This Is It

10 Stories

Star-Studded Jackson Civil Trial Kicks Off Today

Prince, Spike Lee, and more on the witness list as mom sues concert promoter

(Newser) - Michael Jackson's doctor has already been held accountable in his death, and today his mother will set out to prove that his concert promoter should be, too. The wrongful death suit against Anschutz Entertainment Group promises to provide, according to the AP , the "most complete account" yet of...

Email Trove Reveals 'Drunk, Despondent' Jacko

Singer was 'emotionally paralyzed mess': promoter

(Newser) - Another side to the story of Michael Jackson's final months is emerging, thanks to 250 pages of emails obtained by the Los Angeles Times . They reveal concerns over a singer plagued by "paranoia, anxiety, and obsessive-like behavior," as the director of Jackson's planned London shows wrote...

Jacko DVD Will Miss Christmas


 Jacko DVD Will Miss Christmas 
Nov 30, 2009 2:02 PM CST

Jacko DVD Will Miss Christmas

Sony postpones release of This Is It until January

(Newser) - Sorry Michael Jackson fans, but Sony has canceled Christmas, pushing back the This Is It DVD release until late January. You can thank movie theaters, who complained that releasing the DVD so soon after the movie would cut into ticket sales, which E! points out, have already topped $200 million...

2012 Soars to Top Spot

 2012 Soars 
 to Top Spot 
box office roundup
Nov 15, 2009 1:23 PM CST

2012 Soars to Top Spot

Apocalypse flick does $65M as 'Precious' cracks top 5

(Newser) - Apocalypse preview 2012 raked in $65 million domestically at the weekend box office, the high end of the prerelease estimate range, en route to a $225 million haul worldwide. The doomsday action flick handily beat A Christmas Carol, which performed strongly in its second weekend in release. A new entry...

Christmas Comes Early

 Christmas 
 Comes 
 Early 
box office roundup
Nov 8, 2009 1:38 PM CST

Christmas Comes Early

'Precious' shatters record for per-location average

(Newser) - The stop-motion version of A Christmas Carol topped the weekend box office, opening with a $31 million haul. The figure is a slight disappointment, on the low end of the projected range for the family-friendly flick, reports Variety . The Michael Jackson documentary This is It lost 40% off last week's...

Jacko Rules the World
 Jacko Rules the World 
box office roundup
Nov 1, 2009 1:34 PM CST

Jacko Rules the World

'This Is It' wears crown as 'Paranormal Activity' heads for $100M

(Newser) - This Is It lived up to its name at the weekend box office, raking in $21.3 million domestically and $101 million internationally. The Michael Jackson documentary's strong showing prompted distributor Sony to extend its original 2-week run by 3 weeks, through Thanksgiving weekend, reports Variety . The sleeper sensation Paranormal ...

This Is It Proves King of Pop Still Rocked
This Is It Proves 
 King of Pop 
 Still Rocked 
REVIEW ROUNDUP
Oct 28, 2009 7:38 AM CDT

This Is It Proves King of Pop Still Rocked

Michael Jackson was in surprisingly good shape in dazzling footage

(Newser) - Michael Jackson didn't live long enough to take the final bow he had planned in London, but critics agree This Is It is a fitting swan song, proof that the King of Pop really did have a comeback in him:
  • "This Is It is quite extraordinary. If there was
...

Jacko's This Is It Is...What?
 Jacko's 
 This Is It 
 Is...What?
A SORT-of Sneak Peek
Oct 26, 2009 12:35 PM CDT

Jacko's This Is It Is...What?

It's not a concert film—but King of Pop 'very much alive' for 111 minutes

(Newser) - This Is It opens this week, but most, if not all, fans still have no idea what to expect of the Michael Jackson film, which has not been aired for critics. It’s not a concert film, says director Kenny Ortega, who also choreographed Jackson’s ill-fated London shows, but...

New Jackson Single No Classic
 New Jackson Single No Classic 
MUSIC REVIEW
Oct 12, 2009 8:27 AM CDT

New Jackson Single No Classic

Response to 'This Is It' tepid from critics, all over the place from fans

(Newser) - Michael Jackson’s posthumous single was released to much hype, but the critical response is lukewarm and fan reactions are mixed. A sampling:
  • In a roundup of fan comments on Michael Jackson’s website, the Times reports that while some are pleased—“This single is great, even better than
...

Jacko's Final Single Debuts
 Jacko's Final Single Debuts 
LISTEN
Oct 12, 2009 5:58 AM CDT

Jacko's Final Single Debuts

'This Is It' was written in 1991 but left off Dangerous

(Newser) - Michael Jackson's first posthumous single premiered this morning on his website, featuring backing vocals by his brothers. "This Is It" was written for the 1991 album Dangerous, but was cut before the album was released; it will be the only new song on a double CD coming later this...

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