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Showbiz Tonight
Michael Jackson`s Will Found; Revelations from Michael Jackson`s Friends; Michael Jackson in the Sky?, Farrah Fawcett Laid to Rest Tonight
Aired June 30, 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, the brand-new battle over Michael Jackson`s fortune. Tonight, startling new information about what is in Michael Jackson`s will. What will Michael`s kids get? Who will get shut out? Plus, late-breaking details about a public viewing of Michael`s body.
The puzzling new mystery surrounding Michael`s final days. Tonight, the brand-new shocking revelations from Michael Jackson`s trainer. No warning signs, no red flags, nothing.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LOU FERRIGNO, MICHAEL JACKSON`S TRAINER: The time I was with him, he seemed fine, alert, no pain at all. As a matter of fact, he`s done a lot of his stretching exercises.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: So if nothing seemed wrong, what happened? Tonight, SHOWBIZ investigates Michael`s final days.
And Michael Jackson in the sky? Tonight, why some people are claiming they`ve seen Michael`s face in the clouds.
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, Michael Jackson`s explosive will. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT learned today that Michael Jackson did indeed leave a will, and it is one of the huge breaking developments in the death of Jackson.
Jackson`s will could answer a whole lot of mysteries. How much money did he have, who did he want to care for his three kids?
Also, brand new today, unbelievable and disturbing revelations about Michael Jackson`s possible state of mind at the time of his death. And breaking late today, word that there will be a public viewing of Michael Jackson`s body at Neverland this Friday following today`s tribute at the famed Apollo Theater in New York City.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(MUSIC PLAYING)
(voice-over): A sad but celebratory good-bye to the King of Pop.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Push it up like that.
HAMMER: SHOWBIZ TONIGHT was at New York City`s historic Apollo Theater where fans gathered for a tribute to Michael Jackson. Those who waited overnight to see the event told us it was a once-in-a- lifetime celebration.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This is the last chance to celebrate the life, the life that he lived and everything. And I want to be here.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I came out to celebrate the life and legacy of Michael Jackson.
HAMMER: And soon, fans in California will get their chance to honor Jackson, too. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can now reveal that a public viewing for the late King of Pop is planned for Friday at Jackson`s legendary estate/amusement park, Neverland Ranch. The family will have a private memorial on Sunday.
MIKE WALTERS, TMZ: We`re hearing upwards of 250,000 people could descend on this area to witness this public viewing.
HAMMER: But SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can also tell you some may see Neverland as an odd choice for Jackson`s good-bye. In 2005, after he was acquitted of charges that he molested a 13-year-old boy at Neverland, Jackson vowed never to return to his long-time home.
And as recently as Monday, Jackson`s father Joe denied that Neverland will be Jackson`s final resting place.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Mr. Jackson, there are rumors that Michael will be buried at Neverland.
JOE JACKSON, FATHER OF MICHAEL JACKSON: That`s not true. That`s not true.
HAMMER: TMZ`s Mike Walters says Neverland is a big part of the Michael Jackson legend and an appropriate place for his good-bye.
WALTERS: This is an obvious place where fans all over the world and all over this area who are going to go to this thing kind of feel that Michael Jackson should be there or they feel this should be done there.
HAMMER: From one bombshell announcement to another, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT has learned that a will Jackson drafted in 2002 has finally turned up.
WALTERS: But this opens up a bag of interesting stuff.
HAMMER: "The Wall Street Journal" reports the will divides the estate among his mother, Katherine, his three children and some charities. But more interesting than who`s reportedly in the will is who reportedly isn`t.
WALTERS: It`s been reported that Joe Jackson is not in the will. Obviously, everybody knows whoever`s covered this story that Michael Jackson and his dad did not have the best relationship.
HAMMER: In his 1988 book, "Moonwalk," Jackson described his father Joe as a strict stage dad who would beat his children for messing up in rehearsals.
JOE JACKSON: They were saying I was too rough on the family.
HAMMER: Sunday at a BET event honoring his son, the elder Jackson strangely began talking to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT about Michael`s claims without us even asking him about it.
JOE JACKSON: I never beat Michael in my life. I did spank the family once in a while. Katherine spanked them more than I did.
HAMMER: As the Jackson family drama continues, authorities are looking into what killed the pop star. Los Angeles police detectives combed through Jackson`s rented home. They emerged with various medications. But they wouldn`t say what those medications were or if they may have had any role in his death as some people fear.
ALICIA QUARLES, ASSOCIATED PRESS: There`s been huge concerns about Michael Jackson and his prescription drug usage.
WALTERS: The drugs are what the LAPD and the coroner`s office are focusing on at this point.
HAMMER: Famous health guru and Jackson friend Deepak Chopra has said Jackson once asked him to prescribe Oxycontin to the pop star.
DR. DEEPAK CHOPRA, MICHAEL JACKSON`S FRIEND: That`s very characteristic of this disease. You know, I don`t really blame Michael for anything.
