MICHAEL JACKSON29. The results of Michael Jackson’s autopsy are in, but officials won’t reveal the coroner’s findings while the investigation into the star’s death is still ongoing. Jackson’s toxicology report was also completed, but the findings will likewise remain sealed. Los Angeles coroner Ed Winter declined to say if and his office will announce the cause and manner of Jackson’s death, the BBC reports. The Los Angeles Police Department requested that the coroner’s office keep the records confidential for now.

As Rock Daily has previously reported, law enforcement officials working on Jackson’s death have focused their investigation on Dr. Conrad Murray, Jackson’s personal physician who authorities believed administered the powerful sedative Propofol to the singer within 24 hours of his death on June 25th. An overdose of the sedative could cause a patient to stop breathing, which leads to a buildup of carbon dioxide buildup in the body that could result in sudden cardiac arrest.

In the weeks since June 25th, police have raided Dr. Murray’s Houston offices and Las Vegas home, searching for “evidence of manslaughter” in relation to Jackson’s death and information on the many aliases Jackson used when obtaining illegal drugs. A search of Jackson’s home after his death recovered a bag of Propofol, an IV stand and oxygen tanks. So far, no charges have been filed against Murray.

In other Jackson news, brother Jermaine Jackson is reportedly trying to organize an all-star tribute concert to Michael in Vienna, Austria, in late September, the BBC writes. Jermaine performed in a tribute to his brother in Vienna at the Save the World Awards in July, as well as sang the Charlie Chaplin song “Smile” at Jackson’s memorial at Los Angeles’ Staples Center. According to the BBC, Jermaine will curate the planned event. “Jermaine Jackson will take care of that personally,” a spokeswoman for World Awards Media, who will host the concert, said. “He is inquiring [about] all his friends and stars he knows for that concert.” The Jermaine tribute is not affiliated with the AEG Live-planned tribute concerts planned for later this year.


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MICHAEL JACKSON29. An attorney for Michael Jackson's mother says she is considering a wrongful death lawsuit because of the circumstances surrounding her son's demise, and that the singer's personal physician is a likely target.

The idea is still nascent and Dr. Conrad Murray is the main name that's been mentioned, attorney Burt Levitch said Monday, following a court hearing where a judge approved a merchandising deal that will benefit the King of Pop's estate.

"The possibility of a wrongful death action has been floated," Levitch said. "In that regard, no decision has been finalized ... Dr. Murray's name has been floated because he is under investigation."

Authorities investigating Jackson's June 25 death have been focusing on Murray, who they believe administered a powerful anesthetic to the pop singer the day he died. Levitch wouldn't say whether concert promoter AEG might also be a defendant.

"It's fairly obvious from press accounts that AEG had a very active role in Michael's life for the last six months," Levitch said. "They paid for his home and for Dr. Conrad Murray."

"It would be inappropriate to speculate on any potential litigation," said AEG spokesman Michael Roth.

Miranda Sevcik, a publicist for Murray attorney Edward Chernoff, said she had seen the press conference with Levitch, but that doesn't mean a lawsuit "is imminent."

"Whether or not the Jackson family decides to proceed with a civil suit is up to them," she said in an email.

Earlier in the day, a judge signed off on a deal that would soon bring official Michael Jackson merchandise to store shelves, but the fate of a proposed tour of the King of Pop's memorabilia remained in limbo after the singer's mother expressed renewed concerns.

Attorneys for Katherine Jackson withdrew their objections to an agreement with merchandiser Bravado to bring everything from Jackson trading cards, apparel and cell phone themes to consumers.

But her objections remain a roadblock to a deal that would put some of her son's prized items on display later this year. That tour was intended to coincide with the release of a major movie featuring his final rehearsals for a series of London shows.

Levitch said Mrs. Jackson's primary objection is that it was not open to competitive bidding by companies other than AEG. He also said he believed the deal that was negotiated, which would provide a 50-50 split between AEG and the estate, was insufficient.

He also said that Mrs. Jackson has recently reasserted her desire to either be named a co-executor or have a member of the family, designated by her, as an executor. Jackson's will named longtime attorney John Branca and music executive John McClain as the sole executors of his estate, with Katherine Jackson, the singer's children and unnamed charities as beneficiaries.

