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CNN Larry King Live
Remembering Michael Jackson
Aired June 26, 2009 - 01:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
J.C. CHASEZ, SINGER: When it comes to singing, like, when it comes to percussive and rhythmic singing, it's like, oh, that's what Michael does. When it comes to dancing, it's like if you're doing something sharp, clean, it's a style of dance.
He really -- he embraced, you know, popping and locking, but he really did it in his own style. And then when he -- when you added the dimension of the music videos, with especially "Smooth Criminal," somebody leans forward nice and slow, man. Everybody knows "Smooth Criminal." Everybody knows the moonwalk. Everybody knows the kick and the pushdown from the Motown reunion show. I mean, he's a term in entertainment now. It's like, "Oh, that's like Michael Jackson. Oh, that's like, you know..."
LARRY KING, HOST, "LARRY KING LIVE": I'll never forget him at the Super Bowl. Corey, do you think he could have been an actor?
COREY FELDMAN, ACTOR: Yes, well, he was an actor. I mean, his whole life was a performance. You have to realize that, when you become somebody as large as Michael Jackson, you're on 24 hours a day, whether you like it or not. So every time, you know, you see a fan, every time you have to stop and take a picture, even if you're not feeling happy inside, even if you don't have a good feeling, you have to put on a smile, and you have to make people warm and welcome.
KING: Shelley, from those little boys that you saw that day, can you believe what happened to him?
SHELLEY BERGER, PRODUCER: Oh, very...
KING: Can you understand how big he got? You can?
BERGER: There was no question about it. You knew at the first second.
I have to tell you, here are two Michael Jacksons. There is Michael Jackson, the person who talks very little, and when he did talk you couldn't hear him anyway, because he spoke in such a low voice, and he was always watching cartoons. He was always a little gentlemanly.
But Michael Jackson on stage was a killer. And the great example of that is, it is 1969. It's 1970. Diana Ross is appearing at Ceasars Palace. Mr. Gordy invites the Jackson family up to watch -- to watch the show. And they're sitting ringside. And we're sitting in a booth behind them. And Diana used to do a song called "Reach Out and Touch," in which she would go to people in the audience and let them sing a song. And she goes over to -- and Michael, was this big. And she goes over to Michael, and she hands him the microphone. He grabs the microphone, jumps up on the stage, and does six minutes and totally destroys the crowd for Diana. I mean, and Diana is no slouch. And she's one of the great performers of all time. He totally -- but then he would get back in his seat -- he was a very...
KING: How do you explain that?
FELDMAN: I have to say that, you know, I got to know Michael as a man, as a person. And we spent a lot of time alone together. He was a very, very intelligent man. Very sophisticated. He read all kinds of books. And he loved to get into debates. I mean, he loved to debate things. So he used his brain when given the opportunity.
He didn't like to share it with the outside world, because he was always afraid of letting people in too close. And the reason why he was able to get along with children so well is because they didn't demand anything of him. So you could have a conversation with him, and it wasn't like you were secretly waiting for him to write a check or sign his name to a contract.
KING: Makes sense. You not -- we're not going away. You're watching a special two-hour special late-night edition of LARRY KING LIVE. And we'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JANET JACKSON, SISTER OF MICHAEL JACKSON: I just wanted to say one thing, seriously. I just wanted to tell you how proud I am of you and how much you've inspired me and how proud I am to be your sister and how much I love you. I do.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KING: Before we check in with our correspondents on the scene, I hold in my hand a pair of glasses worn by Michael Jackson and given to our guest, Corey Feldman, after the Victory Tour in 1983, right?
FELDMAN: Eighty-four.
KING: Eighty-four, and he even signed them up here in the corner. And you've had them all this time?
FELDMAN: I have, yes. I kept them in a box in my garage, actually. So they've been safe.
KING: This is something I would keep.
FELDMAN: Yes.
KING: eBay, this would bring a big... FELDMAN: I used to steal them off his head all the time. We would be playing, and we would always tease each other, and I would always flick his hat off his head or take his glasses.
KING: They're still stylish.
FELDMAN: Yes, well, they fit in with the current motif.
KING: Oh, yes. Let's go outside Michael Jackson's home. Kara Finnstrom has been standing by, as she has been all day and night. We'll get another report from her.
What's happening there now, Kara -- Kara?
KARA FINNSTROM, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Larry, just within the last half hour here, and actually within the last 15 minutes, a number of tow trucks with the police department have pulled up here. One you can see just inside the big iron gates, which have been swung open. Two others are waiting down on the street.
We've asked police what they're doing, what they may be impounding or taking away to take a closer look at. Not getting any answers at this point. But clearly, one of these tow trucks with the LAPD inside getting ready to load something up. And perhaps we'll see as they pull out here in just a few moments what it is that they're taking in.
Larry, throughout the evening here we've seen numerous groups of detectives going in through the gates. The L.A. Coroner's Office was here a short while ago. They have left. They tell us officially that this is routine, that the type of thing they do after the death of someone so prominent.
But we also, are hearing, of course, from the family attorney that there was a suspicion that Jackson was using some prescription drugs perhaps improperly.