HAMMER: Chopra tells CNN`s Anderson Cooper he refused Jackson`s request and was shut out of the pop star`s life.
CHOPRA: He made himself unavailable frequently to people who really cared about him, including his own family, which really cared about him. And then he would make himself available to enablers.
He was the victim of circumstances. He was the victim of his own body image. He was a victim of the media frenzy around him. And he was the victim of enablers.
HAMMER: It`s a sad pattern that seems to be emerging in the days after Jackson`s death. For every heartfelt new tribute to the fallen pop star.
AL SHARPTON, JACKSON FAMILY FRIEND: We understand this journey because we was with him every step of the way.
HAMMER: There`s a disturbing new revelation about his life.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
So what about the millions, maybe even billions of dollars at stake? And should we expect a long, bitter battle over Michael`s three young kids?
With me tonight in New York is Midwin Charles. She`s an attorney who heads Midwin Charles and Associates. In Hollywood tonight is Carlos Diaz, who is a correspondent for "Extra."
And I would like to begin with the public viewing for Jackson. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT did learn late today there will be a public viewing of his body at his once beloved Neverland Ranch on Friday.
Carlos Diaz, beginning with you, this is going to be a massive spectacle on so many levels, isn`t it?
CARLOS DIAZ, CORRESPONDENT, "EXTRA": On so many levels, because if you`re trying to compare Michael Jackson`s death to the death of Princess Diana - remember when Princess Diana died how everyone was so somber and sad?
The strange thing, when Michael passed away last week, people were dancing and having - they were kind of showing their love for Michael through dance. So you`re talking about the possibility of 250,000 people going to Neverland. Some dancing, having a great time. Others, sad, somber, and you know, just distraught.
So you`re going to have this big, you know, scope of emotion there with all these people. It`s going to be really unusual.
HAMMER: Yes. That`s going to be an awful lot of energy coming at you from all different sides and angles. And all of this, as we learned today, that Michael Jackson did, in fact, leave a will. Michael`s father reportedly getting nothing in this will.
SHOWBIZ TONIGHT did learn late today that the will is now in the hands of the Jackson family attorney. When you think about it, it`s even hard to comprehend the amount that`s at stake here. Michael, of course, owns 50 percent of a publishing company that`s worth an estimated $2 billion. His own catalog of songs, of course, at last count, that`s worth $150 million. But you know, that number could easily skyrocket when you consider sales of his music since his death have just been going through the roof.
And Michael still has a stake in his Neverland Ranch. Now, Midwin, let me ask you. Forgetting his debt for a moment, and that really just scratches the surface, I am betting even with a will, things still stand a chance of getting really ugly because of the mind-blowing amount of money and potential money at stake.
MIDWIN CHARLES, ATTORNEY, MIDWIN CHARLES AND ASSOCIATES: Of course. Whenever you have large sums of money involved, people lose their minds. And people around Michael Jackson, as you`ve heard Deepak say, and I think one of the family attorneys say, he was surrounded by a bunch of enablers. And everyone, I guess, was a yes-man or yes-Michael. So I`m sure those folks will have their hands in the pot as well. So, of course.
HAMMER: One of the spots of sunshine in all of this, it seems, anyway, the fact that Michael`s mom, Katherine Jackson, does have temporary custody of Michael`s three kids - Prince Michael who`s 12, Paris who`s 11, Prince Michael II who is 7 years old.
Now, according to "People" magazine, Katherine says in her legal petition that Debbie Rowe, who is the birth mother of the two older children, has had no contact with them. Carlos, that said, Debbie still does have a right to fight for those kids, doesn`t she?
DIAZ: She does. And that`s where I think the most immediate battle is going to come from. Because when talking about money with Michael Jackson, you`re talking about money like we just talked about that could be happening for years, you know, through iTunes sales and through DVD sales.
But when you`re talking about the kids, that is the most immediate concern, and that`s the quickest correlation you could have with the Anna Nicole Smith case ...
HAMMER: Yes.
DIAZ: ... where you have people fighting over baby Dannielynn. You`re going to have people fighting over the two older kids in the Jackson family.
HAMMER: I`m betting she`s going to stay silent. I think she got what she wanted out of that relationship. And I think she now doesn`t even want to get involved with the firestorm. That`s just my own personal view on that.
DIAZ: I agree, A.J., until someone gets in her ear.
HAMMER: Yes.
DIAZ: If someone gets in her ear, you`ll never know what could happen.
HAMMER: Let me get to this because Thomas Mesereau, Michael`s lawyer during that 2005 sex abuse trial - you know his name. Well, he tells CNN`s Anderson Cooper he believes Katherine Jackson is the only person who should take care of Michael`s kids. Watch.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
THOMAS MESEREAU, MICHAEL JACKSON`S LAWYER: She attended every day of the trial and she is a wonderful, spiritual, giving, kind person. She was Michael`s rock during that trial. Because I was, you know, not only would see her in court every day but during the breaks, very often I would be in a room with just Michael and her.
