November 23, 2010 // 01:52 // Article by Brian Willett

A British tabloid posted the recording online, suggesting it was evidence that Jackson had no pulse at the time, contrary to what his personal doctor said.

The audio “has been determined NOT to be the voice of any member of the Los Angeles Fire Department,” fire spokesman Brian Humphrey said in a written statement Wednesday.

“The Firefighter/Paramedic who handled communications for that incident has confirmed to LAFD Administration that the voice is not his,” Humphrey said.

One initial cause of skepticism about the recording was that the speakers did not use “standard protocol or established practice” followed by professional paramedics when they communicate with hospital staff, Humphrey said.

Dr. Conrad Murray has been charged with involuntary manslaughter in Jackson’s June 25 death, which the coroner ruled was caused by a combination of drugs given to him that morning.

The Sun newspaper did not reveal the source of the recording, but characterized it as a “911 tape.”

The disputed recording features a male, who says he is a paramedic in an ambulance, speaking to a female, who is supposedly at the emergency room of UCLA Medical Center.

“We have a male, 50. Pop star Michael Jackson. Unresponsive, no pulse. Tried to resuscitate him. Unsuccessful. We are en route,” the male voice said.

“OK. We’ll have doctors standing by,” the female voice replied.

“We’ve done everything we can here in the ambulance. Hopefully, when we get there — we should be there in five minutes,” the male said. “It doesn’t look good.”

Humphrey said it is routine for paramedics to use a cell phone or a two-way radio to talk to an emergency room as they rush to a hospital, but they “don’t normally speak like this in a medical response.”

Specifically, the paramedic would not be likely to use a patient’s name in the conversation, even if it is a celebrity, Humphrey said.

It would be routine for the hospital to record the conversations for legal reasons, he said.

UCLA Medical Center spokesman Dale Triber Tate said, “There is no way we could authenticate it even if we had patient/estate authorization, which we do not have.”

An authenticated recording of the 911 call for help from Jackson’s Holmby Hills, California, home was released by the fire department the day after the pop icon’s death.

A Jackson bodyguard, who was in the room as Murray tried to revive him, spoke to the 911 operator:

“He’s not breathing, and we’re trying to pump him, but he’s not breathing,” the bodyguard said. “He’s not responding to CPR or anything,”

“We’re less than a mile away and we’ll be there shortly,” the operator said.

Hoax recordings have emerged since Jackson’s death, including a video produced by a German TV show that purported to show a living Jackson stepping out of a coroner’s van.

A spokeswoman for RTL, the leading private broadcaster in Germany, later said it was an experiment to show how easy it is to spread rumors online.

Debbie Rowe, Michael Jackson’s ex-wife and mother of two of his children, passes through a magnetometer at the Santa Barbara county courthouse April 28, 2005, in Santa Maria, California. Jackson, 46, is charged with molesting a boy, then 13, at Neverland, plying the youth with alcohol in order to abuse him and conspiring to commit false imprisonment, child abduction and extortion. He faces more than 20 years in prison if convicted.

Credit: Reuters/Aaron Lambert/POOL

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) – TMZ is being sued for broadcasting allegedly stolen and confidential footage of an interview with Debbie Rowe soon after her ex-husband, Michael Jackson, died last June.

The details of this lawsuit filed Monday in California District Court by F. Marc Schaffel Prods. raise interesting questions about the gossip Web site’s news operation, copyright issues, and the boundaries between an entertainment clip and a fair-use news product.

In the complaint, the plaintiff claims to be the owner of a 2003 filmed interview with Debbie Rowe. Some portions of the interview were aired in 2003, but others were held back as private and confidential, subject to a joint consent agreement between the interviewer and interviewee.

After Jackson was indicted for child molestation in December 2003, the Santa Barbara County Sheriff obtained and executed a search warrant on Schaffel’s home and seized the interview. Two years later, the County Sheriff represented that he returned the property and hadn’t released the “confidential outtakes” to anyone.

But last July, TMZ broadcast those confidential outtakes that included a conversation where Rowe talks about needing sedatives. The plaintiff says that Rowe’s comments were made in the context of a joke about stage fright, but taken by TMZ to tie past drug use to Jackson’s death from a prescription-drug overdose.

After TMZ aired the interview, Schaffel and Rowe demanded that the confidential outtakes be removed. TMZ first claimed the video was sourced from a British TV station, but then said it came from the Santa Barbara Sherriff’s Department. The plaintiff says that when confronted, TMZ rescinded the story and claimed its source was confidential.

Schaffel is now seeking damages from TMZ over copyright infringement and conversion. Schaffel says the confidential outtakes have “an estimated value of potentially millions of dollars, the exact amount of which shall be proved at trial.”

TMZ may try to claim that its use of the clip was “fair use” and the court may apply the “four factor” test and look into the purpose and character of the use. Does an allegedly stolen entertainment clip need to be cleared or does any broadcaster have the right to broadcast footage in the name of “news” without need to obtain consent? Will a judge apply the rare so-called “fifth” factor of fair use that takes a moral evaluation of the goodness or badness of TMZ into account? And does TMZ as a news outlet get statutory protection from revealing sources of news if they are trying to protect allegedly stolen media?

These will be questions posed in an interesting case that puts TMZ’s news-gathering operation under the microscope.

Schaffel also sued Fox News last month for airing the interview. Details of a possible lawsuit against TMZ were first reported by Hollywood Reporter blogger Roger Friedman last August.

