Producer: Jacksons Wanted Church Service

Memorial Service Honcho Talks About What Happened Behind the Scenes of the Tribute

(CBS)  Ken Ehrlich, longtime executive producer of the Grammy Awards and producer of Michael Jackson's memorial service at the Staples Center Tueday, says the Jackson family requested that the tribute be a church service -- not a television show.

"We were kind of mandated to bring Michael home in church," Ehrlich said on "The Early Show" Tuesday.

---

Complete coverage of Jackson's life and death

---

Ehrlich said he "gulped" when he learned the family wanted the casket at the service. But he said the organizers wanted to do what the family wanted, and he realized the service wouldn’t be a church service if Jackson's coffin wasn't there. He added the presence of Jackson's body at the service "lifted everything" at the service, which drew nearly 15,000 people.

Ehrlich told "Early Show" co-anchor Maggie Rodriguez the production was a big effort for everyone involved. Ehrlich added few people who were asked to perform turned down the request.

[stboydcbs]

This is supposed to be a home going and the family was correct to have a church service. If anyone thinks otherwise is nuts. God created him and he is going back to his Heavenly Father. I will tell you this, it is NORMAL in Black communities (that go to church) to have a home going celebration. Maybe the media do not get it, but oh well. This was very appropriate and I agree with the family. I was touched to hear God in it. Bravo to the Jackson family for doing that!