked with Michael. He was a massively talented boy-man with a gentle soul. His music will be remembered forever and my memories of our time together will be happy ones."

In Ireland, where Jackson made his temporary home in a castle south of Dublin in 2007, people remembered him as a kind and loving man. Eugene Lambert, Ireland's best-known puppeteer, recalled his son's puppet performance at a birthday party for Jackson attended by the singer's three children.

"Michael and the kids seemed to enjoy the show equally," he said. "My son sang happy birthday to Michael, who seemed genuinely touched by the attention. Michael rang me that night to thank me for the show. He said he hoped he'd be as happy at his work as I am at my age, and of course I'm 80."

In Paris, actress and singer Liza Minnelli told France-Info radio she would sing her "dear, dear friend," a tribute during a concert Saturday, but would not disclose which song. "I will miss him until the day I go," she said.

"He changed history. He changed musical history and he changed performing," Minnelli said, her voice strained.

Minnelli, herself the daughter of screen star Judy Garland and film director Vincente Minnelli, lamented Jackson's public childhood.

"Imagine, you grow up in public. From the time he could walk, they put him on stage. He had no childhood, none," she said.

Former British child star Mark Lester, who is godfather to Jackson's children, said he had visited with Jackson several weeks ago and believed the star was ready for the rigors of performing 50 live gigs.

"He was absolutely fine," said Lester. "I can't believe this, it's such a shock. I'll always remember him as being a very sweet, kind and loving man."

Rocker Lenny Kravitz recalled working with Jackson in the studio on an unreleased track and finding the man far different from the eccentric recluse often portrayed in the media.


Continued...

[samanthajane13]

"It was the most amazing experience I've had in the studio," Kravitz said. "He was funny. Very funny and we laughed the whole time. I also saw what a beautiful father he was. He was a beautiful human being. If not for him, I wouldn't be doing what I'm doing. He gave me joy as a child and showed me the way to go."

Jackson's death prompted broadcasters from Sydney to Seoul — where the news came early Friday — to interrupt morning programs, while fans remembered a "tortured genius" whose squeals and sliding moves captivated a generation and who sparked global trends in music, dance and fashion.

Several world leaders weighed in.

Britain's prime minister Gordon Brown said his thoughts are with Jackson's family. Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez called it "lamentable news," though he criticized the media for giving it so much attention. Former South Korean President Kim Dae-jung, who had met Jackson, said: "We lost a hero of the world."

"I don't think anyone can be indifferent to Michael Jackson, my husband included," French first lady Carla Bruni-Sarkozy told RTL radio in France. "I will enormously miss his voice, his songs and his presence in our world," she said.

In Romania, where a tumultuous Jackson concert in 1992 helped mark the country's new freedoms after the fall of the Soviet bloc, singer Lucian Viziru said he was stunned by the tragedy.

"I feel like crying," he told the AP, rubbing his eyes. "I grew up with him, I learned his dances, his songs, everything. My first ever cassette was 'Thriller.'"

A condolence board went up in downtown Bucharest. Radio and TV stations played his music and broadcast clips from the concert.

"My heart is heavy because my idol died," said Byron Garcia, security consultant at a Philippine prison who organized the famous video of 1,500 inmates doing a synchronized dance to "Thriller." The video has had 23.4 million hits on YouTube.

Garcia said the inmates in Cebu will hold a tribute for Jackson on Saturday with their "Thriller" dance and a minute of prayer.

The flamboyant former Philippine first lady, Imelda Marcos, who cheered Jackson's acquittal on child molestation charges in 2005, said she cried on hearing the news.

"Michael Jackson enriched our lives, made us happy," she said. "The accusations, the persecution caused him so much financial and mental anguish. He was vindicated in court, but the battle took his life. There is probably a lesson here for all of us."

In Bogota, Colombia, a 24-year-old tattoo artist named Michael Tarquino said his parents named him after Jackson. He recalled growing up with electricity rationing for hours at a time and waiting for the power to return.

"When the light came back on I would play my Michael Jackson LP, and I'd stand at the window and sing along," he said.

Japanese fans were always among Jackson's most passionate supporters, and news of his death came as a huge shock. Michiko Suzuki, a music critic who met Jackson several times in the 1980s, said the country was likely to be mourning for some time.

"Everyone was imitating his 'moonwalk' when it was a hit. He was a true superstar," she said.

Jackson also had a huge fan base in Seoul, South Korea, where his style and dance moves were widely emulated by Korean pop stars.

"He is my master and the prime mover to make me dance," pop star Rain told the South Korean sports and entertainment daily Ilgan Sports. "Even though he is dead, he is an eternal performer."

Aaron Kwok, one of Chinese pop's most accomplished singer-dancers, said he was deeply saddened by the news.

"It's so sudden," Kwok said in a statement. "No one can replace Michael Jackson's contributions to pop music."

___

Associated Press writers Tanalee Smith in Sydney; Marta Falconi in Rome; Shawn Pogatchnik in Dublin; Rod McGuirk in Canberra; Peter Orsi in Mexico City; Stan Lehman in Sao Paolo; Jorge Rueda in Caracas; Madeleine Bair in Bogota; John Rogers and Derrik J. Lang in Los Angeles; Kim Yong-ho in Seoul; Min Lee in Hong Kong; Yuri Kageyama in Tokyo; Angela Charlton in Paris and Teresa Cerojano in Manila contributed to this report.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090626/ap_on_en_mu/michael_jackson_world_reax

[old_soul]

Zoloft
Xanax
Demerol.........

Zoloft and Demerol are deadly when mixed together. Lidocaine bottle was also seen on the floor of Michael's room, seen by a responder (fd) to the scene.

His doctor Robert Conrad, who has disappeared, lived in the house with Michael. The doctors's car was towed from Michael's home last night by LE. Why has he disappeared?

What other drugs will be found in Michael's body.... I fear there is much that will be found out, and not good information. It is being discussed as a possible Dermerol overdose.

Another death which should have never happened because of prescription drug and rouge doctors who dispense to these people because it's all about the love of money........

A wonderful talent, gone like so many before him. Unnecessary deaths.
I hope he will find peace in Heaven. His children need prayers too...they are in for a hell of a battle.

RIP
:rose:

[old_soul]

According to all news reports, ANYTHING MICHAEL JACKSON is running up 700% from 24 hours ago when he was alive.

That includes downloads, on Amazon, Tweeter has been brought down a couple of times..even Internet coverage........Never in history has this happened with a performer.

Michael Jackson has done in death what he could never do in life..nor has anyone else.

#1 in the World.

[lorettalockhorn]

CNBC had some interesting MJ coverage today:

Jackson Lived Like King But Died Awash in Debt

http://www.cnbc.com/id/31559778

Jackson Tour Promoter Stands to Lose Millions

http://www.cnbc.com/id/31566576

Several video reports on the Jane Wells page (bottom left):

http://www.cnbc.com/id/15837936

[lorettalockhorn]

Just heard part of the 911 call on Prime News and the operator was telling the caller to move MJ to the floor for CPR. The caller told him that there was a doctor on the scene and that he hadn't responded to CPR. So my question is, did the doc not know the correct procedure?? Why was he living with a physician anyway?

Feel so sorry for his kiddos.

[RayStar]

The doctor is Conrad Murray from TX. I want to know why he was there. The caller was not id'd and why did he not id MJ to 911.

[samanthajane13]

Coroner: More tests needed on Jackson's death
By JOHN ROGERS and JAKE COYLE, Associated Press Writers John Rogers And Jake Coyle, Associated Press Writers – 44 mins ago

LOS ANGELES – Los Angeles County coroner's spokesman Craig Harvey says determining the cause of Michael Jackson's death will require further neuropathology and pulmonary tests that will take four to six weeks. Harvey says there were no signs of foul play or trauma to the body during the three-hour autopsy. He also says Jackson was taking some unspecified prescription medications.

The spokesman says Assistant Chief Coroner Ed Winter is with Jackson's family.

Harvey says the police department has requested a security hold on the investigation which limits how much the coroner's office can say about the case. He says the death became a coroner's case because there was no doctor to sign the death certificate.

Harvey says the body will be released once the family selects a mortuary.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090626/ap_on_en_mu/us_michael_jackson

[samanthajane13]

Coroner: Cause of Jackson death deferred
By JOHN ROGERS and JAKE COYLE, Associated Press Writers John Rogers And Jake Coyle, Associated Press Writers – 42 mins ago

LOS ANGELES – Los Angeles County coroner's spokesman Craig Harvey says determining the cause of Michael Jackson's death will require further neuropathology and pulmonary tests that will take four to six weeks.

Harvey says there were no signs of foul play or trauma to the body during the three-hour autopsy. He also says Jackson was taking some unspecified prescription medications.

The spokesman says Assistant Chief Coroner Ed Winter is with Jackson's family.

Harvey says the police department has requested a security hold on the investigation which limits how much the coroner's office can say about the case. He says the death became a coroner's case because there was no doctor to sign the death certificate.

Harvey says the body will be released once the family selects a mortuary.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Los Angeles County coroner's spokesman Craig Harvey says determining the cause of Michael Jackson's death will require further tests that will take six to eight weeks.

Harvey says there were no signs of foul play or trauma to the body. He also says Jackson was taking some unspecified prescription medications.

The spokesman says Assistant Chief Coroner Ed Winter is with Jackson's family.

(This version CORRECTS time span to four to six weeks. )


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090626/ap_en_ce/us_michael_jackson

[samanthajane13]

911 call in Michael Jackson death released
By RAQUEL MARIA DILLON, Associated Press Writer Raquel Maria Dillon, Associated Press Writer – Fri Jun 26, 3:06 pm ET

LOS ANGELES – A 911 caller seeking help for Michael Jackson told an emergency operator that only a personal physician had seen what happened, and an ambulance was urgently needed because resuscitation efforts weren't working.

The Los Angeles Fire Department on Friday released a redacted audio recording of the call made Thursday by a person who only referred to Jackson as a 50-year-old man. It appeared that a mention of the phone number was deleted from the recording.

"I need an ambulance as soon as possible, sir," the caller said urgently but politely. "We have a gentlemen here that needs help and he's not breathing yet. He's not breathing and we need to — we're trying to pump him, but he's not, he's not."

The caller reported that Jackson was on a bed and the emergency operator began to instruct him to do CPR, but stopped when the caller said that the personal physician was there.

"Oh, OK. We're on our way there. If your guy is doing CPR and you're instructed by a doctor, he's a higher authority than me. And he's on the scene," the 911 operator said.

The operator asked if anyone witnessed what happened.

"No, just the doctor, sir, the doctor was the only one there," the caller said.

"Did he see what happened?" the operator asked.

"Doctor, did you see what happened, sir?" the caller asked someone in the room. Only an urgent mumbling can be heard on the recording.

"We're on our way. It's less than a mile away from Cedars," the operator said, referring to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.

Paramedics, however, took Jackson to Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, where he was later pronounced dead.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090626/ap_en_ot/us_michael_jackson911_call

[samanthajane13]

AP Source: Jackson suffered a heart attack
By LYNN ELBER, Associated Press Writer Lynn Elber, Associated Press Writer – 40 mins ago

LOS ANGELES – Michael Jackson, who was with a cardiologist when he collapsed at his rented home in Los Angeles, appeared to have suffered a heart attack, a person with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press.

The person, who was not authorized to speak publicly and requested anonymity, said Jackson suffered a heart attack, which is a blocking of the arteries that deprives the heart of adequate blood. That can lead to cardiac arrest, an interruption of the normal heartbeat.

Jackson's brother Jermaine said Thursday that it was believed the pop singer went into cardiac arrest. The Los Angeles County coroner's office, which completed its autopsy Friday, said determining the cause of death will require further tests that will take six to eight weeks.

The possibility of a heart attack could be a key clue as to why Jackson had a cardiologist at his home while he went through vigorous training for an upcoming series of concerts in London: Heart attacks can indicate a long-term problem, such as heart disease. It would not necessarily rule out another factor, such as drug use, however.

Coroner's spokesman Craig Harvey said Jackson was taking some prescription medications, but did not specify what they were.

Police earlier today seized the car of Dr. Conrad Murray, a cardiologist who practices in California, Nevada and Texas, who was with Jackson at the time of his death. Police said they believed the car may contain drugs or other evidence.

When autopsies are performed on cardiac arrest victims, as many as three-fourths show signs of heart disease, such as clogged arteries, said Dr. Douglas Zipes, an Indiana University heart specialist and past president of the American College of Cardiology.

Finding signs of a heart attack would not rule out drugs playing a role. For example, injections of the powerful painkiller Demerol can depress normal breathing or cause a sudden drop in blood pressure and trigger a heart rhythm problem, said Dr. Lance Becker, a University of Pennsylvania emergency medicine specialist and an American Heart Association spokesman.

If that occurred in someone who already had clogged arteries, it could make the situation much worse, he said.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090626/ap_en_ot/us_michael_jackson_heart

[samanthajane13]

More on Michael Jackson's MIA Mystery Doctor
Josh Grossberg Josh Grossberg – 2 hrs 2 mins ago

Los Angeles (E! Online) – Where in the world is Michael Jackson's doctor?

L.A.'s Finest are continuing to search for a Houston-based cardiologist who was on the scene Thursday when the King of Pop went into cardiac arrest at his home and died suddenly. But the good news is, now they have a name to go on.

E! News has identified Jackson's personal physician as Dr. Conrad Robert Murray, who had been living in the 50-year-old "Thriller" star's rented Holmby Hills mansion.

Houston station KHOU interviewed a medical assistant at the Acres Home Heart and Vascular Institute, who confirmed that Murray was present at the time Jackson was stricken and administering CPR before paramedics arrived. But she hadn't been able to reach him despite numerous attempts.

Investigators want to talk to the doctor as part of a standard probe into the music legend's death, though no foul play is suspected at this time.

But questions were raised Thursday after authorities towed a BMW with Texas plates from Jackson's home. The car was registered to Murray's sister. LAPD Officer Tenesha Dobine tells E! News "there may have been some medication inside the vehicle that the coroner needs for its investigation."

Here's what else we've learned about Murray...

• He is licensed to practice medicine in both Texas and California.
• He has been sued twice for breach of contract in Clark County (Las Vegas) by creditors. Last year, HICA Education Loan Corp was awarded $71,332.45 in a case against him.
• His Houston business, Acres Home Heart and Vascular Institute, was on the losing end in a September 2008 case and ordered to pay the plaintiff, Popular Leasing CA, more than $135,000.
• Capital One sued him through a debt-collection law firm and was awarded $1,473 last December.

Michael's brother Jermaine earlier stated that Jackson's physician had attempted to revive him before medics arrived, though he did not identify Murray by name.

In 2007, Jackson was sued by a Beverly Hills pharmacy that claimed he was more than $100,000 behind on payments for various prescriptions filled. Within days the lawsuit had been settled for an undisclosed amount.

—Additional reporting by Lindsay Miller

(Originally published June 26, 2009, at 10:55 a.m. PT)


http://news.yahoo.com/s/eonline/20090626/en_top_eo/131365

[samanthajane13]

Jackson death was twittered, texted and Facebooked
By JOCELYN NOVECK, AP National Writer Jocelyn Noveck, Ap National Writer – 1 hr 29 mins ago

NEW YORK – "Ladies and gentlemen, Michael Jackson has just died," the woman called out breathlessly upon boarding a Manhattan bus, moments after the news had broken. Not a word was spoken in response. But nearly every passenger reached for a Blackberry, a cell phone, whatever device was at hand.

"People are already texting about it, putting it up on Facebook, remembering his greatest moments," noted Delmar Dualeh, sitting in the back. At 17, he confessed, the news didn't really move him emotionally. He was too young to recall the 50-year-old entertainer in his prime. But he was fully engaged in the cultural moment. He hurried the conversation along so he could get back to texting.

In Iran, people speak of a Twitter uprising. Was this the first major Twitter celebrity death? Because it wasn't just HOW many people first learned of Jackson's demise but what they did once they found out.

"Once you knew the news, there wasn't so much more to know — the rest is all comment," said media critic Jeff Jarvis. So, he said, maybe you'd go to your friends instead of the news: "You might care more what your friends say than some analyst."

Jarvis himself tweeted the moment he heard of the death: He noted that Iran's spiritual leader should be grateful to Jackson because the story wiped Iran off the day's news agenda.

"That was re-tweeted a lot," Jarvis said.

The company said news of Jackson's death generated the most tweets per second since Barack Obama was elected president, and more than twice the normal tweets per second from the moment the story broke.

Plain old texting, Dualeh's choice, had its largest spike on AT&T'S network in history. Nearly 65,000 texts per second were sent, the company said — more than 60 percent over normal volume.

And on Facebook, "sharing of all types went up — including wall posts, comments, notes, posted links," wrote spokeswoman Jaime Schopflin in an e-mail. "Status updates in particular saw an increase of more than three times the amount than usual."

Some posters were cynical, but many more were grief-stricken, like Jackson fan Scott Friedstein, an administrative assistant who lives in Brooklyn.

"There will never be another like him, ever," Friedstein wrote. "The word 'superstar' is tossed around a lot, but no one personified the term, lived and breathed it, and delivered like he did. To all the people who liked Michael Jackson when it wasn't cool to ... I feel for you."

Facebook said there were no internal reports of the site slowing from too much traffic. But there were slowdowns or outages on other sites. Google said the spike in searches related to Jackson was so big that Google News initially mistook it for an automated attack.

Experiencing slowdowns were the Web sites of ABC, AOL, the Los Angeles Times and CBS, according to Keynote Systems, an Internet monitoring service. Also experiencing an impact were MSNBC.com, NBC and Yahoo! News.

The initial news of Jackson's death broke on TMZ.com at 5:20 p.m. The Los Angeles Times and then The Associated Press confirmed the death just before 6:30 p.m. EDT, and networks then led their broadcasts with the news.

TMZ quoted a source inside the hospital, and turned out to be right. But there were plenty of false reports circulating across the Web that mainstream news organizations had to chase: Rumors of actor Jeff Goldblum falling off a cliff, Harrison Ford falling off a yacht and, on Friday, George Clooney in a plane crash.

Another challenge the mainstream media faced was presenting both sides of Jackson himself, and balancing the polarities of his story. On the one hand, there was ample video evidence of the extraordinarily gifted young man who took the world by storm, moon-walking on the Apollo Theater stage, or dancing hypnotically in the groundbreaking "Thriller" video.

On the other, there was the pale, older man, dangling his baby off a hotel balcony, or seen in video from his trial on charges of child molestation. So which Jackson to show?

"There was a duality to Michael Jackson that you had to deal with," said Susan Zirinsky, executive producer of "48 Hours" and CBS specials. "The man died with a legacy of shame. The news had to be a combined sentence."

To open the one-hour special she produced, anchored by Harry Smith, Zirinsky chose four words that she felt conveyed the dichotomy: "A prodigy. A sensation. The controversy. The tragedy."

The same duality was evident on NBC's "Today" show, where one moment Matt Lauer and Meredith Vieira were describing how Jackson was the most compelling entertainer they had ever seen.

Later, writer Maureen Orth, a guest on the show, told Lauer that Jackson had ruined the lives of families and children, and she cast doubt on the justice of his acquittal.

"But I did love his music," Orth added.

"Today" executive producer Jim Bell acknowledged it was a challenge to balance the two sides. "But that was one of the main reasons he was such a compelling figure," Bell said. "Otherwise, I don't know that his death would have been such a momentous occasion."

The fact that the news broke on a celebrity Web site and spread like wildfire across the social networking sites is a noteworthy change in how celebrity deaths get reported, Bell said. But he added that the mainstream media is becoming more nimble as a result.

And, Bell added, with a huge media event such as Jackson's death, the audience is going to increase everywhere, including network TV. "There's going to be a lot of eyeballs in both new and traditional media," Bell said. "It's not a zero-sum game."

Maybe not, but Friedstein, the Brooklyn man, went home Thursday night and logged onto Facebook right away. He didn't turn on the TV — he doesn't even have one.

"I just wanted to see how other people were feeling," he said later by telephone. "This was shattering, surreal even. It's my generation's version of Elvis dying."


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090626/ap_on_re_us/us_michael_jackson_the_media_moment

[samanthajane13]

Stars to honor Michael Jackson at BET Awards
By SANDY COHEN, AP Entertainment Writer Sandy Cohen, Ap Entertainment Writer – 1 hr 18 mins ago

LOS ANGELES – The BET Awards are undergoing "a total overhaul" as the show is retooled as a tribute to Michael Jackson, the network said Friday. The telecast is being lengthened, performers are being added to the lineup and additional guests are expected to attend, said Debra L. Lee, Chairman and Chief Executive of Black Entertainment Television.

"We're adding on," Lee said from the Shrine Auditorium, where the awards will be presented Sunday. "We're trying to do the numbers we had already planned and we're trying to add on, so it may be a longer show than we anticipated."

At least 30 minutes will be added to the broadcast, she said. Jamie Foxx is set to host the show.

Jackson died Thursday afternoon at UCLA Medical Center after being stricken at his Los Angeles home.

Meanwhile, artists such as Beyonce and Ne-Yo, who worked on their performances for weeks, scrambled to change them last-minute to honor the King of Pop, said producer Stephen Hill.

"To change it up in three days is something that's not easy but they're all willing and looking forward to it," Hill said. "There's a direct line from Ne-Yo to Michael Jackson. There's a direct line from Beyonce to Michael Jackson. There's a direct line from Jay-Z to Michael Jackson. I think they'll want to pay tribute in their own way."

Other artists who had not planned to attend Sunday's show, such as Usher and Justin Timberlake, are rushing to Los Angeles to participate, Hill said.

"This is going to be the first gathering of people who really cared for and were influenced by him since his death," he said. "It's a tall order for us but we have every intention of paying respect to Michael Jackson."

Lee said she expects the evening's acceptance speeches to be dedicated to Jackson's memory and his influence on music and popular culture.

"There's no artist that's going to want to get up there and talk about themselves. They're going to want to talk about Michael," she said. "We want to give out the awards, we want them to have their moment but it's going to be more geared toward Michael Jackson."

Lee said Jackson was a longtime friend of the network, which is airing special programming in his honor all weekend. Jackson will also be remembered at Lee's annual pre-party in honor of the awards, where Foxx, Sean Combs and Vanessa Williams are among expected guests.

Hill, who wore a yellow Jackson 5 T-shirt Friday, said seeing the band perform in 1971 inspired him to go into the entertainment business. He still keeps a poster of the group in his office, he said.

"Michael Jackson was my first real hero," Hill said. "I don't think that this first public outpouring could be left in better hands."

"There will be another awards show, so if this one changes, that's fine," he said. "There will not be another Michael Jackson."

___

Associated Press Writer Mesfin Fekadu in New York contributed to this report.

___

On the Net:

http://www.bet.com/betawards


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090626/ap_en_ce/us_michael_jackson_bet_awards

[samanthajane13]

This is It: Massive headache for Jackson promoters
By GREGORY KATZ, Associated Press Writer Gregory Katz, Associated Press Writer – 2 hrs 10 mins ago

LONDON – It was to be the comeback of the young century: Michael Jackson using the "This is It" tour to retake his throne as King of Pop, lord of the dance and darling of the masses.

What grander stage than London for this late career magic? Jackson's much hyped revival was to be a marathon, 50-gig tour that gave him a shot at redemption — not to mention repairing his tarnished image, lifting him out of debt and making millions for promoters.

Eager fans spent more than $90 million on tickets despite widespread doubts about the pop icon's stamina.

Now the star is dead — and one of the city's biggest arenas has 50 open nights. London, the city that was to be Jackson's launch pad back to glory, has become a symbol of the wreckage of his life.

The calamity has left Los Angeles-based tour promoters AEG Live, which operates the 02 Arena where Jackson was to have performed, with a colossal problem. In addition to the money taken in by ticket sales, which must be refunded, the company had already paid Jackson millions and spent millions more getting ready for the planned July 13 premiere.

There is no question it's a disaster, said Chris Cooke, editor of the British music business bulletin CMU Daily. But no one knows the magnitude of the catastrophe.

"The question is how much they were insured, but they've been very quiet about that," he said. "Will the insurance company take the hit, or will they?"

He said AEG Live had been planning a world tour after the London gigs, and possibly an extended residency for Jackson at a Las Vegas hotel in order to capitalize on his revival after more than a decade away from the concert stage.

The goal was to give Jackson a total career makeover that would once again turn him into a money machine. Instead, the pressure to produce — and in effect, to compete with his younger self — may have contributed to his demise.

AEG Live said in a statement Friday that it would advise ticket holders early next week on how to get refunds, adding that fans should hold onto their ticket vouchers and proofs of purchase.

"At this moment our thoughts are with Michael's children, family and friends. We will announce ticketing information in due course," read a message on a huge screen outside the 02 Arena.

According to Bermuda-based insurer Validus Holdings Ltd., a group of insurers were covering the concert series through the Lloyd's insurance market, including its subsidiary Talbot Holdings Ltd. But Validus said it had less than $3 million at risk.

The tour was to have spanned into March 2010, and there was wide skepticism about Jackson's ability to meet such a demanding schedule — with some London bookmakers even taking bets on how many of the 50 shows the notoriously unreliable Jackson would actually perform.

Industry experts also believed his participation in the spectacle would be limited, with large segments taken up by dancers performing elaborate routines to taped performances of his many hits.

"AEG chose potentially the most ambitious run of dates in the history of the concert business," said Bill Werde, editorial director of Billboard magazine. "Now they're going to have to orchestrate the most ambitious refund program in the history of the concert business."

AEG Live, a unit of billionaire Philip Anschutz's empire, had stood to collect about 5 percent to 10 percent of the gross ticket revenue of $90 million to $100 million, plus as much as $15 million from concession and merchandise sales, Werde said.

Jackson himself would have made the bulk of the money from the ticket sales.

The refund process could be complicated by the fact that tickets were sold to people from a number of countries and because of the sheer volume of tickets sold, Werde said. Some 750,000 tickets, priced between $82 and $124, were sold, though some went for hundreds of dollars on Internet auction sites.

Experts familiar with Jackson's horrendous financial situation said the singer was counting on the tour to help pull him out of a reported $400 million in debt.

Attorney Jerry Reisman, who represented the Hit Factory in New York when Jackson recorded there, said Jackson desperately needed the tour revenues.

"He had substantial debt to creditors throughout the world, and he hoped to use the tour to repay them and create a cash flow for himself," Reisman said. "He had a very high standard of living. He lived like a prince, like royalty, traveling by private jets with a huge entourage. His debt was tremendous, exorbitant."

This financial pressure led Jackson to agree to 50 shows, a demanding schedule even for a younger, more fit performer.

Reisman said the promoters may try to recoup money already paid to Jackson in order to refund money to customers.

Joey Scoleri, a promoter with the North American music division of Live Nation, said Jackson's death had created complex legal and logistical problems for the promoters.

He said not since Elvis Presley had there been a case of an artist of Jackson's magnitude dying just before a major tour.

"The only other artist like this was Elvis, and tours weren't the financial undertaking then as they are today," he said. Presley died in 1977 before several tour dates.

Scoleri said it was likely the AEG concert division would suffer a financial hit, but it's the nature of the business to manage risks. He said promoters surely understood Jackson's health was a factor.

AEG Live spokesman Michael Roth did not immediately comment on the company's insurance coverage.

Insurance market Lloyd's of London said its member corporations had underwritten some insurance taken out for the Jackson concerts, but said AEG is likely to be have had multiple policies with several insurers, who would each have taken on a portion of the risk.

Spokesman Bart Nash said he did not know how much Lloyd's portion of the figure was, or the total cost of the coverage.

"We can confirm that some insurance for Michael Jackson's concerts has been placed in the Lloyd's market, but any losses are not likely to be significant," Nash said.

He said the policy would likely cover the death of an artist, costs of canceling the events, including funds spent on sets already built, promotion and publicity, and, possibly, estimated earnings from the concerts.

"The risk would be quite high," for artists in poor health, or with a history of canceling concerts, like Jackson, he said.

Chris Rackliffe, underwriter at insurance firm Beazley, said few insurers would have been prepared to take on the risk of an artist with Jackson's problems.

"His prior history, the fact of his health and the difficulties he has had in his life over the last few years means that, from our point of view, he would have been very high risk," Rackliffe said.

As for fans looking for refunds, those who bought tickets on the secondary market from the company viagogo will be able to easily have their money refunded, said chief executive Eric Baker.

"No forms, no fuss, just refunded," he said.

Ticketmaster Entertainment Inc., the primary ticket seller, did not immediately provide information on refunds.

Officials at eBay said any Michael Jackson tickets purchased in the last 45 days through the PayPal system would be covered by the buyer protection plan.

______________

Associated Press writers Ryan Nakashima in Los Angeles, and Paisley Dodds and David Stringer in London contributed to this report.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090626/ap_on_re_eu/eu_michael_jackson_this_is_it

[samanthajane13]

Jackson may be 'worth more dead than alive'
By RYAN NAKASHIMA and MICHAEL LIEDTKE, AP Business Writers Ryan Nakashima And Michael Liedtke, Ap Business Writers – 11 mins ago

LOS ANGELES – Michael Jackson spent the last years of his life buried in debt. But the King of Pop's death is likely to yield a financial bonanza more lucrative than any comeback tour ever could, as fans snap up his music and memorabilia and perhaps one day get the chance to tour his Neverland home.

"Quite frankly, he may be worth more dead than alive," said Jerry Reisman, general counsel for the Hit Factory, a recording studio where Jackson produced his best-selling album "Thriller."

Jackson's death at age 50 leaves a multitude of questions about a financial empire that included his own music, as well a 50 percent stake in a library that held the rights to songs by the Beatles. But Jackson reportedly had $400 million in debts, and it isn't known yet how his estate will be divided and who the beneficiaries will be.

This much is clear: Jackson's heirs, music labels and opportunists will probably be mining his legacy for decades to come.

In that way, his death may parallel that of the music industry's original King — Elvis Presley, who died in 1977 at age 42.

Like Jackson, Presley hadn't had a hit album in years. At the end of his life, he was mostly relying on royalties from his past hits and doing shows in Las Vegas. But in death he became a moneymaking phenomenon.

Presley's estate was valued at just $4.9 million at the time of his death. In 2005, a company run by media entrepreneur Robert F.X. Sillerman paid $100 million for 85 percent of the estate and a 90-year lease on his Memphis mansion, Graceland.

By some estimates, Jackson's estate could be worth more than $1 billion. Besides the master recordings of his own music, Jackson owned half of Sony/ATV Music Publishing, a jewel estimated to be worth $2 billion by itself. The 750,000-song catalog includes music by the Beatles, Bob Dylan, Neil Diamond, Lady Gaga and the Jonas Brothers.

Creditors will get first crack at the estate.

"I think the first question is, `Is there anything left after you pay off the debts?'" said Robert Rasmussen, the dean of law at the University of Southern California.

Jackson might have shielded some of his estate from creditors and ensured that his children were taken care of by placing a life insurance policy and other assets in an irrevocable trust, said Steve Hartnett, associate director of education for the American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys.

The pop star left behind three children: Michael Joseph Jackson Jr., known as Prince Michael, 12; Paris Michael Katherine Jackson, 11; and Prince Michael II, 7. The elder children were born to ex-wife Deborah Rowe, while the youngest is his biological son, born to a surrogate mother.

Other potential beneficiaries include Jackson's parents, his five brothers, three sisters and a long list of nieces and nephews. His children's nanny was believed to be close to Jackson.

The contents of Jackson's will have not been released. Typically, a will becomes public within about 30 days of a person's death.

In a statement Friday, Joel Katz, Jackson's entertainment affairs attorney, gave no clues to how Jackson disposed of his estate.

"Michael Jackson was a perfectionist, and his business affairs are worldwide," Katz said. "Many of them are quite ongoing and will be dealt with appropriately."

One big question will be what happens to Neverland, where Jackson surrounded himself with animals, rides and children. Jackson nearly lost the ranch to foreclosure in March, but billionaire real estate investor Thomas Barrack bailed him out, setting up a joint venture with Jackson that took ownership of the 2,500-acre (1,000-hectare) property in Santa Barbara County.

Barrack declined to comment.

Fans, meanwhile, are rushing to buy Jackson's old songs in a scramble that began within minutes of his death. Both Amazon and Barnes and Noble reported selling out of Jackson's CDs, and his music accounted for the most downloads at Apple's iTunes store.

Amazon's sales of Jackson's albums and MP3s were 700 times higher on Thursday after news of Jackson's death, and they were running at an even higher rate Friday, according to Bill Carr, the company's vice president of music and video.

"It's really hard to express what someone dying really means and how it absolutely brands that individual into the culture," said Del Bryant, CEO of Broadcast Music Inc., which collects royalties for the use of "Beat It," "Billy Jean" and other songs composed by Jackson. "If you look at everyone from Patsy Cline to the Big Bopper to Buddy Holly ... the effect on the catalog is tremendous."

Bryant said expects revenue from public performances of Jackson's songs to triple this year because of his death.

Sillerman's company, CKX, controls licensing of Presley's image, which has been slapped on dozens of pieces of merchandise, such as T-shirts, watches, belt buckles and figurines. In 2007, Presley's brand earned $52 million — beating out living acts like Justin Timberlake and Madonna, according to Forbes magazine, which has put Elvis atop its list of top-earning dead celebrities for two years running.

Jackson's heirs may similarly explore ways to make money from the singer's likeness and art, perhaps through T-shirts, compilations of previously unreleased music, or stage productions based on his songs.

It's also easy to envision Neverland becoming the next Graceland, said Steve Gordon, an entertainment attorney who worked at Sony Music during the 1990s.

The singer's death could also boost business for the legion of Jackson impersonators. Adrienne Gusoff, who runs the New York-based impersonating agency Bubbygram.com, said she expects the dozen Jackson clones she represents to be about as much in demand as entertainers who impersonate stars like Frank Sinatra and Marilyn Monroe.

"I think his death will make him an even bigger star," Gusoff said.

First, though, her Jackson impersonators will have to get over the loss of their hero. "One of my guys in New Jersey is devastated," she said. "It's like a family member died.'

___

Michael Liedtke reported from San Francisco. AP Business Writers Alex Veiga in Los Angeles, Stevenson Jacobs in New York, Rachel Metz in New York and Jessica Mintz in Seattle contributed to this story.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090626/ap_on_en_mu/us_michael_jackson_estate

[lorettalockhorn]

Who Will Get Custody of Michael Jackson’s Children?

With the sudden death of Michael Jackson at his Humby Hills Estate yesterday, he leaves behind three young children who will need to be placed in the care of others. We understand that they are temporarily with their grandmother, Katherine Jackson.

There has been much speculation that Jackson’s second wife and dermatology nurse, Debbie Rowe, will become the legal custodian of her two biological children Michael Joseph Jackson Jr., 12, and Paris Michael Katherine Jackson, 11.

Many believed that she gave up custody of these children to Michael Jackson when the couple divorced in 1999. Judge Stephen Lachs presided over their case initially and did grant sole custody to the pop star. He later reversed that decision, reinstating her rights.

It will be up to the Department of Children and Family Services to determine whether she can take on the parenting role for her two pre-teens. In fact, under California law, she IS presumed to be the person who will get custody unless the court determines that such a move would be detrimental to the children.

With a substantial inheritance in the balance, it seems likely that the Jackson family will wage a battle to keep the two children away from Debbie Rowe.

Regarding seven-year-old Prince Michael Jackson II, his situation is slightly different. He was conceived by a surrogate mother, reportedly with sperm donated by Michael Jackson. His maternal parentage has never been revealed.

Michael Jackson’s body was flown by helicopter to the Los Angeles Coroner’s Office for an autopsy - see photos below. Initial results are expected on Friday afternoon, but drug toxicology could take up to 8 weeks.

http://www.bittenandbound.com/2009/06/26/who-will-get-custody-of-michael-jacksons-children-photos/

Photos at link. Wonder if we'll learn the identity of Prince Michael's mother.

[lorettalockhorn]

Michael Jackson Leases Holmby Hills Home

Michael Jackson, who turned 50 this year, has leased a sprawling mansion in the Holmby Hills area of Los Angeles for a whopping $100,000 a month.

The home, a 17,171 square foot, 3-story French Chateau style estate, which sits on 1.26 acres, includes 7 bedrooms, 12 fireplaces, entrance hall with curving staircase, formal living and dining rooms, a den with adjoining library, theater room, family room, gourmet kitchen with eating area, wine cellar and heated swimming pool.

Earlier this year, Jackson’s Neverland Ranch faced foreclosure, and in November ownership of the property was transferred to Sycamore Valley Ranch Company LLC.

http://www.bittenandbound.com/2008/12/27/michael-jackson-leases-holmby-hills-home-photos/

Photos at link.

[samanthajane13]

Ind. mayor has big hopes for Jackson boyhood home
By MICHAEL TARM, Associated Press Writer Michael Tarm, Associated Press Writer – 2 hrs 21 mins ago

GARY, Ind. – The hardscrabble city of Gary, Ind., which rose to prosperity in its steelmaking heyday and saw its fortunes fall with the industry, sees an opportunity in the death of its most famous native: Michael Jackson.

The mayor is calling Jackson's modest boyhood home the new Graceland, and others hope to use Jackson's name to raise funds for a museum.

But Jackson and his family, like so many others, left the northwest Indiana city behind a long time ago.

Flags flew at half staff outside Gary's City Hall on Friday as Jackson's hits, including "Bad," blared inside the building intercom system. Outside Jackson's childhood home, fans danced to a boombox playing "Thriller" and performed his trademark Moonwalk on the street.

Major Rudy Clay said he would like to transform the downtrodden community into a mecca for the pop singer's fans. He said even he'd like to arrange to have the pop icon, who died Thursday at the age of 50, buried in Gary, though he has not broached that possibility with Jackson's family.

"If they can do it for Elvis Presley in Graceland, we can do it for Michael Jackson in Gary," Clay, 73, told The Associated Press.

But tourism experts said they were skeptical that Gary could really draw Jackson fans.

For one, Jackson only lived in this community about 30 miles southeast of Chicago through the age of 11. Since then, the pop star rarely visited.

Roger Brooks, the CEO of Destination Development International, believes that Jackson's famed sprawling Neverland ranch in southern California has more potential to be a lasting tourist attraction.

"It was his place as an adult," he said. "It was his vision that built the place from the ground up." And, he said, it was the place associated with all the bizarre and troubling stories about Jackson.

"People would go to California to see that," Brooks said.

But Clay shook his head when asked if Neverland might be a better location for die hard fans to connect to the singer's legacy.

"No. No. No," Clay said. "If you're going to build a museum to Michael Jackson you should build it where the true love for him is."

The Jacksons moved from Gary after the Jackson 5 recorded their first album in 1969.

By that time, the steel industry, in which Jackson's father had worked, had started to decline. Over the following decades, the city's unemployment and poverty soared, crime increased and the population dwindled.

Nearly 200,000 people lived in Gary in the 1960s. By 2007, that dropped to 96,000 and one-third of residents lived below the poverty line, according to recent U.S. Census data.

Clay said he hopes Jackson's death will help energize officials to push for building a memorial, which could include arts center and museum, to the singer in his childhood hometown. Proposals also include moving the Jackson home near an interstate that serves as a main route for commuters heading to and from Chicago, Clay said.

More than 100 people gathered Friday outside the small white-colored home where Jackson lived, creating a circus-like atmosphere. As a boombox blared "Thriller" and other hits, some fans danced while others did the Moonwalk down the asphalt Jackson Street — initially named after U.S. President Andrew Jackson.

Dozens of teddy bears, flowers and affectionate notes piled against the door.

"If you're a real Michael Jackson fan, this is where you come," said Kandy Keaton, 38, who drove from nearby Hammond to pay her respects. "This is about his roots. This is where he and his brothers practiced and practiced. This is where his dad pulled it all together."

But at least a few neighbors said they were disappointed Jackson didn't do more to help his hometown when he was alive. His reported pledge to help raise money for an arts center that would bear his name never materialized.

"This is great that this (Jackson's death) is now bringing attention to Gary," said Darrell Hodges, 49, who went to the same elementary school as Jackson. "But the Jacksons could have done more for this community."

Clay dismisses such criticism, saying Michael Jackson's rare show in the city shouldn't suggest he didn't care.

"His physical body wasn't always here, but his heart was always in Gary," he said.

__

Associated Press reporters Sophia Tareen and Don Babwin in Chicago contributed to this report.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090627/ap_on_en_mu/us_michael_jackson_gary

[old_soul]

Fox news has reported: Michaels' father is stating Michael has over 100 songs hidden away, that he made for his children. Michael wrote they not be released until after his demise ('whenever' that would be... which unfortunately turned out to be sooner rather than later).

This is going to help repay his massive debt and is a possible nest egg for his children said his father.

Seeing as how people are crazy buying his old albums, cd's, etc, I guess Sony will be making out like bandits and royalties will also help with the debt...

*thanks for the Dr's name correction, Raystar..the name I posted is the name they gave out initially as the Dr...:rolleyes:

From many accounts, this could have been prevented, in more ways than one. People never learn, do they? Wrong.

[samanthajane13]

Person close to Jacksons: Will, AEG role unclear
By NEKESA MUMBI MOODY, AP Music Writer Nekesa Mumbi Moody, Ap Music Writer – 1 hr 27 mins ago

LOS ANGELES – Most of Michael Jackson's family members have gathered in their Encino compound where they are contemplating funeral arrangements, caring for his three children and feeling confused, upset and angry by the lack of information about those who were around the pop superstar in his final days, a person close to the family told The Associated Press.

Jackson's family wants to know more specifics about what role AEG, the concert promoter that was staging his 50-date concert series at London's 02 Arena, was playing in his life, said the person, who requested anonymity because of the delicate nature of the situation. They also want to know more about the role of his advisers and representatives, who they believe were put in place by the promoter.

Randy Phillips, AEG Live president and chief executive, said earlier Friday that it was Jackson who insisted that Dr. Conrad Murray, a financially troubled cardiologist who was with the entertainer when he collapsed Thursday, be put on the tour payroll.

"As a company, we would have preferred not having a physician on staff full-time because it would have been cheaper without the hotels and travel, but Michael was insistent that he be hired," Phillips said. "Michael said he had a rapport with him."

Jackson collapsed Thursday at his rented home in Los Angeles. Police seized Murray's car in search of evidence, but have insisted that the doctor has been cooperative and do not consider him a criminal suspect.

Records reveal years of financial troubles for Murray, who practices medicine in California, Nevada and Texas; his Nevada medical practice, Global Cardiovascular Associates, was slapped with more than $400,000 in court judgments, and he faces at least two other pending cases and several tax liens.

Jackson never communicated to his family who he had in place to handle his business affairs, the person close to the family said, adding that they were told by the singer's phalanx of advisers that the singer likely had a will, but it may be many years old. The family is distrustful of what they are being told — but they are determined to find out more, the person said.

"There are decisions going down without the family being in the loop; it's becoming an issue," the person said.

The person said that while there were reports that the singer was distant from his family, he spoke with his mother Katherine quite regularly and his father, Joe, had seen his son shortly before his death. His other eight siblings, including fellow superstar Janet, may not have talked to him recently but were not estranged.

Much of the family was holed up Friday inside the Jackson family's Encino compound, including his three children, according to the person, who described them as doing looking "pretty good."

"I don't think it's fully set in yet," the person said.

No family members were present in the mansion when Jackson died Thursday, the person close to the family said. In the 911 call released by fire officials Friday, an unidentified caller tells a dispatcher that Jackson's doctor is performing CPR.

Asked by the dispatcher whether anyone saw what happened, the caller answers: "No, just the doctor, sir. The doctor has been the only one there."

Coroner's officials said they released Jackson's body to his family late Friday night. The family is still trying to determine what kind of memorial to have for Jackson and when, and are debating between the idea of having a private ceremony or a grand celebration open to the public, the person close to the family said.

Jackson appeared to have suffered a heart attack, another person with knowledge of the situation who was not authorized to speak publicly and requested anonymity told the AP on Friday. A heart attack is a blocking of the arteries that deprives the heart of adequate blood and can cause cardiac arrest.

Jackson's brother Jermaine said Thursday that it was believed the pop singer went into cardiac arrest, an interruption of the normal heartbeat that can be caused by factors other than heart attack.

The Los Angeles County coroner's office, which completed its autopsy Friday, said there were no signs of foul play or trauma, but determining the cause of death will require further tests that will take six to eight weeks.

Phillips said AEG Live held multiple insurance policies covering cancellation of the shows, and that some time in February Jackson submitted to several hours of physicals that the insurance underwriter insisted upon, and that Jackson passed them all.

"We had pretty good coverage, but a lot of it is going to depend on the toxicology results," he said. "We need to know what the cause of death was."

___

AP Writers Beth Harris and Mike Blood contributed to this report.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090627/ap_en_ce/us_michael_jackson

[samanthajane13]

Comedians mark death of oft joked about Jackson
By JAKE COYLE, AP Entertainment Writer Jake Coyle, Ap Entertainment Writer – Sat Jun 27, 1:06 am ET

NEW YORK – For years, comedians have made Michael Jackson a punch line. In deference to the beloved pop star's family and fans, though, many treated his death differently. For still others, it wasn't "too soon."