And it was very clear how much he loved her, how much she loved him. He trusted her completely. And seeing her with those children just brings a smile to me. I mean, I think it`s wonderful that she`s going to be taking care of these beautiful children.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Quickly, Midwin, it seems like Thomas makes a great point because Michael trusted her so much that maybe the kids belong where they are now.
CHARLES: Yes. And if reports are true about this will, he left a portion of his estate to her, which gives indication as to how much he thought about her in terms of his family.
HAMMER: Let`s hope that all goes very smoothly. Midwin Charles, Carlos Diaz, I thank you guys.
Now, let me float this out to you for our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day. Here`s what we`re asking - it`s a question about Michael Jackson and his music. "Who was the greatest entertainer of them all? Elvis Presley, The Beatles or Michael Jackson?"
You can vote at CNN.com/ShowbizTonight, or you can E-mail us at showbiztonight@cnn.com.
Michael obviously under a lot of pressure to entertain. With that came the pressure of maintaining his looks.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHOPRA: He was very ashamed for some reason about his body image. He had a lot of self-loathing about his body image and he had a compulsion for cosmetic surgery which is a form of self-mutation.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Tonight, inside Michael`s mind. The explosive new claims about his plastic surgery, Michael`s relationships, his bizarre behavior, from someone who knew Michael for 20 years. That is coming up.
Also, Michael`s last days. The puzzling new mystery surrounding Michael`s final days. Tonight, the brand-new shocking revelations from Michael Jackson`s trainer. No warning signs, no red flags, nothing. So if nothing seemed wrong, what happened? Tonight, SHOWBIZ investigates Michael`s final days.
And Michael`s death is so shocking and so was Princess Diana`s of course. Tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT asks, whose death was bigger? This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
Now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
TEXT: BET Awards, which honored Michael Jackson on Sunday, had its highest rating ever. "Time," "Entertainment Weekly," "Rolling Stone," "Newsweek" planning Jackson tributes.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Tonight, tears and tributes, thousands of people coming to New York City`s famed Apollo Theater to remember Michael Jackson.
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I `m A.J. Hammer in New York.
Tonight, an emotional good-bye to Michael Jackson at New York`s Apollo Theater. This has truly been an extraordinary day as thousands and thousands of people came to the legendary theater in Harlem for a special public memorial service. They paid tribute to the King of Pop by leaving flowers and memorabilia to celebrate Jackson`s life and music.
Joining me tonight from inside the Apollo Theater is CNN`s T.J. Holmes.
So T.J., give us a sense - give us a real idea of how big and emotional this day has been for the thousands of fans that have been turning out and gathering there at the Apollo?
T.J. HOLMES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, what`s been happening here, the crowd you see behind me has been waiting outside, most of them were up to five plus hours in the Harlem heat.
And as people come in there, they`re greeted to this, essentially a party. Over the past few days since Michael Jackson has died, there`s been a lot of grief, a lot of tears, a lot of sadness around the country and around the world.
They`re not here and (INAUDIBLE) today. You`re seeing expressed pure joy in celebration of his music and of this man. Now, many of the people who were coming in before, they were kind of wet from sweat standing outside.
A lot of these folks are now wet because of a rainstorm here in Harlem and people, thousands of them, lined up outside got rained on. Many of them didn`t go anywhere. They stayed. The line still goes around the block, some 10 blocks up from 125th, where we are, all the way up to 135th. Let me just let you get a little flavor of some of the people we were able run into and talked to today about why they`re here.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I did not want to miss this moment for anything. This is the last chance to celebrate his life, the life that he lived and everything. And I want to be here.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I`m here to support Michael and just have his legacy live on because his music will never die.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: T.J., that`s a message we have heard over and over. So many people really want to remember Michael`s music as his ultimate legacy. How powerful have the tributes been there at the Apollo?
HOLMES: You know, today, again, not a lot of tears, not a lot of grief, not a lot of sadness. What you will hear and the sense I`m getting from the speakers that are up on the stage, we heard Rev. Sharpton and Spike Lee as well. This community, Harlem, this theater specifically, the Apollo, and the black community.
(CHEERS)
Look at them all - there are others, not just black people who have been here, but there`s a sense that this community is reclaiming Michael Jackson. A lot of people here upset about hearing about some of the negative things and aspects of Michael Jackson`s life. They don`t want to hear it and essentially talking about when - you know - about his journey.
Because we were with him from the very start. He is family. They have referred to these crowds as family throughout the day. So the way it`s going to wrap up today, they let 600 people in at a time. They get 30, 45 minutes of this music and celebration. They still come out. (INAUDIBLE) that will go for the next few hours here tonight in Harlem. Really, a fascinating, a celebratory day here today.
