It’s probably not much of a stretch to posit that most people reading this site will have at least one eye on the world’s team coverage of this afternoon’s Michael Jackson memorial service, which is already inspiring maximum liveblogging, inappropriate musical tie-ins and people temporarily quitting the Internet. (Here is a huge list of Internet outlets showing the service.) In addition to the boldfaced names, there are even more things to look out for over the coming hours:
• The gold-plated coffin! “It is exactly the same type of coffin which soul singer Brown was buried in, in 2006. Jackson idolised Brown and copied his dance moves on stage as a child.” And according to Dan Gibson, an MSNBC anchor just killed about three or four minutes speculating exactly where on the Staples Center stage it would be.
• Traffic complaints. Take it away, Shep Smith (via the NYT: “The morning rush on a Tuesday is hell on wheels anyway and they’re shutting down freeways for this funeral?”
• Princess Diana comparisons. If you’re not working, these can make for an excellent drinking game.
• Inappropriate tie-ins from unrelated artists. I have yet to receive any press releases of this ilk yet, but I’m sure it’s just time.
Watch Michael Jackson’s Funeral Service Live Online [WebTV Hub]
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Oh, look, my first distasteful press release of the day!
CNN’s iReporter is bragging about his seats.
And yes, that is the same “iReporting” that tried to kill Rick Astley last week.
Oh here we go. Smokey Robinson is talking… although no sound is coming out of his mouth. CNN!!!
switched to msnbc. smokey just quoted nelson mandela.
and now… a lull in the proceedings.
I want to be in Times Square!
Ann Powers is reporting that there’s a band onstage. And an “eerie silence in the room,” although you wouldn’t know that by listening to Brian Williams talk.
CNN knows a lot about Diana Ross!
just got my first twitter fail whale. hooray?
“he was a person too,” one msnbc anchor just said.
the lull hits 15 minutes. brian williams: still talking.
I’d never heard of “fail whale”, so I just looked it up. It sounds a lot cooler than it is.
I’ll bet he’s not dead and he’s gonna pop out and do the moon walk 2.0 where he actually floats. This is gonna kick ass. Rehearsals Staples Center, memorial Staples Center….hello??
Oh noes, Mariah started off a little shaky
Did she always flail her arm around like someone making fun of Xtina in a MadTV skit?
Trey Lorenz’s voice is now significantly better than Mariah’s. Sad.
Something tells me this performance isn’t going to be released as a Billboard-charting memorial single.
How many weeks before News of the World has a “MIchael Is Alive!” headline? I give it four tops.
“four, tops”. Missed a coma.
@Christopher R. Weingarten: Seriously. My guess is that the original Mariah & Trey duet might get an iTunes bump though.
I love Shep Smith. My wife flew into L.A. today (for business totally unrelated to Mr Jackson) and was dreading the traffic et al.
Al Sharpton has lost weight!
@slowburn: Naw, man, that’s just John Mayer.
Somewhere, a bunch of lefthanded sequined gloves are feeling unloved.
Hi guys, what’s going on in this comment thread?
Alternately: So, what did I miss while I was on WNYC?
Corey Feldman is keeping it… Corey:
http://images.nymag.com/images/2/daily/2009/07/20090707_feldman_560×375.jpg
We need Sexual Chocolate for We Are The World.
Man, any cynicism I had about this whole event was completely crushed by MJ’s daughter bawling for her Dad.
@Audif Jackson Winters IV: Yeah, seriously. That was moving and totally unscripted.
okay paris completely ripped out the world’s heart right there.
on a slightly lighter note, cnn just got first evidence that hardcore lamb of god fans are total fanboys for mj just like the rest of us. classic interview.
@Audif Jackson Winters IV: Yeah, that got me too. Damnit.
@Audif Jackson Winters IV:
You would have to have a heart of stone not to have been moved, but seriously, raise your hand if you think having them on stage at all was completely inappropriate.
@whoneedslight: Considering to what lengths their father went to to make sure those kids were out of the public eye, yes, it was inappropriate to have them up there.