Michael Jackson dead at 50?

[Luke]

Off next-door to see Madonna now. I'd still rather be seeing Michael Jackson lip-synching and a shadow of his former self.

[ademas]

I think there are certain talents that reach well beyond the pale, and achieve an iconic status for their contribution to their genre, that are well worth the price of the concert ticket in their later years.

I saw Ella Fitzgerald in concert when she was near 70.  She wasn't in the same "voice" that she was at 35, but she still had the technique, and the charisma, and it was probably the best concert I've ever been to.  

There's a big difference between seeing an icon such as MJ in a world-tour caliber show than seeing Pablo Cruise or Air Supply at the Emerald Queen Casino or Puyallup Fair.

[BT65]

Does this mean that I should not go to the Kajagoogoo reunion tour?

If you go, take me!

It should be noted that yesterday, I saw John Mellencamp, Bob Dylan, and Willie Nelson in concert at South Bend Silverhawk's ballpark (Coveleski, yeah I know that means nothing).  Mellencamp kicked ass and the other two were good.  Dylan sang a couple songs I knew, so I could follow along with the words; otherwise, I have no idea what he's saying when he sings.  Willie was good, but better in my drinking days.

[Miss Philicia]

You know, the funny thing is that the three biggest 80's/90's figures: Jackson, Madonna and Whitney Houston, if you had been asked in 1989 which of them would crash and burn and in what order everyone would have put Madonna first, yet she's been the cleanest relatively speaking.  Her messiness when it has happened has been relatively minor.  Nothing comes close to those legendary leaked photographs of Whitney's drug paraphernalia in her filthy bathroom.  OK, maybe that wasn't as harmful as MJ's possible pedo stuff, but that didn't end up sticking.

Oh, Whitney's new album is dropping soon -- parts of the first single were just leaked and from what I've read, as I've not yet heard it, her voice suffers from post-crack pipe.

Quasi off topic: I'm utterly devastated that Miley Cyrus broke up with Justin "Underwear Model" Gaston to get back with *eww* Nick Jonas.  Just do a google-image for Justin and you'll see what I mean.  Plus I just adore that Justin practically does soft porn yet claims to love Jesus on his twitter space.

[antibody]

i love nick jonas he's so wholesome and tasty!

[Miss Philicia]

Yeah, like Wonder Bread.

[mecch]

Michael Jackson memorial at Staples centre

Well it was far classier than I expected.  A number of speakers were touching. Brooke Shields.  I also liked Al Sharpton and i NEVER like him much. 

A few strange show biz moments, but overall well done.  Why were the jacksons all wearing dark shades inside? Where did they get all those black suvs??  Why did they invite MLKing III who said more about his family than MJ.  etc etc.

[GNYC09]

The black sunglasses were probably to hide the tears.

[denb45]

The black sunglasses were probably to hide the tears.

Yes, I can confirm that it's the truth, Dark Sunglasses do hide all the tears, I've buried enough of my Friends due to AIDS, and I have a pair of them as well  

[BT65]

It was touching.  I liked what the congresswoman said about Michael going to the congress and telling them to fight for people with Aids back in the day.

I did cry a bit when his daughter spoke at the end.  That was extremely heart-wrenching.

[Miss Philicia]

According to TMZ, the use of SUV Range Rovers and Rolls Royces were donated by two companies in Encino where Katherine Jackson resides.

[RapidRod]

It was touching.  I liked what the congresswoman said about Michael going to the congress and telling them to fight for people with Aids back in the day.

I did cry a bit when his daughter spoke at the end.  That was extremely heart-wrenching.

Have to agree with you BT. Everything was okay until she spoke and that tore me up.. It made it more personal.

[northernguy]

Can I just say: enough of Michael Jackson!

Its a sad commentary on the state of the "news" media when the coverage of people dying for their rights in Iran is completely buried under non-stop coverage of this circus   

[Dennis]

LOL! You'd think the state was in financial trouble.

http://cbs2.com/local/Michael.Jackson.Los.2.1075071.html

LA Sets Up Web Site For Jackson Memorial Donations

The city of Los Angeles has set up a Web site to allow Michael Jackson fans to help the city pay for his Staples Center memorial service.

Mayor's office spokesman Matt Szabo said the site launched Tuesday morning is linked to a PayPal account where donors can help defray the ceremony's cost with tax deductible credit-card contributions. Szabo estimates the service will cost $1.5 million to $4 million.

The Web page reads: "Help the City of Angels provide the extraordinary public safety resources required to give Michael the safe, orderly and respectful memorial he deserves."

Click here to donate to the memorial.

[RapidRod]

Dennis, I wonder how much money the city of Angles  (not) made off Mickael Jackson through the years?