HAMMER: Yes. It sounds like it`s a good time. It sounds totally festive. And it sounds like while people may be emotional inside, I`m looking at that, T.J., and I`m seeing smiles behind you and certainly hearing that music at a place that essentially launched Michael Jackson`s career some 42 years ago. CNN`s T.J. Holmes, thank you so much tonight.
Well, I`ve got to tell you, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT viewers are also paying tribute to Michael Jackson. Our "Showbiz on Call" phone lines - they are ringing nonstop. Here`s a call I want to play to you that came into "Showbiz on Call." It`s Rhonda in Georgia, and she points out how Michael`s music really brought people together.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
CALLER: It`s heartbreaking, unbelievable. And I truly believe his voice and his music was a gift from God sent to bring people around the world together in his love. And he truly did that. And he will be missed indeed.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
HAMMER: Thank you so much, Rhonda. We also heard from Laura, who called into "Showbiz on Call" from Texas. And Laura thinks Michael`s influence went way beyond his music.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
LAURA, CALLER FROM GEORGIA: I just wanted to say that first of all, I can`t believe he`s gone. It just breaks my heart that so many people out there do not realize what a wonderful human being he was.
And you know, everybody says he`s the King of Pop. But honestly, he was the king of hearts because he had one of the biggest hearts out there. And it`s just a shame that so many people kept breaking it. I hope that he finally rests in peace.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
HAMMER: Thank you for your call, Laura. We appreciate all of your phone calls. Give us a buzz at "Showbiz on Call" and let us know what you think about this. Leave your memories of Michael Jackson or talk about anything that`s on your mind. The "Showbiz on Call" phone lines are open all the time at 1-888-SBT-BUZZ; that`s 1-888-728-2899.
Tonight, brand-new puzzling mystery surrounding Michael`s final days. Brand-new, shocking revelations from Michael Jackson`s trainer. He says he saw no warning signs. He didn`t see any red flags. Nothing. So if a guy who is training Michael for his big comeback tour saw nothing wrong, what happened? SHOWBIZ investigates Michael`s final days.
Michael Jackson`s death totally shocked the world. It reminds so many people of a sad, sad day back in 1997 when Princess Diana died in a car accident. So tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is asking, whose death was bigger - Michael`s or Princess Di`s?
HAMMER: And switching gears for some very happy news. I`ve got your very first look at Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick`s twin baby girls, the girls they had through a surrogate mom. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
Now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
TEXT: A movie about social networking site Facebook is in the works. "The Bachelor" reject, Melissa Rycroft, is engaged (congrats!).
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Did you see this? You`ve just got to say "aww" when you take a look at these pictures. Who is it, you ask? Well, just the biggest female star on the planet when she was just seven years old.
That`s Angelina Jolie in her very first movie role, a film called "Looking to Get Out" back in 1982. Angelina co-starred with her dad, Jon Voight. The movie, out today on DVD.
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer. Tonight, Paul McCartney is speaking out for very first time about Michael Jackson`s shocking death.
(MUSIC PLAYING)
HAMMER: McCartney and Jackson have a long history together. They worked on two big songs back in the `80s, "The Girl is Mine" and "Say, Say, Say," which we`re watching right now. Michael also owns the rights to the Beatles` song catalogue. He outbid Paul back in 1985 for that.
Tonight, here`s what Paul is saying, "I was privileged to have hung out and worked with Michael. He was a massively talented boy-man with a gentle soul. His music will be remembered forever and my memories of our time together will be happy ones."
Well, there is a raging debate happening right now on our Facebook page. Yesterday we asked you, is it too soon to talk about Michael Jackson`s problems? You know, his money troubles, the child molestation charges.
Laura D. says it is too soon to go there. "Let`s start focusing on the positive. He did a lot for society and really made this world a better place."
But Cindy B. says we have to remember everything about Michael. "How easily we forget he was not as great as everyone is making him out to be."
And please do remember, you can sign up for our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT Facebook page by going to CNN.com/ShowbizTonight.
And I am extraordinarily happy to be able to share this with you. My dear friend and SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s own Brooke Anderson just had a baby and she sends along this beautiful brand-new photo album. Put it up.
Brooke`s daughter is named Kate Victoria. These pictures are just stunning. They were shot by Joy Harmon-Prouty at "WildflowersPhotos.com." Brooke, all of us here at SHOWBIZ TONIGHT so happy for you and your husband, Jim. We miss you, but we know you`re having a terrific time being a terrific mom.
And you can see more of Brooke`s baby album on our Web site. Just go to CNN.com/ShowbizTonight or also check out our Facebook page.
Now the SHOWBIZ lineup. Here`s what`s coming up at the bottom of the hour on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
The puzzling new mystery surrounding Michael Jackson`s final days. Tonight, the brand-new shocking revelations from Michael Jackson`s trainer.
A lot of people are saying Michael Jackson`s death reminds them of another tragic loss, Princess Diana. Well, tonight we`re asking, whose death was bigger?
