MICHAEL JACKSON has been named the top newsmaker for 2005 by US TV show
ACCESS HOLLYWOOD.

The 47-year-old BAD singer dominated the news during the first half of the
year as he battled his way through a child molestation trial, from which he
emerged victorious.

And despite moving to Bahrain, the pop icon still attracts news coverage in
the US, even beating out BRAD PITT, JENNIFER ANISTON and ANGELINA JOLIE.

The top 10 is as follows:

1. MICHAEL JACKSON

2. EVA LONGORIA

3. BRITNEY SPEARS

4. TOM CRUISE

5. JESSICA SIMPSON

6. DONALD TRUMP

7. MARTHA STEWART

8. JENNIFER LOPEZ

9. JENNIFER ANISTON and OPRAH WINFREY

10. ANGELINA JOLIE.

Source: Contact Music

by Roger Friedman

Michael Jackson is being ordered to come to a Los Angeles court in two weeks
and explain why he shouldn’t be held in contempt for defying a judge’s
order.

Judge Linda K. Lefkowitz of Los Angeles Superior Court issued her ruling
today. The matter stems from depositions that were taken in London on Sept.
23 for the lawsuit brought by Jackson’s former partner Marc Schaffel.
Jackson was supposed to have paid the London hotel bills for Schaffel and
his attorney, as well as bills for a court reporter and videographer.

That’s right, the deposition was videotaped, and I’m told it’s a hilarious
performance of obfuscation, confusion and dim recollection.

The judge ordered Jackson to come to court on Jan. 9 and show why he
shouldn’t be held in contempt of her previous order to make sure all of
Schaffel’s bills were paid. Jackson will also have to pay a $1,000 fine from
the 9th until the bills are paid, and may be ordered to pay Schaffel’s legal
bills as well.

Ironically, Schaffel’s lawsuit against Jackson for $4 million is also about
money Schaffel laid out for Jackson or loaned to him but for which he was
never reimbursed.

Meanwhile, the 50 or so people left at Jackson’s Neverland Ranch (I’m
revising this number down from 100) are on the verge of filing a complaint
against their employer.

If they are not paid today, that will make four weeks without remuneration.
On top of that, it’s Christmas. So far things look bleak.

I’m told that in the last week or so, a sedan with United States government
plates visited the ranch. Sources there tell me they’re pretty sure the car
was from the United States Department of Agriculture. There is concern at
Neverland about the welfare of the animals in Jackson’s zoo.

But there is concern about the people, too. Remaining loyal through many
missed payroll checks, these staffers - including maids, landscapers, etc. -
are dependent on Jackson for their livelihoods. They haven’t seen him since
June, though, and now they face the prospect of a bleak Christmas.

“Not only that,” says an insider, “but it’s almost the first of the month
again, which means rent is due for a lot of us.”

Sources tell me that in the last couple of weeks, many employees have just
stopped coming to work. The remainder are now considering going to their
local unemployment office, I am told, to ask what can be done.

I myself posed that question yesterday. And sources knowledgeable about
Jackson’s failing finances told me that as of last night, there was no money
to pay Neverland ranch workers for their last month.

“They’re trying to pull it together for Thursday afternoon,” I was told,
“but it’s not definite. We’ll have to wait and see.”

Interestingly, even the most loyal of the last hangers-on aren’t in full
attendance because of the situation. Joe Marcus, who’s become a favorite of
the staff as he’s risen through the ranks, testified on Jackson’s behalf at
last spring’s child-molestation trial.

But I’m told that Marcus has only clocked in “about three times” since
Thanksgiving. Hopefully, he’s looking for work.

Jackson’s absence from the ranch, his break in communication with close
family members and his seeming disinterest in his deteriorating financial
situation - all of this is starting to worry those who care about him.

There have been reports from Bahrain lately that Michael has started taking
Islamic instruction as his residency allowance period comes to an end. This
would complete the plan begun two years ago when brother Jermaine introduced
Jackson to the Nation of Islam, which then took over his life.