The complaint was filed by Howard King at King, Holmes, Paterno & Berliner.

Words are, Janet Jackson will be joining Jackson Five in place of late brother Michael Jackson on their rumored 2010 reunion tour. According to The Sun, big brother Jermaine Jackson has come out with the revelation when he was promoting his new reality TV show “The Jacksons: A Family Dynasty” in Australia.

“We had a conference call and Janet has agreed to join us on tour,” Jermaine allegedly said over the matter. The British tabloid, additionally, reported that although Janet has been persistent in refusing to join her surviving brothers on stage, she finally gave her thumbs up considering that it will be a fitting tribute to Michael, who passed away in June 2009.

Jermaine Jackson has constantly pursued his brothers for a Jackson Five’s reunion tour since late 2007. Youngest brother Michael, however, was reported to be opposing the idea when he was alive. “My brothers and sisters have my full love and support, and we’ve certainly shared many great experiences, but at this time I have no plans to record or tour with them,” he said in response to Jermaine’s reunion remark.

“The Jacksons: A Family Dynasty”, in the meantime, is a new reality TV which stars members of the Jackson family

. It was initially been filmed as a one-off hour-long special about the Jackson Five sans lead singer Michael. When the King of Pop suddenly passed away, however, more footage were shot. The series was aired on A&E Network from December 13, 2009 to January 17, 2010.

“They go to the (Kingdom) Hall with my mother. We want to keep their feet on the ground,” Jermaine said during his visit to Sydney.

“We want to make sure that this success doesn’t go to their heads.”

He also confirmed the children were in counseling, adding that “with the first passing of Michael Jackson they had to have someone to explain that to them”. With the children entrusted to his Jackson matriarch Katherine’s custody, Jermaine said the 79-year-old was coping with Blanket, 7, Paris, 11 and Prince Michael, 12.

“It’s easy for her – she brought us up,” he said.

“My mother is very much alive, she’s very smart. She knows the name of every type of tree.”

Jermaine, in town to promote The Jacksons: A Family Dynasty which is screening on Foxtel’s Arena channel, revealed Michael’s children played with his son Jermajesty every day and with Tito’s grandchild Royal.

Of the Foxtel show, he said: “We just wanted to show we are no different from any other family. It’s my job now to try to carry the brothers on.

” I have the ability to lead, not just be a lead singer but be a leader. I’m ready to go, go, go.”

Comparing Michael to Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King and Mother Theresa, Jermaine said: “He’s special and he’s a gift from God. I saw what he did with a blessing that God gave him. He’s in the Guinness Book Of Records.”

But he declined to comment on Michael’s autopsy report because it was under investigation.

Dr. Conrad Murray (right) makes an appearance in court February 8, 2010 as he faces arraignment in the Los Angeles County Superior Airport Courthouse on charges of involuntary manslaughter in the death of Michael Jackson.

LOS ANGELES – On a Saturday evening last summer, Dr. Conrad Murray met with two police detectives at the Ritz-Carlton hotel in Marina del Rey near the beach on L.A.’s Westside. Outside, the world was in shock over the death of Michael Jackson, and inside a room at the posh hotel, the investigators wanted answers from the last person to have seen him alive. With his lawyer by his side, Murray talked for more three hours. The interview ended with him a free man.

More than seven months later, Murray faces an involuntary manslaughter charge in a case that legal experts said may hinge on the physician’s own words.

In that June interview, Murray volunteered information expected to form the backbone of the prosecution’s case: That he gave Jackson the surgical anesthetic propofol as a sleep aid and left the singer alone and under the influence of the dangerously potent drug.

“If there had been no admissions, you would be left wondering what happened and the prosecution would have to come up with their own theory,” said Vesna Maras, a former Los Angeles County prosecutor who tried medical legal cases, including one involving a propofol death. “He’s the one who laid out exactly what happened. It doesn’t get better than that.”

On Monday, Murray pleaded not guilty. His lawyer said the doctor’s willingness to talk with police shows he had nothing to hide.

“In some respects, it’s vital to the defense,” attorney Ed Chernoff said. “If the first time Dr. Murray would’ve explained what happened in that room was to the jury, then… they would’ve said, ‘Why didn’t you tell this to the cops right away?’”

He added that the parts of the interview cited in public records were “cherry picked” by investigators and failed to give a complete picture of what the doctor told police.

When Murray sat down with detectives two days after Jackson died, the cause of the singer’s death remained unclear. Murray’s attorney said the doctor agreed to an interview because he was as baffled as the rest of the world as to what killed Jackson and wanted to help police.

But, Chernoff said, Murray, 56, would have become a suspect whether he talked to police or not. He had identified himself to paramedics as Jackson’s personal physician, and propofol bottles found in the singer’s bedroom could easily be traced to him.

“If he hadn’t spoken to them, the police would only be left with the impression that the doctor recklessly pumped a large amount of propofol into Jackson without any precaution, without any reason,” Chernoff said.

Murray told the officers he had given Jackson propofol nightly for six weeks, about the time he began working for the performer, according to police affidavits filed in court. He said Jackson told him that other doctors had been treating his chronic insomnia with propofol for years. Murray said he eventually became concerned that the singer was addicted and tried to wean him off the anesthetic.