And Michael Jackson in the sky? Tonight, why some people are insisting they see Michael`s face in the clouds. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
Time now for the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
TEXT: Diane Keaton due back at work after getting injured on set of new film, "Morning Glory." Mariah Carey dresses up as a man (Eminem??) during filming of her new music video.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Now, on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, Michael Jackson`s final days. Shocking new details of Jackson`s health just days before he died. Were there warning signs? Was he using drugs? Michael`s trainer speaks out.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHOPRA: He was very ashamed for some reason about his body image. He had a lot of self-loathing about his body image. And he had a compulsion for cosmetic surgery, which is a form of self-mutilation.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Inside the mind of Michael Jackson, his plastic surgeries, his bizarre behavior. Tonight, brand-new claims about the inner demons that haunted the King of Pop.
And shocking new claims of people who swear they saw Michael Jackson in the clouds.
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, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT bringing you the breaking new developments surrounding Michael Jackson`s death.
Jackson`s family today set a public viewing of Michael Jackson`s body for this Friday at his famed Neverland Ranch. The body will return to the ranch on Thursday to prepare for Friday`s events.
We also learned today that Michael Jackson`s last will has been located. Jackson family lawyer, Londell McMillan, tells CNN this will was written back in 2002.
Also, brand-new tonight, just how much was Michael Jackson worth when he died? Well, a brand-new report reveals the pop star claims to have had a net worth of $236 million back in March of 2007.
And tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is also bringing you information about Michael`s final days. The puzzling new mystery surrounding his last days is growing and SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is on the case.
Joining me tonight in New York is Midwin Charles who is an attorney with the law firm Midwin Charles and Associates. From Hollywood is Carlos Diaz, who is a correspondent for "Extra."
So Jackson`s untimely death certainly took everybody by surprise, including those closest to him. And in a brand-new interview with CNN`s Larry King, Lou Ferrigno - we all remember him as TV`s original "Incredible Hulk." Well, Lou was training Michael for his upcoming tour and says that back in may when he was working with Michael, everything seemed fine.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
FERRIGNO: When I was with Michael, I trained him on and off for 15 years. But when I saw him a few months ago, he looked fantastic. The way he moved - I worked with him, different exercises. And I`ve never seen him look better.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Carlos, let me start with you. Lou says that he has worked with Michael for the past 15 years. You would have to speculate that if something was wrong, Lou probably would have seen it.
DIAZ: Yes, and I`ve talked to Lou a few times, and he seems like a very genuine person. He`s not one of those people who would kind of bow to Michael Jackson and Michael Jackson`s camp.
If there was something wrong, he would come forth and say, there`s something seriously wrong. But let`s not forget just because someone`s in great physical condition doesn`t mean they`re in great mental condition as far as maybe needing prescription drugs of some sort.
HAMMER: Yes. And I agree exactly with what you`re saying about Lou Ferrigno because a lot of people might go out there and try to paint Michael Jackson as something other than what he was. I think Lou was just telling it like he saw it.
DIAZ: Right.
HAMMER: And since Jackson`s death, there have been a lot of reports floating around that he was taking Demerol, which is a pain medication, while he was doing his intense rehearsal schedule for those upcoming 50 shows that were scheduled for later this summer in London. But Lou Ferrigno appears to blow holes in that theory. Let`s watch that.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
FERRIGNO: At the time I was with him, he seemed fine, alert, no pain at all. As a matter of fact, he`s done a lot of stretching exercises. If you have a lot of pain, you can`t stretch that much. So he was very eager to do what I told him.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Well, it does make sense that Jackson wouldn`t be able to endure all that conditioning if he was in pain. But Midwin, we have to remember also Lou is talking about what he saw back in May. It certainly is conceivable, isn`t it, that his health went downhill since then.
CHARLES: It totally is. But what`s good about Lou`s statements is that it debunks this myth that Michael was frail and sickly. There are many people who are coming out and saying that he has been in this condition for a long period of time. So Lou coming out and speaking out to what his actual observations were, are really, really good.
HAMMER: Well, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s really been digging into Michael`s final days. And the reports really have been very contradictory in so many ways. Let`s take a look again at these brand-new photos of Michael Jackson. This is at one of his last rehearsals for that upcoming set of concert dates.
These were taken on June 23. He died, of course, on June 25. Carlos, we know Michael Jackson was the consummate performer. So it is also not a stretch to think that he could have been smiling through all of the pain. I`m sure he`s done that before.
DIAZ: Right. And you know, I mean, he`s used to that physical exertion of having to perform. But let`s not forget, people who are addicted to prescription pills - and I`m not saying Michael was - but if you have an addiction, it has nothing to do with any kind of physical pain you might be in realistically.
It`s the physical pain you think you`re in. So Michael could be smiling in that picture yet still have that addiction that people didn`t know about.