"No one has reflected on what it takes to nurture an estate and no one is a better position than Katherine Jackson or her designees to do that," Levitch said. "Rather than trying to derail this estate, we would like to take our place at the table."

Howard Weitzman, an attorney for Branca and McClain, said outside court: "I'm not sure why the objections are being made" but said Mrs. Jackson certainly has the right to make them.

"Katherine Jackson is a beneficiary. She's entitled to object to deals that may impact her and the children," Weitzman said.

Attorneys for AEG and the current administrators of Jackson's estate wanted the memorabilia tour approved Monday, but Superior Court Judge Mitchell Beckloff instead scheduled an evidentiary hearing for Friday to determine if the deal represented the best arrangement for Jackson's estate.

The deal is expected to generate up to $6 million for the estate, said Weitzman. One of the concessions Katherine Jackson is apparently seeking is the authority to sign off on the deal.

Beckloff said he was inclined to reject that argument, but wasn't sure that he could grant the estate's administrators approval to enter into the deal without hearing more information.

AEG attorney Kathy Jorrie stressed outside court that the clock is ticking on the deal and it must be approved on Friday to remain viable. The exhibit, would be organized by Arts and Exhibitors International, an AEG owned company which has also staged such traveling shows as the King Tut exhibit and the exhibit of Princess Diana's possessions.

"We think it's the best deal the co-special administrators could negotiate," Jorrie said outside of court. "We don't believe the objections by Katherine Jackson are meritorious."

———

AP entertainment writer Anthony McCartney contributed to this report.

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MICHAEL JACKSON29. The King of Pop will be buried on what would have been his 51st birthday, a spokesman for Michael Jackson's family said Tuesday.

Jackson will be buried at a private ceremony at Forest Lawn-Glendale on Aug. 29, spokesman Ken Sunshine said in a statement. Guests will be limited to family and close friends, Sunshine said.

"The Jackson family once again wishes to express its gratitude to Michael's fans around the world for their support during these difficult times," the statement said.

Details about the ceremony and the whereabouts of Jackson's body have been tightly guarded. The announcement came a day after the New York Daily News reported comments by Jackson's father, Joe Jackson, that his son would be buried on what would have been his birthday.

Sunshine said Jackson will be buried on the Holly Terrace at the cemetery's Great Mausoleum. The cemetery's Web site describes the mausoleum as featuring replicas of works by Michelangelo. It also features a stained glass recreation of Leonardo da Vinci's "The Last Supper."

The cemetery is located in the city of Glendale, which is about 8 miles north of downtown Los Angeles. It is a different location from the Hollywood Hills cemetery where Jackson's family was seen gathering days after his death on June 25.

A Forest Lawn spokesman said the cemetery does not comment on private funeral services.

Meanwhile, in New York, Spike Lee plans to mark Jackson's birthday with a block party-style celebration in Brooklyn on Aug. 29, where DJ Spinna will spin all things Michael Jackson.

Lee, a Brooklyn native, and Jackson collaborated on the music video for "They Don't Care About Us."

Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz will proclaim Aug. 29 "Michael Jackson Day" at the celebration.

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MICHAEL JACKSON29. Spike Lee is marking Michael Jackson's birthday with a block party-style celebration — in New York City's Borough of Kings.

The filmmaker's bash for the late King of Pop will be held in Brooklyn on Aug. 29, when Jackson would have turned 51.

DJ Spinna will be spinning all things Michael Jackson.

Lee, a Brooklyn native, and Jackson collaborated on the music video for "They Don't Care About Us."

Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz will proclaim Aug. 29 "Michael Jackson Day" at the celebration.

Jackson will be buried the same day in Glendale, Calif. He died June 25.

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MICHAEL JACKSON29. Before there was the sprawling Neverland ranch in California; before he became a superstar with the best-selling album of all time, "Thriller," a tiny house in the industrial city of Gary was home for Michael Jackson.

Since Jackson's death, two women from the Chicago area, about 30 miles from Gary, have started "The King of Pop Hometown Tour," taking busloads of tourists on a four-hour trek through Jackson family landmarks in northwest Indiana. The highlight is 2300 Jackson St., a small white-sided house as big as a two-and-a-half car garage where the Jackson family lived — with nine children — nearly four decades ago.

