[Michael Jackson: The Magic and The Madness]

I seriously need to find a way to buy the book "Michael Jackson: The Magic and the Madness". Maybe I'll drop by borders some time soon. Hmm.

'I saw in his eyes he was dying': Michael Jackson's life-long confidante J. Randy Taraborrelli tells the real story of star's fall

By J Randy Taraborrelli
Last updated at 11:32 AM on 29th June 2009

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They first met as children — and for 40 years, he was Jackson’s confidant. In this intimate series, J. Randy Taraborrelli tells the REAL story of the tortured star’s fall . . .as he witnessed it first-hand

Michael Jackson dead? Impossible. It’s just inconceivable to me. Even though he was obviously frail and not in the best of health in recent years, there seemed always to be some hope that he would rebound and find a way to reclaim his throne as the King of Pop.

However, with his sudden death last week, his amazing story — which I, as his biographer, have chronicled over the past four decades — has come to a tragic and grossly unfair end.

J.Randy Taraborrelli and Michael Jackson at Jackson's Californian home in 1978

How well I remember the first time we met. He was 11 — I was 13.

The year was 1970 and Diana Ross had just introduced the Jackson 5 to the public.

The boys had been discovered in Gary, Indiana and, with their signing to Motown Records in Detroit, had issued their first single release, I Want You Back.

Their first performance was at the Philadelphia Convention Centre. I had got to know Miss Ross because I was an ardent child fan of hers — two years previously I had started the Diana Ross International Fan Club — and she had invited me to the concert.

Afterwards, she invited me backstage, where I met Michael and his rambunctious brothers — Jackie, Tito, Marlon and Jermaine — for the first time.

What I remember most was Michael’s laugh, his charisma — his charm. He seemed like an old soul. As he performed, he executed the kinds of moves only a seasoned veteran like James Brown could master.

There was a lot of Diana Ross in him, too. It was clear that he idolised her. Just a few years later I started my writing career, for a newspaper in New York called The Black American.

I wrote celebrity profiles for them, and throughout the intervening years, I interviewed Michael for stories to celebrate his birthday milestones.

For instance, I sat down with him for ‘Michael Turns 16’.

He said: ‘I’m a man now, huh?’

I laughed.

‘Well, maybe not yet,’ I said.

‘Yeah, but soon,’ he shot back with an impish grin, ‘and then, watch out world!’

Taraborrelli met Jackson as a young boy in the Seventies, above

He was so excited about the future. It was as if he couldn’t go wrong. He had it all — he was good looking, successful, popular. He was a star.

Throughout the Seventies, whenever I was in his company, he seemed happy, excited and not at all the sad, troubled youngster he would later become as a teenager growing up in Encino, California.

I do recall, though, that he was troubled — at about the age of 18 — by stories that he was about to have a sex change operation.

It was the first time, to my memory, that rumours of his sexuality began to run rampant.

Suddenly, everyone wanted to know if he was gay. So, one day at his Encino home, as the brothers played basketball and Michael and I stood on the sidelines and watched — since neither of us was very athletic — I casually asked him if he was gay.

He looked embarrassed. ‘No,’ was his response. ‘I think it’s a shame that people have to jump to conclusions about me. I wonder if there will always be rumours like that about me? I hope not.’

That was back in 1976. He certainly had no idea what was in store for him. Throughout his childhood, he worked harder than anyone I ever knew at Motown, with the possible exception of Diana Ross, the company’s other workhorse.

Recording, performing, photo sessions, television appearances — he was constantly on the go. Without him, the Jackson 5 would have been a very different — and probably not as successful —group.

By the time I wrote ‘Michael Turns 21’ in 1979, he was already beginning to look exhausted to me. ‘I just want to have a simple life,’ he told me. ‘But this work all the time, it’s so hard. When do I get a break? When does Michael Jackson get a break?’

I remember when I knew things were changing for Michael.

Michael Jackson leaves Santa Barbara County Court after being found not guilty of child molestation charges in 2005

It was in 1979 when I went to the family home for another interview and he showed up wearing bandages on his nose. I was certain he’d been assaulted by his father, Joseph — because we all knew in the press corps that Michael had privately accused Joseph of doing just that in the past.

However, that wasn’t the case. He’d tripped on stage, fallen and broken his nose. And that’s how he ended up having his first nose job. But then there was a problem with the procedure and he had to have a second one to correct it. I remember that he seemed dazed and disoriented, not able to focus on my questions.

My heart went out to him. He was such a nice young man, so eager to please, to give a good interview, but on that day he just couldn’t pull it off. I wondered if he was on pain medication. In fact, Jermaine told me he had an incredibly low tolerance for pain.

I have so many astonishing memories of Michael, it’s hard to bring them all into focus. I was at some of the recording sessions for the Thriller album in Los Angeles, for instance.

I remember how happy he was and how confident he was that the album would go on to become the biggest of all time — which, of course, it did.

But by 1984, a few months after its release in December 1983, he was deeply unhappy.

‘I hate the attention,’ he told me after the record was a hit. ‘I’m not the kind of person who likes all of this scrutiny. You know me,’ he said. ‘That’s not me at all.’

I wondered if he would ever be able to adapt.

‘No,’ he said sadly. ‘And I have a bad feeling that it’s only going to get worse.’

Well, of course it did get worse. Much worse.

Michael Jackson with Gavin Arvizo during the Martin Bashir interview in 2003

In January 1994, he was charged for the first time with child molestation.

His friendship with 12-year-old Jordie Chandler had troubled Jordie’s father, a dentist, for some time: while extracting his son’s tooth he administered the drug sodium amytal, popularly known as ‘truth serum’ and asked if Jackson had sexually molested him.

Jordie said he had.

Michael was on tour in Bangkok while, in America, all hell was breaking loose. The story was the only topic of discussion on television and radio — it was just that shocking.

At this time, people assumed that Michael was asexual, that he didn’t prefer men or women as sexual partners.

His sexuality was perplexing and the subject of great interest. Now, suddenly, it was as if people had the answer — and it wasn’t a good one.

My telephone conversation with Michael at the time affected me deeply.

Michael said that he was calling to set the record straight. ‘I’m innocent of these accusations,’ he told me. His voice sounded shaky. He was obviously not well. It seemed as if the pressure was more than he could bear.

In the weeks and months to come, Michael would be strip-searched by the cops and would pay more than $25 million to Jordie.

I was the first reporter to interview Michael after he made that very controversial settlement. To be candid, I was angry that he settled.

Frankly, I didn’t know if he had molested Jordie, or not —all I knew was that he had insisted to me that he was innocent and I had published it.

‘So, why did you pay that kid off if you were so innocent?’ I asked him.

‘Because I needed to get on with my life,’ he told me, very matter-of-factly. ‘It was killing me, the whole thing. I didn’t do it. I swear to you, I did not do it. But I needed to just put it behind me.’

Friends and fellow performers Jackson and Diana Ross hold their American Music Awards in 1981

I argued that, since he’d settled, people would always assume he had been guilty. Had he considered as much? ‘You know what? I don’t care what people think,’ he said, raising his voice.

‘For the first time in my life, I don’t give a f***.’

His use of an expletive shocked me. I’d never heard him swear in the past, it was so out of character.

‘I’m a man of honour,’ he told me. ‘If you believe anything about me, believe that.’

Michael had always cared about his public image. However, the settlement with Jordie Chandler redefined him in many ways, not the least of which was that from that time onward he wasn’t concerned with what people thought of him.

This was good, in some respects. Certainly, it freed him to live a more authentic life, to not be as concerned about public opinion.

For a person who had been building an image for himself at an age when most kids were building tree houses, it was a giant leap forward in his evolution as a man.

However, there was a downside too.

Without the censoring mechanism in place that once monitored his behaviour, he became a person who would do the most illogical things in a way that suggested a sense of entitlement.

It was as if he thought he was above normal and decent behaviour.