Universal Pictures' "Bruno" screened in Los Angeles on Thursday night with a scene involving Jackson's sister La Toya Jackson cut from the movie. A spokesman for Universal said the decision was made by the filmmakers "out of respect for the Jackson family."

The news of Jackson's death broke just after or during the tapings of most of Thursday's late-night shows. Jimmy Fallon's "Late Night" on NBC made a point of the timing, using a graphic at the top of the show to announce that the show had been taped at 5:30 p.m. EDT.

Jay Leno, the comic who did the most to turn Jackson into a late-night staple, doesn't return to the air until fall. His spokesman said he was unavailable for comment.

Comedian-magician Penn Jillette found himself in an awkward spot Thursday. He was a guest on a radio program promoting the return of his Showtime series when the news of Jackson broke. Jillette found himself thinking back to John Lennon's death.

"I was really upset by it — as upset as I could be by someone dying outside of my family and friends," said Jillette. "And I remember the people who were flippant and joked about it in any way really kind of broke my heart."

Added Jillette: "I have a lot of respect for what music does for people and the connection you get with an artist."

Jackson's death was badly timed for CBS' David Letterman and Craig Ferguson. Both taped their Friday show in advance and are dark next week.

On Friday "Tonight" show on NBC, Conan O'Brien didn't specifically address Jackson in his monologue and instead deflected to a more current gift to comics: South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford.

"A lot of very sad news in the last 24 hours, but it is our job here at the 'Tonight' show to keep things light, to try to entertain you," said O'Brien. "Which is why I'm particularly thrilled that Governor Sanford of South Carolina is keeping up his end of the bargain. If you're looking for something to talk about, he's your best friend right now."

Jimmy Kimmel, who does his ABC show live, didn't appear to be in the mood for a joke about Jackson on Thursday — until the punch line: "He was an extremely powerful symbol: a black performer who whites could relate to and then later in life, a white performer who blacks could relate to."

Kimmel continued Friday night with a monologue almost entirely of jokes related to Jackson's death, though most weren't actually about the pop star. He called the line to see Jackson's Hollywood Walk of Fame star, for example, longer than the line for the new iPhone.

On Friday, Fallon said the previous day had been "weird" for him and his show. He spoke admiringly about Jackson and said he felt like he was "punched in the gut" when he heard of Jackson's death. As a tribute, his house band, the Roots — with Erykah Badu as a guest — dressed in Jackson's style and played his music throughout the show.

Other comedians were more irreverent despite the news being so fresh.

Michael Ian Black, a comedian who rarely avoids sensitive material, wondered in a message on Twitter if the autopsy of Jackson would reveal Tinkerbell inside, alluding to his Peter Pan nature.

Comedian Rob Corddry, former "Daily Show" correspondent, turned the joke back on TMZ, which had the scoop on Jackson's death. Corddry tweeted: "I wish it had been Michael Jackson that broke the story of TMZ dying. I can almost hear the high-fives."

The Onion also didn't lose any time. In a tweet Thursday, it reported: "BREAKING: Last Piece of Michael Jackson Dies."

The satirical newspaper followed that up Friday with a brief story on its Web site with the headline: "King of Pop Dead at 12" — suggesting Jackson always remained childlike.

Megan Ganz, associate editor of the Onion, said the paper's Manhattan office felt almost like a "real newsroom" Friday, with its writing staff rushing around to produce copy on Jackson's death.

Ganz acknowledged the Onion had received complaints from readers who said their Jackson stories were insensitive.

"It's kind of funny to me that people are saying `too soon, too soon' about these jokes because people have been making jokes about Michael Jackson for the last 20 years," said Ganz. "We really tried to think of something that was somewhat meaningful about his life — that wasn't just one more joke at the expense of Michael Jackson — because he's weathered quite a few."

The comedian widely acknowledged as being the first to joke about Jackson — Eddie Murphy — declined to comment on the singer's death. It was Murphy who in his 1983 classic standup special "Delirious" famously said Jackson "ain't the most masculine fellow in the world."

Murphy reminisced about the joke recently as a guest on "Tonight": "That was the very first of what turned into a tsunami of Michael jokes."

___

On the Net:

http://www.theonion.com

http://twitter.com

http://www.nbc.com

http://www.abc.com


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090627/ap_en_mu/us_michael_jackson_comedians

[samanthajane13]

Michael Jackson memorabilia sells in Las Vegas
By KATHLEEN HENNESSEY, Associated Press Writer Kathleen Hennessey, Associated Press Writer – 1 hr 30 mins ago

LAS VEGAS – A crystal-studded shirt worn onstage by Michael Jackson: $52,500. A young Jackson's painting of Mickey Mouse: $25,000. Owning a piece of a pop icon who died before his time: Priceless.

Or, at least, very expensive.

Twenty-one items once owned by Jackson sold at auction Friday for a total of $205,000, dwarfing the auction house's early conservative estimate of $6,000 for the collection.

The estimate was made before Jackson died unexpectedly Thursday at a Los Angeles hospital. On Friday, the items took on new meaning, and likely new value, as collectors and a few fans gathered at the Planet Hollywood hotel-casino with the hope of walking away with a piece of the late King of Pop.

"I grew up with him," said Larry Edwards, a 55-year-old Tina Turner impersonator from Las Vegas who came to the auction aiming to buy the primary-colored depiction of an African-American Mickey Mouse, signed by "Mike Jackson."

"It's so unique, and it means even more to me that it's so soon after his passing," he said.

Edwards said he was prepared to spend $1,000 but was elbowed out at the get-go by an opening bid of $1,500. The painting sold for $20,000, plus a 25 percent commission for the celebrity auction house, Julien's Auctions.

The biggest ticket item went to Glenn Johnson, a real estate developer and amateur collector from Houston. After a fast-paced bidding war under the glare of television news cameras, Johnson edged out another bidder to take home a Swarovski crystal-beaded shirt worn by Jackson during his 1984 Victory tour.

Johnson said another king was on his mind as the price climbed.

"I see Elvis Presley costumes go for a quarter of a million these days," Johnson said. "I'm hoping this will be an investment."

The items for sale Friday came from a collection owned by David Gest, the producer and promoter once married to Liza Minnelli. Jackson introduced the couple and was best man at their wedding.

Among the lot were handwritten lyrics of Jackson's hit song "Bad," an album cover signed by each member of the Jackson 5, and a handwritten note from Jackson to an unidentified "Greg."

"Thanks for a magic moment in my life, I hope it was the same for you, please come visit me at Neverland," the undated note reads. "Lets hope this is the beginning of a lovy friendship and never lose your boyish spirit its imortal."

The note sold for $18,750 to an unidentified bidder on the phone.

The annual two-day celebrity sale was scheduled for months and promoted mainly for its large number of Elvis Presley and Marilyn Monroe items.

Julien Auctions chief executive Darren Julien said he worried some would accuse him of profiting from Jackson's death.

"I thought about pulling the lots, but we have people bidding from all over the world," he said. "Everything we did was to honor Michael Jackson."

__

On the Net:

Julien's Auctions http://www.juliensauctions.com


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090627/ap_en_mu/us_michael_jackson_auction

[samanthajane13]

Jackson was energetic, upbeat ahead of London tour
By GILLIAN FLACCUS, Associated Press Writer Gillian Flaccus, Associated Press Writer – 1 hr 27 mins ago

LOS ANGELES – The King of Pop seemed driven and upbeat in the weeks, even hours, before his death as he rehearsed rigorously for a series of 50 concerts in London that were to begin a late-career comeback.

Friends and colleagues said Friday that Michael Jackson appeared in recent months to be rejuvenated by the prospect of performing again.

After years of seclusion following a child sex scandal, the pop icon was heavily involved in all aspects of the concert rehearsals. He had hired a personal trainer and was practicing with backup dancers and choreographers several hours a day, they said.

"He was working hard, setting the example, overseeing the choreography, kicking butt and taking names," said Johnny Caswell, president of CenterStaging Musical Productions Inc., a Burbank sound stage where Jackson rehearsed until late May. "He was ready to blow everybody out of the water. This was going to be the biggest extravaganza, entertainment spectacle ever."

Jackson was involved in all areas of planning, including watching auditions and choosing the backup dancers who would appear with him, said Maryss Courchinoux, a 29-year-old dancer from Paris who sought a place on stage with Jackson.

Courchinoux said she had been selected as a backup dancer for the London concerts and had been fitted for a costume. She had been invited to Thursday's rehearsal in Los Angeles to meet Jackson and watch the practice to help prepare for her role, she said.

On the same day, Jackson was pronounced dead after collapsing at his home in Holmby Hills, a swanky neighborhood near Bel Air.

Courchinoux recounted how Jackson was in the audience as she auditioned in April, when she performed a set routine and then was asked to do freestyle dances — a hip-hop style called "pop-ins."

From the stage, she could make out Jackson's profile and his glasses where he sat in the empty auditorium. Friends later told her that Jackson jumped up and applauded after her group performed.

"I knew it was him, and I knew I was in his presence," she said. "In a way, I feel blessed that we got to dance in his presence, and I was looking forward to meeting him yesterday," she said, choking back tears.

"It was my dream since I was six years old. I guess there was a different plan."

Rehearsals for the tour began in late March, Caswell said.

Jackson and his choreographers, band and dancers took over about four of the 11 studios at Centerstaging. Jackson would wander in and out of the studios, keeping tabs on the work and would often sit on a large black leather couch and listen to the band practice.

He frequently offered band members suggestions and took an interest in the mixing levels for the concert's soundtrack, according to those who worked with him at the sound stage. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they had signed confidentiality agreements.

Caswell and other workers at the studio said Jackson would arrive in an SUV, with another vehicle following, about four or five times a week. One of the SUVs ferried Jackson, but the second was to fake out the paparazzi and European fans who flocked outside the studio's doors. Jackson, an infamous recluse, would always crack a window and allow fans to pass CDs in for him to autograph.

"There would be tons of fans — European fans — they weren't sharing the information with anyone else that he was coming here with anyone else. They didn't want to spoil the exclusivity," Caswell said.

Max Miller, a dispatch manager at the studios, said he saw the singer work on a transition routine between two songs.

Miller's team aimed a spotlight at the stage area as Jackson, wearing a black suit, practiced the moves with no music and just a metronome clicking.

"He was totally dancing like top-notch. He seemed totally good," Miller said. "He seemed totally cool and really focused."

As focused as energized as he was in Burbank, Jackson seemed even more excited about his comeback as the concert date approached.

He recently moved his rehearsals to The Forum, the Los Angeles Lakers' former arena in Inglewood, and ultimately to the Staples Center, where he was rehearsing daily, sometimes for hours.

Ken Ehrlich, executive producer of Grammy Awards, said he met Jackson there on Wednesday for a business meeting and spoke to him for about 20 minutes before Jackson invited him to watch him rehearse.

Ehrlich, who has known Jackson for years, said he was amazed by the singer's vitality and focus as he practiced moves with backup dancers and a handful of choreographers.

The choreographers walked him through moves and gave him stage directions. They also introduced him to some new props and appeared to be working with Jackson to incorporate them into the show.

"Michael was digesting it all. He was learning, but even with that, there were times during the songs where his singing was full out," Ehrlich said. "I would watch him move across the floor like the Michael of old. I was convinced (the comeback) was going to be the Michael of old."

Ehrlich said he left after watching Jackson work through five or six numbers, but got chills from watching him — a memory that seems especially precious now. The star showed no signs that he would die less than 24 hours later, he said.

"There was this one moment, he was moving across the stage and he was doing these trademark Michael moves, and I know I got this big grin on my face, and I started thinking to myself, 'You know, it's been years since I've seen that,'" he said.

"There was that Michael that was just like no one else and no one else could touch," he said. "The shame is that new generation won't see that — but we all came close to being able to see it again."

___

Associated Press writers Lynn Elber, Raquel Maria Dillon, Beth Harris, Solvej Schou and Thomas Watkins contributed to this report.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090627/ap_on_en_mu/us_michael_jackson_final_days

[samanthajane13]

Filipino inmates in `Thriller' video stage tribute
By TERESA CEROJANO, Associated Press Writer Teresa Cerojano, Associated Press Writer – 35 mins ago

CEBU, Philippines – The Filipino inmates who shot to global fame with a YouTube video of their "Thriller" dance swayed and stomped again Saturday in a behind-bars tribute to their idol, Michael Jackson.

After being told of Jackson's death Thursday in Los Angeles, the 1,500 inmates at the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center hit the exercise yard, practicing for nine hours Friday night — and into the wee hours of Saturday morning — for the show. They took breaks only to eat or when it rained, said professional choreographer Gwendolyn Lador, hired by the prison to teach the inmates the dance.

"I felt sad because we lost our idol," said inmate Wenjiel Resane, who plays the role of Jackson's girlfriend in the video.

Crisanto Nieri, 38, was feeling a little extra stress. He danced Jackson's part in "Thriller."

"Even as a kid, he was already my idol," said Nieri, who is serving seven years on drug charges. "I am happy that our video became famous, but I feel some pressure to perform well."

A crowd of 700 Cebuanos and foreign tourists watched the performance from a second-floor corridor, swaying to the music and applauding as the inmates, dressed in orange prison T-shirts and sweat pants, stomped and clapped in unison in the hilltop prison, behind thick stone walls topped by electrified razor wire.

Other numbers included "Ben," "I'll Be There" and "We Are the World." The inmates then held up a 5-by-10 foot (1.5-by-3 meter) tarpaulin showing Michael Jackson holding a sword with his name written below it.

Others waved the flags of the Philippines and other nations.

Before the show, the performers dedicated a prayer to Jackson's family.

"I was sad because one of the songs of Michael Jackson, `Thriller,' made us famous around the world," said Francis Mercader, 36, who has spent a year in detention while on trial for drug charges.

Byron Garcia, the Cebu provincial security consultant who came up with the idea of adding synchronized dancing to poorly attended exercise sessions, said he was surprised by the popularity of the 2007 video — one of more than a dozen inmate dance numbers he has posted on YouTube.

"Thriller" has attracted 24.3 million hits since it was posted two years ago, with nearly a million of them in the 24 hours since news of Jackson's death spread.

The inmates "consider Michael Jackson as a god here," Garcia said. "If not for Michael Jackson, they would not have this international recognition."

"The fame brought them back their self-esteem," he told reporters. "So that's why we have these public performances."

Inmate Alfredo Gaballo, 52, says Jackson "inspired us, so we are all sad about his death."

"The performance today has been amazing," said Karen Benrad, 29, from London. She and about two dozen foreign and local tourists later joined the inmates at the prison quadrangle, dancing to the tune of "Macarena" and "I just can't get enough."

Kim Hua-sung, a 23-year-old South Korean student in Cebu who watched the inmates' performance, said he is also a Jackson fan. "I'm sad that I can't listen to more songs from him."

In Taiwan, two top Michael Jackson impersonators donned fedora hats and sequined outfits Saturday, moonwalking to "Billie Jean" in their own tribute to the pop star.

Thirty-year-old Wang Chih-wei told The Associated Press he secured a photo op with his idol during Jackson's whirlwind tour in 1993 after winning an impersonation contest.

"I didn't know much English so I could only tell him, 'I love you,'" Wang said. "He was very friendly. I melted when he put his hand on my shoulder for the photo."

___

On the Net:

Performance of "Thriller"-http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMnk7lh9M3o

Associated Press writer Debby Wu contributed to this report from Taipei, Taiwan.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090627/ap_en_mu/as_michael_jackson_dancing_inmates

[samanthajane13]

Chopra: Drug concerns with Jackson since 2005
By NEKESA MUMBI MOODY, AP Music Writer Nekesa Mumbi Moody, Ap Music Writer – 31 mins ago

LOS ANGELES – Spiritual teacher and medical doctor Deepak Chopra said Saturday he had been concerned since 2005 that Michael Jackson was abusing prescription painkillers and most recently spoke to the pop star about suspected drug use six months ago.

Chopra said Jackson, a longtime friend, asked him for painkillers in 2005 when the pop star was staying with him following his trial on sex abuse allegations.

Chopra said he refused but added the nanny of Jackson's children repeatedly contacted him with concerns about Jackson's drug use over the next four years.

He said she told him a number of doctors would visit Jackson's homes in Santa Barbara County, Los Angeles, Miami and New York.

Whenever the subject came up, Jackson would avoid Chopra's calls, Chopra said.

Meanwhile, The Rev. Jesse Jackson said Michael Jackson's family wants an independent autopsy.

Jesse Jackson said Saturday there were unanswered questions surrounding the King of Pop's death, including about the role of the personal cardiologist who was with him.

The Los Angeles County coroner's office performed an autopsy on the singer's body on Friday but deferred a finding on the cause of death pending further tests that could take more than a month.

Jesse Jackson said the family's wound from the pop star's death was being kept open by the mystery of the cause of death.

Janet Jackson arrived at her brother Michael's Holmby Hills estate, where moving vans arrived earlier in the day.

Janet Jackson, wearing dark glasses, drove up in a Bentley and went directly to the estate. About eight movers had taken dollies and packing equipment through the gates. It wasn't immediately known what was being taken out.

Most of Michael Jackson's family members had gathered in their Encino compound, where they were contemplating funeral arrangements and caring for his three children. They are feeling confused, upset and angry by the lack of information about those who were around the pop superstar in his final days, a person close to the family said.

Jackson's family wants to know more specifics about what role AEG, the concert promoter that was staging his 50-date concert series at London's 02 Arena, was playing in his life, said the person, who requested anonymity because of the delicate nature of the situation.

They also want to know more about the role of his advisers and representatives, who they believe were put in place by the promoter.

AEG spokeswoman Natalie Whorms in London had no comment.

Jackson never communicated to his family who he had in place to handle his business affairs, the person said, adding that they were told by the singer's phalanx of advisers that he likely had a will, but it may be many years old. The family is distrustful of what they are being told — but they are determined to find out more, the person said.

"There are decisions going down without the family being in the loop; it's becoming an issue," the person said.

Randy Phillips, AEG Live president and chief executive, said Friday that it was Jackson who insisted that Dr. Conrad Murray, a financially troubled cardiologist who was with the entertainer when he collapsed Thursday, be put on the tour payroll.

"As a company, we would have preferred not having a physician on staff full-time because it would have been cheaper without the hotels and travel, but Michael was insistent that he be hired," Phillips said. "Michael said he had a rapport with him."

Jackson collapsed Thursday at his rented home in Los Angeles. Police seized Murray's car in search of evidence, but have insisted that the doctor has been cooperative and do not consider him a criminal suspect.

Records reveal years of financial troubles for Murray, who practices medicine in California, Nevada and Texas; his Nevada medical practice, Global Cardiovascular Associates, was slapped with more than $400,000 in court judgments, and he faces at least two other pending cases and several tax liens.

The person close to the family said that while there were reports that the singer was distant from his family, Jackson spoke with his mother, Katherine, quite regularly and his father, Joe, had seen his son shortly before his death. His other eight siblings, including fellow superstar Janet, may not have talked to him recently but were not estranged.

The pop star left behind three children: Michael Joseph Jackson Jr., known as Prince Michael, 12; Paris Michael Katherine Jackson, 11; and Prince Michael II, 7. The elder children were born to ex-wife Deborah Rowe, while the youngest is his biological son, born to a surrogate mother.

Rowe and Jackson married in 1996 and divorced in 1999.

No family members were present in the mansion when Jackson died Thursday, the person close to the family said. In the call to the emergency dispatcher released by fire officials Friday, an unidentified caller tells a dispatcher that Jackson's doctor is performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

Asked by the dispatcher whether anyone saw what happened, the caller answers: "No, just the doctor, sir. The doctor has been the only one there."

Coroner's officials said they released Jackson's body to his family late Friday night. The family is still trying to determine what kind of memorial to have for Jackson and when, and are debating between the idea of having a private ceremony or a grand celebration open to the public, the person close to the family said.

Jackson appeared to have suffered a heart attack, another person with knowledge of the situation who was not authorized to speak publicly and requested anonymity. A heart attack is a blocking of the arteries that deprives the heart of adequate blood and can cause cardiac arrest.

Jackson's brother Jermaine has said it was believed the pop singer went into cardiac arrest, an interruption of the normal heartbeat that can be caused by factors other than a heart attack.

The Los Angeles County coroner's office said there were no signs of foul play or trauma.

Phillips said AEG Live held multiple insurance policies covering cancellation of the shows, and that some time in February Jackson submitted to several hours of physicals that the insurance underwriter insisted upon, and that Jackson passed them all.

"We had pretty good coverage, but a lot of it is going to depend on the toxicology results," he said. "We need to know what the cause of death was."

___

AP Writers Gillian Flaccus, Beth Harris and Mike Blood and AP Global Media Services Production Manager Nico Maounis in Los Angeles and Shawn Pogatchnik in London contributed to this report.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090627/ap_en_tv/us_michael_jackson

[samanthajane13]

Jesse Jackson says family wants 2nd autopsy

LOS ANGELES – The Rev. Jesse Jackson says Michael Jackson's family wants an independent autopsy following the pop star's sudden death at age 50.

Jesse Jackson said after a Chicago press conference Saturday that there are unanswered questions surrounding the King of Pop's death, including about the role of the personal cardiologist who was with him.

The Los Angeles County coroner's office performed an autopsy on the singer's body on Friday but deferred a finding on the cause of death pending further tests that could take more than a month.

Jesse Jackson says the family's wound from the pop star's death is being kept open by the mystery of the cause of death.

Spiritual teacher Deepak Chopra, a friend of the pop star, says he had been concerned since 2005 that Michael Jackson was abusing prescription painkillers.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090627/ap_en_tv/us_michael_jackson_jesse_jackson

[samanthajane13]

Jackson's physician hires Houston law firm
LOS ANGELES – A Houston lawyer says his firm has been hired by the doctor who reportedly was with Michael Jackson when the pop star was fatally stricken in his Los Angeles home.

William M. Stradley, a partner in the firm of Stradley, Chernoff & Alford, says his firm has been hired by Dr. Conrad Murray.

Stradley says investigators have indicated Murray is considered a witness and is not a target in any way.

Stradley says one of the partners, Edward Chernoff, is in Los Angeles meeting with Police Department investigators.

Stradley says he doesn't know if Murray is taking part in Saturday's meeting.

Stradley says Murray accompanied Jackson to the hospital, but he doesn't know if it was Murray who performed CPR on the singer or called 911.

The attorney says Murray has cooperated with police from the beginning and never left Los Angeles.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090627/ap_en_tv/us_jackson_doctor

[samanthajane13]

Arab world mourns Michael Jackson
By HADEEL AL-SHALCHI, Associated Press Writer Hadeel Al-shalchi, Associated Press Writer – 1 hr 7 mins ago

CAIRO – A Bahraini royal mourned him publicly, young Lebanese held a candlelight tribute, Egyptian musicians hailed him as an inspiration.

Beyond his global reach, Michael Jackson held a special place in the Muslim world, as one of the first major Western entertainers to break through cultural barriers in the 1980s.

Some made a connection with the pop icon because of rumors, never substantiated, that he had converted to Islam. Others embraced him as one of their own after he sought refuge in the Gulf emirate of Bahrain in 2005, following a bruising trial on child molestation charges in the U.S.

"God have mercy on him. He was a Bahraini. He lived with us," said Jassim Ali, 35, shopping for Jackson CDs on Saturday in a music store in the capital, Manama.

Jackson only spent a year in the emirate, as a guest of Sheik Abdulla bin Hamad Isa Al Khalifa, a son of Bahrain's king and an aspiring songwriter who had befriended the entertainer. Jackson kept a low profile there, largely staying close to his host.

After Jackson's departure, the sheik sued Jackson for $7 million, saying he had failed to fulfill a joint music venture, but the two settled in November, with terms not disclosed.

The sheik said Saturday, in a statement in the Gulf Daily News, that "the world has lost a giant in the music industry."

"We are all very saddened by that," Al Khalifa said in comments confirmed by his spokesman.

Across the Arab world, the tributes to Jackson, who died Thursday, mirrored those elsewhere around the globe, though some argued the singer had a special appeal in the region.

"Religion is a big part of identity in this part of the world, and the idea he became Muslim boosted his popularity," said Egyptian cultural critic Tarek el-Shinnawi.

The conversion rumors were fueled, in parts, by comments by Jackson's brother, Jermaine, a convert to Islam, who has said his brother showed interest in the faith. In November, a British tabloid claimed Michael Jackson converted at a friend's home in Los Angeles.

The Jackson brothers were raised as Jehovah's Witnesses.

Others simply loved Michael Jackson for his music. At his peak, in the 1980s, a time without Internet and satellite TV, the Arab world was more shielded from Western pop culture. Jackson was one of the few successful crossover artists.

In Egypt, keyboarder and music distributor Fady Badr traveled to Alexandria to take a few days off work to come to terms with the pop star's death.

"He's the reason I got into this business," said 28-year old Badr. "Everything he did was new, he had such a power of voice and style; this industry would wait for his new ideas to get us inspired."

A manager of the Cairo Jazz Club, Shady Hamza, said that he was flooded by calls from local bands and musicians to help arrange a tribute night to the singer.

"I feel like I lost a brother," said Hamza, 30. "He turned so many of us into the whole music thing — for a lot of musicians, Michael Jackson was their first encounter."

In Lebanon, about 100 young fans lit candles and sang along to his songs in a downtown street lined with bars and restaurants. A few tried to moon walk while others cheered.

Qays al Zu'bi, a Bahraini lawyer who said he helped Jackson with his finances when he lived in the emirate, said the singer had qualities about him that endeared him to people in the region, including his close relationship with his children and his vision.

"He had an aura about him," said the lawyer. "Despite the scandal in the United States, I saw mothers at the lobby of his hotel who brought their children to introduce them to Michael Jackson."

___

Associated Press Writer Reem Khalifah in Bahrain contributed to this report.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090627/ap_en_mu/ml_mideast_jackson

[old_soul]

Millions who loved him, and not one who was close enough to help him...Lisa Marie Presley said she couldn't take it, emotionally, and that is what led to their breakup. She saw her father that sad day, and when Michael told her he was afraid he would die the same way...well, it must've freaked her out.

The NY Post reported he was only 125 lbs. at 5'10"..that is really thin. No one there to say Eat Pasta! To say, I'm bringing your a** to rehab Mikey! No one was able to tell him what to do..he shut himself off to so much, his life must have been so sad, and as we know, lonely.

This goes back 20+ years...I hope he has peace now. :rose:

[samanthajane13]

Thread of pain ran through Jackson's career
By JAKE COYLE, AP Entertainment Writer Jake Coyle, Ap Entertainment Writer – 1 hr 50 mins ago

It was the last day of shooting for a Pepsi commercial at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles in 1984, and the only hiccup had been an argument between Michael Jackson and an ad executive over whether the young superstar would take off his sunglasses.

"Then," as the executive later wrote, "we set his hair on fire."

Jackson was descending a staircase in an extravagant, pyrotechnic opening sequence, dancing to "Billie Jean," when a spark landed on his head. Jackson cried out. People nearby leapt on him to put out the fire, but Jackson was hospitalized for days with a burned scalp.

Thus began a thread of pain that ran through a remarkable career — and made painkillers all too accessible.

Because of accidents, frequent plastic surgery and the sheer intensity of his dancing, physical agony was the unshakable problem with being Michael Jackson.

Medical examiners in Los Angeles are perhaps weeks away from determining an official cause of death, but officials did say Friday that tests showed Jackson was taking prescription medication.

At the end of his life, a personal cardiologist was living with Jackson while he rehearsed rigorously for a historic comeback. Among the first steps police took was to tow the doctor's BMW, saying it might contain medication or other evidence.

Since his death, people close to Jackson have said they were worried about his dependence on the drugs. In 1993, while he was defending himself against child molestation charges, Jackson himself called it an addiction.

On Saturday, spiritual teacher Dr. Deepak Chopra said he had been concerned since 2005 that Jackson was abusing painkillers and spoke to the pop star about suspected drug use as recently as six months ago.

"In a way, this was coming, and in a way, it's frustrating that we couldn't do anything about it," he told The Associated Press. "The problem has been going on for a long time, but we didn't know what to do. There were attempts at intervention, and it didn't succeed."

Chopra said Jackson, a longtime friend, personally asked him for painkillers in 2005, when the singer was staying with him after he was acquitted on sex-abuse charges. Chopra said he refused.

He also said the nanny of Jackson's children repeatedly contacted him with concerns about Jackson's drug use over the next four years, and said Jackson would avoid his calls whenever the subject came up.

Well before Jackson had a doctor living under his own roof, there were ample reasons to turn to pharmaceuticals to relieve pain.

In the early 1990s, Jackson's dermatologist revealed the singer had a skin disorder known as vitiligo, which leads to white patches on the skin. And over the years, Jackson underwent numerous plastic surgeries, the most prominent being the narrowing of his nose. Few people know exactly how many there were in all.

Jackson was a passionate performer and an exceptional dancer, renowned for his choreographical perfection. Ailments were, or at least began as, a byproduct of his dedication.

In 1990, he was hospitalized with chest pains. In 1993, he canceled a performance due to dehydration and later cut his tour short because of his painkiller addiction. In 1995, he collapsed on stage at the Beacon Theater in New York and was hospitalized.

Then there was London. Mounting a comeback aimed at least in part on erasing the taint of years of scandal, Jackson was to perform a staggering 50 shows at the O2 arena, the first of them in mid-July.

It was a schedule daunting enough that Jackson was training in recent months with Lou Ferrigno, the star of TV's "Incredible Hulk." And while a 50-show run would be challenging even for an athlete in his prime, Jackson was 50 years old. As he aged, his appearance had become famously, almost spectrally, drawn.

Those involved in the production said Jackson was heavily involved in all aspects of the concert rehearsals. He had hired a personal trainer and was practicing with backup dancers and choreographers several hours a day.

"He was working hard, setting the example, overseeing the choreography, kicking butt and taking names," said Johnny Caswell, president of CenterStaging Musical Productions Inc., a Burbank, Calif., sound stage where Jackson rehearsed until late May. "He was ready to blow everybody out of the water."

Randy Phillips, president and CEO of AEG Live, the producers of the London show, said Jackson was dancing "as well or better than the 20-year-old dancers we surrounded him with. ... He was riveting."

Maryss Courchinoux, a 29-year-old from Paris who said she had been selected as a backup dancer for the show, described the tour rehearsals as more arduous than the performances themselves.

"A heart is a muscle," she said. "If you don't build it up little by little, you will have problems and start cramping up. I don't know what his lifestyle was before he started rehearsing."

Jackson's family said he died of cardiac arrest on Thursday at UCLA Medical Center. A person familiar with the situation, speaking on condition of anonymity because the person had not been authorized to speak publicly, said it was an apparent heart attack.

Others familiar with a life in dancing and performing spoke similarly of its physical demand — in particular, the need for consistent practice. It is not, they said, a line of work in which a performer can figuratively jump from zero to 60 mph or more.

"You can never stop," said Jodi Moccia, a dance teacher and a choreographer who works with the cast of "Mamma Mia!" to prevent injuries. "Once you stop, those muscles don't come back like they usually do."

Four years ago, it was almost unthinkable that Jackson might attempt such an undertaking.

During his 2005 molestation trial, he appeared gaunt and had recurring back problems that he attributed to stress. The trial was interrupted several times by hospital visits. Jackson once even appeared late to court dressed in his pajamas after an emergency room visit.

After the acquittal, prosecutors argued against returning some items that had been seized from Neverland, the estate Jackson converted into a storybook playland. Among the items were the powerful painkiller Demerol and other prescription drugs.

That a performer with such a history of pain and a struggle with painkillers was attempting such an ambitious and grueling comeback was, some said, a collision course. Michael Levine, a publicist for Jackson in the early 1990s, called the stresses on Jackson "a toxic mix that nobody can withstand."

Others close to Jackson described a feeling of sad inevitability to his death.

Brian Oxman, a former Jackson attorney and family friend, told NBC's "Today" show: "The result was I warned everyone, and lo and behold, here we are. I don't know what caused his death. But I feared this day, and here we are."

____

AP Drama Writer Michael Kuchwara in New York and Gillian Flaccus and Beth Harris in Los Angeles contributed to this report.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090627/ap_en_tv/us_jackson_years_of_pain

[samanthajane13]

Tour Promoter Hired Michael Jackson's MIA Mystery Doctor
Josh Grossberg Josh Grossberg – Sat Jun 27, 3:02 pm ET

Los Angeles (E! Online) – Where in the world is Michael Jackson's doctor?

L.A.'s finest are continuing to search for a Houston-based cardiologist who was on the scene Thursday when the King of Pop went into cardiac arrest at his home and died suddenly. But the good news is, now they have a name to go on.

E! News has identified Jackson's personal physician as Dr. Conrad Robert Murray, who had been living in the 50-year-old "Thriller" star's rented Holmby Hills mansion.

Houston station KHOU interviewed a medical assistant at the Acres Home Heart and Vascular Institute, who confirmed that Murray was present at the time Jackson was stricken and administering CPR before paramedics arrived. But she hadn't been able to reach him despite numerous attempts. Murray also has offices in Nevada.

Investigators want to talk to the doctor as part of a standard probe into the music legend's death, though no foul play is suspected at this time.

Questions were raised Thursday after authorities towed a BMW with Texas plates from Jackson's home. The car was registered to Murray's sister. LAPD Officer Tenesha Dobine tells E! News "there may have been some medication inside the vehicle that the coroner needs for its investigation."

Meanwhile, it has since been confirmed that AEG Live, the promoter behind Jackson's proposed 50-night concert series, hired Murray to accompany the singer to London.

Jackson family friend Majestik Magnificence tells E! News that Jackson met Murray when he was living in Las Vegas. As far as the particulars of Jackson's health are concerned, Magnificence said the family is waiting to find out the results of the coroner's toxicology tests before commenting further.

Jackson rep Dr. Tohme Tohme told the Los Angeles Times Friday that Murray had only been in town for about two weeks. The doc had sent a letter to his patients, dated June 15, informing them that he would be leaving his practice indefinitely—presumably to go work for Jackson.

Here's what else we've learned about Murray...

• He is licensed to practice medicine in both Texas and California. • He has been sued twice for breach of contract in Clark County (Las Vegas) by creditors. Last year, HICA Education Loan Corp was awarded $71,332.45 in a case against him. • His Houston business, Acres Home Heart and Vascular Institute, was on the losing end in a September 2008 case and ordered to pay the plaintiff, Popular Leasing CA, more than $135,000. • Capital One sued him through a debt-collection law firm and was awarded $1,473 last December.

Michael's brother Jermaine earlier stated that Jackson's physician had attempted to revive him before medics arrived, though he did not identify Murray by name.



—Additional reporting by Ashley Fultz and Lindsay Miller

(Originally published June 26, 2009, at 10:55 a.m. PT)


http://news.yahoo.com/s/eonline/20090627/en_top_eo/131365

[samanthajane13]

Questions swirl around doctor in Jackson's death
By GILLIAN FLACCUS, Associated Press Writer Gillian Flaccus, Associated Press Writer – 2 hrs 1 min ago

LOS ANGELES – Elvis had one. So did Anna Nicole Smith and Marilyn Monroe. They are the doctors who cater to celebrities, dispensing powerful painkillers and sedatives to some of Hollywood's best-known entertainers.

Now, as police investigate Michael Jackson's sudden death, questions are swirling around the King of Pop's personal cardiologist and his actions in the superstar's final days.

Dr. Conrad Murray reportedly was with Jackson when he stopped breathing Thursday and performed CPR until paramedics arrived. An ambulance crew worked on Jackson at his home for 42 minutes before rushing him to UCLA Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.

The cardiologist has hired a Houston-based law firm and on Saturday, an attorney there said he was cooperating.

"Dr. Murray has never left L.A. since Mr. Jackson's death, and he remains there. Investigators have indicated Dr. Murray is considered a witness and is not in any way a target of any kind," William M. Stradley told The Associated Press. He said his colleague was meeting with investigators on Saturday.

Also on Saturday, the Rev. Jesse Jackson said the singer's family wants a private autopsy because of unanswered questions about how he died and about Murray.

And Jackson's longtime friend Deepak Chopra said he's been concerned since 2005 that physicians were overmedicating the singer.

The suspicions of Jackson's friends and family fit into a long-standing pattern of celebrity doctors becoming entangled in death investigations involving prescription drugs.

Doctors can become enchanted by the glamour of the celebrity lifestyle and may find it hard to refuse potent painkillers for their clients because of their wealth and power.

"It's a big issue with people who are used to getting what they want. And if someone says no, they can pay someone else to get what they want," said Karen Sternheimer, a sociologist at the University of Southern California who is writing a book on social problems and celebrity culture.

"The physician is not immune to that heady feeling of being in a celebrity's inner circle."

In other instances, the doctors themselves may have questionable pasts or significant debts, and caring for a celebrity allows them to make large amounts of money, said Julie Albright, a sociologist at the University of Southern California.

"Some of these people might not be the most successful doctors, so the money will also buy their complicity in fueling a drug habit," said Albright, who was speaking generally and not specifically about Murray.

Records reveal years of financial troubles for Murray, a 1989 graduate of Meharry Medical College in Nashville who practices medicine in California, Nevada and Texas.

Over the last 18 months, Murray's Nevada medical practice, Global Cardiovascular Associates, has been slapped with more than $400,000 in court judgments: $228,000 to Citicorp Vendor Finance Inc., $71,000 to an education loan company and $135,000 to a leasing company. He faces at least two other pending cases.

Court records show Murray was hit last December with a nearly $3,700 judgment for failure to pay child support in San Diego, and had his wages garnished the same month for almost $1,500 by a credit card company. Another credit card claim for more than $1,100 filed in April remains open.

He also owes $940 in fines and penalties for driving with an expired license plate and for not having proof of insurance in 2000.

Best-selling author Deepak Chopra, a longtime friend of Michael Jackson and a licensed medical doctor, said he first became concerned about the pop star's prescription drug use in 2005, when Jackson visited him shortly after his trial on sex abuse allegations.

Chopra said Jackson asked him to prescribe painkillers and already had a bottle of Oxycontin.

"I was kind of a bit alarmed. I said, 'Why are you taking that. You don't need that,' and then I started to probe a little further, and after I grilled him a little bit, he admitted he was getting them from a bunch of doctors," Chopra said.

Chopra said he refused to prescribe the medicine, but over the next four years the nanny of Jackson's children would periodically call to say that a parade of doctors was coming to his homes in Santa Barbara County, Los Angeles, Miami and New York City.

She told Chopra she felt they were overmedicating him, and one time she even tried to stage an intervention with Chopra's help, he said.

Each time, Jackson would discover the nanny's calls and then shut himself off from Chopra to avoid discussing the issue, he said.

Chopra, a spiritual adviser, said he last talked to Jackson directly about his drug use about six months ago and spoke with him on the phone about two weeks before his death.

But they did not discuss drug use on that call, and Chopra said in his final months, Jackson seemed much healthier and excited about his upcoming concerts in London.

"This is a strange addiction. You cannot get these pills or injections unless a physician prescribes them, and he had this bunch of enabling doctors who were in a sense criminals. And they get away with it half the time — and I hope they don't this time," he said.

"It's become a culture with celebrity doctors who in one sense get a sense of importance by hanging around with celebrities."

Marilyn Monroe died at 36 from an overdose of sleeping pills in August 1962. She had been under a doctor's care at the time.

Elvis Presley, who died in 1977 at 42, was known to travel with George Nichopoulos, a former physician who overprescribed drugs to clients. Nichopoulos lost his medical license but was acquitted of criminal charges related to Elvis' death.

More recently, Los Angeles County prosecutors charged a psychiatrist and a doctor with conspiring to provide Anna Nicole Smith with thousands of prescription pills.

Smith died Feb. 8, 2007, in Florida after collapsing at a hotel; medical authorities later ruled her death an overdose.

Megastars may be given more leeway than ordinary patients because of their wealth — and because of expectations that the famous often have eccentric habits, said Albright, the sociologist.

"It's almost expected in some ways if it's a rock star or a big actor. You almost expect them to have a larger-than-life lifestyle," she said. "People are drawn to celebrity like a moth to a flame, including these doctors who want to be around that lightness and brightness."

_____

Associated Press writers Sophia Tareen in Chicago, Juan A. Lozano in Houston, and Beth Harris and Michael Blood in Los Angeles contributed to this report.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090627/ap_en_tv/us_jackson_doctor

[samanthajane13]

Spokeswoman: Jackson cardiologist not a suspect
By NEKESA MUMBI MOODY, AP Music Writer Nekesa Mumbi Moody, Ap Music Writer – 1 hr 10 mins ago

LOS ANGELES – The cardiologist who was with Michael Jackson when he collapsed is "in no way a suspect" in the pop singer's death, a spokeswoman for the doctor said Saturday after a three-hour interview with detectives.

Dr. Conrad Murray "helped identify the circumstances around the death of the pop icon and clarified some inconsistencies," spokeswoman Miranda Sevcik said in a statement. "Investigators say the doctor is in no way a suspect and remains a witness to this tragedy."

Police confirmed that they interviewed Murray, adding that he was cooperative and "provided information which will aid the investigation."

The statement said Murray rode in the ambulance and stayed at the hospital for hours, "comforting and consoling the Jackson family." It also said he has been in Los Angeles since Jackson's death, and plans to stay here until his cooperation is no longer needed.

Murray was with Jackson when the singer stopped breathing Thursday, and reportedly performed CPR until paramedics arrived.

News of the meeting came a few hours after the Rev. Jesse Jackson said the pop star's family is seeking a second autopsy of the pop icon because of unanswered questions about how he died.

"It's abnormal," he said from Chicago a day after visiting the Jackson family. "We don't know what happened. Was he injected and with what? All reasonable doubt should be addressed."

People close to Jackson have said since his death that they were concerned about the superstar's use of painkillers. Los Angeles County medical examiners completed their autopsy Friday and said Jackson had taken prescription medication.

Medical officials also said there was no indication of trauma or foul play. An official cause of death could take weeks.

The coroner's office released the body to Jackson's family Friday night. There was no immediate word on whether the second autopsy was being performed right away. Jesse Jackson described the family as grief-stricken.

"They're hurt because they lost a son. But the wound is now being kept open by the mystery and unanswered questions of the cause of death," he said.

One of Jackson's longtime lawyers was chosen to represent the family's legal interests, a person close to the situation said Saturday. Katherine Jackson, the singer's mother, selected L. Londell McMillan, who has represented Jackson in several cases, said the person, who requested anonymity because the matter is private.

Two days after Jackson died at a Los Angeles hospital, sisters Janet and La Toya arrived at the mansion Jackson had been renting. They left without addressing reporters.

Moving vans also showed up at the Jackson home, leaving about an hour later. There was no indication what they might have taken away.

The Jackson family issued a statement Saturday expressing its grief over the death and thanking his supporters.

"In one of the darkest moments of our lives we find it hard to find the words appropriate to this sudden tragedy we all had to encounter," said the statement made through People magazine. "We miss Michael endlessly."

The Jackson family did not respond to a request for comment from the AP.

There was also no word from the family on funeral plans. Many of Jackson's relatives have gathered at the family's Encino compound, caring there for Jackson's three children.

A person close to the family told the AP they feel upset and angry about a lack of information about those who were around the pop superstar in his final days. The person requested anonymity because of the delicate nature of the situation.

Jackson had been rehearsing for 50 London concerts aimed at restoring his crown as the King of Pop. He died Thursday at age 50 after what his family said appeared to be cardiac arrest.

Police towed Murray's car from Jackson's home hours after Jackson died and said later it could contain medication or other evidence. Coroner's officials also said Jackson was taking prescription medication but declined to elaborate.

Murray lives in Las Vegas but apparently left his practice and moved in with Jackson about two weeks ago. No one answered the door Saturday at his Las Vegas home, which property records show Murray bought five years ago for $1.1 million.

The promoter of the series of London concerts that Jackson was to begin next month has said Jackson personally insisted Murray be on the payroll.

Also Saturday, spiritual teacher Dr. Deepak Chopra said he had been concerned since 2005 that Jackson was abusing prescription painkillers and most recently spoke to the pop star about suspected drug use six months ago.

Chopra said Jackson, a longtime friend, asked him for painkillers in 2005 when the singer was staying with him following his trial on sex abuse allegations. Chopra said he refused. He also said the nanny of Jackson's children repeatedly contacted him with concerns about Jackson's drug use over the next four years.

He said she told him a number of doctors would visit Jackson's homes in Santa Barbara County, Los Angeles, Miami and New York. Whenever the subject came up, Jackson would avoid his calls, Chopra said.

___

Associated Press writers Sophia Tareen in Chicago, Juan A. Lozano in Houston, and Gillian Flaccus, Brooke Donald, Beth Harris and Mike Blood and AP Global Media Services Production Manager Nico Maounis in Los Angeles contributed to this report.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090628/ap_en_ot/us_michael_jackson

[samanthajane13]

AP Source: Jackson's mother retains his lawyer
By NEKESA MUMBI MOODY, AP Music Writer Nekesa Mumbi Moody, Ap Music Writer – 1 hr 5 mins ago

LOS ANGELES – The mother of Michael Jackson has chosen one of his longtime lawyers to represent the family's legal interests, a person close to the situation said Saturday.

