07/02/2009
Michael Jackson's Final Rehearsals, Memorial Details Revealed
Above, the light from within Michael Jackson's Neverland Ranch early this morning. The final footage of Jackson rehearsing with his dancers for his 50-show 'This is It' tour has been released.
Watch it, AFTER THE JUMP...
It was announced today that Jackson's memorial service at the Staples Center will cost $25. T-shirts will be sold.
Posted 7:05 PM EST by Andy Towle in Michael Jackson, News | Permalink
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Nice
Posted by: Brian in Texas | Jul 2, 2009 7:24:22 PM
Sigh. This has been a heartbreaking week. :\
Posted by: sparks | Jul 2, 2009 7:31:00 PM
How crass, hell, I even have provisions in my will for an open bar.
Posted by: John M | Jul 2, 2009 7:38:42 PM
$25! - profoundly sad - I see what drove the man to such extremes when he looked in the mirror and saw the shadow of his father's face looking back.
Posted by: fred | Jul 2, 2009 8:06:36 PM
If I wait long enough it'll probably be shown on HBO for free!!
Posted by: PDQ | Jul 2, 2009 8:11:43 PM
Leave it to the Jackson family (my guess is Joe) to try and make a fucking buck off the death of Michael....what poor taste!!! I mean, t-shirts?? REALLY???? That's a new low!
Posted by: Christopher | Jul 2, 2009 8:20:09 PM
Well, there is an issue of demand management, I suppose. Having free tickets would cause some sort of run on tickets. If people will pay $25 to go and it fills up Staples Center, then I suppose I don't mind charging for it. This isn't your run-of-the-mill funeral. Although I do wonder if the money is going into the "Michael Jackson Family Trust" or into Joe Jackson's pockets... if the latter, then I can't say I approve. Otherwise I don't mind it.
Posted by: Alex | Jul 2, 2009 9:13:36 PM
MSNBC just reported the 11,000 tickets to Tuesday's memorial will be distrubed for NO CHARGE!
Posted by: B | Jul 2, 2009 9:26:22 PM
It's so funny how it looks like Michael has a bunch of dancers who are dancing to choreography, when Geraldo Rivera insisted for two days after Jackson died that he hadn't even hired a choreographer or dancers yet. Geraldo's an ass.
Posted by: paul c | Jul 2, 2009 9:27:11 PM
THIS is the man who was supposedly so frail that he could barely walk?!
Posted by: soulbrotha | Jul 2, 2009 9:52:57 PM
I'm mixed, SoulBrotha. His contract committed him to a whopping 13 minutes of singing per performance. The O2 stadium is known for having state of the art lip synching capacity (whatever the hell that means---I think my living room has state of the art lip syncing capacity).
If he could keep up dancing for two hours, then that raises questions. If he could manage two minutes, well...drugs can help you do anything for two minutes. I'm not mocking him, just saying it's hard to infer much from such a brief clip.
Posted by: Paul R | Jul 2, 2009 10:04:16 PM
Okay, I think Michael Jackson's most fanatic fans can be as goofy as all hell, but I bet if- somehow or other- all M.J.'s fortune had been left to an organization run by them, they'd use the money well (for only the most reliable charities) to do good things in his name. They seem that devoted.
Posted by: JoeTynan | Jul 2, 2009 11:32:36 PM
shit i would be charging more than $25.
Posted by: randall | Jul 2, 2009 11:47:52 PM
All I know is that the event is expected to cost the City of Los Angeles upwards of $2,000,000.00. I hope the costs are not passed on to homeowners. Perhaps that is why the family is selling t-shirts...to defray the cost. If so, it will be the classiest move they have ever made.
Posted by: peterparker | Jul 3, 2009 1:02:24 AM
He doesn't look like a man about to drop dead - but the moves don't look too stressful either.
Howver he IS lip-syncing, which makes me think the show would have made Britney Spears look vocally-talented.
Posted by: Paul | Jul 3, 2009 2:39:01 AM
I never cared for his music when I was a kid in the early 80's; but now that I am older and hear some of his songs he was very talented. Still not my kind of music but he was very good at what he did and I would probaly go see him if I had the opportunity.
Kind of reminds me of when Elvis died. My mom and my Grandma cried; I was 10 and I loved country music and didn't realize how important he was to music at the time. Don't get me wrong, I don't think MJ was at the same level as Elvis but probably second.
I feel sorry for him more than anything else as I watched the progression of his face; on the internet. My partner and I watched the last stuff he did; played over and over on CNN; he looked like a clown. I can only say its sad; I hope where ever he is; he is happy.
Posted by: Jason | Jul 3, 2009 2:50:53 AM
No offense to anyone, but I have tired of all this media coverage. CNN has become the MJN. The keep rehashing things over and over and over again. Then you have these correspondents, commentators and so-called experts who didn't even know him adding their two-cents. If something new comes up then cover it, other than that, I wish the networks would cover other news.
All 'gay' related issues, such as what happened in Fort Worth not mentioned. They only briefly mentioned Obama's 'Stonewall' get together, troops went in force into areas of Afghanistan, yet 80-90% of the coverage is Michael Jackson (speculation of what is going to happen to his kids? Who will have control of his fortune? Where will he be buried? The list goes on. When the family decides, they will let the public know). I actually feel sorry for the kids, because the media keeps harping at who their parents really are. What kind of crap is that. It's almost as though the other news of the world is interrupting the Michael Jackson story.
OK, I will step down from my soapbox.
Posted by: CB | Jul 3, 2009 3:20:50 AM
Jermaine Jackson talks to Matt Lauer in a TODAY to give their thoughts and sentiments about their brother’s sudden death last week.
Posted by: Jermaine Jackson on Today Show | Jul 3, 2009 3:26:41 AM
CNN is also reporting that the tickets are free of charge. You only need to register to obtain one. I doubt they will be selling t-shirts at a funeral/memorial either.
Posted by: Ryan | Jul 3, 2009 6:18:20 AM
Lip syncing or not, he seemed to still have it. Heck, my dad and MJ were the same age and Lord knows my pop can't make moves like that seem so easy
Posted by: damien | Jul 3, 2009 7:08:44 AM
$25!.. wow, i'm shocked.
Posted by: gas safety london | Jul 3, 2009 7:24:24 AM
Maybe if you get your dad hooked on demerol (added benefit: legally available from a licensed drug dealer business, aka doctor with prescription pad and pharmacist) or a related opioid like heroin, he'll be able to make those moves. Or not.
Posted by: galore | Jul 3, 2009 8:12:39 AM
Just saw a nice piece this morning on a morning show with Ryan White's mother.
Posted by: Name: | Jul 3, 2009 9:39:46 AM
Hey Andy- have a good vacation! Are you heading to p-town- I was there about a week ago for 5 days and it rained every day- grrr- still had a great time at night though. Hope to see some pics from your trip!
-chris k
Posted by: chris | Jul 3, 2009 11:22:01 AM
I wonder how this is going to go over with MJ's fans...
http://laist.com/2009/07/03/god_hates_fred_phelps.php
Posted by: Wheezy | Jul 3, 2009 4:25:05 PM