So we really don't know what they're looking for in there. They haven't shared those details with us. But they have been there, in there throughout the evening, and now they're bringing in these additional tow trucks, and they tell us they plan to be here throughout the night, Larry.
KING: That is strange, and we shall stay atop that story. What would they be towing out of the house?
Let's go to the UCLA Medical Center. Standing by is Ted Rowlands. What's happening there at this hour?
TED ROWLANDS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Larry, still a significant crowd here outside the UCLA Medical Center. This, of course, where Michael Jackson was brought and this is, of course, where he was eventually pronounced dead at about 2:30 this afternoon.
From the minute that the news started to spread that Michael Jackson was here, people started to gather, and they haven't left. Mix of people. A lot of people have signs. A lot of people have candles.
This is Amanda. Why -- why did you come out here?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We just wanted to come and memorialize Michael and see what's going on.
ROWLANDS: What would you say your connection to Michael Jackson is?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I would say as a, like, 5- or 6-year-old, like, seeing him on MTV and the moonwalk. I mean, he was a part of my generation. I grew up with him.
ROWLANDS: A lot of people saying that, Larry. But also, what's amazing is there are a lot of people like Brent here, who weren't born when Michael released "Thriller." He's 21 years old.
You've out here. You've got this shirt, this sign. Why are you connected to Michael Jackson? What brings you out here?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Because Michael touched so many people. He touched me with the song "Mirror," "Change in the Mirror [SIC]." And I would, me and my brother always argue. My mom always told me change come within. So it just so happened, after we got that lecture, Michael's song came on. I've been attached to him ever since. He's an idol to me. So...
ROWLANDS: You heard that he died, and why come here?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, this is because -- this is where he was. Actually when I found out about it was actually shocked. I was in a car talking to my mom -- I was going to my mom's job and what not. And then I heard it on 99.1. And it was just tragic from there. So when I found out that he was here, I rushed down here from Moreno Valley. So...
ROWLANDS: You're a 21-year-old man. Young, compared to a lot of people here. But what is it about Michael Jackson, his -- not only his music but the person, that connected you to him?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Michael, him as a person, not too many people is like Michael. But I don't know nobody who has so much funds (ph) who will go out to a regular kid and just try to touch him and help them out. Help him, physically. Like, if I have a problem and Michael came to me, that would be an honor. And the things that they said about him, I don't believe that stuff is true, because he has a big heart.
Like, a lot of people don't understand you've got to see from his point of view on how he feels about a situation. Instead of pointing a finger and accusing him and stuff like that. But if anybody is willing to help, they've got to be a man of God.
ROWLANDS: All right. Larry, a few of the sentiments from outside the UCLA Medical Center, where Michael Jackson was brought and pronounced dead. And still, a significant crowd here late into the evening. And no sign that it's getting any less of a gathering. In fact, it seems like people are still gathering, even this late in the evening.
KING: OK. OK. Thank, Ted.
Final comment, quickly from our guests. Shelley, how is he going to be remembered?
BERGER: He'll be remembered as one of the greatest performers of all time.
KING: Smokey?
SMOKEY ROBINSON, SINGER: Well, I think -- you know, I've heard some comments tonight about them saying about people remembering the negative. I doubt seriously if too many people are thinking about that right now.
And I agree with Shelley. He is going to be remembered as one of the most dynamic artists that we've ever had.
KING: J.C.?
CHASEZ: I mean, I think it's -- yes, I agree with these other two gentlemen. I just think people -- he really raised the bar when it came to the scope of entertainment.
KING: So the positive will...?
CHASEZ: I think you have to view him in a positive light for what he did for entertainment.
KING: And Corey?
FELDMAN: I would concur, and I would add that he won't be one of the greatest but the greatest...
KING: The greatest?
FELDMAN: ... of all time.
KING: We'll be back with more. Carlos Diaz is coming back. Don't go away.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KING: Carlos Diaz returns to the set, the "Extra" correspondent. With us on the phone is the brilliantly talented Sheryl Crow.
Sheryl, how did this -- how did you react to this today?
SHERYL CROW, MUSICIAN (via phone): I think I felt really shocked. You know, I worked with him in 1988 and '89 on the "Bad" tour, and I always wondered what, you know, what -- what would happen to him as he got older? Would he, I mean, would we get to see him grow old? And it's just -- it's just shocking today that, at 50, he's not going to be here with us anymore, even though it's been kind of -- you know, it's been hard to imagine what he might be like as an older man. And now, of course, we will never know and -- but it is shocking. You know, he's going to be sorely missed. And I feel extremely grateful to have gotten the opportunity I had to watch him every night for nearly two years. Sing backup for him.
KING: Carlos Diaz wants to ask you something.
DIAZ: First off, Sheryl, we're watching video of you in concert with Michael right now. I want to say, great hair.
CROW: That's big hair.
DIAZ: That is fantastic hair you have there. But what did -- what did Michael Jackson teach you in order for you to become the successful singer that you've become over the years?
CROW: Well, I think that he was absolutely, undeniably the greatest performer of my -- certainly of my generation and maybe of all time. Every night was an amazing show.