HAMMER: Well, here`s something that`s truly fascinating. A brand-new interview with one of Michael`s very good friends, Miko Brando, who was right there at Michael`s last rehearsal and was with him the night before Michael died.
And in the brand-new interview, Brando confirms to CNN`s Larry King he didn`t see anything out of the ordinary. Watch this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MIKO BRANDO, MICHAEL JACKSON`S FRIEND: It went fine. I mean, we started - I think he had a few meetings before. He had makeup on, his wardrobe on, went up on stage, danced with the dancers. He did some songs. He did his routine. He gave the crew some technical advice here and there. He went through the routine. Kenny Ortega was there, you know, by him, helping him. He was just another ordinary.
LARRY KING, HOST, "LARRY KING LIVE": No sign of any physical problem?
BRANDO: No sign. No sign. He never said, you know, "Let`s stop, I don`t feel well. I need some drink, (UNINTELLIGIBLE). He never complained. He never said, "You know what? Can we take a five-minute break and let`s chill?" No.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: And again, let me point out, Miko Brando, who was just speaking, said he was with Michael Jackson the night before he died. According to Miko, Jackson never took a break, as you heard. But he was used to performing, as Carlos pointed out, and rehearsing for hours on end.
Midwin, let me ask you. Do you think that possibly if something was very wrong here, he could have been really good at hiding that from everyone?
CHARLES: It`s possible. I mean, one of the reasons why Michael is the greatest entertainer of all time is because he`s a perfectionist. Everything he did when it came to getting on that stage was rehearse to the umpteenth power.
HAMMER: Yes.
CHARLES: So it is entirely possible that he may have not been feeling well and what have you. But because the show must go on. Oh, my goodness - just watching these clips and these photos. Imagine what kind of show this would have been. Really sad.
HAMMER: It is really sad. And look, we`re coming up on a week since Michael died and it`s really remarkable how the interest in this hasn`t let up at all, not only in the United States but I`m talking around the entire planet.
I want you to listen to what Sharon Waxman wrote on the "Rap.com" about Jackson`s death. I think she really hits it here, quote, "Michael Jackson`s death is the most globally devastating and consequential celebrity passing since that of Princess Diana nearly a dozen years ago and surely the most axis-altering entertainment story since at least the dawn of the Blog Age. Possibly even the Internet Age altogether."
Carlos Diaz, do you agree Michael Jackson`s death is as big if not bigger on so many levels than the death of Princess Di nearly 12 years ago?
DIAZ: That is a tough question, A.J., because no matter how you answer it, you`re going to make a large section of people upset. I will say this - it is at least as big as the death of Princess Diana.
And I will say this about Princess Diana, though. She was really kind of still at the top of her game when she passed away. Michael was just about to come back with his comeback. So we don`t know if Mike could have, you know, gotten back at the top of his game right there.
HAMMER: Yes. And I do agree with you, it is difficult to compare the two. Obviously very different people, very different fan bases.
But Midwin, what do you think? I mean, in terms of a global impact - and again to the point of Sharon Waxman, you know, now in this information and technology age, there`s so much information moving around fast and furious. And people are downloading his videos and downloading his music. What do you think?
CHARLES: I actually think it was just as big as Diana`s passing. I mean, I actually disagree. While he was perhaps on a decline in the past 10 years, he sold out 50 concerts in about an hour? That`s not someone who`s making a comeback. That`s someone who never left. So let`s remember that. Let`s remember that.
HAMMER: To the tune of around, what, $85 million, those concert tickets ultimately went for.
CHARLES: Yes.
HAMMER: All told, pretty, pretty unbelievable.
CHARLES: Yes. And let`s not forget the constant fainting and passing out. He was a huge megastar around the world.
HAMMER: Midwin Charles, Carlos Diaz, thanks, guys. I really appreciate it.
Well, Michael Jackson obviously made great music. But some of the things he did do certainly did leave a lot of people scratching their heads. We can`t deny that. Well, tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is going inside the mind of Michael Jackson.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHOPRA: He was very ashamed for some reason about his body image. He had a lot of self-loathing about his body image. And he had a compulsion for cosmetic surgery, which is a form of self-mutilation.
HAMMER: His plastic surgery, his bizarre behavior. Tonight, Michael`s longtime friend and adviser opens up with stunning new claims about how Michael`s pain on the inside was reflected by his appearance on the outside.
Plus, is that Michael Jackson in the sky? Why hundreds of people absolutely swear they saw the King of Pop in the clouds.
And some really happy Hollywood news. I`ve got your very first look at the baby twins Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick had through a surrogate mom. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
It is time now for the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
TEXT: Mariska Hargitay and Christopher Meloni sign on for two more years of "Law & Order: SVU." Michael Jackson concert ticket buyers offered refund or souvenir ticket.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: All right. Look at this. Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick`s brand-new twin baby daughters. We`re very excited about this. This is the very first photo of Parker and Broderick`s baby girls, Marion and Tabitha. They were delivered through a surrogate just last week.