Katherine Jackson has selected L. Londell McMillan, of international law firm Dewey & LeBoeuf L.L.P, said the person, who requested anonymity because the matter is private. McMillan has represented Jackson in several cases in the past.

Since Jackson's death Thursday, the family has expressed concerns about whether Jackson had a will, and who was advising him in his final days. The family also wants to protect his entertainment interests, including his partial ownership of Sony/ATV Music Publishing.

McMillan has represented Michael Jackson in several matters, including last year's resolution of a breach of contact lawsuit filed by a Bahraini prince. McMillan has had several high-profile celebrity clients, including Prince, and is the publisher of the Source, a hip-hop magazine.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090628/ap_en_ce/michael_jackson_lawyer

[samanthajane13]

Could Paula Abdul Bring Michael Jackson's Moves to So You Think You Can Dance?
Jennifer Godwin Jennifer Godwin – Fri Jun 26, 6:37 pm ET

Los Angeles (E! Online) – Could Paula Abdul finally be crossing over from American Idol to So You Think You Can Dance?

SYTYCD and American Idol share a production company, so there has long been chatter that Idol judge Paula, who was a Laker Girl and choreographed many of Janet Jackson's "Control"-era videos, would bring her dancing feet to SYTYCD. So will it really happen?

Earlier this afternoon SYTYCD producer Nigel Lythgoe tweeted, "People please use Twitter-Power. Ask @PaulaAbdul to choreograph a Michael Jackson tribute on SYTYCD."

Well, Twitter got the message through. Paula just tweeted back, "Have your people call my people and let's do it lol."


http://news.yahoo.com/s/eonline/20090626/en_tv_eo/131475

[samanthajane13]

By NEKESA MUMBI MOODY, AP Music Writer Nekesa Mumbi Moody, Ap Music Writer – 48 mins ago

LOS ANGELES – The cardiologist who was with Michael Jackson during the pop star's final moments sat down with investigators for the first time to explain his actions — and left three hours later as a witness, not a suspect.

Dr. Conrad Murray "helped identify the circumstances around the death of the pop icon and clarified some inconsistencies," Murray's spokeswoman Miranda Sevcik said in a statement Saturday. "Investigators say the doctor is in no way a suspect and remains a witness to this tragedy."

Murray, a physician with a tangled financial and personal history who was hired to accompany Jackson on his planned summer concert tour, reportedly performed CPR until paramedics arrived. The pop star was declared dead later at UCLA Medical Center.

Police confirmed that they interviewed Murray, adding that he was cooperative and "provided information which will aid the investigation."

The interview took place on a busy day when one of Jackson's lawyers was chosen to represent the family's legal interests and celebrities descended on Los Angeles for a star-studded public celebration of the King of Pop's life.

L. Londell McMillan, who represented Jackson last year in a breach of contact lawsuit and has advised high-profile clients such as Prince, was picked to help the family by Katherine Jackson, the singer's mother, said a person who requested anonymity because the matter is private.

The legal move came as the Rev. Jesse Jackson revealed that Michael Jackson's family wants a second, private autopsy of the pop superstar because of unanswered questions about how he died.

"It's abnormal," Jesse Jackson said from Chicago a day after visiting the Jackson family. "We don't know what happened. Was he injected and with what? All reasonable doubt should be addressed."

People close to Jackson have said since his death that they were concerned about his use of painkillers. Los Angeles County medical examiners completed their autopsy Friday and said Jackson had taken prescription medication.

Medical officials also said there was no indication of trauma or foul play. An official cause of death could take weeks.

There was no word from the Jackson family on funeral plans. Many of Jackson's relatives have gathered at the family's Encino compound, caring there for Jackson's three children.

It remains unclear who Jackson designated as potential guardians for his children. Those details — likely contained in the 50-year-old singer's will — have not been released.

An attorney for Deborah Rowe, the mother of Jackson's two oldest children, issued a statement Saturday asking that the Jackson family "be able to say goodbye to their loved one in peace."

Sisters Janet and La Toya arrived Saturday at the mansion Jackson had been renting and left without addressing reporters. Moving vans also showed up at the Jackson home, leaving about an hour later. There was no indication what they might have taken away.

The Jackson family issued a statement Saturday expressing its grief over the death and thanking his supporters.

"In one of the darkest moments of our lives we find it hard to find the words appropriate to this sudden tragedy we all had to encounter," said the statement made through People magazine. "We miss Michael endlessly."

There was no immediate word on whether the second autopsy was being performed right away. Jesse Jackson described the family as grief-stricken.

"They're hurt because they lost a son. But the wound is now being kept open by the mystery and unanswered questions of the cause of death," he said.

Organizers of the annual BET awards show — which recognizes the best in music, acting and sports — scrambled to revamp Sunday's show to honor Jackson and his legacy.

Previously announced acts, such as Beyonce and Ne-Yo, hoped to change their planned performances to honor Jackson, said producer Stephen Hill. Other artists who hadn't planned to attend the ceremony, including Usher and Justin Timberlake, tried to catch last-minute flights to Los Angeles to participate.

___

Associated Press writers Anthony McCartney; Sophia Tareen in Chicago; Juan A. Lozano in Houston; and Gillian Flaccus, Brooke Donald, Beth Harris and Mike Blood and AP Global Media Services Production Manager Nico Maounis in Los Angeles contributed to this report.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090628/ap_en_mu/us_michael_jackson

[wind149]

I don't know why my thread was pulled, I thought it made sense? As for MJ, it is too eerie that he said he hoped he would not die like Elvis and he dies young just like he did. Both of these men were huge super stars, zillions in the bank, an entourage with them 24/7, every night, adoring fans screaming out their names, they could get anything they wanted with a snap of a finger and yet, despite the wealth and fame, these men deep down were really lonely and it must have been hard for them, not even knowing if the people around them really cared about them or did they care about the perks more? And if drugs are a factor in MJ's death, then he mirrored Elvis as he was a walking drug store, and when he died, he was very obese and did not look at all healthy and I am sure the drugs had a big factor in that. Now when Elvis was in the process of getting addicted to prescription pain meds, addiction as a whole only applied to alcohol and heroin and later on cocaine, prescription drugs never entered into the picture until later on after he was dead.

Yes, there was an inquest, but if I remember correctly, his doctor was not charged with anything. Now MJ had a doctor on call 24/7 and we all know he had gone to rehab before so everyone was aware that he was addicted to pain killers and on NG the other night, a family lawyer and friend eluded to the fact that he knew people were feeding MJ pain killers again and if drugs are to be the COD, that he planned on outing them all. Now allegedly, he received an injection of Demorol that morning and this belies the autopsy report that he was healthier than anyone thought so why a heavy duty pain shot? The morning fix? I will bet though, because this is MJ, that the tox reports will come back sooner than 4 weeks because I am betting somebody has bumped everything else to get right on his reports because the whole world is waiting with bated breath to find out the COD.

Now any of you want to guess who ends up with his kids? I hope Mrs Jackson does, but seeing as she is not bio granny and is of an advanced age, that the womb donor Debbie Rowe might prevail and seeing as this woman is a gold digger, she is gonna want a big fat check with lots of zeros and comma's along with the kids and she is gonna milk it for all it is worth. She only married him for money and got even more out of him by agreeing to provide the womb and she makes me sick. And his other son by a surrogate and we as the world never did find out who she was, smart woman there and I am sure he paid her handsomely, but she has one thing over Rowe, she has, as far as well all know, never tried to bleed him dry after giving birth and it sounds to me like she really wanted to do this for him and there is nothing wrong with being a surrogate.

I watched this piece on him last night that showcased his transformation from a young black man to a freak due to all those plastic surgeries and it was so sad. He was trying so hard to make himself white and it so backfired on him and he just did not see what a lot people did, that his face was falling off his face and his nose was beyond repair and a paramedic,who was one of the ones that responded to his house, said on Fox, that his face looked burned from the skin grafts he had done and that he looked old and it was because he wasn't wearing stage makeup. When he sang "Rock With You" about 1982 ish I thought he looked very handsome, the plastic surgery he has on his nose actually made it looked better and he should have quit while he was ahead and I wonder if he was addicted to plastic surgery like the "Cat Woman"? She looks hideous, but she thinks she looks hot and Joan Rivers is another addict and he face is so tight, it is a wonder she can smile and it looks so fake, but here again, she thinks she is hot. Now I have had plastic surgery, but mine was done for medical reasons and not cosmetic, I had to have a breast reduction because of my chronic back and shoulder pain, I used to break out with boils on them and I had raw marks on my shoulders from the bra straps and since I had the surgery in 05, my shoulder pain disappeared, but my lower back still is painful and that is due to severe arthritis. Now I will admit, I like being flat chested and I know I am the minority there, less is more IMO!!! I can buy tops off the rack and not have to go to Lane Bryant or Fashion Big.

So I can relate to MJ wanting to look better, but he just went overboard and ended up looking like a freak and it is a shame. Now as for his musical talent, no one could ever take that away from him, he was the King of Pop and Thriller sold more than any other album in history and I admit to have owned a copy and as I said in my thread, I remember going to a club and moon walking was all the rage and I was very much into my cups and was actually able to do it and that era was so much fun, we had the mechanical bull as well, the 80's was the best decade ever and we were not in a recession and people actually made and had money! Now also, the Jackson 5 has a whole blazed the way for other black entertainers to appear on shows Like the Ed Sullivan and American Bandstand which I never missed an episode of and then along came Soul Train and I watched that as well and it came on right after AB! Every album MJ ever made went to number one and you gotta wonder where the laughter started to die for this guy and I don't mean the allegations and arrest for sexual abuse, he seemed to be heading downhill before that and the 05 trial I think broke him and I don't mean monetarily, I mean, spirit wise. Now I know some people have criticized me because I do think he was a pedophile and if he had not admitted to letting little boys sleep in his bed, I would have been no way did that happen, but this happened twice, the first time he was able to head the mother of that victim off at the pass by handing her a $20 million dollar payoff, but when he is charged with 14 counts of sexual molestation on another boy, you have to believe that he really did do these acts??? He was aquitted, but a few months later some of the jury spoke to Dateline and one woman said that she had made a terrible mistake, that Mesero had her hoodwinked into believing that the mother was a gold digger and a liar and it clouded her judgment because she went into the courtroom convinced he was as guilty as homemade sin. Another man echoed her sentiments, he was having an attack of the guilt's, wondering if they had set a monster free?? So do you all think that he was a molester or not??? I am curious because you guys are usually right on the money, you can smell them like a shark to a dead fish two miles away.

[samanthajane13]

Wind-your thread is still here-

http://www.boards.crimelibrary.com/showthread.php?t=293798

I didn't understand why you started a new thread after The R had posted the first story, but I figured it was better to keep the "news" threads together, and use yours for opinions and comments.

It wasn't anything personal.

[samanthajane13]

Jackson father doubts concert stress sickened star
By NEKESA MUMBI MOODY, AP Music Writer Nekesa Mumbi Moody, Ap Music Writer – 1 hr 13 mins ago

LOS ANGELES – The father of Michael Jackson says he does not believe stress over the intense series of concerts the King of Pop planned for his comeback led to his death.

Joe Jackson also said in an interview airing Sunday that he believes his son will be larger in death than he was in life. The patriarch of the Jackson 5 said he wished Michael Jackson were around to see the outpouring of affection since his death.

"Michael was the biggest superstar in the world and in history," Joe Jackson told Fox News Channel's "Geraldo at Large." "He was loved by everybody, whether poor or wealthy or whatever may be."

Michael Jackson was to begin a strenuous series of 50 concerts in London in July.

Three days after the pop icon died, celebrities descended on Los Angeles for what promised to be a spectacular celebration of Jackson's life at the annual BET awards show.

Media requests for the Sunday night show doubled following the death, and the red carpet was lengthened. It was not immediately clear whether any members of the Jackson family, who gathered at their Encino compound over the weekend, planned to take part.

Previously announced performers including Beyonce and Ne-Yo, were working to overhaul performances they had planned for weeks so they could honor Jackson. Other stars who had not planned to attend, including Usher and Justin Timberlake, tried to catch last-minute flights, producers said.

On Saturday, the cardiologist who was with Jackson during his final moments sat down with investigators for three hours. His spokeswoman said he is not a suspect in the death.

Dr. Conrad Murray "helped identify the circumstances around the death of the pop icon and clarified some inconsistencies," spokeswoman Miranda Sevcik said. She said the doctor remains "a witness to this tragedy."

Police confirmed they had interviewed Murray and said he was cooperative.

Meanwhile, Jackson's mother selected a lawyer who represented Jackson last year in a breach-of-contract suit and has advised other high-profile clients to help the family, said a person who requested anonymity because the matter is private.

The legal move came as the Rev. Jesse Jackson revealed that Michael Jackson's family wants a second, private autopsy of the pop superstar because of unanswered questions about how he died.

"It's abnormal," Jesse Jackson said from Chicago a day after visiting the Jackson family. "We don't know what happened. Was he injected and with what? All reasonable doubt should be addressed."

People close to Jackson have said since his death that they were concerned about his use of painkillers. Los Angeles County medical examiners completed their autopsy Friday and said Jackson had taken prescription medication.

Medical officials also said there was no indication of trauma or foul play. An official cause of death could take weeks to determine.

There was no word from the Jackson family on funeral plans. Many of Jackson's relatives have gathered at the family's Encino compound, caring there for Jackson's three children.

It remains unclear whom Jackson designated as potential guardians for his children. Those details, likely contained in the 50-year-old singer's will, have not been released.

An attorney for Deborah Rowe, the mother of Jackson's two oldest children, issued a statement Saturday asking that the Jackson family "be able to say goodbye to their loved one in peace."

A White House adviser said on NBC's "Meet the Press" that President Barack Obama had written to the Jackson family to express his condolences.

___

Associated Press writers Anthony McCartney; Sophia Tareen in Chicago; Juan A. Lozano in Houston; and Gillian Flaccus, Brooke Donald, Beth Harris and Mike Blood and AP Global Media Services Production Manager Nico Maounis in Los Angeles contributed to this report.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090628/ap_on_en_mu/us_michael_jackson

[samanthajane13]

BET Awards to highlight Michael Jackson's legacy
By SANDY COHEN, AP Entertainment Writer Sandy Cohen, Ap Entertainment Writer – 56 mins ago

LOS ANGELES – After three days to process the shock and grief, attendees at the BET Awards — a show thrown into "total overhaul" by the death of Michael Jackson — were preparing for what was sure to be a spectacular celebration of the King of Pop, put on by a dazzling collection of the artists he influenced most.

Fans lined up early Sunday outside the show's site as workers put the finishing touches on an outdoor stage near the Shrine Auditorium's entrance.

At the front of the line were Raia Lee and Lauren Jones, who had planned to watch the show on television but instead arrived shortly before 8 a.m. in the hopes of getting close-up looks at celebrities.

Already an affair of major star wattage, Sunday night's show was thrown under a white-hot spotlight in the wake of Jackson's death, adding attendees and guests, doubling the number of media requests and even lengthening the red carpet to accommodate all who want to take part.

It was not immediately clear whether any members of the Jackson family, who had been gathering at their Encino compound over the weekend, planned to attend or take part.

Producers of the annual awards show — which recognizes the best in music, acting and sports — say they scrapped their plans and revamped the show to meet the moment.

"It's a total overhaul," network Chairwoman Debra L. Lee said. "Luckily we have enough time to do that."

Previously announced performers, such as Beyonce and Ne-Yo, who worked on their performances for weeks, hoped to change them to honor Jackson, producer Stephen Hill said. Other artists who hadn't planned to attend the ceremony, including Usher and Justin Timberlake, tried to catch last-minute flights to Los Angeles to participate, Hill said.

Lee said the network would still present awards, but the show would be "more geared toward Michael Jackson."

Beyonce and T.I. were top contenders for trophies, with a leading five nominations each. She was up for best R&B female, best actress and video of the year. He was in the running for best male hip-hop, best collaboration and video of the year. Lil Wayne, T-Pain and Keri Hilson were tied with four nominations each.

Hosted by Jamie Foxx, the BET Awards telecast was extended by 30 minutes to accommodate various Jackson tributes.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090628/ap_en_tv/us_bet_awards

[wind149]

Donna, what happened was as I was starting the thread, I think R was doing it at that same time, but that is OK, we only need one thread for this here anyway.

[samanthajane13]

"Donna, what happened was as I was starting the thread, I think R was doing it at that same time, but that is OK, we only need one thread for this here anyway."

Yeah-you're probably right about the cross-posting problem.

I'm on dial-up, and I've had the same problem FOREVER-especially when there were several people posting news stories over at 320sycamore.

Even if I was a few seconds faster-as indicted by the posting time-the people on broad-band or DSL would always beat me to the punch.

[samanthajane13]

By NEKESA MUMBI MOODY, AP Music Writer Nekesa Mumbi Moody, Ap Music Writer – 9 mins ago

LOS ANGELES – While BET celebrated the life of Michael Jackson the entertainer, Janet Jackson — in her first public appearance since her brother's shocking death — memorialized him as her beloved sibling and family member, eliciting tears as she vowed his memory would live forever.

"To you, Michael is an icon," said Jackson, holding back tears at Sunday's BET Awards. "To us, Michael is family and he will forever live in all of our hearts. On behalf of my family and myself, thank you for all of your love, thank you for all of your support. We miss him so much, thank you so much."

Afterward, Ne-Yo and host Jamie Foxx performed a somber version of the Jackson 5 classic "I'll Be There," as photos of Jackson flashed across the screen.

It was a stirring emotional highlight for a show that was completely revamped to recognize the legacy of Jackson, who died Thursday at age 50. While awards were still doled out, the show's main focus was to pay tribute to the man who shaped the careers of every entertainer who walked the stage that night.

Joe Jackson, the singer's father, also was on hand to represent the grief-stricken family. "I just wish he could be here to celebrate himself," he said before the show. "Sadly, he's not here, so I'm here to celebrate for him."

And for the most part, it was a joyous wake.

"No need to be sad. We want to celebrate this black man," said Foxx, who kicked off the show with a re-enactment of the choreography from Jackson's iconic "Beat It" video in front of the star-studded crowd, on its feet from the start of the show.

Already an affair of major star wattage, the night's show at the Shrine Auditorium was thrown under a white-hot spotlight in the wake of Jackson's death, adding attendees and guests, doubling the number of media requests, adding an extra half-hour to the telecast and even lengthening the red carpet to accommodate all who wanted to take part.

Backstage, Ciara recounted talking on the phone with her idol and her regrets that she never got to meet him. As she talked, she started to cry. "He meant so much to me," she said through tears.

While Jackson's incredible influence stretched across genres, races and cultures, he had a unique place in the world of black entertainment. His influence is arguably most visible in urban music, seen in stars like Usher who mimic his dance moves, to Ne-Yo, whose music is marked by its Jackson-isms. But that influence went beyond music: Jackson was black America's biggest star, who broke racial barriers that allowed for so many other superstars to follow.

"Michael Jackson was so important to our world, to our country, to this network," said BET Chairwoman Debra L. Lee. "Michael was truly a musical deity."

Producers of the annual awards show — which recognizes the best in music, acting and sports — revamped the show to meet the moment. While Beyonce and T.I. were the leading award nominees with five apiece, giving out trophies was an afterthought: Honoring Jackson was became the show's main focus.

While some performed their own hits, most made sure to incorporate some of the man who influenced them in their performances. A chant of "Michael Jackson, Michael Jackson" was heard while Keri Hilson performed, and Foxx's "Blame It" incorporated some of the Jacksons' dance hit "Blame It On the Boogie."

Throughout the night, Foxx also regularly turned up in some of Jackson's signature looks, like the wide-collar black leather outfit from "Billie Jean."

New Edition, the 1980s teen sensations who were considered that generation's Jackson 5 with their own version of bubble-gum soul, ran through several of the Jackson 5's greatest hits, from "I Want You Back" to "ABC," mirroring their idols right down to the group's original choreography. Ne-Yo sang one of Jackson's most sensual songs, "Lady in my Life."

"He's the man who made it possible for me to be on the stage; I love you and I miss you," he said later.

Ciara sang Jackson's humanitarian anthem, "Heal the World," dressed in a jacket that had Jackson's signature military epaulets.

And winners acknowledged Jackson when they received their awards.

"This is for you, Michael Jackson," said Beyonce, as she held her trophy for best female R&B artist skyward, calling the singer "my hero."

"We all know none of us in this room wouldn't be here for Michael Jackson," said Lil Wayne, as he picked up his award for best male hip-hop star.

"My heart and prayers go out to the whole Jackson family," said basketball star LeBron James, who won best male athlete.

Not every moment had the stamp of Jackson. Foxx resurrected his "In Living Color" character Wanda and paired it with another cross-dressing classic character, Martin Lawrence's Sheneneh, for a hilarious parody of an "upcoming movie": "Skank Robbers."

Beyonce gave a simultaneously sexy and angelic performance of "Ave Maria"; Ne-Yo brought out some of the hitmaking male R&B acts of the 1980s and 1980s, from Bell Biv Devoe to Guy. But even without a direct Jackson reference, there was usually a Jackson connection, as all of those artists counted Jackson as an inspiration. And Eddie Levert of the classic R&B group the O'Jays talked about how much he'd miss Jackson even as his group was honored with a lifetime achievement award.

Jackson connections were inescapable: Even the building where the ceremony took place, the Shrine auditorium, was where Jackson's hair and scalp were burned during the filming of a Pepsi commercial in 1984. It was also the location for several of his Grammy and American Music Award performances.

___

AP Entertainment writers Sandy Cohen and Derrik J. Lang and AP writer Alicia Quarles contributed to this report.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090629/ap_en_tv/us_bet_awards

[samanthajane13]

Michael Jackson's Dad Joe Attends BET Awards
Brandi Fowler Brandi Fowler – 2 hrs 41 mins ago

Los Angeles (E! Online) – Just days after the death of his son, Joe Jackson attended the BET Awards and talked about the loss of Michael Jackson.

The Jackson patriarch, who walked the carpet with his attorney, told E! News' Michael Yo that he wished Michael could've seen the tribute that BET had in store that night.

"This should've happened when he was living because he was that kind of a star," Jackson said.

He asked that people remember that his son "was the greatest star in the world" and that the late musician deserved all of the recognition.

When the pop icon's father was asked about the events surrounding Michael's death, he said, "I have a lot of concerns but I can't get into that…I don't like what happened," according to CNN.

After Ne-Yo performed Michael Jackson's "Lady in My Life" during the BET Awards Sunday night, Joe Jackson was shown in the audience shedding tears.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/eonline/20090629/en_top_eo/131680

[samanthajane13]

Former Jackson Nanny Alleges Drug Abuse in U.K. Paper
Megan Masters Megan Masters – Sun Jun 28, 8:37 pm ET

Los Angeles (E! Online) – It was only a matter of time before the skeletons began to fall from the closet.

Although it is not an easy task to sift through what's fact and what's fiction as stories about the late singer's life begin to filter out, The Times of London has published a revealing and question-raising interview with the star's former nanny, an employee of nearly 17 years, Grace Rwaramba.

The interview reportedly took place prior to Jackson's death, with Rwaramba allegedly speaking about what she witnessed throughout her years with Jackson, most notably the rumored drug abuse and money troubles.

When asked about Jackson's rumored prescription drug abuse, the Times article quotes Rwaramba as saying, "He always ate too little and mixed too much. I had to pump his stomach many times...He always mixed so much of it."

According to the Times article, the addiction issues reportedly became so immense that Rwaramba, Michael's sister Janet Jackson and mother, Katherine Jackson, attempted to intervene, much to the dismay of the late singer.

"We tried to do an intervention. He was so angry with me," explains the ex-employee.

Debt and money issues were also discussed in the interview, as Rwaramba reportedly claimed that the singer was broke at the time of his death and hid money throughout his house.

"Michael had no idea about money. He got a proposal to make an appearance in Japan for $1 million," reads the article. "I knew how many people were involved. By the time everyone took their share, he ended up with $200,000."

When the family arrived at Jackson's Holmby Hills house on Friday, Katherine reportedly reached out to Rwaramba about her son's money.

According to The Times, Rwaranda claimed, "She said, 'Grace, the children are crying. They are asking about you. They can't believe that their father died. Grace, you remember Michael used to hide cash at the house. I am here. Where can it be?' "

Reportedly a mother figure to Jackson's children, Rwaramba allegedly instructed Katherine to look "at the garbage bags and under the carpets." Then, according to the article, Jackson's mother urged her to come to Los Angeles. "She said, 'Grace, where are you? Come. I will pick you up from the airport.' She sounded so strong. So strong!"

Rwaramba is now in Los Angeles and will cooperate with the LAPD investigating the death, by whom she will reportedly be interviewed on Thursday.

After the Times publication hit the web this morning, longtime Jackson and Rwaramba friend and daughter of famed spirituality guru Deepak Chopra, Mallika Chopra, took to her blog to defend the former nanny, explaining that she believes the article is full of half-truths and chastises the author of the British publication, Daphne Barak.

"Michael had a pattern of letting those close to him in and out of his life, and Grace was no exception," writes Mallika. "Over the years, Grace faced a similar cycle of wanting to save him and being hurt by him. It was an endless cycle…Michael had a knack of surrounding himself with enablers, and avoiding people who wanted to help him like his family, real friends who cared deeply about him, Grace and my father, Deepak Chopra."

Rwaramba's friend states that the former nanny has never spoken to the press throughout her 17 years under Jackson's employ and condemns Barak for taking advantage of her during a vulnerable time.

"Daphne [wrote] an article full of quotes by Grace for a tabloid magazine [and] Grace's quotes are now being picked up by other tabloids." Chopra goes on to explain what she sees as inaccuracies in the way the Times article is written, saying: "For the record, Grace never pumped Michael's stomach. She has no idea how she would even do such a thing."

According to Chopra, Rwaramba's statements were made, but under great distress and are now being nipped and tucked to fit an image the media is portraying of Jackson.

Only time will tell the truth, although maybe not in its entirety. Until then, Jackson's friends, family and fans eagerly await the autopsy results and toxicology reports.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/eonline/20090629/en_top_eo/131652

[samanthajane13]

Lawyer for doctor: Jackson had pulse when found
By ANTHONY McCARTNEY, AP Entertainment Writer Anthony Mccartney, Ap Entertainment Writer – Mon Jun 29, 12:17 am ET

LOS ANGELES – Michael Jackson still had a faint pulse and his body was warm when his doctor found him in bed and not breathing, a lawyer for the doctor told The Associated Press on Sunday.

Edward Chernoff also said Dr. Conrad Murray never prescribed or gave Jackson the drugs Demerol or OxyContin. He denied reports suggesting Murray gave Jackson drugs that contributed to his death.

Chernoff told the AP that Murray was at the pop icon's rented mansion on Thursday afternoon when he discovered Jackson in bed and not breathing. The doctor immediately began administering CPR, Chernoff said.

"He just happened to find him in his bed, and he wasn't breathing," the lawyer said. "Mr. Jackson was still warm and had a pulse."

Jackson's family requested a private autopsy in part because of questions about Murray, the Rev. Jesse Jackson said Saturday. Murray also told the family an autopsy should be performed, Chernoff said.

Three days after the death of the King of Pop, celebrities descended on Los Angeles for a spectacular celebration of Jackson's life at the annual BET awards show.

Joe Jackson, Michael's father, walked on the red carpet wearing a black hat, sunglasses and a dark suit. He did not appear on stage during the show.

"I just wish he could be here to celebrate himself," he said. "Sadly, he's not here, so I'm here to celebrate for him."

In a statement read at the show, Jackson's parents said they solely had the personal and legal "authority for our son and his children." It was their strongest declaration yet about their son's affairs.

A tearful Janet Jackson appeared on stage in a white dress at the end of the BET awards. After a long pause to gather herself, she spoke haltingly but deliberately to the audience.

"I'd just like to say that to you, Michael is an icon. To us, Michael is family. And he will forever live in all of our hearts," she said.

People close to Michael Jackson have said since his death that they were concerned about his use of painkillers. Los Angeles County medical examiners completed their autopsy Friday and said Jackson had taken unspecified prescription medication.

Chernoff said any drugs the doctor gave Jackson were prescribed in response to a specific complaint from the entertainer.

"Dr. Murray has never prescribed nor administered Demerol to Michael Jackson," Chernoff said. "Not ever. Not that day. ... Not Oxycontin (either) for that matter."

Paramedics were called to the mansion while the doctor was performing CPR, according to a recording of the 911 call.

Because Jackson was so frail, Murray "administered with his hand behind his back to provide the necessary support," Chernoff said. Some have speculated the doctor botched the CPR.

"He's a trained doctor," Chernoff said. "He knows how to administer CPR."

Medics spent three-quarters of an hour trying to revive Jackson. He was pronounced dead later at UCLA Medical Center.

Murray was interviewed by investigators for three hours Saturday. His spokeswoman called Murray "a witness to this tragedy," not a suspect in the death, and police described the doctor as cooperative.

The attorney said Murray will wait to speak publicly until after the police and forensics investigation is complete.

"One of his best friends just died, essentially in his arms — yeah he's looking forward to telling his story," Chernoff said.

Chernoff also said the promoter of Jackson's 50-show London concerts, AEG Live, owes the cardiologist $300,000.

"His contract with the promoters states he would receive an amount of money each month to be his (Jackson's) personal physician and they have failed to honor that contract," Chernoff said. "They are two months behind."

Randy Phillips, president and CEO of AEG Live, acknowledged the contract called for Murray to be paid $150,000 a month, but said the contract required Jackson's signature.

"Michael never signed the contract," Phillips said.

He also said the doctor's claim for payment may be against Jackson's estate, not AEG which was merely advancing the money to Jackson.

A private pathologist hired by the Jackson family completed a second, private autopsy Saturday, the Los Angeles Times reported, citing unnamed people familiar with the case.

A second autopsy can allow the family to get some information about a death almost immediately, including signs of heart, brain or lung disease or fresh needle punctures, said Dr. Michael Baden, a medical examiner not involved in the Jackson case.

"Usually if it looks normal with the naked eye, it looks normal under the microscope," said Baden, who recently performed a second autopsy on actor David Carradine.

Los Angeles County coroner's officials said their autopsy found no indication of trauma or foul play. But because of additional tests, an official cause of death could take weeks to determine.

There was no word from the Jackson family on funeral plans. Many of Jackson's relatives have gathered at the family's Encino compound, caring there for Jackson's three children.

Al Sharpton, who arrived in Los Angeles on Sunday afternoon, said he was heading to the Jackson compound and would talk with the family about how to memorialize the late pop star. Sharpton said they want to hold memorials in key cities around the globe and also planned a memorial service Tuesday at the Apollo Theater in New York.

It also wasn't clear what would become of Jackson's Neverland Ranch. Investor Thomas Barrack previously set up the joint venture with Michael Jackson after the singer nearly lost the ranch to foreclosure.

Barrack feels close to family members and wants to hear their thoughts on how best to honor Jackson's memory, said Owen Blicksilver, a spokesman for Colony Capital LLC, the Los Angeles-based firm where Barrack is chairman and CEO. The investor joined Jackson's brother Jackie, Jermaine and Tito for lunch Saturday at the sprawling Santa Barbara County property.

A White House adviser said on NBC's "Meet the Press" that President Barack Obama had written to the Jackson family to express his condolences.

___

Associated Press writers contributing to this report include: Sophia Tareen in Chicago; Juan A. Lozano in Houston; and Nekesa Mumbi Moody, Gillian Flaccus, Brooke Donald, Beth Harris and Mike Blood and AP Global Media Services Production Manager Nico Maounis in Los Angeles.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090629/ap_en_mu/us_michael_jackson

[samanthajane13]

Lawyer for Jackson Doc Says He's "Not a Suspect," Didn't Inject Drugs
Brandi Fowler Brandi Fowler – Mon Jun 29, 2:03 am ET

Los Angeles (E! Online) – Hours after proclaiming Dr. Conrad Murray is nothing more than a witness to Michael Jackson's death, the physician's attorney is now insisting that the doctor did not give or prescribe the pop icon Demerol or Oxycontin.

The Los Angeles police were told that the music legend was given an injection of Demerol just an hour before his death. That led to speculation that Murray was somehow involved, as he was on the scene at the time of Jackson's death on Thursday.

But on Sunday, Murray's attorney, Edward M. Chernoff, said that any other drugs that were prescribed to the King of Pop were the result of a specific complaint.

The Houston lawyer also said that Murray found Jackson unconscious in his bedroom—he wasn't breathing and had a faint pulse. It was at that point that the cardiologist began to perform CPR. (The events were chillingly recorded in the 911 call.)

Police investigators met with Murray for about three hours Saturday night to review "inconsistencies" in his original testimony, per a police spokeswoman. The LAPD said Murray was "cooperative."

In a statement, Chernoff's law firm said, "Investigators have made it clear...that Dr. Murray is considered to be a witness to the events surrounding Michael Jackson's death, and he is not a suspect.

"Dr. Murray hired legal counsel to help guide him through the police investigation process. The law firm was hired to make sure the police investigation is conducted properly."

Murray, who was thrust into the spotlight when he wasn't immediately locatable after Jackson was pronounced dead, voluntarily submitted to the police interrogation, Chernoff said, answering "every and all questions" put to him Saturday.

Los Angeles police have confirmed they are conducting a routine investigation into Jackson's death. An autopsy showed no signs of trauma or foul play, according to the L.A. County Coroner's Office.

Murray, who was hired to accompany Jackson to London as his personal physician, was with the 50-year-old singer when he went into cardiac arrest at his rented Holmby Hills mansion. Murray and the paramedics who transported Jackson to UCLA Medical Center attempted CPR, but he never regained consciousness.

"Dr. Murray rode with Michael Jackson to the hospital and made frantic attempts to revive him along the way," Chernoff's firm said. "Dr. Murray considered himself to be a friend of Michael Jackson and he is very distraught over his death. He will continue to cooperate in every respect."

(Originally published June 27, 2009, at 8:30 p.m. PT)


http://news.yahoo.com/s/eonline/20090629/en_music_eo/131637

[samanthajane13]

Lawyer: Jackson's doc didn't give excessive drugs
By ANTHONY McCARTNEY, AP Entertainment Writer Anthony Mccartney, Ap Entertainment Writer – 42 mins ago

LOS ANGELES – A lawyer for Michael Jackson's doctor said his client never gave or prescribed Jackson the painkillers Demerol or OxyContin, and denied reports suggesting that the doctor gave the pop star drugs that contributed to his death.

Edward Chernoff told the Associated Press on Sunday that any drugs that Dr. Conrad Murray gave Jackson were prescribed in response to a specific complaint from Jackson.

"Dr. Murray has never prescribed nor administered Demerol to Michael Jackson," Chernoff said. "Not ever. Not that day. ... Not Oxycontin (either) for that matter."

Jackson still had a faint pulse and a warm body when Murray found him in bed and not breathing on Thursday afternoon, Chernoff said.

Chernoff told the AP that Murray was at the pop icon's rented mansion when he discovered Jackson in bed and not breathing. The doctor immediately began administering CPR, Chernoff said.

"He just happened to find him in his bed, and he wasn't breathing," the lawyer said. "Mr. Jackson was still warm and had a pulse."

Jackson's family requested a private autopsy in part because of questions about Murray, the Rev. Jesse Jackson said. Murray also told the family an autopsy should be performed, Chernoff said.

People close to Michael Jackson have said since his death that they were concerned about his use of painkillers. Los Angeles County medical examiners completed their autopsy Friday and said Jackson had taken unspecified prescription medication.

Paramedics were called to the mansion while the doctor was performing CPR, according to a recording of the 911 call.

Because Jackson was so frail, Murray "administered with his hand behind his back to provide the necessary support," Chernoff said. Some have speculated the doctor botched the CPR.

"He's a trained doctor," Chernoff said. "He knows how to administer CPR."

Medics spent three-quarters of an hour trying to revive Jackson. He was pronounced dead later at UCLA Medical Center.

Murray was interviewed by investigators for three hours Saturday. His spokeswoman called Murray "a witness to this tragedy," not a suspect in the death, and police described the doctor as cooperative.

The attorney said Murray will wait to speak publicly until after the police and forensics investigation is complete.

A second autopsy can allow the family to get some information about a death almost immediately, including signs of heart, brain or lung disease or fresh needle punctures, said Dr. Michael Baden, a medical examiner not involved in the Jackson case.

"Usually if it looks normal with the naked eye, it looks normal under the microscope," said Baden, who recently performed a second autopsy on actor David Carradine.

Los Angeles County coroner's officials said their autopsy found no indication of trauma or foul play. But because of additional tests, an official cause of death could take weeks to determine.

Three days after the death of the King of Pop, celebrities descended on Los Angeles for a spectacular celebration of Jackson's life at the annual BET awards show.

Joe Jackson, Michael's father, walked on the red carpet wearing a black hat, sunglasses and a dark suit. He did not appear on stage during the show.

"I just wish he could be here to celebrate himself," he said. "Sadly, he's not here, so I'm here to celebrate for him."

In a statement read at the show, Jackson's parents said they solely had the personal and legal "authority for our son and his children." It was their strongest declaration yet about their son's affairs.

A tearful Janet Jackson appeared on stage in a white dress at the end of the BET awards. After a long pause to gather herself, she spoke haltingly but deliberately to the audience.

"I'd just like to say that to you, Michael is an icon. To us, Michael is family. And he will forever live in all of our hearts," she said.

There was no word from the family on funeral plans. Many of Jackson's relatives have gathered at the family's Encino compound, caring there for Jackson's three children.

Al Sharpton planned to visit the Jackson compound Monday and would talk with the family about how to memorialize the late pop star. Sharpton said they want to hold memorials in key cities around the globe and also planned a memorial service Tuesday at the Apollo Theater in New York.

___

Associated Press writers contributing to this report include: Sophia Tareen in Chicago; Juan A. Lozano in Houston; and Nekesa Mumbi Moody, Gillian Flaccus, Brooke Donald, Beth Harris and Mike Blood and AP Global Media Services Production Manager Nico Maounis in Los Angeles.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090629/ap_en_mu/us_michael_jackson

[samanthajane13]

Fans overseas still mourning for Michael Jackson
By MARI YAMAGUCHI, Associated Press Writer Mari Yamaguchi, Associated Press Writer – 46 mins ago

TOKYO – Mourning Michael Jackson fans around the world awaited word Monday on the possibility of a global memorial to the King of Pop.

Jackson died Thursday in Los Angeles, where his supporters discussed the possibility of holding such a memorial, but nothing had been decided as of Monday. Fans around Asia continued to mark the singer's death, while in Japan, a scholar reflected on the King of Pop's historic significance.

"Which was the bigger step for mankind — Apollo 11 or Michael's moonwalk?" asked Yoshiaki Sato, who studies American fiction and music, in an opinion piece in Monday's editions of the Yomiuri nationwide newspaper.

In China, thousands of fans in cities held vigils for Jackson over the weekend. In Malaysia, hundreds of fans gathered at a Kuala Lumpur shopping complex Sunday to sing along to Jackson songs and sign a banner with condolence messages, while Jackson impersonators performed. About 200 fans gathered for a candlelight vigil in a Tokyo park.

"There is bound to be some kind of (global) event soon," Tower Records official Yasuo Toba said in Tokyo, adding that his company would definitely be interested in taking part. "He is one of the most influential artists of his time."

About 30 Japanese fans were making plans to fly to Los Angeles even though they did not yet know when, where or if a memorial would take place, according to one fan, who asked to be identified as T. Arita because of his worries about privacy.

Beijing Television was planning to broadcast a Jackson special on Thursday, and one member of the Michael Jackson fan club in China's central Sichuan province urged fans to organize an event on Aug. 29, Jackson's birthday. Another fan posted details of a tentative Jackson vigil to take place Friday in Inner Mongolia.

Sato said that in life, Jackson had a truly global impact.

The U.S. won the Cold War not through military might but through the charm of artists like Jackson, he said, with his sound winning over people in the former Soviet states, the Middle East and China to the greatness of American culture.

"His death, like Presley's, may not have been fitting of a hero. But his life will shine on in world history," he said.

Television specials about Jackson dominated Japanese programming through the weekend. Special programming Monday showed him eating sushi in Japan and blowing kisses to the crowd. The Japanese were some of his most loyal fans, and screaming crowds followed him when he visited Tokyo Disneyland and visited electronics stores.

"I called up my mom yesterday and we cried together," said Kaori Osawa, 27, who had gone to Jackson's 1987 Tokyo Dome concert with her mother, who is now 54.

Some Tokyo record stores had already sold out of certain Jackson recordings and were awaiting shipments.

In Turkey, the Association for Dialogue between Religions, Languages and Civilizations held Islamic prayers and handed out traditional sweets Sunday for Jackson in Mercimekli, a southeastern village, the HaberTurk daily reported Monday.

"Michael Jackson was a living legend not only in America and the Christian world but the Islamic world too," Mehmet Ali Aslan, the head of the association, said after the prayers.

Broadcasters in predominantly Muslim Malaysia and Indonesia said they would be interested in taking part in a global Jackson tribute.

"He's a legend, even here in Indonesia," said John Kaune, executive producer on a music show for the RCTI network.

In the Philippines, detainees who shot to global fame with a YouTube video recreating the "Thriller" dance routine in a prison courtyard said they would also like to take part. Their "Thriller" video has attracted 26.5 million views since it was posted two years ago.

"If it's the Jackson family organizing, we will join," said Byron Garcia, head of the central Philippine prison.

In Taiwan, 31-year-old Jackson impersonator Wang Chih-wei said any global tribute should be a celebration of the pop star's life.

"I hope we can have a live concert instead of a memorial to play his videos and records," said Wang.

Chieko Fukuda, a 57-year-old housewife, laid pink lillies at the gates of the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo.

"His death has left me with a big hole in my heart," said Fukuda, who had bought a ticket for one of Jackson's London concerts in July. "There is no replacement for Michael. No one even comes close."

___

Associated Press writers Julia Zappei in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Scott McDonald in Beijing, Annie Huang in Taipei, Taiwan, Zakki Hakim in Jakarta, Indonesia, Teresa Cerojano in Manila, Philippines, and Selcan Hacaoglu in Ankara, Turkey contributed to this report.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090629/ap_en_ot/world_michael_jackson

[samanthajane13]

Court fight over Michael Jackson's children looms
By ANTHONY McCARTNEY, AP Entertainment Writer Anthony Mccartney, Ap Entertainment Writer – 10 mins ago

LOS ANGELES – Michael Jackson's mother, Katherine, is taking care of the singer's three children and the family will go to court Monday in part to protect her rights to custody, the family's spokesman said Monday.

Londell McMillan, the Jacksons' attorney, said the family hasn't heard from Deborah Rowe, the mother of Jackson's two oldest children, about custody.

"I don't think there will be anybody who thinks that there is someone better" than Katherine Jackson to have custody, McMillan said on NBC's "Today" show. "She is a very loving host of other grandchildren."

Jackson left behind three children: Michael Joseph Jackson Jr., known as Prince Michael, 12; Paris Michael Katherine Jackson, 11; and Prince Michael II, 7. The youngest son was born to a surrogate mother.

Given the secrecy surrounding Michael Jackson's children throughout his life, it's no surprise that there are lingering questions about who will care for them after his death. What is almost certain is this: Their fate will be decided in a courtroom.

Experts say the person who has the strongest legal claim to Jackson's two oldest children is Rowe. As for the youngest child, Jackson's wishes will be more influential. It remains unclear who Jackson designated as potential guardians for his children. Those details — likely contained in the 50-year-old singer's will — have not been released.

Rowe's attorney, Marta Almli, wrote in a statement Saturday that "Ms. Rowe's only thoughts at this time have been regarding the devastating loss Michael's family has suffered. Ms. Rowe requests that Michael's family, and particularly the children, be spared such harmful, sensationalist speculation and that they be able to say goodbye to their loved one in peace."

Jackson's manager, Frank DiLeo, said on ABC's "Good Morning America" that he was the one who told the children their father had died.

"They knew when I came into the room," he said. "I'm sure they just saw it on my face. They said, `say it's not true,' and I just said, `I'm sorry.'"

Jackson never told his family who he had in place to handle his business affairs, a person close to the family told The Associated Press on Friday. The person, who requested anonymity because of the delicate nature of the situation, said they were told by the singer's phalanx of advisers that he likely had a will, but it may be many years old.

Prince Michael II's mother has never been identified, and while she may surface, it is likely that she signed away her rights, said Stacy Phillips, a Los Angeles divorce attorney who has represented numerous high-profile clients.

Jackson was by several accounts an attentive and loving father.

"He was a great father," said Raymone Bain, Jackson's former publicist and general manager. "Those kids knew three and four languages. Even the little one. They were well mannered and sweet. I can't imagine these children without him."

He was extremely protective of his children, who weren't often seen in public, and were photographed wearing veils, masks or other items covering their faces when they were.