How else to explain his flaunting of his relationship with young Gavin Arvizo while being interviewed by Martin Bashir for a TV documentary in 2003?

‘It’s okay to share your bed,’ Michael proclaimed on the broadcast as he and the young boy, then 13, cosied up to each other on camera for all the world to see — and to judge.

Michael, left, appears on stage with President-elect Bill Clinton, his daughter Chelsea and Ross during the celebrations for the inauguration in January 1993

I was sick to my stomach when I saw it.

I knew instantly that his career was over — and, also, I was worried about his life.

Soon after, the investigations by child welfare departments began, and then came his arrest on multiple counts of child molestation.

When I saw his mug shot on TV for the first time — Michael looking so ghastly, his garish make-up a twisted mask — I looked in vain for the young man I once knew.

But I couldn’t find him.

Four years ago, I sat in a courtroom in Santa Maria, California every day for months, directly behind Michael. I was the only person present — other than his lawyers and his family members — who had ever even met the defendant or, really, any of the Jacksons.

I remember the first day Tito walked into the court room to support his brother.

Everyone in the press box turned and looked at me with raised eyebrows. I mouthed the word ‘Tito’ and they all quickly jotted his name in their notes. They didn’t know who he was.

At the beginning of the trial, Michael seemed to be in good shape. He would walk briskly into court and, as we in the press watched, limber up by stretching.

It was as if he was getting ready for a performance or an athletic event. It was fascinating to watch his dancer’s body in motion and I remember thinking that he looked as skillful as he did in videos for Thriller, Billie Jean, and Beat It.

The magic was still there, somewhere. He was still Michael Jackson.

During his 2005 trial for child molestation, Jackson was so late for court one morning that he arrived in his pajamas

But then the testimony began.

Day after day, as the prosecution stated its case and paraded one witness after another who spoke of inappropriate behaviour between Michael and young boys, the pop star seemed to fold inside himself.

Of course, there was the infamous day when he showed up in pyjamas after being so late the judge had threatened to throw him in jail.

But that was the least of the drama inside the courtroom.

The real story as I saw it —besides the shocking testimony — was that he seemed to be dying in front of my very eyes. He was clearly in terrible pain, both physical and emotional.

Anyone who cared about him would have been mortified by the sight, and since I was the only one of the media who actually knew him, maybe I took it more to heart that I should have.

It was horrible to watch as he slowly deteriorated to the point where he could barely walk into the courtroom.

One day, Michael hobbled by me, smiled and nodded his recognition of me. I smiled back and gave him a thumbs up. And as he passed, I remember that he smelled like old, musty clothing. It was as if he was a wax figure in a museum, one that had been there too long and was in need of care and attention.

The worst week was the one we members of the press privately called ‘Porn Week’.

Day after day, the prosecution showed, on an enormous screen, graphic pornographic images from stacks of magazines found at Neverland. It was awful.

I remember sitting watching Michael’s poor mother Katherine as she was forced to look at those photos. None of it was gay porn. None of it was kiddie porn. So why show it? The prosecution suggested that it was straight porn used by Michael to turn on straight kids and encourage them to then have sex with him.

It didn’t make sense to me. One magazine, maybe. Two? Maybe. But stacks and stacks? I didn’t think so. In fact, I wasn’t even sure it was Michael’s pornography, to tell you the truth. It all just seemed like a manoeuvre to destroy him and his family.

‘You have the best seat in the house,’ one of the Santa Barbara sheriffs told me the night before the verdict was to come down in June 2005.

‘Because when Jackson is found guilty — and he will be found guilty, I assure you — we are going to grab him and take him out of there so fast, your head will spin.’

I wondered why.

‘Because we’re afraid they’ll be such an uproar, his brothers will jump the bar [which separates the spectators from the judge, defendant and lawyer] and cause a riot.’

I was taken aback by the imagery. I had assumed Michael would be found not guilty. The prosecution’s case was weak. The kid was not believable and neither were his mother and a lot of other witnesses.

But what if I was wrong? Michael Jackson in prison?

‘He’ll never survive it,’ his brother Randy had told me. ‘It will be the end for him.’

I was scheduled to be in the court room for the verdict and was then supposed to immediately race outside and report the results for TV.

The reporters sitting next to me in court that fateful day also felt Michael was not guilty and wondered how they would keep their objectivity if the verdict came in otherwise.

‘It’s Michael Jackson, we’ve loved him since he was ten,’ a female television anchor told me. ‘I have this awful feeling I’ll break down in tears. How will that look on TV?’

Jackson had two children with his nurse Debbie Rowe, above

Of course, the verdict was that Michael Jackson was found not guilty of all counts.

I sat and watched Michael listen to the verdicts as they were read one by one and — as the moment unfolded — it hit me like a thunderbolt: the man is on so many different drugs, he doesn’t even know what’s going on.

He doesn’t even realise that he’s been found not guilty!

Later in the hallway, there was absolute chaos as the media tried to race out of the court house to report the news.

Fans were going crazy outside, the media was scurrying about — it was total pandemonium. For a moment, I found myself shoulder to shoulder with Michael. I looked at him, this guy I had known since the age of ten.

I smiled at him. He smiled back, but his eyes were empty. It should have been the happiest day of his life, but it was as if he wasn’t even present to enjoy it.

Michael Jackson was gone.

That was the last time I saw Michael.

I spoke to him on the phone only twice in the last four years, both very brief conversations about his life and how well he said he was feeling.

He seemed much better to me. When I sent him a copy of my Elizabeth Taylor biography, he called to tell me he enjoyed it. He sounded good, but I was angry with him and, I have to admit, I never really got over it. Why was I angry?

Ironically, not because of all the molestation accusations. It was because I couldn’t reconcile the fact that he never paid his bills.

How many lawsuits had been filed from people who weren’t properly compensated? I had lost count. I also didn’t understand how, after the trial was over, he let go of all of the employees at Neverland who had been so loyal to him — and without severance pay.

I also couldn’t fathom how he could abandon his family and fall out of touch with so many of them when they had been so present and supportive during the terrible proceedings.

It was as if he didn’t care about anyone but himself. It annoyed me that he seemed to have no sense of personal responsibility and, as a result, I didn’t even want to write about him any more.

He had told me he was a man of honour.

Looking back on it now, I felt let down by Michael. So, for years I stayed away from writing or talking about him. I feel badly about that now.

That said, I truly believe the last four years, since his acquittal, were the best years of Michael’s life.

He was a good and loving father. The children — Prince Michael I, Paris and Prince Michael II (Blanket) are breathtakingly beautiful. They are also unbelievably polite.

They used to hang on their father’s every word. In their eyes, Michael wasn’t strange, he wasn’t Wacko Jacko, he was just ‘Dad’.

And because he took issue with the way he was raised by his own father, Michael wanted to be sure that his children would never have the kinds of stories about him that he had about his own upbringing.

Therefore, he was very patient and kind, always available to them. Michael’s children are, as I write, with his mother, Katherine, as well as with other members of the Jackson family.

The two eldest —Prince Michael I and Paris — were born to Debbie Rowe, a nurse Michael had first met when he was a patient at a dermatologist clinic in the early Eighties. They became friends, and when his relationship with Lisa Marie Presley began to cool, partly over her refusal to give him the child he longed for, Jackson informed her: ‘If you won’t have my baby, then Debbie will.’

Rowe had two children with Jackson - Prince Michael and Paris, above

He and Lisa divorced, and in November 1996 he married the six-months pregnant Debbie. Prince was born in February 1997 and Debbie bore him a second child, Paris just over a year later, in April 1998.

In October the following year they divorced, apparently amicably, with Jackson paying her a $10 million settlement.

If she now decides that, as their mother, she wants custody of them, she may have to go up against the Jacksons.

The family definitely does not want Debbie to have the kids. In their view, the children don’t know her and think of her as a stranger.

