LOS ANGELES – A Michael Jackson film built around rehearsal footage left behind after his death will be released in a limited two-week theatrical engagement worldwide.
Distributor Sony announced Thursday that the release date for "Michael Jackson: This Is It" has been moved up to Oct. 28, two days earlier than previously announced. Tickets go on sale Sept. 27.
The studio also announced longtime Jackson collaborator Kenny Ortega is directing "This Is It," which offers a behind-the-scenes glimpse of Jackson preparing for a series of London shows he was rehearsing when he died June 25.
Ortega had been working with Jackson on the "This Is It" concert tour, which had been planned as a colossal 50-show engagement at London's O2 Arena. His other credits include the "High School Musical" movies and an upcoming remake of "Footloose."
"This film is Michael's gift to his fans," Ortega said. "It's a very private, exclusive look into a creative genius's world. For the first time ever, fans will see Michael as they have never seen him before — this great artist at work. It is raw, emotional, moving and powerful footage that captures his interactions with the `This Is It' collaborators that he had personally assembled for this once in a lifetime project."
Sony paid $60 million for rights to the film, which will be drawn from more than 100 hours of footage shot in Los Angeles between April and June as Jackson prepared for the concerts that were to begin in July.
The filmmakers initially intended to include some 3-D footage but have dropped that plan. The film will show Jackson working with singers, dancers, musicians, choreographers and special-effects experts, Ortega said.
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Sunday, August 16, 2009
MICHAEL JACKSON - JACKSON'S BODY MOVED AND FROZEN
MICHAEL JACKSON's body has been moved in secret to a new crypt, where it's been frozen.
The superstar's remains were originally entombed in a crypt owned by Motown boss Berry Gordy's family at Hollywood's Forest Lawn Cemetery - but a U.S. newspaper claims his mother Katherine has moved him in secret to another building in the complex, where his body is being kept below freezing.
The New York Post suggests Katherine feared grave robbers would attempt to steal the body or desecrate his grave - so she arranged for the switch and has been visiting him two or three times a week.
Sources tell the newspaper the 79-year-old matriarch is delaying his permanent interment as she struggles to come to terms with his death, and has already pulled the plug on plans to bury him in a plot on the Gordy compound.
The superstar's remains were originally entombed in a crypt owned by Motown boss Berry Gordy's family at Hollywood's Forest Lawn Cemetery - but a U.S. newspaper claims his mother Katherine has moved him in secret to another building in the complex, where his body is being kept below freezing.
The New York Post suggests Katherine feared grave robbers would attempt to steal the body or desecrate his grave - so she arranged for the switch and has been visiting him two or three times a week.
Sources tell the newspaper the 79-year-old matriarch is delaying his permanent interment as she struggles to come to terms with his death, and has already pulled the plug on plans to bury him in a plot on the Gordy compound.
Blanket's mother revealed - report
The surrogate mother of Michael Jackson's youngest son is a Mexican nurse.
The woman, known only as Helena, was reportedly paid $20,000 by the late pop legend to become a surrogate for Prince Michael II, known as 'Blanket', when a mystery woman's egg was fertilised with the Thriller singer's sperm and implanted into her.
Despite persistent rumours about who fathered 'Blanket', the birth certificate reveals Michael is the biological dad but the name of the mother has been left blank.
A friend of Michael - who already had two children, Prince Michael I and Paris, with ex-wife Debbie Rowe when 'Blanket' was born - said: "Michael wanted a designer baby. He had two wonderful children but wanted one more and was quite specific on the gene pool he wanted to tap into to."
A string of women were introduced to Michael and he decided on Helena as he thought she was perfect.
The friend added to Britain's Daily Mirror newspaper: "He chose Helena because she had a latino background but she was also a US citizen and had quite fair skin. He liked her because she was very attractive and seemed stable and intelligent. She was a nurse or medical assistant, which he also liked."
However, as an unnamed egg donor was used, 'Blanket' - who was born on February 21 2002 at a San Diego hospital - wouldn't have inherited any of her physical attributes.