[carousel]

I know it was a memorial and all, but Mariah Carey sure has packed on the pounds.

Perhaps, she's comfort eating.

[skeebo1969]

I know it was a memorial and all, but Mariah Carey sure has packed on the pounds.

Perhaps, she's comfort eating.

I know it was a memorial and all, but Jermaine's voice sounded horrible.

[BT65]

I know it was a memorial and all, but Jermaine's voice sounded horrible.

He sounds exactly like Michael.  Do you think Michael's channeling his voice through Jermaine?

[Basquo]

Dennis, I wonder how much money the city of Angles  (not) made off Mickael Jackson through the years?

Angelica Huston in The Grifters :
"Los Angle-Ease"

[mecch]

Neither Stevie Wonder nor Jermaine Jackson sounded very good, but it wasn't the point to do perfect performace but to show respect for MJ and I think they did that well.

[Miss Philicia]

It was all about La Toya's hat!

[Ann]

It was all about La Toya's hat!

Did they bury that too?

[AndyArrow]

It was all about La Toya's hat!

That hat was so big I didn't even know Rebbie was there.

Janet looked like she was a member of Mossad.

[skeebo1969]

He sounds exactly like Michael.  Do you think Michael's channeling his voice through Jermaine?

Holy crap I think  you're right, it must have been the glove!

but it wasn't the point to do perfect performace but to show respect for MJ and I think they did that well.

I disagree, this is the Jackson 5 and the level of perfection expected out of them should not lessen just because of a simbling's death!!!   I mean sheeez we got people begging for tickets to the show, the city collecting donations...  I want fireworks , rising from the grave, all that good stuff.  I bet Michael was just spinning in his grave listening to his brother just butcher his favorite song.

[Miss Philicia]

That hat was so big I didn't even know Rebbie was there.

Janet looked like she was a member of Mossad.

And look closely at La Toya -- she's had some very MJ surgery and skin lightening done.  However, she was wiser and didn't quite go the MJ overboard route.  I think she looks really fab, and she's projecting fierce attitude.

[ademas]

LaToya does look great, though I doubt I can ever fully forgive her for that decade of headbands,
and I don't think any vibe she emits will ever occlude the underlying "batshit crazy".

[BT65]

Who's the other female in the picture with Latoya and Janet?

[Miss Philicia]

Who's the other female in the picture with Latoya and Janet?

Rebbie!  And for your viewing pleasure:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7MidxMUcJg

(v. good song!)

[BT65]

Why have I never heard of Rebbie?

[Miss Philicia]

Rebbie is still very Jehovah's Witness and has kept a low profile.  "Centipede" was a pretty big hit though in 1984, but nothing after that ever did well so she kind of retired from recording.

[mecch]

I loved Centipede, I played it on my little collapsing SONY walkman, it was stainless steel, red lacquer and white plastic. I ran up and down the hills of SF:

I don't think LaToya looks good at all.  Like Michael, she was adorable.  Turned into creepy often skanky alien-looking type "celebrity". 

Notice the size of the hat is mirror opposite of the size of each sister's talent. ehehehe

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[carousel]

Perhaps they could tour this memorial show.  I'm sure they'd clean up.

[Miss Philicia]

Yeah, La Toya doesn't look good there -- she's uber-plasticized looking.

Stuff is getting ugly -- CNN reported last night about a 2004 previously unreleased police interview with two Jackson security guards and how at one time he was up to 40 xanax each night.  Now TMZ is reporting that Jackson's body had injection marks in his NECK, and that he was most likely self-injecting Demerol.  This investigation will kick into high drama with many doctors and make Anna Nicole Smith look tame by comparison.  TMZ is very must read today!

The US needs a nation wide computer database that can instantaneously access how much of what drug in a certain time frame a patient is obtaining.

[Inchlingblue]

The US needs a nation wide computer database that can instantaneously access how much of what drug in a certain time frame a patient is obtaining.

But I had read that several different names/addresses were found to be used in connection with MJ so there would be ways to go around the database if someone was very motivated to do so. You know what they say, where there's a will........."

One of the TV shows (maybe Dateline?) did a computer rendering of what MJ would have looked like at 50 if he had not had any plastic surgery.  Basically it looked like someone older than 50 and very "normal" looking.  Like someone you'd see shopping at WalMart or something. It makes  sense how he, who cultivated such a strange persona, would have wanted to avoid at all cost looking like a regular person.

[Miss Philicia]

But I had read that several different names/addresses were found to be used in connection with MJ so there would be ways to go around the database if someone was very motivated to do so. You know what they say, where there's a will........."

Odd.  Just require a photo ID and a signature on file like to go to the bank.  This shouldn't be hard to implement.  Of course, pharmacy companies won't like it because abuse is so high in the US it will cut profits.