According to the court records, Murray told police that on the day Jackson died he tried to get the performer to sleep using Valium and later two other sedatives. But Jackson remained awake, demanding propofol. The doctor said after nine hours, he finally relented and gave the singer 25 milligrams _ half the regular dose. He said he sat next to Jackson’s bed as the propofol took effect and after 10 minutes left to use the restroom. He said he was gone for no longer than two minutes and when he returned, Jackson was not breathing.

Paramedics were not summoned immediately. Murray’s attorney said it took nearly a half hour because of difficulties contacting security; the police affidavit suggests it was closer to an hour and 20 minutes. Cell phone records indicate Murray also talked on the phone for 47 minutes around the time he told police he was trying to revive the singer, according to the affidavit. His lawyer said police got the timeline wrong.

Prosecutors are likely to seize on differences between what Murray told police and what he told medical personnel trying to revive Jackson. According to the affidavits, Murray told paramedics and emergency room doctors he had given the singer one sedative, the anti-anxiety drug lorazepam, but never mentioned propofol.

“That’s a telling omission. He knows it’s wrong. He knows he is not supposed to be fooling around with propofol,” said Dr. Bryan A. Liang, a physician and California Western School of Law professor.

To prove involuntary manslaughter, prosecutors must show that Murray killed Jackson in the commission of a crime “not amounting to a felony” or while acting “without due caution and circumspection.” Experts say prosecutors are likely to focus on medical protocols Murray, a cardiologist, allegedly ignored in his use of propofol as a sleep aid. The drug is so dangerous that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration says only those trained in anesthesia should administer it.

“The concept of using propofol for insomnia is completely crazy,” said Maras, the former prosecutor. “It’s like trying to swat a fly with a bomb.”

Prosecutors also are expected to highlight Murray’s admission that he left Jackson alone. The doctor said he used a device to measure the singer’s heart and respiratory rate, but a coroner’s report concluded the set-up did not meet medical standards.

The defense may call in medical experts to portray Murray’s actions as reasonable given the health history of his famous client and the doctor’s professed attempts to wean him from the propofol. Ellyn Garofalo, a veteran defense attorney, said such experts might question whether the drug dosages he said he gave Jackson were enough on their own to kill the singer.

His previous use of the drug might also be an important factor for the defense, which could argue that the singer had built up a tolerance to propofol, she said.

“If you get a line of doctors to come in and say, ‘I gave him this amount and he was fine,’ then it’s good for Murray,” said Garofalo, who is representing a doctor charged with illegally furnishing prescription medication to the late model Anna Nicole Smith. “I think it’s going to be a fight.”

The portable S2 drive is a pop star-worthy gadget with its golden exterior and signature Jackson silhouette. In addition to features such as automatic backup, data encryption  and password-protected data access, the hard drive comes with a preloaded copy of Michael Jackson’s This Is It movie.

The 500GB hard drive will be available in March for a price of €109.

A Michael Jackson statue made from 12-feet, 3.5 ton single black granite will be donated to the late music icon’s Neverland Valley Ranch in Santa Barbara, California, according to recent reports.

The creators of the statue, Chennai, India-based granite firm RC Golden Granites, wrote to the Jackson family to present their gift. They reportedly also offered to pay for the freight charges from India to U.S.

The statue was reportedly sculpted out of a single rock from Kanakapura mines by six craftsmen in 45 days. It has been displayed at Stona 2010: Ninth International Granites and Stone Fair from February 4 to 7 in Bangalore.

Hindu statesman Rajan Zed said the King of Pop, who unexpectedly died in June, had a special bond with India and Hinduism. Reports said Jackson learned how to meditate, and was reading India’s first Noel Laureate Rabindranath’s poems during the last days of his life.

Dr. Conrad Murray arrives at his clinic in Houston Photo: AP

Dr Conrad Murray flew to Los Angeles from his practice in Houston, Texas, last weekend in the expectation that he will be charged imminently over Jackson’s death last June from an overdose of anaesthetics.

Police sources say Dr Murray is likely to be charged with involuntary manslaughter, which carries a maximum four-year prison sentence.

Michael Jackson, 50, died after Dr Murray gave him propofol, a powerful painkiller, and two other sedatives to help him sleep. The local coroner’s office ruled the death a homicide.

Propofol, usually given before surgery, is supposed to be administered by a professional anaesthetist in a medical environment.

Dr Murray has faced months of speculation over his culpability in the singer’s death. Law enforcement sources now say that prosecutors want to charge him rather than take the case to a grand jury.

He has spent this week discussing how he will respond to charges with his team of three lawyers.

Ed Chernoff, his lead lawyer, said: “I haven’t received any phone call from anybody asking for the doctor to surrender. If we get the call, we’ll be happy to.”

Dr Murray, a cardiologist, has always insisted that he gave the singer nothing that should have killed him.

Prosecutors will have to show the doctor deviated from accepted medical norms when he administered propofol in a non-medical setting while Jackson already had other sedatives in his system.

Paris Jackson pays tribute to her father, flanked by brother Prince Michael and singer Lionel Richie Photo: AFP/GETTY

In their first public appearance since Jackson’s memorial service, Prince, 12, and Paris, 11, dressed in black suits with red armbands, an outfit which Jackson often wore.

Although nervous, they spoke clearly and with great composure as they paid tribute to their father, who died last June.

Prince said: “We are proud to be here to accept this award on behalf of our father, Michael Jackson.

“First of all, we would like to thank God for watching over us for these past seven months, and our grandma and grandpa for their love and support.

“We would also like to thank the fans – our father loved you so much because you were always there for him.

