Katherine lost control

Yesterday a judge denied Katherine Jackson's request to obtain control of her son Michael's estate. Instead, the judge awarded executorship to a long time family friend and Michael's attorney in accordance with the wishes expressed in his 2002 will. The temporary executorship will expire on August 3rd, the date of another hearing on the estate. Katherine and Michael's three children are still beneficiaries of his estate through the Jackson family trust.

Michael Jackson's Last Performance

This short video played in an endless loop on every news show this past 4th of July weekend. I might actually pay real money to see the whole shebang whenever AEG releases it. Unless someone I know has the bootleg.

This is complete bull...

I for one won't believe it until the ghost starts moonwalking, grabbing his crotch, and "hee-heeing." Until then...

Michael Jackson's Memorial Will be Olympian

LAPD is gearing up for tomorrow's memorial to Michael Jackson at the same level they did for the 1984 Olympics. The city has reached out to the Jackson family for assistance in defraying the cost of holding the memorial for almost 18,000 fans, stars, and members of the media.

Debbie Rowe will be attending

Debbie Rowe has confirmed for the VIP section of Michael Jackson's memorial service tomorrow at the Staples Center. I am now taking wagers on how long she'll be booed by the crowd.

On another note, that picture is just...sigh. Did you believe that relationship for even a minute?

This is the hottest ticket in the world.....

Hit a brutha up on eBay

A solemn, reverential farewell to Michael Jackson that says more with less,an unseemly four-ring circus, or will they let BET produce? Will dignity rule at tomorrow morning's memorial service to the King of Pop? There will be music at the service, and rightfully so. An Oscars-like guest list of celebrities, including Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross,Mariah, Justin (probably Ne-Yo again) and Elizabeth Taylor, is also assured, together with some 8,750 fans arriving from all over the world selected from 1.6 million entrants in an online lottery. Each person selected received two tickets. The odds of getting a ticket were about 1 in 183. One person who won't be at the service will be Jackson himself who will be likely laid to rest quietly today at Forest Lawn Cemetery. NBC joins ABC, CNN, MSNBC and E! Entertainment in offering the ceremony live at 10 a.m. tomorrow morning (1 p.m. est).

Give A Hand To Where's My Stimulus?

Everyone take the time to stop banging on their keyboards to give a hand to Where's My Stimulus. He stepped in and did a fine job posting while I was away. I was unable to get any sort of internet access where I was so I couldn't even check in. I hope y'all had a happy 4th and ate and drank to your heart's content.

Look for WMS to guest post again very soon. Again, thanks!

Essence Festival Kicks Off With Tribute to King of Pop

Brass band musicians on trumpet, trombone and tuba belted out "A Closer Walk With Thee" as the Essence Music Festival gave a salute to Michael Jackson befitting a New Orleans jazz funeral procession. The festival runs through Sunday.

At a concert featuring performances by Beyonce, John Legend, Ne-Yo (who has performed at every concert so far this summer) and Salt-n-Pepa in the Louisiana Superdome, the festival paid homage to Jackson with a picture and video montage and the New Orleans-styled tribute. There is also a rumor that Lionel Richie and the Commodores will reunite on Sunday.

Friday marked the festival's highest attendance in its 15-year history, said Michelle Ebanks, president of Essence Communications Inc. She wouldn't provide figures (so you know she lyin'), but reported a first-night sellout at the Superdome, which can seat about 85,000 people for football games and 350,000 for hurricanes.

King of Pop Once Asked New Edition For Help

New Edition's Bobby Brown , believe it or not, says his dance moves were once requested by the legendary King of Pop himself. According to Brown, Michael Jackson asked his group, New Edition, to help out with some dance moves back during their heyday.

"We went to his house," Brown said, speaking at the press room at the BET Awards after his group's tribute medley to the Jackson 5. "We were invited to teach him a couple of our moves. I'm not joking!" Brown, flanked by NE members Ralph Tresvant and Johnny Gill, said the group didn't get to stick around much after dancing with Jackson, although (Johnny Gill left MJ his number) they did get to see the video for "Thriller" before its official premiere, according to Tresvant. But what they really wanted from their encounter with Michael Jackson (to get adopted) didn't quite pan out.