Rowe, a former nurse for Jackson's dermatologist, married Jackson in 1996 but filed for divorce in 1999. She later gave up her custody rights to the children, but petitioned to have those rights restored in 2003 after Jackson was arrested on child molestation charges, and an appeals court sided with her.

Jackson and Rowe apparently agreed in 2006 regarding her rights, but the terms have never been disclosed. The couple's divorce case that was heard in Los Angeles Superior Court remains closed.

Phillips said if her parental rights remain intact, she's presumed to be first in line to receive custody of her two children. "That could still be contested," she added.

Rowe would have to undergo an evaluation by the court to determine if she's the best person to care for Jackson's children. So, too, would anyone else who applies to become the children's guardian — some of whom may have Jackson's blessing.

"If he did indicate a preference, that will be given great weight, but that will not be determinative," said Los Angeles attorney Gloria Allred. "Children are not property, they cannot be willed to another person."

Allred agreed that Rowe has better legal standing than others who apply for custody of Jackson's eldest children. "She's definitely going to have an advantage."

But judges in California often take into account who is left in the children's lives with a strong bond, said Charlotte Goldberg, a family law professor at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles.

"It's really a balance between continuity and stability and a biological relationship," Goldberg said.

A judge deciding the matter may even seek input in chambers from Jackson's children about who they feel comfortable with, she said.

But a court will also take into account with whom the children have a relationship bond, and that may not work in Rowe's favor. She wrote in a 2001 petition to sever her parental rights that she thought Jackson was doing a good parenting job.

"Michael has been a wonderful father to the children, and I do not wish to share any parenting responsibilities with Michael because he is doing so well without me," Rowe wrote. She also indicated in court filings during the 2006 custody struggle that she had not seen the children since 2005, shortly after his trial ended in acquittal on all charges and Jackson moved the children overseas.

It is unclear how often Rowe has seen the children since Jackson returned to the Los Angeles area in recent months to prepare for a 50-show concert engagement in London. It is also unclear what role the children's godfather, British child actor Mark Lester, may play in the proceedings.

Whoever wins custody of Jackson's children won't automatically gain control of their inheritance, Phillips said.

"For many people, the person or persons who are taking care of their kids are not necessarily taking care of their money," Phillips said. "There's a benefit to that — a sort of a check-and-balance."

Rowe, or whoever is designated the children's guardian, will receive payments based on Jackson's estate, Phillips said.

More clarity about the fate of Jackson's children will likely come once court proceedings start.

Phillips said the custody issue will now be handled by a probate court. If it is filed at Los Angeles' main downtown courthouse, Phillips said it will be handled by judges with significant family law experience.

Phillips said the looming custody fight could be unlike any other.

"In all the cases I've read all over the country," she said, "I've never seen a fact pattern like this."

__

AP Special Correspondent Linda Deutsch contributed to this report.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090629/ap_en_ot/us_people_michael_jackson_custody

[old_soul]

Information from the autopsy leaked out comes from the London Sun...

Michael was practically skeletonized...they are quoting his weight at even less than the said 125 lbs. He had practically no hair, a couple of broken ribs, and needle marks all over his back and torso. There were also needle marks found aound the heart area, attributed to (probably it's said) to trying to get this heart started. I imagine the broken ribs could be from that also.

I don't know about you all, but from my own eye, Joe Jackson shows no remose or sadness or Anything over the death of his son. It's grandstanding at best, him talking about how Michael was' the world's greatest popstar and too bad he isn't here now to see how he was loved'.

This man makes my skin crawl, and every video shot going back 20 years, and it's clear Michael couldn't stand the sight of him, despite wanting his 'love'. Michael looks like he didn't want to walk, stand or be in his presence. God only knows the damage and how far psychologically it really hurt MJ. JJ constantly told Michael how big fat and ugly his nose was, how disgusting his skin was, how it must have come from 'Katie's side, not mine'. Constantly tell this to an adolescent who knows they have to go into the bright spotlight and perform, who is having their own issues with these problems. Nothing like pumping up his self esteem..Michael himself said he used to tell JJ.."thanks, that really makes me feel better :rolleyes:". All the while, his existence and $ was supported by this kid...the opulent homes and everything...paid by Michael and Michael's talent.

He sure has a lot of concerns over Michaels death..suddenly. He made him the the mess he was, his mother was an enabler to this scum Joe Jackson. Michael tried to erase the ugliness he was told he was...No wonder he made that nose smaller and smaller.

Meanwhile the mother wants to know where Michael was stuffing his money..no wonder they ran to his rented home and probably turned the place upside down. She is just as bad as her husband, and it is sickening. No, he didn't want their help either..Michael didn't trust them nor wanted them around. On the other hand, he wanted to love his family, needed the love from them.

This is why he changed at 15, and started alienating himself from them and the world, medicating himself from the truth, changing his features and even the color of his skin.

Heartbreaking.

MOO and information also taken from Michael's interviews.

[JLette]

Information from the autopsy leaked out comes from the London Sun...

Michael was practically skeletonized...they are quoting his weight at even less than the said 125 lbs. He had practically no hair, a couple of broken ribs, and needle marks all over his back and torso. There were also needle marks found aound the heart area, attributed to (probably it's said) to trying to get this heart started. I imagine the broken ribs could be from that also.

I don't know about you all, but from my own eye, Joe Jackson shows no remose or sadness or Anything over the death of his son. It's grandstanding at best, him talking about how Michael was' the world's greatest popstar and too bad he isn't here now to see how he was loved'.

This man makes my skin crawl, and every video shot going back 20 years, and it's clear Michael couldn't stand the sight of him, despite wanting his 'love'. Michael looks like he didn't want to walk, stand or be in his presence. God only knows the damage and how far psychologically it really hurt MJ. JJ constantly told Michael how big fat and ugly his nose was, how disgusting his skin was, how it must have come from 'Katie's side, not mine'. Constantly tell this to an adolescent who knows they have to go into the bright spotlight and perform, who is having their own issues with these problems. Nothing like pumping up his self esteem..Michael himself said he used to tell JJ.."thanks, that really makes me feel better :rolleyes:". All the while, his existence and $ was supported by this kid...the opulent homes and everything...paid by Michael and Michael's talent.

He sure has a lot of concerns over Michaels death..suddenly. He made him the the mess he was, his mother was an enabler to this scum Joe Jackson. Michael tried to erase the ugliness he was told he was...No wonder he made that nose smaller and smaller.

Meanwhile the mother wants to know where Michael was stuffing his money..no wonder they ran to his rented home and probably turned the place upside down. She is just as bad as her husband, and it is sickening. No, he didn't want their help either..Michael didn't trust them nor wanted them around. On the other hand, he wanted to love his family, needed the love from them.

This is why he changed at 15, and started alienating himself from them and the world, medicating himself from the truth, changing his features and even the color of his skin.

Heartbreaking.

MOO and information also taken from Michael's interviews.


it seems very apparent that his father only cared about fame and fortune, even now that his sons tortured life is over, all he can say is "look at my son the star...look at how famous he was" its sickening, i think the rest of the family genuinely felt for Michael, but his father is a devil of a man and should never be allowed near MJ's kids. JMO but if MJ HAD molested any children in his life then his father can be thanked for that as well.

[wind149]

I too, was wondering as to why the next day, moving vans showed up to get his personal belongings??? The man ain't even cold and the vultures are already circling. And now I do not want Mama to have the kids, that is stone cold to ask the nanny where the money is stashed???? And we already knew his father was a scumbag, a tyrant, he did not want his children to be super stars for the music, he just wanted all the money and fame and I can only guess he dropped his name all over the place, "like do you know who I am"? No wonder MJ hated him so much, and I believe without a shadow of doubt that he physically and in all probability sexually abused his kids, and I think Michael took the brunt of it and ITA that if those abuse allegations are true, like father, like son. He never allowed those kids to just be kids and in an interview with a talking head about 20 yrs ago, he said that he used to cry watching kids playing in the park, and he was stuck in a recording studio for hours and hours and Daddy would not let him go outside and play like a little boy should be allowed and I think that this damaged his mind.

When he wanted to branch out on his own, Daddy flipped out, he lost control of him and Quincy Jones took over and launched MJ's career to where he was a super star. It goes to show you that when you have a parent like that scumbag, that you will not grow up normally and will have issues your entire life. In MJ's case, he turned to drugs to shut off the noise, but it was never enough and I am betting that drugs are the COD. I just read on Fox that mama has gotten temp custody and that scares me as I thought she was a good person, till I read the part about the money and I am thinking these vultures are gonna pick it clean, if they get the kids, they are minors so all the money and possessions will go into their greedy hands and I pray that somebody finds a will where he has made provisions for his kids and the parents names are nowhere found on the document. Wouldn't that just frost their sorry asses if he gave custody to the nanny? She has been the one to care for them for a long time, they probably think of her as a mother figure, I don't know how they feel about their bio mom, but I don't want her to end up with the kids either!

These poor children, I feel for them greatly, especially when they have such awful grandparents who think of them as dollar signs and one thing works against them, they are not the bio grandparents, there is no blood between them. I just tuned into PN and a talking head interviewed Joe at the BET Awards last night and asked him how the family was doing and how they are coping with MJ's death and he goes on to tell him that they were just fine and that has the balls to try to tout his new record label??? HUH? Even in the days after his super star son dies, he is only thinking about one thing, MAKING MORE MONEY OFF MICHAEL and I damm him to hell!!! I can tell by Mike's voice that he is as astounded as I am and more than a little disgusted and you can see why Michael hated him so much. As for his siblings, at least they seem to be grieving for their brother and Janet has money in her own right. I don't know what LaToya was doing with her life these days, but Jermaine was on "Gone Country II" and wrote a hell of a country song about his wife, he by no means, is a has-been. I thought for sure he was gonna win but Sebastian Bach did, but Jermaine was a close second. I wonder how long it will actually take for the tox screens to come back, I am betting other cases got bumped to the back of the lab and that is not right, but stars still rule above the mere mortals.

[Nawny]

Yes, there was an inquest, but if I remember correctly, his doctor was not charged with anything. Now MJ had a doctor on call 24/7 and we all know he had gone to rehab before so everyone was aware that he was addicted to pain killers and on NG the other night, a family lawyer and friend eluded to the fact that he knew people were feeding MJ pain killers again and if drugs are to be the COD, that he planned on outing them all. Now allegedly, he received an injection of Demorol that morning and this belies the autopsy report that he was healthier than anyone thought so why a heavy duty pain shot? The morning fix? I will bet though, because this is MJ, that the tox reports will come back sooner than 4 weeks because I am betting somebody has bumped everything else to get right on his reports because the whole world is waiting with bated breath to find out the COD.

Now any of you want to guess who ends up with his kids? I hope Mrs Jackson does, but seeing as she is not bio granny and is of an advanced age, that the womb donor Debbie Rowe might prevail and seeing as this woman is a gold digger, she is gonna want a big fat check with lots of zeros and comma's along with the kids and she is gonna milk it for all it is worth. She only married him for money and got even more out of him by agreeing to provide the womb and she makes me sick. And his other son by a surrogate and we as the world never did find out who she was, smart woman there and I am sure he paid her handsomely, but she has one thing over Rowe, she has, as far as well all know, never tried to bleed him dry after giving birth and it sounds to me like she really wanted to do this for him and there is nothing wrong with being a surrogate.

I watched this piece on him last night that showcased his transformation from a young black man to a freak due to all those plastic surgeries and it was so sad. He was trying so hard to make himself white and it so backfired on him and he just did not see what a lot people did, that his face was falling off his face and his nose was beyond repair and a paramedic,who was one of the ones that responded to his house, said on Fox, that his face looked burned from the skin grafts he had done and that he looked old and it was because he wasn't wearing stage makeup. When he sang "Rock With You" about 1982 ish I thought he looked very handsome, the plastic surgery he has on his nose actually made it looked better and he should have quit while he was ahead and I wonder if he was addicted to plastic surgery like the "Cat Woman"? She looks hideous, but she thinks she looks hot and Joan Rivers is another addict and he face is so tight, it is a wonder she can smile and it looks so fake, but here again, she thinks she is hot. Now I have had plastic surgery, but mine was done for medical reasons and not cosmetic, I had to have a breast reduction because of my chronic back and shoulder pain, I used to break out with boils on them and I had raw marks on my shoulders from the bra straps and since I had the surgery in 05, my shoulder pain disappeared, but my lower back still is painful and that is due to severe arthritis. Now I will admit, I like being flat chested and I know I am the minority there, less is more IMO!!! I can buy tops off the rack and not have to go to Lane Bryant or Fashion Big.

So I can relate to MJ wanting to look better, but he just went overboard and ended up looking like a freak and it is a shame. Now as for his musical talent, no one could ever take that away from him, he was the King of Pop and Thriller sold more than any other album in history and I admit to have owned a copy and as I said in my thread, I remember going to a club and moon walking was all the rage and I was very much into my cups and was actually able to do it and that era was so much fun, we had the mechanical bull as well, the 80's was the best decade ever and we were not in a recession and people actually made and had money! Now also, the Jackson 5 has a whole blazed the way for other black entertainers to appear on shows Like the Ed Sullivan and American Bandstand which I never missed an episode of and then along came Soul Train and I watched that as well and it came on right after AB! Every album MJ ever made went to number one and you gotta wonder where the laughter started to die for this guy and I don't mean the allegations and arrest for sexual abuse, he seemed to be heading downhill before that and the 05 trial I think broke him and I don't mean monetarily, I mean, spirit wise. Now I know some people have criticized me because I do think he was a pedophile and if he had not admitted to letting little boys sleep in his bed, I would have been no way did that happen, but this happened twice, the first time he was able to head the mother of that victim off at the pass by handing her a $20 million dollar payoff, but when he is charged with 14 counts of sexual molestation on another boy, you have to believe that he really did do these acts??? He was aquitted, but a few months later some of the jury spoke to Dateline and one woman said that she had made a terrible mistake, that Mesero had her hoodwinked into believing that the mother was a gold digger and a liar and it clouded her judgment because she went into the courtroom convinced he was as guilty as homemade sin. Another man echoed her sentiments, he was having an attack of the guilt's, wondering if they had set a monster free?? So do you all think that he was a molester or not??? I am curious because you guys are usually right on the money, you can smell them like a shark to a dead fish two miles away.

I'm so sorry wind, this site forced me to clip a bit. It rejected the post because it was too long. I hate to do that to anyone.


To answer your question, no, I don't believe Michael Jackson was a molester in the actual sense. I think it went deeper than that. I believe he was robbed of his childhood and lived vicariously through children. He trusted children. His tactile ways with them were absolutely socially unacceptable, but he didn't care. (Mistake number one!)

He wanted children around him all the time and he needed touch because his life had no love in it. He knew children didn't know how to exploit, so there was no risk there. Also, I believe he wanted children to have what he didn't; an emotionally available father. His father was an animal. Michael gave him up on national news a few years back. Brutal man! Michael was so afraid of him, he actually became a Jehovah's Witness and tried to find comfort in many ways, including drugs. Depak Chopra loved him and allwed his children to spend time with him. He said Michael was harmless to kids but he did say, he learned that MJ was terribly addicted to pain killers- but he was a kind and gentle man.

No matter how much the public loved him, he never believed it. He thought he was not loved. I want to know why his mother allowed him to be so abused. His sister also backed up MJ's accusations.


Kids loved Jackson, and because he was unable to love a woman in a normal way, he was fulfilled by them. If he were not harmless, his kids wouldn't have been screaming hysterically at the news of his death. (Can't find the link) He loved kids. The last people who should have custody of his kids are his own parents. They have 5 train wrecks for children, thank you dad!

Michael Jackson was a genius in the world of arts but he was trapped, couldn't be saved.. and saved for what? He's immortal anyway. I'd think he didn't want to be a 75 year old, singing Billy Jean. So many good people die even younger.. people who didn't get to see and enjoy the luxuries MJ did. What he needed, money could never buy him. That's sad.

RIP Michael :rose:

[samanthajane13]

Refund details for Jackson concerts still sketchy
By GREGORY KATZ, Associated Press Writer Gregory Katz, Associated Press Writer – Mon Jun 29, 3:50 pm ET

LONDON – It's a tragic loss — and an accounting nightmare for the promoters of Michael Jackson's doomed 50-night "This is It" concert extravaganza in London.

More than 750,000 fans are waiting for details on ticket refunds, and the British government's consumer protection board told them Monday not to hold their breath — complex legal issues need to be worked out first.

"The advice we're giving is that it may take a little while because it was quite a large ticket distribution," said Frank Shepherd, spokesman for Consumer Direct. "We're advising people to be a bit patient."

In addition, he said ticket holders may not be able to reclaim fees paid to sellers, which in some cases reached $16 per ticket.

The skirmishing over refunds is just one aspect of what is likely to be years of legal wrangling over financial matters, including Jackson's considerable debts, assets and custody of his three children. The battles are likely to dwarf earlier fights for the control of assets left by other departed rock gods, including guitar hero Jimi Hendrix and reggae trailblazer Bob Marley.

Legal arguments over whether insurance companies must shoulder much of the financial burden caused by Jackson's death are expected to slow the refund process, experts said.

Promoters are generally required to take out insurance to cover concert cancellations or non-appearances, said Malcolm Tarling, a spokesman for the Association of British Insurers.

Many of the policies are extremely specific, allocating levels of payouts according to the reason for the cancellation — including the cause of any death. If a drug overdose was specified as a risk with lower coverage, AEG may be entitled to less money.

Los Angeles-based tour operator AEG Live, which operates the 02 Arena where Jackson was to have performed, said ticket refund details should be announced this week.

Much of the company's ability to weather the financial storm caused by Jackson's demise may depend on how much of its losses are covered by insurance.

And that will be determined in part by what the Los Angeles County coroner's office finally determines as the cause of the mega-star's death. Officials have warned it will be up to six weeks before a cause of death can be pinpointed because complicated toxicology tests are needed.

AEG Live has so far been tightlipped about the amount of insurance coverage it had for the concerts and which companies were the underwriters. Insurance market Lloyd's of London says its member corporations underwrote some policies, but said AEG likely had multiple contracts, with several insurers all taking on a portion of the risk.

Bart Nash, a spokesman for Lloyd's, said a number of different policies were written to cover the Jackson concerts, each with different clauses that could be affected by the all important "cause of death" determination.

"These things are written into the policies, and each one is different, and these types of contracts are so complex that different issues affect different policies," he said.

That is a recipe for a series of lawsuits that could easily take years to resolve.

Nash said, for example, that some policies would pay out differently if the artist's death was due to a pre-existing medical condition or if any medical negligence were found. "There are so many variables in the policies and all these little things matter," he said.

It is also likely the coroner's determination on whether drugs played a role in Jackson's death could affect insurance payments.

Ticketmaster Entertainment Inc., the primary ticket seller, did not provide details of refund plans on Monday; its Web site quoted an AEG Live statement promising information this week.

While these issues are being worked on, Jackson fans who purchased tickets on eBay or through viagogo on the secondary ticket market may be in for an easier time.

Viagogo executives said Friday that all tickets would be refunded — "No forms, no fuss, just refunded." And eBay executives have extended a buyer protection program to cover anyone who bought a ticket through the company's Web site.

"You'll be covered for the full amount of the transaction, not just the face value of the ticket," eBay spokeswoman Jenny Thomas said Monday. That means people who paid three or four times the face value for a chance to see Jackson should get all their money back.

She said the company has not yet worked out details of the refund plan, including whether the company or the ticket sellers would ultimately be responsible for refunds.

Not everyone, it seems, wants a refund. Some want to hold onto the tickets as bittersweet reminders of what might have been — or to cash in later should they become collector's items.

Elliott Parkin, a 27-year-old construction worker, said his friends plan to keep their tickets to honor Jackson.

"He'll be remembered for his music above all else," said Parkin, who had planned to attend one of the London shows. "His funeral will be bigger than Diana's."

___

Associated Press writers Nardine Saas and Paisley Dodds in London contributed to this report.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090629/ap_en_ce/eu_michael_jackson_tour_finances

[samanthajane13]

Editors scramble to get covers on Michael Jackson
By MICHAEL KUCHWARA, Associated Press Writer Michael Kuchwara, Associated Press Writer – 1 hr 18 mins ago

NEW YORK – After Michael Jackson's death last week, editors scrambled to turn the King of Pop into the king of magazine covers.

From Newsweek's shot of a young reflective Jackson to Herb Ritts' sexy T-shirt photo used for Time's special commemorative edition, the Gloved One was already on newsstands Monday morning. And more print celebrations were on the way from, among others, In Touch Weekly, Entertainment Weekly, Ebony, Billboard, Rolling Stone and OK!

Said Richard Stengel, Time's managing editor: "The decision to do the special edition was made at 11 p.m. Thursday," hours after the pop superstar's death. "Friday was always scheduled to be a regular work day, so the whole staff was working. It really was all-hands-on-deck.

"The art department sprang into action as did the photo department," Stengel said in an interview. "We came up with a plan for a table of contents and the architecture of the issue, and then assigned the stories. Once that happened, everybody got into motion. In a little over 24 hours, it was basically complete."

Time's 64-page edition — separate from its regular weekly issue that came out Friday — exhaustively covers Jackson's career. It was Time's first special edition since the 9/11 attacks.

The special opens with Jackson's death and then flashes back to his beginnings, starting with a section called Prodigy, followed by Superstar, Jacko, Legacy and finally Farewell, a single, full-page photograph of the man's fashion trademark, a sequined glove.

"We realized his life did fall into these chapters," Stengel explained. "There was the little Michael Jackson — the Jackson 5. There were the superstar years where he was the most famous, global celebrity and then the very weird, eccentric years. We thought that would be a great structure for the package — with that opening story about the news of his death and then a closing piece evaluating the music."

Newsweek took a a different approach, incorporating Jackson's death into a regularly scheduled issue. But the magazine, a double issue for the weeks of July 6 and 13, has two different covers — with the Jackson cover available on newsstands and subscribers receiving an issue celebrating "What to read now — 50 books that make sense of our times." Number one on the list: "The Way We Live Now," Anthony Trollope's satiric dissection of Victorian financial and moral tribulations, first published in 1875.

"We try to do a 'hard' close of the magazine on Friday evening, but we can go into the magazine on Saturday if we need to up until about 2 p.m. and it prints later that evening," Daniel Klaidman, Newsweek's managing editor, said.

"This was a case where the story broke on Thursday, so we had sufficient time to get decent coverage into the magazine. You want to be on the newsstand for those epic stories where people still want to run out (and buy it).

"But then for our subscribers, who don't get the magazine as quickly, there's the summer reading cover, which has been in the works for a while and which readers will be able to go back to over the next week or two or longer.

Many publications had already gone to press last week when news of Jackson's death hit, but they are making up for it this week or next.

Rolling Stone will have a special "bookazine" tribute, selling at $9.99, with 450,000 copies being put on newsstands July 10.

USA Today has two publications available — one, a large, glossy, 96-page tribute entitled "Michael Jackson: King of Pop," already on newsstands, and the another a 40-page tabloid-size edition called "Michael 1958-2009," available Tuesday.

Jackson shares the cover of the new issue of In Touch Weekly with Farrah Fawcett, who died the same day as the music icon. "It's an equal split," said Richard Spencer, editor-in-chief of the magazine, which will be out Tuesday.

Fawcett's death from cancer had been expected, and In Touch Weekly, like most other publications, was ready for it.

"Michael was a little bit different," Spencer said. "We ran an article six months ago saying he had medical problems and one of the sources in the article said his doctors gave him six months to live.

"Of course, we didn't know he was going to die that day, but we were prepared that he was sick and things were looking very sketchy for his comeback tour."

Choosing the cover photo of Jackson and Fawcett at In Touch Weekly touched off a debate," Spender said.

"The most recent photos have his nose looking so much like the product of plastic surgery and we didn't want a lot of that negativity when you looked at the cover," he said. "We chose something that went back when he was younger."

It echoes the sentiment of Time's Stengel whose magazine got its cover photo from the Ritt estate.

"I didn't want to have a photo from the later, freaky years," Stengel said. "I wanted a beautiful image that ... showed him (Jackson) at his height. ... I also thought there was something poetic about the gesture he was making (in the photo) because it's almost like he is waving goodbye."

(This version CORRECTS to uppercase King of Pop.)


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090629/ap_en_ce/us_jackson_magazine_covers

[samanthajane13]

Jackson funeral plan still being considered
By SANDY COHEN, AP Entertainment Writer Sandy Cohen, Ap Entertainment Writer – Mon Jun 29, 3:11 pm ET

LOS ANGELES – Michael Jackson's father, Joe, says planning for the pop star's funeral is awaiting results of a second autopsy.

Joe Jackson told reporters outside the family's Los Angeles compound at midday Monday that the second autopsy is under way, but he expects results soon. The county coroner conducted an autopsy on Friday but has deferred a decision on the cause of death.

Joe Jackson denies reports that his son will be buried at his Neverland ranch. He says, "That's not true."

He also says that Michael Jackson's children are happy and are in the company of other children about their own age.

The Rev. Al Sharpton, who spent the morning with the Jacksons, says consideration of how to celebrate the legacy of the pop star must be done carefully.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090629/ap_en_mu/us_michael_jackson_funeral

[wind149]

Any way you slice it, this man was so lonely and so sad and yet, he was one of the greats and did you ever notice a lot of them died too young like he did?

!. Elvis
2. Jimi Hendrix
3. Jim Morrison
4. Janis Joplin
5. Freddy Mercury
6. Bon Scott
7. Freddie Prinze
8. Stevie Ray Vaughn
9. Ronnie Van Zant
10. Richie Valens
11. The Big Bopper
12. Buddy Holly
13. Kurt Colbain
14. Anna Nicole Smith

Just to name a few and some of them did die by their own hands, some in a plane crash or a car crash like Jimmy Dean did, and Freddy Mercury died of AIDS and I was so bummed out when he died, he was such a talented man and it was such a waste, I remember hearing about it as I was cruising in a new car I had just bought and when I heard he died, the thrill left me and I just went home. When Ronnie Van Zant died, I had just seen him in concert about three weeks prior and he did "Free Bird" and it was surreal, did he predict his own death when he wrote that song? I was crushed when Stevie Ray died, I loved all his music, he too, was way too young to die and I went to my local watering hole where we had a celebration of his life and we played his music all night long and people openly cried, me included. Kurt Colbain killed himself and it a way he was like MJ, fame came too fast and he just could not handle it, he clearly was depressed for awhile, but no one picked up on it, he and Courtney had just had Frances Bean, and even a new daughter was not enough to save him.

As for Freddie Prinze, same thing, he had fame, then he didn't and he too could not handle life so he chose suicide too. SO the big question remains. I would like to have more money than what I get each month, I would like a new car and be able to travel and here is MJ who had zillions, and now that he has died, apparently, there is no will, he died intestate and I just hope that his loser parents do not end up with the kids because they only want them for the money and here he is not dead a week, and already people are putting in for a piece of the action. I would assume that his estate, whatever is left of it, will be tied up for years and I hope this does not mean his innocent children will suffer. He clearly loved his children and I am sure he did not plan on dying, I have not heard evidence of suicide on the table, what I have been hearing is a lethal dose of something, his body was riddled with injection sites and he was bald???

Shades of Anna Nicole?? And what do you all think of Dr, Murray? He claims he did not prescribe Demerol or Oxycotin for him, but hey, those records can be doctored and if he did, he can't be much of a doctor because if you mix the two of them, it can be fatal, I know this much, because I am on Oxy on a regular basis and if I have a migraine, the doctor or the ER doctor will not give me a shot of Demerol which is the only thing that kills mine, but since I have lived where I do, I haven't had but one. Now another family friend eluded to someone giving him drugs and said if it was the COD he was gonna out them, so if drugs are a factor, somebody's head is gonna roll and just like with Howard Stern, who deserves everything he gets. and ANS's doctors who also have been indited.

As for Stern, I loathe him, after Daniel died, he still stuck her as high as a kite in front of a camera for Entertainment Tonight and they suck the big one too, it was pathetic and sad and I don't think she had a clue she was on camera, he exploited her big time for big bucks and it came as no surprise to anyone how she finally met her demise and IMO, he should be charged with murder of she and Daniel. As sinister as this sounds, I think he killed Daniel first, then Anna, paving the way for the Marshall fortune and he then thought he better try to gain custody of Danilynn, she being the only one alive, left standing in his way, and seeing as she was a baby, he thought he would live high on the hog on her money and when she would turn 21, then he would find a way to get rid of her too and Larry Birkhead, Bless his heart, beat him to the punch, he knew the baby was his and he did not want money for himself, he wants it for his daughter and Thank God he is raising her away from the spotlight, he is not about to exploit her for a buck and I think she will be somebody some day. So I hope Stern and them doctors go away for a long time and they will not be popular behind bars. And I fear that Nasty Joe is gonna milk the cash cow for all he can, what a loser, your youngest child, the one who made a fortune for you, ain't cold and already this asshole is touting his own horn??? He could care less that MJ is dead, all he is worried about is the money and the fame factor and somebody needs to make him shut the f*ck up!!

[samanthajane13]

Jackson's family moves quickly to take charge
By ANTHONY McCARTNEY, AP Entertainment Writer Anthony Mccartney, Ap Entertainment Writer – 2 mins ago

LOS ANGELES – Michael Jackson's family moved quickly Monday to take control of his complicated personal and financial affairs, winning temporary custody of his three children and asking a judge to name the King of Pop's mother as administrator of his estate.

In documents filed in Superior Court, Jackson's parents said they believe their 50-year-old son died without a valid will.

They also made it clear they believe they should take charge of both his debt-ridden but potentially lucrative financial empire and act as permanent caretakers of his three children.

Judge Mitchell Beckloff granted 79-year-old Katherine Jackson temporary guardianship of the children, who range in age from 7 to 12. He did not immediately rule on her requests to take charge of the children's and Jackson's estates.

Beckloff scheduled a hearing for July 6 and another for Aug. 3 to consider those issues and whether Katherine Jackson should be appointed the children's permanent guardian.

L. Londell McMillan, the family's attorney, said in a statement that the Jacksons are pleased with the results of their Monday filings.

"Mrs. Jackson deserves custody, and the family should have the administration of the brilliance of Mr. Michael Jackson. Mrs. Jackson is a wonderful, loving and strong woman with a special family many of us have admired for years. The personal and legal priorities are focused on first protecting the best interests of Mr. Michael Jackson's children, his family, his memorial services and then preserving his creative and business legacy with the dignity and honor it deserves."

When Jackson died Thursday, he left behind a 12-year-old son and 11-year-old daughter by his ex-wife Deborah Rowe, as well as a 7-year-old son born to a surrogate mother.

The Jackson family said the children — Michael Joseph Jackson Jr. (known as Prince Michael), Paris Michael Katherine Jackson and Prince Michael II — are living at the Jackson family compound in Los Angeles' San Fernando Valley.

"They have a long established relationship with paternal grandmother and are comfortable in her care," the family said in court documents.

Family patriarch Joe Jackson, 79, said at a news conference that the children were enjoying playing with other kids — something they do not normally do.

The documents state that although Rowe is the mother of the two older children, her whereabouts are unknown. The document simply listed "none" for the mother of the youngest child, Prince Michael II.

Supporting Katherine Jackson in her petition bid to administer the estate was Jackson's father, Joe Jackson.

The Jacksons say they have not heard from Rowe since their son's death. Rowe's attorney, Marta Almli, did not respond to an e-mail message seeking comment Monday. She previously said, "Ms. Rowe's only thoughts at this time have been regarding the devastating loss Michael's family has suffered."

Mark Lester, a former British child star who is godfather to Jackson's children, told The Associated Press he believes they belong with Jackson's mother.

"She is a very loving, kind and gracious woman, and she had a very close relationship with Michael and a very good rapport with her grandchildren," Lester said. "I know the kids are fine. They are deeply saddened by what's happened, but they're coping."

Meanwhile, authorities continued to investigate Jackson's death. Officials with the Los Angeles County coroner's office returned to the mansion he was renting at the time of his death and left with two large plastic bags of evidence.

Assistant Chief Coroner Ed Winter said the bags contained medication. He declined to elaborate.

Lawyers for Jackson's cardiologist Dr. Conrad Murray said the physician never prescribed the powerful drugs Demerol or Oxycontin for Jackson and did all he could to revive him when he found the entertainer near death.

Attorney Matt Alford told the AP it took as long as 30 minutes for paramedics to be called after Murray found Jackson with a faint pulse and performed CPR.

The delay was partly because Jackson's room in the rented mansion didn't have a telephone and Murray didn't know Jackson's street address to give to emergency crews, Alford said.

Eventually, Murray found a chef in the house and had him summon a security guard, who called for help while the doctor continued to perform CPR.

Jackson's father told reporters at the family compound that his son's funeral was still in the planning stages.

"It will be some private, but not closed all the way down to the public," he said without elaborating.

He added that his son would not be buried at Neverland Ranch, the sprawling playground he built in the rolling hills of Santa Barbara County then abandoned after going into seclusion following his acquittal on child molestation charges in 2005.

Jackson's father also used the news conference to plug a record company he said he's founding with a business partner.

"We have a lot of good artists pitching to come out," he said.

His son, who had not released a new recording or performed publicly in years, was believed to be hundreds of millions of dollars in debt at the time of his death. However, his finances are complicated and could take years to unravel.

Clearly one of his most valuable assets is his recording catalog, which his father could potentially rerelease through his new record company if the family gains control of his assets. There could also be recordings in Jackson's estate that he had never released.

The AP learned that Jackson had finished an elaborate video production project just two weeks before he died. The five-week project dubbed "Dome Project" could be the final finished video piece overseen by the star.

There's also a financial bonanza to be had in the Sony/ATV Music Publishing catalog of which Jackson owned 50 percent. The 750,000-song catalog includes music by the Beatles, Bob Dylan, Neil Diamond, Lady Gaga and the Jonas Brothers, and is estimated to be worth as much as $2 billion.

"Quite frankly, he may be worth more dead than alive," Jerry Reisman, general counsel for the Hit Factory, a recording studio where Jackson produced his best-selling album "Thriller," said recently.

Jackson nearly lost his beloved Neverland, which was once filled with amusement park rides and wild animals, to foreclosure in March. Billionaire real estate investor Thomas Barrack bailed him out at the 11th hour, setting up a joint venture with Jackson that took ownership of the 2,500-acre property.

The ranch's future is uncertain, but three of Jackson's brothers visited the estate with Barrack over the weekend. A spokesman for the holding company that now operates it said it was premature to talk about the ranch's future.

___

Associated Press writers Gregory Katz in London and Nekesa Mumbi Moody in Los Angeles contributed to this story.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090629/ap_on_en_mu/us_michael_jackson

[samanthajane13]

Jackson's death returns his father to spotlight
By JAKE COYLE, AP Entertainment Writer Jake Coyle, Ap Entertainment Writer – 1 hr 42 mins ago

NEW YORK – At the BET Awards over the weekend, Michael Jackson's father, Joe Jackson, was back in front of the cameras. Wearing a black fedora and oversized sunglasses, he spoke proudly of his son, paid tribute to "a superstar" and promoted his own new record label.

Joe Jackson has returned to the spotlight. It is a place he is familiar with, having long presided as the iron-willed, behind-the-scenes patriarch who ruthlessly — some say cruelly — pushed his talented children into the music business, driving Michael in particular to enormous fame at a young age.

The 80-year-old former steelworker is again fully immersed in the family's dealings since his son's death. The return of Joe Jackson — a controversial, sometimes vilified figure who Michael said abused him as a child — is sure to renew questions about his influence on his troubled son.

Since Michael Jackson died Thursday of what his family has said was cardiac arrest, his father has been vocal about his son and the posthumous arrangements being made. Medical examiners in Los Angeles are perhaps weeks away from officially determining the cause of death, though a second autopsy was held Monday at the family's request.

The elder Jackson and other relatives have been mostly holed up at the family's compound in Encino. He made an unexpected appearance Sunday night at the BET Awards, which became a tribute to the King of Pop.

Joe Jackson said in an emphatic statement at the show that he and his wife, Katherine, have the "personal and legal authority to act, and solely ... have authority for our son and his children."

Michael Jackson's 79-year-old mother asked a judge on Monday to name her administrator of the singer's estate so she can ensure his three children — two boys and a girl — are its beneficiaries. Her husband supported her in the request.

Also Monday, Katherine Jackson was granted temporary guardianship of the children and is asking to be named their permanent guardian.

Londell McMillan, the Jacksons' attorney, said the family has not heard from Deborah Rowe, the mother of Jackson's two eldest children, about custody. The youngest son was born to a surrogate mother. In court papers, Jackson's parents said they believe the singer died without a valid will.

"This is where they belong," Joe Jackson said a news conference Monday. "We're going to take care of them and we're going to give them an education they're supposed to have."

Joseph and Katherine Jackson married in 1949 and settled in Gary, Ind. They have nine children together, Michael being one of the youngest.

Jackson was a boxer, a guitarist for a local band and a crane operator at U.S. Steel. When he recognized the musical talents of his children, he organized and trained the Jackson 5, also serving as their manager.

"When I was little, it was all work, work, work," Michael Jackson said in a 1993 interview with Oprah Winfrey.

Joe Jackson was a strict father who pushed his children relentlessly in rehearsals and performances. He had them call him not Dad or Father, but "Joseph."

In Michael's 1988 book "Moonwalk," he wrote of his father: "He's a mystery man to me." In the interview with Winfrey, he said that his father beat him and that "just a look would scare you."

Michael said that he would get physically sick — as a child and as an adult — just at the sight of his father. He also spoke of emotional abuse.

"I was so shy I would wash my face in the dark," Michael said, referring to an acne outbreak. "I wouldn't look in the mirror and my father teased me. I just hated it. I would cry every day. He would tell me I'm ugly."

Appearing still fearful of his father, Michael repeatedly turned to the camera during the interview and said, "Sorry, Joseph."

Michael always believed that he had missed out on childhood and sought to experience it again as an adult. He surrounded himself with children and built an amusement park at his Neverland Ranch, his nearly 3,000-acre California property named after the Peter Pan fantasy island.

Joe Jackson disputed his son's claims of abuse, telling the BBC in 2003: "I whipped him with a switch and a belt. ... I never beat him. You beat someone with a stick."

In a 2005 interview with The Associated Press, Jackson said: "Katherine whipped Michael more than I did." He also acknowledged driving his children hard: "When they said they didn't want to go, I pulled them by the hand and said, `We're going. We're going to do this.'"

Michael's brother Jermaine defended their father in a 2005 interview with Larry King: "We grew up like any other black family. You did something, you got your butt tore up ... you got a spanking." Added Jermaine: "He kept us off of the streets."

Joe Jackson's parenting is likely to be brought up in court as part of the request for custody of his grandchildren.

It was Joe Jackson who brought the Jackson 5 to a deal with Motown Records and helped build the solo careers of Michael and Janet. By the 1980s and the mega-success of "Thriller," Michael was operating professionally on his own. All of Joe Jackson's children eventually cut professional ties to their father.

Joe Jackson remained president of Jackson Family Entertainment Inc. and opened the Joe Jackson Talent Agency. In 1999, he filed for bankruptcy.

In 2005, he launched Joe Jackson's Hip-Hop Boot Camp, a rap contest meant to find "the best hip-hop artist in the world."

"Everybody is liking hip-hop now," Jackson said then. "I'm gonna have to clean it up a little bit — all that vulgar language out there."

On Sunday at the BET Awards, Jackson spoke vaguely of a new record company he is launching with Marshall Thompson, lead singer of the Chi-Lites, as a partner. He again discussed the label at a news conference Monday in front of the family's Encino home, along with Rev. Al Sharpton.

That he would use such an opportunity for self-promotion struck many Jackson fans as inappropriate.

But Sharpton defended him: "Some misinterpreted why Mr. Jackson went and what he said. He said it and went because he wanted to send a signal to the world that the Jackson family is going to continue doing what Michael did: give music and love to the world across all boundaries and across all nationalities."

___

Associated Press writers Anthony McCartney and Alicia Quarles in Los Angeles contributed to this report.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090629/ap_on_en_mu/us_michael_jackson_s_father

[Nawny]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6xJlyJgfS8

[Nawny]

Jackson's death returns his father to spotlight
By JAKE COYLE, AP Entertainment Writer Jake Coyle, Ap Entertainment Writer – 1 hr 42 mins ago

NEW YORK – At the BET Awards over the weekend, Michael Jackson's father, Joe Jackson, was back in front of the cameras. Wearing a black fedora and oversized sunglasses, he spoke proudly of his son, paid tribute to "a superstar" and promoted his own new record label.

Joe Jackson has returned to the spotlight. It is a place he is familiar with, having long presided as the iron-willed, behind-the-scenes patriarch who ruthlessly — some say cruelly — pushed his talented children into the music business, driving Michael in particular to enormous fame at a young age.

The 80-year-old former steelworker is again fully immersed in the family's dealings since his son's death. The return of Joe Jackson — a controversial, sometimes vilified figure who Michael said abused him as a child — is sure to renew questions about his influence on his troubled son.

Since Michael Jackson died Thursday of what his family has said was cardiac arrest, his father has been vocal about his son and the posthumous arrangements being made. Medical examiners in Los Angeles are perhaps weeks away from officially determining the cause of death, though a second autopsy was held Monday at the family's request.

The elder Jackson and other relatives have been mostly holed up at the family's compound in Encino. He made an unexpected appearance Sunday night at the BET Awards, which became a tribute to the King of Pop.

Joe Jackson said in an emphatic statement at the show that he and his wife, Katherine, have the "personal and legal authority to act, and solely ... have authority for our son and his children."

Michael Jackson's 79-year-old mother asked a judge on Monday to name her administrator of the singer's estate so she can ensure his three children — two boys and a girl — are its beneficiaries. Her husband supported her in the request.

Also Monday, Katherine Jackson was granted temporary guardianship of the children and is asking to be named their permanent guardian.

Londell McMillan, the Jacksons' attorney, said the family has not heard from Deborah Rowe, the mother of Jackson's two eldest children, about custody. The youngest son was born to a surrogate mother. In court papers, Jackson's parents said they believe the singer died without a valid will.

"This is where they belong," Joe Jackson said a news conference Monday. "We're going to take care of them and we're going to give them an education they're supposed to have."

Joseph and Katherine Jackson married in 1949 and settled in Gary, Ind. They have nine children together, Michael being one of the youngest.

Jackson was a boxer, a guitarist for a local band and a crane operator at U.S. Steel. When he recognized the musical talents of his children, he organized and trained the Jackson 5, also serving as their manager.

"When I was little, it was all work, work, work," Michael Jackson said in a 1993 interview with Oprah Winfrey.

Joe Jackson was a strict father who pushed his children relentlessly in rehearsals and performances. He had them call him not Dad or Father, but "Joseph."

In Michael's 1988 book "Moonwalk," he wrote of his father: "He's a mystery man to me." In the interview with Winfrey, he said that his father beat him and that "just a look would scare you."

Michael said that he would get physically sick — as a child and as an adult — just at the sight of his father. He also spoke of emotional abuse.

"I was so shy I would wash my face in the dark," Michael said, referring to an acne outbreak. "I wouldn't look in the mirror and my father teased me. I just hated it. I would cry every day. He would tell me I'm ugly."

Appearing still fearful of his father, Michael repeatedly turned to the camera during the interview and said, "Sorry, Joseph."

Michael always believed that he had missed out on childhood and sought to experience it again as an adult. He surrounded himself with children and built an amusement park at his Neverland Ranch, his nearly 3,000-acre California property named after the Peter Pan fantasy island.

Joe Jackson disputed his son's claims of abuse, telling the BBC in 2003: "I whipped him with a switch and a belt. ... I never beat him. You beat someone with a stick."

In a 2005 interview with The Associated Press, Jackson said: "Katherine whipped Michael more than I did." He also acknowledged driving his children hard: "When they said they didn't want to go, I pulled them by the hand and said, `We're going. We're going to do this.'"

Michael's brother Jermaine defended their father in a 2005 interview with Larry King: "We grew up like any other black family. You did something, you got your butt tore up ... you got a spanking." Added Jermaine: "He kept us off of the streets."

Joe Jackson's parenting is likely to be brought up in court as part of the request for custody of his grandchildren.

It was Joe Jackson who brought the Jackson 5 to a deal with Motown Records and helped build the solo careers of Michael and Janet. By the 1980s and the mega-success of "Thriller," Michael was operating professionally on his own. All of Joe Jackson's children eventually cut professional ties to their father.

Joe Jackson remained president of Jackson Family Entertainment Inc. and opened the Joe Jackson Talent Agency. In 1999, he filed for bankruptcy.

In 2005, he launched Joe Jackson's Hip-Hop Boot Camp, a rap contest meant to find "the best hip-hop artist in the world."

"Everybody is liking hip-hop now," Jackson said then. "I'm gonna have to clean it up a little bit — all that vulgar language out there."

On Sunday at the BET Awards, Jackson spoke vaguely of a new record company he is launching with Marshall Thompson, lead singer of the Chi-Lites, as a partner. He again discussed the label at a news conference Monday in front of the family's Encino home, along with Rev. Al Sharpton.

