Michael Jackson
Gossip (Page 2)

This summer, So You Think You Can Dance producer Nigel Lythgoe had this awesome Michael Jackson-dance-tribute episode of the Fox hit planned. He even had Paula Abdul putting it together ... until Team MJ nixed it at the last minute.

Whether it was Sony or the [Jackson] family estate, SYTYCD could not get the music cleared legally, as they must to use it on the show. Which is too bad.

Well, Dancing With the Stars will be putting on its own show dedicated to the late King of Pop. The special Jackson tribute will air this Tuesday, October 20.

All Season 9 DWTS pros - including Mark Ballas, Cheryl Burke, Maksim Chmerkovskiy, Tony Dovolani, Chelsie Hightower, Derek Hough, Kym Johnson, Lacey Schwimmer, Jonathan Roberts, Edyta Sliwinska and Karina Smirnoff - are on board.

The late Michael Jackson will be honored on Dancing with the Stars.

That's cool and all, except for the fact that So You Think You Can Dance would have done a better job. DWTS' higher ratings probably persuaded Jackson's reps to green light it, but the late music icon himself would probably disapprove.

If he were alive, he'd be hiring his backup dancers out of the younger, hipper SYTYCD troupe (like winner Jeanine Mason) before the DWTS pros in a second.

DWTS' professionals are talented, but lack the unique, eclectic styles and wow factor that has consistently made SYTYCD one of the most fun shows on TV.

We hope we're proven wrong and Dancing With the Stars knocks it out of the park. But it seems like So You Think You Can Dance and its better production/direction, and more appropriate talent, should have been the pick to honor MJ.

Let's put it this way: Which show's cast would do the best job paying homage to Jackson's "Bad" video, for example? We rest our case.

Tickets for the late Michael Jackson’s documentary, This Is It, went on sale September 27, and hundreds of shows around the globe sold out in under 24 hours.

But is it even a documentary? Is it a movie? A concert? All of the above?

“It’s somewhere in between,” says Sony Pictures co-chair Amy Pascal of the film, which consists of behind-the-scenes footage of Jackson rehearsing for his planned comeback concerts at London’s O2 arena, which he died before he could partake in.

There's also his new song by the same name that was just released.

“It’s a movie about rehearsing for a concert that never happened," Pascal said. "It’s heartbreaking and inspiring at the same time. It gives you the chills.”

With the October 28 worldwide release of the movie fast approaching, some new Michael Jackson pictures have been obtained by Entertainment Weekly.

Click to enlarge the images below, including MJ's new EW cover ...

The family of the late Michael Jackson is reportedly at odds over whether his three children should star in an upcoming A&E reality show about the famous family.

The buzzed-about program will reportedly include Michael's kids - Prince I, 12, Paris, 11, and Prince II (Blanket), 7, although not everyone's happy about it.

Count eldest sister Rebbie Jackson, 59, who has refused to be in the series (called The Jacksons: A Family Dynasty, set to air in December) among the detractors.

Rebbie, who has been rumored to be a potential guardian for the three children now and down the line, along with her mother Katherine Jackson, "feels Michael would be rolling in his grave if he knew his kids would be on this show," says a source.

Given that Michael fiercely guarded the children's privacy and raised them with the hope they would lead the normal life he never had, she's probably correct.

The children of Michael Jackson at the star's July 7 memorial service.

While youngest sister Janet Jackson, 43, is on board, mom Katherine, who the kids are currently living with "is just going along with things," a source continues.

Still, one of the creators of the program - which will be either five one-hour episodes or 10 half-hour episodes - says the entire family shines on the series.

"We have 23 cast members with the last name Jackson," executive producer Jodi Gomes said. "They've done a great job opening up about losing a brother."

In addition to coping with the loss of their father, the children have all been the subject of paternity rumors since he passed away. Should they be left alone?

Should Michael Jackson's children be on a reality show?

Don't hold your breath, Helen Harris-Scott.

The random nut job, who once claimed Michael Jackson communicated with her through his music, has just filed a creditor's claim against his estate, naturally.

Mo' money, mo' problems, a wise man said.

Helen Harris-Scott filed the creditor's claim in L.A. County Superior Court on Friday, demanding an insane amount of money. Woman wants $50 million. Really.

Michael Jackson was an eccentric guy, and had myriad personal problems. But he's got nothing on the random wackos trying to grab a piece of his mammoth estate.

This isn't the woman's first legal battle with Jackson, either. Nor is it the first one she's likely to lose, or the first she probably concocted after a few too many drinks.

Helen Harris-Scott filed a lawsuit against Michael in 2006, claiming Jackson installed a tracking device in her car, wiretapped her phone and even had "organized criminals watching me inside my house in L.A. and reporting to him."

We're gonna guess that didn't happen.

Helen wanted $100 million from Michael Jackson then. She must be doing better for herself lately, since this time around, she's only asking for half that amount.

Michael Jackson's newest (and final) single "This Is It" began streaming on the late singer's official site and hitting radio airwaves Monday at midnight this morning.

The song's release comes amid much hype and nearly four months after the music icon died on June 25 at age 50, grinding the entertainment world to a halt.

An upbeat R&B track, "This Is It" features Jackson's brothers, with whom he first rose to stardom as a child decades ago, on backing vocals, which is neat.

The lyrics, fittingly for a man who influenced so many fellow artists and millions of fans, include "This is it, here I stand/I'm the light of the world, I feel grand."

The two-disc album This Is It will be available in the U.S. October 27, the day before the release of the Michael Jackson documentary This Is It October 28.

Check out the new song below and tell us what you think ...