The late icon invited the guys to stay the night at his house but, according to Brown, their manager turned the invite down."We were always upset about that, because we couldn't stay the night," Brown explained. "We were upset because we wanted to stay and get to know him better. I've spent a lot of time around some great artists, but he was definitely the greatest artist and person I've ever been around."

Harlem Transforms to Neverland East

Rev. Al is available to appear at your family reunion with Pookie and dem this summer as he busts a move at the Michael Jackson Tribute this past Wednesday at the Apollo Theatre.

Jackson Funeral set for Tuesday In LA

Michael Jackson’s public memorial service has been scheduled for Tuesday at the Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles.

AEG Live, which owns the Staples Center and was Jackson’s promoter, called a press conference for Friday at 10 a.m. to announce details, according to a press release from the office of the Jackson family’s publicist. Randy Phillips, AEG’s chief executive, said tickets would be FREE and that 11,000 would be distributed to the public.

Who Dat Is?

Meet London based Nona Paris Lola Jackson. She claims to be Michael Jackson's ex-wife and demands that the late King of Pop's "properties, monies and assets" must be transferred to her immediately. Not only that, but she should get physical and legal custody of all three of Jackson's children because she is their biological mother, a claim she pursued in 2006 and 2007 in several failed attempts at getting custody and financial support.

Per the 93 handwritten pages filed Wednesday in Los Angeles Superior Court, Mrs. Jackson is also demanding that Jackson's body, which a source discloses is currently in cold storage at L.A.'s Forest Lawn cemetery, be returned to the coroner's office. She should also be flown to Los Angeles and put in charge of future negotiations with AEG Live regarding any upcoming tribute concerts or other business ventures.

Nona Jackson, who is representing herself in these proceedings, detailed all of this—including the claim that she and Jackson are still married although they legally separated in 2008, according to the filing. She wants Taj Jackson to temporarily (somebody actually took the time to read this BS) take care of the children until she arrives in LA and she wants the entire Jackson family out of "her" Encino home because she doesn't want them around the kids.

The court told her not to call them, that they'd call her, and scheduled a hearing on the matter for Aug. 19.

I wish it was me....

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Jermaine's interview this morning on the Today Show....CNN reports that Michael Jackson's funeral will be held on Tuesday July 7th at the Staples Center....

Planet Jackson Welcomes A New Author

I'm going out of town for the rest of the week, so I'm going to hand things over to my man Where's My Stimulus? Most of you should know him from his hilarious comments on this and other blogs. I trust Stim to hold it down and keep things funky around here, so give him a warm welcome in the comments section and be sure to check back daily for the holiday weekend. You never know what's going to pop off in the world of entertainment!

I Just Offered up my home for the Michael Jackson Funeral:

How to attend an African American funeral :

Step 1
1. Crowded: You must arrive early. Funerals are very important in our community. This is one of the times that family members make the sacrifice to travel from all over to attend.

Step 2
2. Seating: In the African American tradition, when you enter the sanctuary their is seating for the Family of the departed and then general seating on the adjacent side of the sanctuary. The family has a processional into the sanctuary and is seated. Please stand during this part of the opening of the service.

Step 3
3. Exuberant: You can expect the entire service to be very celebratory with clapping, dancing, standing, noise, shouting, etc.. For our community it is important to rejoice when someone who loves the Lord dies. So join in with the celebration.

Step 4
4. Program: There is a well thought out program to include prayer, scripture reading, words from family and friends, singing, solos, etc.. Be prepared to celebrate for a while.

Step 5
5. Eulogy: This is the highlight of the funeral. The pastor is really going to express the life of the departed in relation to their walk with the Lord. If the person was not a believer, the preacher will then place his/her focus on those who are gathered in the audience. This message can be long, but it will end on a high note with music, dancing, and shouting about heaven.

Step 6
6. The recessional will be joyful. Join in and greet the family on your way out after they have viewed the remains of the departed. Then the congregation will travel to the grave site for a short ceremony and burial. Following all of this will be celebration with food

(I forgot don't let Aunt Willona jump in the casket)

anything else I forgot?