As for the third child, Blanket, his mother is still unknown at this time. But don’t be surprised if she suddenly surfaces, too. The fact is that whoever gets custody of these children will see his or her life’s circumstances change greatly: one can only imagine the money that will be allocated to care for Michael Jackson’s children. Whoever ends up with them could be wealthy beyond all reason.

However, one thing is certain: his mother Katherine does not care about money, she just cares about her beloved Michael’s children, her grandchildren. She’s had all the money in the world, lost it and regained it many times over. But she’s an elderly woman. How can she care for three spirited children? What would Michael want?

That will be the question raised many times in the weeks and months to come — pertaining not only to his children but to his amazing catalogue of music, his shaky finances, and everything else that will probably be found in disarray once the shock of his death subsides and the reality of what is left behind surfaces.

I think I know what Michael would want. Michael would have wanted to see his children grow up and have kids of their own. Michael would have wanted to perform for them in London this summer. Michael would have wanted to reclaim his throne as The King of Pop. Indeed, Michael would have wanted to live. He would not have wanted this.

He couldn't live without his drugs

Dominating the headlines following Michael’s death last week are stories about his drug abuse. It seems to me that not many people understand just why he took so many prescription drugs.

I wish they would try to find some sympathy for a man who lived his life in chronic pain, 24 hours of the day, seven days of the week. Yes, he was addicted to all sorts of painkillers. That’s not news.

The question is: why? He wasn’t on the streets buying drugs from pushers. And he wasn’t getting high just for kicks. He was under medical supervision for all sorts of problems, from his back to his knees. Even the burn on the back of his head that he suffered in the mid-Eighties during the filming of a soft drink commercial had never healed properly.

Moreover, all of the plastic surgery he had over the years was causing problems for him as he aged.

He had more ailments than I can list here. He was in excruciating pain all the time.

‘I’m suffering,’ he told a mutual friend. ‘My family wants me off the drugs. If I do, I’ll die. I won’t survive a day without them. No one understands that. I need to be here for my kids. There’s no other way. There’s just no other way.'

How dare you make fun of my marriage?

In May 1994, I was the first to report that Michael had married Lisa Marie Presley. It seemed a far-fetched union, he from Neverland, she from Graceland. Not a lot of people took it seriously.

Even I was guilty of being sarcastic about it. ‘They’ve registered their wedding list at Toys R Us,’ I quipped — a joke about Michael’s penchant for childhood things.

Michael Jackson and his then wife Lisa Marie Presley in 1995

I thought it was pretty funny. Michael was not amused. He called me immediately after the broadcast. ‘How dare you make fun of my marriage?’ he said, angrily.

He didn’t really sound at all like the whispery character of his public persona.

In real life, his voice was stronger, more bold. ‘Maybe you have never been in love,’ he lectured me. ‘Because if you had, you wouldn’t ridicule another person’s relationship.’

I apologised and told him that it was just a joke.

‘But it was cruel, and I’ve never known you to be cruel,’ he said. Of course, I felt terrible. He knew it, too.

‘OK, don’t feel so bad,’ he said, now much softer. ‘We all make mistakes.’

Then he laughed and I knew we were OK. We spoke for about half an hour about his new marriage and, I have to admit, I left the conversation totally convinced that it was not a sham.

‘I don’t care what you say about me, not really,’ he finally allowed. ‘It’s just that I hope you can keep an open mind about me and Lisa.’

When I later interviewed Lisa Marie, she was just as adamant that the marriage was a real one, not a publicity gimmick.

[Goodbye, Michael]

I still cannot believe that he is actually gone and while I hope that he is in a better place, I wish he was still here with us. Watching his memorial 3 times didn't actually help either. Bawled out my eyes every single time. I will scour the internet for the complete memorial and somehow will try and download it. I will also try to find out if he will have an Islamic burial and for now I am praying that he will. Goodbye, Michael or Mikaeel. May God forgive all your sins. We miss you and we love you more. We never got to say that too you and we're sorry.


Never Dreamed You'd Leave in Summer Lyrics
Artist(Band):Stevie Wonder

I never dreamed you'd leave in summer
I thought you would go then come back home
I thought the cold would leave by summer
But my quiet nights will be spent alone

You said there would be warm love in springtime
That is when you started to be cold
I never dreamed you'd leave in summer
But now I find myself all alone

You said then you'd be the life in autumn
Said you'd be the one to see the way
No, I never dreamed you'd leave in summer
But now I find my love has gone away

Michael, Why didn't you stay?

Anyways, here's a great article I found.

Updated: 26/06/2009

Michael Jackson, An American Original

How do you put into words the way you feel when the headline is flashed around the world: "Michael J...

Michael Jackson, An American Original

How do you put into words the way you feel when the headline is flashed around the world: "Michael Jackson Is Dead?"

For many it was too shocking to absorb.

You tell yourself it's a mistake. Then the confirmation of his death spread across the Internet, and people around the world shared their grief at his passing.

Michael Jackson was my friend, but millions who never met him felt the same void in their lives that I did.

How do you define his life and career?

Some of the memories that were flashing through my mind:

Michael and that other superstar Michael (as in, Jordan) on the basketball court in Chicago shooting hoops for the "Jam" video. The tiny King of Pop and the towering King of Hoops were a hoot together. And that moment reminded me of that little-kid side of Jackson that made you doubt he'd ever grow up. He was having too much fun. I'll leave it to more serious observers to analyze the Peter Pan in him. To me, it was a reflection of the joy he found in being an adult who was discovering the childhood he never had.

Michael in the studio, determined to get it right. A daunting perfectionist who burst into tears when the song he was recording finally sounded just as he imagined it. This was a man who cared about his music.

Michael on location in the hot and dusty southern California desert looking a bit thin and vulnerable under the merciless sun. Then the strains of "In the Closet" from his album "Dangerous" drifted across the set and he was rolling on the ground with Naomi Campbell in a sensual embrace that was wild enough to have the crew applauding when the director yelled, "Cut." His energy was amazing.

Michael whipping fans, dozens of rows behind mine, into a frenzy. Beyond their screams and sobs was something magical. Even in the cheap seats, he was connecting with them in a way that seemed almost magical.

I've talked with some of the most famous pop stars in the world who bowed to the musical genius that had influenced them. Just as fans dressed like Michael and did the moonwalk or that sexy crotch grab, a legion of musicians have tried to follow in his footsteps.

Let the imitators beware. Michael Jackson was an American original. A complicated superstar who sometimes wore his heart on his sleeve, but often kept his innermost self hidden. Was he sometimes Wacko Jacko? Was he sometimes playing us with his eccentricity? Did he lose his looks and his fortune? Who cares? The legacy is music that has defined moments in our lives and leaves us telling our Michael Jackson stories and laughing as kids on the playground try the moonwalk in their sneakers. And missing him a lot. Too young to die -- but maybe if you're Peter Pan that's the best way to go.

[Bring Back Isaiah as Burke!]

Michael Joseph Jackson 1958 - 2009
I have to say I am not at all ready to comment on Michael Jackson's death. Maybe its the fact that just the night before I was thinking to myself, "You shouldn't spend so much! Michael Jackson is coming to Singapore soon. You've gotta save money for his concert ticket." Maybe its the fact that I was too tired to react appropriately when my Dad came barging into my room and saying "Michael Jackson is dead!" at 9am in the morning when I only went to sleep at 6am. Maybe its because his death is too fucking sudden. Maybe its because even after all the tributes, all the tears, all the news, I still can't believe he's dead. And maybe because there's been so many losses for me this year and I can't deal with another one, yet. Maybe..
Some of my friends might've known that I'm quite a big fan of MJ. I've even set up a demand for his concert on Eventful.com in the hope that maybe he'll come across it online and, since he's been here a couple of times, might consider performing here again on his world tour whOne thing that has come up from all this is that I'm in constant contact with my friend from German class when we were in SP. Apparently, we're both fanatics who are still in denial about MJ's death. We keep each other updated on the latest news on MJ's tributes and what not. Ah well. I don't know. I just feel tired. Listening to MJ's songs is always so therapeutic. Sigh.