"This is a tour of motivation and inspiration," guide Denise Jordan Walker tells riders, as her partner Tecora Rogers readies the bus to leave. "We are not taking you to a gated community. We are not taking you to Neverland. We are taking you to Gary, Indiana."

On cue, a music video of the Jackson 5 plays on overhead screens as the bus pulls off from Chicago and travels south down the highway. A young Michael Jackson sings, "I'm going back to Indiana. Indiana here I come. I'm going back to Indiana. That is where my baby's from."

The women said they always wanted to host a Jackson-themed tour of Gary, but had put the idea aside to focus on a Chicago jazz music tour instead. After Michael Jackson's death in June, requests started pouring in, Walker said.

"It hasn't changed that much since the Jacksons lived here," Walker said. "It's pretty much like time stood still. We want to paint a picture and let people really feel what the Jacksons went through on a day-to-day basis."

Off the highway in Indiana, the bus drives through a heavily industrial area along Lake Michigan before stopping in front of the steel mill where father Joe Jackson worked. The tour goes on to the hospital where the Jackson children were born and the elementary school they attended. It also highlights the beginnings of the Jackson 5, with stops at Mr. Lucky's Lounge, where the group first performed, and the house where the Jacksons recorded for Steeltown Records in 1967.

While stuffed animals, cards and signs still decorate the outside of the Jackson home, the inside remains closed. The tour, however, has partnered with the owners of a mirror-image house across the street, allowing for a walk-through to get a feel for the Jackson home.

Later on, some tour-goers point at the marquee next to Roosevelt High School in Gary, which reads, "We celebrate the life of Michael Jackson."

The ride is broken up with video interviews with Gary residents who knew the Jacksons and videos of Michael Jackson songs, like "Remember the Time" and "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough." The music has some riders bopping their heads and tapping their feet. When Jackson sings one of his high-pitched "Ooohs..." the tour-goers "Ooh..." along with him.

There's even Jackson trivia. Tour guides call out questions: "Who was Michael Jackson's first wife?" or "What song was about his favorite pet?" Riders yell back the answers, "Lisa Marie Presley" and "Ben."

The trip is taken on a smaller charter tour bus that seats about two dozen people to allow for Gary's narrow side streets and to fit underneath low-hanging electrical wires.

One rider, Mallorie Garner, 58, of Olympia Fields, Ill., said the tour offered her perspective on the beginnings of such a famous family.

"It helps you appreciate where they started and how far they came," Garner said.

Another rider, Danielle Smith, a 21-year-old student from Park Forest, Ill., said she attended memorials after Michael Jackson's death. Seeing his childhood home put the singer's career into perspective for her, Smith said.

"To truly understand Michael you have to go where it all started, his beginning, their experiences in Indiana," Smith said. "It was really calming because I knew that's where he grew up, but there's a feeling of loss."

Tour guides researched the Jackson family's time in Gary to offer a glimpse into their early days, Walker said.

"They have this vision of Michael, he's bigger than big," Walker said. "But he had to come from somewhere. He had to have dreams. Neverland could never have happened without Gary."

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MICHAEL JACKSON29. Michael Jackson's personal physician has posted a short video thanking his supporters.

The one-minute video posted Tuesday on YouTube is the first time Dr. Conrad Murray has spoken publicly since Jackson died on June 25. He is being investigated on manslaughter charges.

Representatives for Murray say he has received death threats and has hired a bodyguard. In the video, he says he is afraid to return phone calls or use e-mail.

His statement reads in its entirety:

"I want to thank all of my patients and friends who have sent such kind emails, letters and messages to let me know of your support and prayers for me and my family. Because of all that is going on, I am afraid to return phone calls or use my email. Therefore, I recorded this video to let all of you know that I have been receiving your messages. I have not been able to thank you personally, which as you know, is not normal for me. Your messages give me strength and courage and keep me going. They mean the world to me. Please don't worry -- as long as I keep God in my heart and you in my life, I will be fine. I have done all I can do. I told the truth and I have faith that the truth will prevail. God bless you and thank you."