As soon as he entered the world, 'Blanket' was whisked to Michael's Neverland ranch after the egg donor signed over all of her legal rights to the child.
Meanwhile, police investigating the death of Michael have raided a Las Vegas pharmacy to try and find evidence linked to the singer's personal physician Dr Conrad Murray.
Agents searched the property, which is located between Murray's home and office, for about 90 minutes as they continue their investigation into the doctor, who is being probed for manslaughter.
Authorities previously searched Murray's Las Vegas home and offices in Las Vegas and Houston, looking in particular for evidence he had acquired the powerful anaesthetic Propofol, which Michael is believed to have been given by Murray on the day of his death.
Michael passed away on June 25 from a suspected cardiac arrest and earlier this week his body was finally laid to rest at a Los Angeles cemetery.
The woman, known only as Helena, was reportedly paid $20,000 by the late pop legend to become a surrogate for Prince Michael II, known as 'Blanket', when a mystery woman's egg was fertilised with the Thriller singer's sperm and implanted into her.
Despite persistent rumours about who fathered 'Blanket', the birth certificate reveals Michael is the biological dad but the name of the mother has been left blank.
A friend of Michael - who already had two children, Prince Michael I and Paris, with ex-wife Debbie Rowe when 'Blanket' was born - said: "Michael wanted a designer baby. He had two wonderful children but wanted one more and was quite specific on the gene pool he wanted to tap into to."
A string of women were introduced to Michael and he decided on Helena as he thought she was perfect.
The friend added to Britain's Daily Mirror newspaper: "He chose Helena because she had a latino background but she was also a US citizen and had quite fair skin. He liked her because she was very attractive and seemed stable and intelligent. She was a nurse or medical assistant, which he also liked."
However, as an unnamed egg donor was used, 'Blanket' - who was born on February 21 2002 at a San Diego hospital - wouldn't have inherited any of her physical attributes.
As soon as he entered the world, 'Blanket' was whisked to Michael's Neverland ranch after the egg donor signed over all of her legal rights to the child.
Meanwhile, police investigating the death of Michael have raided a Las Vegas pharmacy to try and find evidence linked to the singer's personal physician Dr Conrad Murray.
Agents searched the property, which is located between Murray's home and office, for about 90 minutes as they continue their investigation into the doctor, who is being probed for manslaughter.
Authorities previously searched Murray's Las Vegas home and offices in Las Vegas and Houston, looking in particular for evidence he had acquired the powerful anaesthetic Propofol, which Michael is believed to have been given by Murray on the day of his death.
Michael passed away on June 25 from a suspected cardiac arrest and earlier this week his body was finally laid to rest at a Los Angeles cemetery.
Michael Jackson's estate 'flooded' with cash
Michael Jackson has earned £60 million (NZ$145 million) since his death.
Executors of the singer's estate claim money from a film deal and merchandising contracts has "flooded" into Michael's bank accounts since he died in June.
They predict the pop superstar will make another £60 million by the end of the year, and expect him to overtake Nirvana rocker Kurt Cobain and Elvis Presley - who have made £450 million and £362 million respectively from beyond the grave - as the highest-earning dead celebrity in the next 12 months.
Lawyer John Branca, who is co-executor of Michael's estate, said: "Clearly this will be a new record for estates that likely will not be broken. Elvis' estate makes £33 million a year. This will be a bigger estate."
Branca and fellow co-executor, music executive John McClain, have put together a series of deals for commemorative coins, school supplies, a coffee-table book and a film.
They have also been retrieving funds held for Michael by anonymous creditors, thought to amount to "several million pounds", and tallying the value of the singer's property, memorabilia and art collections.
While Michael's earnings steadily increase, his older sister La Toya has spoken about her grief at her sibling's passing.
She said: "It's a very difficult moment for all of us. It's almost - you don't believe it - so you try to do the best you can by feeling his love, by helping and doing something he would want you to do."
Meanwhile, law enforcement sources claim Michael's doctor Conrad Murray had Propofol hidden in the singer's house.
Police officers found three large bottles and five smaller vials of the anaesthetic stashed in a closet in Murray's bedroom at the star's Los Angeles home.