What do you think of MJ's new song, "This Is It"?

On the bad taste scale, South Park and It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia vie for the top spot. Few other programs see no taboos when it comes to laughs.

Case in pint? Deceased celebrities.

Michael Jackson, DJ AM, Patrick Swayze, Farrah Fawcett, David Carradine, Walter Cronkite, Natasha Richardson, Dom DeLuise, Ed McMahon and Billy Mays, all of whom died this year, were resurrected by the Comedy Central cartoon.

With something for (the offending of ) everyone, the episode included Jackson taking possession of little Ike, Mays continuing to pitch products from the beyond and a final destination that ... well, we don't want to give it away.

Here's a brief clip of Michael Jackson on South Park ...

MJ on South Park

What do you think?

The LAPD will present the case against Dr. Conrad Murray, the sole suspect in the June 25 death of Michael Jackson, to the L.A. County D.A.'s office next week.

LAPD detectives planned to wrap up their exhaustive homicide investigation and present the case by the second week in October. They remain on schedule.

Authorities are waiting on some written evaluations by medical professionals who reviewed evidence surrounding Jackson's death of a suspected overdose.

Law enforcement sources say the medical reports are finally in and the LAPD plans to formally present the case to the D.A.'s office at some point next week.

After that, the D.A. will determine whether to file charges and what kind.

Conrad Murray was Michael Jackson's personal doctor at the time of his death.

Prosecutors have been working with the LAPD for months now, so it's not as if the evidence will be a surprise. Sources say Dr. Murray remains the sole target.

A law enforcement source says there's a "70/30 chance" the D.A. will take the case to the L.A. County Grand Jury rather than charge Dr. Conrad Murray directly.

Murray's girlfriend, Nicole Alvarez, is expected to testify.

The source says this could be a complicated case - obviously - and the very lengthy preliminary hearing that could ensue wouldn't have much upside for prosecutors.

A grand jury indictment would prolong the process, as it would have to be seated and evidence presented, but it would be easy to get and avoids a hearing.

Stay tuned ...

Michael Jackson's friend and dermatologist, Dr. Arnold Klein, was shut down in court by a judge ruled he has no legal right to raise concerns the late star's kids.

Klein's lawyer, Mark Vincent Kaplan, showed up in probate court and said his client had concerns about the kids and how they were raised - per MJ's request.

He did not object to Katherine Jackson being named their guardian.

Arnold Klein is rumored to be the biological father of Paris Jackson and Michael Jr., the singer's older two kids. This has not been factually established, however.

Court documents show the judge ruled Klein had "no legal standing" because there's a "conclusive presumption" Jackson and Debbie Rowe are the parents.

Michael Jackson and his close friend Dr. Arnold Klein.

Klein admitted he gave sperm to Jackson at some point but says that to the best of his knowledge, he's not the dad. Nor will he take a test. Unless asked.

In any case, he has no standing to say how they are raised unless he is an actual parent, which as far as the court is concerned, Dr. Arnold Klein is not.

On a side note, the court also found there is "no legal mother" of Prince Michael Jackson II, a.k.a. Blanket. He has many rumored moms, like Pia Bhatti.

Do you think Dr. Arnold Klein is Paris and Michael Jr.'s father?

You've finally met your match, Robert Pattinson.

While tickets for The Twilight Saga: New Moon have been selling out faster than Kim Kardashian when faced with a QuickTrim offer, the film is no longer Fandango's most popular selection.

Instead, the film site ranks Michael Jackson's This Is It as the most anticipated flick of the fall season. MovieTickets.com agrees; it's already recoreded over 550 sellouts of the behind-the-scenes concert documentary.

This Is It opens on October 28. It will only run for two weeks and will show footage of Jackson rehearsing for his final tour; an event, sadly, that never took place.

Last year, of course, Disney billed Best of Both Worlds, starring Miley Cyrus, as a one-week-only event. It earned $31 million opening weekend - and ended up running for four months.

In other words: if you don't have tickets for the MJ documentary yet, don't worry. We have a feeling it will be around for awhile.

** UPDATE: New autopsy results have been leaked out, and the coroner has determined Jackson weighed 136 pounds at the time of his death; was actively producing sperm; and has been deemed "fairly healthy" at the time of his passing.

This won't help Conrad Murray's case. It sounds like the doctor's dose of Propofol really did Jackson in.

The worldwide premiere of the film documenting the King of Pop's preparation for his comeback tour that he died before he could embark on, is set for October 27.

Follow this link to check out a leaked clip from the documentary.

The This Is It film event will be supplemented by a new single from the late Michael Jackson, also entitled "This Is It," scheduled to be released on October 12.

A two-disc album by the same name will come out October 27.

Regarding the new single, "This song only defines, once again, what the world already knows - that Michael is one of God's greatest gifts," said John McClain, co-producer of the album and co-executor of the superstar's estate.

Michael Jackson rehearsing for the tour that wasn't.

The first disc will feature the original masters of Michael's greatest hits arranged in the same order as they appear in the film, ending with the new "This Is It."

The new song features the Jackson brothers on backing vocals.

Disc two offers unreleased versions of his classic tracks, including a spoken word poem from Michael entitled "Planet Earth." It also includes a 36-page commemorative booklet with exclusive pictures of his last rehearsal.

It's hard to blame the estate for trying to cash in on the overwhelming interest in and popularity of Michael Jackson's music in the wake of his tragic death, but at this rate, This Is It should be renamed "This Is Overkill."

Or maybe his fans want every second of it. You tell us.

Will you go see the MJ documentary, This Is It?