That he would use such an opportunity for self-promotion struck many Jackson fans as inappropriate.

But Sharpton defended him: "Some misinterpreted why Mr. Jackson went and what he said. He said it and went because he wanted to send a signal to the world that the Jackson family is going to continue doing what Michael did: give music and love to the world across all boundaries and across all nationalities."

___

Associated Press writers Anthony McCartney and Alicia Quarles in Los Angeles contributed to this report.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090629/ap_on_en_mu/us_michael_jackson_s_father

Puke Icon??? Lemme go find it..

Here it is! http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/smiley-sick029.gif (http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys.php)

[samanthajane13]

Michael Jackson's lucrative afterlife has just begun
Jonathan Berr
Jun 29th 2009 at 1:45PM

Michael Jackson, the man they called "The King of Pop," worried he would end up dead like "The King of Rock 'n' Roll" Elvis Presley, the father of his ex-wife Lisa Marie. Jackson's worries are proving to be prophetic.

Already, the price of Jackson memorabilia is soaring. Pop culture expert Gary Sohmers, who also is an appraiser on "The Antiques Roadshow" told DailyFinance that he saw a reproduction of a Jackson autograph fetch $1,400. Jackson's actual autograph fetches about $400 to $800. Sohmers, a former music promoter who runs allcollectors.com, cautions would-be collectors against buying into Michael mania.

Settling Jackson's estate will be complex. Media reports indicate that the entertainer was $500 million dollars in debt when he died, despite having made $700 million as a performer over his career.

There's also the matter of what will happen to his three children. His mother Katherine's efforts to seek legal custody of the the kids, including "Blanket", who Jackson infamously dangled out of the window, are being opposed by Deborah Rowe, the mother of two of them.

Then there's the property. Jackson reportedly recorded 100 "secret songs" over the years. He also has the property from the Neverland Ranch, an auction of which Jackson canceled in April days before it was scheduled to occur. Julien's Auctions is selling a set of catalogs detailing items in the sale for $500. A phone call to Julien's to find out if the sale was rescheduled was not returned.

Probably Jackson's most valuable asset was his stake in a partnership that owned the publishing rights to more than 200 classic Beatles songs. He spent $47.5 million to buy the rights in 1985; now his share is worth more than $500 million, according to The New York Times. But selling the tunes won't mend the King of Pop's troubled finances all by itself, because he used the collection as collateral for $300 million in loans that still must be repaid.

Before he died, interest in Jackson collectibles was on the decline as fans voiced their disgust over the child molestation allegations against him. That, of course, has changed. Recent sales have been through the roof -- including $25,000 for a painting he did as a child of Micky Mouse. A crystal-studded shirt sold for $52,000, ahead of the $6,000 sales estimate, according to Sohmers.

Jackson has joined a pantheon of music deities including Frank Sinatra, Kurt Cobain, Bob Marley and John Lennon who will continue to interest collectors for generations to come. Jackson's money woes may be solved through smart licensing arrangements.

"He will make more money in his death than he did in his life," Sohmers said. "My 13-year-old got the opportunity to discover Michael Jackson."


http://www.dailyfinance.com/2009/06/29/michael-jacksons-lucrative-afterlife-has-just-begun/?icid=main|htmlws-main|dl2|link4|http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dailyfinance.com%2 F2009%2F06%2F29%2Fmichael-jacksons-lucrative-afterlife-has-just-begun%2F

[samanthajane13]

AP Exclusive: Jackson wrapped video before death
By MICHAEL R. BLOOD, Associated Press Writer Michael R. Blood, Associated Press Writer – Tue Jun 30, 12:04 am ET

LOS ANGELES – Two weeks before he died, Michael Jackson wrapped up work on an elaborate production dubbed the "Dome Project" that could be the final finished video piece overseen by the King of Pop, The Associated Press has learned.

Jackson was apparently preparing to dazzle concert audiences in London with a high-tech show in which 3D images — some inspired by his "Thriller" era — would flash behind him as he performed on stage.

"It was a groundbreaking effort," said Vince Pace, whose company provided cameras for the shoot, a 3D system he created with filmmaker James Cameron.

"To think that Michael's gone now, that's probably the last documented footage of him to be shot in that manner," Pace said.

Two people with knowledge of the secretive project confirmed its existence Monday to the AP on condition they not be identified because they signed confidentiality agreements.

They said it was a five-week project filmed at Culver Studios, which 70 years ago was the set for the classic film "Gone With the Wind." Four sets were constructed for Jackson's production, including a cemetery recalling his 1983 "Thriller" video.

With 3D technology "the audience would have felt like they were visiting the 'Thriller' experience, like they were there," Pace said.

Shooting for the project lasted from June 1-9, with Jackson on the set most days. The project was in post-production, at the time of Jackson's death, and had been expected to be completed next month. It was not immediately clear what would be made of the video footage now.

Producer Robb Wagner, founder of music-video company Stimulated Inc., did not immediately return a message seeking comment on the project.

Michael Roth, a spokesman for Jackson's Los Angeles-based promoter AEG Live, said he hadn't heard about the production but did not rule that it could be part of the company's contract with the entertainer.

According to one of the people with knowledge of the project, a willow-thin, pallid Jackson left a memorable impression on the crew, arriving in a caravan of SUVs with hulking security guards in tow. The person said Jackson introduced himself to workers on the set and walked with a spring in his step but at one point needed assistance as he descended steps off a stage.

Besides the cemetery, one set was draped in black with an oversized portrait of Jackson in his "Thriller" werewolf costume. Another set was designed to simulate a lush jungle, and a fourth was built to replicate a construction site, with a screen in the back to allow projection of different backgrounds.

Taping took place in marathon sessions ending early in the morning. One scene filmed on the construction site set included scantily clad male dancers wearing carpenter's belts.

According to Stimulated's Web site, the company was hired to produce screen content for Jackson's planned comeback concerts in London. Stimulated has worked with Def Leppard and the Pussycat Dolls, and produced content for the Academy Awards and the Emmys.

Last year, U2 released the concert film "U2 3D," a film of the band's 2005-06 Vertigo tour, shot at several shows in South America with 3-D technology.

At the time, guitarist The Edge told The Associated Press the 3-D technology allowed "the songs to shine through."

___

Associated Press writers David Germain and Ryan Nakashima contributed to this report.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090630/ap_en_ce/us_jackson_video_project

[samanthajane13]

Coroner team gathers evidence at Jackson home
By SANDY COHEN and THOMAS WATKINS, Associated Press Writers Sandy Cohen And Thomas Watkins, Associated Press Writers – Mon Jun 29, 10:17 pm ET

LOS ANGELES – Investigators on Monday retrieved medications from the rented mansion where pop star Michael Jackson was fatally stricken last week, a coroner's official said.

Two coroner's investigators and two police detectives spent several hours inside the three-story estate home and then emerged with two large red bags filled with evidence.

The coroner's office performed an autopsy on the 50-year-old entertainer's body on Friday but deferred a decision on the cause of death, citing the need for further tests. A second, private autopsy has been requested by the family, according to Jackson's father, Joe.

Assistant Chief Coroner Ed Winter told reporters outside the home that authorities returned to the home to gather additional items, which he identified as "some medications."

Winter cited "information that was obtained by the Los Angeles Police Department along with some questions we had involving some of the medications," but he did not elaborate.

He would not say what type of medications were picked up. He also did not say how much medication there was or where in the home it was found.

A police official close to the investigation said detectives had used a search warrant to enter the house. The official, who was not authorized to speak publicly about the case and asked not to be named, declined to specify what was removed from the home but said investigators would be speaking to any doctors who were determined to have prescribed medications to Jackson.

Investigators have already interviewed Jackson's primary physician, Conrad Murray, and said he was cooperating fully.

The investigation will possibly continue for another four or five weeks, "with extensive testing," Winter said.

Winter said Jackson's family was being "extremely cooperative."

Jackson was pronounced dead Thursday at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, where he was taken by paramedics.

The police official said the case remains a standard death investigation, and nothing suggests wrongdoing at this time.

Two days after Jackson's death, moving vans were spotted arriving at his home. It wasn't known what was being taken out but one expert wondered about the ramifications of investigators returning to the house several days after the death.

Generally, if a case turns into a criminal investigation, taking evidence from a home days after a death creates the potential for a defense lawyer to claim evidence was tainted, University of Southern California law professor Jean Rosenbluth said.

"As soon as law enforcement gets information that there might be some kind of criminal activity, they go back," she said. "Any good defense attorney can make a claim that the evidence might have been tainted somehow because all sorts of people had access to it before the crime scene was secured."

Messages left for Los Angeles police Commander Patrick Gannon, the designated police spokesman on the Jackson case, were not immediately returned.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090630/ap_on_en_mu/us_michael_jackson_coroner

[samanthajane13]

Coroner Confiscates Meds at Jackson Home
Breanne L. Heldman and Natalie Finn Breanne L. Heldman And Natalie Finn – Mon Jun 29, 7:09 pm ET

Los Angeles (E! Online) – Michael Jackson's medical history is starting to unfold in pill form.

Los Angeles County Coroner's officials have confiscated various prescription drugs from the entertainer's rented Holmby Hills mansion, Chief Investigator Craig Harvey told reporters Monday afternoon.

A team from the medical examiner's office, including a photographer and Assistant Chief Coroner Ed Winter had been spotted going inside around noon, as the second autopsy requested by Jackson's family got underway downtown.

The investigators emerged from the residence toting two large plastic bags, declining to mention any specifics of what they found or where.

The initial autopsy performed Friday was ruled inconclusive pending the results of toxicology tests.

While fans and family alike won't know for sure what caused Jackson's sudden heart failure, the star's longtime friend Dr. Deepak Chopra has little doubt that drug use may have come into play.

"He was extraordinary when he was in his ecstatic states. But he was also troubled, and he surrounded himself with people who were enablers and frequently avoided people who were trying to help him," he told the Early Show this morning.

"In the year 2005 after the trial, he came and stayed with us for a few days, and during that time he asked me for a prescription for OxyContin," he continued. "I was very surprised, and I said, 'Why do you want that?' And he said, 'I have back pain.' And I said, 'You don't need that narcotic for back pain.' And then, as I probed, I found out that he was taking a lot of narcotics prescribed by different physicians."

"Somebody like that is obviously not in a normal state of consciousness," he went on to explain. "After a while, actually, they actually believe that, if they didn't get their fix, or the drug, or the narcotic, they might die…When you're prescribing narcotics, you need to be with very competent doctors."

Therein may lie the rub.

Despite his claims not to have given Jackson OxyContin or Demerol, Dr. Conrad Murray was working without board certification at the time of the star's death, E! News has learned.

The American Board of Internal Medicine confirms that the doctor's most recent board certification examination was taken in 1998…and his certification expired Dec. 31, 2008.

At this time, it cannot be determined whether Dr. Murray simply did not pass the exams that would have renewed his required certification for 2009, or whether he chose to forgo them altogether.

Murray's issues with the medical board apparently didn't stop him from taking a prominent role when he discovered Jackson unconscious in his bedroom Thursday afternoon.

"The doctor rode with Michael Jackson to the hospital," Murray's attorney, Edward Chernoff, told Larry King Live today. "He was in the hospital room. He worked with the doctors at UCLA to try to revive him. After he was pronounced dead, the doctor stayed in the hospital, spoke with the family members that were there at the time."

According to Chernoff, Murray was the one who broke the news to Jackson's children and advised doctors to break the news gently to the singer's mother, Katherine, who has a heart condition.

"He comforted La Toya and he talked with Jermaine, as well, about Michael and helped Jermaine with a press release," the lawyer said. "Ultimately, he spoke to the police and left."

When King asked why Murray needed a lawyer, if the physician was not considered a person of interest in the investigation, Chernoff said, "You have a lot more faith in the justice system if you don't think he doesn't need a lawyer."

But whatever Murray added to the equation, the "Thriller" singer himself was in tip-top shape just days before his death, if manager Frank DiLeo is to be believed.

"He was in good shape," he told Good Morning America this morning. "His heart was good. He was strong. He was in shape to do this tour…There would have been no problems, I don't think, with him doing this tour. Nobody was pushing him to do it. Nobody was overworking him, you know, all those reports are false."

We guess only time will tell for sure.

—Additional reporting by Giselle Ugarte


http://news.yahoo.com/s/eonline/20090629/en_top_eo/131843

[samanthajane13]

Jackson's parents waste no time seeking control
By ANTHONY McCARTNEY, AP Entertainment Writer Anthony Mccartney, Ap Entertainment Writer – 51 mins ago

LOS ANGELES – Michael Jackson's parents wasted little time demanding authority over their son's financially strained empire and guardianship of their fatherless grandchildren. The big question is who, if anyone, will contest them?

Early Monday — just four days after the death of the King of Pop — lawyers for Katherine and Joe Jackson won temporary custody of Michael Jackson's three children and moved to become administrators of his estate.

Judge Mitchell Beckloff granted 79-year-old Katherine Jackson temporary guardianship of the children, who range in age from 7 to 12. He also gave her control over some of her son's personal property that is now in the hands of an unnamed third party. But the judge did not immediately rule on her requests to take charge of the children's and Jackson's estates.

The swiftness of the legal motions underscore the fact that Jackson's death leaves a vacuum if he died without a valid will, as the parents assert in documents filed in Superior Court. If no will is filed, the number of potential claimants that could emerge seeking custody of the children or a piece of his empire are many.

About the same time a judge granted Katherine Jackson authority over at least some of her son's estate Friday, pickup trucks and a large dump truck towing a flatbed were seen entering the 2,500-acre Neverland Ranch, a major piece of the singer's debt-strapped financial empire. It was not clear who had requested the fleet or for what purpose.

L. Londell McMillan, the family's attorney, said in a statement that the Jacksons are pleased with the results of their Monday filings.

"The personal and legal priorities are focused on first protecting the best interests of Mr. Michael Jackson's children, his family, his memorial services and then preserving his creative and business legacy with the dignity and honor it deserves," the statement read.

Clearly one of his most valuable assets is his recording catalog, which his father could potentially rerelease through his new record company if the family gains control of his assets. There could also be recordings in Jackson's estate that he had never released.

There's also a financial bonanza to be had in the Sony/ATV Music Publishing catalog of which Jackson owned 50 percent. The 750,000-song catalog includes music by the Beatles, Bob Dylan, Neil Diamond, Lady Gaga and the Jonas Brothers, and is estimated to be worth as much as $2 billion.

When Jackson died Thursday, he also left behind a 12-year-old son and 11-year-old daughter by his ex-wife Deborah Rowe, as well as a 7-year-old son born to a surrogate mother.

The Jackson family said the children — Michael Joseph Jackson Jr. (known as Prince Michael), Paris Michael Katherine Jackson and Prince Michael II — are living at the Jackson family compound in Los Angeles' San Fernando Valley.

"They have a long established relationship with paternal grandmother and are comfortable in her care," the family said in court documents.

Family patriarch Joe Jackson, 79, said at a news conference that the children were enjoying playing with other kids — something they do not normally do.

The documents state that although Rowe is the mother of the two older children, her whereabouts are unknown. The document simply listed "none" for the mother of the youngest child, Prince Michael II.

The Jacksons say they have not heard from Rowe since their son's death. Rowe's attorney, Marta Almli, did not respond to an e-mail message seeking comment Monday. She previously said, "Ms. Rowe's only thoughts at this time have been regarding the devastating loss Michael's family has suffered."

The legal steps were taken even as investigators continued their probe into the singer's death. Officials with the Los Angeles County coroner's office returned to the mansion he was renting at the time of his death and left with two large plastic bags of evidence.

Assistant Chief Coroner Ed Winter said the bags contained medication. He declined to elaborate.

Lawyers for Jackson's cardiologist Dr. Conrad Murray, who was with Jackson when he collapsed, said the physician never prescribed the powerful drugs Demerol or Oxycontin for Jackson and did all he could to revive the singer.

Attorney Matt Alford said it took as long as 30 minutes for paramedics to be called after Murray found Jackson with a faint pulse and performed CPR.

The delay was partly because Jackson's room in the rented mansion didn't have a telephone and Murray didn't know Jackson's street address to give to emergency crews, Alford said.

Eventually, Murray found a chef in the house and had him summon a security guard, who called for help while the doctor continued to perform CPR.

Lou Ferrigno, the star of TV's "Incredible Hulk" who was helping Jackson train for a planned concert tour, said he "looked fantastic" at the end of May, the last time the two met.

"When I saw him, he was not frail," Ferrigno told CNN's "Larry King Live" on Monday night, adding, "He seemed fine, alert, no pain at all."

Jackson's father told reporters at the family compound that his son's funeral was still in the planning stages but added that his son would not be buried at Neverland.

___

Associated Press writers Gregory Katz in London and AP Music Writer Nekesa Mumbi Moody in Los Angeles contributed to this story.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090630/ap_en_mu/us_michael_jackson

[Nawny]

Thank you Sam! Very interesting. I like those kinds of reports. They're realistic!

:seeya:

[samanthajane13]

Wall-to-wall media coverage of Jackson receding
By DAVID BAUDER, AP Television Writer David Bauder, Ap Television Writer – 2 hrs 5 mins ago

NEW YORK – Media coverage of Michael Jackson's death began receding following an extraordinary worldwide outpouring, with the shock wearing off and the pace of new developments slowing.

The Bernie Madoff sentencing, a presidential speech on energy, U.S. combat troops withdrawing from Iraqi cities and a cable news staple in Dallas — a high-speed car chase — took time away from the drumbeat of speculation Monday on the cause of Jackson's death and the future of his children.

Still, producers at CBS News were hurriedly putting together another prime-time special for Tuesday night on Jackson. NBC News bought the rights to journalist Martin Bashir's lengthy 2003 interview with Jackson for a Monday-night show, after MSNBC showed it several times over the weekend.

"We had a lot of viewers over the last three or four days and that suggests to us there's a tremendous amount of interest," said Bart Fader, senior vice president of current programming at CNN. "Journalistically, it's a fascinating story. He was one of the most famous people on the planet, and there are a lot of tentacles to the story."

Fader said he expected interest to remain high at least until there's a funeral for Jackson, which was still unscheduled.

CNN was one of the biggest beneficiaries of interest in the story, both right after it broke and throughout the weekend, when its audience remained at twice its normal level, he said. More than 2,200 viewers had also sent in their own video reports to the network, most offering personal recollections about the pop star.

More than 20 million people appeared to watch television in the United States specifically to find out about Jackson's death in the hours after the story broke last Thursday, according to Nielsen Media Research.

NBC had 5.8 million viewers for its two-hour prime-time special on the deaths of Jackson and actress Farrah Fawcett, according to Nielsen Media Research. A CBS News special at 10 p.m. on Jackson had 7.5 million viewers and an ABC Jackson recap had 5.7 million viewers at 9 p.m. (ABC's 10 p.m. hour on Fawcett, which had more advance notice, had 8.2 million viewers Thursday.)

The three biggest cable news networks — CNN, Fox News Channel and MSNBC — averaged 8.2 million viewers in prime-time Thursday. That compares with almost 4.7 million on a typical weeknight, Nielsen said. The vast majority of those new viewers turned to CNN, which had 3.9 million viewers compared with its 1.1 million average.

CBS News producer Susan Zirinsky said she initially expected to be done with the story after last Thursday's prime-time special.

"Every place I turned to (over the weekend), it was all anybody was talking about," she said. The network's upcoming special will deal with several aspects of the story, she said.

The news was equally big overseas, where the BBC saw a record 2.5 million users for its service providing headlines to mobile phone users Friday, a network spokesman said. The network's Web site had a volume of visitors second only to the night Barack Obama was elected president of the United States.

"The BBC's coverage of Michael Jackson depends on the news agenda so while coverage has reduced, it may well increase again," said the spokesman, who declined to be identified in line with BBC policy.

News channels and major newspapers in Germany continued to devote much of their attention to the Jackson story Monday, with TV showing clips of Janet Jackson's tribute to her brother on Sunday night's BET Awards in the U.S.

Meanwhile, news coverage of the death slipped in Asia and, in South America, Sunday's coup in Honduras took the story off newspaper front pages in much of South America. Colombia's El Tiempo newspaper found the space for a photo of a Jackson likeness being painted on a topless model in Cali, Colombia.

Mexican TV and newspaper reports tracked angry reactions to Mexican President Felipe Calderon's claim that Jackson had died because of an "excessive use of drugs."

"With all due respect for our beloved president, I think he should limit himself to governing the country," said Marcos Renteria, bassist for the Mexican rock group Jaguares.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090630/ap_en_ce/us_michael_jackson_coverage

[samanthajane13]

Katherine Jackson Gets Temporary Custody of Michael's Kids, Personal Property
Josh Grossberg Josh Grossberg – Mon Jun 29, 9:21 pm ET

Los Angeles (E! Online) – UPDATE: E! News has exclusively learned that after taking the three children for a visit at Uncle Tito's SoCal home, Katherine Jackson has taken them to Uncle Jermaine's nearby estate, presumably to play with their cousins. Jermaine has six children, including two under 13.

___________

A thriller of a court battle is shaping up over custody of Michael Jackson's three kids and control of his estate.

Jackson's mother, Katherine, today was granted limited access to some of her son's property, as well as temporary custody of his three children: 12-year-old Michael Joseph Jackson Jr. (aka Prince Michael), 11-year-old Paris-Michael Katherine Jackson and 7-year-old Prince Michael Jackson II (aka Blanket). The three children have been in Katherine's care since Michael's sudden death last Thursday.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Mitchell Beckloff made the ruling shortly after the Jackson matriarch filed paperwork. Beckloff set a hearing for July 6 on whether to grant her permanent custody and to address naming a temporary guardian of Michael's estate.

Amid confusion over whether he had a valid will, Beckloff also allowed Katherine to take possession of some of the singer's personal property, which is currently in the hands of an unidentified third party.

L. Londell McMillan, the attorney representing Katherine, 79, and Joe Jackson, 80, appeared on NBC's Today this morning to state the Jackson family's case.

"[Katherine] presently has custody. I don't think there will be anybody who thinks that there would be someone better," said McMillan. "She is a very loving host of other grandchildren."

While Blanket was delivered by an unidentified surrogate, the two oldest children were born to Michael and former wife Debbie Rowe, who would be in a better position to assume guardianship under state law—if she decided to challenge the Jackson family.

Rowe, the mother of Prince Michael I and Paris, petitioned in 2001 to waive her parental rights after her divorce from the music legend, but then sought to get them back following his 2005 child-molestation trial. A judge reinstated her rights, though Jackson retained custody after giving her a fat paycheck for her troubles.

McMillan said that Rowe has not informed the family of her desires and that he has no idea whether she would "do anything to uproot the best interest of these children."

The former nurse, whom Michael Jackson met at his dermatologist's office, has not yet indicated whether she will seek guardianship. In her only public remarks, she asked for privacy as the family mourns.

"Ms. Rowe's only thoughts at this time have been regarding the devastating loss Michael's family has suffered," Rowe attorney Marta Almli said in the statement. "Ms. Rowe requests that Michael's family, and particularly the children, be spared such harmful, sensationalist speculation and that they be able to say goodbye to their loved one in peace."

Meanwhile, McMillan also dropped the bombshell that Michael apparently did not have a will.

Despite Joe's proclamation at last night's BET Awards that he and Katherine have "personal and legal authority" to act on behalf of their late son's estate, the legal implications are more complicated.

Per California state law, Michael's assets would be equally divided among his three children and likely overseen by a court-appointed conservator.

(Originally published June 29, 2009, at 9:15 a.m. PT)


http://news.yahoo.com/s/eonline/20090630/en_celeb_eo/131724

[One2Snoop]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6xJlyJgfS8

How sad. :( As we all know the media can be brutal.

[wind149]

A will has been found that he made in 2002 and not one dime is going to Nasty Joe, so he got his payback in spades and I bet privately, he is pissed to the max and maybe that is why he was so anxious to let everyone know he now has a record label, like anyone gives a rip??? And of course old SharpMouth has to be involved, the camerawhore he is, he must be having the time of his life, playing the grieving minister or whatever he thinks he is and still, the sight of him makes me ill because he is so fake, anything he does, he has a personal agenda and it involves his face on every network. Ever since the Towanna Brawley case, where he screamed racism for days and how the NYPD was not doing enough to find a black girl, that went missing and then a week later she turns up, claiming to have been kidnapped by white men that smeared feces on her and chained her ankle to a post, and then lo and behold, the girl cops to have lied about the whole thing because she did not want her Daddy to know she had a boyfriend and not one apology from either Mouth or that useless, lying twit went to the falsely accused white men, whose lives were ruined by this and all Mouth did was slither back into his hole after giving her a college scholarship!!

I can hear him now at the funeral and he will be on the throes of an orgasm, the ultimate photo op and he will not disappoint me, he will be his usual blowhard self. I am surprised a tad that his other cohort in camera, Jessie Jackson has not appeared on the scene, but I think ever since his "lovechild" was revealed, his credibility has been shot to hell and maybe the Jackson family does not want him at the funeral or other memorial sites, too bad they won't tell Mouth to take a hike, he ain't there for them, he is there to be in front of those damm cameras and I can't for the life of me, understand, why networks give in to him, but maybe they feel they have to because he will scream racism if say, Anderson Cooper or Jane won't let him be on their shows??

And now everyone is starting to figure out that MJ is not the bio Dad of the two older kids, ya think?? If he was, the black gene would dominate and they are as white as white can be and I think Blanket is black but he was born to a surrogate mother and sperm donor unknown and she and he have never come forward and I wonder if they will now, trying to jump on the bandwagon that I think will be riding out there, with every nutjob and some legit people that have sued him wanting their piece of the action, I predict that his estate won't be settled any time soon. Already cops are expressing their displeasure at having his funeral at Never Land because it is a holiday weekend coming up and can you see the cluster f*ck of traffic? They would lose their minds as there is only one road leading to the ranch and they are thinking ahead because the traffic will back up for a 100 miles and anyone planning a vacation in that area especially people who might not be fans are gonna be upset if they can't get around, let's face it, some people don't give a rip that he died, I went to a concert Friday night, WHITE SNAKE and it was an awesome time! David Coverdale asked the crowd if they felt bad that he died and not many hands went up, and when asked if they did not care, and the crowd went wild. He did do a tribute song to him, saying that no matter what anyone thought of him, he was a pop icon and he sang "Ill Be There" and he did an awesome job of it!!!

[wind149]

Jesus God! They are going to have a pubic viewing? Why not let him lie in state at the Rotunda why they are at it?? My God, he was a pop star not a president? And he probably died of an overdose, not from a plane crash!! This has shades of Anna Nicole written all over it and NG will be on this for months and already it is getting old with the networks trying to get the poop scoop out before anyone else does and going on and on about his estate and where are the kids going and how much in debt he was, after he is buried, then it is time to let this go, he is dead and like Elvis, he is not leaving a building any time soon he will not be immortal, he was a human being not a god.

[samanthajane13]

Jackson family: Michael Jackson had a will
By NEKESA MUMBI MOODY, AP Music Writer Nekesa Mumbi Moody, Ap Music Writer – 2 hrs 53 mins ago

LOS ANGELES – A lawyer for Michael Jackson's family said Tuesday a will by the late pop star has been presented.

The word came just a day after the family said in court documents it believed the entertainer had died without a valid will.

"My clients are now aware after filings that a will has been presented ," said L. Londell McMillan. "His various advisers are looking for additional documents."

No further details were disclosed, and a copy of the document was not immediately available.

The existence of a will, and the likely appointment of an executor, could complicate a petition by Jackson's mother Katherine to become the administrator of his lucrative but debt-encumbered estate.

In documents filed in Superior Court, Jackson's parents say they believe their 50-year-old son died "intestate," or without a valid will.

A will almost always names an executor, and if validated, it would negate the petition of Jackson's mother to administer the estate, said John Novogrod, an estate lawyer and partner at Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP in New York.

"If there is a will and if the will is a valid will, the whole petition to be named administrator will just fall way," Novogrod said.

He said the will could possibly be challenged on the grounds that Jackson may have been incompetent, did not understand it when it was created, or that he was unduly influenced.

Early Monday — just four days after the death of the King of Pop — lawyers for Katherine and Joe Jackson won temporary custody of Michael Jackson's three children and moved to become administrators of his estate.

Judge Mitchell Beckloff granted 79-year-old Katherine Jackson temporary guardianship of the children, who range in age from 7 to 12.

He also gave her control over some of her son's personal property that is now in the hands of an unnamed third party. But the judge did not immediately rule on her requests to take charge of the children's and Jackson's estates.

___

Associated Press Writers Ryan Nakashima and Anthony McCartney in Los Angeles contributed to this report.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090630/ap_en_ot/us_michael_jackson_estate

[samanthajane13]

AP Exclusive: Insomniac Jackson begged for drug
By LYNN ELBER, Associated Press Writer Lynn Elber, Associated Press Writer – 50 mins ago

LOS ANGELES – Michael Jackson was so distraught over persistent insomnia in recent months that he pleaded for a powerful sedative despite warnings it could be harmful, says a nutritionist who was working with the singer as he prepared his comeback bid.

Cherilyn Lee, a registered nurse whose specialty includes nutritional counseling, said Tuesday that she repeatedly rejected his demands for the drug, Diprivan, which is given intravenously.

But a frantic phone call she received from Jackson four days before his death made her fear that he somehow obtained Diprivan or another drug to induce sleep, Lee said.

While in Florida on June 21, Lee was contacted by a member of Jackson's staff.

"He called and was very frantic and said, `Michael needs to see you right away.' I said, 'What's wrong?' And I could hear Michael in the background ..., 'One side of my body is hot, it's hot, and one side of my body is cold. It's very cold,'" Lee said.

"I said, `Tell him he needs to go the hospital. I don't know what's going on, but he needs to go to the hospital ... right away."

"At that point, I knew that somebody had given him something that hit the central nervous system," she said, adding, "He was in trouble Sunday and he was crying out."

Jackson did not go to the hospital. He died June 25 after suffering cardiac arrest, his family said. Autopsies have been conducted, but an official cause of death is not expected for several weeks.

"I don't know what happened there. The only thing I can say is he was adamant about this drug," Lee said.

Following Jackson's death, allegations emerged that the 50-year-old King of Pop had been consuming painkillers, sedatives and antidepressants. But Lee said she encountered a man tortured by sleep deprivation and one who expressed opposition to recreational drug use.

"He wasn't looking to get high or feel good and sedated from drugs," she said. "This was a person who was not on drugs. This was a person who was seeking help, desperately, to get some sleep, to get some rest."

Jackson was rehearsing hard for what would have been his big comeback — his "This Is It" tour, a series of performances that would have strained his aging dancer's body. Also, pain had been a part of his life since 1984, when his scalp was severely burned during a Pepsi commercial shoot.

Several months ago, Jackson had begun badgering Lee about Diprivan, also known as Propofol, Lee said. It is an intravenous anesthetic drug widely used in operating rooms to induce unconsciousness. It is generally given through an IV needle in the hand.

Patients given Propofol take less time to regain consciousness than those administered certain other drugs, and they report waking up more clear-headed and refreshed, said University of Chicago psychopharmacologist James Zacny.

It has also been implicated in drug abuse, with people using it to "chill out" or to commit suicide, Zacny said. Accidental deaths linked to abuse have been reported. The powerful drug has a very narrow therapeutic window, meaning it doesn't take doses much larger than the medically recommended amount to stop a person's breathing.

An overdose that stops breathing can result in a buildup of carbon dioxide, causing the heart to beat erratically and leading to cardiac arrest, said Dr. John Dombrowski, a member of the board of directors of the American Society of Anesthesiologists.

Because it is given intravenously and is not the kind of prescription drug typically available from pharmacists, abuse cases have involved anesthesiologists, nurses and other hospital staffers with easy access to the drug, Zacny said.

In recent months, Lee said, Jackson waved away her warnings about it.

"I had an IV and when it hit my vein, I was sleeping. That's what I want," Lee said Jackson told her.

"I said, 'Michael, the only problem with you taking this medication' — and I had a chill in my body and tears in my eyes three months ago — 'the only problem is you're going to take it and you're not going to wake up," she recalled.

According to Lee, Jackson said it had been given to him before but he didn't want to discuss the circumstances or identify the doctor involved.

The singer also drew his own distinctions when it came to drugs versus prescription medicine.

"He said, `I don't like drugs. I don't want any drugs. My doctor told me this is a safe medicine,'" Lee said. The next day, she said she brought a copy of the Physician's Desk Reference to show him the section on Diprivan.

"He said, 'No, my doctor said it's safe. It works quick and it's safe as long as somebody's here to monitor me and wake me up. It's going be OK,'" Lee said. She said he did not give the doctor's name.

Lee said at one point, she spent the night with Jackson to monitor him while he slept. She said she gave him herbal remedies and stayed in a corner chair in his vast bedroom.

After he settled in bed, Lee told Jackson to turn down the lights and music — he had classical music playing in the house. "He also had a computer on the bed because he loved Walt Disney," she said. "He was watching Donald Duck and it was ongoing. I said, `Maybe if we put on softer music,' and he said, `No, this is how I go to sleep.'"

Three and a half hours later, Jackson jumped up and looked at Lee, eyes wide open, according to Lee. "This is what happens to me," she quoted him as saying. "All I want is to be able to sleep. I want to be able to sleep eight hours. I know I'll feel better the next day."

Lee, 56, is licensed as a registered nurse and nurse practitioner in California, according to the state Board of Registered Nursing's Web site. She attended Los Angeles Southwest College and the Charles Drew University of Medicine and Sciences in Los Angeles.

Comedian Dick Gregory, who knows Lee and her work, said he believes Jackson's insomnia had its roots in the pop star's 2005 trial on child molestation charges. Jackson's health had deteriorated so much that his parents called Gregory, a natural foods proponent, for help.

Gregory said Jackson wasn't eating or drinking at the time and, after he was persuaded by Gregory to undergo testing, ended up hospitalized for severe dehydration.

But Jackson obviously was healthy enough to withstand the level of medical scrutiny needed to insure him for the upcoming high-stakes London concerts, Gregory said. "That you don't trick," he said of the exams.

Lee, who has also worked with Stevie Wonder, Marla Gibbs, Reynaldo Rey and other celebrities, said she was introduced to Jackson by the mother of one of his staff members. Jackson's three children had minor cold symptoms and their pediatrician was out of town.

Lee said she went to the house in January, the first of about 10 visits there through April, and treated the children with vitamins. Michael, intrigued, asked what else she did and took her up on her claim she could boost his energy.

After running blood tests, she devised protein shakes for him and gave him an intravenous vitamin and mineral mixture — known as a "Myers cocktail," after Dr. John Myers — which Lee said she uses routinely in her practice.

"It wasn't that he felt sick," she said. "He just wanted more energy."

Lee said she decided to speak out to protect Jackson's reputation from what she considers unfounded allegations of drug abuse or shortcomings as a parent.

"I think it's so wrong for people to say these things about him," she said. "He was a wonderful, loving father who wanted the best for his children."

___

AP Medical Writer Lindsey Tanner in Chicago and AP Television Writer David Bauder in New York contributed to this report.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090630/ap_en_mu/us_michael_jackson_drugs

[samanthajane13]

Debbie Rowe Maintains Biological-Mom Status; Dermatologist Quiet About Jackson Kids

Breanne L. Heldman Breanne L. Heldman – 57 mins ago

Los Angeles (E! Online) – Dr. Arnold Klein is officially mum. But Debbie Rowe says she is officially mom.

In response to increasingly persistent rumors and theories regarding both the paternity and maternity of Michael Jackson's kids, Rowe has reiterated what people have been more or less accepting as fact for years.

"We refuse to be drawn into addressing the various rumors and speculation swirling in the media," Rowe's attorney, Marta Almli, tells E! News. "The vast majority of what is out there is untrue. Particularly hurtful and insidious is the most recent rumor—which is entirely false—concerning the maternity of the children. Ms. Rowe is the biological mother of the two oldest children."

Yesterday, Jackson matriach Katherine received temporary custody over her son's children with Rowe, Prince Michael and Paris, and his youngest son, Prince Michael II (aka Blanket), whose mother is unknown, and grandma is looking to make the arrangement permanent.

"Debbie remains grief stricken. Her thoughts are with the children and all of the Jackson family," Rowe's team of lawyers from Browne Woods George LLP previously told E! News. "To the extent she must respond to court proceedings that were started by others, she will of course do so at the appropriate time."

By saying Rowe will respond to "proceedings that were started by others," the lawyers may be suggesting that she herself will not be filing a custodial motion.

Klein, the King of Pop's longtime dermatologist, also has remained reclusive since Us Weekly reported he may be the true father of the Jackson children.

"Dr. Klein is aware of media reports connecting him to Michael Jackson," his lawyer, Richard L. Charnley, tells E! News.

"Because of patient confidentiality Dr. Klein will make no statement on any reports or allegations. Out of respect for his patients and adherence to federal HIPAA regulations, Dr. Klein asks that the media not contact his patients nor interfere with their medical treatments. Like millions of Michael's fans around the world, Dr. Klein is saddened by Michael's death and extends his condolences to Michael's family."

Additionally, Charnley claims his client has not spoken with the LAPD regarding Jackson's death.

"Dr. Klein has not been contacted by any governmental agency with request for an interview," he tells E! News.

Klein's staff told reporters camped outside his Los Angeles mansion that he was not home and did not wish to talk to anyone.

"You're wasting your time," one said, despite one news crew claiming that they saw the doctor arrive at the house and believing him to be holed up inside.

"He's very elusive," a neighbor tells E! News. "He's nice but he likes his privacy."

The neighbor also claims Jackson and the children have visited several times, but not in the past year. Ditto for Rowe, who was once the doctor's nurse.

That surrounding resident did make one very curious point, claiming that the skin man was also Jackson's plastic surgeon.

"Yeah, he did his nose," she tells E! News.

According to another adjacent home owner, the doctor, who has never been married and does not have any children, has an entire suite of his house dedicated to the icon.

"It's where Jackson stays when he visits him," the neighbor tells E! News. "It's a huge suite with a bunch of Jackson's clothes, a white glove and an Andy Warhol painting of Jackson."

This neighbor also claims the doc has a large staff of at least nine people and that multiple black Rolls-Royces use the driveway daily.

"He's a very powerful man," the nabe blabs. "He has a ton of celebrity clients."

—Reporting by Whitney English and Jessica Gysin

(Originally published June 30, 2009, at 3:18 p.m. PT)


http://news.yahoo.com/s/eonline/20090630/en_top_eo/132092

[samanthajane13]

Promoter: Michael Jackson tribute shows likely
By DAVID STRINGER, Associated Press Writer David Stringer, Associated Press Writer – 2 hrs 43 mins ago

LONDON – The promoter who booked Michael Jackson for a sold-out comeback tour said Tuesday that footage of the singer's rehearsals may be released in the future, and that an all-star tribute show based on his canceled concerts is likely to take place.

A tribute featuring members of Jackson's family, and other world music stars, would likely use dance routines, sets and costumes created for the singer's scrapped tour, Randy Phillips, chief executive of promoter AEG Live, told Britain's Sky News.

Phillips described Jackson as a close friend and said the singer had been excited about the upcoming concerts — confiding to him the day before his death that he felt ready for his 50 sold-out performances at London's O2 arena.

The promoter said he spoke with Jackson after a rehearsal June 24. "He gave me a hug and he whispered into my ear 'Now I know I can do this'," he said.

Phillips denied claims that Jackson was daunted by the upcoming concerts, and likely too frail to perform. "We have, and we may at some point release, some footage of him in rehearsal that would totally refute that," Phillips said.

He said he believes Jackson's comeback would have been one of the best arena shows ever staged.

"At some point the world needs to see this production, and I imagine if we could do it, it would be done as a tribute, with the family — with the brothers performing and some of the sisters — but also the stars who loved Michael and were influenced by him," Phillips told the channel.

Phillips said detailed plans for the original show had been saved for a possible tribute concert.

"We have the intellectual property content, we have the sets, we have the costumes ... ," he said. "It would have been — which is a tragedy — one of the most amazing arena shows ever."

He said his company was discussing plans for a tribute with Jackson's family, and suggested it could be staged soon. "Obviously, the sooner the better," Phillips said.

The promoter confirmed that Jackson had personally insisted that cardiologist Dr. Conrad Murray was hired to attend to him during the planned concerts in London.

He also denied suggestions that his company is likely to lose large amounts of money as a result of Jackson's death.

"Our company will be fine financially from this," he said.

AEG Live is reported to have given Jackson a $20 million advance before the tour. Phillips did not comment directly on the reports.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090630/ap_en_ot/eu_michael_jackson_tribute_show

[samanthajane13]

AP Exclusive: Jackson said net worth $236M in 2007
By STEVENSON JACOBS, AP Business Writer Stevenson Jacobs, Ap Business Writer – Tue Jun 30, 6:13 pm ET

NEW YORK – It's one of the biggest mysteries in the Michael Jackson saga: How much was the lavish-spending, massively debt-ridden pop icon really worth?

In the most detailed account yet of the singer's tangled financial empire, documents obtained by The Associated Press show Jackson claimed to have a net worth of $236.6 million as of March 31, 2007. But less than $700,000 of that amount was in cash — a relatively paltry sum given his opulent lifestyle, prodigious borrowing and seven-figure shopping sprees.

The dollar amounts, which previously consisted of estimates, are crucial because Jackson's estate is expected to become the focus of a legal battle between the singer's family and creditors.

The revelation came Tuesday as Jackson's family reversed itself and said the singer did in fact have a will — complicating a bid by Jackson's mother to take control of her son's finances.

Jackson had $567.6 million in assets, including his Neverland Ranch and his share of the Sony/ATV Music Publishing catalog, which includes the rights to songs by the Beatles, according to a statement of financial condition prepared by Washington, D.C.-based accounting firm Thompson, Cobb, Bazilio & Associates.

The report was prepared at a time when Jackson had large sums of debt coming due that had to be refinanced. The financial statement, which is not as thorough as an audit, was based in large part on estimates provided by Jackson's advisers that the accounting firm said it could not verify.

In the documents, the firm also said it omitted the amount Jackson owed in income taxes.

The documents do not show how much money he had coming in that year or how much he was spending, which makes it hard to estimate just how cash-poor he was. Still, the statement paints a picture of Jackson's tangled finances and the mountain of debt he left behind.

The five-page report says Jackson had debts of $331 million. The singer had just $668,215 in cash, according to the report.

The accounting firm did not return calls seeking comment.

The report puts a net value on Jackson's 50 percent stake in the Sony/ATV Music Publishing catalog — his most prized asset — at $390.6 million. The 750,000-song catalog includes music by the Beatles, Bob Dylan, Neil Diamond, Lady Gaga and the Jonas Brothers.

A separate document obtained by the AP details Jackson's dealings with Sony Music Entertainment Inc., which owns the other half of Sony/ATV. Jackson was guaranteed a cash distribution of $11 million a year from the venture through September 2011, according to the May 25, 2007, document that was signed by the pop star.

The document also detailed Sony's ability to buy an unspecified percentage of Jackson's remaining share in Sony/ATV.

It said Sony agreed to guarantee loans made to Jackson through September 2011 and to help him refinance his debts. Sony also agreed to advance Jackson money to help pay the interest to his main creditor at the time, Fortress Investment Group LLC, to avoid defaulting. Barclays Bank PLC took over the Fortress loan, which is now around $315 million, in December 2007.

The documents also show that Jackson gave his approval for Sony/ATV to use up to $400 million to purchase the 125,000-song Famous Music LLC catalog from Viacom Inc., which holds such songs as "Footloose" and "The Real Slim Shady" by Eminem. The deal was announced a week later.

A Sony/ATV spokesman declined to comment.

Another of Jackson's prized possessions, his Neverland Ranch, is valued at $33 million, according to the accounting firm's report. He also had $20 million worth of cars, antiques, collectibles and other property.

It's likely that Neverland, a 2,500-acre property in the rolling hills of Santa Barbara County, has dropped in value since 2007 along with the rest of the battered California housing market, experts said.

"The luxury market in the past year has really taken a hit in markets across the country," said Rick Goodwin, publisher of Ultimate Homes and its parent publication, Unique Homes.

The ranch in central California's wine country was set to be sold in March 2008 because of missed payments on a $24.5 million loan, but Jackson managed to cut an 11th-hour deal to keep it off the auction block.

The fact that few, if any, similar properties in the area are selling makes it even harder to determine Neverland's current market value. A couple of properties in the 500-acre range are on the market in the area for around $10 million, said Steve Schott, a real estate appraiser based in Santa Barbara.

Jackson died Thursday at age 50 of what his family has said was cardiac arrest. Medical examiners in Los Angeles are perhaps weeks away from determining the official cause of death.

The divvying up of Jackson's assets — and the settling of his debts — are likely to be hotly contested in court. On Monday, lawyers for Katherine and Joe Jackson won temporary custody of Michael Jackson's three children and moved to become administrators of his estate.