He thrilled the world with his "THRILLER" and showed us the "MOONWALK"...He questioned on who is "BAD" and "HEAL THE WORLD" with his childlike heart..He said it aint about the color in "BLACK OR WHITE" and reminded us that "WE ARE THE WORLD"..He did create "HISTORY" on becoming the all time entertainer of this century..Apart from the fame lies a man who only needed love..even though he has departed us, he will always be there as he sang in his song "I'LL BE THERE"...MICHAEL JACKSON (1958-2009).. is a true legend who has "GONE TOO SOON"… May his soul rest in peace. Luv u Michael.. - Jason Mike Madasamy(SG)

On another note, Mom has been grilling me on what I've got planned for the future. And guess what? I have no fucking idea what I'm going to do with my pathetic life right now. Its driving me freaking nuts and I'd get angry. Any suggestions would be nice since my so-called friends have already deserted me when they've gotten into various Universities. Actually, somehow I'm contemplating being a surgeon. Inspired by the show Grey's Anatomy. I know its monumentally stupid to try to do something just because you enjoy watching the show or whatever. That's why I'm not doing anything yet. Plus can you imagine all the memorising I have to do to get through med school? I only have to remember my pure bio days in secondary school to imagine how it'd be like. Its pure torture. My other thoughts are of me being a chef, a mechanic, or an entrepeneur. What the heck right? My guess is, I can't achieve any of these. So yeah I'm still thinking and I'm open to any suggestions.

On a lighter note, I finally got myself to watch season 5 of Grey's Anatomy because I couldn't stand the waiting and of course I had to watch for myself what was so good about Owen Hunt. Let's be real. Kevin McKidd's body is hot. But his face isn't something I want to look at on every episode. Yeah he's a great trauma surgeon and yeah he's Yeah yeah Cristina appears to be really in love with him and he's equally in love with her but they're too dysfunctional. Too similar. And let's not get me started on his kissing. He doesn't even look like he's kissing her for God's sake! Now we compare him with Burke. Burke is almost normal despite the fact that he has a God complex. But like Cristina said all surgeons "are workaholics with God complexes!". While Cristina lost her father in a car accident with her stopping his bleeding with her hands and feeling his heart stop beating and then with her mother not paying her enough attention and even after remarrying fails to pay any attention to her, I can understand why Cristina is the way she is. But Burke on the other hand had a normal life. A mom and a dad who cares for him. They're probably well to do as well. So the fact that he can fall in love with her eventhough she is gravely emotionally stunted, makes it brilliant to watch. I love watching them interact knowing that they are opposites in nature except for the fact that they are totally career driven. I love their dynamic and of course their kisses are always, always so soul-searing it hurts to watch. Yes I'll admit that Burke might've loved her more than she loved him and that he can be really overbearing at times. I like that Cristina finally has someone after a whole season alone but I just cannot bring myself to like Owen no matter how hard I try. Burke on the other hand, I love him from the get go. Owen is like a stray cat in a home. Struggling and trying too hard to fit in while having nightmares from living in the wild. Burke is a force. His presence just begs to be acknowledged. He knows he belongs there and everyone else knows it as well. I have to disagree with people saying that the character Burke was just so that Cristina had someone to be with. What about the previous episodes? They weren't together then and he damn well had an important part to play in the hospital. Even after they were sleeping together, he still had that episode where his friend is sterile but his wife was pregnant. OR MAYBE I JUST FREAKING LIKE HIM BETTER. That said... ABC AND SHONDA PLEASE BRING BACK ISAIAH WASHINGTON AS PRESTON BURKE!

I could go on and on and on about this but I guess it'll have to end some time. Grey's Anatomy really takes my mind off my pathetic life and all the losses I've faced. MJ's passing hasn't been easy for me. I don't know why. But all I know is watching Grey's Anatomy takes me to places I'd rather be in and admittedly its also the reason why I haven't made a decision about my life/future. Whatever man. Right now, I can't be bothered.

[Today, the unbelievable happened]

Jun 26 2009 12:41 AM EDT

Mariah Carey, Juelz Santana, More Remember Michael Jackson

Ellen DeGeneres and Keri Hilson also grieve the loss of an icon.

By Shaheem Reid

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Fans are still in shock over Michael Jackson's death. Jackson's music entertained and inspired millions, and his devotees are reacting via all forms of media.

TV personality Ellen DeGeneres took to Twitter, saying, "So sad to hear about Michael Jackson. His music changed our lives. The world has lost an amazing singer and dancer. I will miss him."

Mariah Carey also tweeted, "I am heartbroken. My prayers go out to the Jackson family and my heart goes out to his children. Let us remember him for his unparalleled contribution to the world of music, his generosity of spirit in his quest to heal the world and the joy he brought to his millions of devoted fans throughout the world. I feel blessed to have performed with him several times and to call him my friend. No artist will ever take his place. His star will shine forever."

"Just like many other artists, I have always been inspired by Michael Jackson," Keri Hilson said. "He's the only idol I've ever had and I'm saddened that I never got to tell him how much he and his music mean to me. I've met many stars in my life but I would have been completely satisfied just to have laid eyes on MJ himself," she continued. "The closest I've come was hearing he and his band rehearsing right next door to me here in L.A. last month, while he was rehearsing for his tour abroad. I will be overseas at the same time the tour was scheduled so yet again I looked forward to being in the same place."

Juelz Santana spoke to MTV News, still in disbelief. "This is ... damn!" he said. "Wow! Unexpected. A shock. A low blow. All that right there." The Diplomat member said he woke up around 4:45 p.m. to the news of the icon's death.

"I'm getting myself together, walking in the living room [when] they said Mike died," Santana recalled. "It was breaking news at 5. I put it up on Twitter and people were saying his death was still pending. I couldn't believe it. ... I just woke up and they said, 'Mike is dead.' The first thought in your mind is, 'That's Michael Jackson. He can't be dead.' That just shows you everybody is human, nobody is immune to nothing — especially death."

4lom says: Bittersweet: Happiness that the suffering of this life has ended and sadness over the loss that you not longer walk with us in human form, my brother. Peace & Love to all.

Thanks to:
http://www.dailypennies.com/mjackson.htm

http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1614765/20090626/jackson_michael.jhtml

[Today, MJ died]

Jun 25 2009 9:13 PM EDT

Michael Jackson Reaction: Madonna, Ex-Wife Lisa Marie Presley, More

Lupe Fiasco, JC Chasez, Wale and Pete Wentz also pay tribute to the late pop star.

By Jocelyn Vena

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In the wake of legendary pop star Michael Jackson's death Thursday (June 25), musicians, actors and celebrities — including Jackson's ex-wife Lisa Marie Presley — have began to remember Jackson for all his contributions to pop culture.

"I am so very sad and confused with every emotion possible. I am heartbroken for his children, who I know were everything to him, and for his family," Presley told MTV News in a statement. "This is such a massive loss on so many levels. Words fail me."

"I can't stop crying over the sad news," Madonna told People. "I have always admired Michael Jackson. The world has lost one of the greats, but his music will live on forever! My heart goes out to his three children and other members of his family. God bless."

JC Chasez, who performed alongside Jackson with 'NSYNC at the 2001 VMAs, said, "Words can't begin to describe my sadness for the loss of Michael Jackson. I was honored and humbled to have the opportunity to perform with him several times, and he had a profound influence on my career. Michael forever changed the world of music and entertainment, and I will always remember him for his kind and sweet spirit."

"I'm hurt," Lupe Fiasco told MTV News in a statement. "But I'm celebrating his life and his music. Dancing and crying and dancing in public. Holding heart-to-heart conversations with complete strangers about one of the things, if not the only thing, we share in common, That Is The Legendary MoonWalker Himself. A white guy in a pickup truck pulled alongside me on the expressway and shouted to me, had I heard about Mike?!? It's surreal and it's everywhere!!! Every time I feel like getting sad, one of his songs comes on, and I'm just filled with happiness and start singing and smiling. He was the best to ever do it. Salaams, Peace & Blessings. May Allah have mercy on his soul. We Love You MJ!!!"