They also believe Murray received regular shipments of the powerful drug - reportedly used to help Michael sleep, and believed to have played a part in his death - through courier service FedEx, which he then hid in other locations.
The search warrant used to raid the Las Vegas pharmacy frequented by Murray showed investigators were looking for FedEx records relating to "the purchase, transfer, receiving, ordering, delivery and storage of Propofol to Dr Conrad Murray".
Police were also looking for credit card receipts relating to a purchase of Propofol the doctor made in May.
Executors of the singer's estate claim money from a film deal and merchandising contracts has "flooded" into Michael's bank accounts since he died in June.
They predict the pop superstar will make another £60 million by the end of the year, and expect him to overtake Nirvana rocker Kurt Cobain and Elvis Presley - who have made £450 million and £362 million respectively from beyond the grave - as the highest-earning dead celebrity in the next 12 months.
Lawyer John Branca, who is co-executor of Michael's estate, said: "Clearly this will be a new record for estates that likely will not be broken. Elvis' estate makes £33 million a year. This will be a bigger estate."
Branca and fellow co-executor, music executive John McClain, have put together a series of deals for commemorative coins, school supplies, a coffee-table book and a film.
They have also been retrieving funds held for Michael by anonymous creditors, thought to amount to "several million pounds", and tallying the value of the singer's property, memorabilia and art collections.
While Michael's earnings steadily increase, his older sister La Toya has spoken about her grief at her sibling's passing.
She said: "It's a very difficult moment for all of us. It's almost - you don't believe it - so you try to do the best you can by feeling his love, by helping and doing something he would want you to do."
Meanwhile, law enforcement sources claim Michael's doctor Conrad Murray had Propofol hidden in the singer's house.
Police officers found three large bottles and five smaller vials of the anaesthetic stashed in a closet in Murray's bedroom at the star's Los Angeles home.
They also believe Murray received regular shipments of the powerful drug - reportedly used to help Michael sleep, and believed to have played a part in his death - through courier service FedEx, which he then hid in other locations.
The search warrant used to raid the Las Vegas pharmacy frequented by Murray showed investigators were looking for FedEx records relating to "the purchase, transfer, receiving, ordering, delivery and storage of Propofol to Dr Conrad Murray".
Police were also looking for credit card receipts relating to a purchase of Propofol the doctor made in May.
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Michael Jackson's mom played role in business, too
Michael Jackson's mom played role in business, too
By NEKESA MUMBI MOODY and LINDA DEUTSCH (AP) – 1 hour ago
NEW YORK — Entering into a business relationship with Michael Jackson rarely meant a long-lasting partnership. Over time, especially in the waning years of his life, Jackson hired — then fired — a litany of associates, from managers to attorneys to publicists.
Most were dispatched after the relationship soured, and the trust had evaporated.
Perhaps the one exception in his financial life was Jackson's mother, Katherine.
Jackson relied on his 79-year-old mother for more than emotional support: Documents show he put her in the position of trustee on contracts, including his lucrative Sony-ATV catalog, and associates say he also sought her input on other financial matters as he became more wary of those in his business circle.
"Any deal Michael did, he always called his mother up," said Steve Manning, a close friend of the Jackson family. "She was the backbone of his spirit."
"What he trusted was that she would make sure that his wishes were carried out," said Mrs. Jackson's attorney, L. Londell McMillan, who is representing her interests as the singer's estate is sorted out. "He understood that she was the most loyal person in his life. Her loyalty did not stop for Michael with merely personal matters."
But Jackson's last known will, drafted in 2002, left his mother, along with his three children, out of any decision-making role in his estate, leaving her only as a beneficiary.
Attorney John Branca and Jackson's former manager and close friend, John McClain, were named (along with a third party who has since removed himself) as the only people with the authority to guide his business matters after his death.
Mrs. Jackson is trying to change that, seeking to gain some kind of control over her late son's estate. The Jackson matriarch is adamant that she — or even another family member — have a role over Michael Jackson's business legacy, which may be worth more in death than when he was alive. Some estimates have valued his estate at $500 million.