And he was just different. He -- I think he knew what it was that set him apart, and he tapped into it every night. And 75,000 screaming fans were right there in the palm of his hand.
And you know, he had a different take on life. He was famous from the time he was 5. And so his relationship from people was from having been just mobbed all the time. So he was a little bit isolated by definitely a child at heart.
You know, he would rent out amusement parks and take the band. We'd go to Tokyo Disneyland, and ride rides all night. And he was a real prankster. Loved practical jokes. And you know, just really child -- when he stepped out on that stage, you'd never seen anything that was more professional or more -- really truly more gifted.
KING: Everyone has said that tonight. Sheryl...
CROW: Yes.
KING: ... I thank you very much. It's so good hearing from you.
CROW: Thanks, Larry.
KING: Sheryl Crow, what a talent she is.
DIAZ: She's amazing. I mean, you know, I mean -- and that's the thing, too, for her to be as successful as she is, and to give the respect that she gives to Michael Jackson, it shows the reach that he's had.
KING: Which everyone is doing. No matter how high they are in the business, he's apparently higher. DIAZ: There's no one -- there's really -- I mean, when you look at it, is there a bigger name on this planet, Larry, than Michael Jackson?
KING: Got a point.
Back to Harlem and the famed Apollo Theater. I've been to that theater many times. Great place. You ought to go there. It's something. And Richard Roth is standing by.
he crowd still there, Richard?
RICHARD ROTH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, it is, Larry. Someone just threw this T-shirt over the crowd here. "Michael Jackson, the greatest ever."
You know, we're outside the legendary Apollo Theater. This is the place where careers were launched, stars were made. The Apollo Theater. And on the marquee, tonight, it's just an incredible sight that people can't believe they're seeing, the passing of Michael Jackson.
Here outside the Apollo, it's been a party atmosphere. People have been singing Michael Jackson songs, Jackson 5 songs, cars going by blasting his music.
With me is Corey (ph). Why are you here tonight?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm here because, you know, I spent a lot of time in front of the TV, you know, emulating Michael's moves. And there's no place I'd rather be right now than here at the Apollo Theater, celebrating his life.
ROTH: Favorite memory of him?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: My favorite memory is "Smooth Criminal." You know, he was -- he's honestly the smoothest person you've ever seen. So there's no place I'd rather be than here.
ROTH: All right. You can see the big crowd behind us here.
This man, you were at a very important concert involving Michael Jackson, James Brown. Tell us about it.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: James Brown, Michael Jackson, Heat Waves (ph), and the Euniphics (ph), in 1973. Awesome show. Carried the whole thing out -- wonderful.
ROTH: What did he mean to you?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He meant everything. There's something about the music. The melody and progress.
ROTH: Why are you here tonight?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, I'm here tonight because I'm mourning him, indirectly. Because he's an amazing (ph) person. He made everything possible. He sold 150 songs nationwide, worldwide. No one else has ever done that on planet Earth. So he's done it, and he's the only one that could do something...
ROTH: The King of Pop.
I see a young lady in the audience who's changed her outfit twice. But I saw her dancing five hours ago to Michael Jackson music. What was it about this man? I mean, he had a very troubled legacy later on. What's your memories of Michael Jackson?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: My memory is because I was born back around that era. And my mom always taught us to do music lessons and look at the art and appreciate it as well as education. Because my dad is from Nigeria. My mother is from here. And they sacrificed so much for us to be the first American citizens here for the generation.
So just him leaving and passing is me losing a brother. And I changed here...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Michael! Michael! Michael!
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Michael! Michael! Michael!
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Michael! Michael! Michael!
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: ... Michael Jackson, to show him that...
ROTH: Michael Jackson, perhaps a live concert here on the streets of the Apollo.
Larry, it's back to you from the streets of Harlem in front of the Apollo Theater tonight.
KING: They're drowning you out, Richard. Richard Roth at the Apollo Theater in Harlem.
Back to the UCLA Medical Center. Ted Rowlands. Let's get one more check from Ted on what's happening.
Does that still continue, Ted?
ROWLANDS: Yes, Larry, they are still gathering here outside the UCLA Medical Center. As we said earlier, the crowd seems to be getting larger rather than smaller. One of the things that we're seeing is sort of a mixture of emotion. People are celebrating Michael Jackson's life. People have been dancing.
Scooby (ph) here has been entertaining people with his dancing, as people have been watching.
And one of the people watching is Teana (ph).
What do you -- you say you left work. You heard that Michael had died, and you left work. UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I walked out of my job, and I came here, just to show support to one of the most incredible icons and just a human being in general.
ROWLANDS: What's your connection, in your opinion, to Michael Jackson?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Michael Jackson just gave me so many childhood memories. And I just celebrate him and his music and what he's done for us and just for humanity. He's just the epitome of love and will be missed. But his songs will live forever.
ROWLANDS: What is it about him that has connected to so many people?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: His love. He was all about love. He made people dance. I mean, just -- I remember the time when I seen him on the Grammys when he did the moonwalk. It was as if, like, somebody flew to the moon. I mean, everybody was doing the moonwalk in the kitchen. We went to school the next day, we were doing the moonwalk. I mean, I wore a glove with rhinestones on it. I mean, we just love Michael Jackson. He's just -- we connected to him so much.