Other members of the hip-hop community are also reacting to the news. "I am f---ed up right now about this," Wale said. "He WAS the '80s, the '90s. He is arguably the most famous person of the last century, more so than any religious or cultural leaders. He was the originator of music for the world. I always thought I'd meet him one day. ... I'm at a loss of words."

Although he tweeted earlier about the Jackson's death, Pete Wentz also shared with MTV News his feeling of loss. "There will never be another. He was the royalty of American culture. I could measure the growth of my life based on him. I have never felt such public grief for someone I have never met. A legend. I practiced his moves in the mirror. ... We lost the last legendary entertainer of my generation. I feel lost without his presence. Sorry if this is kind of jumbled and emotional. I don't even know what to say."

1llyria posted on 06.26.09 at 01:04pm

flag

I grew up with his music. His music and the things he did in his life, especially for the children, inspired me. His music and the emotion he put in it made me laugh, cry, get mad with him, and push to succeed in life. I always wanted to go to one of his concerts, but at the time was too little. Now sadly that chance is gone. To me, Michael Jackson was not only an icon, but he was an amazing human being with a vast amount of love for everyone. Everyone I knew was amazed by him, looked up to him, and many wanted to be like him. My friend's step mother's aunt made his famous white glove. I just found that out today and was like "wow!!". I say that I grew up with this man. I grew up listening to his songs, watching his interviews, seeing what he did for those who were less fortunate than him and the love he had for everyone. To me this man was like family. I am deeply saddened by his death, will definitely miss him, and wish that God be with his children to comfort them with them losing their father and be with the rest of his family as well. He was a fellow human being, a brother, an uncle, a father, and a son and my heart goes out to his family and wish them all of the best. "“In a world filled with hate, we must still dare to hope. In a world filled with anger, we must still dare to comfort. In a world filled with despair, we must still dare to dream. And in a world filled with distrust, we must still dare to believe.” - Michael Jackson

Thanks to:
http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1614751/20090625/jackson_michael.jhtml

[Today, the music died]

Jun 25 2009 10:46 PM EDT

Michael Jackson Honored By Justin Timberlake, Will.I.Am, Diddy

Martin Scorsese, Quincy Jones, Steven Spielberg, Russell Simmons, Wyclef Jean and others also pay tribute.

By Jocelyn Vena

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In the wake of Michael Jackson's death Thursday (June 25), musicians, actors and celebrities — including some of Jackson's closest friends like Quincy Jones and colleagues like Justin Timberlake and Martin Scorsese — are remembering Jackson as their friend and mentor.

"I am absolutely devastated at this tragic and unexpected news," Jones said. "For Michael to be taken away from us so suddenly at such a young age, I just don't have the words. Divinity brought our souls together on 'The Wiz' and allowed us to do what we were able to throughout the '80s. To this day, the music we created together on Off the Wall, Thriller and Bad is played in every corner of the world, and the reason for that is because he had it all ... talent, grace, professionalism and dedication. He was the consummate entertainer, and his contributions and legacy will be felt upon the world forever. I've lost my little brother today, and part of my soul has gone with him."

In addition to JC Chasez, fellow 'NSYNCers Justin Timberlake and Lance Bass remembered the times they spent with him, like in 2001, when they performed at the VMAs together.

"I can't find the words right now to express how deeply saddened I am by Michael's passing," Timberlake said. "We have lost a genius and a true ambassador of not only pop music, but of all music. He has been an inspiration to multiple generations, and I will always cherish the moments I shared with him onstage and all of the things I learned about music from him and the time we spent together. My heart goes out to his family and loved ones."

"I am stunned and deeply saddened by the sudden loss of Michael Jackson," Bass added. "Michael was a huge supporter of my career, but more importantly, he was a good friend, had the biggest heart, and it was an honor and pleasure to be able to work with him and know him. There will never be another Michael Jackson. My thoughts and prayers are with his family."

Will.I.Am, who worked with Jackson, said, "I am so grateful to have worked with the King. He was a gift to the world. He is a bright light, and I wouldn't be surprised if the world stopped spinning tomorrow."

Seth Green also remembered Jackson in a statement to MTV News: "It's shocking and so sad. But for the first time in a long time, people are talking about all of the amazing things he was rather than all of the unfortunate attention he'd acquired."

The hip-hop community also shared its condolences. "Michael Jackson was my musical God," Wyclef Jean said. "He made me believe that all things are possible, and through real and positive music. He can live forever! I love Michael Jackson. God bless him."

"Michael Jackson was my generation's most iconic cultural hero," Russell Simmons said. "Courageous, unique and incredibly talented. He'll be missed greatly." Diddy chimed in on Twitter: "Michael Jackson showed me that you can actually see the beat. He made the music come to life!! He made me believe in magic. I will miss him!"

A pair of legendary directors, Martin Scorsese and Steven Spielberg also paid tribute to the late star. "Michael Jackson was extraordinary," Scorsese said. "When we worked together on 'Bad,' I was in awe of his absolute mastery of movement on the one hand, and of the music on the other. Every step he took was absolutely precise and fluid at the same time. It was like watching quicksilver in motion. He was wonderful to work with, an absolute professional at all times, and — it really goes without saying — a true artist. It will be awhile before I can get used to the idea that he's no longer with us."

"Just as there will never be another Fred Astaire or Chuck Berry or Elvis Presley, there will never be anyone comparable to Michael Jackson," Spielberg told Entertainment Weekly. "His talent, his wonderment and his mystery make him legend."

creek posted on 06.26.09 at 02:57pm flag Mr. Michael Jackson. A consummate artist and icon. While so much is written about other iconic personas of the past century, and the echoes of them within his life and work; he truly was a singular sensation. I was only 11 or 12 years old when I sat on the shag carpeting of our living room floor, and for hours on end, marveled at the mysterious and wonderful vinyl album of Off The Wall. It is still one of my favourite records, and the image of the handsome young man with the bright white socks has forever lingered in my mind. Flash forward many years and I am joined by 6 other artists, as we sang backgrounds for Michael along with the Jackson 5, in a 30+ artists' tribute to Michael, at Madison Square Garden in 2001. In person, I found Michael's work to be as inspiring as I could ever have imagined. His professionalism and abilities encouraged the other artists to raise the bar... and we did. An inspiring human being, at any distance. From the stage, or from a thousand miles and 25 years away, he inspires. That inspiration won't be silenced. I just cannot believe it. I will be awaiting his return, in the generations to come who will discover the magic for themselves, and marvel at this singular, and remarkably contradictory artist who was, all at once, tremendously forceful and profoundly tender. To Michael!

Thanks to: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1614756/20090625/jackson_michael.jhtml

[redang; BRING BACK PRESTON BURKE!]

No pictures from the Redang trip. Well at least not yet. There's some problems regarding the camera which I'm not inclined to explain further. Anyways, it was a 4 days 3 nights trip. 13 hours bus ride plus 2 hours ferry ride equals to insanity. There were 22 of us going on the trip. We all went to Laguna Redang. The place is fine. Beautiful view and all that. The food isn't up to standard though. Apparently, a Hong Kong movie was shot there in 1999 I think. And they rebuilt the shophouse on that beach. Its nothing special but oh well. They're selling momentos and souveniers there. You can actually see sharks in the Shark Bays which is really only by the beach. Totally cool.

First day: Reached there at about 11.30am. They gave out plum drink of some sort and briefed us on the boat's arrival and departure and about the meal coupons and what not. So we went for lunch at 12noon. Buffet spread. Then collected our bags and headed to the rooms. Took a few minutes of rest and then its off to snorkel at Kalong Bay. It was my and the family's first time and we obviously had some trouble especially Ali, who reboarded the boat after only a few minutes of sucking super salty water. 6pm was dinner time. I kinda forgot what happened after that.