Mrs. Jackson has filed a motion to determine whether contesting the two executors would lead to disinheritance — Jackson's will had a no-contest clause.
"She is concerned about how the trust is going to be managed. She wants to make sure that she has a seat at the table and the family has a seat at the table," said Dean Hansell, an attorney who spoke for Mrs. Jackson in court Monday. "She wants that and she has been coming up against resistance."
But in an interview with The Associated Press on Tuesday, Branca said he is amenable to having Mrs. Jackson, or someone in the family, in a trustee role.
"We are going to have a meaningful conversation with her about having one of her family members become a co-trustee," Branca said. "Our number one priority is to make sure this estate is run effectively."
Throughout the years, Jackson's devotion to his mother has been well-documented, and it was proven again after his death, as he named her in his will as his first choice to raise his three children, and also named her and his kids as the only individuals to inherit his fortune (he also left a portion of his wealth to charity).
Katherine Jackson has not previously been known for her business acumen. It was Joe Jackson who was the manager of his sons as the Jackson 5, and acted as the manager for all of his nine children into their adult years.
But Manning claims it was Katherine, not Joe, who gave Michael Jackson his business sense, which he described as shrewd and fair.
He recalled when Jackson purchased the Beatles catalog, which also included Little Richard's music, he called his mother to ask her opinion on how he should handle Little Richard's situation: the rock legend had for years complained about being unfairly compensated for his publishing rights. His mother advised him to treat Little Richard with respect, and because of that, "(Michael) made sure that Little Richard was compensated fairly."
He also said that when Michael Jackson's MJJ Productions fell on hard times, "Michael made sure with his mother that every employee was paid."
"She is a woman of great faith, and believes if you treat people right, (good) things will come back to you."
Jackson named his mother on at least two trusts — besides the Sony-ATV music catalog, she's a part of his Mijac publishing company — and McMillan said she was active in Jackson's business affairs, even attending depositions in legal cases.
However, a source who asked for anonymity because of the ongoing nature of the situation said those trustee positions did not have decision-making authority.
Whether Mrs. Jackson has the business capacity to deal with Jackson's estate, which is complicated and tangled, is likely to be a key question. She and Joe filed for bankruptcy 10 years ago, listing nearly $24 million in debts that included court judgments, auto loans and credit cards. Court records show the only valuable asset listed was a house in Las Vegas then valued at $290,000.
On Monday, the South Korean newspaper Segye Times filed for payment from Michael Jackson's estate of a nearly $7.9 million judgment entered against Katherine and Joe Jackson and their son Jermaine in 1994. The paper sued in 1990 over a series of concerts involving the Jacksons in Seoul that never happened.
McMillan said the role of a trustee does not require a person to be a business whiz.
"A trustee is one of trust as opposed to extraordinary skill," he said. "Trustees hire experts to administer business that requires experts."
Manning said Mrs. Jackson is confident that her legal team would do an excellent job with her guidance. He also raised the possibility that one of Jackson's five brothers could have a role in the estate: "That would be the right thing to do, the right thing to happen."
Legally, Mrs. Jackson may not be able to have an official role. Both Branca and Hansell said the addition of Katherine as an executor of the will or a trustee of the trust might raise tax questions because she is a beneficiary.
Branca was Jackson's attorney for many years, working with him during the height of his fame and helping negotiate his deal to buy the Beatles catalog. But they split in 2005 until Branca was brought back shortly before Jackson's death as he prepared for his comeback concerts with the promoter AEG.
McClain has been very close with the family for decades, and was instrumental in building Janet Jackson's career. He also had played key roles in Michael Jackson's career in its later years.
Manning spoke highly of McClain, saying he has been "like a son" to the Jackson parents.
"He's like a confidant," he said. "He was very, very close to the family."
Branca and McClain have control of Jackson's estate until at least Oct. 3. They have already made several deals on behalf of Jackson's estate, including a reissue of his memoir "Moonwalk" and a full-length motion picture filled with footage of his last rehearsals, which requires a judge's approval. In a sign that Katherine Jackson's input is already being considered critical, the judge has scheduled a hearing Monday to see, among other things, whether she has any objections.