Switching religions again would not be out of character, as Jackson was
raised as a Jehovah’s Witness and had a brief interest in Judaism five years
ago. He seems gullible enough to believe anything is right if he thinks his
host will bail him out.

Jackson’s latest savior is the Prince Abdullah bin Hamad al-Khalifa, the
30-year-old second son of the King of Bahrain, which means Islam is in until
Jackson gets the check.

Meanwhile, please do read our column from yesterday concerning the
Department of Justice investigation into Jackson’s obtainment of passports
for his children.

Another story ran on the wires yesterday that showed how media hysteria can
grow from a kernel of information. That kernel was based on a
“correspondent” for an unknown Web site called tmz.com, who happened to see
the title page of a motion being filed in court.

The title of that glimpsed document then became the basis for a story - with
no other facts. Wow! It doesn’t take much to incite the world entertainment
press, does it?

But in fact, the story was much deeper than that. It’s not just that
Jackson’s ex-wife Debbie Rowe has claimed that Jackson “abducted” their
kids. It’s that he may possibly have lied to get them travel documents. And
that now he’s trying to stall in court long enough to establish his kids’
residency in a foreign country.

Source: FOX News

By Roger Friedman

The 50 or so people left at Michael Jackson’s Neverland Ranch (I’m revising
this number down from 100) are on the verge of filing a complaint against
their employer.

If they are not paid today, that will make four weeks without remuneration.
On top of that, it’s Christmas. So far things look bleak.

I’m told that in the last week or so, a sedan with United States government
plates visited the ranch. Sources there tell me they’re pretty sure the car
was from the United States Department of Agriculture. There is concern at
Neverland about the welfare of the animals in Jackson’s zoo.

But there is concern about the people, too. Remaining loyal through many
missed payroll checks, these staffers - including maids, landscapers, etc. -
are dependent on Jackson for their livelihoods. They haven’t seen him since
June, though, and now they face the prospect of a bleak Christmas.

“Not only that,” says an insider, “but it’s almost the first of the month
again, which means rent is due for a lot of us.”

Sources tell me that in the last couple of weeks, many employees have just
stopped coming to work. The remainder are now considering going to their
local unemployment office, I am told, to ask what can be done.

I myself posed that question yesterday. And sources knowledgeable about
Jackson’s failing finances told me that as of last night, there was no money
to pay Neverland ranch workers for their last month.

“They’re trying to pull it together for Thursday afternoon,” I was told,
“but it’s not definite. We’ll have to wait and see.”

Interestingly, even the most loyal of the last hangers-on aren’t in full
attendance because of the situation. Joe Marcus, who’s become a favorite of
the staff as he’s risen through the ranks, testified on Jackson’s behalf at
last spring’s child-molestation trial.

But I’m told that Marcus has only clocked in “about three times” since
Thanksgiving. Hopefully, he’s looking for work.

Jackson’s absence from the ranch, his break in communication with close
family members and his seeming disinterest in his deteriorating financial
situation - all of this is starting to worry those who care about him.

There have been reports from Bahrain lately that Michael has started taking
Islamic instruction as his residency allowance period comes to an end. This
would complete the plan begun two years ago when brother Jermaine introduced
Jackson to the Nation of Islam, which then took over his life.

Switching religions again would not be out of character, as Jackson was
raised as a Jehovah’s Witness and had a brief interest in Judaism five years
ago. He seems gullible enough to believe anything is right if he thinks his
host will bail him out.

Jackson’s latest savior is the Prince Abdullah bin Hamad al-Khalifa, the
30-year-old second son of the King of Bahrain, which means Islam is in until
Jackson gets the check.

Meanwhile, please do read our column from yesterday concerning the
Department of Justice investigation into Jackson’s obtainment of passports
for his children.