ROWLANDS: Scooby (ph), you have a glove on. And obviously, you can moonwalk and do about everything. What did Michael Jackson mean to you?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He meant everything. Like, I think his music inspired a lot of people. It -- it brought everybody together, you know, regardless of race, anything, language. So music is a powerful tool.
And he influenced a lot of dancers, too. So that's my background of knowing him. So, since I was like 10 years old, when I first saw him. I was kind of not exposed to him. And then, after that, I just, you know, he inspired me to do everything, so...
ROWLANDS: You heard he died. What was your reaction?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's still unbelievable at this point. So, you know.
ROWLANDS: Larry, a lot of emotion out here. That's for sure. A lot of people out here, as well, outside the hospital where Michael Jackson was pronounced dead at 2:26 this afternoon.
KING: Thanks, Ted. Ted Rowlands of CNN on the job.
What do you make, Carlos, of the tow truck?
DIAZ: Yes.
KING: The tow truck. Taking stuff out of the house.
DIAZ: And that's the thing, too. I mean, he was renting that house for $100,000 a month, you know, so that was not his house that he was owning. So there were a lot of -- there's a lot of memorabilia there.
You know, earlier today his father, Joe Jackson, who lives in Las Vegas, arrived at the house with his Las Vegas license plates. Joe has not made any statement yet.
KING: The police are taking it in a tow truck.
DIAZ: Exactly.
KING: Why?
DIAZ: I mean, you know, you're -- the mystery of Michael Jackson's death is still there. We don't know. That's the one thing we don't know, Larry, the specifics as to what caused this massive cardiac arrest.
KING: Mysterious in life, mysterious in death.
DIAZ: For now.
KING: This statement from Mariah Carey: "I'm heartbroken. My prayers go out to the Jackson family. My heart goes out to the children. Let us remember him for his unparalleled contribution to the world of music, his generosity in his spirit in his quest to heal the world, and the joy he brought to his millions of devoted fans throughout the world."
We'll be right back with the thoughts of Celine Dion.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KING: Michael has said he didn't have a childhood.
JANET JACKSON: Yes, for sure.
KING: That's sad, don't you think?
JANET JACKSON: Of course, it is. Yes.
KING: You want to be -- you want to be like a normal kid.
JANET JACKSON: But that -- you know, it's kind of like a Catch 22. That was normal for me, as well. Like, I saw it with my brothers, and then I got into it. But once again, I still had a, you know, a little taste of the other side, as well.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KING: By the way, in a little while, Carlos Diaz, he just told me a story about something happening, and a movie coming out that will interest you. Don't go away.
Miko Brando, the son of Marlon Brando, was a friend of Michael Jackson, was with him before his death, and he gave me this statement: "It's a very sad day for me. Not only did I lose my best friend and my best man at my wedding, my daughter's godfather, my brother, but I lost my best friend for over 30 years. There are no words that can express my loss. I will never forget him, nor will I ever be the same."
Earlier I asked Celine Dion for her reaction. Watch.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CELINE DION, SINGER (via phone): I am shocked like the rest of the world. It doesn't sink in right now. I'm overwhelmed by this tragedy.
I have to say to you that Michael Jackson's been an idol for me all my life. I remember being in this -- in my house when I was very, very young and having his posters above my bedroom. He's my -- been my idol all my life, and looking up to him. And my goal was to be maybe doing the same show business world as him.
And I was listening to his music, and I hoped to be meeting him one day. And I have to tell you that I was very privileged to be on the same record company as him. And I did meet him a long, long time ago. And I was so thrilled and nervous when I had the privilege of meeting with him. He was so kind. He gave me his autograph. And I have a hat of his with his autograph. And it always has an amazing meaning to me. But now it has a totally different meaning to me.
And we sang together. And I was looking forward to see his show in London, my husband and I. And Michael came to Las Vegas to see my show. And I was more than honored to have him.
KING: Did he come backstage?
DION: He came backstage. We spent about an hour together, and he had a lot of questions for me. He was very -- to me, he seemed to be like, "I want to know so much. I want to know how it is to be in Las Vegas, how it is to sing every night here. Is it difficult? Is it difficult to sing here every night? Is it demanding?"
I felt that he wanted to know so much. And me, I wanted to know so much. I wanted to know so much from him. But it seemed that -- it seemed to me so fragile. And he wanted to have questions answered. And I was amazed to have him in my dressing room.
KING: When you're performing, and you have someone like that in the audience, are you constantly aware of his presence?
DION: Absolutely. You cannot do otherwise. And I have to say that I was questioning myself through my whole show. Can I announce him? Do I give him his private time? Am I going to abuse of him of his time to announce him? Should I? I want to do it so much.
And I did. And I did announce him. And the whole coliseum, the whole crowd went crazy, because Michael Jackson was not only an extremely talented person, he was unique. And he was a genius. And when I said, "Ladies and gentlemen, Michael Jackson is with us tonight," the people -- I thought people were going to jump off the balcony. The people went crazy.