“Our father was always concerned about the planet and humanity. Through all his hard work and dedication he has helped many charities and donated to all of them.

“Through all his songs, his message was simple – love. We will continue to spread his message and help the world. Thank you.”

The siblings were surrounded by their cousins on stage at the Staples Centre in Los Angeles, where Jackson was in final rehearsals for his tour when he died.

Paris followed her brother to the podium and said simply: “Daddy was supposed to be here. Daddy was going to perform this year. He couldn’t perform last year.

“Thank you, we love you, Daddy.”

An Earth Song video which Jackson intended to show during his tour was played at the awards as a backdrop to a tribute performance by Jennifer Hudson, Celine Dion, Smokey Robinson, Usher and Carrie Underwood.

Michael Jackson’s Kids to Accept Grammy Award on His Behalf

Michael Jackson’s children are scheduled to attend the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards on January 31. Prince Michael Jackson Jr., 12, and Paris Michael Katherine Jackson, 11, will be accepting Lifetime Achievement Awards on his behalf.

This will be Prince and Paris’ first public appearance since Michael’s memorial service on July 7, 2009. “The whole world is waiting to see these children blossom,” said Brian Oxman, a lawyer for Joe Jackson, as quoted by CNN.

Despite rumor that they will take part in the tribute show staged for their father, these kids are confirmed not to sing or dance at the annual event. Additionally, they reportedly will be coming to the Staples Center without Michael’s third and youngest kid Prince Michael Jackson II aka Blanket.

Michael Jackson will be remembered by his fellow musicians in an all-star tribute show featuring Carrie Underwood, Usher, Celine Dion, Jennifer Hudson and Smokey Robinson. The special segment will also unveil Michael’s “Earth Song” 3-D mini movie which was originally created for his This Is It concert series.

The sale of the 15,000-square-foot (1,400-square-meter) house was the city’s biggest in almost one year, according to an e-mailed statement today from Vegas Fine Estates, the broker on the deal. The buyer was a doctor-lawyer couple with property in California and Asia, the broker said without giving their names.

Jackson, who died June 25 from a drug overdose, paid $1 million to rent the seven-bedroom house for six months over 2006 and 2007 after returning from a self-imposed overseas exile, according to the statement. The luxury home includes tennis and basketball courts and a 20-seat theater.

“We are seeing significant residential real estate buyers starting to come back into Las Vegas,” Lee Medick, a partner at Vegas Fine Estates, said in the statement.

Sony Pictures’ Fritz Friedman tells USA TODAY’s Mike Snider, “We thought it would be a great idea to pay homage to MJ on the occasion of the release of This Is It by going to Cebu and having Travis work with the dancers to create this piece which is from the film.”

Unfortunately, it wasn’t done in time to go on the DVD and Blu-Ray discs, which are out today. But Sony Pictures DVD did post this on YouTube.

Joe Jackson has been trying to position himself for a cut of Michael Jackson’s estate ever since his son passed away in June … and probably long before that.

Well, the executors of Jackson’s estate, John McClain and John Branca, does not want to pay Joe the an allowance he feels he deserves. The reason is simple:

Because Michael Jackson would not want to pay him a dime.

After all, the late King of Pop not want his dad to be a beneficiary under his will, and Joe wants to use money for “lavish expenses” rather than maintenance.

Just the same, he’s relentlessly battling the estate.

Joe Jackson is seeking $15,000 a month from his late son.

According to legal documents, Jackson’s estate says Joe was never legally dependent on Michael Jackson while he was alive and that shouldn’t change now.

So-called “maintenance expenses” Joe wants include vacations, air travel, hotels, assistants and legal fees, the executors say. Mmmyeah, not gonna happen.

Joe Jackson says a desired allowance includes cash to “support his children or grandchildren,” but Katherine Jackson already does so – at $60,000/month.

Translation: As far as the estate is concerned, Joe can pound sand.

Posted Jan 21st 2010 9:00PM by TMZ Staff

Michael Jackson’s brother, Randy Jackson, is in the middle of a creditor’s claim filed against the estate and according to legal docs … Randy is on the side of the creditor.

Stabler & Associates, a company that claims it was hired to handle Michael Jackson’s business matters — in particular, a humongous Bank of America loan and the funding of his 2004 child molestation trial — claims the estate owes the company $275,446.08.

Here’s the problem. The statute of limitations has run on the debt. But Perry Wander, lawyer for Stabler & Associates, tells TMZ the company relied on Michael and Randy’s repeated promises that the debt would be paid, so the estate should not be able to raise the technical, statute of limitations defense.

Howard Weitzman, lawyer for Michael Jackson’s estate, is unmoved, telling TMZ, “The claim needs to be investigated and it appears to be barred by the statute of limitations.”

And this is interesting … included in the $275,446.08 — a late penalty of $81,946.08.

Grammys ceremony presents 3D tribute to Michael Jackson

Relax News

© AFP / GABRIEL BOUYS

Reviewed by Martin Liebman, January 19, 2010

This is the final curtain call.