Another story ran on the wires yesterday that showed how media hysteria can
grow from a kernel of information. That kernel was based on a
“correspondent” for an unknown Web site called tmz.com, who happened to see
the title page of a motion being filed in court.

The title of that glimpsed document then became the basis for a story - with
no other facts. Wow! It doesn’t take much to incite the world entertainment
press, does it?

But in fact, the story was much deeper than that. It’s not just that
Jackson’s ex-wife Debbie Rowe has claimed that Jackson “abducted” their
kids. It’s that he may possibly have lied to get them travel documents. And
that now he’s trying to stall in court long enough to establish his kids’
residency in a foreign country.

Source: FOX News

By Roger Friedman

Where do I start? In the middle of Michael Jackson’s complex and pending
financial disaster, the singer faces new trouble in a more serious venue.

Sources tell me that Jackson is being investigated by the Department of
Justice for lying to get his kids new passports and taking them out of the
U.S. illegally.

At the same time, Jackson’s lawyers asked the private ex-family court judge
they hired last year to step aside in their custody battle with the singer’s
ex-wife, Debbie Rowe.

Jackson and Rowe hired retired Judge Stephen M. Lachs to adjudicate their
long-running and unique conflict over Prince Michael and Paris Jackson.

But according to sources, now Jackson’s lawyer Michael Abrams has filed a
motion with Lachs asking him to recuse himself from the case, even though he
was hand-selected.

The reason? Abrams is saying that Lachs is predisposed to Rowe. Sources on
Rowe’s side, however, find that laughable, since the case has taken more
than a year and gotten almost nowhere, thanks to Jackson first being on
trial for child molestation and then leaving the U.S. with no intention of
returning.

The Rowe-Jackson situation is complicated by the fact that Rowe is the only
biological parent of the two kids. She married Jackson, had the children and
then agreed to divorce and a settlement that contained a confidentiality
agreement.

Jackson stopped paying her last year, claiming she’d broken the agreement by
giving an interview about her horses to a syndicated TV show.

And there’s more: Rowe, according to sources, has filed a motion with Lachs
claiming that Jackson took Prince and Paris to Bahrain in the United Arab
Emirates without her permission.

This part of the story is tricky: at the time that Jackson decided to take
the kids abroad, their passports were being held by the family court, thanks
to the pending custody case.

Jackson — according to Rowe — lied to the passport service by saying he
had sole custody in order to get new passports. This brought in the
Department of Justice, which is taking the complaint seriously.

A source there told me, “We can’t comment on investigations or whether there
is one going on. But there are specific laws about parents taking kids out
of the country.”

The source also conceded that it’s easy for one parent to commit fraud by
lying to the passport office and removing children illegally. Rowe,
Jackson’s lawyers will argue, had no rights. But Rowe’s side can show that
she had her parental rights restored by Judge Lachs about two months before
Jackson split for Bahrain.

The judicial recusal is another thing, however. Judge Lachs has 10 days to
decide if he will step down. If he chooses to stay, the matter goes to
judicial review. One theory for Abrams and Jackson’s possibly next move is
to buy time.

Jackson, sources tell me, is hoping to soon claim residency in Bahrain when
his six-month stay is completed.

Meanwhile, I have to say how amused I am to see dozens of articles
concerning Michael Jackson in the last two days based on reporting from this
column. Almost none of them gave us any credit. But readers of this column
know better, and not to trust other outlets. Many of them got the story
completely wrong.

Source: FOXNews.com

By Roger Friedman

It’s Dec. 20, 2005, a day that Michael Jackson thought would never come.
Nevertheless, it’s here, and things are worse than he can imagine.

Jackson, I can tell you exclusively, is now in default on a $2.2 million
loan which he secured last April with his family’s estate in Encino, Calif.
The loan was arranged through a mortgage broker by grocery magnate Ron
Burkle, and not paid by Burkle himself.

