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Showbiz Tonight
The Battle for Michael Jackson`s Children; Questions on Michael Jackson`s Death; The Woman Behind "Man in the Mirror"; Is it Too Soon to Talk About Michael Jackson`s Problems?; The Truth Behind Billy Mays`s Death
Aired June 29, 2009 - 23:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
A.J. HAMMER, HOST: Now, on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT - tonight, the late-breaking, explosive battle for Michael Jackson`s three children. Michael`s father speaks.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOE JACKSON, MICHAEL JACKSON`S FATHER: This is where they belong. We`re the parents. We have other kids their size. They love those kids, and we love those kids, too. We`re going to take care of them.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Also, Michael`s mother makes a dramatic move in the custody battle. Plus, why did the Jackson family order a second autopsy? The brand-new, disturbing questions about the doctor who was with Michael in his final moments.
Also, Michael`s past troubles, including the child molestation charges. Tonight, the great debate - is it too soon to be talking about Michael`s problems?
TV`s most provocative entertainment news show starts right now.
(MUSIC PLAYING)
Hello. I`m A.J. Hammer, broadcasting tonight and every night from New York City.
And tonight, a family`s pain - Michael Jackson`s family. For the very first time since Jackson`s shocking unexpected death, Jackson`s family is speaking out, both emotionally and legally.
The SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom, I`ve got to tell you, it has been buzzing all day and night as one breaking development after another just kept coming in, including the battle for Jackson`s three kids.
A judge ruled today. What will happen to them for now? The battle for Jackson`s estate also began today with hundreds of millions of dollars potentially at stake. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT also has the emotional, caught-on- camera words about Michael from his sister Janet Jackson. And it`s all making big news right now.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER (voice-over): SHOWBIZ TONIGHT brings you this startling look at what may have been the King of Pop`s last moments on stage. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT has obtained these photos of Michael Jackson just two days before he died. He`s rehearsing for his concert tour, a comeback that sadly the world will never get to see.
At the BET Awards, the emotional Janet Jackson speaking out for first time. She reminds us that her world-famous brother`s loss is a wound that`s still fresh, especially for his family.
JANET JACKSON, MICHAEL JACKSON`S SISTER: To you, Michael is an icon. To us, Michael is family. And he will forever live in all of our hearts. We miss him so much.
HAMMER: SHOWBIZ TONIGHT was all over the BET Music Awards where star after star talked about the loss of the music icon. Sean Combs and Alicia Keys telling CNN`s Don Lemon Jackson`s impact can`t be denied.
SEAN COMBS, POP ARTIST: He`s one of the reasons Barack Obama is president.
ALICIA KEYS, MUSICIAN: Absolutely.
COMBS: He started the change in the world about how African-Americans are seen. We all have our ups and downs. Give that man respect in his genius.
KEYS: His voice as a young Michael Jackson is a big influence on the way that I sing in a lot of ways. So, we miss him and we love him and we just feel devastated.
SHERRI SHEPHERD, CO-HOST, "THE VIEW": I remember lying in bed, and I used to dream about marrying Michael Jackson. I thought we were going to have matching jumpsuits at our wedding. I mean, I had the whole thing planned out. We mourn Michael`s loss. But thank you for the legacy he has left behind.
HAMMER: And in his very first and exclusive interview since Jackson`s death, his father, Joe Jackson, told CNN`s Don Lemon, his family is still in shock.
JOE JACKSON: It has been really tough. Remember, we just lost the biggest star in the world - superstar in the world. So, it`s been tough.
HAMMER: SHOWBIZ TONIGHT has some new startling details on Michael Jackson`s still shocking death and on the fate of his three kids. But despite those answers, Jackson`s father makes clear there are still a lot of questions.
JOE JACKSON: I have a lot of concerns. I can`t get into that. But I don`t like what happened.
HAMMER: Some of the biggest questions are about Jackson`s personal doctor, Conrad Murray. He was the one who found Jackson unconscious in his home Thursday and performed CPR while security guards called 911.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Sir, we have a gentleman here that needs help, and he`s not breathing. He`s not responding to CPR or anything.
HAMMER: In an interview with CNN`s "American Morning," Dr. Murray`s attorney reveals for the first time that Jackson may have still been alive when Murray tried to revive him.
ED CHERNOFF, ATTORNEY FOR MICHAEL JACKSON`S DOCTOR: He checked to make sure there was blood flow. There was, and then he was getting blood. In fact, at the time that emergency personnel came, he still had a weak pulse.
HAMMER: And as report after report delves into Jackson`s alleged abuse of prescription drug, Dr. Murray insists that everything he prescribed to Jackson has legitimate medical purposes.
CHERNOFF: Dr. Murray never prescribed Demerol, never administered Demerol, never saw Michael Jackson take Demerol. And that goes as well for OxyContin. So I think those are just rumors. When toxicology comes back, that`s going to be all cleared up.