On June 25th, 2009, the world lost one of its preeminent entertainers, a musical sensation whose career spanned decades, topped charts, and touched the lives of millions upon millions of fans around the world. One of the most recognizable names and faces of the 20th century and dubbed “The King of Pop,” entertainer Michael Jackson was on the cusp of an ambitious and large-scale London comeback tour. Entitled “This is It,” his series of highly-anticipated concerts were set to kick off only weeks after his untimely death. Soon thereafter, work began on a farewell motion picture, assembled from “This is It” rehearsal footage, and was met with enthusiasm, skepticism, and outright anger by fans and pundits; the fear of a rushed production and a cash-in on Jackson’s death and heightened media awareness surrounded the film’s release, but the picture — entitled This is It — proves for both longtime Jackson fans and relative newcomers to the Pop sensation’s music a powerful and exceptionally engrossing Music Documentary, the film ripe with enthusiasm and portraying Michael as a quiet but energetic individual with nothing but a passion for his craft, a love for his fans, and a dedication to making the world around him a better place. This is It isn’t a biography; it’s not about Jackson’s life, his ups and downs, the accusations and the oddities, or the seemingly unending controversy that followed the superstar in his later years. No, This is It is Michael Jackson in the raw, capturing his final months and the toil of creating a one-of-a-kind show for the fans. This is It is Michael Jackson doing what he was born to do.

The King of Pop.

In the spring of 2009, 50-year-old Michael Jackson — whose life had known nothing but the spotlight since the Jackson 5’s first single debuted in 1968 — was preparing to return to the concert stage following a 10-year absence. This is It — so named after Jackson’s never-realized comeback tour — captures the Pop sensation in rehearsal for his epic and sweeping London tour, the film offering a glimpse into what might have been and, more importantly, into the soul of a quiet and exceptionally-talented man on the verge of returning to what he knew best and loved most. This is It, directed by Kenny Ortega (High School Musical), focuses not only on the music but the man behind it and his dedication to and love for his craft. Portrayed as a perfectionist but also a mild-mannered superstar with a welcoming persona, This is It features Jackson in various costumes and venues rehearsing some of the most prized numbers from his repertoire, including “Human Nature,” “I’ll Be There,” “Thriller,” “Beat It,” “Black or White,” “Billie Jean,” and “Man in the Mirror.” Additionally, This is It covers a broader spectrum that includes an extended and passionate focus on the hopes and dreams of young dancers eager to earn a spot on the stage with Jackson, the advanced technology and set construction implemented for the performances, and wardrobe selection. Though focused on Jackson, This is It smartly entwines a fascinating report on the support structure around the man that made him a spectacle on stage, a legend of music and dance, and the King of Pop.

Though Michael Jackson’s death is no longer front-and-center in the public conscience or the lead story on every newscast, This is It nevertheless remains timely and captivating but with nary hint of a morbid or otherwise unnerving feel that detracts from the film’s sensational glimpse into Michael’s world. Instead, This is It is real, even touching at times, and exceptionally produced. Aside from Jackson’s on-stage artistry, splendid vocal abilities, and the excitement and pomp and circumstance surrounding even just the rehearsal footage and the spectacle of what would have been, another star of the show is Director Kenny Ortega’s assemblage of the footage that not only presents Jackson performing one song after another, but also creates a narrative with purpose, vision, and emotion. The film is a celebration of life and talent and not simply of remembrance after death; the film ends without delving into the aftermath of the superstar’s passing, leaving audiences invigorated rather than down, joyful for having experienced the Pop sensation’s final rehearsals and feeling his energy and enthusiasm rather than depressed and reliving the loss that shocked the world well before its time. Indeed, This is It celebrates a man by portraying him in an unscripted and unrehearsed environment, the film showcasing a talent that still appears vigorous and enthusiastic and strives for perfection with every note, look, and move, and, so it seems, doing it because he loves what he does and those for whom he does it.

Certainly, Ortega’s storytelling ability is first-rate, particularly considering the director’s knack for constructing a story where there originally was none, a challenge to be sure for any director and focusing on any subject and one that’s multiplied many times over considering the scrutiny sure to follow a compilation film that features a stalwart figure in the music business, an icon of the 20th century, and an idol to millions around the world. Indeed, Ortega acquits himself splendidly, his film capturing an honest and endearing tone that never seems self-aggrandizing or otherwise manipulative for profit or motive, other than, of course, to bring full circle a career marked by triumph and tragedy and to conclude it with a magnum opus, a Music Documentary for the ages and certainly suitable for the King of Pop. Still, the film’s power comes from Jackson’s performances, and This is It allows its audience to become lost in each number, the film inviting a toe-tapping good time with every rehearsed song, many seemingly ready for the spotlight. For anyone not familiar with at least a couple of Michaels’s songs, the energy behind his performances and the flowing beats of his music are captured wonderfully here. If this is what Jackson put into his rehearsals — particularly considering a traumatic 10-year absence — one can only imagine what was and never will be again, the spectacle, the power, the artistry, the majesty of it all. Unfortunately, this was indeed it, but the superstar’s legacy will live on forever thanks to a powerful, fun, and sometimes moving one-of-a-kind Documentary masterpiece.