Indeed, Burkle does not even know the dozen or so people who put up the
money, and they don’t know him. The leader of the group is Thomas W.
Smotrich, a Southern California philanthropist who made his money in
commercial real estate.

Yesterday, I was told that Jackson missed his December payment, which had a
grace period up until the 10th of the month. For the moment, Smotrich and
his group will not foreclose, but the option is theirs should they change
their minds.

The Encino home is not part of the $270 million worth of loans held by
Fortress Investments and which come due today. Luckily, Jackson’s mother,
Katherine, will have a roof over her head anyway. Daughter Janet has bought
her a home in Las Vegas, sources say.

What remains to be determined is what will happen to all the other people
who live in Hayvenhurst, including Jermaine Jackson and some of his
children.

Meanwhile, the Jackson situation remains dire today, with no one in direct
contact with the singer as his deadline has come and gone. It’s amazing to
think we’ve finally arrived at this day considering how much money Michael
has made, and how much he’s spent on absolute junk.

What certainly astounds the many “insiders” and “sources” who are quoted in
this column and have, at different times, endeavored to save Jackson from
himself, is his total divorce from reality at this point.

What happens next is anyone’s guess, but this much we can surmise: it won’t
be pretty.

Source: FOXNews.com

A secret hearing was held Monday near Palm Springs, Calif., in which Debbie
Rowe, Michael Jackson’s former wife and the mother of two of his children,
filed legal papers accusing the singer of abducting the children.

Rowe has filed a custody suit against Jackson, which has been removed from
the courts and handled through private arbitration.

TMZ was present for the hearing. Before it began, TMZ producer Patti
Bartos-Fellows was shown a legal document entitled “Children Returned to US;
Surrender Passports and Child Abduction Order.” This document was filed by
Rowe, requesting that the judge sign an order requiring Jackson to return
the children to the United States.

TMZ has confirmed through sources that Rowe is going full force in her
custody battle, arguing that Jackson underhandedly took the children to
Bahrain to thwart her effort to obtain custody. We’re told Rowe is concerned
for the children’s safety and that she has been denied contact with them.

Jackson had been paying Rowe a hefty annuity until last year when he cut her
off for allegedly violating their confidentiality agreement, a move she is
currently contesting in court.

Rowe surprised many people, including prosecutors, at Jackson’s child
molestation trial earlier this year by taking the stand and praising her ex.
This led some observers to wonder if her testimony would pave the way for a
settlement between the two. That clearly did not happen.

Before the proceedings began, both sides vigorously objected to TMZ’s
presence in the hearing room and Judge Lachs asked producer Bartos-Fellows
to leave. The Judge did not rule on the abduction motion.

Source: TMZ.com

By Roger Friedman

Michael Jackson may have an unlikely ally as of tomorrow in the fight for his financial life.

I am told that Sony Music, his partner in the $1 billion dollar Sony/ATV Music Publishing Company, is offering to step in and help Jackson with his $270 million worth of loans.

The loans - $200 million of which are secured by Jackson’s 50% share in Sony/ATV - were bought in April by Fortress Investments from Bank of America. Jackson is in default and could be foreclosed on as early as tomorrow.

But sources inside Sony say the company has been in talks with Fortress for some time about clearing up Jackson’s financial woes and bringing him current at least on monthly payments.

“This would be in our best interests,” said a Sony insider, who points out that if Fortress forecloses on Jackson, Sony would be farther away from owning his half of the company than they are now.

Sony insiders also stress that Fortress would be unable simply to foreclose and put Jackson’s assets on auction to any buyer. According to the covenants of the Sony agreement with Jackson, whomever has the assets cannot sell them without first offering them to Sony.

The big question remains: How much does Jackson understand of all this and who exactly is advising him?

My Sony sources say that Jackson is now totally represented by Sheik Abdullah bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Prince of Bahrain, and his associates.