Murray thanked those who reached out to him with messages of support and said, "I told the truth and I have faith the truth will prevail."

Murray is at the center of the manslaughter investigation because he was with Jackson the day he died and has acknowledged giving him various medications.

Investigators are still looking into whether Murray administered the anesthetic profopol to Jackson prior to his death on June 25.

The Associated Press and Entertainment Tonight contributed to this story.

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MICHAEL JACKSON29. A Michael Jackson film built around rehearsal footage left behind after his death will be released in a limited two-week theatrical engagement worldwide.

Distributor Sony announced Thursday that the release date for "Michael Jackson: This Is It" has been moved up to Oct. 28, two days earlier than previously announced. Tickets go on sale Sept. 27.

The studio also announced longtime Jackson collaborator Kenny Ortega is directing "This Is It," which offers a behind-the-scenes glimpse of Jackson preparing for a series of London shows he was rehearsing when he died June 25.

Ortega had been working with Jackson on the "This Is It" concert tour, which had been planned as a colossal 50-show engagement at London's O2 Arena. His other credits include the "High School Musical" movies and an upcoming remake of "Footloose."

"This film is Michael's gift to his fans," Ortega said. "It's a very private, exclusive look into a creative genius's world. For the first time ever, fans will see Michael as they have never seen him before — this great artist at work. It is raw, emotional, moving and powerful footage that captures his interactions with the `This Is It' collaborators that he had personally assembled for this once in a lifetime project."

Sony paid $60 million for rights to the film, which will be drawn from more than 100 hours of footage shot in Los Angeles between April and June as Jackson prepared for the concerts that were to begin in July.

The filmmakers initially intended to include some 3-D footage but have dropped that plan. The film will show Jackson working with singers, dancers, musicians, choreographers and special-effects experts, Ortega said. (AP)

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Dr. Conrad Murray

MICHAEL JACKSON29. ET has obtained a new contract between Michael Jackson and concert promoter AEG that cites a health assessment of the King of Pop, prior to his much anticipated London concert series.

The document reads in regards to Jackson:

"Artistco (a company owned by Michael Jackson) hereby represents and warrants that artist does not possess any known health conditions, injuries or ailments that would reasonably be expected to interfere with artist's first class performance at each of the shows during the term."

The King of Pop, 50, passed away just days before his tour was to begin. The investigation into his death continues. (ETonline.com)

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MICHAEL JACKSON29. Randy Jackson just confirmed to TMZ that he and his brothers will serve as pallbearers at Michael Jackson's burial service.

Here's the message we just received straight from Randy -- " I will be there ... and yes the brothers will carry him from the hearse to the front of the mausoleum."

Randy, his brothers Jackie, Tito, Jermaine and Marlon were the pallbearers at the Staples Center Memorial last month.

Now, the family is preparing for the private burial which is set to take place August 29 at Glendale Forest Lawn -- on what would have been Michael's 51st birthday.


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MICHAEL JACKSON29.

Katherine Jackson won't give her blessing to a key deal in Michael Jackson's estate until her financial peeps have a chance to review it.

Katherine's lawyers went to court today, asking the judge to give her permission to show the confidential AEG memorabilia deal to her financial advisors. Under the current court protective order, she's only allowed to show the unredacted version to her lawyers.

Meanwhile, AEG is threatening to pull out of the deal, because the company is worried people are quickly losing interest in an MJ memorabilia tour.

Katherine's lawyer, Burt Levitch, thinks AEG may be crying wolf just to ram the deal through.

AEG has no comment on the matter.

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MICHAEL JACKSON29. The Michael Jackson concert rehearsal movie will be coming sooner than expected to a theater near you ... two days early.

Sony has announced that "Michael Jackson: This Is It" will begin its two-week theater run on October 28, instead of October 30 as originally planned. The move gives the studio a two-day jump on the busy Halloween weekend.

Tickets for the movie will go on sale September 27, more than a month before the movie even opens.
As for the action today in court, Randy Jackson is among several people expected to testify today about a pending deal with concert promoter AEG to do a tour of Jackson memorabilia. AEG wants to get the deal with Jackson's estate approved quickly to time the tour with the release of the movie.

There's some push back among members of the Jackson family, who are bitter over AEG and Jackson's death, and who believe AEG is getting too much money for the memorabilia tour.