And I have to say it is such a loss, because right -- even right now we were -- we're home, and we're watching images. And it feels that -- it feels like when Kennedy died. When Elvis Presley died. We're not only talking about a talented person dying. It's an amazing loss.
KING: Well, the Presley comparison is obvious, right? They're in the same age group. Both of them shocked -- the death shocked the world. Both of them totally unexpected passing.
DION: Absolutely. And I have to say that my sympathy goes to the family. It's a big loss, and I have to say that it's not even sinking in right now. It's just like I'm looking at the image on TV and my son is 8 years old. And he has got his song -- he doesn't -- he knows his name. He's watching -- he's listening to his song, but it's brand new for him.
Like, I'm rediscovering Michael Jackson again. I grew up with him and through my son I'm discovering his music again. He will never die. He will never, ever, ever die. My sympathy goes to his whole family.
KING: Celine, what -- from a performer's opinion -- I'm not going to keep you long. From a performer's opinion, what was his greatness? Was he a great singer?
DION: I think he was just an amazing genius. Dancing, singing, and I think it's so unfortunate, Larry, because since he was very little he was under pressure. I think we all live under pressure differently. We live under pressure because we want to give the audience and the fans what they look for, what they expect.
We want to do a better album. We want to do a better show. I think Michael Jackson lived under pressures all the time since he was 5 years old, wanting to please his family, his fans, and putting the bar so high that even, like, he needed to be suppressing his own self.
And I think it's unfortunate because the pressure was so tremendous, I am so sure. If you don't have -- if you only live under pressure and you don't have something like your family, your husband, or your wife, your children, I mean, he probably lived so much -- he didn't have the balance.
KING: Yes, Celine, you're a doll. I thank you so much for...
DION: I am sorry. My sympathy to the whole family.
KING: ... sharing this time.
DION: And it's a big loss for all of us.
KING: That was Celine Dion. Now Carlos Diaz of "Extra" has an interesting story about his little adventure on Hollywood Boulevard.
CARLOS DIAZ, "EXTRA": Right. Yes. Well, I mean, tonight I was actually supposed to cover the world premiere of "Bruno."
KING: Sacha Baron Cohen.
DIAZ: Sacha Baron Cohen movie. And of course, then all of this broke and we've been covering this. A side note, Michael Jackson's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame is covered tonight by the red carpet for "Bruno." So fans are putting flowers on the Michael Jackson star for the radio talk show host, not Michael Jackson.
So they think they're putting...
KING: Same name.
DIAZ: Yes. Same name, Michael Jackson. They think they're putting their flowers for Michael Jackson, the performer who has passed away. It's the wrong person.
But an interesting side note about "Bruno," the movie. I saw a sneak peek of it last night to do the red carpet. In the movie "Bruno," Bruno, played by Sacha Baron Cohen, interviews La Toya Jackson in the movie. And the entire interview, he playfully tries to get her to speak...
KING: He goes up to real people and talks to them.
DIAZ: Exactly. And in this case, she thinks that she's talking to Bruno, this Austrian fashion expert. And so -- and she's not in on the joke and he says, "Can you speak like Michael?". And she very nicely says, "I'm going to speak like myself." And he over and over again, just try to speak like Michael. You know?
So finally he says, let me see your iPhone. And he takes her iPhone. And in German he says to his assistant, here's Michael Jackson's phone number, and gives the phone number to his assistant. And La Toya, in the movie says, OK, we're done here, you know, and walks out of the interview.
And you have to wonder, Universal has got just over two weeks before this movie comes out on July 10th. Do you keep that in or do you edit that part of the movie out? That's something where, I mean, you know, we try to...
(CROSSTALK)
KING: The betting would be they'll edit it out?
DIAZ: You have to. I mean, it's one of those things where it got a big laugh, by the way, that's ironic. It got a huge laugh from the crowd that I saw it with last night. But now, this morning, today, Michael Jackson is dead. Do you keep that in the movie?
KING: I think -- the smart people at Universal have to prevail.
(CROSSTALK)
DIAZ: Yes. And that's the thing (INAUDIBLE), because now it's almost eerie, you know? Because he's so -- he so wants La Toya to talk like Michael. He so wants Michael Jackson's phone number. And it's just one of those things, it doesn't fit anymore.
KING: You're always on top of things, Carlos. Any word on a memorial service?
DIAZ: That's the thing. I mean, I can tell you there's going to be an autopsy tomorrow. And there is no word...
KING: Sometimes the results are not known right away.
DIAZ: And there is -- yes, exactly, the toxicology reports, as we learned with Anna Nicole Smith, could take weeks. But there is no word on any kind of memorial. We have the weekend to kind of look at that. I would suspect next week there will be a private memorial. I mean, there has got to be some kind of public memorial here in Los Angeles for Michael Jackson.
KING: And this story is everywhere in the world, right?
DIAZ: It's -- and that's the thing, too. You saw earlier Paris waking up to the news. As the sun rises, you know, across the globe, people are waking up with the tragic news that Michael Jackson is no longer with us.
KING: And the sad added factor of Farrah Fawcett.