According to stateside sources, Jackson has not been in touch with most of his family or with his trusted aide, Evvy Tavasci, in months. Recent visitors to the Bahrainian palace are said to have spoken with the Prince but didn’t see or speak to Jackson.

Even more interesting is that Jackson’s brother Jermaine, who got the ball rolling for his brother in Bahrain, is back in Los Angeles for the foreseeable future, perhaps wondering where he and his own family will live
if Jackson is forced to sell his parents’ home in Encino.

That leaves Michael alone except for his children and their nanny, Grace Rwamba.

Jackson and the Prince are still saying to friends that they hope to finance a record company that will be distributed in the U.S. and they also plan on releasing that much discussed charity single someday soon.

Hurricane Katrina, if you recall, did its damage nearly four months ago. But Dec. 26h is the first anniversary of last year’s deadly tsunami in Indonesia. Maybe Jackson can tie it to that instead.

Source: FOX News

Sunday 27th August 2006

Dominion Theatre, London, 5pm-8.30pm
MJ Musical

A stage & video spectacular celebrating the amazing career of the World’s
greatest entertainer!

This amazing show will feature over 100 performers paying tribute to the
King of Pop via song and dance…

Enjoy the unbelievable career of Michael Jackson in this one-off musical
presentation with a full live-band, choir, children’s ballet, great singers,
dance groups and special guests!

This is an event not to be missed! Enjoy the ultimate Michael Jackson
tribute show with 100s of other fans from across the world, on Bank Holiday
weekend, just 2 days before Michael’s birthday!

Taking place at one of London’s most popular theatres, The Dominion is
currently home to the Queen musical, ‘We Will Rock You’. If you’ve been
fortunate enough to see that show, then imagine what Michael’s awesome
videos will look like on their state of the art super large video screen!

You’ll also have the chance to buy merchandise, and take part in our raffle
and auction.

After-Party details to be released soon.

For the best seats you can book your tickets now (see below for details),
or to register your interest please email your name and address to:
info@mjmusical.com

To book tickets please call our credit card hotline:
07958 799 602

Stalls (A-Z): £30
Stalls (VV-ZZ): £25

Circle (A-G): £30
Circle (H-Q): £25

Coaches Available from:

Birmingham (£10), Derby (£15), Leeds (£20), Leicester (£10), Liverpool
(£15), Luton (£10), Manchester (£15), Northampton (£10), Rotherham (£15) and
Stoke-on-Trent (£12)
(please note that all coaches leave prior to the After-Party beginning)

Source: MJ Musical

British pop legend SIR CLIFF RICHARD insists fans should look beyond MICHAEL
JACKSON’s 2005 legal troubles and concentrate on his phenomenal music.

The Christian star cites Jackson’s 1982 album THRILLER as one of the best of
all time and urges others to remember the singer’s achievements.

He says, “I don’t think there’s anyone who could approach Michael Jackson
for sheer brilliance. Every song is perfect, every performance magnificent.

“I don’t think what’s gone on since should taint the music - you judge the
record on its own terms.”

Source: Contact Music

Isha Sharvani is an extremely popular actress and dancer and will be performing for His Majesty, Sultan Qaboos bin Said bin Taimur of Oman in his private theatre in Muscat this evening. And Michael Jackson will be the featured guest.

The event was organized for the Times of Oman, an English language newspaper. The event is open to a very select audience at special invitation of the royal family.

Isha said that she was very excited and could not wait for the event. “I am honored to have been invited by His Majesty. Plus, I hope I get to meet Michael Jackson, who will be chief guest at the event. He is a class apart, and unarguably, a great dancer. As a dancer, I appreciate that and it would be a real treat to meet him.”

Isha said that she is worried that, because of the high level of security for the King and for Michael, she might not have the chance to meet Michael. “I hope I get some photographs clicked with him so I can bring them to India and flaunt them to everone. And nobody could say I made it up” she laughed. “I am having a great time. My entire family is here and it’s a lot of fun.”

Source: MJFC