HAMMER: Something else that needs to be cleared up - the fate of Jackson`s three kids. They`ll stay with Jackson`s 79-year-old mother.
ALICIA QUARLES, ASSOCIATED PRESS: Katherine Jackson actually filed court papers this morning, and she has been granted temporary custody of the children.
HAMMER: For now, no one knows if Debbie Rowe, Jackson`s second ex-wife and the mother of the two oldest kids, will fight for custody. But a defiant Joe Jackson confirms to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT the family has made their decision.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You want to try to have (INAUDIBLE) the family. Is that right?
JOE JACKSON: Needs to try. No, not try. They are staying with the family.
HAMMER: So, as a possible court battle over Michael Jackson`s kids and perhaps his estate looms, everybody from major stars at the BET Awards in L.A.
(MUSIC PLAYING)
To prison inmates in the Philippines.
(MUSIC PLAYING)
Is paying tribute to the late King of Pop. And Jackson`s father is promising to continue the work that earned Michael the adoration of millions.
JOE JACKSON: The legacy of Michael will still go on. I promise you that.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: Well, tonight, clearly there are still so many unanswered and disturbing questions. With me now from Los Angeles is Jim Moret. He`s the chief correspondent for "Inside Edition." With me in tonight in New York is Lisa Bloom. She`s a legal analyst for CNN.
One of the big bombshells today is that Michael Jackson`s personal doctor, the guy who was with him until the end, claims he did not give Michael any painkillers on Thursday morning before Michael died or at any other time. Listen again to what his attorney told CNN`s "American Morning."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHERNOFF: Dr. Murray never prescribed Demerol, never administered Demerol, never saw Michael Jackson take Demerol, and that goes as well for OxyContin. So I think those are just rumors. When toxicology comes back here, that`s going to be all cleared up.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: OK. Jim Moret, let me start with you. Does this even seem conceivable to you that Dr. Conrad Murray may have been in the dark about what Michael was taking, if Michael was taking something?
JIM MORET, CHIEF CORRESPONDENT, "INSIDE EDITION": Look, the reality is, we don`t know. We have to wait until the toxicology reports reveal whatever they`re going to reveal. I`ll tell you one thing that does bother me about the doctor is that he was apparently, according to the 911 call, administering CPR while Michael Jackson was on the bed.
And even the operator, the paramedic on the phone, the dispatcher said the person should be on the floor. You`d think that a cardiologist would know that. You also have this doctor apparently being paid by the concert promoter to make sure Michael Jackson can get through this series of 50 concerts.
So, perhaps there`s a conflict of interest there? I don`t know. I think it`s hard to imagine a doctor living in your house who wouldn`t know what medications you`re taking, especially when they`re medications alleged to be Demerol.
HAMMER: Yes. And I want to get back to your point about the 911 call. Because, again, as you said, Jim, you know, this doctor, as we heard on the 911 call, administering CPR to Michael Jackson as he basically lay there dying. Let`s listen to a part of that call once again. Roll that, Charles.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
911 OPERATOR: He`s unconscious? He`s not breathing?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, he`s not breathing, sir.
911 OPERATOR: OK. And he`s not conscious either?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, he`s not conscious, sir.
911 OPERATOR: OK. All right. Do you have any - is he on the floor? Where is he at right now?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He`s on the bed, sir. He`s on the bed.
911 OPERATOR: OK. Let`s get him on the floor.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK.
911 OPERATOR: OK. Let`s get him down to the floor. I`m going to help you with CPR right now. OK?
(END AUDIO CLIP)
HAMMER: OK. So as Jim pointed out - and it basically is CPR 101 to know that you put somebody on a hard surface when you`re administering CPR and he was on the bed having CPR administered.
Lisa, what do you think? As the investigation grows, is there a chance we may see a malpractice case against Dr. Murray even if he`s not involved with any drug use if that ends up being the cause?
LISA BLOOM, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: Well, that`s always possible. But I think we have to be careful about piling on to this doctor because we don`t know what Michael Jackson himself told the doctor. I mean, Michael was a 50- year-old adult, may he rest in peace. He was certainly capable of hiding medications that he may have been taking from a doctor who is relatively new on the scene.
And I think when we get the toxicology reports, as Jim points out, we`re going to know for sure what was in Michael Jackson`s system. And then, we`ll know whether this was a doctor that gave him the stuff or not, whether it was somebody else.
HAMMER: Yes. I agree with you about the doctor, certainly. Certainly, there are a lot of questions that people want answered from this man who was the last person reportedly with Michael while he was alive.
But again, he piling on probably isn`t going to be good for anybody. Let me put up a couple of pictures. I find this fascinating. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT obtained this pictures today of Michael. These were taken last Tuesday - that`s two days before he died. This was while he was rehearsing for his London concert dates which were slated to begin next month.