[mecch]

Thanks for the TMZ tip.
The photos from the Neverland Raid are too weird.  The boy mannequins?? The art?
It's very Henry Darger.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Darger
Will we now learn MJ wrote an epic Pop Opera about Neverland, that runs 36 hours and includes a cast of thousands of choir boys?



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[Miss Philicia]

Authorities Closing in On Jackson Doc
Posted Jul 11th 2009 11:53AM by TMZ Staff

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ the central target in both the coroner and LAPD investigations into Michael Jackson's death is Dr. Conrad Murray, who was at Jackson's house when the singer went into full cardiac arrest.

Sources say the doctor is not cooperating with authorities, but they have still found evidence linking him to the drug that may have killed Jackson. As we first reported, as a result of Dr. Murray's second interview with police two weeks ago today, the LAPD obtained a warrant to conduct a second search of Jackson's home -- and that's when they found Propofol, a powerful anesthesia that should never be used outside a hospital. There is evidence Propofol was administered to Jackson shortly before his heart stopped beating.

And we're told there is evidence Dr. Murray may have administered the drug. Dr. Murray's lawyer, Ed Chernoff, told TMZ he would neither confirm nor deny if Dr. Murray administered Propofol to Jackson. Law enforcement sources tell us if they conclude the doctor administered the drug it may well lead to manslaughter charges.

Investigators are also suspicious of the delay in calling 911 -- the Dr. says he waited 20 - 30 minutes because he didn't know Jackson's address that would lead paramedics to the house. Jackson lived on one of the most famous streets in the world -- one house above Sunset Blvd.

As the investigation into Jackson's death heats up, there's also an investigation into his life with drugs and the doctor's who fueled it. Sources tell us law enforcement is seriously investigating the prescription practices of several doctors who gave Jackson access to medications. Investigators are particularly interested in doctors who used aliases to write scripts for Jackson. One of the central figures in the investigation -- Dr. Arnold Klein.

We broke the story yesterday how members of Jackson's staff complained that Klein was using the names of employees and others to help Jackson score drugs. One of the names allegedly used -- Frank Tyson, a former Jackson employee. Several powerful meds in Tyson's name were prescribed by Dr. Klein and found at the Neverland Ranch during the 2003 search.

http://www.tmz.com/2009/07/11/michael-jackson-dr-conrad-murray-death-drugs-propofol-dr-arnold-lkein/

[next2u]

dang...that's a serious development. what's up with tmz's legitimacy?

[Miss Philicia]

what's up with tmz's legitimacy?

legit -- partially owned by Time Warner, and they were the first to find out when Jackson went to the hospital that he'd actually died, so they broke the story before any mainstream new source.  They're located in LA and have moles throughout the city with fire, ambulance and rescue to supplement their extensive PR/agency contacts.

Of course, even so, until it's corroborated we'll just have to wait.

[antibody]

looks like MJ was a hoarder.

[Miss Philicia]

Miss La Toya is not featuring Dr. Murray:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1199092/La-Toya-Jackson-Michael-murdered--I-felt-start.html

[next2u]

wow, i really hate her nose...job.

[antibody]

"Don't stop till you get enough" I can't get enough. I can't wait for more MJ news. it's all i been reading all weekend. I can't wait for Monday so we get more info.

[Miss Philicia]

omg I'm *so* gagging!  Video from the 1984 Pepsi shoot where Michael Jackson's hair caught fire ... finally released.

http://www.tmz.com/2009/07/15/michael-jackson-pepsi-explosion-video/

[David_CA]

omg I'm *so* gagging!  Video from the 1984 Pepsi shoot where Michael Jackson's hair caught fire ... finally released.

http://www.tmz.com/2009/07/15/michael-jackson-pepsi-explosion-video/

That's scary!  It's strange that he didn't notice the smell while spinning around in the smoke from his burning hair, but I guess with all that was going on he didn't.  I've read somewhere that he was mostly bald... if true, I wonder if it had something to do with those 2nd and 3rd degree burns.  That's how I remember him looking, by the way (at the first part of the video); I hardly recognized him in later pictures.

[GNYC09]

The drama! And the lack of sound made that video even scarier!

[Miss Philicia]

DEA just raided Dr. Murray's office in Houston:

http://www.tmz.com/2009/07/22/dr-conrad-murrays-office-raided/

[Inchlingblue]

You would think by now he's had enough time to go in there and destroy any damaging evidence.

[joemutt]

Topic: Michael Jackson dead at 50?

I think by now the question mark can be edited out of the title of this topic. 

[Ann]

I can't believe this thread is still going. The phrase "beating a dead horse" comes to mind.