A judge granted 79-year-old Katherine Jackson temporary guardianship of the children, who range in age from 7 to 12. He also gave her control over some of her son's personal property that is now in the hands of an unnamed third party. But the judge did not immediately rule on her requests to take charge of the children's and Jackson's estates.

___

Associated Press writers Alex Veiga, Ryan Nakashima and Anthony McCartney in Los Angeles contributed to this report.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090630/ap_en_mu/us_michael_jackson_finances

[lorettalockhorn]

Dangerous Drug Found in Jackson Home

Sources tell TMZ an extremely dangerous and potent drug used for surgical anesthesia was found at Michael Jackson's house after he died.

We're told the drug Propofol was discovered at the residence. The drug is used to put people under anesthesia before surgery. It is an extremely powerful drug that is only available to medical personnel. As one source said, "There is no conceivable way this drug can be properly prescribed for home use."

The drug can only be administered with an IV. Interestingly, Propofol burns and the drug Lidocaine is used to reduce the pain associated with the Propofol injection. As we first reported, Lidocaine was found near Jackson's body.

One of the major side-effects of Propofol is cardiac arrest if it's taken in combination with narcotic painkillers, however, Propofol is so powerful it can stop someone's heart on its own.

A registered nurse has come out and said Jackson begged her for the drug Diprivan -- the brand name for Propofol. She says he needed it for insomnia but she declined to supply it.

Sources say the drug is so inappropriate and reckless for home use, if a doctor facilitated it for Jackson, he or she could be prosecuted for manslaughter.


http://www.tmz.com/2009/06/30/michael-jackson-propofol-lidocaine-overdose-criminal

[samanthajane13]

LAPD Makes Undercover House Call to Jackson Doc
Gina Serpe and Lindsay Miller Gina Serpe And Lindsay Miller – Tue Jun 30, 5:27 pm ET

Los Angeles (E! Online) – The Los Angeles Police Department is turning up the heat on their investigation into Michael Jackson's untimely death—by actually packing heat for what was supposed to be another meeting with Dr. Conrad Murray.

It's unclear, however, if cops ever actually made contact with the doctor, who, his lawyer insists, has been cleared as a suspect in Jackson's death.

Police activity continued outside Murray's L.A.-area condo for nearly an hour and a half this morning.

Around 10:30 a.m., armed police detectives arrived at Murray's building in an unmarked gold-colored sedan. The vehicle, driven by a man in a red shirt and aviator sunglasses, pulled into the underground parking garage, but left several minutes and circled the block.

Then, shortly after 11 a.m. a second unmarked police car, this time taking the form of a green-hued sedan, parked in the alley adjacent to the doctor's condo, pulling up alongside the first detective. Behind the wheel of the second car was an undercover officer wearing a handgun on his hip.

A few minutes later, a police cruiser turned up at the scene and the uniformed officer got out of the squad car to speak with the two detectives.

By noon, all three cars had vanished from the condo's grounds.

An LAPD spokesperson declined to comment on this morning's events, citing their "ongoing investigation" into Jackson's death. A lawyer for the doctor told E! News that Murray has been cooperative and is definitely "not hiding out."

"As far as we know, [the visit] had nothing to do with our client," said Miranda Sevcik, a spokesman for Murray's Houston-based lawyers.

Meanwhile, a source close to the police investigation confirmed today that detectives are focusing their efforts on Jackson's prescription drug intake, saying that yesterday's search of the star's Holmby Hills mansion came after officers obtained two search warrants.

Which was apparently nothing more than a formality.

Los Angeles Assistant Chief Coroner Ed Winter said that the Jackson family was more than cooperative in allowing him and the LAPD into the residence.

"The family assisted us in going into the home," he told E! News. "I'm not going to comment on whether or not there was a search warrant."

While investigators have yet to specify what exactly they found in the home, and have so far declined to either confirm or deny reports that needles were among the evidence they collected, they apparently did find a few things of interest, leaving the residence with two large plastic bags.

"They were seeking medications, controlled substances and paraphernalia," the source said.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/eonline/20090630/en_top_eo/132075

[samanthajane13]

Jackson family discusses funeral plans with police

LOS ANGELES – Members of Michael Jackson's family have met with officials from the police and California Highway Patrol about funeral services for the King of Pop.

California Highway Patrol spokeswoman Fran Clader says the meeting was held Tuesday afternoon and "details are still pending."

There has been intense speculation since Jackson died Thursday over where and when a memorial service will be held.

One potential site is Jackson's Neverland Ranch, which is located in the rolling hills of central California's wine country, about 150 miles northwest of Los Angeles.

Officials from the local board of supervisors, the county executive and law enforcement met Tuesday to discuss the possibility of restricting parking along parts of Figueroa Mountain Road, which runs past Neverland.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Michael Jackson's will gives guardianship over his children to the singer's mother and leaves all his assets in a trust fund, a person with knowledge of the document told The Associated Press on Tuesday.

The word came just a day after the family said in court documents it believed the entertainer had died without a valid will and moved to take control over his estate.

The will was signed on July 7, 2002, and named as executors Jackson's longtime lawyer John Branca and John McClain, a music executive and a family friend, said the person, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak on the topic. The Jackson family and its lawyers are reviewing the document, the person said.

According to a statement given to CNN's "Larry King Live" on behalf of Branca and McClain, the two men are carrying out Jackson's wishes and "it is their sincere desire that Michael's affairs be handled with dignity and respect."

That designation complicates a petition by Jackson's mother Katherine to become the administrator of his lucrative, but debt-encumbered estate.

In documents filed in Superior Court on Monday, Jackson's parents say they believe their 50-year-old son died "intestate," or without a valid will.

Judge Mitchell Beckloff granted 79-year-old Katherine Jackson temporary guardianship of his three children, who range in age from 7 to 12.

He also gave her control over some of her son's personal property that is now in the hands of an unnamed third party. But the judge did not immediately rule on her requests to take charge of the children's and Jackson's estates.

Experts said the personal bankruptcy of Jackson's parents in 1999 could work against Katherine taking control of the estate.

Court documents show Katherine and Joe Jackson filed for Chapter 7 and listed nearly $24 million in debts that included court judgments, auto loans and credit cards. The only valuable asset listed was a house in Las Vegas then valued at $290,000. The bankruptcy was terminated in March 2007, but the documents gave no further details.

"I think it would be a negative factor but not necessarily a disqualifier," said Beth Kaufman, a Washington, D.C.-based attorney specializing in estate tax issues. "It could indicate that she is not capable of sound financial management."

Jackson was recently in shaky financial health. In the most detailed account yet of the singer's tangled financial empire, documents obtained by The Associated Press show Jackson claimed to have a net worth of $236.6 million as of March 31, 2007.

Since that time both Jackson's debts and assets grew substantially — he refinanced loans later that year that increased his debt load by tens of millions of dollars, but the Sony/ATV Music Publishing joint venture also spent hundreds of millions acquiring new songs.

Jackson's health also was a concern in his final days. A nutritionist who was working with the singer as he prepared his comeback bid said Jackson was so distraught over persistent insomnia in recent months that he pleaded for a powerful sedative despite warnings it could be harmful.

Cherilyn Lee, a registered nurse whose specialty includes nutritional counseling, also said she got a frantic phone call from Jackson four days before his death that made her fear that he somehow obtained Diprivan or another drug to induce sleep.


Continued...

[samanthajane13]

Meanwhile, Sheriff's Lt. Butch Arnoldi said authorities met Tuesday based on speculation over a possible memorial at Neverland, but Jackson's family had yet to reach out to them for assistance with any kind of memorial.

"We have not been contacted by any member of the family or any representative of the family, talking about or requesting any kind of event," he said.

Neverland is located in the rolling hills of central California's wine country, about 150 miles northwest of Los Angeles. A public funeral there on a busy holiday weekend could bring the rural area's roads to a standstill.

Officials from the local board of supervisors, the county executive and law enforcement met Tuesday to discuss the possibility of restricting parking along parts of Figueroa Mountain Road, which runs past Neverland.

County Executive William Boyer said the meeting was to prepare in case a public event was staged at the ranch, which would overwhelm the two-lane narrow road with media and fans. He said he was not in contact with the family and was not aware of their wishes.

California Highway Patrol spokesman Rick Quintero said the CHP had not received a request for a motorcade. "They would definitely need to notify us because it's going to impact the motoring public," Quintero said.

It was unclear whether Jackson could be buried at the ranch. California Funeral Directors Association executive director Bob Achermann said state law would prohibit Jackson's uncremated remains from being interred at Neverland.

The state's health and safety code makes interring any uncremated remains outside of a cemetery a misdemeanor, he said. Cremated remains can be kept in a home or private mausoleum outside a cemetery, he said.

At once a symbol of Jackson's success and excesses, Neverland became the site of a makeshift memorial after his death Thursday. Scores of fans have streamed past the gated entrance to leave handwritten notes, photographs, balloons and flowers.

He was 29 and at the height of his popularity when he bought the ranch, naming it after the mythical land of Peter Pan, where boys never grow up. There, he surrounded himself with animals, rides and children.

Jackson fled the ranch — and the country — after his acquittal on charges that he molested a 13-year-old cancer survivor in 2003 at the estate after getting him drunk.

On the other coast, meanwhile, Jackson fans converged on New York City's famed Apollo Theater on Tuesday for a public tribute to the performer, clutching photographs, cheering and dancing to his music at the legendary venue that launched the one-time child star's career.

The Rev. Al Sharpton gave a rousing speech praising the pop star to hundreds of fans who crammed into the theater as others waited in line outside to pay their respects.

"Michael made young men and women all over the world imitate us," Sharpton said. "Before Michael, we were limited and ghettoized. But Michael put on a colorful military outfit, he pulled his pants up, he put on the one glove, and he smashed the barriers of segregated music."

The promoter who booked Michael Jackson for a sold-out comeback tour said Tuesday that footage of the singer's rehearsals may be released in the future, and that an all-star tribute show based on his canceled concerts is likely to take place.

___

Associated Press writers Michael R. Blood, Lynn Elber, Noaki Schwartz, Jacob Adelman, Anthony McCartney, Thomas Watkins and AP Music Writer Nekesa Mumbi Moody in Los Angeles; Michelle Rindels in Santa Barbara; and Jennifer Peltz and Stevenson Jacobs in New York contributed to this report.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090701/ap_on_en_mu/us_michael_jackson;_ylt=AhGi4buqkiBu5Z0gPvz5TwO_.n QA;_ylu=X3oDMTMyZ21jN2tmBGFzc2V0Ay9hcC8yMDA5MDcwMS 9hcF9vbl9lbl9tdS91c19taWNoYWVsX2phY2tzb24EY3BvcwMz BHBvcwMzBHNlYwN5bl90b3Bfc3RvcmllcwRzbGsDamFja3Nvbm ZhbWls

[One2Snoop]

WTF??? Sharpton and Jessie Jackson both need to be condemned to hell along with Joe Jackson. :flamemad:

With that said, I thought Michael lost Neverland???? Can someone update me on the situation????

[LetsBeConcerned]

WTF??? Sharpton and Jessie Jackson both need to be condemned to hell along with Joe Jackson. :flamemad:

With that said, I thought Michael lost Neverland???? Can someone update me on the situation????


Here is my understanding... Michael Jackson did lose control of Neverland (all or part I'm not sure)

The current owner of Neverland did issue a memo to the local residents stating for them to brace themselves for the onslaught of fans that may come to their small town.

The police from the different areas are preparing themselves of not just thousands but possibly millions~!!!

And yet no official plans have been made.:shrug:

[LetsBeConcerned]

WTF??? Sharpton and Jessie Jackson both need to be condemned to hell along with Joe Jackson. :flamemad:

With that said, I thought Michael lost Neverland???? Can someone update me on the situation????


I thought I should elaborate as to what I meant by "owner"... It is actually a company/ corporation. I can't remember the name of the company, but it did end with "LLC" which I think stands for Limited Liability Corporation. Which means that Michael or anyone of the Jacksons could be a partner. Not necessarily having a say in what happens to the property but could have stock in it.

Make sense~? :)

[old_soul]

[/FONT]
I thought I should elaborate as to what I meant by "owner"... It is actually a company/ corporation. I can't remember the name of the company, but it did end with "LLC" which I think stands for Limited Liability Corporation. Which means that Michael or anyone of the Jacksons could be a partner. Not necessarily having a say in what happens to the property but could have stock in it.

Make sense~? :)



Hey there, LBC :seeya:..Long time no see! I believe you are absolutely correct, and that IS the case..I remember hearing this discussed in the first days after his death. MJ still has his fingers in his beloved Neverland...they (HLN) continues to state His Neverland ranch, and if he no longer had any dibbs, the owners wouln't be doing it out of the 'goodness' of their heart...

According to HLN, they are now stating the memorial which supposedly was open to the public and to be held at Neverland, is off. We can take that with a grain of salt...Flowers, bulldozers and the like have been at work there for the past couple of days to spruce up the place for this public showing...

It was reported that the surrounding areas were not kept up on the 2500 acres, but the house and the grounds surrounding the house were nicely maintained. Why this sudden change? I would think because of the liabilities,It's a windy 2 lane road... (but with JJ involved, it's probably about $$$), LOL, no, I really don't know, just being sarcastic here, (where's my puke icon) he makes me Sick. Since they flip flop like the Anthony's, we might find it's on again at Neverland. No will, huh Mom and Dad?

Info about Michael being at the mortuary and being buried in Hollywood Hills....http://www.comcast.net/video/jacksons-body-remains-in-l/1169671590/fanEntertainment/newest/

I for one never thought they were his flesh and blood, Jeez, look at them, but this Diana Ross being second in line for custody etc really is telling..Not one brother or sister to have his children? If no Katherine, Diana? Hmmmm.

Peace, finally, Michael...let them hash it out.

[lorettalockhorn]

>>"Michael made young men and women all over the world imitate us," Sharpton said.

What the hayell does this mean?

If I start imitating Al Sharpton, just

well, you know.

[wind149]

Loretta honey, I love you dearly, but you are wondering exactly what that camerawhore meant? Like anything he says makes any sense?? The sight of this moron makes me totally ill because he is a asswipe phony and I just knew he was gonna hook up with "Papa Joe" another camerawhore who is doing his best to capitalize off his dead son, the Gruesome Twosome as it were!!! Mouth can milk this for at least of couple of weeks till the media backs off this, already it is going way too old for me, the man begged a nurse for a powerful sedative and she had the presence of mind to not give in to him, must be she treasures her nursing license and ya gotta wonder about the Doc. Me thinks he is covering his ass, if you are a legit doctor and a pt died that was in your care, do you lawyer up?? NO! My doctor has a lucrative practice and I adore this woman, she takes good care of me and she loves heavy metal music as much as I do, we both went to WHITESNAKE the other night and she has a lot of pts, and a lot of elderly ones at that, so how many might croak in a year? Two, three? Does she lawyer up when one dies?? Not hardly.

Now that drug is powerful, and mixing it with others is sure to be fatal and somehow, he was able to obtain these drugs, now either the doc gave it to him or possibly some hangers-on, but I doubt any of them could obtain that sedative on the streets, especially since it is used in operating rooms to relax pts before going under. Now it is a wait and see game till the tox screens come back, but it sure does look like drugs will be the factor and heads will probably roll. Howard Stern deserves to go to prison for what he did to Anna and I think Daniel as well. He wanted his greedy little paws on that Marshall money and as the lawyer representing Anna, he would get a grooving pile of coin, but he wanted more than that, he wanted it all and I do think he murdered them and I am not the only one that feels this way. Thank God he does not have any control over Dannilynn, he would find a way to get rid of her too when she would turn of age to get her money that is in trust. He is a total scumbag.

But I am pleased as punch to see that MJ gave his final payback to Nasty! Not one dimeth goes to him and he must be livid, watch him, probably with Mouth's help, try to contest the will, he will try the "well if it wasn't for me there never would have been Michael Jackson" ploy, that he deserves a "fee" for being his 'father/manager" or some other sh*tting gitting thing!! The guy is pure scum and if there is a way for him to profit from MJ's death he will find it. Mouth will probably officiate as the "preacher man" and want to get a "fee" for it on top of all those lovely photo ops and I just wish he would die! I would throw a block party!!! Sad, to think your own father says to the world that "yeah, the family is coping, but I don't want to talk about that, did you know I have a new record label"?? On the eve of his son's untimely death, this is disgraceful and does anyone know what the name of it is so I cane-mail this loser and tell him off???

And I am not sure I would want his mama having custody of those poor kids, not after what she asked the nanny only hours after his death, "do you know where he keeps the money stashed"?? That is tactless and disgraceful too, here is your youngest son, who mind you, supported your fat black ass for many years, dies and all you can muster up is where is the money???? Oh, my, does my heart go out to those little ones. Their beloved Dad is dead, and their one mama was just a womb, and then they have absolute cretins for grandparents and I wonder if MJ would change his mind if he heard what his mother said. I think, the nanny should fight for custody, it sounds like she really loves these kids and not for the money, I am sure she got paid well but she spent all her time with them and I am sure they look upon her as a mother figure of sorts. At least the man made out a will, it would have been terrible with all the vultures swooping, if his kids were not provided for.

[lorettalockhorn]

Wind, like you I'm glad to see that MJ had a will and that his advisors had enough sense to keep the details private by putting his wealth in trust. On the surface, Katherine doesn't seem as odious as Joe (who by the way is morally and physically repulsive), but whatever JJ did to create the freak that Michael became, he did seemingly with her blessing. Or if she ever spoke out against the abuse, we sure never heard about it. Joe possibly kept her in her place too.

As for Al, if he is in anyway saying that a "man" who promotes sharing his bed with children (and possibly worse) singlehandedly elevated the entire AA population, then he's more FOS than I ever thought.

This could very well shake out to be much like the ANS death; not only will the toxicology be interesting, but the location of the needle marks on Jackson's body. If it's true that some of those injection sites were on his back for instance, it's going to be clear that someone else was administering those drugs.

ETA: I do think the COD will likely be drug OD instead of cardiac arrest in that supposedly when MJ went down he was in respiratory distress but still had a heartbeat.

[samanthajane13]

"Wind, like you I'm glad to see that MJ had a will and that his advisors had enough sense to keep the details private by putting his wealth in trust."


IDK...I just have an itchy feeling about the Will. Had a great-uncle who was on his death-bed, and another great-uncle produced a Will and had a nurse witness the signing...while the second uncle held the pen in his hand and "helped" him sign.

Second uncle got MILLIONS-the rest of the family got NADA.

Nurse later told a family member to check into it...and great-uncle only signed with a shaky "X". Family threw they while thing into Probate and it got VERY UGLY.

Sooooo-maybe I'm just paranoid, but-

Just hypothetically...if the family said among themselves..."Did Mikey have a Will?"

Everyone shakes their heads and says 'I don't know..."

They contact the lawyer and ask "Do you have Mikey's Will?"

He says "No".

They say "So and so must have it-we'll get back to you when we find it."

What would stop them from making a Will that gives THEM everything???

They could even write it up to have other people get inconsequential things, just to make it look legit.

Mikey WAS the BIG EARNER in the family after he split off from the Jackson 5...even Janet didn't come close to Mikey.

If he did have a Will, and it was in a file at the house and hadn't been filed with the Court, a paper shredder and a match would take care of it if it didn't satisfy the family.

Just glad I have my tin-foil hat on...

[samanthajane13]

Uncertain future for Jackson's Neverland Ranch
By ALEX VEIGA and JOHN ROGERS, Associated Press Writers Alex Veiga And John Rogers, Associated Press Writers – 1 hr 37 mins ago

LOS OLIVOS, Calif. – With Peter Pan as inspiration, Michael Jackson turned his lush Neverland ranch into a whimsical retreat with carnival rides, a chimpanzee named Bubbles and even a Disney-like train station where he could recapture his lost childhood.

But like the superstar's career, the property's idyllic image was tarnished when Jackson was accused of molesting a 13-year-old cancer survivor there in 2003. He was acquitted, but the scandal nearly ruined Jackson and drove him from Neverland forever. Over the last four years, the property fell into disrepair, and at one point it was weeks from being sold at a public auction.

The singer's death last Thursday renewed speculation about the future of the four-square-mile ranch. Will it be turned into a tourist attraction celebrating the King of Pop, much like Elvis Presley's Graceland pays homage to the King of Rock and Roll? Restored for his heirs to use? Or perhaps put on the market to cash in on the sudden interest in all things Jackson?

Like so many things involving Jackson's life and death, the answer is not simple.

First, the Jackson's financial affairs must be sorted out. A will was produced Tuesday, but it isn't clear if the family will contest it. Also, anything that would bring tens of thousands of people trooping through the hills of this bucolic wine region could face obstacles from people who pay tens of millions of dollars for the privilege of living here.

"If there's a little extra tourism around the neighborhood that's good," said Los Olivos resident Frank Palmer, who runs a barbecue stand in town. "But if it gets to the point where it's just too much, I don't know how we'd feel about that."

Already the gates to Neverland have become a makeshift shrine, adorned with handwritten notes, flowers, photos and other tributes left by fans who flocked to the estate about 150 miles northwest of Los Angeles.

On Wednesday, hundreds of parked cars lined both sides of the two-lane road leading to Neverland. About two hundred people crowded outside the estate, many of them journalists, their view of Jackson's English-style manor and other Neverland fixtures obscured by a slope of golden brown hills dotted with oak trees.

Although the ranch was buzzing with activity — construction equipment coming and going along with gardeners and florists — a family spokesman said Wednesday Neverland would not be the site of Jackson's funeral.

Colony Capital LLC, a Los Angeles real estate firm owned by billionaire Thomas Barrack, which bought Neverland and established a joint venture with Jackson last year, has said only that a decision on the future of the property will come "in due time."

Jackson bought the ranch in 1988 from developer William Bone, who built the house on the property, then called Sycamore Valley Ranch. The singer renamed the ranch and turned it into a fantasyland where he welcomed children.

The property was home to a coterie of animals — tigers named Thriller and Sabu — elephants, orangutans and a giraffe. And he built a mini amusement park with a carousel, two trains and a station that recalls the one at Disneyland's Main Street USA pavilion.

But his make-believe world came crashing down with the molestation charges and trial. After his acquittal in 2005, Jackson moved to Bahrain. The following year, he dismissed many of the Neverland staff after agreeing to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars in back wages to avoid a lawsuit by state labor officials.

Left largely untended, the once manicured grounds grew wild and the train and carnival rides gathered dust. Eventually, much of it was removed.

In March 2008, his finances strained, Jackson defaulted on a $23 million loan to Fortress Investment Group, and risked losing Neverland, which was used to secure the loan. Barrack stepped in a few months later, covering the outstanding amount — by then around $24.5 million. For $35 million, Jackson signed Neverland over to Sycamore Valley Ranch Co., a joint venture between Jackson and an affiliate of Barrack's Colony Capital.

In the months since, Barrack has begun to refurbish the property with landscaping and repairs to the swimming pool.

Turning Neverland into a theme park would take several years and cost hundreds of millions of dollars, said Dennis Speigel, president of International Theme Park Services Inc., a Cincinnati-based consulting and management firm.

"You could spend half a billion dollars in the blink of an eye for your rides, theaters, restaurants, bathrooms and parking lots," Speigel said. "It would be a huge gamble betting people would come out in big numbers."

One obstacle is Neverland's isolation, he said. The property is a two-and-a-half-hour drive north of Los Angeles and lacks surrounding infrastructure to handle large numbers of visitors.

Comparisons have naturally been made with Graceland, which receives more than 600,000 visitors a year and brings in $150 million for the economy in Memphis, Tenn. Graceland, though, is located on a main thoroughfare in downtown Memphis and is less than five miles from the airport. The nearly 14-acre property, with its white-columned mansion, also serves as Presley's final resting place.

Neverland is much less accessible. It's 41 miles away from Santa Barbara Municipal Airport and to get there by car requires driving a cramped and winding country road. The nearest town, Los Olivos, is about five miles away and would be hardpressed to host multitudes of tourists. And it's not clear if he will be buried there at some point.

"You want to have him on the site in Neverland. That's where Elvis is at Graceland," Speigel said.

So far, there's been no request or even inquiries made to the Santa Barbara County planning department for a change in Neverland's agricultural zoning designation, said county spokesman William Boyer.

The ranch was valued at $33 million in 2006, according to an accounting firm's report from 2007. But it's likely that property has dropped in value since then because of the housing market. But Jackson's death may change things.

"If they'd put it on the market right after the trial, I think it would have not been well received," said Rick Goodwin, publisher of Ultimate Homes and its parent publication, Unique Homes. "At that point in time, the dark cloud hung over that place. Death has a tendency to let people be more forgiving."

____

Veiga reported from Los Angeles. AP Business Writer Stevenson Jacobs contributed to this report


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090701/ap_on_re_us/us_michael_jackson_neverland_future

[lorettalockhorn]

Leroy and I have wills and they basically put everything into a trust so that the details will be private. They are in our attorney's office, not the courthouse.

Can't blame MJ one bit for wanting to keep his wishes out of the public eye. But I'm wouldn't be surprised to hear that folks are looking high and low for a newer will.

NG had a copy and apparently HLN's expert had authenticated the signature and she noted that he not only signed the document, but initialed the particulars.

[samanthajane13]

Plan to bury Michael Jackson at Neverland fizzles
By ANTHONY MCCARTNEY, AP Entertainment Writer Anthony Mccartney, Ap Entertainment Writer – 52 mins ago

LOS ANGELES – A plan to bury Michael Jackson at his sprawling Neverland ranch fizzled Wednesday, leaving details about his funeral undecided as another mystery was solved: His newly unveiled will says his mother should raise his children, or failing her, Diana Ross.

The changing funeral circumstances thwarted many Jackson fans who had descended on the estate in the rolling hills near Santa Barbara with the hope of attending a public viewing.

"We're terribly disappointed," said Ida Barron, 44, who arrived with her husband Paul Barron, 56, intending to spend several days in a tent.

"We were going to listen to music and watch Michael Jackson DVDs and party all night long, not just to have fun, but in memory of Michael Jackson," Paul Barron said. "Now we're going to have to just go home."

Jackson's 7-year-old will, filed Wednesday in a Los Angeles court, gives his entire estate to a family trust and names his 79-year-old mother Katherine and his children as beneficiaries. The will also estimates the current value of his estate at more than $500 million.

Katherine Jackson was appointed their guardian, with entertainer Diana Ross, a longtime friend of Michael Jackson, named successor guardian if something happens to his mother. Ross introduced the Jackson 5 on the Ed Sullivan Show in the late 1960s and was instrumental in launching their career.

Meanwhile, Jackson family spokesman Ken Sunshine said a public memorial was in the works for Jackson but wouldn't be held at Neverland. In addition, it appeared more likely that a funeral and burial would take place in Los Angeles, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press.

But the person, who is not authorized to speak for the family and requested anonymity, said nothing was planned for Neverland, at least through Friday.

The person said billionaire Thomas Barrack, who owns Neverland in a joint venture with Jackson, sought an exemption to bury the singer at the ranch. But the person says it's a complicated process and it couldn't be done for a burial this week.

"The family is aware a Neverland burial is not possible. They are expected to make decisions about whatever funeral and memorial service" will take place, the person said.

Heavy construction equipment and workers were seen passing through the wrought-iron gates of Neverland on Tuesday. It wasn't clear what they were doing. The property is about 120 miles northwest of Los Angeles.

At once a symbol of Jackson's success and excesses, Neverland — nestled in wine country — became the site of a makeshift memorial after his death.

In Los Angeles, Jackson's lawyer John Branca and family friend John McClain, a music executive, were named in the will as co-executors of his estate. In a statement, they said the most important element of the will was Jackson's steadfast desire that his mother become the legal guardian for his children.

"As we work to carry out Michael's instructions to safeguard both the future of his children as well as the remarkable legacy he left us as an artist, we ask that all matters involving his estate be handled with the dignity and the respect that Michael and his family deserve," the statement said.

The will doesn't name father Joe Jackson to any position of authority in administering the estate.

The executors moved quickly to take control of all of Michael Jackson's property, going to court hours after filing the will to challenge a previous ruling that gave Katherine Jackson control of 2,000 items from Neverland.

Paul Gordon Hoffman, an attorney for the executors, told Superior Court Judge Mitchell Beckloff his clients are the proper people to take over Jackson's financial affairs. He called Katherine Jackson's speed in getting limited power over her son's property "a race to the courthouse that is frankly improper."

Judge Beckloff urged attorneys from both sides to try to reach a compromise.

"I would like the family to sit down and try to make this work so that we don't have a difficult time in court," the judge said. A hearing on the estate was set for Monday.

The will, dated July 7, 2002, gives the entire estate to the Michael Jackson Family Trust. Details of the trust will not be made public.

The documents said Jackson's estate consisted almost entirely of "non-cash, non-liquid assets, including primarily an interest in a catalog of music royalty rights which is currently being administered by Sony ATV, and the interests of various entities."

Jackson owns a 50 percent stake in the massive Sony-ATV Music Publishing Catalog, which includes music by the Beatles, Bob Dylan, Neil Diamond, Lady Gaga and the Jonas Brothers.

Jackson was recently in shaky financial health. In the most detailed account yet of the singer's tangled financial empire, documents obtained by The Associated Press show Jackson claimed to have a net worth of $236.6 million as of March 31, 2007.

Jackson, who died June 25 at age 50, left behind three children: son Michael Joseph Jr., known as Prince Michael, 12; daughter Paris Michael Katherine, 11; and son Prince Michael II, 7. Debbie Rowe was the mother of the two oldest children; the youngest was born to a surrogate mother, who has never been identified.

Katherine Jackson was granted temporary guardianship Monday. A judge held off on requests to control the children's estates.

Rowe, who was married to Jackson in 1996 and filed for divorce three years later, surrendered her parental rights. An appeals court later found that was done in error, and Rowe and Jackson entered an out-of-court settlement in 2006.

Neither Rowe nor her attorneys have indicated whether she intends to seek custody of the two oldest children.

___

AP writers Michael R. Blood, Noaki Schwartz and Ryan Nakashima in Los Angeles, and John Rogers in Los Olivos contributed to this story.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090701/ap_on_en_mu/us_michael_jackson

[samanthajane13]

Jackson Family Decides on Burial Grounds
Gina Serpe and Ken Baker Gina Serpe And Ken Baker – 2 hrs 10 mins ago

Los Angeles (E! Online) – Michael Jackson's family is closing in on where, exactly, the superstar will be resting in peace.

E! News has exclusively learned that the King of Pop's body is currently being held at the Hollywood Hills location of Forest Lawn Memorial Park and Mortuaries, where it is expected to ultimately be interred.

While a source told E! News that, as of this morning, Jackson's body was "in the freezer" at the Forest Lawn mortuary, no official decision has yet been made on his burial. While the location is believed to be the most feasible for the family, the Jacksons are still weighing their options on potential sites.

Just yesterday, the Jackson family said no final decisions had been made on where or when a memorial would be held for the King of Pop, though the evidence at the time was mounting for at least one event to take place at Neverland Ranch. The family has since denied any such plans.

"Contrary to previous news reports, the Jackson family is officially stating that there will be no public or private viewing at Neverland," the family said in a statement. "Plans are underway regarding a public memorial for Michael Jackson, and we will announce those plans shortly."

A Los Angeles Police Department spokeswoman has confirmed that the Jackson family met with LAPD and California Highway Patrol representatives Tuesday afternoon to discuss possible funeral scenarios.

The involvement of the LAPD would be needed to handle the inevitable crush of mourners at a public memorial, or to augment the CHP as Jackson's body is transported.

On Tuesday, the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Department told E! News the agency met with CHP officials to figure out what to do about any Neverland events.

Neighbors of the rural ranch are already fearing miles-long traffic jams in the quiet community in the hills above Santa Barbara. Fans have begun descending on the area, transforming the site into something of a Graceland West—an idea pushed by Thomas Barrack, the billionaire real estate man who helped Jackson save his beloved ranch from a potential bank sale.

The Jackson family itself was floating the idea of holding a public ceremony at L.A.'s Staples Center, per the Los Angeles Times, with a procession from there to Neverland Ranch for a private funeral for friends, family and music industry heavies.

However, Michael Roth, a spokesman for AEG, which owns the venue, told E! News this morning that the arena has not yet been booked for any Jackson-related event.

"Nothing is scheduled at Staples at this time," he said.

The family has not announced a timetable for any memorial, though sources have suggested it could occur Friday.

—Additional reporting by Aly Weisman

(Originally published on July 1, 2009, at 9:35 a.m. PT)


http://news.yahoo.com/s/eonline/20090701/en_top_eo/132187

[samanthajane13]

Judge: Mom has temp control of Jackson's property
By ANTHONY McCARTNEY, AP Entertainment Writer Anthony Mccartney, Ap Entertainment Writer – 1 hr 38 mins ago

LOS ANGELES – A judge ruled Wednesday that Katherine Jackson will retain control of 2,000 items from Neverland Ranch until another hearing is held Monday, despite claims that the Jackson family had moved too quickly to take control of the pop star's $500 million estate.

Superior Court Judge Mitchell Beckloff called for a speedy compromise between attorneys for Katherine Jackson and the two co-executors of Michael Jackson's will — lawyer John Branca and John McClain, a music executive and a family friend.

"I would like the family to sit down and try to make this work so that we don't have a difficult time in court," the judge said.

The decision came after Paul Gordon Hoffman, an attorney for Branca and McClain, told Beckloff his clients were the proper people to take over Jackson's financial affairs.

He said Katherine Jackson's attorneys had already overstepped their authority by sending letters seeking documents and money from people who control Jackson's accounts. Hoffman did not elaborate.

However, he called Jackson's attempt to get limited power over her son's estate on Monday, "a race to the courthouse that is frankly improper."

The judge said he saw no urgency to give the executors authority over the Neverland items this week.

Katherine Jackson's attorney, L. Londell McMillan, said in a statement they were pleased with Beckloff's ruling.

On Monday, Beckloff granted Katherine Jackson "slim" authority to take control of the Neverland items that had been slated for auction earlier this year. The sale was stopped after Jackson sued.

Katherine Jackson, 79, had sought to take control of the singer's financial assets on Monday, but Beckloff refused. Documents filed then by the family said they believed Jackson died without a valid will.

Records show Katherine Jackson's petition was filed just hours before Branca met with the family and presented them with a copy of the will and the trust that is designated to receive all his assets.

Family spokesman Shawn Sachs did not immediately respond to an e-mail seeking comment.

Details of the trust were not revealed.

Katherine Jackson's attorneys wrote in a court filing that the Neverland memorabilia was being held by a former Jackson representative. Beckloff said Wednesday he thought it was valid to be concerned that some of those items might go missing.

Earlier in the day, lawyers for Branca and McClain presented a five-page, typed will signed by Michael Jackson that named his mother as the guardian of her son's three children and their estates.

Control of Michael Jackson's estate — estimated at more than $500 million — goes to Branca and McClain in the will and managed by the trust.

Jackson's mother and children, ranging in ages from 7 to 12, were named as beneficiaries of a trust.

Another attorney for the executors, Jeryll S. Cohen, told Beckloff that Branca and McClain could negotiate a deal this week to minimize a hit to Jackson's estate from the refund of an estimated $85 million in tickets sold for a series of London concerts.

Michael Jackson had been in the late stages of preparing for those concerts when he unexpectedly died in Los Angeles on Thursday.

___

Associated Press writer Jacob Adelman in Los Angeles contributed to this report.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090701/ap_en_ot/us_michael_jackson_estate

[samanthajane13]

Michael Jackson Will: Mom, Diana Ross, Yes; Debbie Rowe, No
Gina Serpe Gina Serpe – 2 hrs 8 mins ago

Los Angeles (E! Online) – We pretty much knew the basic details of what was going to be in Michael Jackson's will based on the scant details that trickled out yesterday.

One bombshell excepted.

The five-page, seven-year-old document, signed on July 7, 2002, was filed in Los Angeles court this morning. In it, the King of Pop gives custody of his three children to his mother, Katherine, and stipulates that all his estate and assets—which, as previously reported, hovered around $567 million in 2007, with a net worth of $236.6 million—be placed in the private Michael Jackson Family Trust.

As for that surprise…

In the document, Jackson names Diana Ross as his choice for alternate guardian of his kids in the event his now 80-year-old mother was unable to raise them.

"If any of my children are minors at the time of my death, I nominate my mother, Katherine Jackson as guardian of the persons and estates of such minor children.

"If Katherine Jackson fails to survive me, or is unable or unwilling to act as guardian, I nominate Diana Ross as guardian of the persons and estates of such minor children."

It's unclear if the choice is as much news to Ross as the rest of the world or if Michael Jackson had ever approached her about the responsibility.

The former Supreme certainly never let on, as the statement she released in the wake of her former Motown stable mate and Wiz costar's death simply said she was "in prayer for his kids and the family."

Also name-checked in the will is the (recently disputed) mother of his eldest two children, Deborah Rowe, of whom Jackson writes: "I have intentionally omitted to provide for my former wife."

According to the will, Jackson's estate "consists of non-cash, non-liquid assets, including primarily an interest in a catalog of music royalty rights which is currently being administered by Sony-ATV, and interests in various entities."

The document was written up by the late star's longtime lawyer John Branca and veteran music exec and family friend John McClain, both of whom were named as executors of both the will and the Jackson estate.

However, despite what's laid out in the will, during a probate hearing in Los Angeles Superior Court this morning, a judge ruled that Katherine Jackson will at least temporarily remain as special administrator of her son's estate.

Paul Hoffman, the attorney representing Branca and McClain, requested immediate control over the estate, stating that they were worried small items could possibly be removed from the house before the reins were handed over.

Hoffman also expressed concern that Katherine was "exceeding her powers" as administrator of the estate as it pertained to "accessing cash." He also indicated that Branca and McClain wanted to negotiate a deal on the $85 million in ticket sales for Jackson's would-be London comeback concerts before the ticket money is refunded.

A second probate hearing on the matter has been scheduled for Monday, with Judge Mitchell L. Beckloff opting not to rule on the request due to a lack of urgency...and, apparently, desire to avoid a nasty public battle.

"I would like the family to sit down and try to make this work so that we don't have a difficult time in court," the judge said.

Hoffman argued that the wait, which spans just one-and-a-half court days due to the holiday weekend, was unnecessary as he does not believe any other possibly contradictory will may surface.

"None of his financial advisors are aware of another will," he said.

As for the will his advisors are aware of...

"The most important element of Michael's will is his unwavering desire that his mother, Katherine, become the legal guardian for his three children," Branca and McClain said in a joint statement.

"As we work to carry out Michael's instructions to safeguard both the future of his children as well as the remarkable legacy he left us as an artist we ask that all matters involving his estate be handled with the dignity and the respect that Michael and his family deserve."

While the will was originally expected to be filed in court yesterday afternoon, it didn't make it to the courthouse until this morning to give the Jackson family time to review the document.

As for the Jackson estate, it's already under new management.

In the wake of not exactly well-received press conferences from Joe Jackson, the crisis management public relations firm of Sitrick and Company has confirmed to E! News that they are now representing the pop star's estate.

—Reporting by Claudia Rosenbaum and Ashley Fultz

(Originally published on July 1, 2009, at 9:36 a.m. PT)


http://news.yahoo.com/s/eonline/20090701/en_celeb_eo/132212

[samanthajane13]

Fans, news media flock to Jackson's Neverland
By JOHN ROGERS and MICHAEL R. BLOOD, Associated Press Writers John Rogers And Michael R. Blood, Associated Press Writers – 39 mins ago

LOS OLIVOS, Calif. – Adoring fans and dozens of news crews poured into this bucolic town near Michael Jackson's Neverland Ranch on Wednesday expecting to witness the finale to the story of the King of Pop — only to learn their hasty trips were unnecessary.

A large crowd of mourners set up camp outside Neverland's gates with lawn chairs and coolers of bottled water, while hotel rooms surrounding Jackson's estate sold out within minutes of the first — and eventually, erroneous — reports Tuesday that the pop icon might be buried there.

Residents of Los Olivos, who were plagued by reporters following Jackson's 2003 arrest on child molestation charges, once more had their lives upended by streams of TV vans and fans eager to mark the passing of a pop culture giant.

The excitement, however, appeared to be for nothing.

A Jackson family spokesman said in a statement Wednesday that a public memorial was being planned, but it would not be held at Neverland. No further details were provided.

Also Wednesday, a person with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press that Jackson would likely be buried in Los Angeles, although the family could have a private memorial at Neverland after Jackson is buried. The source, who was not authorized to speak for the family and requested anonymity, told the AP that nothing is planned at least through Friday.

One site under consideration for a public memorial is the Los Angeles Coliseum, where the Los Angeles Lakers held their championship celebration last month, a City Hall official not authorized to speak publicly told the AP. The person stressed that talks were "completely preliminary" and a date for the event was not discussed.

Many of Jackson's die-hard fans refused to believe that the family would bury their most famous son without acknowledging the supporters who helped propel him to superstardom.

More than three dozen TV news trucks and several hundred cars parked outside the gates of Neverland and yellow police tape kept gawkers off the property of two private schools across the street.

The narrow, two-lane road lined with cattle ranches and oak-studded hills was nearly impassable to traffic and fans, forcing visitors to park more than a mile away and make the final pilgrimage to Neverland on foot.

In a scene reminiscent of a latter-day Graceland, many mourning fans placed notes and flowers and then departed, but about 100 settled in to wait. By noon, county officials had set up portable toilets and a large trash can, and California Highway Patrol officers were directing traffic. Officers also began placing no parking signs along the road.

Rosie Padron had roped off a spot just outside the gates of the sprawling ranch in hopes of being the first in line if the public was admitted. Padron and two friends were ready to wait overnight or longer and had set up lawn chairs and a photo montage of Jackson's career.

"I can't believe they wouldn't do something for his fans," said Padron, who also videotaped the events. "Michael loved his fans."

Without a Jackson-sanctioned memorial, at least one industrious promotions company hoped to appease fans with a weekend-long event hosted by a nearby, 1,000-acre private ranch. Promoter Releve Unlimited circulated fliers advertising three days of music and video tributes to Jackson, with a $40 parking fee and food and drink available from local vendors and wineries.

"We're going to have a safe environment so people aren't just standing by the side of the road," said Christine Souza, a spokeswoman for the company.

Inside the gates of the theme-park-style Neverland estate, at least two dozen workers could be seen placing fresh sod along the drive to the main house, mowing the lawn and doing maintenance on an ornate, iron-and-gold gate within the ranch.

The fountains were on and sprinklers had been set out to water the grass. Fresh flowers surrounded its train station.

A receptionist at KW Custom Iron, which had a crew at Neverland, said the company was not authorized to comment on what kind of work they were doing there. She declined to give her name.

Meanwhile, at Fess Parker's Wine Country Inn, rooms sold out within 20 minutes of the first media reports that Jackson would be buried — or at least memorialized — on the grounds of Neverland, said Jessica Larsen, the hotel's general manager.

"It was first media, and then after about an hour, the fans were calling in," she said. "There's been quite a few people calling, even internationally, and it's been hard for them" to learn the inn is fully booked.

Residents in Los Olivos, a laid-back town used to wine tourists, took the crush of fans and reporters in stride — especially after weathering a similar onslaught during Jackson's arrest, trial and eventual acquittal. More than 2,200 reporters camped out at the Santa Barbara County courthouse for the proceedings and dozens roamed the winding roads around Los Olivos during that time.

Rebecca Gomez, a local artist, was busy early Wednesday setting up an exhibition of her work that was scheduled to open later that day. She said she'd already noticed that the people arriving for this chapter in the Michael Jackson story seemed different than the ones who jammed the city when he was on trial four years ago.

"Whatever happens now is respectful instead of that other crowd we had the last time," she said.

____

Associated Press Writer Michael R. Blood reported from Los Angeles. AP Writers Gillian Flaccus, Anthony McCartney and Nekesa Mumbi Moody in Los Angeles and AP Photographer Chris Carlson in Los Olivos also contributed to this report.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090701/ap_en_mu/us_michael_jackson_neverland

[old_soul]

Wind, like you I'm glad to see that MJ had a will and that his advisors had enough sense to keep the details private by putting his wealth in trust. On the surface, Katherine doesn't seem as odious as Joe (who by the way is morally and physically repulsive), but whatever JJ did to create the freak that Michael became, he did seemingly with her blessing. Or if she ever spoke out against the abuse, we sure never heard about it. Joe possibly kept her in her place too.

As for Al, if he is in anyway saying that a "man" who promotes sharing his bed with children (and possibly worse) singlehandedly elevated the entire AA population, then he's more FOS than I ever thought.

This could very well shake out to be much like the ANS death; not only will the toxicology be interesting, but the location of the needle marks on Jackson's body. If it's true that some of those injection sites were on his back for instance, it's going to be clear that someone else was administering those drugs.

ETA: I do think the COD will likely be drug OD instead of cardiac arrest in that supposedly when MJ went down he was in respiratory distress but still had a heartbeat.