DIAZ: And that's true, too. I mean -- and that's the thing people don't realize that the proximity of this whole thing. Farrah Fawcett passed away five hours almost to the minute that Michael Jackson passed away five miles away. Ed McMahon passed away 48 hours previous at the same hospital that Michael Jackson passed away.
So it has been a very tough week for Hollywood. Anyone who grew up in the '70s watching "The Tonight Show," having Farrah Fawcett on their wall, and having "Thriller" on their record player, it's a tough week.
KING: Bad week.
This statement from Steven Spielberg: "Just as there will never be another Fred Astaire or Chuck Berry or Elvis Presley, there will never be another comparable to Michael Jackson. His talent, his wonderment, and his mystery make him legend."
We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KING: A number of years ago you and Michael did a musical video together called "Scream." Let's take a look.
(MUSIC PLAYING, "SCREAM")
KING: What was it like working with him?
JANET JACKSON, MUSICIAN, SISTER OF MICHAEL JACKSON: We had fun. That was our first time ever working together since we were kids. And he had asked me when I had done the "Rhythm Nation" album to do a song with him, but I wouldn't.
KING: Why not?
JANET JACKSON: I -- I hadn't felt like I had come into my own yet. I didn't want anyone to think I was riding his coattails. So then I did the "Janet" album and I was on tour and I get a call. Dunk...
KING: Dunk?
JANET JACKSON: Yes, that's my nickname from my family, one of my nicknames. Dunk, let's do something together. So I said, all right. This time I feel I'm ready.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KING: We're back.
By the way, Carlos, from "The Hollywood Reporter," before the screening, director Larry Charles, said the reference to Jackson had been cut, at least for Thursday's premiere. He declined to specify whether the cut would be made for the film's general release, will assess the situation later on, he said.
DIAZ: You have to -- it has to stay out. I mean, there's no -- there's no way you could cut it for the premiere...
KING: Come on, what are you assessing?
DIAZ: Yes, there's nothing to assess. I mean, it's now -- well, not only could it be deemed bad taste, but also it's not funny anymore. I mean, the whole point of the movie is to be funny. But the bad thing is, the movie is already about an hour and 10 minutes long, it can't cut anything else. It's a very short movie. It's a very short movie.
I mean, I saw it last night and I looked at my watch and I'm like, is it over? Wow, you know? But, yes, so it has got to get out of there.
KING: You like the film, though?
DIAZ: Very funny. But not as innocent as "Borat." It's very, very dark.
KING: Earlier we talked with Reverend Jesse Jackson and the wonderful Donna Summer. Listen. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KING: Joining us by phone now is Reverend Jesse Jackson. Reverend Jackson and yours truly, and Michael Jackson were all together at a dinner in 2007 where I was proud to be honored by Jesse Jackson's group. And so was Michael. We were all at the same table.
Jesse, what are your thoughts right now?
REV. JESSE JACKSON, CIVIL RIGHTS LEADER: Well, I'm traumatized. We are out of our joy and he's out of his pain. I have been listening to Michael since he was maybe 13 years old. We were doing our first expo. And we had the lineup. Quincy Jones was there. Nancy Wilson, Sammy Davis; it was really a very tight show.
And so someone said these kids want to perform. They're over at the Regal across the street. But Junius Griffin, who worked with Dr. King, said, you've got to hear them. I said, I want to hear them, but we are busy. He said, well, come downstairs and meet them.
They were in the station wagon, you know, with the U-Haul attached to the Jackson Five, with Joe. We said, well, we can't say no. They performed "ABC," you know, at that particular expo. And of course, it took off from there.
KING: Yes. By the way, we are now showing the body being -- has left the helicopter. It's going into the vehicle that will take it to the coroner's office.
How do you deal -- what do you say to a family at a case like this? Do you have to do this a lot, Reverend Jackson? How do you put this in words?
JESSE JACKSON: Well, it is a -- death is a mystery. And when the suddenness of death appears, we have to lean to our faith and not to our own understanding. And you simply pray to ask God to, in time, reveal the mystery and to relieve the burden from your heart. That's all you really can do.
And again, having been with him across these years and his family to watch him grow up, I think so much about the Victory Tour that kicked off in Kansas City, with Don King, the time that Michael was performing, of course, at the great theaters around the word. I was on my way to London, really, to be with him July the 7th, before the -- he delayed it one day.
So I would say that we all (INAUDIBLE) tonight, because Berry Gordy, Suzanne De Passe, and Quincy Jones were great factors in his stellar career, because he had all of the raw stuff, but Berry Gordy brought a special touch to this.
KING: Yes.
JESSE JACKSON: I remember Suzanne De Passe taking him and the kids out at Fred Segal's store getting blue jeans. And, of course, there's the Michael Jackson and there's the Quincy Jones in that whole "Thriller" drama (ph). So he had that...
(CROSSTALK)
KING: You're not kidding. He sure did. Thanks, Jesse. We'll be calling on you again.
Now joining us on the phone, the disco icon, the one and only Donna Summer.
Donna, you knew Michael, did you not?
DONNA SUMMER, SINGER: Yes, I did, yes.
KING: We're seeing the vehicle transporting the body now over to the coroner, who will, I gather, begin the autopsy I would guess tomorrow, not tonight. What are your thoughts, Donna?