But McMillan claims Jackson would have wanted his mother to be part of any dealmaking as well, quoting Jackson's sentiments about his mother from a deposition: "For the past several years I have started using my mother because she is the most trusted person in my life. I trust my mother more than anyone."
Copyright © 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
By NEKESA MUMBI MOODY and LINDA DEUTSCH (AP) – 1 hour ago
NEW YORK — Entering into a business relationship with Michael Jackson rarely meant a long-lasting partnership. Over time, especially in the waning years of his life, Jackson hired — then fired — a litany of associates, from managers to attorneys to publicists.
Most were dispatched after the relationship soured, and the trust had evaporated.
Perhaps the one exception in his financial life was Jackson's mother, Katherine.
Jackson relied on his 79-year-old mother for more than emotional support: Documents show he put her in the position of trustee on contracts, including his lucrative Sony-ATV catalog, and associates say he also sought her input on other financial matters as he became more wary of those in his business circle.
"Any deal Michael did, he always called his mother up," said Steve Manning, a close friend of the Jackson family. "She was the backbone of his spirit."
"What he trusted was that she would make sure that his wishes were carried out," said Mrs. Jackson's attorney, L. Londell McMillan, who is representing her interests as the singer's estate is sorted out. "He understood that she was the most loyal person in his life. Her loyalty did not stop for Michael with merely personal matters."
But Jackson's last known will, drafted in 2002, left his mother, along with his three children, out of any decision-making role in his estate, leaving her only as a beneficiary.
Attorney John Branca and Jackson's former manager and close friend, John McClain, were named (along with a third party who has since removed himself) as the only people with the authority to guide his business matters after his death.
Mrs. Jackson is trying to change that, seeking to gain some kind of control over her late son's estate. The Jackson matriarch is adamant that she — or even another family member — have a role over Michael Jackson's business legacy, which may be worth more in death than when he was alive. Some estimates have valued his estate at $500 million.
Mrs. Jackson has filed a motion to determine whether contesting the two executors would lead to disinheritance — Jackson's will had a no-contest clause.
"She is concerned about how the trust is going to be managed. She wants to make sure that she has a seat at the table and the family has a seat at the table," said Dean Hansell, an attorney who spoke for Mrs. Jackson in court Monday. "She wants that and she has been coming up against resistance."
But in an interview with The Associated Press on Tuesday, Branca said he is amenable to having Mrs. Jackson, or someone in the family, in a trustee role.
"We are going to have a meaningful conversation with her about having one of her family members become a co-trustee," Branca said. "Our number one priority is to make sure this estate is run effectively."
Throughout the years, Jackson's devotion to his mother has been well-documented, and it was proven again after his death, as he named her in his will as his first choice to raise his three children, and also named her and his kids as the only individuals to inherit his fortune (he also left a portion of his wealth to charity).
Katherine Jackson has not previously been known for her business acumen. It was Joe Jackson who was the manager of his sons as the Jackson 5, and acted as the manager for all of his nine children into their adult years.
But Manning claims it was Katherine, not Joe, who gave Michael Jackson his business sense, which he described as shrewd and fair.
He recalled when Jackson purchased the Beatles catalog, which also included Little Richard's music, he called his mother to ask her opinion on how he should handle Little Richard's situation: the rock legend had for years complained about being unfairly compensated for his publishing rights. His mother advised him to treat Little Richard with respect, and because of that, "(Michael) made sure that Little Richard was compensated fairly."
He also said that when Michael Jackson's MJJ Productions fell on hard times, "Michael made sure with his mother that every employee was paid."
"She is a woman of great faith, and believes if you treat people right, (good) things will come back to you."
Jackson named his mother on at least two trusts — besides the Sony-ATV music catalog, she's a part of his Mijac publishing company — and McMillan said she was active in Jackson's business affairs, even attending depositions in legal cases.
However, a source who asked for anonymity because of the ongoing nature of the situation said those trustee positions did not have decision-making authority.