Second day: Had breakfast at 7 or 8am. Went snorkelling again but this time at the Marine Park. Got to know that my cousin's friend's son Hakim was also from SP in electronic and communications course or something along that line. Gosh Hakim and his brother are so.. cute? I doubt thats the right word but its the only word I can think of right now. Came back from snorkelling in time for lunch. I think we had some rest before dinner. Dinner was disappointing to say the least. Then me and some of the guys went fishing cum squid jigging. Super fun experience! Caught loads of squids! Dad caught a really large catfish (ikan duri) which he gave to the boatmen. We brought back the squids. That was definitely one of the highlights of the trip. But we had to return to land sooner than planned because a storm was brewing in the horizon. The trip will be continued the next day.

Third day: Groggy as hell. Went for breakfast at 7 or 8 am. Jeez I seriously forgot what exactly happened! Uhh.. I think we went for Archery! For a few hours. Then lunch. After that is fishing again! So cool lor. The cousin caught a Dorado! And we actually saw live Dorados swimming near the boat! Amazing! I caught like 5 fishes so I get the award for most fishes caught. Heehee. The star will always be the star la. HAHAHAHA! Kidding. Anyways, I fell asleep on the boat when the guys were trolling. Couldn't help myself la. Too tired. Woke up just in time for docking. The fishes were again given to the boatmen, much to the dismay of Mom. Had dinner. Anyways, that night Hakim and his bro were playing pool down at the recreation centre. Mom had a massage session booked so I watched them play while we waited. After Mom went in for her massage, I went back to my room for a pee. Saw the cousin and told him that "the bros" were tempting me to challenge them. I didn't realise that he would take it seriously and actually tell "the bros" what I said. When I came down to meet the rest of my nephews and brothers, "the bros" came down as well. They just bought the token and said "Just now who said that they wanted to challenge us?" Hakim is a shy bloke so when he said that in Malay, it sounded more like an awkward question. In the end I got up and we played doubles. To cut the story short, I made the last shot, the black ball went in, and we won. Thank God for that. It would have been embarrassing if we'd lost. Hakim is cute and attempts to talk to us. Angsty bro went off without a word. But then again, I don't know if they really lost or if they lost on purpose. Rumor has it that they wanted a rematch the next day. But that didn't happen. Winning the game and catching the most fishes were also highlights of the trip.

Last day: Breakfast as usual. The rest of the gang went off to snorkel while I wandered around the island. Slacked at the recreation centre watching kids play pool till I was so anxious I decided to play a game by my lonesome. Got bored and decided to look for the rest. Couldn't find them so went up to the rooms. Suspect they weren't there so went to the restaurant. Asked the dumb security manning the counter whether the family has gone up. The stupid woman said yes and so I went up only to find out that none of them were there. Had a freaking drink while I waited for them to arrive. We were supposed to go fishing at 1pm so I was freaking out when they still weren't there by 12.50pm. Luckily, I saw my mom's floral print swimming suit and raced downstairs. They got ready for lunch and we went. After lunch we found out that fishing trip is cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances. Went snorkelling for awhile then booked a banana boat. Banana boat was hilarious, thrilling, dangerous, and downright fun! It was crazy how we all worked together to prevent the damn thing from capsizing. Super super fun I tell you. Definitely another highlight of the trip. After that, we returned our goggles and life vests to the recreation centre and went back to get ready for dinner before packing our stuff for departure the next morning.

I'm abit lazy to talk about the journey back which was excruciating on so many levels. So I'll skip that. I would just like to say that right now I've got a crush on Hakim and his brother. I doubt they'll ever know and I'm sure I'll be over them in no time. If I can get over you, I can get over anyone. So here I am still missing them but it'll pass. Back to reality I suppose. Redang was a much needed retreat and although we didn't really get our rest, it was a memorable experience for me at least. I'd rate the trip 7/10 based on the highlights of my trip. My brother Zul, he rates it 4/10. Mom gives it a 5. Ali gave it a 7. You guys conclude what you want. Right now I'm just endlessly tired and aching all over. It would take me at least a week to be normal again. My charred skin however, would need a much longer time to recover. Haha! Good night, or rather Good Morning everyone. Hope you guys have a great holiday. Take care.

PS: The songs Sparkle Me by Buffseeds, Hold You In My Arms by Ray LaMontage and Explosions by The Mary Onettes makes me cry.

[ABC BRING BACK ISAIAH WASHINGTON!]

• But at the chapel, pre-march, Cristina freaked out because she had accidentally washed off the vows written on her hand, and the lag time spent talking her down was enough to convince Burke that she didn't want to get married. So after another big speech from him to her in the entrance to the chapel, he dumped her! No kidding. And I wonder if, when the writers wrote the scene, they realized how good Sandra Oh was going to be at pleading with Burke; it seems to me no real groom who'd written vows as loving as Burke's would give up on his bride in that moment, especially if she could do that worried tick-tocking thing with her eyeballs that helped make Oh's performance here so affecting.
  
  Sandra Oh had an amazing breakdown on screen in her last scene, as Cristina got home and realized Burke had taken his trumpet, vinyls, and picture of Grandma and moved out. ''I'm free!'' she cried, before she started yanking off her dress and freaking out with such amazing fury that it became impossible to know quite what Cristina meant by that line. The ambivalence of it was electrifying — in that respect, it resembled something you might see on The Sopranos — and it's the single best thing to mull over while you're waiting for the show to come back again for season 4. - Entertainment Weekly

• Can we say "Emmy moment" with Sandra Oh's final scene when Cristina realized Burke had moved out? "I'm free! Take this off," as she tearfully removed the Burke family heirloom choker and her tight wedding dress. - TV Guide

• And then in that wonderfully painful moment (how much do we love Sandra Oh and her incredible talent?) in the apartment, Cristina turns to Meredith and says “He’s gone. I’m free. Damn it.” And it’s so nuanced and so layered and so tragic because she’s relieved and terrified and heartbroken and suffocated all at once. Watching her journey back from this is going to be amazing next season. - Shonda Rhimes

• I love Cristina's insistence that Mer get the dress off her right away as she rips at the Burke family heirloom choker she's wearing. How awesome is Sandra Oh? Every time Cristina has a catastrophe of some kind, she nails it -- always a bright spot in what's otherwise a lackluster episode. She says a lot of things, but the one that I pick up on is "I'm free." Huh. Maybe she will make it through this after all. - Houston Chronicle

• Well I've got to hand it to Sandra Oh because damn that woman can act. Like the ever-fabulous Felicity Huffman, Oh can shine no matter what her surroundings and script. The final moments when she realized she was free but now that she was she didn't want to be were heart-wrenching and so believable. - TV Gal, zap2it.com

• I will say I was blown away by Sandra Oh's performance as she melted down after being left at the altar. - Matt Roush, TV Guide

[Bring back Preston Xavier Burke!]

i like this article. hee. =D

SPOTLIGHT: SHADES OF “GREY’S”

The Anatomy of ABC’s Hottest New Drama
The New Physician, May-June 2006

by Linda Childers	Volume 55, Issue 4

It’s early morning, and Dr. Preston Burke, chief of cardiothoracic surgery at Seattle Grace Hospital, is exiting the operating room after a particularly grueling procedure.

The surgery had gone well, and Burke is in good spirits. When he encounters his girlfriend, surgical intern Cristina Yang (Sandra Oh), in the on-call room, they share a steamy kiss.

The next day, back in Hollywood, Burke’s alter ego, actor Isaiah Washington, gets a call from a real-life surgeon at a local hospital. The doctor praises Washington’s performance on the hit television show, “Grey’s Anatomy,” but he also offers some friendly advice.

“He said no self-respecting surgeon would walk around the hospital wearing a stethoscope,” Washington says with a smile. “And then he chided Burke for disobeying hospital rules and dating an intern.”