Video

Michael Jackson’s This is It features a 1080p, 1.78:1-framed transfer that’s a mixture of high definition and standard definition video footage, but the end result is nevertheless an overall strong visual presentation when taken in the proper context and allowing for the flaws inherent to the source. As one might expect, the high definition material proves the visual star of the show and, generally, looks exceptional. It’s rather crisp, clean, and nicely detailed; viewers will note every stubble of facial hair on Michael’s face in one scene; beads of sweat and tears of joy on dancers’ faces; scuffs on floors; or stitches, beads, and other adornments on clothing. Colors are fairly rendered, whether the frame be awash in multicolored mood and accent lighting or showcasing Michael’s bright red pants seen here and there throughout the film, This is It’s color palette shines brightly even though the film often takes on something of a slightly dark tone. Indeed, much of the film features dark or hazy backgrounds, but the transfer resolves them with ease, never delivering anything but pristine blacks and the image pleasantly free of excessive banding or other problematic anomalies. The film is intercut with standard definition material, and while it proves a drastic downgrade in quality, the strength of the film often allows for viewers to overlook the sudden shift and accept the lesser material in favor of the strong thematic and visual presentation and consistently exceptional soundtrack. Still, such scenes appear with jagged edges, aliasing, cross coloration, reduced sharpness, and the like. It’s clearly inferior, but it’s also unfair to criticize it for being what it is and with no room for improvement. All told, This is It looks excellent on Blu-ray, the high definition material in particular a pleasant surprise and translating exceptionally well to Blu-ray.

Audio

Michael Jackson’s This is It features a mesmerizing DTS-HD MA 5.1 lossless soundtrack. Nothing but the best would do, and Sony’s latest lossless endeavor ranks among the best the format has to offer. For as good as the film looks, this soundtrack tops it, and from the opening beats onward, it dazzles with every musical number but also solidifies itself as an exceptional track even in quieter scenes with a more nuanced audio presentation. The beats of the uptempo songs penetrate the listening area with tremendous clarity; repeatedly thumping bass as heard during “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’” pleasantly but powerfully pulsate into and throughout the soundstage. Additionally, everything from the percussion drums to the pyrotechnic explosions are handled marvelously by the DTS mix as every beat, syllable, and sound effect are delivered with pinpoint accuracy. Every note, from the highest trumpet rhythms to the heaviest guitar riffs, is richly recreated, and the spread of sound and style — whether the pulsating rhythms of “Beat It” or the more soothing and relaxed tone of “Human Nature” — never poses a challenge to the disc’s amazing clarity at every turn. Additionally, dialogue is wonderfully executed, and voices finely reverberate through the cavernous rehearsal areas in several scenes. The track is simply electric, and Michael Jackson fans in particular are destined to adore this track for what is one of the quintessential sonic presentations of the King of Pop’s top songs. Like some films are best experienced on large screens, This is It demands a spacious, powerful sound presentation; built-in television speakers just won’t do this one justice.

Supplements

Michael Jackson’s This is It arrives on Blu-ray with a solid assortment of extra content. First up is Staging the Return (1080p, 40:46), a two-part Documentary that examines the “This is It” tour. Beginning with The Adventure Begins (1080p, 28:13), the piece features various people from within Jackson’s circle looking back on the artist’s career and the formation of what would become the comeback tour and final series of performances that never was. It focuses on the scope of the production, the involvement of Kenny Ortega, the assemblage of the crew, Michael’s visions for the show, the surprises Jackson and the team had in store for fans, the incorporation of 3D technology in the show, and Michaels’ insistence on adding meaningful depth to the show. Part two, Beyond the Show (1080p, 13:25), examines Jackson’s passion for and understanding of his craft, his ability to entertain without the glitz and glamour of technology, the planned exit from the stage, his final rehearsal on the day before his death, and the role of This is It in telling the story of Jackson’s last days.

‘Thriller’ Vignette With 5.1 Audio (1080p, 3:51) and ‘Smooth Criminal’ Vignette With 5.1 Audio (1080p, 3:58) are a pair of completed sequences that were meant to precede their accompanying songs on a giant video screen behind and above the stage. Making ‘Smooth Criminal’ (1080p, 11:08) takes viewers on a detailed behind-the-scenes tour of the construction of the video that places Michael inside a vintage black-and-white noir film, Gilda, starring Rita Hayworth. Next up is The Gloved One (1080p, 15:13), a piece that takes an in-depth look at Michael’s attire — designed by Zaldy — for the “This is It” tour. Memories of Michael (1080p, 16:19) features a broad array of people around the Michael Jackson “This is It” camp sharing their recollections of the late Pop sensation. Next is Auditions: Searching For the World’s Best Dancers (1080p, 9:50), a piece that takes a further look at the search for background dancers to participate in the show, expanding on one of the film’s more interesting, memorable, and emotional sequences. Also included is BD-live functionality; Sony’s MovieIQ connectivity with the This is It playlist; the Michael Jackson’s This is It theatrical trailer (1080p, 2:31); and additional 1080p trailers for Grown Ups, It Might Get Loud, Soul Power, Ghostbusters, A River Runs Through It, Salt, Ice Castles, and Hachi: A Dog’s Tale.

Final words

Michael Jackson’s This is It is a career-defining Documentary, a fitting final tribute to an icon of entertainment, and an exceptional film from both thematic and entertainment perspectives. Surprisingly deep and moving but also tremendously fun if only for the enjoyment of the music and performances, This is It is an excellent piece that’s sure to please longtime Michael Jackson fans but also serves as a wonderful, no-bias, nuts-and-bolts introduction to the man’s music and dance choreography. Both visual spectacle and a celebration of life of one of entertainment’s most renowned performers, This is It is simply one of the best films of its kind. Sony has rolled out the red carpet for This is It; the Blu-ray presentation features a true-to-the-many-sources 1080p transfer, a pristine lossless soundtrack, and solid array of extra materials. Highly recommended.