Oh My dears, I SO agree with you both, and I find it chilling to think those kids will be staying with their grandmother. My take on weak women, or shall I say weak mothers has been written in stone on the 'anything discussion' thread...Zero tolerance and loathing for any mother who stands within the same postal code as a child abuser, mentally or physically and allows that person to hurt their own flesh and blood. To say he probably kept her in line is so true, and even more disgraceful, because wasn't she the one who continued getting pregnant 9 times ~ or did she not have a way OR a say in the whole thing to protect this from happening? That's BS cause we gals know ~ when there's a will, there's a fricken way. It leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

No way in hell he's going to keep himself out of the finances or whatever else that will be going on with those poor children. All that SOB is seeing is $$$$$. At 79 I don't see her suddenly becoming strong enough to stand up for these kids, and the very all important thing about it is they ARE NOT HIS FLESH AND BLOOD, NOT ONE DROP...now, how much you wanna bet if he treated his own like that, he'll treat those kids with as much deference?
They too are JJ's Cash Cows.

ITA also about the tox results....don't know if this nutritionist Ms Lee is on the up and up, but the very same dangerous, off limits drug he begged her for was found in his house, and I daresay with the rest of what was in his body, it caused the respiratory arrest which lead to everything else that followed. This is definately turning into a ANS story all over again, even worse, with the Doctors, the enablers, the entourage, the drugs..... The only thing different is the bio dad want's no involvement in this twisted web Michael Jackson created when he acquired child #1 & 2 with Rowe.

[lorettalockhorn]

Oh My dears, I SO agree with you both, and I find it chilling to think those kids will be staying with their grandmother. My take on weak women, or shall I say weak mothers has been written in stone on the 'anything discussion' thread...Zero tolerance and loathing for any mother who stands within the same postal code as a child abuser, mentally or physically and allows that person to hurt their own flesh and blood. To say he probably kept her in line is so true, and even more disgraceful, because wasn't she the one who continued getting pregnant 9 times ~ or did she not have a way OR a say in the whole thing to protect this from happening? That's BS cause we gals know ~ when there's a will, there's a fricken way. It leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

No way in hell he's going to keep himself out of the finances or whatever else that will be going on with those poor children. All that SOB is seeing is $$$$$. At 79 I don't see her suddenly becoming strong enough to stand up for these kids, and the very all important thing about it is they ARE NOT HIS FLESH AND BLOOD, NOT ONE DROP...now, how much you wanna bet if he treated his own like that, he'll treat those kids with as much deference?
They too are JJ's Cash Cows.

ITA also about the tox results....don't know if this nutritionist Ms Lee is on the up and up, but the very same dangerous, off limits drug he begged her for was found in his house, and I daresay with the rest of what was in his body, it caused the respiratory arrest which lead to everything else that followed. This is definately turning into a ANS story all over again, even worse, with the Doctors, the enablers, the entourage, the drugs..... The only thing different is the bio dad want's no involvement in this twisted web Michael Jackson created when he acquired child #1 & 2 with Rowe.

Hey Gumby woman! :tongue: I guess we can assume that MJ's children will be safe to a large degree in that they will be raised pretty much the same way that they came into the world: by surrogates.

Listening to the nutritionist (is she not governed by HIPPA regs?), you get the distinct impression that MJ knew exactly what the propofol was and how it was used and had probably used it before. Scary. Damned scary.

So what about this woman who has come forward saying that she is the children's mother? Can't remember her name, but apparently she has surfaced before.

[lorettalockhorn]

Michael Jackson death has caused 'fans to committ suicide' as Rev Jesse Jackson urges them not to kill themselves - see video

Michael Jackson's death last Thursday has reportedly sparked a dozen suicides amongst hardcore fans.

So far, it's been reported that a Tunisian fan took her own life, and that Russian Jacko impersonator Pável Talaláyev slit his wrists.

Pável survived, but said after: "I don’t know why the doctors saved me. I want to be with Michael, and I will kill myself anyway."

None of the deaths attributable to Jackson's demise have been confirmed as yet.

But Gary Taylor, head of the star's fan site MJJcommunity.com, said he understood the tragedies had mostly taken place abroad - though he believed one may have been British.

He said: "I know there has been an increase, I now believe the figure is 12. I believe there may have been one Briton who has taken their life."

Civil rights campaigner and friend of the superstar Reverend Jesse Jackson has posted an filmed address on YouTube film urging fans not to "self destruct".

He said: "This is a time when hearts are heavy. There is great pain but great cause to celebrate Michael’s life. We celebrate Michael’s life by creating futures not funerals.

"It made Michael happy saying ‘We Are The World’. Don’t self destruct, don't give up.

"We fall down sometimes, we get back up. That’s the right thing to do. In Michael’s name let’s live together as brothers and sisters and not die apart as fools. Keep your hope alive."

Watch the video below:

http://www.mirror.co.uk/celebs/news/2009/07/01/michael-jackson-death-has-caused-fans-to-committ-suicide-as-rev-jesse-jackson-urges-them-not-to-kill-themselves-see-video-115875-21486663/

Video at link

[samanthajane13]

AP source: DEA joins Jackson death investigation
By MICHELE SALCEDO, Associated Press Writer Michele Salcedo, Associated Press Writer – 1 hr 58 mins ago

WASHINGTON – The Drug Enforcement Administration is joining the investigation into Michael Jackson's death, a law enforcement official said late Wednesday.

The DEA is stepping in at the request of the Los Angeles Police Department, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the ongoing investigation. The federal agency can provide resources and experience in investigating drug abuse, illicit drug manufacturers known as "pill mills" and substances local police may not be familiar with, the official said.

The DEA would likely play a role in looking at Jackson's doctors, the drugs they prescribed and whether the doctors were registered with the DEA to prescribe those substances as federal law requires. Also, investigators are expected to look at the sources of the drugs provided to Jackson or his associates to determine if there was a pattern of trafficking.

Following Jackson's death, allegations emerged that the 50-year-old King of Pop had been consuming painkillers, sedatives and antidepressants. But Cherilyn Lee, a registered nurse whose specialty includes nutritional counseling, said she encountered a man tortured by sleep deprivation and one who expressed opposition to recreational drug use.

Lee told the AP Tuesday she repeatedly rejected Jackson's demands for the drug, Diprivan. Several months ago, Jackson had begun badgering Lee about Diprivan, also known as Propofol, Lee said. It is an intravenous anesthetic drug widely used in operating rooms to induce unconsciousness. It is generally given through an IV needle in the hand.

But the federal law enforcement official said that Propofol is not a controlled substance. "It's not the kind of drug the DEA has seen being abused," the official said.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090702/ap_on_re_us/us_michael_jackson_dea

[samanthajane13]

Federal agents to join probe into Jackson's death
By ANTHONY MCCARTNEY, AP Entertainment Writer Anthony Mccartney, Ap Entertainment Writer – 46 mins ago

LOS ANGELES – The investigation into Michael Jackson's death deepened late Wednesday with word that federal authorities will step in to help local police take a look at Jackson's doctors and his medications.

The Drug Enforcement Administration was asked to help the probe by the Los Angeles Police Department, a law enforcement official in Washington told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the investigation.

Following Jackson's death, allegations emerged that the 50-year-old King of Pop had been consuming painkillers, sedatives and antidepressants.

The federal agency can provide resources and experience in investigating drug abuse, illicit drug manufacturers known as "pill mills" and substances local police may not be familiar with, the official said.

Also Wednesday, a plan to bury Michael Jackson at his sprawling Neverland ranch collapsed, leaving details about his funeral undecided. Another mystery was solved: His newly unveiled will says his mother should raise his children, or failing her, Diana Ross.

The changing funeral circumstances thwarted many Jackson fans who had descended on the estate in the rolling hills near Santa Barbara with the hope of attending a public viewing.

"We're terribly disappointed," said Ida Barron, 44, who arrived with her husband Paul Barron, 56, intending to spend several days in a tent.

"We were going to listen to music and watch Michael Jackson DVDs and party all night long, not just to have fun, but in memory of Michael Jackson," Paul Barron said. "Now we're going to have to just go home."

Jackson's 7-year-old will, filed Wednesday in a Los Angeles court, gives his entire estate to a family trust and names his 79-year-old mother Katherine and his children as beneficiaries. The will also estimates the current value of his estate at more than $500 million.

Katherine Jackson was appointed their guardian, with entertainer Diana Ross, a longtime friend of Michael Jackson, named successor guardian if something happens to his mother. Ross introduced the Jackson 5 on the Ed Sullivan Show in the late 1960s and was instrumental in launching their career.

Meanwhile, Jackson family spokesman Ken Sunshine said a public memorial was in the works for Jackson but wouldn't be held at Neverland. In addition, it appeared more likely that a funeral and burial would take place in Los Angeles, a person familiar with the situation told the AP.

But the person, who is not authorized to speak for the family and requested anonymity, said nothing was planned for Neverland, at least through Friday.

The person said billionaire Thomas Barrack, who owns Neverland in a joint venture with Jackson, sought an exemption to bury the singer at the ranch. But the person says it's a complicated process and it couldn't be done for a burial this week.

"The family is aware a Neverland burial is not possible. They are expected to make decisions about whatever funeral and memorial service" will take place, the person said.

Heavy construction equipment and workers were seen passing through the wrought-iron gates of Neverland on Tuesday. It wasn't clear what they were doing. The property is about 120 miles northwest of Los Angeles.

At once a symbol of Jackson's success and excesses, Neverland — nestled in wine country — became the site of a makeshift memorial after his death.

In Los Angeles, Jackson's lawyer John Branca and family friend John McClain, a music executive, were named in the will as co-executors of his estate. In a statement, they said the most important element of the will was Jackson's steadfast desire that his mother become the legal guardian for his children.

"As we work to carry out Michael's instructions to safeguard both the future of his children as well as the remarkable legacy he left us as an artist, we ask that all matters involving his estate be handled with the dignity and the respect that Michael and his family deserve," the statement said.

The will doesn't name father Joe Jackson to any position of authority in administering the estate.

The executors moved quickly to take control of all of Michael Jackson's property, going to court hours after filing the will to challenge a previous ruling that gave Katherine Jackson control of 2,000 items from Neverland.

Paul Gordon Hoffman, an attorney for the executors, told Superior Court Judge Mitchell Beckloff his clients are the proper people to take over Jackson's financial affairs. He called Katherine Jackson's speed in getting limited power over her son's property "a race to the courthouse that is frankly improper."

Judge Beckloff urged attorneys from both sides to try to reach a compromise.

"I would like the family to sit down and try to make this work so that we don't have a difficult time in court," the judge said. A hearing on the estate was set for Monday.

The will, dated July 7, 2002, gives the entire estate to the Michael Jackson Family Trust. Details of the trust will not be made public.

The documents said Jackson's estate consisted almost entirely of "non-cash, non-liquid assets, including primarily an interest in a catalog of music royalty rights which is currently being administered by Sony ATV, and the interests of various entities."

Jackson owns a 50 percent stake in the massive Sony-ATV Music Publishing Catalog, which includes music by the Beatles, Bob Dylan, Neil Diamond, Lady Gaga and the Jonas Brothers.

Jackson was recently in shaky financial health. In the most detailed account yet of the singer's tangled financial empire, documents obtained by The Associated Press show Jackson claimed to have a net worth of $236.6 million as of March 31, 2007.

Jackson, who died June 25, left behind three children: son Michael Joseph Jr., known as Prince Michael, 12; daughter Paris Michael Katherine, 11; and son Prince Michael II, 7. Debbie Rowe was the mother of the two oldest children; the youngest was born to a surrogate mother, who has never been identified.

Katherine Jackson was granted temporary guardianship Monday. A judge held off on requests to control the children's estates.

Rowe, who was married to Jackson in 1996 and filed for divorce three years later, surrendered her parental rights. An appeals court later found that was done in error, and Rowe and Jackson entered an out-of-court settlement in 2006.

Neither Rowe nor her attorneys have indicated whether she intends to seek custody of the two oldest children.

___

AP writers Michael R. Blood, Noaki Schwartz and Ryan Nakashima in Los Angeles; John Rogers in Los Olivos; and By Michele Salcedo in Washington contributed to this story.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090702/ap_on_en_mu/us_michael_jackson

[samanthajane13]

Jermaine Jackson: `I wish it was me'

NEW YORK – Jermaine Jackson says he would like to see Neverland Ranch as his brother Michael's final resting place.

In an interview broadcast Thursday on NBC's "Today" show, Jermaine Jackson also said he wishes he had died instead of his younger brother, and that Michael was "a gift from Allah."

"He went too soon. I don't know how people are going to take this, but I wish it was me," Jermaine Jackson said.

When asked why he felt that way, Jermaine Jackson said he always felt that he was Michael's "backbone."

"I wanted to be there for him. I was there and he was sort of like molded. Things he couldn't say, I would say them. During the trials, during everything ..."

Jermaine Jackson said that when he rushed to UCLA Medical Center last Thursday, where the 50-year-old pop singer was pronounced dead, "I wanted to see Michael, and I wanted to see my brother, and see him there lifeless and breathless was very emotional for me, but I held myself together, because I know he's very much alive."

"His spirit is, and that was just a shell, but I kissed him on his forehead and I hugged him, and I touched him and I said, `Michael, I'll never leave you. You'll never leave me.'"

On Wednesday, Jackson family spokesman Ken Sunshine said a public memorial was in the works but it wouldn't be held at Neverland.

A person familiar with the situation told the AP that permits for a burial at the sprawling Santa Barbara, Calif., estate could not be arranged in time. The person was not authorized to speak for the family and spoke on condition of anonymity.

Jackson said Neverland was Michael's home.

"He created this. Why wouldn't he be here? I feel his presence."


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090702/ap_en_mu/us_michael_jackson_jermaine

[samanthajane13]

Geller, ex-bodyguard tell of Jackson drug abuse
By SHAWN POGATCHNIK, Associated Press Writer Shawn Pogatchnik, Associated Press Writer – 1 hr 37 mins ago

LONDON – Two of Michael Jackson's former confidantes, medium Uri Geller and ex-bodyguard Matt Fiddes, say they tried in vain to keep the pop superstar from abusing painkillers and other prescription drugs suspected of leading to his death — but others in the singer's circle kept the supplies flowing.

"When Michael asked for something, he got it. This was the great tragedy," Geller said Thursday in a telephone interview with The Associated Press from his suburban London home.

Geller, who said he suffered a terrible falling-out with Jackson several years ago over the issue, said he often had "to shout at Michael, to scream at Michael" as he sought to confiscate the singer's stocks of medication during his travels in England. Geller said he slept on floors or sofas in Jackson's hotel suites in a bid to talk sense into his sometimes-incoherent friend.

"Most of the people around Michael could not say `No!' to him. He desperately needed someone there all the time who could say `No!' and mean it, who could warn him of the dangers ... and tell him the truth," Geller said. "The big problem was that many people wanted to help Michael, to save his life, but we could not be there all the time."

Geller said Jackson relied on medications to help him cope with relentless pressure and media criticism in his later years. "With his sanity buffeted and health wracked by global bullying nonstop, I think it's actually incredible that Michael held up as well as he did," he said.

Fiddes, an English karate instructor who worked as a senior bodyguard during Jackson's travels in Britain for a decade, said the pop idol abused prescription medications, not recreational drugs, and took so much that it could be difficult to wake him for engagements.

"I confiscated packages and Uri did too. I mean, Uri confiscated injection equipment from his room," Fiddes said in an interview broadcast Thursday by Sky News. "And Uri would scream at Michael, you know, intensely, to stop doing this. But we just were getting pushed out."

Fiddes recalled one occasion when Jackson planned to visit London Zoo to see the gorillas, chimpanzees and other primates — but was too spaced out to go anywhere.

The bodyguard said he and Geller "were both shaking him trying to wake him up. It was clear that he had taken something that morning and he was hard to wake. We were extremely concerned ... We couldn't get him in a state that would portray him in a good light."

Fiddes said both he and Geller told others supplying medications to Jackson to stop, but when their efforts "got back to Michael, he would have a screaming fit that we were interfering with his private life. He was in denial."

Several other Jackson confidantes have expressed concern since his death at the volume and mixture of medications he was taking. Self-help guru Deepak Chopra said he rejected Jackson's 2005 appeals for painkillers and that their relationship suffered lasting damage because of it.

Geller said he was fearful that Jackson could not have completed his planned 50-concert run in London, which was due to start July 13. Stress over the imminent comeback, as well as drug misuse, combined to kill his friend, he said.

"Whatever the autopsy will come back with, part of what made Michael Jackson's heart stop involved the stress and the anxiety that, 'My God, in a few days I have to get on a plane and fly to England.' But he could have done it," Geller said.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090702/ap_en_ot/eu_britain_michael_jackson_drugs

[samanthajane13]

Poll: 64 percent say too much Jackson coverage

LOS ANGELES – Nearly two in three Americans say news organizations have given too much coverage to the death of Michael Jackson, but half say the media have struck the right balance between covering the pop star's personal life and musical career.

In a Pew Research Center poll published Wednesday, 64 percent of those surveyed said Jackson's death last week in Los Angeles has received too much coverage, 29 percent said the story received the right amount and 3 percent said the story got too little attention.

Thirty percent said they followed the story very closely, though that number jumped to 80 percent among blacks, according to the independent public opinion research group.

Pew interviewed about 1,000 adults for the poll, which has a margin of error of plus-or-minus 3.5 percentage points.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090702/ap_en_mu/us_michael_jackson_media_poll

[LetsBeConcerned]

[/FONT]

Hey there, LBC :seeya:..Long time no see! I believe you are absolutely correct, and that IS the case..I remember hearing this discussed in the first days after his death. MJ still has his fingers in his beloved Neverland...they (HLN) continues to state His Neverland ranch, and if he no longer had any dibbs, the owners wouln't be doing it out of the 'goodness' of their heart...

According to HLN, they are now stating the memorial which supposedly was open to the public and to be held at Neverland, is off. We can take that with a grain of salt...Flowers, bulldozers and the like have been at work there for the past couple of days to spruce up the place for this public showing...

It was reported that the surrounding areas were not kept up on the 2500 acres, but the house and the grounds surrounding the house were nicely maintained. Why this sudden change? I would think because of the liabilities,It's a windy 2 lane road... (but with JJ involved, it's probably about $$$), LOL, no, I really don't know, just being sarcastic here, (where's my puke icon) he makes me Sick. Since they flip flop like the Anthony's, we might find it's on again at Neverland. No will, huh Mom and Dad?

Info about Michael being at the mortuary and being buried in Hollywood Hills....http://www.comcast.net/video/jacksons-body-remains-in-l/1169671590/fanEntertainment/newest/

I for one never thought they were his flesh and blood, Jeez, look at them, but this Diana Ross being second in line for custody etc really is telling..Not one brother or sister to have his children? If no Katherine, Diana? Hmmmm.

Peace, finally, Michael...let them hash it out.


Hi old soul, :seeya:

Just after posting my last post, (and I'm talking minutes) there was another news report stating that one of the partners that owned neverland was going to ask the Jacksons to be partners... Which one (or all of them) was not mentioned.

It was Michael's siblings that had went to Neverland right after the news to reminisce and grieve. I am sure that the owners aloud this out of the goodness of their heart. As well as being a good social and potentially business move.

I don't think Neverland has ever been open to the public... It was by invitation only and many invites to the underprivileged.

The memorial was set up outside the gates.... I found it interesting that after Michael "lost" the property that its name had been changed, signs removed etc... to remove the stigma....and to make it more sellable... they also tried to reverted it back to a "normal" property... Now the name is back.... and I think that they are now trying to restore it to its original grandeur.

Michael donated to a lot of schools & charities... These people were very happy to take his money; yet covered up his name on the auditoriums, etc... At least now they are talking about taking those covers down.

There were reports that the services would start in Los Angeles and end at neverland... with a motorcade and a distance of 90 miles, which was turning out to be a logistical nightmare~!! So that's out.

Now they say it will be at the Staples center on Tuesday. I wonder which or how many T.V. Stations will carry it live~?

There have not been any set plans as to which cemetery the family will choose. Here is one that has been mentioned...
http://www.seeing-stars.com/buried2/ForestLawnHollywood1.shtml

I think that this cemetery might work better as it is more High Tech...
http://www.hollywoodforever.com/Hollywood/History.aspx

There are even more cemeteries in the area where the famous have been interned. But this is all up to the family and how public or private they want his grave site to be. Even though it is highly doubtful they can ever keep it a secret.

According to California State Law, the children are Michael's simply because they were married.

My family went though a similar problem many decades ago when my great uncle and his wife separated for about 6 months. They tried to make a second go of it even though she was pregnant with another man's child. I am still to this day offended when people will give a strange look when I introduce my cousin. As he does not look like the rest of us. His mother died when he was 6 and his biological father literally crushed his skull when he was only 2. He was lucky to survive. My great grandparents raised him to be a fine man. We were NEVER aloud to discuss his nationality. Nor can we say he is adopted. He is our family. Just ask Great Grandma~!!! My family... Or the state for that matter.

He in recent years did a blood test that tells where his ancestors were from. He asked me what I think it said~? My answer was, "I'm not getting my mouth washed out with soap~!!" I did not know and will still respect Great Grandma's family values.

Great Grandma felt that everyone was in need of unconditional love from a family. Biologically related or not and the state agreed.


On another side note... The use of initials are driving me nuts~!!! When you (or anyone else ) use JJ.... do you mean Joe Jackson, Jesse Jackson or Janet Jackson...... there are so many JJ in this story or maybe JJ from Good Times ~? LOL~!!! Sorry I just had to throw that one in. :D

My prayers are with the family. :rose:

[wind149]

Oh yes, kids, now we have people coming out of the woodwork advising of his problems with drugs and I ask them. How come NOW you come forward? Because they want MONEY FOR THEIR STORY, GREEDY *******S!!!! This is gonna go on for months and months and we all know how the tox screens are going to play out, that this drug, the one you can't obtain on the streets, is the official COD. And to hear that he had injection sites all over his body tells me, someone was doping him to the eye balls and it is probably the DR. Feelgood who left the house so fast after MJ was pronounced DOA at the hospital, that he forgot to take his own car??? HUH??? And got a lawyer within seconds?? And today, it was announced that the DEA is now involved and they are gonna find a lot I fear, they are not going to find bona fide scripts, an RX will probably be in deep s*it too. I am betting that if there were any ampules of that drug as it is only given by IV, that the good doc there tossed them in the woods as his ass was flying down the driveway.

He is for sure on my radar screen and I am betting that the DEA is already hip to the doc because of that drug as only doctors and pharmacists can obtain that drug, if you could get it on the streets there would be a lot of dead junkies on every street corner. And I am feeling more for the kids than ever. NOW WOMB DONOR announced she is going to seek custody, this coming from a broad who told these precious children not to call her MOMMY???? BUT NOW WITH MONEY AT STAKE, this skank decides she too, wants a piece of the action and she does have one card to play, she is the bio mom and Mizz Jackson is not bio kin to them at all and this is gonna get ugly, I predict these poor kids will end up with the same issues a lot of celebrity kids seem to have, and sadly, some of them have parents who only think of them as dollar bills too, case in point, Lindsay Lohan, her mother is a skank and her father is a total loser and they live through her, neither one of them has a real job, they just sleaze off her. I think these poor kids are going to be confused, they have no clue whose other bloodline courses through them, and for that skank Debbie to now want to be a mama is just plain disgusting. "Hey kids, don't call me momma because I only gave birth to you because your father paid me to" to "Oh I just love you guys to death, you can now call me momma and you can come live with me"???? Too bad decent folks sitting on a adoption list, could not have a chance to take these poor kids????

[lorettalockhorn]

Wind, who knows how pristine Jackson's place was, but my hope is that the DEA will be able to find vials/ampules or something that will include a lot number for the Diprovan and that will lead them to exactly where the drugs came from. Wonder if the prescription drugs will even be traceable. :shrug:

[old_soul]

Via Nancy G, Debbie Rowe is now saying: I WANT MY CHILDREN. She is also seeking a restraining order to keep JJ (i hate saying his name..Joe Jackson http://i40.tinypic.com/2ishzzc.gif) from getting near those kids...how about that?!

Since fighting in 2006 for rights to the children, many feel she has a leg up, and the court of appeals did grant her the right to be involved with those kids. Now, did she do that? Discounting the interview in 2003 where she wanted no involvement, which was the deal she made for Michael. Now that JJ is involved, and you have to believe that Michael told her tales that no one probably knew re JJ and his abuse, I don't blame her for getting in there now..IF that is WHY she's seeking that restraining order and wants those kids back. I honestly believe if she had any misgivings about the deal with Michael, there was nothing she could do about it after the fact. Everyone knows, no matter how, WHAT MICHAEL WANTS, MICHAEL GETS. I cannot image what he told her after the sex abuse trial when she went back to court and did what she did. Maybe he threatened her. The deal was that those 2 children WERE FOR MICHAEL. Period.

Now, I can think what I may, but let me remind you all of the story when Paris was born... No sooner did that baby come out of Debbie, that Michael took her, wrapped her in a blanket, and literally ran to Neverland with her. Still had blood and everything else babies have on them...within minutes of her birth.. He was crazed about these kids. My big question is WHY Michael Jackson did not use his own sperm, and use in vitro with her?

Who has seen those rehearsal videos? The man looks like a fricken skeleton, ok. He's barely dancing or moving around. He does not sound bad, but his face looks gaunt, definately. Worse than usual. No one noticed this?????

Shout out to LBC...LOL, sorry,I should have clarified I meant The ABUSING, SOB FATHER, JOE JACKSON. Perhaps I will just post 'SOB JJ' so ya all know who I mean...:D

Come to Michael's memorial...pay $25, and buy a T shirt while you're there!:rolleyes::(

[wind149]

Yeah, I heard that somebody probably that SOB wants to charge people ADMISSION to the memorial, ain't that disgusting??? The man ain't even in the ground yet and somebody is thinking about profiting from his death?? I saw outside earlier and call it a coincidence, but there was a vulture circling over my pond looking for fish and I looked it and said, damm that is what is happening in CA right now, they are coming from every angle!!! And old soul, I agree that she is the bio mom, and that she had given up her rights and just handed the kids over the minute they were born, but aren't you at least a little suspect, that NOW that MJ is dead she is feeling all maternal?? Horse Pucky, she sees a way to grab that dough and get custody of said kids and because with custody comes a big fat check for support and she will be set for life. This from a woman who mind you, on an TV interview said she told the kids not to call her mommy??? And that she just had the kids for him because she knew he would be a good daddy??? And she got some dough the minute she calved! As for him not using his own sperm has always been a mystery to me, why if you are one the richest dudes on the planet would not want your own bio kids???? Somebody to carry on the legacy and the name???? I ponder whether or not the real donor will be outed and if so, would he try to grab that dough too?? And Blanket's parentage is also a mystery and I ponder again will they come forward too? This is gonna get ugly, he ain't even in the ground yet and already people are coming forward for their 15 minutes of shame, they all want to get paid to just tell Anderson or Nancy that they knew MJ was using drugs again???? And let's not forget his scumbucket father, what a POS!!! And YOU KNOW he is gonna contest that will or find a way to grab that dough off his dead son and as much as I despised MJ for molesting those kids, I am feeling more sorry for him in death than I did in life because of all these vultures and losers and God forbid kin!!! And I got my eye on Dr. Feelgood and I am betting so does the DEA why else would they get involved?? They didn't with Anna Nicole, but at least the scum that exploited her are gonna get theirs and I hope Stern becomes somebody's b*tch while in prison, he liked living off and through rich vulnerable women, think about him living with Bubba and a big grin across my face!!!

[samanthajane13]

Lawyer: Rowe deciding whether to seek custody
By ANTHONY MCCARTNEY, AP Entertainment Writer Anthony Mccartney, Ap Entertainment Writer – 27 mins ago

LOS ANGELES – Deborah Rowe, the ex-wife of Michael Jackson and the mother of two of his children, has not reached a final decision on whether to seek custody of the children, a lawyer said Thursday.

Attorney Eric M. George made the disclosure on a telephone conference call but declined to take questions.

"The truth is that Debbie has not reach a final decision concerning the pending custody proceedings," he said. "When Debbie does take a position in the public forum of the court, those positions will of course be conveyed to all interested persons."

Earlier in the day, Superior Court Judge Mitchell Beckloff rescheduled a guardianship hearing for July 13 at the request of attorneys for Rowe and for Katherine Jackson, the singer's mother, who has temporary guardianship of her son's three children.

The legal documents filed in connection with the request were not accompanied by any petition for custody by Rowe.

Earlier, KNBC in Los Angeles reported that Rowe intends to seek custody of Jackson's two oldest children and will seek a restraining order to keep Jackson's father Joe away from the children.

Rowe is the mother of Jackson's two oldest children, son Michael Joseph Jr., known as Prince Michael, 12; daughter Paris Michael Katherine, 11.

The mother of the singer's youngest child, son Prince Michael II, 7, has never been revealed.

Another hearing will proceed as planned Monday on who will take temporary control of Jackson's estate.

Jackson's memorial service will be held Tuesday at Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles — if that's what his mother wants.

Randy Phillips, chief executive for AEG Live, which owns Staples and was Jackson's promoter, said he met Thursday with Jackson's brother Randy.

Phillips was hopeful Katherine Jackson would make her decision later in the day. AEG already has been discussing logistics with city officials, he said.

A Jackson memorial would attract tens of thousands. AEG planned to issue tickets to Staples and provide a simulcast on big screens outside the arena, Phillips said.

Entry to Staples would be free, but Phillips was not sure yet how tickets would be distributed.

The discussions were held as the federal Drug Enforcement Administration joined the investigation into Jackson's death, and Jermaine Jackson said he would be "hurt" if toxicology reports showed his younger brother abused prescription drugs.

"In this business, the pressures and things that you go through, you never know what one turns to," Jermaine Jackson said in an interview on NBC's "Today" show.

The circumstances surrounding Jackson's death last week have become a federal issue, with the DEA asked to help police take a look at the pop star's doctors and possible drug use. Allegations have emerged that the 50-year-old entertainer had been consuming painkillers, sedatives and antidepressants.

Asked if he would be shocked or surprised if Michael's drug use was proven, Jermaine Jackson said, "I would be hurt." He said he had heard about prescription drug use in the 1980s when his brother was hurt in an accident filming a commercial but did not know if drug use was a possibility more recently.

"I don't know about these things, because I hate anything with drugs," he said, adding that it hurts the family for people to say things about drug use "because we don't know."

The Los Angeles Police Department asked the DEA to help in the probe, a law enforcement official in Washington told the AP on condition of anonymity because of the investigation's sensitivity.

On the legal front, a person familiar with the details of the Michael Jackson Family Trust said it would be shared between his mother, who gets 40 percent, his three children, who get 40 percent, and charities for children, which would receive 20 percent. The charities will be determined later by the trust.

The person, who was not authorized to speak publicly and requested anonymity, said there were no competing wills.

Since Jackson's death, Sony Music has been deluged with requests for record rereleases, while fans have also been clamoring for copies of "Moon Walk," Jackson's 1988 autobiography.

New copies of the out-of-print book were being offered on Amazon.com for as much as $2,100 for a signed copy.

Jackson's 7-year-old will was filed in a Los Angeles court, giving his entire estate to the trust and naming his 79-year-old mother and his three children as beneficiaries. The will also estimates the value of his estate at more than $500 million.

The will doesn't name father Joe Jackson to any position of authority in administering the estate. Also shut out is Rowe.

Jackson owned a 50 percent stake in the massive Sony-ATV Music Publishing Catalog, which includes music by the Beatles, Bob Dylan, Neil Diamond, Lady Gaga and the Jonas Brothers.

___

AP writers Michael R. Blood, Noaki Schwartz and Ryan Nakashima in Los Angeles; John Rogers in Los Olivos; Michele Salcedo in Washington; Shawn Pogatchnik in London; and AP Entertainment Writer Erin Carlson in New York contributed to this story.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090702/ap_en_ce/us_michael_jackson

[samanthajane13]

Don't Count Out Debbie Rowe: "I Want My Children"
Josh Grossberg Josh Grossberg – Thu Jul 2, 6:29 pm ET

Los Angeles (E! Online) – UPDATE: A judge has postponed next week's custody hearing until July 13 at the request of Rowe's attorney, according to the Los Angeles Superior Court public information officer. Matters pertaining to Jackson's estate will still be addressed at the originally scheduled hearing on July 6.

At a press conference this afternoon, attorney Eric George said that Rowe "has not reached a final decision on pending custody," and she has chosen to keep silent "out of respect for Michael's children."

It would be a "distortion of the truth" to say she is going after custody, George said, adding that, when his client makes a decision, the media will be notified.

Debbie Rowe may have beat it from her kids' lives—and been blatantly dissed in her ex's will—but she's apparently not going away quietly when it comes to the two children she had with Michael Jackson.

Rowe is dispatching her lawyer to attend Monday's custody hearing to make a legal play for custody of 12-year-old Prince Michael and 11-year-old Paris. Per Michael's wishes, the two children have been in the care of Michael's mother, Katherine Jackson, since his untimely death last week.

"They are my flesh and blood. I'm going after my children," Rowe told KNBC, adding that she and Jackson "had an agreement" but "he didn't keep his end."

The former missus also said she'd be open to raising Jackson's third child, 7-year-old Blanket, as well. And she plans to seek a restraining order against the King of Pop's father, Joe Jackson, to keep him away from the children.

Contrary to tabloid reports that Prince and Paris were conceived via donor egg and sperm outside the womb, her attorney has adamantly insisted Rowe is the biological mother of Prince and Paris. Blanket's biological mother has never been revealed.

The former dermatologist's nurse was excluded from Jackson's estate, with the will stipulating that Katherine should raise his spawn. And should the 79-year-old family matriarch be unwilling or unable to do so, then old friend Diana Ross would be granted custody. In fact, Jackson only name-checked Rowe by expressly stating she would not be getting any money or property from his estate.

Of course, the will was written in 2002, two years after she received a multimillion-dollar divorce payout in which she agreed to relinquish all parental rights.

But after the Moonwalker was rung up on child-molestation charges in 2003, Rowe sought to reinstate visitation rights with their two children. She and Jackson reached an amicable resolution in 2006, though details of the arrangement remain murky.

While it's unclear whether Rowe will seek guardianship or visitation rights, there is a slight chance the Jackson children could be split up.

"Courts do split up kids—not infrequently—in blended families when one parent dies," says Scott Altman, associate dean at the University of Southern California's law school.

But he tells E! News, "It wouldn't be shocking if the court wanted to keep these kids together."

Monday's family court session will attempt to sort all these issues out. Until then, Katherine maintains temporary custody of all three children.

—Additional reporting by Lindsay Miller


http://news.yahoo.com/s/eonline/20090702/en_top_eo/132434

[samanthajane13]

Jackson memorial set for Tuesday in Los Angeles
By ANTHONY MCCARTNEY, AP Entertainment Writer Anthony Mccartney, Ap Entertainment Writer – Fri Jul 3, 5:07 am ET

LOS ANGELES – The question of when and where a public memorial service will be held for Michael Jackson has finally been answered. But how city officials will handle the likelihood of a massive crowd remains to be settled.

A public memorial for the late singer has been set for 10 a.m. Tuesday at the Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles, according to a press release from the office of the Jackson family's publicist. A press conference to announce further details was planned for Friday.

Randy Phillips, chief executive of AEG Live, which owns the Staples Center and was Jackson's promoter, said tickets would be free. He was not sure how they would be distributed.

Los Angeles City Councilman Dennis Zine said plans for the memorial are clearly moving forward, but he wished there had been more time to work out the logistics for such a huge event.

"If you can imagine 100,000 people show up and you have 20,000 capacity (at the Staples Center), there is not sufficient room. Now you have a crowd-control problem," he said. With the July Fourth holiday weekend "it's the worst time ... to work something out." He also said he's concerned about the cost of police overtime for the cash-strapped city.

Jackson's brother Jermaine told Larry King during Thursday's broadcast of CNN's "Larry King Live," that there will be a private ceremony for family and some special guests before the public memorial, according to show transcripts.

He added the family wants to have other memorials around the United States.

Meanwhile, the future of Michael Jackson's children was thrown into question Thursday when his ex-wife emerged and won a delay in a custody hearing while she decides whether she wants to raise her two offspring.

It was the first legal move from Deborah Rowe since the entertainer's death. Jackson's will asks for his mother, Katherine, to get permanent custody of all three of his children.

Rowe, who met Jackson as a receptionist in the office of his dermatologist, has characterized their relationship as strictly for the purpose of birthing Jackson children. She is the mother of his two oldest children and received $8.5 million in their divorce, according to court records. His youngest child was conceived with a surrogate.

She has spent very little time with her son Michael Joseph Jr., known as Prince Michael, 12; and daughter Paris Michael Katherine, 11. But Rowe also has opposed the idea of Katherine Jackson getting custody of her children when it came up in the past.

Rowe's attorney, Eric M. George, said his client had not decided whether to seek custody.

A guardianship hearing was set for July 13 at the request of attorneys for Rowe and for Katherine Jackson, 79, who has temporary guardianship of her son's children.

The identity of the surrogate mother of the singer's youngest child, 7-year-old son Prince Michael II, has never been revealed.

In other developments, there will be another court hearing on Monday to deal with who will take temporary control of Jackson's estate. He left all his assets to the Michael Jackson Family Trust.

A person familiar with the details of the trust said it would be shared between his mother, who gets 40 percent, his three children, who together get 40 percent, and charities for children, which would receive 20 percent. The charities will be determined later by the trust.

The person was not authorized to speak publicly and requested anonymity.

Authorities also were investigating allegations that the 50-year-old Jackson had been consuming painkillers, sedatives and antidepressants.

The federal Drug Enforcement Administration and California Attorney General Jerry Brown both were helping Los Angeles police investigate the possible involvement of prescription drugs in Jackson's death.

___

Associated Press writers Michael R. Blood and Beth Harris in Los Angeles and Michele Salcedo in Washington contributed to this story.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090703/ap_en_mu/us_michael_jackson

[samanthajane13]

Jackson Memorial Set for Staples Center, Funeral Plans Falling Into Place
Natalie Finn, Ken Baker and Whitney English Natalie Finn, Ken Baker And Whitney English – Thu Jul 2, 10:51 pm ET

Los Angeles (E! Online) – UPDATE: E! News has learned exclusively that AEG Live will make next Tuesday's memorial service for Michael Jackson free to the public.

"There will not be a charge for tickets," says an event organizer.

More details will be released on Friday morning at 10 a.m. during a press conference being held outside of Staples Center.

__________________________________________________ ___

The pieces are finally falling into place as to how Michael Jackson will at last be laid to rest—and then memorialized accordingly.

Arrangements are still being made, but Jackson's body will ultimately be interred at Forest Lawn cemetery in the Hollywood Hills, and an open-to-the-masses tribute to the King of Pop will take place at Staples Center on Tuesday at 10 a.m.

"Details are still to be finalized when I meet with the Jackson family this afternoon," AEG Live CEO Randy Phillips told L.A.'s KNBC-TV. "Everything is in preliminary stages except the place and time."

The L.A. Police Department will be ready, having already started setting up security blockades outside Staples in Chick Hearn Court.

Arrivals will begin around 8 a.m., Phillips said. Huge-screen TVs will be set up elsewhere in the L.A. Live complex as well, to give any overflow crowd a glimpse of what's inside.

But while details of what the Jacksons have in mind for the memorial event remain murky, at least the death certificate can finally exchange hands.

The L.A. County Coroner's Office told E! News today that a death certificate—minus the final cause of death, which is pending—has been issued for the 50-year-old artist, but it could not be released until the family had decided on funeral arrangements.

"Until [the family] makes specific plans for funeral arrangements, that might be what's holding it up," spokesman Craig Harvey said.

As for the official cause of death, Harvey says that it will say "deferred" on Jackson's certificate right now.

"That basically means that the coroner is still doing its investigation and hasn't issued a final cause yet. When we do issue the final cause, we'll issue an amendment and that will indicate the final cause of death."

He says that the coroner's office is continuing to work with the LAPD in its ongoing investigation into Jackson's death, as well as continuing to probe the results of its autopsy.

"We still have some additional tests—neuropathology and pulmonary, tissue studies on the brain tissue and lung tissue," Harvey said.

But once the funeral arrangements are finalized, the death certificate is ready to roll, regardless.

Sources tell E! News that Jackson's body was transported directly from the coroner's office to Forest Lawn on Friday following the autopsy, but that his remains may have been moved yet again pending burial (or cremation, possibly) to keep them safe and secure until the family has made its final decisions.

Details have remained up in the air while the family (and various interested parties) crossed Neverland ranch off the list and wavered between a few large venues in L.A. for the "official" memorial.

(Originally published July 2, 2009 at 2:01 p.m. PT)


http://news.yahoo.com/s/eonline/20090703/en_top_eo/132523

[samanthajane13]

Los Angeles police under scrutiny in Jackson death
By LINDA DEUTSCH and THOMAS WATKINS, Associated Press Writers Linda Deutsch And Thomas Watkins, Associated Press Writers – Fri Jul 3, 12:38 am ET

LOS ANGELES – The investigation of Michael Jackson's death is widening as questions intensify about the drugs he took, the doctors who provided them and the actions of police.

Why didn't police seal the mansion where he had been living? Why were moving vans seen at the home, and were any items removed before police wrapped up their search? Why didn't they get immediate search warrants? Why did they tow away a doctor's car right after the death but not declare the home a crime scene?

Los Angeles police say proper procedures were followed based on the circumstances officers encountered when they were called to the home at 12:21 p.m. on June 25. A doctor was attending to Jackson and stayed with him when he was placed in an ambulance at 1:07 p.m. There was no sign of foul play.

Others say police should have assumed it was possible a crime occurred and taken precautions to ensure the scene was not disrupted so evidence wasn't lost or tainted.

"If I was the chief detective on the case, I would have said, 'We don't know what's going on. We should seal the scene,'" said defense attorney Harland Braun, who has represented celebrities including Robert Blake, Roseanne and Gary Busey. "You always have to think of the worst-case scenario and you have to think fast. I would have sealed the scene just because it was Michael Jackson."

Whether the Jackson probe turns into a criminal investigation hinges on what evidence emerges involving the drugs. Charges could be brought if authorities determine Jackson had been overly prescribed medications, if he had been given drugs inappropriate for his medical needs, or if doctors knowingly prescribed Jackson medications under an assumed name.

It's still not known what caused Jackson's death at age 50. The pop star went into cardiac arrest in his bedroom and his personal physician, Dr. Conrad Murray, performed CPR while an ambulance was called, according to Murray's lawyers. Murray has spoken to police and authorities say he is not a suspect, though his actions have come under scrutiny because his own lawyers acknowledge it may have taken up to a half-hour for an ambulance to be summoned.

An autopsy was conducted but results are not expected for several weeks. The Jackson family had a second autopsy performed and those results also are pending.

On Wednesday, The Associated Press learned Los Angeles police asked the Drug Enforcement Administration to assist in the investigation.

DEA agents participated in the investigation of the 2007 overdose death of Anna Nicole Smith at a Florida hotel. California Attorney General Jerry Brown investigated her former boyfriend and two of her doctors.

Brown handed the investigation over to the Los Angeles district attorney's office, which filed charges of conspiring to provide Smith with prescription drugs.

Brown said the suspects broke the law because Smith was a "known addict." The former boyfriend and doctors denied the charges.

The DEA also probed whether painkillers found in actor Heath Ledger's system after his death last year were obtained illegally. Federal prosecutors did not charge anyone.

Jean Rosenbluth, a University of Southern California law professor, said the agency's involvement in the Jackson case suggests authorities are looking into whether drugs came from out of state. Murray lives in Las Vegas and is licensed to practice in Texas, Nevada and California.

Federal drug regulations include controls over whether and how frequently a doctor can write prescriptions over the phone, and DEA agents could be looking to see if these rules were broken, Rosenbluth said.

"You can't just get on the phone and continue to prescribe something for someone without having seen them for a long period of time," she said.

Jackson had a well-known history of using prescription medications, especially painkillers. Following his death, Cherilyn Lee, a registered nurse who had worked for Jackson, told the AP she repeatedly rejected his demands for the drug Diprivan, also known as Propofol. It's a potent anesthetic used in operating rooms and it would be highly unusual to have it in a private home.

Uri Geller, a former Jackson confidant, said he tried to keep Jackson from abusing painkillers and other prescription drugs, but others in the singer's circle kept him supplied.

"When Michael asked for something, he got it," Geller said in a telephone interview from his suburban London home.

Jackson had multiple doctors and many others like Geller who came in and out of his life. Which people are being interviewed by police is unclear because the LAPD has said virtually nothing about the probe.

"I am not going to make any comments on the investigation," Commander Patrick Gannon, the designated police spokesman on the Jackson case, said by e-mail Thursday.

Any evidence would be turned over to the district attorney's office, which has final say on criminal charges.

One of the key questions is why it took four days for police to issue a search warrant and remove medications from Jackson's home.

Although the home wasn't declared a crime scene, police did tow Murray's car the evening of the death to look for potential evidence.

Vernon J. Geberth, former commanding officer of the Bronx Homicide Task force in New York, said police should have known they were dealing with an extraordinary situation.