SUMMER: Well, I have just -- I have to go on stage and sing tonight. It is extremely difficult. It is such an incredible shock to me. I -- you know, I've known Michael for many years. We've worked together. We've had -- we've done different things together over the years.
And I know his family. And it's just -- it's a total shock. And I don't even have words to say. I mean, I'll miss Michael. The world will miss Michael. And I'm sure that the world is in a state of grief right now.
KING: Where are you performing tonight?
SUMMER: I'm up north of Los Angeles at a casino, Chumash.
KING: Will you talk about him?
SUMMER: I certainly will. We're going to try to dedicate a song to him tonight.
KING: All right. Donna, what was his greatness?
SUMMER: His greatness was perfection. And when you meet people like that, who are so given to doing things at the utmost and the highest level, then it makes you up your game. And Michael was one of those people who wouldn't stop until he was perfect. And he kept going even after that.
So I will personally miss him. I will miss his light. I will miss his star. I will miss who he has caused other people to become because of his greatness. He upped -- he upped the standard.
KING: Did you let the stories about his personal life affect your feelings about him?
SUMMER: Not at all. Not at all. Because I don't, personally, know that those stories are true. I tend to want to not believe them because I know Michael, and I can't even imagine that he would ever try to hurt a child. I think it -- I felt more like it was exploitation, personally, from other people. I don't know if it's true or not. I just -- you know, I just think he was a sitting duck at times.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KING: This statement just in from Beyonce. "This is such a tragic loss and a terrible day. The incomparable Michael Jackson has made a bigger impact on music than any other artist in the history of music. He was magic. He's what we all strive to be. He will always be the King of Pop.
"Life is not about how many breaths you take, but how many moments in life that take your breath away. For anyone who has ever seen, felt, or heard his art, we are all honored to have been alive in this generation to experience the magic of Michael Jackson. I love you, Michael."
And we'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KING: Actress Brooke Shields knew Michael well. She says: "My heart is overcome with sadness for the devastating loss of my true friend, Michael. He was an extraordinary friend, artist, and contributor to the world. I join his family and his friends in celebrating his incredible life and mourning his untimely passing."
We have a phone call here. And it is from Auburn, Alabama.
Hello.
CALLER: Hello.
KING: Hi.
CALLER: Hi. I'm just curious as to what's going to happen with the children?
KING: OK. You want to guess at this, Carlos?
DIAZ: Well, that's the tough thing, too. I mean, Michael Jackson has three children, Debbie Rowe, his wife. We know for a fact that two of them are with Debbie Rowe, the third one, nicknamed Blanket, Prince Michael II, there's some speculation there.
So that's the big question because you have these children. Are they the legitimate heirs to Michael Jackson's so-called fortune?
KING: Now does the wife get custody?
DIAZ: And that's the thing. I mean, you know, who gets custody?
KING: He got custody, right?
DIAZ: He got custody. She was not really a part of the kids' lives. Who raises these kids now, and are they the heir to his...
KING: That is yet to be found, yet to be determined.
Now let's make another trip back to the UCLA Medical Center, and Ted Rowlands for a final report of this two-hour edition of "LARRY KING LIVE." There will be, I'm sure, more coming, as we're live through the night with other hosts coming aboard.
But, Ted, what's the latest there?
TED ROWLANDS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, more of the same, Larry. A lot of people gathering here. And we've been talking to Michael Jackson fans who have come out to the UCLA Medical Center. They're dancing...
(CROSSTALK)
ROWLANDS: A lot of people with signs.
This gentleman, Tim (ph), you say you were on the unemployment line and you came down. Give us why -- what's so important about Michael Jackson in terms of your life?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Michael Jackson inspired me to move from New York City to Los Angeles. He inspired a skinny white boy from Queens to move out off to Hollywood. Michael, we love you! You're the Elvis of our generation!
ROWLANDS: All right. A lot of enthusiasm, but also a lot of people are somber, as you might imagine, Larry.
Angelica (ph), big fan, you have a sign, a candle, Michael Jackson. What does it mean to you? What's your connection to him?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Well, I drove up from San Diego. So I was on the freeway for a while. I came to pay my respects. I'm very, very sad about the news. It's -- it's nice to see that some people are having a good time and they're remembering him and I really hope that's what it is and it's not that they just want to be on camera.
ROWLANDS: Obviously you're emotional.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I mean, anybody who was born in the '80s or even before because we saw him grow up. And it's just really sad. And I was talking to my mom today. And she told -- I was trying to hide it because it's a little embarrassing to be crying over somebody that maybe you've never even met but touched your life.
And she made me feel OK because she likened it to when Elvis died. And everybody remembers when -- or where they were when a certain person died. So, at least I'm here.
ROWLANDS: All right, Angelica.
A range of emotions, Larry. We've been hearing them all night. And this party looks like it's going to -- mixed party/mourning session, go well into the wee hours -- Larry.
KING: Thanks, Ted Rowlands.
Let's get another report from Richard Roth at the Apollo Theater in Harlem -- Richard.
RICHARD ROTH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Larry.