And I`ve got to say, I`m looking at these pictures and thinking, he is not the frail, skeletal Michael Jackson that the rumor mill would have you believe he was looking like before he died.
Jim, what do you think? Do these pictures of what appears to be a healthy Michael Jackson only add to the scrutiny of - if not Dr. Murray - certainly the situation?
MORET: Well, I read one report that indicated at the time of death, Michael Jackson was 112 pounds. So, I don`t even know who to believe at this point, you know. We`ve gotten so many different reports, many of them apparently conflicting reports.
I can tell you having sat about 10 feet away from him for the four months of his criminal trial, he was indeed frail at that time. It`s hard to imagine him being in good-enough shape to do 50 concerts.
But you know, he clearly had people around him. He was able to get himself in as good a shape as possible. He did show up for some rehearsals.
BLOOM: Yes. Just to add briefly. He was an entertainer. We have to keep that in mind. As a performer, he`s going to smile. He`s going to look good. He`s going to look energetic. He was the consummate entertainer. So, I don`t think we should judge his health based on how he looks when cameras are pointing at him when he`s rehearsing.
HAMMER: Fair enough. And they were stills and not video footage. They can show an entirely different picture as we well know. Jim Moret, Lisa Bloom, thank you, guys, so much.
Now, over to you. Here`s our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day - "Michael Jackson: Are you even more interested in his music now?" You can vote at CNN.com/ShowbizTonight, or E-mail, showbiztonight@cnn.com.
Michael, obviously a great entertainer. But you know, he was a father as well. And everybody wants to know, what`s going to happen to his kids? The explosive battle for Prince Michael, Paris and Blanket. Who wants custody and who will get it? Tonight, Michael`s mother makes a dramatic move.
And also, we`ve got the amazing story behind the woman who wrote "Man in the Mirror."
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HAMMER: That`s one of my favorite Michael Jackson songs. Everybody loves it. It`s got such a great message. Tonight, I`ve got the amazing story you haven`t heard about the "Man in the Mirror" songwriter.
Also, the shocking death of one of TV`s best-known pitchmen. What may have killed Billy Mays? Did he really die as a result of getting hit on the head on a plane? This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
Time now for the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - here come more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
TEXT: A private funeral service for Farrah Fawcett will be held Tuesday in L.A. NBC will host an untelevised celebration of Ed McMahon`s life on Wednesday.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LIZA MINNELLI, ACTRESS AND SINGER: He was such a good friend. He was such a good man. You know, he was a lovely, lovely man and a genius. He changed show business history.
(MUSIC PLAYING)
HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer. Well, Liza Minnelli is definitely right - Michael Jackson unquestionably had a dramatic impact on pop culture, with his fashion, with his music.
And one of Michael`s most popular and meaningful songs is "Man in the Mirror." This was off of Michael`s "Bad" album. It spent two weeks at number one back in 1988. And the song also received a Record of the Year Grammy nomination.
Well, tonight, I`ve got the amazing story behind that song, a song about taking a good, long look at yourself to make the world a better place.
Here`s CNN`s Thelma Gutierrez with the talented woman behind "Man in the Mirror" for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(MUSIC PLAYING)
THELMA GUTIERREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Siedah Garrett wrote "Man in the Mirror" 21 years ago.
SIEDAH GARRETT, SONGWRITER, "MAN IN THE MIRROR": Quincy Jones - I was assigned to Quincy`s publishing company. And he wanted a song to finish out the "Bad" album. I wanted to write a song that made him feel like he had something to say important to the world. And I think he let me know that I did exactly that.
GUTIERREZ (on camera): What did he say to you?
GARRETT: He said, "`Man in the Mirror` is one of my favorite songs of all time."
GUTIERREZ: What was it like when you actually heard him singing your words?
GARRETT: I remember the first time I heard the song on the radio, I got goose bumps as I pulled over to the side of the road on the freeway. And I turned up the radio as loud as it would go, and I sat there with tears just streaming down my face. It was such a moving, emotional moment.
GUTIERREZ: What will you miss the most?
GARRETT: His voice, his laughter and his sense of humor.
GUTIERREZ: What has the world lost?
GARRETT: Music. We lost the music.
GUTIERREZ: So she sang as a tribute to her friend at the Agape Church in Los Angeles.
(MUSIC PLAYING)
HAMMER: That`s a great story. That was CNN`s Thelma Gutierrez for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. By the way, "Man in the Mirror" - it is now the number one most downloaded song on both iTunes and over an Amazon.com as of today.
Well, now, we`d love to hear from you for our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day. We want to know - "Michael Jackson: Are you even more interested in his music now?" Vote at CNN.com/ShowbizTonight. Or e-mail us at showbiztonight@cnn.com.
No big surprise - our "Showbiz on Call" phone lines with ringing nonstop, so many people calling in to us to tell us their very personal thoughts about Michael`s music.