Posted Jan 14th 2010 5:27PM by TMZ Staff

A woman who claims to have spent 2,000 hours analyzing the extended family of Michael Jackson — including children, birth mother(s), sperm donor claims … and on and on … wants more than $2 million from Michael Jackson’s estate.

Claire McMillan says she’s a “homeschool expert” who did “a thorough analysis” of Jackson’s complete extended family, to determine … well, it’s not clear why she was doing it.

Whatever … she concluded that Katherine Jackson is doing “a poor job outside of the home, related to -  age, grooming and psyc appropriate activities, same-sex, academic & soc interactions w/ non-extended family children …. ” oh, what’s the use? It makes no sense.

McMillan says she also inquired as to whether Dr. Arnold Klein would be interested in obtaining guardianship of the children with McMillan and her husband.

Anyway, McMillan says her time is worth $1,000 an hour, and she wants $2,002,000 for her efforts.

Howard Weitzman, lawyer for the Michael Jackson estate, tells TMZ “To the best of our knowledge, Ms. McMillan never did anything for the estate and the estate owes her nothing.”

FBI investigated Michael Jackson for 10 years

Pop star Michael Jackson, shown in November 2007, was under investigation by the FBI for at least 10 years before he faced child molestation charges in 2003. (Danny Moloshok/Associated Press)

Police in the southern California city where pop star Michael Jackson stood trial on child molestation charges called in the FBI because they feared he might become a terrorist target.

The Santa Maria police were afraid the court case would be a “soft target” for terrorism, according to documents released by the FBI on Tuesday after a freedom of information request.

Federal agents had been looking into Jackson’s alleged involvement with young boys for nearly 10 years before that 2003 arrest, the documents show.

They also had looked into death threats against Jackson by a man obsessed with his sister, Janet, as far back as 1992.

The FBI released 333 pages of documents related to the late pop singer on Tuesday that date from 1992 to 2005.

At the molestation trial, FBI eventually concluded there was little risk of terrorism, although they noticed that a Nation of Islam follower and New Black Panther Party member, both unnamed in the files released, sat in the gallery in the early part of the trial. Jackson was eventually acquitted of all charges.

The files show FBI had been tipped off by their London, England, office in 1993 of an alleged inappropriate involvement between Jackson and an underaged male. Over the next 10 years, they made several investigations of the pop star, none of which led to charges.

Death threats against Jackson, president

Federal investigators assisted Santa Maria police in combing through computers at Neverland, Jackson’s California home, in the molestation case. They also helped customs officials investigate a video suspected to be child pornography.

Neither of those investigations yielded substantive evidence, according to the documents.

FBI also interviewed two former Neverland employees in the Philippines over allegations of Jackson fondling young boys.

But the files released Tuesday contain no major revelations about Jackson’s private life and the bureau apparently never developed any solid evidence against him.

They did include death threats against Jackson, then President George H. W. Bush and mob boss John Gotti by Frank Paul Jones, who allegedly was obsessed with Janet Jackson.

Jones was convicted in 1993 in relation to a letter that states: “I decided that because nobody is taking me serious, and I can’t handle my state of mind, that I am going to Washington, D.C., to threaten to kill the president of the United States, George Bush.”

The letter later says, “Michael [Jackson] I will personally attempt to kill, if he doesn’t pay me my money.”

Jones was arrested June 22, 1992, after trespassing in the driveway of the Jackson family compound in Encino, Calif.

Jackson, the singer known as the King of Pop, died June 25 at age 50. His death was ruled a homicide and police are still investigating.

However after further investigations, the certificate was amended and re-released in August by medical examiner Christopher Thomas. It now states the cause of death on 25th June 2009 as ‘homicide’. A source said that the Jackson family are ‘keeping faith with the police’, adding: ‘We still feel that there is more than one person responsible for Michael’s tragic death. Joe won’t give up on getting justice for his son and a lawuit is his focus.’ The news comes after it emerged that the singer’s doctor Conrad Murray is expected to be charged with manslaughter.

Murdered: A coroner has officially ruled that singer Michael Jackson’s death on June 25th 2009 was homicide.

Dr Murray could be prosecuted for ‘gross negligence’ for his treatment of the  pop star during his last hours, police sources said. Murray, a cardiologist, was with the star at his rented Los Angeles mansion in June and tried to revive him when he was found unconscious. Murray already has a Houston law firm building his defence. Police affidavits say he admitted loading up Jackson with Propofol and other drugs in the hours before his death. Miranda Sevcik, a spokeswoman in Houston for Murray and his lawyer, Edward Chernoff, said Friday the doctor had no comment and reiterated that Murray neither prescribed nor administered anything that should have killed Michael Jackson. Jackson died while under Murray’s care as the singer prepared for an ambitious concert schedule. The district attorney’s office is waiting for Los Angeles police to turn over the case before presenting it to a grand jury, the law enforcement source said.

Michael Jackson Giraffe

Two more of the animals may now have to be found new homes as their owners face possible eviction – and allegations of ill-treatment.

Freddie and Tom Hancock acquired the giraffes from the singer as part of plans to build a wildlife preserve on 175 acres of city authority-owned property they leased in 2008.

They also intended to house exotic birds, reptiles and camel.

The couple bought about two dozen animals – also including snakes and parrots – from Jackson when he quit his ranch in California to live in Las Vegas, after being acquitted of child sex charges.

But the Hancocks have since become mired in a legal battle over lease terms with officials in the northern Arizona city of Page.

A judge last week ruled in favour of the city, and officials now say a timeline for eviction is being prepared.

