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July 8, 2009 4:28 PM

Where is Jackson's Body?

(AP)
After spending nearly his entire life in the potlight, the big question right now is where is Michael Jackson’s body?

It left the mortuary Tuesday and was front and center at the Staples Center for Jackson’s memorial, but nobody ever saw it leave the building.

The Jackson family says its location is a secret and they don't want the public to yet know when or where Michael Jackson will be buried.

Of course, this has only increased the conspiracy theories that Jackson’s body wasn't actually in the casket at the Staples Center yesterday or that it is actually frozen so he can be brought back to life at some point.

However, it could just be that the family hasn't decided where to bury him. At first, they indicated they wanted to do it at Jackson’s Neverland Ranch, but they couldn't get a waiver of California Law which prohibits burials on private property. Some reports say Michael’s mother Katherine is opposed to the Neverland plan.

We will likely know soon, because one thing we do know is that there are few details of Michael Jackson's life that remain a secret.
Tags:
cbsjackson ,
michael jackson ,
body ,
burial
Topics:
Field Notes
July 7, 2009 7:51 PM

Kelly Wallace's Notebook: Michael Jackson

(AP)
Eleven thousand lucky ticket holders got a chance to see the spectacular sendoff of their icon Michael Jackson today at the Staples Center.

Another seven thousand were next door at the Nokia Theater, and no doubt millions around the world watched on television.

As biographer Randy Taraborrelli said that's how Michael would have wanted it.

His family, friends and fans may be laying the King of Pop to rest soon, but this will not be the end of the story. Impending court proceedings on the estate and custody of his three kids will dominate headlines for weeks to come.

But today isn't about all that. It's about the music and the magic that Michael Jackson brought into our lives for so many decades.

And, perhaps a fitting tribute as a media circus leaves LA - a real one is coming: Ringling Brothers is loading at the Staples Center.

I don't know why but I believe that would make Michael smile.

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Tags:
cbsjackson ,
wallace ,
michael jackson ,
memorial
Topics:
Katie Couric's Notebook
July 7, 2009 6:07 PM

Watching the Memorial in Harlem

(CBS)
If they couldn't be at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, they wanted to be where it all began, in the heart of Harlem, less than a few steps from the Apollo Theatre where Michael Jackson and his brothers first burst onto the music scene.
Tags:
cbsjackson ,
michael jackson ,
michelle miller ,
miller ,
harlem ,
ny
Topics:
Field Notes
July 6, 2009 6:11 PM

Seth Doane's Notebook: Memorial Costs

For Michael Jackson fans, it's a golden ticket. Just 11,000 thousand people out of 1.6 million applicants will get to see the sendoff for the King of Pop live at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. Another 6,500 will be next door at the Nokia Theater.

The tickets are free but the event obviously is not. It will require the LAPD and other city departments to work overtime to handle what could be record-breaking crowds in the downtown area. Police say they're preparing for crowds similar to what they saw during the 1984 Olympics.

One LA city councilwoman said she hopes the Jackson family will help pay the tab but told CBS there has been no such offer as of today.

Last month it was private donations that covered much of the cost of a parade to celebrate the Lakers' NBA championship.

For now, an already cash-strapped city hopes a King's memorial service won't cost a King's ransom.

I'm Seth Doane, CBS News.

Tags:
notebook ,
cbsjackson ,
michael jackson ,
cost
Topics:
Katie Couric's Notebook
July 6, 2009 3:58 PM

Thoughts on Jackson and the Media

(AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
Hari Sreenivasan is a CBS News Correspondent based in New York.

As the creation and consumption of content regarding Michael Jackson continues, sadly I wonder about the circumstances surrounding the future of my business (aka mainstream media) perhaps as much as I do about the particular circumstances involved in the end of an entertainer's life.
Tags:
michael jackson ,
sreenivasan ,
cbsjackson
Topics:
Field Notes
July 6, 2009 2:54 PM

Jeff Glor: Staples Center Sneak Peek

CBS News National Correspondent Jeff Glor with a sneak peak at his piece tonight on the CBS Evening News.

