Discovery cancels Michael Jackson autopsy TV show

(Reuters) - The Discovery television network on Friday said it canceled plans to air a reenactment of the autopsy on Michael Jackson's body, citing an upcoming court hearing and concern by the late pop star's estate.

The show, "Michael Jackson's Autopsy: What Really Killed Michael Jackson," had been set to air in several countries of western Europe and in the United Kingdom on January 13.

"Given the commencement of legal proceedings beginning next week, and at the request of Michael Jackson's estate, the scheduled broadcast of the medical documentary related to Michael Jackson's official autopsy has been postponed indefinitely," Discovery Networks International said in a statement.

A Discovery spokesman declined comment beyond the statement. Co-executors of the estate responded in their own statement saying they were "pleased" with the decision.

The "Thriller" singer died suddenly of a prescription drug overdose on June 25, 2009, age 50, only weeks before beginning a series of comeback concerts. An autopsy by Los Angeles officials showed Jackson died chiefly of an overdose of the powerful anesthetic propofol that he used as a sleep aid.

Discovery's show, which was not scheduled to air in the United States, was an unofficial, fictional account of what the autopsy must have been like and its results.

But Jackson fans worldwide protested in an online petition launched earlier this month, and the co-executors of his estate sent a letter this week to Discovery Networks calling the program "insensitive" and "in shockingly bad taste."

A print advertisement for the program shows a body covered by a sheet, with one hand poking out wearing the singer's well-known sequined glove.

Following Discovery's decision, McClain and Branca released a statement saying, "we are hopeful that this show will never run in any market in the future."

"While Discovery cited legal proceedings and our request as the reasons for its decision, none of this would have happened had it not been for the incredible passion displayed by countless Michael Jackson fans worldwide who knew they stood as one and that their voices could not be ignored," the statement said.

Jackson's physician at the time of his death, Dr. Conrad Murray, has admitted giving the singer propofol, which is often used in surgery, and Murray has been charged by authorities with involuntary manslaughter in Jackson's death.

Murray has pleaded not guilty, and a preliminary hearing to determine if enough evidence exists to make him stand trial begins in Los Angeles on January 4.

Source: Reuters.com

111FAS, on 13 December 2010 - 04:25 AM, said:

I'm glad to hear that! Just in case you need something from the LPM or Katharine Jackason interview: http://www.youtube.com/user/C1473Eop

I haven't heard any songs from the new album yet. I saw the link to it on the other tread. I'll listen to it later. Did "Behind the Mask" turn out as a duet then? I also don't think that the quote on Wikipedia is reliable. It doesn't seem to be on the Wikipedia's usual standards. They never say that "Michael" did this or that but they use "Jackson" instead. But you never know. Do you?

EDIT: "Michael Jackson penned and recorded lots of songs, many of which remain unreleased. Perhaps the most infamous, and rarest recording, is his version of Behind the Mask. Legend has it that upon hearing Yellow Magic Orchestra's original track, somewhen around 1979, Quincy Jones fell in love with the track, and he and Michael worked together on their own version. Jackson wrote new lyrics for it - adding to those of Ryuichi Sakamoto and Chris Mosdell - and eventually recorded it during his Off The Wall sessions. For unknown reasons the track never made the final cut of, arguably, Jones' and Jackson's greatest work. Not long afterwards Greg Phillinganes, Jackson's keyboard player, released his own version of the song, which was later taken up and re-recorded by Eric Clapton for his 1986, Phil Collins produced album, August. The track has since been recorded/remixed by Human League, Senor Coconut, Orbital and others. Does an original Jones/Jackson recording of the song even exist? Perhaps, as the world continues to mourn the star's sad death, someone will finally allow us a listen."
http://www.metafilte...arest-recording

Oprah tries to remove every content related to her show on the Internet. YouTube is a hotspot...but there are leaked videos as well.
I saw an user who has uploaded the full interview of the Lisa Marie Presley and Katharine Jackson interview. Would it help you if you contacted them? I hope that helps in a way. And good luck with your documentary!

Highly interesting how Oprah keeps her recent shows as Michael-related as possible. I'm not very anxious about the new "MICHAEL" album but I'm curious about what Eddie has to say.