Whether Mrs. Jackson has the business capacity to deal with Jackson's estate, which is complicated and tangled, is likely to be a key question. She and Joe filed for bankruptcy 10 years ago, listing nearly $24 million in debts that included court judgments, auto loans and credit cards. Court records show the only valuable asset listed was a house in Las Vegas then valued at $290,000.
On Monday, the South Korean newspaper Segye Times filed for payment from Michael Jackson's estate of a nearly $7.9 million judgment entered against Katherine and Joe Jackson and their son Jermaine in 1994. The paper sued in 1990 over a series of concerts involving the Jacksons in Seoul that never happened.
McMillan said the role of a trustee does not require a person to be a business whiz.
"A trustee is one of trust as opposed to extraordinary skill," he said. "Trustees hire experts to administer business that requires experts."
Manning said Mrs. Jackson is confident that her legal team would do an excellent job with her guidance. He also raised the possibility that one of Jackson's five brothers could have a role in the estate: "That would be the right thing to do, the right thing to happen."
Legally, Mrs. Jackson may not be able to have an official role. Both Branca and Hansell said the addition of Katherine as an executor of the will or a trustee of the trust might raise tax questions because she is a beneficiary.
Branca was Jackson's attorney for many years, working with him during the height of his fame and helping negotiate his deal to buy the Beatles catalog. But they split in 2005 until Branca was brought back shortly before Jackson's death as he prepared for his comeback concerts with the promoter AEG.
McClain has been very close with the family for decades, and was instrumental in building Janet Jackson's career. He also had played key roles in Michael Jackson's career in its later years.
Manning spoke highly of McClain, saying he has been "like a son" to the Jackson parents.
"He's like a confidant," he said. "He was very, very close to the family."
Branca and McClain have control of Jackson's estate until at least Oct. 3. They have already made several deals on behalf of Jackson's estate, including a reissue of his memoir "Moonwalk" and a full-length motion picture filled with footage of his last rehearsals, which requires a judge's approval. In a sign that Katherine Jackson's input is already being considered critical, the judge has scheduled a hearing Monday to see, among other things, whether she has any objections.
But McMillan claims Jackson would have wanted his mother to be part of any dealmaking as well, quoting Jackson's sentiments about his mother from a deposition: "For the past several years I have started using my mother because she is the most trusted person in my life. I trust my mother more than anyone."
Copyright © 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
Busted: Statue's a Dead Ringer for Jacko
Busted: Statue's a Dead Ringer for Jacko
Jackson-like bust gets attention at Field Museum
http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local-beat/Bust-Check-Out-MJs-Bust-52512812.html?yhp=1
The Pharaoh of Pop doesn’t quite have the same ring to it as King of Pop, but visitors to Chicago’s Field Museum could swear that’s Jacko’s face on a 3,000-year-old Egyptian bust.
The spitting image limestone sculpture has been on display at the museum since 1988, but recently started drawing attention because of its likeness to Jacko --- complete with disfigured nose.
Unfortunately the bust, which was carved sometime between 1550 B.C. and 1050 B.C., is of a woman and MJ likely never had the chance to see the statuette.
“I have no idea whether Jackson ever visited the museum,” a Field spokesperson said to the Sun-Times' Michael Sneed. “But the similarity between the limestone statue of a woman – which is about 3,000 years old --- and Jackson is astounding.”
Interestingly, Jackson cast himself as an interloper in ancient Egypt in his video for “Remember the Time,” so maybe he sensed some Egyptian roots.
Jackson-like bust gets attention at Field Museum
http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local-beat/Bust-Check-Out-MJs-Bust-52512812.html?yhp=1
The Pharaoh of Pop doesn’t quite have the same ring to it as King of Pop, but visitors to Chicago’s Field Museum could swear that’s Jacko’s face on a 3,000-year-old Egyptian bust.
The spitting image limestone sculpture has been on display at the museum since 1988, but recently started drawing attention because of its likeness to Jacko --- complete with disfigured nose.
Unfortunately the bust, which was carved sometime between 1550 B.C. and 1050 B.C., is of a woman and MJ likely never had the chance to see the statuette.