Averaging 20 million viewers each episode, “Grey’s” is the fifth-ranked show in all of prime-time television and the fourth among the most upscale audience—viewers earning $100,000 or more—according to Nielsen Media Research.

The show features voice-over narration by the character of Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo), and follows the personal and professional lives of her surgical intern peers. The show mixes medical sensibility with overt sexuality, making it a primetime hit on which everyone—including most medical students and residents—has formed an opinion.

“It’s pretty inaccurate medically, but a lot of fun to watch socially,” says Mary Elizabeth Tetzlaff, a second-year pediatrics resident at Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston.

ACTING CHIEF

To prepare for his role as the cool and extremely talented Burke, Washington spent three months job-shadowing physicians in several Los Angeles hospitals. He continues to call upon local surgeons for technical advice to ensure his character is accurately portrayed. “I certainly don’t know everything about being a doctor,” he concedes, “but I’ve learned a lot about their behavior and how they respond to death and trauma.”

An actor with more than 20 years of experience, Washington takes pride in thoroughly researching his roles. From the beginning, he knew the kind of surgeon he didn’t want to portray: an arrogant, standoffish, token-African-American doctor.

“I want to appear honest and credible in the eyes of viewers who actually do this for a living,” he says. “I didn’t want to be put on a successful show and just be put in a box. My goal is to make being a heart surgeon cool because everybody can’t be Kobe Bryant.”

Washington admits his character has morphed into a kinder, gentler Burke since the beginning of the show. “He did start out sort of stone-faced,” he admits. “But he’s evolved into an effective leader and someone who learns how to love and be loved.”

Surprisingly enough, Washington initially auditioned for the role of Dr. Derek Shepherd, played by Patrick Dempsey. He didn’t land the part, but Shonda Rimes, the show’s creator, offered him the role of Dr. Burke, with the promise that he could make the role his own.

“Isaiah played Burke as someone who intensely loves his job,” Rimes says. “He brought a sense of honor to what Burke does. And with Isaiah, suddenly there was a sexiness to the role, an intelligence and a wit.”

To research his role as a cardiothoracic surgeon, Washington observed several open-heart surgeries, practiced suturing on a fake arm, and learned to mimic even the subtlest nuances of surgeons, such as attaching his wristwatch to his scrubs before surgery. His research and diligence have earned him the respect of local doctors and fellow cast members.

“If I had to pick someone from the cast to perform surgery, it would be Dr. Burke,” says Kate Walsh, who plays Dr. Addison Shepherd. “He thoroughly researches each procedure he has to perform, and he has the steadiest hands.”

ONE WACKY HOSPITAL

But the steamy scenes between his character and Yang is one area where his real-life M.D. counterparts have hesitated to offer him advice. “All the doctors I’ve spoken with adamantly deny that extracurricular activities take place in the on-call room,” Washington grins.

But that’s exactly what sets “Grey’s Anatomy” apart from other medical shows—its mixture of medicine and a large dose of personal relationships. Rimes is quick to point out that “Grey’s” is not a medical drama per se, but a relationship show set in a hospital.

A self-proclaimed “medical junkie,” Rimes briefly considered going to medical school before realizing that she was scientifically challenged. Before penning the show’s first episodes, she conducted her own extensive research, calling on friends like Dr. Karen Pike, a fellow Dartmouth alumna, to review scripts.

In addition, Rimes and the show’s other writers rely on a bevy of medical experts from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institutes of Health to help keep the episodes real. Surgical nurse Linda Klein serves as the show’s on-set technical adviser and medical producer, routinely coaching cast members through the detailed procedures they simulate on each episode. As a bonus for fans, The “Grey’s Anatomy” section of the ABC Web site lists all of the medical procedures covered in past shows, as well as a writers’ blog explaining the rationale behind some of the episodes (abc.go.com/primetime/greysanatomy/ writers.html).

The show’s first-year surgical residents have already confronted the death of a woman with a 60-pound tumor, extracted a set of keys from a man who swallowed them when his wife threatened to leave him and survived a “Code Black” in the operating room. Real-life residents say it’s a good thing they don’t routinely face the same challenges as the cast of “Grey’s.”

“Thank God there aren’t affairs with attending physicians, people having sex in call rooms and patients with live bombs inside their chest cavities,” says Tetzlaff. “If we had to work through everything that takes place on the show, our hospital would be an inefficient place to work.”

Tetzlaff admits that she, like many medical students and residents she knows, rarely misses an episode, even if the show does draw a fine line between fact and fantasy. One clunky conceit of “Grey’s,” she notes, is that “surgeons are consultants at most hospitals—not the primary caretakers of most patients.” Nevertheless, “the show accurately portrays the amount of time spent at the hospital and the closeness you feel with residents in your class. However, the lack of professionalism among the doctors who fraternize with one another is inaccurate.”

Some episodes in particular have struck chords with physicians-in-training viewers. “One of the most memorable shows featured Meredith having issues with a child who needed a heart transplant,” Tetzlaff says. “It was pretty accurate in that the child was angry at his mom for praying to get the transplant when, in essence, she was praying for someone else to die to give it to him. I thought it was one of the more realistic plots, and it showed a lot of insight.”

WAY OF THE VA-JAY-JAY

Rimes is passionate that the “Grey’s” cast represents real-world diversity. That’s why there is a black chief of surgery and numerous women preparing to become surgeons.

Overseeing the show’s residents is Dr. Miranda Bailey (Chandra Wilson), a relentless drill sergeant who is referred to as “the Nazi” by the interns at Seattle Grace. “Bailey is an African-American female surgeon working in a field composed primarily of white men,” Wilson says of her character. “She has the odds stacked against her, so she’s developed a certain thickness of skin and feels she needs to work extra hard to prove herself.”

Wilson not only takes pains to portray Bailey as a fearless leader; she also has observed several surgeries to ensure that Bailey is seen as a skillful physician. One of her most memorable experiences was watching as surgeons performed bypass surgery on an infant girl born with two holes in her heart.

“The first thing I noticed when I walked into an operating room was how calm everyone was,” Wilson says. “I expected chaos, but everyone was entirely focused on the patient. Nothing mattered except their tiny patient, and how they were going to repair the holes in her heart.”

Watching actual surgeries not only gave Wilson a crash course in surgical procedures, it also cured her of any squeamishness. “When Linda Klein, our medical adviser, brings in chitterlings for me to practice doing a GI procedure with, I don’t even flinch,” she says. “I’m more concerned with how I need to hold my hands, and what part of the body I’m suturing together. I don’t want to shame the medical profession!”

Jacquelyn Jackson, a second-year at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School—who has yet to miss an episode of “Grey’s”—says she identifies most with Wilson’s character. “She’s the doctor I aspire to be. Like me, she’s juggling motherhood with her work as a doctor. I’m interested in seeing how she balances both of these important roles.”

Since the cast often works long hours (14-hour days are typical), playing a fatigued surgeon isn’t that much of a stretch. But unlike their real-life counterparts, the doctors on “Grey’s” will never appear disheveled—each cast member’s scrubs are perfectly tailored to their bodies by the costume department. They have darts, tucks and are made with Lycra. “Fortunately, we wear masks during surgery, so if we slur our words at the end of the day, we can go back and correct the scene later,” Wilson says.

Perhaps one of Wilson’s most memorable turns was the Feb. 12, 2006, show in which her character gave birth. (In real life, the actress had her first child, Michael, in October 2005.) The episode entered the annals of pop-culture history when Wilson introduced a new euphemism for a part of the female anatomy: “va-jay-jay.”

“For every 30 times you can say ‘penis’ on television, you can only say ‘vagina’ once,” Rimes explained in a recent interview with TV Guide. “All the other words that people use seem so childlike and insulting. It’s the kind of hip slang that Bailey would use, and the proof of that is we’ve heard from a lot of people that women all over the country have started saying it.”

