We're live outside the courthouse in downtown L.A., where a judge just appointed John Branca and John McClain as special administrators of MJ's estate.
Click here... it's not over yet
We're inside the courtroom as the lawyer for the co-executors of Michael Jackson's will, John Branca and John McClain, go before a judge seeking to be named administrator of Jackson's estate.
1:08 PM ET -- Hearing is over.
1:02 PM ET -- The judge just said that decisions involving marshaling the assets, attorney's fees, and settling claims and actions all require court approval -- as well as any modifications to existing court agreements and decisions
1:00 PM ET -- The judge just made it clear -- Katherine is NOT a co-administrator and she is not required to be involved in every decision. But, he pointed out, her attorney does have the ability to object.
12:54 PM ET -- The executors are also interested in operating his businesses (employees, investments, etc.) but any new business ventures would be subject to court approval.
12:49 PM ET -- The lawyer for the executors is balking about giving Katherine approval power. The judge has said he wants the executors to keep Katherine in the loop about decisions being brought before the court.
Click here... it's not over yet
Filed under: Michael Jackson
The lawyer for the doctor who was at Michael Jackson's home the day he died tells TMZ he did not give Jackson OxyContin or Demerol that day, but he wouldn't say the same about the powerful anesthesia found at the singer's home.
Dr. Conrad Murray was interviewed by LAPD detectives a week ago Saturday. Law enforcement sources tell us the information Dr. Murray gave police regarding drugs at Jackson's home was enough for cops to secure a search warrant from a judge. A search warrant can only be issued if there is probable cause to believe a crime has been committed.
Law enforcement sources say when police searched the home, they found the powerful anesthesia Propofol. The drug was specifically labeled Propofol and there was no indication it had been prescribed to anyone.
Edward Chernoff reiterated to us his client did not administer Demerol or OxyContin to Jackson the day he died. But Chernoff would not take the same stand on Propofol. Chernoff told us, "I have no statement on whether the Dr. prescribed or administered Propofol."
Chernoff added, "We're confident whatever the doctor prescribed did not kill Michael Jackson."
As we reported last week, cops obtained a search warrant the day after Jackson died. A second warrant was issued two days after Dr. Murray's interview -- that's the one that led cops to the Propofol. The second warrant may have been necessary if the first warrant only covered prescription medications.
The LAPD and the DEA are on the hunt to determine how the Propofol ended up in Jackson's home. The drug should never be administered outside a hospital.
UPDATE: A spokesman for attorney Ed Chernoff just called to say when Chernoff spoke with TMZ last night "He was not conscious. He had just woken up and he can't speak for anything that was in the home."
In fact, it was just after midnight Houston time when we spoke with him. We were on the phone with Chernoff for nearly 20 minutes. He repeated multiple times that he had no comment regarding the Propofol. Aside from the comments we quoted above, Chernoff said, "I have no comment on whether the doctor administered Propofol." He also said, "I can't deny or admit what the doctor might have prescribed." He also said "I can't say if the doctor gave him Propofol."
Chernoff went on to talk about the LAPD investigation, sounding very alert and choosing his words carefully: "When all the results come in, the truth will come out and the correct result will be obtained." He also asked questions about what we knew regarding which drug may have killed Michael Jackson.
Filed under: Michael Jackson
Anderson Cooper celebrated his independence by exercising the second amendment -- his right to bear massive arms.
This way to the gun show.
Filed under: Hot Bodies
Sporting her 2004 Super Bowl commemorative nipple clamp, Rihanna celebrated Independence Day by partying at Tao in Vegas.
Justin Timberlake had nothing to do with this "wardrobe malfunction."
Filed under: Paparazzi Photo, Hot Bodies, Full Throttle Fashion, Rihanna
The value of Michael Jackson memorial tickets has just gone up.
Multiple sources tell TMZ Mariah Carey will perform at tomorrow's Michael Jackson memorial at the Staples Center.
We're hearing she'll perform the Jackson 5 classic, "I'll Be There."
Filed under: Mariah Carey, Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson baby bearer Debbie Rowe was swarmed by paparazzi outside a Lancaster Chinese restaurant yesterday -- and when one dude got too close, she flipped, screaming "Are you ready to have your butt kicked? Don't f**king touch me!"