“I have no idea whether Jackson ever visited the museum,” a Field spokesperson said to the Sun-Times' Michael Sneed. “But the similarity between the limestone statue of a woman – which is about 3,000 years old --- and Jackson is astounding.”
Interestingly, Jackson cast himself as an interloper in ancient Egypt in his video for “Remember the Time,” so maybe he sensed some Egyptian roots.
Saturday, August 1, 2009
What Was Michael Jackson Like As A Father?
http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1617390/20090731/jackson_michael.jhtml
Producer Teddy Riley recalls how MJ cared for his children in 'Michael Jackson's Human Nature,' airing Saturday at noon ET on MTV.
By Andrew Millard, with additional reporting by Edward Paige
Most of us have memories of Michael Jackson being an electrifying performer. Teddy Riley remembers him as an amazing dad.
Riley became close to Jackson while producing tracks for his Dangerous and HIStory albums. That bond grew stronger while working on songs for 2001's Invincible, when Michael introduced him to his kids for the first time.
"I felt so nervous meeting his children," Riley recalled. "He brought them in and he said, 'I want you to meet Paris and I want you to meet Prince.' And they walk in, playful. And then he was like, 'This is Theodore'. He didn't say Teddy. They were like, 'Hi, Theodore!' And it was just the greatest feeling."
What struck Riley immediately was how much Michael loved his kids and how involved he was in their lives.
"He read them a book every day. When we were in Virginia during the Invincible [sessions], there was not one day missed reading the children something. So that showed me right there that he was an incredible father."
Parenting was a major topic of conversation between Jackson and Riley, who has a family of his own — especially when it came to methods of punishment. This was a sensitive issue for Jackson because of the physical abuse he said he suffered as a child from his father, Joe Jackson.
"He was like, 'I would never have them go through the same things ever in their lives,' " Riley said. "He was like, 'I think the best scolding for children was a time-out.' The best scolding for children was, 'Let's read a book.' "
Although Teddy respected Michael's hands-on approach with his kids, he did think he was kind of a pushover when it came to discipline.
"I have to say this, but his time-outs were not as bad as, you know, our time-outs," he laughed. "They don't go up against a wall and look at the wall for an hour or 10 minutes. He sent them to the bunks with no TV. For me, that's a good time-out. But the kids, they knew what it was."
Producer Teddy Riley recalls how MJ cared for his children in 'Michael Jackson's Human Nature,' airing Saturday at noon ET on MTV.
By Andrew Millard, with additional reporting by Edward Paige
Most of us have memories of Michael Jackson being an electrifying performer. Teddy Riley remembers him as an amazing dad.
Riley became close to Jackson while producing tracks for his Dangerous and HIStory albums. That bond grew stronger while working on songs for 2001's Invincible, when Michael introduced him to his kids for the first time.
"I felt so nervous meeting his children," Riley recalled. "He brought them in and he said, 'I want you to meet Paris and I want you to meet Prince.' And they walk in, playful. And then he was like, 'This is Theodore'. He didn't say Teddy. They were like, 'Hi, Theodore!' And it was just the greatest feeling."
What struck Riley immediately was how much Michael loved his kids and how involved he was in their lives.
"He read them a book every day. When we were in Virginia during the Invincible [sessions], there was not one day missed reading the children something. So that showed me right there that he was an incredible father."
Parenting was a major topic of conversation between Jackson and Riley, who has a family of his own — especially when it came to methods of punishment. This was a sensitive issue for Jackson because of the physical abuse he said he suffered as a child from his father, Joe Jackson.
"He was like, 'I would never have them go through the same things ever in their lives,' " Riley said. "He was like, 'I think the best scolding for children was a time-out.' The best scolding for children was, 'Let's read a book.' "
Although Teddy respected Michael's hands-on approach with his kids, he did think he was kind of a pushover when it came to discipline.
"I have to say this, but his time-outs were not as bad as, you know, our time-outs," he laughed. "They don't go up against a wall and look at the wall for an hour or 10 minutes. He sent them to the bunks with no TV. For me, that's a good time-out. But the kids, they knew what it was."
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