We`ve got a call in to "Showbiz on Call" from Carmen in New York. Carmen thinks Michael is not only the King of Pop, but king of all music.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
CALLER: I wanted to say that with no disrespect to any other artist out there because they`re all good - but Michael Jackson was the greatest and will forever and ever and ever hold that title. Nobody will even come close to what Michael Jackson was and what he represented.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
HAMMER: Thanks, Carmen. We also heard from Debra calling in to "Showbiz on Call" from California and she agrees.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
CALLER: I was just calling to say that I love Michael and his music. My heart right now goes out to his family, especially his children. And I would like to say that I truly believe that he is the greatest of all time.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
HAMMER: Thanks a lot, Debra. You can call us at "Showbiz on Call" to share your Michael Jackson thoughts and memories. We`re keeping the "Showbiz on Call" phone lines open all the time at 1-888-SBT-BUZZ; 1-888- 728-2899. Leave us a voicemail. We`ll play some of your calls right here on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
And your calls to "Showbiz on Call" are also now online on our homepage, and that is CNN.com/ShowbizTonight.
One of the biggest Michael Jackson questions out there tonight - what will happen to his kids? People are really concerned about this. There`s a raging debate going on over the battle for Prince Michael, Paris and Blanket. Who wants to get them and who should get custody? Tonight, a dramatic move by Michael`s mom and a stunning late-breaking court ruling. We`ve got that all coming up.
And we`re also asking this controversial question, we all know Michael was a very talented entertainer, one of the best, perhaps. But he had major money problems. There were the child molestation charges. So tonight I`m asking, is it too soon to be talking about Michael`s troubles?
Also this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BILLY MAYS, TV PITCHMAN: OxiClean lifts away stains detergents can leave behind. Cleaner, brighter and whiter. That`s the power of OxiClean.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Also, brand-new details on what killed TV infomercial king, Billy Mays. Did he really die from getting hit on the head on a plane? This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
And now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
TEXT: 1950s TV star and singer Gale Storm dies. She was 87. Impressionist Fred Travalena dies at age 66 after battling lymphoma.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York. We are naturally getting so many of your emotional words about Michael Jackson. They`re coming in through E-mails, on our Facebook page.
A lot of calls coming into "Showbiz on Call" as well. I want to share more of your thoughts right. We`ve got a call into "Showbiz on Call" from Antoine in Tennessee, Antoine having a hard time dealing with Michael`s death.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
CALLER: I`m really just starting to kind of get a grasp on the death of Michael Jackson. He was such an enormous, magnanimous figure. And we have to just really sit and just really grasp what we just lost. We just lost the greatest legend of all time.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
HAMMER: Yes. A lot of people are feeling that way, Antoine. Thanks for your call. We also heard from Wiley calling in to "Showbiz on Call" from Maryland. He was actually in L.A. when Michael died.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
CALLER: I`m calling about the Michael Jackson`s surprise passing. My brother and I were vacationing in Hollywood the day before Michael Jackson died. And it was just an honor to be able to see his house and his surroundings and to see the people the next day or two, swarm to the Walk of Fame to honor Michael Jackson.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
HAMMER: Thank you for your call, Wiley. B.J. sends us this E-mail from Alaska, "He had such great talent on the stage - it is just sad that his personal life `Britney Spears` all the time."
And we`ve been getting just a ton of comments on our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT Facebook page. Kim B. saying, "My heart breaks for his children. I have always felt bad for him. I just think he was looking for someone to love him as he was. I don`t think he was a bad person at all."
And Sean A. writes, "He was the greatest entertainer who ever lived. His music race-less, religion-less, color-less and creed-less. He himself was awe-inspiring, uplifting, made you move to the beat and stomped to your feet."
We do thank you for all of your calls, your E-mails and your Facebook comments. We`d love for you to keep them coming. The "Showbiz on Call" phone lines are open all the time. Here`s the number - 1-888-SBT-BUZZ; that is 1-888-728-2899.
You can also send us an E-mail, if you`d like to E-mail. The address is showbiztonight@cnn.com. And please don`t forget - you can sign up and become a fan of our Facebook page. You do that by surfing over to CNN.com/ShowbizTonight.
So time now for the SHOWBIZ lineup. Here`s what`s coming up at the bottom of the hour on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
The battle over Michael Jackson`s kids. This is really important. Who wants them and who should get custody? A dramatic move by Michael`s mom and a stunning late-breaking court decision today.
Did you see this? This is great. A brand-new "Thriller" tribute to Michael Jackson by prison inmates.
Also tonight, brand-new details on what killed TV pitchman Billy Mays. Did he really die from hitting his head while he was on a plane?
Now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
TEXT: A scene from the new movie "Bruno" featuring LaToya Jackson has been edited out. Janet Jackson to star in Tyler Perry`s sequel to "Why Did I Get Married."