This is where Michael Jackson became a star with the Jackson 5 in the late '60s. And you might have thought he is ready to give another concert. The mood here is -- look, there is a lot of sadness, but people here are celebrating his life.
I've got many people here. You could -- people are coming up to us to talk, to volunteer their thoughts on Michael Jackson.
Now, Morris (ph), you flew up from Jamaica today, not knowing what was going to happen. Why are you here, now, tonight at this late hour?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, because I just heard of the news. And it's so sad. I just came up to the Apollo with my friends to really see what was going on.
ROTH: What did he mean to you?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A lot. Because I remember seeing him when I was a little boy on TV, I was 5 years old and I saw their concert. And I'm a little older than I look. But it's really just very, very sad. Such an unfortunate end to a brilliant man.
ROTH: OK. You're from Atlanta. What does this scene mean to you? Is this a little too much frivolity or celebration? Or something that's a tribute to Michael Jackson?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's definitely a tribute. Michael Jackson is somebody who made all Americans proud. And when I was a kid I remember wanting to be just like him when I was a little boy. And he inspired all of us to be great. And he inspired me to be great at what I do.
ROTH: Many people are telling me about what his effect was on the African-American community, the Jackson 5 family and Michael Jackson.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Very proud legacy. Once again, not just for the African-American community, of course we're proud, but also for all Americans. And we also lost another great American today, too, Farrah Fawcett.
ROTH: OK. Michael (ph) and Morris, thank you very much.
We have other guest here, a young lady who has made a late appearance in the crowd. You're obviously devoted to Michael Jackson. Tell us about it.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This is my Halloween costume. I go as Michael every year. I'm also a huge fan.
ROTH: Any favorite memories of him? Did you ever see him in person? Did you ever go up to him in your costume.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Unfortunately I never did. But favorite memory is just watching the performance of "Billie Jean," Motown 25th.
ROTH: And you do some of his dances, so you're on.
All right. Was that a "Moonwalk"? I don't know.
(APPLAUSE)
ROTH: The crowd here is appreciative of Sophie (ph) in a tribute to Michael Jackson here at the Apollo Theater where many of his fans and people who even knew him and met him have come to observe the passing of Michael Jackson tonight, here in New York on a hot night in Harlem.
Larry, back to you.
KING: Thank you, Richard. Nice touch.
Carlos just told me an interesting thing. After 9/11, I guess the first major appearance that drew a crowd in New York was Michael Jackson.
DIAZ: Yes. We were -- I was in -- living in New York City and, you know, covering entertainment news. And every story after 9/11 was how did 9/11 affect New York City? Whether it was Broadway or other things it affected. And we got a call saying Michael Jackson's appearing at Virgin Megastore in Times Square. He's going to be signing everything. Just, you know, go down there and cover it.
I said, what does that have to do with 9/11? They said, nothing, it just -- go down there and cover this event. And it was weird. I had to stop for a second and think, well, this is -- there is nothing to do with 9/11. OK. So it was Michael Jackson and he walks out in that famous now blue outfit he had on and he just waves.
And it was the first time that New Yorkers weren't worried about being in a large group of people, because everyone was kind of freaked out after 9/11 like they didn't want to leave their apartment.
KING: Was there a lot of security?
DIAZ: And there was a lot of -- you could -- there was still that police presence. There was still that police presence in Times Square. But for a minute, there was no worry about 9/11. Everyone was just screaming, yelling for Michael Jackson.
And they had in that scene that you just saw at the Apollo, the same kind of thing, people dancing in the streets. And it was kind of like Michael made people forget for just a few minutes while they waited in line to sign whatever they could with -- you know, with Michael, they forgot about 9/11 just for a few minutes. KING: All right. Carlos, this pushed Iran off the air.
DIAZ: Yes.
KING: Pushed other things as well. A big health conference with the president. Major appearance, you know, gone. How long does this play?
DIAZ: This plays for a while. I mean, this is not something that's going to go away. You're going to -- like we said, we have the toxicology reports that we have to wait for. That's the big question now. What did -- in fact, we know that Michael Jackson died of massive cardiac arrest.
What caused that cardiac arrest? That's the next question. So we wait for that. You're going to just see -- I think right now everyone is still in a state of shock. I think it sinks in tomorrow that Michael Jackson is gone.
You're going to see a lot of tributes at the BET awards this weekend, you know, here in L.A., you're going to have a big tribute with that. So you're going to have tributes to Michael Jackson for the next several weeks.
You're going to have a showing next week. There has got to be some kind of public showing for Michael Jackson next week, whether it's a memorial. So this is not a story that's going to go away any time soon.
KING: Thanks, Carlos. Thanks for hanging for a few hours.
DIAZ: Thanks for having me.
KING: And Thank you for watching this special two-hour late edition of LARRY KING LIVE.
We'll have more Friday night with a special tribute to Michael Jackson. That's tomorrow night on LARRY KING LIVE, our normal hour for the normal time at 9:00 Eastern, 6:00 Pacific. So we did three hours of show tonight. And there's more live coverage continuing throughout the morning hours on CNN.
Thanks for joining us. We'll all be right back with more coming from Atlanta after this short break.