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MICHAEL JACKSON29. A Los Angeles judge has approved a deal for the sale of official Michael Jackson merchandise.

The deal with Bravado will cover everything from Jackson trading cards to clothing and mobile phone themes.

But plans for a travelling exhibition of Jackson's possessions have been delayed amid objections from the late singer's mother.

Katherine Jackson has raised concerns about her son's legacy and the split of proceeds with promoter AEG Live.

A decision on the exhibition, which was intended to coincide with the release of a movie featuring Jackson's final rehearsals for his London concerts, will be made on Friday.

Superior Court Judge Mitchell Beckloff scheduled the hearing to determine if the deal represented the best arrangement for Jackson's estate.

Legal action

Kathy Jorrie, a lawyer for AEG, said the exhibition faced a tight deadline and the company's interest might wane if the tour was not approved soon.

She added AEG was not interested in renegotiating the deal.

Judge Beckloff approved a deal between Jackson's estate, AEG Live and Columbia Pictures for the film to be released 30 October.

Meanwhile, a lawyer for Katherine Jackson says she is considering taking legal action over the the circumstances surrounding her son's death.

Burt Levitch said no final decision on a "wrongful death" action had yet been made and hinted that Jackson's personal doctor, Conrad Murray, could be the subject "because he is under investigation".

Dr Murray has not been named as an official suspect, but court records have confirmed him as a subject in the manslaughter investigation of Jackson, who died suddenly on 25 June. (BBC)

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MICHAEL JACKSON29. Michael Jackson will be buried on Aug. 29, the date that would have been his 51st birthday, publicists for the Jackson family said on Tuesday morning in a news release. The announcement confirms remarks made earlier this week by Mr. Jackson’s father, Joe Jackson, who said in interviews that the singer would be laid to rest on that date.

In its release, the publicity firm Sunshine, Sachs & Associates said that Michael Jackson would be buried on Aug. 29 at 10 a.m. Pacific Daylight Time, at Holly Terrace in the Great Mausoleum at Glendale Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, Calif. The release said that the burial ceremony would private and limited to the Jackson family and close friends, but that there would be nearby accommodations for the news media. The Jackson family added that it “once again wishes to express its gratitude to Michael’s fans around the world for their support during these difficult times.”

The Associated Press reported that on that day, the filmmaker Spike Lee would hold a block party-style celebration in Brooklyn to commemorate Mr. Jackson’s birthday, and that the date would be declared “Michael Jackson Day” by the Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz at the event.

Mr. Jackson died on June 25 after suffering cardiac arrest, though the Los Angeles County coroner’s office has not yet released the results of its investigation into his death. The singer was honored at a public memorial held on July 7 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.By Dave Itzkoff

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MICHAEL JACKSON29. AMID the impassioned speculation about the final days of Michael Jackson, some questions about the singer just won’t go away. For example, was his nose really falling off?

The subjects of Mr. Jackson’s fading skin tone and the shape of his nose were often explained as the visual manifestations of an unhappy life, either a result of body dysmorphic disorder or feelings of inferiority about his race. Misunderstood, his extreme plastic surgery became a punch line.

“There’s so much easy speculation and so much derision about Michael Jackson,” said Linda Wells, the editor of the beauty magazine Allure. “But when you look at what happened to him in relation to the way he looked, it’s a fascinating study.”

Its September issue, out next week, includes a timeline of Mr. Jackson’s evolving images printed over two pages, which, if you step back, looks like a color card from Sherwin-Williams. Joan Kron, who has written extensively about plastic surgery, interviewed one of his plastic surgeons, a dermatologist who worked with Mr. Jackson and other medical experts to reconstruct, in essence, the blueprint of his face.

The verdict: His nose was not falling off.

While the article notes that many questions about the psychological motivations behind Mr. Jackson’s operations may ultimately be unanswerable, it does illuminate another — and more sympathetic — side to them. In many cases, Mr. Jackson was reacting to a chain of medical conditions. His first operation was to repair a broken nose, and later procedures may have masked more complicated issues, including a tattooed hairline and eyelashes to disguise the effects of lupus, and skin bleaching to lighten uneven patches caused by vitiligo.