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Now, on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, the battle for Michael Jackson`s kids. Jackson`s father speaks out in a shocking new interview. Jackson`s mother`s dramatic move for custody. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT brings you the late- breaking, dramatic court decision.
Also, Michael`s child molestation trial, his bizarre behavior, his money problems. Tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT asks, is it too soon to talk about Michael Jackson`s troubles?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MAYS: OxiClean lifts away stains detergents can leave behind. Cleaner, brighter and whiter. That`s the power of OxiClean.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: And what killed America`s most famous TV pitchman, Billy Mays? Tonight, we`ve got brand-new details.
Plus more stories breaking from the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker." TV`s most provocative entertainment news show continues right now.
(MUSIC PLAYING)
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. It is 30 minutes past the hour. I`m A.J. Hammer, broadcasting tonight and every night from New York City.
Tonight, late-breaking developments in the brewing mammoth legal battle following the death of Michael Jackson. A big-time custody battle over his three children began today.
A judge today granted Michael Jackson`s mother, Katherine, temporary guardianship of his three children. Is this just the beginning of a major custody battle with their biological mothers?
Also today, Michael Jackson`s family filed a petition saying they want the kids to be the sole beneficiaries of Jackson`s estate. But what does this mean since Jackson was more than $400 million in debt when he died?
Also, as investigators are still trying to get to the bottom of Jackson`s mysterious death, the attorney for Jackson`s personal doctor speaks out today for the very first time, why he says the doctor was not to blame for Jackson`s death.
Joining me tonight in New York is Lisa Bloom who`s a CNN legal analyst. Tonight in Los Angeles, Jim Moret who is the chief correspondent for "Inside Edition."
So today, the Jackson family filed two very important petitions. This was at the Los Angeles superior courthouse. One was from Michael Jackson`s mother, Katherine, so she could gain guardianship of Michael Jackson`s three children.
Late today, a judge did grant her temporary guardianship. Lisa Bloom, let me begin with you. Could these two petitions today be the start of some major legal battles for the Jacksons?
BLOOM: Absolutely. And I read them closely. And you know what`s missing, A.J., is a will. Where is Michael Jackson`s will? Is it possible that he died without a will? I mean, there`s no mention of that in his guardianship papers. You would expect to see that.
"Michael Jackson, in his will, says that, I, Katherine Jackson, should be the guardian of the children" - it does not say that. Also, Debbie Rowe is made as much a non-person as possible in these papers.
They say they don`t know her address. They don`t know her parents` names and addresses, which would be the children`s grandparents. They don`t know if she consents to it or not. So they`re clearly trying to push her out and gain control of both the children and the children`s estate.
I want to focus on the custody petition for just a moment. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT does have those court documents that Lisa mentioned, filed by Katherine Jackson for full guardianship. We`re looking at them right now. And the documents show that Jackson`s kids are living right now at their grandmother`s Los Angeles home.
And in a brand-new press conference today, Michael Jackson`s father, Joe Jackson, said that is exactly where they belong. Take a look at this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOE JACKSON: This is where they belong. We`re the parents. We have other kids their size. They love those kids and we love those kids, too. We`re going to take care of them and give them the education they`re supposed to have. We can do that. And we have the air enough and the (UNINTELLIGIBLE) to be able to extend all kind of help that they might need.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: All right. So Jim Moret, it is still not official whether Debbie Rowe, the mother of Jackson`s two of his three kids, may actually put up a fight. Do you see that happening down the line here?
MORET: Look, it`s possible. There`s nothing to indicate - I`ve seen conflicting reports. As with so many allegations and conjectures in this particular case, there`s conflicting reports every single day. And seems like a new development every day.
Debbie Rowe has not been a part of those children`s lives. She thought she signed away all legal rights to those children. Apparently, she didn`t do so and a judge ruled as much a couple of years back. But there`s no indication she wants to be a part of those kids` lives and there is every indication that they have a relationship with Katherine, their paternal grandmother and that Katherine wants to raise those children.
HAMMER: So here`s the thing that I`m worried about. And let`s put aside Michael Jackson`s debt for a moment. But if these kids are the sole beneficiaries of Jackson`s estate - and Lisa Bloom, I`ll throw it to you - don`t the stakes really go up big-time in such a way that could lead to some kind of major custody battle, kind of like they did after Anna Nicole Smith`s death?
BLOOM: Right, except that here, we`re looking at debt and not the possibility of millions and millions of dollars, which was in the case of Anna Nicole. However, you know, Michael Jackson`s finances are very complicated. The music business` royalties stream in for years and years and years.
He clearly will not be spending money anymore. And so it may be that as time passes, that debt will go down and the assets will start to accumulate and the children will get something.
HAMMER: Now, you know, you mentioned Michael - so we`re talking about the debt picture here - $400 million is the number that`s been thrown around that he was in debt when he died.