"If it's a high-profile person, you have to do more than you would do ordinarily," he said.

Still, Geberth, who now acts as a private forensic consultant, said he believes the LAPD acted appropriately.

"Having a doctor present altered the equation. It was not a homicide scene. It was an emergency medical scene," he said.

Police spokesman Lt. John Romero declined to comment when asked if the LAPD was reviewing its handling of the investigation.

Rosenbluth said if the case ends up as a criminal prosecution, any defense attorney would seize on the LAPD's failure to immediately seal Jackson's home.

"If you can get even one juror think, I don't know, maybe somebody fiddled with the medicine before the police came in and collected it, that's reasonable doubt," she said. "All that the defense attorney needs is one juror."


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090703/ap_en_mu/us_michael_jackson_investigation

[samanthajane13]

Jackson's Former Photographer: Michael a Good Dad with a Drug Problem
Ashley Fultz and Megan Masters Ashley Fultz And Megan Masters – Thu Jul 2, 9:14 pm ET

Los Angeles (E! Online) – The past week has been filled with more Michael Jackson speculation than we even thought possible...and there's no end in sight.

Jackson's former personal photographer, Ian Barkley, spoke exclusively to E! News about the King of Pop's parenting, his apparent problems and various things he witnessed during his years spent traveling the world with the artist.

Barkley was hired in 2002 to document Jackson in all of his endeavors. "Michael liked having me around," says the photographer.

Throughout his years with the star, Barkley grew to know Jackson and his family intimately, gaining personal insight to a life shrouded in privacy. The ex-employee paints a portrait of Jackson as a doting father, saying that he and his three children, Prince Michael, 12, Paris, 11, and Blanket, 7, had a "really good" relationship.

"His kids totally love their dad and he was extremely protective over them," says Barkley. "Even when we were just around his staff, he was protective."

Barkley explains Jackson's no-holds-barred attitude when it came to his children, in which the performer would go to great lengths to insure their welfare, especially while on the road: "We would baby-proof everywhere, like really expensive suites."

He continues: "They would tape up every corner with cardboard and make sure the kids couldn't hurt themselves and they were very strict on what the kids would eat to make sure they didn't have allergies."

Jackson's overly protective nature seemed natural to Barkley, who says, "To some it was odd, but under the circumstances it was understandable."

When asked if he believed the star seemed mentally sound, Barkley explains that the answer always coincided with whether or not Jackson was using drugs.

"There were two sides to him. When he wasn't dosed up on pills, he was extremely mentally sound, very business-like, very smart, but when he was on drugs, he would do some really odd things," claims Barkley.

"It was basically flipping a coin and depending on what day it was, was how he was," says the photog. "Some days Michael would show up to an event and we could tell because he had this giggly laughing face on. I am not sure what kind of meds, but I know there were mixtures."

Barkley goes on to state that he wholeheartedly believes that the icon was a drug addict. Barkley tells E! News that, during his three-year employment with Jackson, "50 percent of the time he was on drugs. He had doctor after doctor working with him and had people score him prescription drugs that he knew he didn't have prescriptions for. He definitely had a problem."

But recent claims of Jackson self-medicating due to immense pain comes as a surprise to Barkley. "He would dance around and didn't flinch. I think he just never got off of the drug from the many surgeries he had," the photog said.

The alleged addiction did not go unnoticed by those around him, however. Those who worked closely with the star would constantly attempt to intervene. "(Michael) would just get going and laughing and talking about other stuff and you just knew he was on drugs," Barkley says.

"He was off in his own little world. Managers tried to keep stuff away from him because there was a lot of business to be done, like when he was supposed to be at an event but was in bed sleeping ten minutes before he was supposed to be there, and they would get on his case, but as soon as you tell him no, he starts pushing you out."

There was at least one instance of Jackson recognizing that he might have a problem, as Barkley claims that during his run with the singer, a "witch doctor was around to get Michael off the drugs, to go through a detox thing, but that it didn't work.

When child molestation charges were brought against Jackson, Barkley was sort of phased out of his job. "I stopped working with him when I was basically pushed out around the time when the trial started," says Barkley. "His people started not letting me go to events. It became a joke and I just had enough."

As the Jackson family's custody battle starts to heat up and we wait to see where his children will end up, Barkley insists: "He was overall a good dad."


http://news.yahoo.com/s/eonline/20090703/en_top_eo/132592

[samanthajane13]

LA braces for horde of Michael Jackson mourners
By ANTHONY McCARTNEY, AP Entertainment Writer Anthony Mccartney, Ap Entertainment Writer – 37 mins ago

LOS ANGELES – City officials are scrambling over the holiday weekend to try to figure out how to accommodate a public memorial service for Michael Jackson at a venue that can hold no more than 20,000 people.

The event has been set for 10 a.m. Tuesday at the downtown Staples Center, according to a statement from the Jackson family's publicist. The service is expected to draw tens of thousands of spectators wanting to pay their respects to the King of Pop, who died June 25. How city officials will handle the massive crowd remains to be settled.

Randy Phillips, chief executive of AEG Live, which owns the Staples Center and was Jackson's promoter, said tickets would be free. He was not sure how they would be distributed. A press conference to announce further details was planned for Friday.

Los Angeles City Councilman Dennis Zine said plans for the memorial are clearly moving forward, but he wished there had been more time to work out the logistics.

"If you can imagine 100,000 people show up and you have 20,000 capacity, there is not sufficient room. Now you have a crowd-control problem," he said. With the July Fourth holiday weekend "it's the worst time ... to work something out." He also said he's concerned about the cost of police overtime for the cash-strapped city.

Jackson's brother Jermaine told CNN's Larry King that there will be a private ceremony for family and some special guests before the public memorial. He added the family wants to have other memorials around the United States.

Meanwhile, the future of Michael Jackson's children was thrown into question Thursday when his ex-wife emerged and won a delay in a custody hearing while she decides whether she wants to raise her two offspring.

It was the first legal move from Deborah Rowe since the entertainer's death. Jackson's will asks for his 79-year-old mother, Katherine, to get permanent custody of his three.

Rowe, who met Jackson as a receptionist in the office of his dermatologist, has characterized their relationship as strictly for the purpose of giving birth to Jackson's children. She is the mother of his two oldest children and received $8.5 million in their divorce, according to court records. His youngest child, 7-year-old Prince Michael II, was conceived with an unidentified surrogate.

Rowe has spent little time with her son Michael Joseph Jr., known as Prince Michael, 12; and daughter Paris Michael Katherine, 11. But Rowe also has opposed the idea of Katherine Jackson getting custody of her children when it came up in the past.

Rowe's attorney, Eric M. George, said his client had not decided whether to seek custody.

A guardianship hearing was set for July 13 at the request of attorneys for Rowe and for Katherine Jackson, who has temporary guardianship of her son's children.

In other developments:

• A 30-second snippet of Jackson rehearsing for a series of comeback concerts in London two days before his death was released Thursday. The rehearsal footage, shot in high definition, includes Jackson performing his hits "Thriller" and "Beat It." His voice is strong and he appears in perfect health. Other footage shows production meetings and auditions.

• A court hearing was scheduled for Monday to deal with who will take temporary control of Jackson's estate. He left all his assets to the Michael Jackson Family Trust. A person familiar with the details of the trust said it would be shared between his mother, who gets 40 percent, his three children, who together get 40 percent, and charities for children, which would receive 20 percent. The charities will be determined later by the trust. The person was not authorized to speak publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.

• Authorities were investigating allegations that the 50-year-old Jackson had been consuming painkillers, sedatives and antidepressants. The federal Drug Enforcement Administration and California Attorney General Jerry Brown both were helping Los Angeles police investigate the possible involvement of prescription drugs in Jackson's death.

___

Associated Press writers Michael R. Blood and Beth Harris in Los Angeles and Michele Salcedo in Washington contributed to this story.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090703/ap_en_mu/us_michael_jackson

[samanthajane13]

Jackson Doc On the Move Again as Investigation Continues With State Attorney, DEA's Help
Natalie Finn Natalie Finn – Thu Jul 2, 9:02 pm ET

Los Angeles (E! Online) – Federal agents and state officials are onboard as the investigation into Michael Jackson's sudden death continues.

Los Angeles Police on Thursday confirmed reports that the Drug Enforcement Administration has joined the investigation, with a LAPD spokeswoman telling E! News that there's nothing she could divulge about the collaboration at this point.

The L.A. County Coroner's Office confiscated a number of controlled substances from Jackson's rented Holmby Hills mansion Monday as part of the ongoing LAPD case. The DEA's diversion control program, which also assisted in various investigations related to the death of Anna Nicole Smith, regulates controlled pharmaceuticals.

California Attorney General Jerry Brown tells the L.A. Times that the Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement has also come onboard and will be utilizing the state's Controlled Sub-utilization and Evaluation System (CURES) to examine the prescription-drug aspect of the case.

The database, also used in the Smith case, holds the name of every doctor authorized to prescripe medication in the state, as well as a record of all prescriptions.

"If it's about doctors, drugs and patients or anything that touches that, it's in our database," Brown said. "We've been in touch with the LAPD and I've talked to Chief [William J.] Bratton."

As part of the probe, the LAPD has been interviewing doctors in connection with the various meds found in Jackson's possession.

Also interviewed was Dr. Conrad Murray, who apparently isn't one for sitting still for too long.

The privately hired cardiologist, who discovered Jackson unconscious last week and aided in paramedics' attempts to revive the singer, appears to no longer be staying at his L.A. condo, a couple days after law-enforcement activity was detected outside.

Murray's BMW, which was impounded as evidence last Thursday following Jackson's death and returned to him Tuesday, is still parked outside and has not been driven.

Miranda Sevcik, spokeswoman for Murray's attorneys, tells E! News she couldn't speak to Murray's whereabouts.

Attorney Matt Alford told us on Monday that Murray, who was interviewed by authorities over the weekend, was "free to travel" and had been staying in L.A. voluntarily.

According to Murray's legal camp, the Nevada-based doctor is not considered a suspect and he is freely cooperating with the investigation. Murray has denied injecting Jackson with Demerol before he died or prescriping the 50-year-old artist either Demerol or OxyContin.

—Reporting by Ken Baker and Lindsay Miller


http://news.yahoo.com/s/eonline/20090703/en_top_eo/132593

[samanthajane13]

Powerful sedative found in Michael Jackson's home
By MICHAEL R. BLOOD, Associated Press Writer Michael R. Blood, Associated Press Writer – 44 mins ago

LOS ANGELES – The powerful sedative Diprivan was found in Michael Jackson's home, a law enforcement official said Friday as the city planned for a massive crowd at the singer's memorial service.

Diprivan is an anesthetic widely used in operating rooms to induce unconsciousness. Also known as Propofol, it's given intravenously and is very unusual to have in a private home.

The law enforcement official spoke on condition of anonymity because the person was not authorized to speak about the matter.

A Los Angeles Police spokesman, Lt. John Romero, declined to discuss the case. "It's an ongoing investigation," he said.

The cause of Jackson's death has not been determined. Autopsy results are not expected for several weeks.

At the downtown Staples Center, where Jackson's memorial will be held Tuesday morning, Assistant Police Chief Earl Paysinger said anywhere from 250,000 to 700,000 people could try to reach the arena, even though only 17,500 tickets will be available.

City Councilwoman Jan Perry urged people to stay home and watch the memorial on TV. There will not be a funeral procession through the city.

Tickets to Jackson's memorial service will be free. They can be obtained by registering at Staplescenter.com. There will be 11,000 tickets for seats inside Staples Center and 6,500 for seats in the adjacent Nokia Theatre, where fans can watch a simulcast. On Saturday night, 8,750 names will be randomly selected to receive two tickets each.

No details about the memorial service itself were released.

Jackson was known to have suffered from severe insomnia. In the weeks before his death, Cherilyn Lee, a registered nurse who was working with the singer, said Jackson pleaded for Diprivan amid the stress of preparing for a massive series of comeback concerts.

Lee said she repeatedly rejected his demands because the drug was unsafe.

Told Friday that Diprivan had been found at Jackson's house, she said, "I did everything I could to warn him against it."

Jackson had trouble sleeping as far back as 1989, said one of his former publicists, Rob Goldstone, who spent a month on the road with Jackson during the "Bad" tour.

"He had very bad nightmares, he found it very difficult to sleep," Goldstone said.

Diprivan, which has a milky appearance, is sometimes nicknamed "milk of amnesia." Last fall, doctors from the Mayo Clinic warned at a conference that in rare cases, Diprivan can trigger an irreversible chain of events leading to heart dysfunction and death.

They said three patients receiving Diprivan to treat severe seizures had suffered cardiac arrest, and two died. The doctors said the clinic stopped using Diprivan to treat such patients because of the danger.

The drug's manufacturer, AstraZeneca PLC, warns that patients using Diprivan should be continuously monitored, and in a tiny number of cases patients using it have suffered cardiac arrest, although it was not clear the drug was to blame.

Authorities are investigating allegations that the 50-year-old Jackson had been consuming painkillers, sedatives and antidepressants. Any criminal charges would depend on whether Jackson had been overly prescribed medications, given drugs inappropriate for his needs, or if doctors knowingly prescribed Jackson medications under an assumed name.

Edward Chernoff, an attorney for Jackson's doctor, Dr. Conrad Murray, said Friday through a spokeswoman that he had agreed with investigators not to comment until information is released through official channels. Murray was in Jackson's rented mansion when the singer went into cardiac arrest in his bedroom on June 25.

Murray has spoken to police and authorities say he is not a suspect. In an earlier interview, Chernoff said Murray never gave or prescribed Jackson the painkillers Demerol or OxyContin, and denied reports suggesting that the doctor gave the pop star drugs that contributed to his death.

Chernoff would not discuss what drugs the doctor administered to Jackson, but said they would have been prescribed in response to a specific complaint.

___

AP Entertainment Writer Lynn Elber and AP Music Writer Nekesa Moody contributed to this report.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090703/ap_en_mu/us_michael_jackson

[samanthajane13]

LA police plan for huge crowd at Jackson memorial
By ROBERT JABLON, Associated Press Writer Robert Jablon, Associated Press Writer – 53 mins ago

LOS ANGELES – Los Angeles city officials are preparing for massive crowds downtown during Tuesday's public memorial for Michael Jackson at Staples Center, even though only 17,500 tickets are being offered to the public.

Assistant Police Chief Earl Paysinger says anywhere from a quarter-million to 700,000 people may try to reach the arena, even though a wide area around Staples Center will be sealed off to those without tickets.

City Councilwoman Jan Perry strongly urged people to stay home and watch the memorial on TV. The ceremony will not be shown on Staples' giant outdoor TV screen and there will be no funeral procession through the city.

But public safety officials appeared to assume their requests to stay home would have little effect. Since Jackson's death, fans have flocked to Jackson sites from Los Angeles to his Neverland Ranch in rural Santa Barbara County.

Staples Center is offering the memorial tickets through an Internet lottery. Eleven thousand tickets are for the arena and 6,500 for the adjacent Nokia Theatre.

People who want tickets must register on the Web at Staplescenter.com. After 6 p.m. Saturday, 8,750 names will be randomly selected to receive two tickets each. Notifications will go out on Sunday.

After the ticketing details were announced on television, it became impossible to log on to the arena's Web site.

Brent Trueheart, 20, of Los Angeles, went online on his cellphone immediately after hearing the announcement.

"It kept saying 'service unavailable, service unavailable,' and finally it got through. So once it got through, I started celebrating," he said. "It feels real good."

No details were given about the actual memorial events.

The memorial comes as the nation's second-largest city struggles with a $530 million budget deficit.

Perry said the cost of police protection for "extraordinary" events like the memorial is built into the Police Department's budget, but she still solicited help for "incremental costs."

Last month, donations covered about $850,000 of the city's $1 million cost for the Los Angeles Lakers' NBA championship parade. Critics had blasted the idea of using city money when it is considering layoffs to close its budget gap.

(This version DELETES incorrect statement that Jackson's body will not be at memorial.)


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090703/ap_en_ot/us_michael_jackson_memorial

[JLette]

i am an avid googler and i had to google this drug, here is what i found in case anyone was interested but didn't want to run the search themselves :cool:



http://www.drugs.com/pro/diprivan.html

Diprivan Injectable Emulsion is an intravenous sedative-hypnotic agent for use in the induction and maintenance of anesthesia or sedation. Intravenous injection of a therapeutic dose of propofol produces hypnosis rapidly with minimal excitation, usually within 40 seconds from the start of an injection (the time for one arm-brain circulation). As with other rapidly acting intravenous anesthetic agents, the half-time of the blood-brain equilibration is approximately 1 to 3 minutes, and this accounts for the rapid induction of anesthesia.

[old_soul]

i am an avid googler and i had to google this drug, here is what i found in case anyone was interested but didn't want to run the search themselves :cool:



http://www.drugs.com/pro/diprivan.html

Diprivan Injectable Emulsion is an intravenous sedative-hypnotic agent for use in the induction and maintenance of anesthesia or sedation. Intravenous injection of a therapeutic dose of propofol produces hypnosis rapidly with minimal excitation, usually within 40 seconds from the start of an injection (the time for one arm-brain circulation). As with other rapidly acting intravenous anesthetic agents, the half-time of the blood-brain equilibration is approximately 1 to 3 minutes, and this accounts for the rapid induction of anesthesia.


This is some scary stuff I tell you. So, someone has to sit there and monitor you the whole while,...schitt, it's for operations, not to be done night after night after night. What can this stuff do after long term, constant use?

I make a joke about my kids making me lose my mind, but after a bout with serious health problems and a total of 5 operations, I swear that fricken anesthesia made me forgetful~ and ~ a lot of gray hair started popping up afterward. I also had very thick hair..notice I said HAD..maybe that stuff did it to me?!

For Michael, maybe his brain cells were being fried..and we now know he had no hair left..He sure acted more and more loopy as time went on.

I won't even get into the doc who procured this stuff for him to have. Michael got what Michael wanted...if it wasn't this SOB Dr, it would have been another...

Money Talks Too...:rolleyes:

[samanthajane13]

Jackson kids face hurdles to coping with his death
By LINDSEY TANNER, AP Medical Writer Lindsey Tanner, Ap Medical Writer – 2 hrs 27 mins ago

CHICAGO – No matter how unusual their lives may have been so far, Michael Jackson's children now face a universal trauma felt by all kids who suddenly lose a parent.

How the three young Jacksons fare is up to the remaining adults in their lives and whether they can create a sense of stability and security for the grieving youngsters, mental health experts say.

The challenges are particularly daunting for the Jackson kids, with no mother in the picture, custody issues, and unanswered questions ranging from Jackson's suspected drug use to whether he was even their biological father.

That's not to mention the eccentricities before Jackson's death, such as his Peter Pan fixation and drastic cosmetic surgeries, plus unproven allegations of sexual behavior with other children.

The public knows little about the sheltered children_ Michael Jr., 12; Paris, 11; and Prince Michael II, 7. They were all born long after Jackson's heyday, and he kept them veiled — sometimes literally — from prying eyes. Whether they are resilient or particularly vulnerable to emotional trauma is unknown.

One thing is certain: "The loss of a parent is a catastrophe" for any young child, and the Jackson kids will need help coping, said Dr. Stuart Goldman, a psychiatrist with Children's Hospital Boston and Harvard Medical School.

"The kids need to be removed from the limelight and any exposure to television or media needs to be greatly minimized," said Dr. Louis Kraus, chief of child and adolescent psychiatry at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago. "The distortions of what they see there is not going to be healthy."

Jackson's will names his 79-year-old mother, Katherine Jackson, as the children's guardian. Since Jackson's June 25 death, they have been staying with her and other relatives at the family compound in Encino, a Los Angeles suburb.

An attorney for Jackson's cardiologist said the children requested and were allowed to see Jackson's body, after a psychiatrist was consulted.

Specialists say that isn't necessarily traumatizing. It can give children a chance to say goodbye after a parent's sudden death, and allow the permanence of death to sink in, said Demy Kamboukas, a trauma expert and scientist at New York University's Child Study Center.

Kamboukas and other mental health experts recommended counseling for children who've experienced a parent's death. It gives them a chance to talk about their feelings with an objective observer who isn't also grieving and who can assure them that feelings of fear, anger and loss of control are normal.

Many kids get over profound grief and end up handling a parent's death pretty well, said University of Chicago psychiatrist Dr. Sharon Hirsch.

The Jackson children may be able to, also, she said, "as long as the family rallies around them and helps to continue to love and support them." But, she added, "It isn't going to be easy."


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090704/ap_en_mu/us_med_jackson_children_mental_health

[samanthajane13]

Michael Jackson Death Theories: the Roundup
Joal Ryan Joal Ryan – Sat Jul 4, 12:30 pm ET

Los Angeles (E! Online) – What killed Michael Jackson? Perhaps the question should be: What didn't kill Michael Jackson?

With a situation as fluid as a Motown 25 moonwalk, and pending toxicological results from a pair of autopsies, there is no shortage of theories as to what, or who, killed the King of Pop.

We were going to say we assembled the top ones below in order of most plausible to, well, less plausible, but with this story we're not sure there's a distinction. We settled for alphabetical order.

• Accidental Overdose, aka Performer's Remorse

According to the Daily Beast, Jackson didn't want to do his London concerts, couldn't afford to cancel them, and thus came up with, as one source put it to the site, "a note from the doctor." Namely, the entertainer downed a lot of prescription drugs with the intention of O.D.'ing, forcing a hospital visit—and, back to the top, getting out of the shows.

• Empty Stomach, aka Or Not-Empty-Enough Stomach

In a denounced report in London's Sun, the newspaper, which said it had the goods on the autopsy findings, said at the time of his death Jackson was "skin and bone" and "had been eating nothing but pills."

• "Enablers," aka "Leeches," aka Anna Nicole Smith Redux

Within hours of Jackson's death, Brian Oxman, an attorney who has worked with the Jackson family, was arguing that the entertainer was the all-new Anna Nicole Smith: an overmedicated mess beset with "enablers." In London's Sun, Matt Fiddes, I.D.'d as Jackson's former head of security, did not seem to disagree with Oxman, talking of "leeches" who plied the singer with "sedatives to relax him—or 'uppers' to lift his mood." E! Online's Ted Casablanca has his own source on Jackson being "way, way overtreated."

• "Greed," aka Comeback Concerts Still Sounding Like Very Bad Idea

In London's Daily Mail, Jackson author Ian Halperin argues the 50-year-old singer signed his death warrant when he signed on for the London concerts, that he was too broken by the 2003-2005 molestation case to command the stage, and that he was pushed into the shows by his handlers and mounting financial obligations.

• "People," aka the Beatles Songbook Coveters

The new Life & Style asks whether Jackson was "drugged in a bid to steal [the] millions" that nobody much else seems to think he had. (See: the London comeback shows and why he supposedly agreed to do them.) Oxman supplies the magazine with its money quote: "He feared somebody wanted to kill him. He was even concerned people would kill him to somehow try to take control of the Beatles back catalog."

• Stage Fright, aka Yup, the Comeback Concerts Again

Per the London Sun, Jackson's apprehension about the U.K. shows was as paranoic as it was disabling: "I owe money everywhere," the paper quotes the singer as allegedly fretting. "They will kill me if I don't sing in London."

• Too Much Demerol…

• Too Much Morphine…

• Too Much Preoccupation with Diprivan

For the record, Jackson nutritionist Cherilyn Lee didn't say her boss died from anesthesia use. But she did say he wanted the drug to help him sleep and that she warned him it might put him in a sleep from which he wouldn't wake.

• You Knew This One Was Coming, aka the Faked-Death Theory

According to Michael Jackson Sightings, a man who "spoke like [Jackson] and in fact doubled for him many times," but was not Jackson, died June 25. The real Jackson, meanwhile, "is alive and well and happier than ever," no doubt because his reputed 10-years-in-the-making "plot" is working like gangbusters: Everybody seems to think Jackson is dead. Gunther von Hagens, in fact, thinks Jackson is so dead that the German doctor told London's Daily Mail "an agreement is in place" to preserve Jackson's corpse with polyurethane.

Of course, per the article, von Hagens thinks Bubbles the chimp is dead, too…

________________

http://news.yahoo.com/s/eonline/20090704/en_top_eo/132436


And I know it's just so WRONG...but I had to share this little piece of photo-shop magic from a friend on a different forum...


Thanks, Limey!!!!

[LetsBeConcerned]

I have watched the Jackson 5 since I was little. I remember my elementary school teacher having an open discussion with the class. The teacher asked us all what we would do if we ever met the Jacksons~? That is when I found out that they lived in Los Angeles. My teacher was appalled that she had heard that grown adults had attacked these children. My teacher had seen the Jacksons as if they could be one of her students. Yet GROWN adults thought it to be okay to rip out locks of hair and tear their clothes just to get a piece of them~!!!

It was a thought provoking conversation we had. We were only in the first & second grade. We would not likely even ask for an autograph as we did not think much of those things at that time. But we would more than likely ask for them to come and play with us on the playground.

I would grow up change to different schools move to a different city etc... I would be in high school and go to church and the minister had done a sermon on how to treat people. One of the examples that he used was "What if Michael Jackson walked in~?" We should treat him just like we would treat any other person that would walk into the congregation. We should treat Michael just like we treat anyone else we pass on the street. He was a person too~! Michael should be able to do something as simple as go to church without a bunch of security guards surrounding him.

I am sorry that I do not remember the school teachers name just the classroom. But I do want to thank Mr. Tanner for a great sermon. I still remember it over 25 years later.

I have also never met any of the Jacksons.

With all that said.... We need to say something when we see some abuse going on.

I personally do not have any animosity towards the person that posted that fabricated picture. As I know that they didn't create it. So I mean no disrespect to anyone.

But I do see that photo as a form as child abuse~!!!!

I know that some see it as comical... I find it to be offensive. These are real children and should be treated as such.

[samanthajane13]

Jackson memorial gets 1.6 million ticket requests

LOS ANGELES – The more than 1.6 million fans who registered for tickets to Michael Jackson's memorial service will wait until Monday to learn if they received one of the 11,000 tickets for Tuesday's ceremony.

The two-day registration period for the service at Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles ended Saturday. Another 6,500 tickets will be given away for the Nokia Theater overflow section next door.

Fans had to register for free at staplescenter.com between 10 a.m. Friday and 6 p.m. Saturday for the random drawing of 8,750 names. Each person selected will receive two tickets and will be notified by e-mail after 11 a.m. Sunday.

Before the drawing, officials at AEG, the owner and operator of the Staples Center, will "scrub" the entries to eliminate duplicates and any suspected of being made by automated systems or "go-bots," said Jackson family spokesman Ken Sunshine in a statement.

Winners will receive a unique code and instructions on how to pick up their tickets at an off-site distribution center on Monday. At the distribution center, they will receive the ticket and a wristband that will be placed on their wrists at that time.

Fans must have both the ticket and the wristband to enter Staples Center on Tuesday. Wristbands that have been ripped, taped or tampered with will be voided.

Sunshine said those steps are being taken to prevent ticket-scalping.

City officials are preparing for massive crowds. Assistant Police Chief Earl Paysinger says anywhere from a quarter-million to 700,000 people may try to reach the arena, even though a wide area around Staples Center will be sealed off to those without tickets.

City Councilwoman Jan Perry strongly urged people to stay home and watch the memorial on TV. The ceremony will not be shown on Staples' giant outdoor TV screen and there will be no funeral procession through the city.

No details were given about the actual memorial events, which come as the nation's second-largest city struggles with a $530 million budget deficit. Perry said the cost of police protection for "extraordinary" events like the memorial is built into the Police Department's budget, but she still solicited help for "incremental costs."

Last month, donations covered about $850,000 of the city's $1 million cost for the Los Angeles Lakers' NBA championship parade. Critics had blasted the idea of using city money when it is considering layoffs to close its budget gap.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090705/ap_en_ot/us_michael_jackson

[samanthajane13]

Jackson Memorial Service Details Revealed
Megan Masters Megan Masters – Sat Jul 4, 12:29 pm ET

Los Angeles (E! Online) – Family, friends and fans of Michael Jackson are finally being given the opportunity to celebrate the life of the King of Pop.

Days of speculation were put to rest Friday morning as the details on the spectacle henceforth known as the Michael Jackson Public Memorial Service were unveiled by city officials, Jackson reps and AEG Live, which is hosting the event. As previously reported, the memorial will take place at 10 a.m. on Tuesday at Los Angeles' Staples Center.

"It is the family's wish to create a service and celebration that all of Michael's fans around the world can be a part of," said AEG CEO and President Tim Leiweke.

The event will be available on a worldwide feed and free to air on any network, including E! and E! Online. "We encourage you to watch the memorial from your home," said Jan Perry, a city councilwoman.

One reason? There are only a lucky few who will be able to attend the memorial.

A total of 17,500 tickets will be made available to the general public—11,000 for inside the Staples Center and the remaining 6,500 who will be able to watch from across the street at the Nokia Center, which will be filled with huge-screen TVs streaming the live event.

To be eligible for tickets, fans must log on to StaplesCenter.com and register between now and 6 p.m. on Saturday. On Sunday, 8,750 names will be drawn randomly and each will receive two tickets. Ticketmaster will then be distributing tickets and wristbands to those chosen few on Monday.

As of 5:30 p.m., the Staples Center page had received 524,330 requests for tickets. At one point, AEG had to add another server to accommodate the volume of traffic as some people were initially unable to access the site.

City and police officials were adamant that those without a ticket and a wristband will not be allowed anywhere near the event.

Ken Sunshine, the Jackson family spokesman, thanked fans for their outpouring of support throughout the past week.

The memorial, he said, is about "accommodating as many fans as possible. It is all about the fans."

In a statement Friday, the Jackson family said: "It was our wish to allow as many of Michael's fans to be part of the memorial, and we wish to thank everyone for their support and understanding at this difficult time."

While some details of the memorial were addressed, there was no word on whether, as rumored, there would be performances from Justin Timberlake, Usher or P. Didd. Sunshine would only say the memorial is "still being developed, but no details will be provided."

Asked about the possibility of scalpers or people selling counterfeit tickets, Sunshine said, "I'm hoping that people have dignity...[We're] planning this to try and avoid people who would stoop to those depths."

As E! News reported earlier, Jackson's body is currently at Forest Lawn Memorial Park and Mortuaries in Hollywood Hills awaiting a private funeral, details of which have not been disclosed.

FilmLa, which handles film permits for the city of Los Angeles, has issued an alert stating there may be a motorcade traveling early Tuesday morning from Forest Lawn to Staples Center, but no route information was immediately available.

Meanwhile, the grounds of Jackson's former home, Neverland Ranch, will be closed to the media and well-wishers beginning tonight and remain off-limits until after the funeral services "to focus on the Tuesday celebration of Michael's life,'' a ranch spokeswoman said.

(Originally published Friday July 3, 2009 at 9:45 a.m. PT)

________________

Be there as the world says goodbye to the King of Pop. Watch The Michael Jackson Memorial on Tuesday at 1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT, live on E! and E! Online.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/eonline/20090704/en_celeb_eo/132614

[samanthajane13]

Television networks planning Jackson coverage

NEW YORK – NBC executives changed their minds Sunday and decided to join other networks that will televise Michael Jackson's memorial service live this week.

NBC joins ABC, CNN, MSNBC and E! Entertainment in offering the ceremony live. It's set for 10 a.m. PDT (1700 GMT) Tuesday at Los Angeles' Staples Center.

NBC had initially planned only a one-hour prime-time special on Tuesday night, but said Sunday it would also cover the event live. It was not immediately clear who would anchor.

Charles Gibson will anchor coverage for ABC, which is setting aside its typical daytime programming.

CBS anchor Katie Couric will be at the Staples Center, although the network had not yet said whether it was offering live coverage of the memorial.

CNN has seen its ratings soar with the Jackson story, and it will show the memorial on the main network and HLN (formerly Headline News). CNN International will air the ceremony to the rest of the world. Anderson Cooper, Larry King and Don Lemon are the anchors for CNN coverage. Robin Meade, A.J. Hammer and Jane Velez-Mitchell will anchor at HLN. CNN en Espanol also will cover it.

Chris Jansing will anchor live coverage of the memorial on MSNBC. Fox News Channel hadn't announced its plans.

E! Entertainment will cover the ceremony on its television network and its Web site.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090705/ap_en_ot/us_michael_jackson_tv

[lorettalockhorn]

Television networks planning Jackson coverage

NEW YORK – NBC executives changed their minds Sunday and decided to join other networks that will televise Michael Jackson's memorial service live this week.

NBC joins ABC, CNN, MSNBC and E! Entertainment in offering the ceremony live. It's set for 10 a.m. PDT (1700 GMT) Tuesday at Los Angeles' Staples Center.

NBC had initially planned only a one-hour prime-time special on Tuesday night, but said Sunday it would also cover the event live. It was not immediately clear who would anchor.

Charles Gibson will anchor coverage for ABC, which is setting aside its typical daytime programming...

...E! Entertainment will cover the ceremony on its television network and its Web site.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090705/ap_en_ot/us_michael_jackson_tv

Good FGrief. :rolleyes:

[samanthajane13]

1.6M Jackson fans learn who won memorial tickets
By DAISY NGUYEN, Associated Press Writer Daisy Nguyen, Associated Press Writer – 24 mins ago

LOS ANGELES – Who's getting the tickets?

Like a modern-day Willy Wonka tale, more than 1.6 million fans waited to learn Sunday whether they were among the lucky few to win access to Michael Jackson's memorial service at Staples Center on Tuesday.

Fans registered online for free in the random drawing of only 8,750 names. Each person selected will receive two tickets.

Ticket winners were in the process of being notified Sunday afternoon, according to Michael Roth, a spokesman for Staples Center owner AEG Live.

The odds of getting a ticket were about 1 in 183.

The tickets will admit 11,000 people to the Staples Center plus 6,500 in the Nokia Theater overflow section next door. The streets around the stadium will be closed to prevent those without tickets from trying to attend, police said Sunday.

The 50-year-old Jackson died June 25 after going into cardiac arrest in the bedroom of his rented mansion. The cause of Jackson's death has not been determined. Autopsy results are not expected for several weeks.

Jackson's family was planning a private ceremony at the Forest Lawn cemetery in the Hollywood Hills, LAPD Assistant Chief Jim McDonnell said. He did not provide further details.

More than a week after his death, tributes and accolades keep coming. Madonna had a Jackson impersonator dance to "Wanna Be Starting Something" at her concert Saturday in the same London arena where he was to stage his comeback.

Colin Powell said in an interview aired Sunday that Jackson had controversy in his life, but in death his art should be celebrated.

"Yes, there were some challenges in his life," the former secretary of state told CNN's "State of the Union." "Yes, there was a great deal of controversy about him. But he's now passed on. Let's celebrate his art."

The memorial service will be broadcast on five television networks, after NBC executives changed their minds Sunday and decided to air the service live. NBC joins ABC, CNN, MSNBC and E! Entertainment.

Before the ticket drawing, officials of AEG, the owner and operator of the Staples Center, will "scrub" the entries to eliminate duplicates and any suspected of being made by automated systems, Jackson family spokesman Ken Sunshine said in a statement.

Winners received a unique code and instructions on how to pick up their tickets Monday at an off-site distribution center. When they pick up their tickets, a wristband will be placed on their wrists.

To prevent ticket scalping, fans must have both the ticket and the wristband to enter Staples Center on Tuesday. Wristbands that have been ripped, taped or tampered with will be voided.

City officials are preparing for huge crowds. Assistant Police Chief Jim McDonnell would not say how many police would be on the job, but alluded to the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics and the recent championship celebration for the Los Angeles Lakers at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

The ceremony will not be shown on Staples' giant outdoor TV screen and there will be no funeral procession through the city.

No details were given about the actual memorial events.

___

On the Net:

Staples Center: http://tinyurl.com/m28dd4

[samanthajane13]

Tears turn to tweets for Jackson memorial tickets
By DAISY NGUYEN, Associated Press Writer Daisy Nguyen, Associated Press Writer – 1 hr 30 mins ago

LOS ANGELES – Thousands of fans shouted, posted and tweeted with celebration as they learned they were receiving the hottest ticket in the nation to Tuesday's Michael Jackson memorial at Staples Center.

"Congratulations, your application was successful," said an e-mail message to Deka Motanya, 27, of San Francisco.

She immediately Twittered: "OMG OMG OMG OMG i got tickets to the michael jackson memorial service!!!"

Only 8,750 names were chosen from more than 1.6 million fans who registered online for free in the random drawing, a real-life version of Willie Wonka's golden tickets. Each selected person gets a pair, with the odds of being chosen about 1 in 183.

The city will scramble to prepare for the coming crowds as ticket winners head to Dodger Stadium on Monday with a unique code and instructions to pick up tickets. A wristband will be placed on each person's wrist. Organizers will check IDs to make sure those picking up wristbands are the same people who originally applied online, said Staples Center spokesman Michael Roth.

Fans must have both the ticket and the wristband to enter Staples Center on Tuesday. Wristbands that have been ripped, taped or tampered with will be voided.

But Roth acknowledged that high-priced scalping of the free passes was possible because winners were permitted to give anyone their second bracelet.

"Theoretically, the second wrist band can be sold," Roth said.

Organizers were considering how to distribute any unclaimed seats, but had not immediately decided on a plan, Roth said.

The memorial service will be broadcast live on five television networks.

David Gobaud, 25, who studies computer science at Stanford University, said he didn't believe his e-mail of acceptance was real at first. "It's Michael Jackson, one of the greatest musical stars of all time," he said.

Zach Moss, a 21-year-old ticket winner from Chicago who is working as a DJ in Las Vegas this summer, said clubgoers have responded strongly to Jackson's music since his death.

"You can play two, three Michael Jackson songs back to back and people are going to have this huge jubilation celebration," he said. "Everyone throws their drinks up and shouts, 'MJ!' It's extremely powerful."

The tickets will admit 11,000 people to the Staples Center plus 6,500 in the Nokia Theater overflow section next door. The streets around Staples Center will be closed to prevent those without tickets from trying to attend, police said.

Assistant Police Chief Jim McDonnell warned the ticketless to stay away. He would not say how many police would be on the job, but alluded to the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics and the recent championship celebration for the Los Angeles Lakers at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

"You'll be standing in the hot sun on a city street with a lot of other people," he said. "But not within eyeshot of Staples."

The ceremony will not be shown on Staples' giant outdoor TV screen and there will be no funeral procession through the city. No details were available about the actual memorial events.

The joyful anticipation among the chosen fans comes as the courts continue to untangle the future of Jackson's estate and police probe the circumstances of his death.

Jackson died at age 50 on June 25 after going into cardiac arrest in the bedroom of his rented mansion. The cause of Jackson's death has not been determined. Autopsy results are not expected for several weeks.

Jackson's family was planning a private ceremony at the Forest Lawn cemetery in the Hollywood Hills, McDonnell said. He did not provide further details.

___

Associated Press Writers Jacob Adelman and Michael R. Blood contributed to this report.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090706/ap_on_en_mu/us_michael_jackson_memorial

[samanthajane13]

Jackson family seeks delay in naming will executor
By ANTHONY McCARTNEY, AP Entertainment Writer Anthony Mccartney, Ap Entertainment Writer – 38 mins ago

LOS ANGELES – Michael Jackson's family wants a judge to delay a hearing Monday to designate two men listed in the pop superstar's will as temporary administrators of his estate so that they can look deeper into his affairs, a person close to the family said.

The family also wants the additional time to wait and see if another will emerges, as well as to accommodate Jackson's memorial service Tuesday, said the person, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the person was not authorized to speak publicly.

The person said Sunday that the family wants the delay in naming two men, attorney John Branca and music executive John McClain, who are designated in a five-page will filed Wednesday as administrators to shepherd Jackson's estate into a private trust.

Jackson's mother, Katherine Jackson, was granted some limited powers over the singer's estate days after his death. But because Branca and McClain are named as executors in the 2002 will, it's expected that they would be granted more authority to oversee Jackson's estate, estimated in court filings as being worth more than $500 million, in Monday's scheduled hearing.

Jackson's mother and those close to her want "time to further investigate the circumstances and individuals that were surrounding Michael Jackson during his final days," the person close to the family said.

In court filings, attorneys for Katherine Jackson ask Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Mitchell Beckloff to delay naming Branca and McClain as the estate's administrators. Attorneys for the two men argue their appointment is crucial to controlling Jackson's diverse financial interests and its liabilities, which include refunds due on a series of London concerts that have been canceled, and several lawsuits.

The person close to the Jackson family said late Sunday that Katherine Jackson also wants the delay to see if any, newer wills emerge. An older will had already been presented, the person said.

"She wants to know what happened to her son before appointing individuals to take over his estate worth over a billion dollars," the person said.

In court filings, Katherine Jackson's attorneys state it would be "premature" to contest the 2002 will, but they also note that several wills may have been filed. The 2002 will stated that Jackson wanted his three children entrusted to his mother, Katherine, who has been named a temporary guardian until July 13.

Attorneys for Branca and McClain said last week they do not expect any other wills to emerge.

Monday's hearing will be crucial in deciding who takes control of Jackson's financial empire, which includes an estimated $400 million in debt. A judge on Thursday delayed a hearing on who should have custody of Jackson's three children, making Monday's hearing entirely about the singer's fortune.

"This is going to be a very important hearing in the sense of giving the public an indication of where the case is heading and what the judge is thinking about," said Lawrence Heller, an estate planning attorney for the Santa Monica, Calif., office of the firm Bryan Cave LLP.

Jackson's memorial service was planned for Tuesday, a day after the hearing over his financial affairs. Thousands of fans were expected to attend the service in Los Angeles, even though more than 1.6 million people registered to win the coveted free tickets.

Downtown hotels were quickly filling Monday and police warned those without tickets to the memorial to stay away. There was no funeral procession planned and the service will not be shown on outdoor screens.

Last week, Katherine Jackson was given authority over some of her son's possessions, including items taken from his Neverland Ranch that were slated for auction earlier this year, but not his finances. She had sought to control Jackson's finances and the estate of his children, but that was before Branca and McClain filed the will.

Beckloff, perhaps sensing a rift between the two sides, urged attorneys for Katherine Jackson and the two men to meet before Monday's hearing and try to reach a compromise.

No agreement between the two sides had been announced as of Sunday. Katherine Jackson's temporary control of the Neverland items expires Monday.

Experts say the Branca and McClain have an upper hand going into Monday's court hearing because they were designated by Jackson. In Branca's case, he helped organize one of the singer's smartest financial moves — acquiring a stake in the Sony-ATV Music Publishing Catalog, which includes music by the Beatles, Bob Dylan, Neil Diamond, Lady Gaga and the Jonas Brothers.

Branca also helped Jackson acquire the rights to his own master recordings, which include ample material for new music to be released posthumously.

Gaining even temporary control of Jackson's estate is key, attorneys for Branca and McClain argue in court filings, because they can begin tapping into the singer's earning potential by licensing "records, music, TV, publishing, pay-per-view, theatrical" properties.

Attorney Jeryll S. Cohen told Beckloff on Wednesday that the men also could minimize the loss of an estimated $85 million in ticket refunds required for Jackson's canceled London concerts. Randy Phillips, president and CEO of concert promoter AEG Live, said Thursday that the company has ample material for a possible movie, live album and other media that will likely allow them to break even on their Jackson investment.

A temporary administrator would also have the power to take over numerous lawsuits pending against Jackson, including a $44 million federal claim filed by former publicist Raymone Bain, two lawsuits filed by "Thriller" director John Landis, and another one filed by "Thriller" co-star Ola Ray.

Temporary administrators would also control 2,000 items taken from Neverland Ranch that were slated for an auction halted by the singer this year. The items, which include awards, clothing and numerous other unique items taken from Jackson's former home, were expected to fetch at least $12 million.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090706/ap_on_en_mu/us_michael_jackson

[samanthajane13]

Singer's luxe lifestyle aided by Wall Street firms
By STEVENSON JACOBS, AP Business Writer Stevenson Jacobs, Ap Business Writer – 39 mins ago

NEW YORK – Music lovers weren't the only ones drawn to the King of Pop. Wooed by his global fame and earning power, a bevy of financial firms ponied up tens of millions to finance the singer's luxe lifestyle and kick-start his troubled career.

Now they're in line with other creditors and business partners awaiting word on the state of Michael Jackson's murky financial empire. Financial firms including Colony Capital LLC, Fortress Investment Group and Barclays Bank PLC poured tens of millions into the singer over the years. The cash allowed Jackson, a notorious binge spender, to maintain a lavish lifestyle befitting a global pop star.

But the potential peril of owning a portfolio tied to an eccentric entertainer became apparent with the singer's surprise death at the age 50. It also highlighted Wall Street's fascination with the entertainment industry — a trend that could cool depending upon how much Jackson's creditors manage to recoup from their investments.

"There's always been a nexus between the worlds of celebrity and finance, and it's only grown in recent years," said Ian Peck, president of Art Capital Group, which specializes in making loans to celebrities and rich clients who put up artwork as collateral.

Jackson's lenders seemed to "get a kick out of having a big cele