Posted on 07/07/2009 7:58:55 AM PDT by kristinn
The Jackson family has decided to bring Michael's body to the memorial service being held today at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, putting off the announced plans for a private internment at Forest Lawn cemetery from 8 a.m. PDT to after the service.
The 10 a.m. PDT service is being broadcast on all the major American broadcast and cable news networks, as well as in theaters across the country, the Times Square jumbotron in New York City and on TV screens around the world.
From Entertainment Weekly, performers and friends expected at the service include: Kobe Bryant, Mariah Carey, Berry Gordy, Jennifer Hudson, Shaheen Jafargholi, Magic Johnson, Martin Luther King III, Bernice A. King, John Mayer, Lionel Richie, Smokey Robinson, Rev. Al Sharpton, Brooke Shields, Usher and Stevie Wonder.
Michael's Jackson's close friend Elizabeth Taylor declined an invitation to speak at the service, writing in part on Twitter: "I cannot be part of the public whoopla."
In a strange but fitting twist of fate, the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey circus elephant parade through the streets of Los Angeles is set to take place this morning with the elephants arriving at the Staples Center just hours before the service for the circus' scheduled run at the arena.
FILE - In this July 15, 2008 file photo originally supplied by Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, elephants from the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, take an early morning stroll en route to the Staples Center in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, Stefano Paltera, file) (Stefano Paltera - AP)
One glove and sunglasses. A way of remembrance.
14 of my cable channels are carrying this.
If you are my age you remember the Studio 54 crowd. I am reminded of that while watching Brooke Shields. MJ’s crowd was the Studio 54 crowd for the longest time. It was not a ‘diverse’ crowd. Mostly white.
I was out of the room when the Rev Al was speaking. Did he mention MJ’s quest for ‘whiteness?”
Brooke Shields seems to be very grounded. I think she is prettier now than she was then (and she was no skank back then).
Re: “Maybe MJ is really alive and this is all hype. They will roll that gold plated casket in there, Michael will pop out and start singing Thriller!”
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I’m here in LA, and was thinking the same thing — then thought — naw —— it’s real, it’s way too much, but it’s real.
NOooooo. groan.
sw
this guy looks like Chaves or however you spell it
sw
The Food Network.......great station :)
Germaine. He was the heart throb of the J5 for a long time.
sw
Think there will be a resurrection?
sw
Somedays I just cannot spell. (#249)
Re: “However you say it, Forest Lawn cemetery will never be the same. I was just there a couple of weeks ago, very peaceful and serene.”
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I’m here in L.A. and ALL my family members and deceased friends and my living friends’ family members are there at Hollywood Hills. Arrghhh!!! If he IS truly to be buried there, this is just horrible. I have, ahem, ‘property’ there and if MJ is buried there, I think I want to sell it and go somewhere more serene. As it is, the ‘property’ is just across the road from the Hall of Liberty where they had the service this a.m. — geez, my poor parents must be rolling over and over in their graves...........\
Anybody wanna buy some ‘property’?
I should have known a King would make it.
I saw my wife watching that shit. Threatened to unplug the cable outside but I am too lazy. Hope that more of the Hollywood pedos hit the grave.
My husband left the house to get the oil changed..:)
sw
Re: “Why aren’t these mentally diminished cretins at work?”
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I was wondering how these characters suddenly came up with the funds to travel from far and wide to attend or hang around this event? Do they not have jobs? I know it’s summer but still............
I thought everyone was broke now and waiting for their welfare from King Obama?????????????????
There goes the neighborhood.
(Reads horrible, but I am talking about the public onslaught which will disturb the serenity of the cemetery. Nothing more. Just could not think of another way to say it.)
Dexter is not there so they must still be fighting over the money.
LOL! I guess they’ll have to have Jesse Jackson speak also. It’s too bad they had to bring hack politicians on stage.
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