Even the family is acknowledging that Michael Jackson`s finances were a complete mess. I want to read to you a bit of what they said in the petition, quote, "Given the nature and extent of the descendant`s assets, it would be difficult, if not impossible, to quantify their value at this time."
Jim, seems to me these children are going to inherit a headache more than anything else?
MORET: Well, Lisa`s right about one important point - the spending, and that was Michael Jackson`s big problem, has stopped. We know what his debt may be, or at least we`re told that it may be $400 million. We don`t know the value of the assets are.
And there`s another asset we have to also consider - that`s Jackson`s name and likeness which continues on even after his death. We saw that the estate of Elvis Presley recently sold Presley`s name and likeness for $100 million. You could presumably gain a great deal of money, a fortune for Michael Jackson`s name and likeness.
HAMMER: Yes. All good points to keep in mind. Let`s move on to another major news development tonight. Jackson`s personal doctor, Dr. Conrad Murray, speaking out. Now, he was the last person with Jackson in his final moments. And over the weekend, he was grilled by investigators.
And there`s one big question everybody wants answered - whether or not Dr. Murray injected Jackson with a painkiller like Demerol? Well, Dr. Murray`s attorney says he didn`t do a thing. Take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHERNOFF: Dr. Murray never prescribed Demerol, never administered Demerol, never saw him - there`s nothing in history, nothing that Dr. Murray knew, that would lead him to believe that he would go into sudden cardiac arrest or respiratory failure.
Nothing - there was no red flag that was available to Dr. Murray which would have led him to believe he should have died the way he did.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: OK. So that said, if it turns out Michael Jackson was taking drugs, his doctor, you would think, would have or certainly should have known. Lisa Bloom, if it does turn out that Jackson`s death was drug- related, could the doctor still somehow be implicated in the death?
BLOOM: Yes. There`s a big assumption there, though, because Michael Jackson is responsible as the patient, as we all are, for fully disclosing everything he`s taking. Now, Michael has admitted a couple of times in his life that he was addicted to prescription drugs.
Addicts don`t usually come clean and fully disclose everything. Now, maybe he did; maybe he didn`t. We don`t know. This doctor was suspicious because he disappeared when Michael was taken off in the ambulance. He didn`t ride in the ambulance as most personal physicians would do with their patients. So there certainly are suspicions here. But I`m not ready to convict this doctor of anything just yet.
HAMMER: Jim Moret, let me ask you this. You know, we knew initially the toxicology results were going to take at least eight weeks to come out. And I was so happy to hear that number reduced today four to six weeks.
But it`s still a long time. Isn`t that only going to add to the frenzy over all the speculation that`s certain to continue over Michael Jackson and how he died?
MORET: Well, you`re going to have the speculation anyway, because no matter what happens in those toxicology reports, there`s still going to be the question of who knew what and when.
But for the next four weeks - yes, you`re right. It`s a feeding frenzy, much as it was with Anna Nicole Smith.
HAMMER: What do you think, Lisa Bloom? I mean, this is exactly what people are waiting to hear. They`re going to dig up every person that ever had any connection with Michael Jackson.
And we`re certainly going to be hearing a lot. And this goes in stark contrast to what a lot of people would like to see happen right now. And that is - and we`ll be talking about this in just a moment - just to remember Michael Jackson for the beauty of his legacy. And we`re going to have a lot of things being said before those toxicology reports are released.
BLOOM: Well, there`s no question that he is being remembered all over the world for his music. I took a long joyride this weekend. I was changing the stations in all different cities. And Michael Jackson was on every station.
So, I don`t think we`re losing sight of that. But it`s appropriate when there`s a sudden death of a huge star like Michael Jackson to ask questions like, was there prescription drug abuse? Did the doctor do something wrong? So we can prevent this in the future and hopefully save lives in the future. And everyone can be aware of what the facts really were.
Lisa Bloom, Jim Moret, thanks, guys. I appreciate it. We have been asking you to vote on our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day - "Michael Jackson: Are you even more interested in his music now?" Keep voting at CNN.com/ShowbizTonight or E-mail us at showbiztonight@cnn.com.
Well, when I think of Michael Jackson, I do think the King of Pop, "Thriller," the Jackson 5 - all the great work he did, his terrific humanitarian efforts over the years.
But you know, there are a lot of people who cannot forget Jackson`s controversial past - the child molestation trial, his mega-money problems and you know, his just plain, sometimes bizarre behavior. The question is, is it too soon to talk about all of Michael`s problems? We`ve got that great debate coming up.
Plus a tribute, making news around the world, the dancing prison inmates who became a YouTube sensation - they are back. And they have got a thrilling tribute to the King of Pop.