In this photo, look at the beaming couple. Also there, their son, six-and-a-half-year-old James Wilkie who is looking on. We offer a big congratulations to the entire family.
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York. Tonight, inside the mind of Michael Jackson. It is a startling brand-new look at what really was going on inside the mind and heart of Michael Jackson.
Jackson`s close friend and spiritual adviser of 20 years, reveals the shocking pain and sorrow that Jackson carried with him throughout his life. Tonight, we`re bringing you a truly unique glimpse at the man behind the icon.
Joining me tonight in New York is Cooper Lawrence, who is a psychologist and author of "The Cult of Celebrity." In Hollywood tonight is Janell Snowden, who is a "VH1 News" red carpet correspondent.
So guys, Deepak Chopra was the spiritual adviser and longtime friend of Michael Jackson. You have got to hear what Chopra tells CNN`s Anderson Cooper that Jackson was a deeply insecure man. And he was ravaged by body issues and he was unable to maintain long-term healthy friendships. Watch.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHOPRA: He was very ashamed for some reason about his body image. He had a lot of self-loathing about his body image. And he had a compulsion for cosmetic surgery, which is a form of self-mutilation which now apparently is, in hindsight, a part of the whole picture, you know - stress during childhood, some form of physical and verbal abuse.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: He clearly was a complicated, complicated man. Cooper, off to you first. As a psychologist, when you hear this brand-new information that reveals the disturbing inner workings of Jackson`s mind, are you at all surprised given what we know about him?
COOPER LAWRENCE, PSYCHOLOGIST: I`m not surprised at all. As a matter of fact, a recent study found that 40 percent of boys who are abused turn out to be self-mutilators in some way, shape or form. The other 60 percent end up with some sort of everything, from depression to bipolar disorders.
So that type of abuse that Michael Jackson suffered as a child has to have repercussions. And we`ve seen little glimpses of it throughout his entire life.
HAMMER: And we`ve never heard it, I believe, spelled out quite as candidly and frankly vas Deepak Chopra has. And his description also reveals how much pain Jackson must have been in during his life.
Chopra was very candid about his love for Jackson. And he said that in spite of Jackson`s pain, he said Jackson was a very good man. Take a look at that.
CHOPRA: Michael had a lot of problems. When you understand the full context of his insecurities, his poor self-esteem, his self-loathing, then many of his behaviors are easy to understand.
But the main thing, he was a lovable character. He was a compassionate, caring, beautiful person. And he was the most extraordinary musician, dancer, entertainer of all time.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: When you hear about all of the pain Jackson was in and Chopra saying that at his core, he was a caring person, Janell, do you think that Deepak`s insight will actually change some public opinion about Michael Jackson?
JANELL SNOWDEN, RED CARPET CORRESPONDENT, "VH1 NEWS": I certainly hope that it does. I think that Michael Jackson was so larger than life that we made him superhuman. None of us can relate to Michael Jackson, not a single person on this planet.
And so I think what Deepak is doing is helping provide a glimpse into the man that none of us know. Not even the people closest to him as close as the two of them were. He even says that Michael would only allow him in but so far.
And so none of us are in a position to judge Michael Jackson as humans nor are we in a position to judge anybody else. And it`s not until we begin to understand what he went through that we can even form a valid opinion.
Sure, we`re always going to have opinions of how we think Michael should have lived. But I don`t think any of us are in a position to judge him. And I think that what he`s doing will certainly help.
HAMMER: And you make a terrific point because rarely have we seen somebody who`s such a walking, living, breathing contradiction as was Michael Jackson. I mean, we just don`t experience it in pop culture.
Chopra did go on to say that while he loved Michael Jackson very much as a dear, dear friend, he said it was incredibly difficult to actually be Jackson`s friend, as you mentioned, Janell. Let`s watch.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHOPRA: He made himself unavailable frequently to people who really cared about him, including his own family, which really cared about him. And then he would make himself available to enablers. But that`s very characteristic of this disease.
You know, I don`t really blame Michael for anything. He was the victim of circumstances. He was the victim of his own body image. He was the victim of the media frenzy around him. And he was the victim of enablers.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Cooper, what kind of insight does that give you about Michael Jackson and his relationships?
LAWRENCE: It speaks volumes because here`s what it says. You`re talking about a kid Now, remember when he was a child, he never had anybody advocating for him. He was always a product. He was always something of a commodity to his entire family.
So the people around him never supported him in the way a child needs support. He never had the foundation that children have. So of course, who does he attract to him but people that want to exploit him? People that truly loved him would not be somebody that he could relate to. That`s not his comfort zone. He grew up with the idea that, "If you don`t exploit me, I can`t relate to you."