“There is a sympathy you can have for someone who is going through a lot of things that were beyond his control,” Ms. Wells said.

She surmised that his more eccentric affectations might have been related to the effects of surgery. He may have worn a single glove to cover up discoloration on his hand, or hats to cover his hair loss. The bleaching creams would have made his skin sensitive to the sun, explaining the large black umbrellas and surgical masks that made him into something of a spectacle.

“Of course,” Ms. Wells hastened to add, “he liked being a spectacle.” By ERIC WILSON

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MICHAEL JACKSON29. Seven weeks since his death, Michael Jackson continues to dominate record sales, although his competition lately has not been very strong. Once again, Mr. Jackson’s “Number Ones” (Epic) was the best-selling album in the United States last week, with 98,000 sales, according to Nielsen SoundScan. His other titles, particularly “Thriller” and “The Essential Michael Jackson,” also continue to rack up significant sales; in total, about 3.7 million Jackson albums have been sold since his death on June 25.

The best-selling new album last week was “Live on the Inside” by the country duo Sugarland, which was released by Mercury Nashville through an exclusive retail deal with Wal-Mart. It sold 76,000 copies last week, enough to reach No. 1 on Billboard’s standard album chart, the Billboard 200. (Most Jackson titles are too old to qualify for it.) The next five spots on the chart are a photo finish, with each title scoring between 44,000 and 45,000 sales. Vol. 31 of the pop compilation series “Now That’s What I Call Music!” is No. 2, and another country group, Gloriana, is No. 3 with its new, self-titled debut album, on Warner Brothers. The Black Eyed Peas are No. 4 with “The E.N.D.” (Interscope), the Kings of Leon’s “Only by the Night” (RCA) is No. 5, and Daughtry’s “Leave This Town” (RCA) is No. 6.
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MICHAEL JACKSON29. For only the second time in two months, someone has sold more records than Michael Jackson. The first to do so, a month ago, was Daughtry, and this week the country hero George Strait has the best-selling album in the country with “Twang” (MCA Nashville), which opens at No. 1 on the Billboard chart with 155,000 sales, according to Nielsen SoundScan. No. 2 is Neil Diamond’s new CD/DVD package “Hot August Night/NYC” (Sony), recorded live at Madison Square Garden last year. Available only at Wal-Mart and Sam’s Club stores, it sold 57,000 copies. The Black Eyed Peas are No. 3 with “The E.N.D.” (Interscope), selling 45,000 copies, and the rock band Cobra Starship opens at No. 4 with 42,000 sales of its new “Hot Mess” (Fueled by Ramen/Decaydance). Kings of Leon’s “Only by the Night” (RCA) is fifth with just under 42,000, which brings that album’s 47-week total to more than 1.3 million.

Sales of Mr. Jackson’s albums have been slipping in recent weeks but are still strong. “Number Ones” (Epic) sold 80,000 copies, and was technically the second-best selling album in the United States last week. (Like most of Mr. Jackson’s titles, it is too old to qualify for Billboard’s standard album chart.) “The Essential Michael Jackson” (Epic) moved 43,000, and “Thriller” (Epic) 34,000.

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MICHAEL JACKSON29. Tito Jackson says he plans to pay tribute to his brother Michael during a British tour later this year.

Jackson is supporting soul diva Gladys Knight on a tour starting Oct. 6 in Manchester.

Concert promoters said Thursday that the 55-year-old musician would perform songs by Michael and by the Jackson 5 during the "Midnight Train to Love" tour.

They said other Jackson family members would also make appearances on the tour.

Michael Jackson died June 25 at the age of 50, weeks before he was due to start a string of comeback shows in London. A tribute concert is scheduled for Vienna on Sept. 26.
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MICHAEL JACKSON29. Fans have swamped the Web site offering tickets for next month's global Michael Jackson tribute in Vienna.

Some 85,000 passes for the Sept. 26 event in the Austrian capital are up for grabs on http://www.tribute2009.com. Prices range from about $85 to more than $712.

Event promoters say the Web site crashed more than half an hour before the sale was due to start at 11 a.m. EDT after a million people had accessed it.

Jackson's brother Jermaine is expected to name the performers in the next two weeks.