We`ve also got this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MAYS: OxiClean lifts away stains detergents can leave behind. Cleaner, brighter, and whiter - that`s the power of OxiClean.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: The power of Billy Mays. Mays, of course, was the king of infomercials. Tonight, brand-new details on what killed the most famous pitchman in America. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
And now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
TEXT: Michael Jackson`s final rehearsal performance could be made into a CD and DVD set. Hackers break into Ellen DeGeneres`s and Britney Spears`s TwitPic instant messaging accounts.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JAMIE FOXX, ACTOR AND SINGER: On behalf of the man that we`re honoring, how are you feeling tonight?
(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)
Let me get you focused. Don`t you get tired on me because the media out there is doing a number on my man. So we`ve got to make sure - this is our only chance to represent for what it`s really about.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: That was Jamie Foxx at the BET Awards show asking for everyone to remember Jackson, the artist, and not the person that Jamie Foxx says was portrayed badly in the media.
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York.
Tonight, the great debate, is it too soon to discuss Michael Jackson`s past troubles? Jackson is, without a doubt, a pop music legend. But in his later years, his legacy was certainly overshadowed by his trouble, from the allegations of child molestation to his financial problems to his, quite frankly, sometimes bizarre public behavior.
Joining me tonight in Hollywood is Janell Snowden. She`s a red carpet correspondent for "VH1 News." Joining me tonight in New York, Joe Levy, editor in chief of "Maxim" magazine.
All right. Guys, before we even begin this, I just want to get it out. Michael Jackson was, of course, acquitted of his charges in the child molestation case and he was able to avoid foreclosure on his Neverland ranch. That said, these and quite a few other troubles were a part of Michael Jackson`s life.
Janell, I`m starting with you. Is it too soon to be talking about this?
JANELL SNOWDEN, RED CARPET CORRESPONDENT: Well, I think that it`s a tough call, A.J., because unfortunately, this is not a job that comes with a rulebook of etiquette. It`s not a job that comes with a rulebook that says, you know, if a person has been charged with child molestation, then you should wait 10 days after his death to start that legacy - or to start those reports.
So, unfortunately, we`re going to make some mistakes. And I think the most important thing to do is to wait for the official cause of death. We know that the first autopsy was inconclusive. The family has ordered another one.
We don`t even know exactly why he`s died. And yet, of course, we`re all running with speculation as to all of these things. It could be prescription drugs. It could be this. It could be that. We don`t know.
And I think until we know, we should be respectful of the family and remember that he was not only a son and a brother, but a father. And as you reported, he was acquitted of those child molestation charges. So, legally, you know, he was found not guilty -
HAMMER: And.
SNOWDEN: Go ahead.
HAMMER: No, no, no. But again, it is the big picture that was his life. From his early days up until his death, there is a lot that made up that life. And it is obviously a very sensitive topic. It gets under the skin of a lot of people. That would include a lot of people in the music business like Diddy.
Now, Diddy was at the BET Awards last night. And as a matter of fact, he and Alicia Keys stopped to speak with CNN`s Don Lemon on the red carpet. I want you to watch what they had to say about honoring Jackson`s memory. Let`s roll that.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
COMBS: I`m just saying, everybody be conscious that he`s a human being, you know. It`s time to pay tribute instead of talking about all the controversies. We`re going to have months to get into that. But let`s give him his just due. You know what I`m saying?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: So, Joe Levy, what do you think? Did he have it right? Is it too soon to be talking about this stuff?
JOE LEVY, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, "MAXIM": Unfortunately, no. I don`t think it is too soon. I think it`s absolutely right to say that this is not or should not be anyone`s exclusive focus. You shouldn`t be talking about Michael without talking about his artistry.
But I think while it`s too soon to say definitively what`s happened and some of those reports have come out have been proven to be wrong, it`s not too soon for us to be asking these questions. We don`t yet have the answers. We need to go slowly. But the way that Michael lived and the way that he died - it just leaves too many questions unanswered for them simply to be ignored right now.
HAMMER: A lot of people have been speculating and wondering if abuse of pain medications could have something to do with his untimely death. Well, on CNN`s "LARRY KING LIVE," Usher said this was not the right time to be discussing his possible drug problems. Let`s watch that.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
USHER, SINGER: I just think that it`s very unfortunate that even on the eve of Michael`s death, we`re still discussing addictions. And this is a time right now to speak of the strength of his family, to be there for his family, to recognize Michael Jackson for his courage -
MINNELLI: For his kids.
USHER: For his kids, for his mother, who`s just lost her son.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Joe, what do you think? Does Usher have that right? Have too many people lost sight of the fact that Michael wasn`t just a guy with these problems, but in addition to being a star, he was a father and son and a brother?
LEVY: I do think it`s important for us to talk about his art and to not lose sight of why we cared in the first place, which is his remarkable talent. But unfortunately, the way he lived his life and it seems the way we died, makes it impossible to just focus on that now. It really does make it impossible to leave all the rest of this out.