Hi everybody on cbsnews.com. It’s Jeff Glor outside the Staples Center in LA, the morning before the Michael Jackson memorial service here. You can see this enormous white board, that’s been set up. Folks taking pictures out in front of it. And literally thousands of people have been coming by to sign this board all morning long. If we pivot across the street, you can see the Nokia Plaza, where there are layers and layers television cameras, and tv correspondents preparing for this service tomorrow. I’m told that to get into this area tomorrow, you need a blue wristband, like the one on my arm right there. That’s to just get into the area, not even to get into the service itself. Police are going to try to keep people back as best they can. Make sure this is a safe environment. A story we’re working on for the evening news tonight is on the cost associated with this service: both the money that’s going to be generated for the city of Los Angeles, but also the amount of money they’ll be spending. Hope to see you at 6:30 eastern time for the CBS Evening News with Katie Couric.
See you then.

Tags:
glor ,
michael jackson ,
staples center ,
blog
Topics:
Behind The Scenes
July 1, 2009 4:59 PM

Observations from the Field

(CBS/ AP)
For the past 7 days now, I have done nothing but cover the death of Michael Jackson and sleep (at least 4 hours each night). While I was always a fan of his music, especially the amazing hits from the 80's, I never closely followed the surreal saga that was his life off stage. However, I find the drama that has played out over the past week to be incredibly compelling. Some of it is tabloid for sure, but it is also a great human drama and tragedy. The other thing that has amazed me is how much of the "news" about Jackson is being driven by the celebrity web site TMZ. They generally traffic in all things celebrity and it’s far from what many would consider reputable journalism. However, TMZ broke the news of Jackson’s death and has basically been one step ahead of EVERY news organization since. Some are calling Jackson’s death the event that will "legitimize" TMZ. That remains to be seen, but right now they are out front.

Some thoughts on Diana Ross and Debbie Rowe:

When Michael Jackson's will was released today, there were two bombshells. First, he asked that his mother be given custody of his children. However, if she wasn't able to care for them, he wanted them to go to Diana Ross. Jackson's biographer, Randy Taraborelli, says the two were extremely close. In fact, when a young Michael Jackson first lived in Los Angeles, he lived with Ross at her mansion and she became a surrogate mother. He was able to see how she raised her kids and apparently decided she did a pretty good job. The two also memorably starred in the 1978 musical "The Wiz." However, Jackson’s biographer says the two have not been in contact in recent years. That Jackson distanced himself from almost everyone after his molestation trial in 2005. Taraborelli does say that he thinks Ross will be delighted that Jackson thought of her in this way.

As for Debbie Rowe, Jackson's former wife who gave both to two of his children, she was specifically cut out of the will. When Jackson signed his will in 2002, he and Rowe had split and were at odds over custody and visitation rights for the children. In 2005, Rowe was called as a prosecution witness in Jackson's molestation trial. However, many believe her testimony is what led to Michael Jackson's acquittal. Shortly thereafter, the two reached an agreement whereby she gave up her parental rights for a reported multi-million dollar settlement.

Tags:
michael jackson ,
death ,
tmz ,
will ,
diana ross ,
mother ,
estate
Topics:
Field Notes
June 26, 2009 5:27 PM

Katie Couric's Notebook: Michael Jackson


The world was rocked by the news of Michael Jackson's sudden death yesterday. Perhaps because in this celebrity-obsessed world his unparalleled fame was matched by his enigmatic personality.

The boy who had a stage presence well beyond his years turned into a man who was strangely childlike. Who really knows what shaped him into the person he became? An abusive father? Fame that was much too much for his fragile sense of self?

His numerous plastic surgeries, spending sprees and allegations of child molestation transformed him into a freakish caricature. But we can all celebrate his irresistible music and extraordinary dance moves - the songs that for so many of us are touchstones for our lives.

As we mark his passing we can think of Michael Jackson in many ways. I prefer to remember him as a huge talent whose music still makes me smile and think and remember. Not the man in the mirror who could never completely change his ways.

That's a page from my notebook.

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Tags:
katie couric's notebook ,
michael jackson ,
cbsjackson
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Katie Couric's Notebook

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