According to reports, Rowe will attend the Jackson memorial ceremony at the Staples Center tomorrow.
Filed under: Paparazzi Video, Michael Jackson
Sales for tickets to attend the King of Pop's final farewell are running rampant on sites like eBay, but watch out before you put in a bid -- the company is removing tickets sales from the site as fast as possible. 
We got a screen grab of a pair of tickets that already cost $10,000 (kind of them to offer free shipping) -- but the link was disabled shortly after we found it.
Incredibly expensive and hard to get? Good luck...
Filed under: Michael Jackson
With Britney Spears' moneymaking tour in town, Kevin Federline -- wearing a huge Michael Jackson t-shirt -- spent the afternoon sightseeing with his boys, a nanny, and girlfriend Victoria Prince in Paris (the city) this weekend.
Kevin is getting around $30K to watch the nanny watch his kids while Britney's on tour.
Filed under: Paparazzi Photo, Kids, Britney Spears, K-Fed
Today we'll know if Katherine Jackson will fight over Michael Jackson's will -- or at least we'll know if her lawyer plans a fight.
We've learned lawyers for John Branca and John McClain -- the two men named co-executors in Michael Jackson's will -- will ask the judge to put them in charge of the estate, at least until the will is formally presented in court.
But here's the wild card -- last week, before the will was filed, Katherine Jackson's lawyer, Londell McMillan, went to court and got the judge to temporarily make Katherine the administrator of the estate. That power expires today.
The question -- will McMillan object to putting Branca and McClain in control of the estate? Jermaine Jackson has said he wants everyone to respect Michael's wishes. Sources tell us Jermaine's feelings are shared by the other siblings, but McMillan may have a different agenda. We're told many members of Michael's family are upset with McMillan and believe he's grandstanding. Lawyers for the named co-executors are bracing for a fight.
Ironically, the will names Katherine the guardian of Michael's children.
Filed under: Michael Jackson
Congressman Pete King (R-NY) feels we should be honoring the men and women of the Armed Forces -- and not a "pedophile" and "child molester" like Michael Jackson.
Standing in front of the American Legion in Wantagh, King ripped into America's celebration of the life of Michael Jackson -- instead of the people who serve in the military.
It's safe to say King wasn't one of the 1.6 million people who signed up for memorial tickets.
Filed under: Michael Jackson
EMTs were called to the Jackson family home in Encino this afternoon. All of the Jacksons are fine though.
A 13-year old Michael Jackson fan fainted. She was part of the crowd gathered outside the Jackson home, and LAPD called for the ambulance.
The young fan was taken to Encino hospital. Her condition is unknown.
Filed under: Michael Jackson
TMZ has obtained photos of Steve McNair and Sahel Kazemi on vacation together about three months ago.
In the photos, McNair and Kazemi can be seen parasailing together on some kind of beach getaway. It's clear the two had some sort of special relationship.
McNair and Kazemi were both found shot to death in Tennesee yesterday -- McNair's body was riddled with bullets, Kazemi suffered just one shot to the head. Authorities say a gun was found very close to her body. Officials won't classify the incident as a murder/suicide just yet ... but so far, the facts seem to point in that direction.
McNair, a former NFL MVP who was married with four children, was 36 years old.
UPDATE -- Detectives for the Nashville PD say they've been told McNair and Kazemi "had been in a dating relationship" for several months. And while it is clear they can rule McNair's death a homicide, detectives have not yet classified Kazemi's death, pending further investigation.
Filed under: Talk Sports, Photo Galleries
Jesse Jackson, with Al Sharpton by his side, talked very solemnly to our photog last night about the overwhelming reaction to Michael Jackson's death. 
BTW -- isn't it odd that Al Sharpton didn't say a word?
Filed under: Michael Jackson
There are reports as many as a million people may come to L.A. for the Michael Jackson memorial on Tuesday. We can tell you for sure -- there's a British invasion.
A rep from British Airways tells us there has been a "huge influx" of reservations in the last few days by people from England trying to make their way to the memorial. The rep says people are "flying as close to L.A. as they can and then taking connecting flights."
In addition to non-stop and direct flights to L.A., flights from Heathrow to San Francisco and from Heathrow to Denver are almost full.
The rep says they expect all flights -- direct and indirect -- to be sold out by the end of the day.
Filed under: Michael Jackson
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