Michael is someone who was most famous in the last 10 to 15 years for the trials that he went through, the legal trials that he went through and for the rumors including those about his drug addiction, his addiction to painkillers and for his own admitting these problem going to rehab for it, than he was for anything else. He simply wasn`t famous anymore for the music, for the records, for the videos.
SNOWDEN: I agree, but I have to disagree just in the sense that he was still famous for the fact that he has the top-selling album of all time. And we live in an age where people don`t even buy albums anymore. So I think it`s safe to say that he`s going to be that record-holder from here on out. So I think that it`s impossible to - I agree.
LEVY: I think that`s absolutely true. I think that is part of the discussion. I think that`s really been part of what everyone has said about this. I just don`t think, unfortunately, sadly, that it`s possible to leave the rest of this out.
Nor do I think that any discussion of Michael should be absent of the fact that here`s someone who was so remarkably talented and among his many accomplishments, he had the biggest selling album of all time.
SNOWDEN: Balance is the key.
HAMMER: This certainly, moving forward, will be the subject of much debate. And will it ever be right for the people who were very passionate about Michael and his art? Joe Levy, Janell Snowden, thank you both.
Turning now to another tragic death - America`s favorite pitchman, Billy Mays, has died. Now, you may not recognize the name, but I can guarantee you, you do know his face. Take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MAYS: OxiClean lifts away stains detergent can leave behind. Cleaner, brighter and whiter - that`s the power of OxiClean.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Certainly, at any time of day, you have seen him pitching everything, from laundry detergent to mighty potty(ph). Sadly, Mays was found dead early Sunday morning at his home, but ironically spoke to a Tampa, Florida, television station about surviving a head injury from a bumpy flight home on Saturday. Listen to this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MAYS: As we hit, you know, it was just , I mean, the hardest hit. All the top, you know, things from the ceiling started dropping. And it hit me on the head, but I`ve got a hard head.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Well, the autopsy results were released today. And the medical examiner ruled out the head injury as the reason he died.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DR. VERNARD ADAMS, MEDICAL EXAMINER: There`s been some speculation about the possible role of an impact to the head that Mr. Mays received in a hard aircraft landing a few days ago. The autopsy revealed no evidence of any external or internal evidence of head trauma.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: The medical examiner went on to say that Mays likely died from complications of heart disease. He was just 50 years old.
Well, the tributes to Michael Jackson - they keep pouring in from all over the world, even from prison. I`m not kidding. You`ve got to see this. Thousands of prisoners in orange jump suits put together a thrilling tribute for the King of Pop. I`m going to show you that video, coming up. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
Now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
TEXT: Grammy Museum in L.A. to display suit Michael Jackson wore on the cover of "Thriller" album. "Transformers 2" earns $389 million worldwide - one of the biggest global launches ever.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(MUSIC PLAYING)
HAMMER: From the inmates in the Philippines who brought you a tribute to "Thriller" two years ago, it is the biggest orange-jumpsuit tribute to Michael Jackson in the world. 1,500 inmates in the Philippines pulled together a brand-new tribute to the King of Pop after hearing of his sudden death.
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York.
Did you see this? Inmates dancing in tribute to the King of Pop. Now, if you recognize these guys, it`s because they are the same inmates in a Filipino prison who created a worldwide YouTube phenomenon when they performed Jackson`s "Thriller" behind bars two years ago.
Well, last week, when the inmates heard Michael Jackson had died, 1,500 of them got together with a choreographer on Friday and rehearsed brand-new routines of "We are the World" and "I`ll Be There" for a reported nine hours, really only stopping to eat. They wanted to be sure that they got their tribute to their idol just right. Take a look.
(VIDEO CLIP)
Truly amazing what these guys pulled off behind bars. Wow.
Well, tonight, President Barack Obama sends his condolences to Michael Jackson`s family in a letter. President Obama has not spoken publicly about Jackson since Michael Jackson`s death on Thursday.
The president did express his condolences through his press secretary, Robert Gibbs, during a press conference on Friday. But why hasn`t he spoken publicly about one of the biggest pop stars of our time?
Well, in a brand new interview on NBC`s "Meet the Press," top White House adviser, David Axelrod, said that the president chose to write the Jackson family a private letter.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DAVID AXELROD, TOP WHITE HOUSE ADVISOR: The president obviously believes that he was an important and magnificent performer, and obviously he led a sad life in many ways as well. But his impact is undeniable. As you can see in your own airwaves and everywhere - I mean, the reaction has been very, very strong.
But you know, the president has written the family and has shared his feelings with the family. And he felt that was the appropriate way to go.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
Well, according to reports, the White House doesn`t plan on releasing any official statement on the death of Michael Jackson.
That is it for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York. You can always catch SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on the 11:00s - 11:00 p.m. Eastern and Pacific, and in the morning at 11:00 a.m. Eastern on HLN.
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