HAMMER: Yes. Janell, I want to get back to something we were talking about a moment ago. Obviously, we can agree that Deepak`s revelations give us great perspective. But is it really fair and OK for him to be coming forward with such personal insight about Michael Jackson? Because it does seem so intimate and private.
SNOWDEN: It does, but at the same time, I think what he`s trying to help us humanize Michael Jackson, help us better understand him so that we don`t demonize him.
I think that Cooper makes a great point in that Michael couldn`t relate to anybody and not even to those that most wanted to help him.
HAMMER: Yes.
SNOWDEN: It`s only when we admit that we have a problem that we can receive help. And you know, it just blows my mind. I interviewed Joe Jackson on the red carpet at the BET Awards like many others. And when I asked him how he could be there and so soon after the tragedy and what his goal in being there was.
HAMMER: Quickly, please.
SNOWDEN: Yes. He said, "I`m here because we lost the biggest pop star in the world." And that speaks volumes about the commodity that Michael was to him.
HAMMER: It`s true.
SNOWDEN: He didn`t say, "I lost my son." He said, "I lost the biggest pop star."
HAMMER: Got to end it there. Janell Snowden, Cooper Lawrence - thanks, guys.
Now, on to our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day, "Who was the greatest entertainer of all time - Elvis, The Beatles or Michael?" Keep voting, CNN.com/ShowbizTonight or E-mail showbiztonight@cnn.com.
Well, tonight Farrah Fawcett laid to rest. Family and friends gathered at a Los Angeles church this afternoon for their final farewells to Farrah. The "Charlie`s Angels" star passed away just last week after fighting her courageous three-year battle with anal cancer.
Private service held today. And though cameras weren`t allowed inside, Farrah`s friends and family were seen streaming into the church, including longtime companion Ryan O`Neal. Farrah`s son Redmond O`Neal was temporarily released from jail in order to attend his mother`s funeral. Redmond serving time on drug charges. Farrah Fawcett was 62 years old.
Well, there is no question that when it came to Michael Jackson`s career, the sky was the limit. Now, people swear they`ve spotted Michael Jackson in the sky as a cloud.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (on camera): You didn`t have to be a meteorologist to forecast this. Guess whose face was spotted in a freaky cloud formation? Michael Jackson.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Seriously? The man in the cloud? I`m telling you, seeing is really believing. That`s 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: Funeral for TV pitchman Billy Mays set for Friday. Brooke Shields returns to "Hannah Montana" to play Hannah`s late mother.)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer. Tonight, there is no question Michael Jackson was a phenomenon in the world of pop music. But now, he`s a phenomenon in the skies. Yes. After a thunderstorm in New York City the other day, people looked up into the clouds and swore they saw Michael Jackson looking back.
Here`s CNN`s Jeanne Moos for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MOOS (voice-over): No wonder New Yorkers looked up and said -
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, my God.
MOOS: You`d be saying, "Oh, my God," too, if you saw this shot of Yankee Stadium in the sports section with the understated caption, "Under Ominous Skies." Ominous.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Mushroom aliens are going to come out of them.
MOOS: People came out on the streets to stare. They posted with the clouds. On rooftops, crazy clouds floated into the blogosphere with Web sites like Gothamist and Flickr, featuring the apocalyptic photos.
Shots came in from Harlem. Shots came in from Chelsea - remind you of anything? The aliens` arrival in the movie, Independence Day. At least New Yorkers didn`t crash. They didn`t flee. They did what any red-blooded New Yorker would do. They made home videos.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hey, you know, I`ve got to say, I don`t think I`ve ever seen anything like that.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Seriously never seen clouds like this in my life.
MOOS: Yes. Well, they`re nothing new for folks who live in areas where there is often severe weather. What do you call those clouds?
CHAD MYERS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: It`s pronounced "mammatus."
MOOS: From Latin for udder.
MYERS: The M-A-M-M-A - mamma part looks like an udder - when you see that.
MOOS (on camera): I just want to milk them.
MYERS: I don`t think you`ll get anything out of them.
MOOS (voice-over): Oh, some New Yorkers were milking them all right.
MYERS: Let`s have another cocktail right now because I don`t know if I can handle this.
MOOS: The mammatus clouds that bode a thunderstorm Friday left some New Yorkers feeling downright romantic.
(on camera): But you don`t have to be a meteorologist to forecast this. Guess whose face was spotted in the freaky cloud formations?
(voice-over): Michael Jackson, say two New Yorkers who sent his photo into the local Fox station. A trained meteorologist would debunk that, right?
MOOS (on camera): You didn`t really see anything, did you?
MYERS: I really did.
MOOS: You really did?
MYERS: I did. I saw his nose. I saw his cheeks, his all fluffy hair.
MOOS (voice-over): The next thing you know, fans are putting the clouds to music. Of course, not everyone saw Michael Jackson.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Kind of looks like fibroids.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: Pretty good. That was CNN`s Jeanne Moos for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
And that is it for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York. Thank you for watching. 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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