The tribute will take place at a 17th-century palace. Jermaine Jackson has said Vienna was chosen as the venue because his brother "loved castles." (AP)

Michael Jackson died June 25 at age 50.
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MICHAEL JACKSON29. The A&E network says an airdate for its documentary special about members of the Jackson family will be announced soon.

A&E spokesman Dan Silberman says the program focuses on brothers Jackie, Tito, Jermaine and Marlon Jackson. Silberman says Michael Jackson didn't participate in the show.

The 50-year-old King of Pop died June 25, weeks before he was due to start a string of comeback shows in London. A tribute concert is scheduled Sept. 26 in the Austrian capital of Vienna.

While the special could potentially be expanded into a series, the network says it currently has no plans beyond airing a stand-alone show.
___On the Net:

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MICHAEL JACKSON29. The studio behind the Michael Jackson film "This Is It" on Thursday advanced its release by two days to October 28, anticipating huge demand for the movie of his final performance rehearsals just days before his death.

Sony Pictures Entertainment said choreographer Kenny Ortega, who worked with the pop star throughout his career, will direct the movie, which will combine footage of the singer's rehearsals for the "This Is It" concerts that were to have begun in London last month.

"Fans will see Michael as they have never seen him before -- this great artist at work," Ortega said in a statement, calling the footage "raw, emotional, moving and powerful."

Jackson died of cardiac arrest on June 25 at age 50 only weeks before he was to have started the concerts. He was rehearsing almost daily and the show's promoters, AEG Live, were shooting digital video of the practice sessions.

Following his death, AEG Live and co-executors of Jackson's estate reached a deal with Sony to make and release the movie.

The studio said Ortega has more than 100 hours of footage and that the movie will offer Jackson fans "a rare, behind-the-scenes look at the performer."

A planned 3-D sequence for "This Is It" will not make it into the final reel, said a source familiar with the studio's efforts.

Sony Pictures had previously set a release date of October 30, but based on expected demand, Sony advanced the film's debut.

Tickets go on sale September 27 for what will be a limited, two-week release of "This Is It" around the globe.

(Editing by Xavier Briand)
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MICHAEL JACKSON29. A Michael Jackson film built around rehearsal footage left behind after his death will be released in a limited two-week theatrical engagement worldwide.

Distributor Sony announced Thursday that the release date for "Michael Jackson: This Is It" has been moved up to Oct. 28, two days earlier than previously announced. Tickets go on sale Sept. 27.

The studio also announced longtime Jackson collaborator Kenny Ortega is directing "This Is It," which offers a behind-the-scenes glimpse of Jackson preparing for a series of London shows he was rehearsing when he died June 25.

Ortega had been working with Jackson on the "This Is It" concert tour, which had been planned as a colossal 50-show engagement at London's O2 Arena. His other credits include the "High School Musical" movies and an upcoming remake of "Footloose."

"This film is Michael's gift to his fans," Ortega said. "It's a very private, exclusive look into a creative genius's world. For the first time ever, fans will see Michael as they have never seen him before — this great artist at work. It is raw, emotional, moving and powerful footage that captures his interactions with the `This Is It' collaborators that he had personally assembled for this once in a lifetime project."

Sony paid $60 million for rights to the film, which will be drawn from more than 100 hours of footage shot in Los Angeles between April and June as Jackson prepared for the concerts that were to begin in July.

The filmmakers initially intended to include some 3-D footage but have dropped that plan. The film will show Jackson working with singers, dancers, musicians, choreographers and special-effects experts, Ortega said.
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MICHAEL JACKSON29. Michael Jackson's brother Randy is expected on the witness stand to testify about why a proposed memorabilia tour may not be the best deal for the King of Pop's estate.

Randy Jackson, an accountant and a lawyer are among those scheduled to testify Friday in Los Angeles. Another probable witness is concert promoter Leonard Rowe, who has been critical of the company that would oversee the exhibit, AEG Live.

Jackson's mother, Katherine, has opposed the AEG deal for several reasons.

AEG wants to time the tour to the opening of a film based on footage of Jackson's final rehearsals that will be released in October.

A judge wants to hear testimony about the proposed deal so that he can decide whether to give it his approval.
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