I think I know which pictures you are referring to. They were taken sometime in 1979 in Switerland. I hope that I helped you  

Hey, I've been looking around for this picture but couldn't find quite the same. This one is probably from the same shooting or whatever it was:


I hope that I could help you in a way,
Peace, love and Michael

Ben S, on 20 November 2010 - 07:28 PM, said:

I second that. I don't think that Michael wrote the letter, it just doesn't sound like him. I didn't pay attention to the title and when I read the first lines, I thought that a fan or someone else BUT Michael wrote it. There are several indications in it. E.g. the way they feel pity for themselves. I mean, we all know that Michael suffered a lot and a lot pain in his life, but he wouldn't have dealt with it in this way; by writing a letter to the public (even though the public never "recieved" it). Also the way they describe and express certain things, not Michael. The lines which lead to my conclusion,"[...] Yes, it is true, once I was black! [...] then I would also be like that: I would be a white black with curls and a thick niggernose for which everybody would tease me. [...] Would you prefer it when I was dead? Or when I had never existed? But then you wouldn’t have my music! Would you like to do without ‘Billie Jean’?! My music you love though, don’t you? [...]"
I'm very stern about that type of things, especially because someone in my family has Vitiligo. This just demonstrates the ignorance of the writer of this letter.

@ Yvonne Hime
I'd be a little careful with the letter. I was looking around on the net, and there are several discussions about it on Facebook groups for instance, whether it is a fake or not. I found the letter on insider.com in the comments section. http://www.theinside...Jackson_Tribute (You have to turn the video off and scroll down, first comment)

I think a hopeless fan or an outsider wrote it to keep the haters mum. But I think they failed at it, simply because the outsiders don't get it.

Hello fellow MJ fans,
I came across this picture, I've never seen before, and it looks a little cropped to me. Does anyone have the full picture of it, by any chance?
I think that everything else apart from Michael was cut off. Looks like the second leg of the Bad Tour/backstage.
Thanks a lot in advance!


  

Argh, it got removed. Too bad. But thanks anyway!
I think Michael wanted Akon to complete the song. Both of them have worked together in the past, and I think that Michael enjoyed working with him.

MJSunshine, on 12 November 2010 - 05:44 AM, said:

On a really random note; when was "For All Time", the bonus track from Thriller 25, recorded? Just recalling from the back of my head, I think around 2007-ish? Do correct me if I'm wrong. That would have been a very drastic voice change.

Edit:
Written and composed by Steve Porcaro & Michael Sherwood for the Thriller Album.
A demo version was recorded by MJ in 1990 for Dangerous Album but wasn't finalized at the time.

The final version was mixed and mastered with additional lyrics content by Michael Jackson in October 2007 for the Thriller 25th Anniversary Album.

Recorded by Bruce Swedien
Keyboards : Steve Porcaro, David Paich
Guitar : Steve Lukather
Drums : Steve Porcaro
Additional keyboards : Angelikson productions
Mixed by Mick Guzauski
Mixing assistant : Tom Bender
Produced by Michael Jackson

Source: MJtunes.com

I forgot to add, The Steady-Laughing.com is sometimes down when they are updating it, but it's available after a while. (It's available now)

MarielovesMJ, on 17 October 2010 - 03:03 PM, said:

The last time MJJ-Pictures had an update was in Decemeber 2009 that might explain why they are on hiatus now. The site went on hiatus this July..

MJPC, on 09 November 2010 - 03:00 PM, said:

I guess it depends on what you understand under "madness". Michael was followed by chaos through out his life, and I find it hard to say how the situation would be now if Michael hadn't died. He would have performed his concerts in London, and I suppose that everything else has a big question mark behind it. I think what the most people mean (and myself do so to) is if Michael was alive and really had planned to release an album, he would have been the one to decide which songs came on the album, album cover, etc. As I mentioned before in my previous post, Michael had a clear vision of how his songs, albums, music videos, concerts, etc., were supposed to be. I don't think that there is a creative mind in the gold-diggers' hole.

When I heard "Breaking News" for the first time, it was more like a "fist in my ear". Really. The harmony, the melody and rhythm don't match, they don't sound good when combined. I feel that the Sony-people chose one random (perhaps) unfinshed song and started remixing it like mad. I don't think it sounded like this when Michael was singing it. I even have my doubts that this is Michael singing at all. Of course, his voice started to change a little through the years, but there is this something in his voice which you can always regonize, no matter which song or from which album/era.

This is very peculiar. I'm rather devastated about this. Michael always had a clear vision of the art/music he made. He planned everything in advance. Every tiny little detail. And we've seen the result, which is amazing, too good to describe. At first I was rather anxious thinking of the fact that new material is going to be released, but judging by the lack of creativity in the album's name "MICHAEL", the album cover and the slice of the song, I can't say that I'm going to be pleased.

MJJ Pictures might be back again. MJJ Pictures on Twitter (am I allowed to post direct links?). They've been on hiatus for quite a while, though