Meanwhile, the animal rights group PETA is calling on authorities in Page to confiscate and relocate the remaining giraffes, fearing they are being mistreated.

The group also asked police to determine whether the Hancocks violated animal cruelty laws in relation to the deaths of the other giraffes.

Page police Chief Charlie Dennis said it is unusual to have two giraffes die within a short period – one died on November 20 and the other on January 2 – but nothing at the scene was cause for suspicion.

“There’s nothing for us to give justification to remove the giraffes at this time,” he added.

Freddie Hancock denied the animals were mistreated, saying they were like her children and would be taken care of whether they remained in Page or moved elsewhere.

Michael Jackson ‘This Is It’ Official Movie Trailer. This movie will be in theaters everywhere October 28. You must watch it if you are a Michael Jackson Fan. DON’T MISS OUT!

Check out the “This is it” Official Movie Trailer below for now :

Michael Jackson’s song, “This Is It”, was released on the http://www.michaeljackson.com at midnight on October 12, 2009 and the official CD will be released on October 28th 2009. The song, written in 1980, bears a strong resemblance a song by Sa-Fire, known as “I Never Heard,” which was written by Jackson and Paul Anka in 1991.

Michael Jackson – This Is It Lyrics :

This is it, here I stand
I’m the light of the world, I feel grand
Got this love I can feel
And I know yes for sure it is real

And it feels as though I’ve seen your face a thousand times
And you said you really know me too yourself
And I know that you have got addicted with your eyes
But you say you gonna live it for yourself.

I never heard a single word about you
Falling in love wasn’t my plan
I never thought that I would be your lover
C’mon baby, just understand

This is it, I can say,
I’m the light of the world, run away
We can feel, this is real
Every time I’m in love that I feel

And I feel as though I’ve known you since 1,000 years
And you tell me that you’ve seen my face before.
And you said to me you don’t want me hanging round
Many times, wanna do it here before

I never heard a single word about you
Falling in love wasn’t my plan
I never thought that I would be your lover
C’mon baby, just understand

This is it, I can feel
I’m the light of the world, this is real
Feel my song, we can say
And I tell you I feel that way

And I feel as though I’ve known you for a thousand years
And you said you want some of this yourself
And you said won’t you go with me, on a while
And I know that it’s really cool myself

I never heard a single word about you
Falling in love wasn’t my plan
I never thought that I would be your lover
C’mon baby, just understand

I never heard a single word about you
Falling in love wasn’t my plan
I never thought that I would be your lover
C’mon baby, just understand

Michael Jackson’s song, “This Is It”, was released on the internet at midnight on October 12, 2009 and the official CD will be released on October 28th 2009. This Is It was thought to be recorded in 1983 with co-author, Paul Anka and the Jackson estate has recently confirmed this. Originally, the recording was found in a box of cassette tapes with only Michael Jackson singing and a piano. It is uncertain when all of the music was compiled with the backing vocals and other instruments. His album is also titled “This Is It” and contains 2 disc’s with eighteen oldies and the one everyone is waiting on, This Is It. Please watch the video below and let us know what you think about it before it’s released!

Michael Jackson’s song, This Is it is definitely going to be popular among fans, but it is really hard to say if it will be a classic or even a hit like many of his other songs. We believe “This Is It” would not have been as successful if Michael had released this song while he was alive. It really lacked that groovy feeling that Michael had produced many times before. Many of the mourning fan’s will embrace this song due to his untimely death. The song has a nice, slow rhythm and seems to be a little blue. But nevertheless, it’s a Jackson song and it will sell many records. This is basically a sad song, reminding the loyal Jackson fans of what a great artist and powerful songwriter that Michael really was. What are your opinions on the song and lyrics?

A comedy skit in Australia on it’s popular TV show called ‘Hey Hey its Saturday’ is under scrutiny after being accused of racism. These allegations come after the actors called “The Jackson Jive” painted their faces black and wore black afro wigs. There was one actor that was white with a black wig and dubbed himself as Michael Jackson.
One of the people the most surprised was a guest judge on the show, Harry Connick jr. whom called for an apology after the show implied racism by allowing the skit to take place. Harry Connick awarded the 5 Australians performing the skit a zero. Connick also stated that “If I knew that was going to be part of the show I definitely wouldn’t have done it,”

The front man of the skit is an Australian based plastic surgeon, Anand Deva, but is from India. Five of the Six people performing the skit comes from multicultural backgrounds and that none of them meant any harm in the skit. Anand Deva commented on the situation and said “I am an Indian, and five of the six of us are from multicultural backgrounds and to be called a racist … I don’t think I have ever been called that ever in my life before,”
The talk about this then headed to twitter with some people asking “if white people painting their faces black was considered racism” while others called this “embarrassing and distasteful”. After an online poll at one of Australia’s largest newspapers, 62 percent of the people that responded stated that the skit was tasteless and racist.
Some people seem to have different views and opinions on what is and isn’t considered racism. We can understand that a guy from India would be fine with joking about Michael Jackson since he comes from a different country all together. But for us in the United States, we seem to think different.
In the U.S. we always have comedy skits on popular TV actors, actress’ and pop music stars but things have never gone quite this far. We do make fun of peoples race, but in a way that it doesn’t upset too many people. But doing a skit about someone that has recently died is going a little too far. Not to mention, Michael has a fan base that covers the entire world.
What are your views on this situation? Do you think it is racism?