So what’s up next for the interns of Seattle Grace? Cast members are forbidden to reveal any juicy tidbits, so stay tuned.

Or, as Rimes has often said, “If we tell you, we’ll have to kill you.”

[whatever. Just BRING ISAIAH BACK TO GREY'S ANATOMY!]

Isaiah Washington Says Patrick Dempsey Agrees T.R. Knight Should Be Fired

Jun 25, 2007 03:31 PM ET

Sorry, Heigl: he's still not not speaking. Though Isaiah Washington says he is "trying real hard not to incite an unnecessary war" among his former Grey's Anatomy cast mates, he has given a new interview in which he propels a claim that T.R. Knight is as much to blame for the aftermath of the October 9 on-set fracas. Washington even says that no less than "McDreamy" would concur. Positing that Knight had been "very tactical" in seeking to get Washington - if not Patrick Dempsey, as well - off the ABC drama, Washington tells gay-rights activist/BET host Keith Boykin, "I know Patrick Dempsey has supported me by stating that if there is anyone that needs to be fired, it is T.R. Knight, because he has created such a negative environment on the set." (Dempsey's publicist has not yet responded to TVGuide.com's requests for comment.)

At the crux of Knight's alleged campaign is a feeling that "he has not been treated and given the same 'leading man' kinds of story lines" as his peers playing Burke and Derek, that "[George] was being treated very caricature-ish and dopey," says Washington. Empowered by his costar's semi-private (and then very public) use of the F-word, Knight leveraged his bosses into beefing up his role. Says Washington, "That's why you see his character changing so significantly," becoming this "uber he-man that's sleeping with everyone."

Washington says that Shonda Rhimes and the Grey's brass "are not happy" about Knight's alleged tactics, and "think that something has gone awfully awry with [T.R.'s] stability." "I can freely say this now, because I am no longer a Disney employee and I am no longer gagged," Washington says. "Everyone [from] the producers all the way up to [the studio] is very disappointed in the behavior of T.R. Knight."

[Bring back Isaiah Washington!]

The Isaiah Washington Incident: What Really Happened?

Actor Isaiah Washington appeared on a pre-recorded edition of the "Larry King LIVE" show on Monday night to finally explain what happened on October 9, 2006 on the set of ABC's blockbuster TV series "Grey's Anatomy" when he used the homophobic slur "f*****" that ultimately cost him his job.

Before I get to that, here's a little recap of what we had known about the incident from the media.

On October 11, 2006, The National Enquirer ran a story about the incident that occurred two days earlier claiming that Isaiah Washington, who was upset over co-star T.R. Knight being late on the set, verbally attacked him, causing Patrick Dempsey to step in and defend Knight. Washington allegedly shoved Dempsey and shot back: "I am not your little f***** like T.R."

Although, the tabloid initially withheld T.R. Knight's name from the report, the gay actor came out in People Magazine 10 days later. The studio tried to put out the fire caused by the leak of the incident to the media instructing actors like Katherine Heigl and Sara Ramirez who appeared on talk shows to state that there were no problems on the set.

Oprah Winfrey did a "Grey's Anatomy" special in November getting the three actors involved to sit together with her in one of the segments and talk about the incident. The actors, of course, under strict guidelines from Disney which owns the ABC studio, never spoke openly about it.

"I think we've all really learned a lot from this experience and we're much tighter because of it," said Patrick Dempsey at the time.

Flash forward to January 15, 2007 and the Golden Globes press room where the cast got together to celebrate the success of their drama. When one of the reporters asked series creator Shonda Rhimes about the original incident, Isaiah Washington was faster and he stepped up to her microphone and foolishly said: "I never called T.R. Knight a f*****. Never happened."


This is the moment that people who support Isaiah Washington fail to understand - all he did was to say he did not do what everyone is accusing him of doing, so what is so wrong about that? What they don't get is that using the slur that causes so much outrage when the wounds remain open is a very inconsiderate thing to do. Especially when T.R. Knight claims the denial is a lie.

Immediately after the incident, Katherine Heigl who is said to be a good friend of T.R. Knight, said to the crew of Extra magazine: "Isaiah Washington should not be allowed to speak publicly" objecting to his repeat use of the homophobic slur. And that's how all hell broke loose.

The next day, T.R. Knight who had been scheduled to tape an appearance on the Ellen Degeneres show, used the opportunity to counter Washington's denial by explicitly saying: "He called me a f*****." The day after, the program aired in the US causing outrage of those who supported T.R. Knight.

The day after that, ABC issued a statement condemning Isaiah's second use of the slur and saying they would be dealing with the situation (they ignored the original incident).

Isaiah fired his publicist and hired Howard Bragman, who is specialized in damage control. By the end of that week it was announced Isaiah would meet with gay groups to discuss his irresponsible use of the slur and seek counseling in a rehab program.

Following his meeting with gay groups Washington agreed to do a pro-gay Public Service Announcement sponsored by ABC. However, it remained unclear whether the actor would get to keep his job or be forced to leave, but as time passed by the fans believed they would be seeing his character Preston Burke next year.


Ultimately though, ABC instructed the series creator Shonda Rhimes to inform Isaiah Washington on June 7, 2007 he would not be returning to the set of "Grey's Anatomy" the following month. That sparked the actor's month-long anger management media tour accusing ABC of racism, T.R. Knight of conspiring to have him fired and saying ABC should have fired T.R. instead.

On Monday night on "Larry King LIVE", Isaiah seemed to have backpedaled on the ABC racism suggestions and instead focused on accusing T.R. Knight of lying about the original incident to improve his own career. So what happened in October, according to Isaiah?

Early reports indicated, there had been long-simmering tensions on the set due to Isaiah Washington's perfectionism and meticulous approach to work. He could not stand laid back attitude to work and that apparently caused what some would describe as "being difficult to work with."

On the King show, Washington revealed that there had been tensions between Dempsey and himself because of his co-star's poor time management. Allegedly, they were both late on the set one day, because Dempsey needed to get coffee while they were traveling together to a filming location by car keeping the crew waiting for 3 hours.

Even worse, Isaiah said that filming of exterior scenes (for the camping episode "Where the Boys Are") got even more problematic when Dempsey had to leave early causing unnecessary irritating changes in the filming schedule for Washington who had to film a scene with Dempsey's double and stay longer on the set.

This caused Washington a lot of anger and he finally exploded on October 9 when Dempsey was once again late for about 20 minutes. At this point it appeared they would have to wait even longer as Ellen Pompeo was also not present so Washington suggested they film their lines without her.

After Dempsey insisted that they wait for Pompeo Washington shouted: "I don't need Ellen. I can act!" This of course, insulted Dempsey as Washington became very personal and the brawl ensued.



"He [Dempsey] became unhinged, face-to-face, spittle to spittle, in my face -- first. I did not start it. And I'm asking him why is he screaming at me, why are we doing this? Get out of my face. Several times. Several times. And he just becomes irate.

But I'm not understanding why am I being berated to this point in front of our crew, particularly after what we experienced in Seattle. You know, I mean, I think you owe me on apology and I'm being berated.

And by that time I pushed him out of my face and it just took off from there and I began to say a lot of -- a lot of things that I'm not really proud of -- but all referring to myself and how I felt I was being treated."

Washington then admits to using the B-word and the P-word and the F-word, but not in reference to T.R. Knight. He said he was not going to have Dempsey treat him like f*****.

At this point, Washington explained that when he used the F-word he never even thought about it in terms of sexual orientation, but rather as a reference to one being weak.

Now, this is the point when Katherine Heigl's suggestion that this man should not be allowed to speak publicly comes to mind and I mean that for his own good. It appears he may not necessarily have the worst intentions, but he always puts things in the worst possible manner.

Perhaps he really wanted to clear the air on January 15 (the move he says he wishes to take back more than anything), but he simply chose a bad way to do so. And even now - how on Earth does the fact that by using the F-word he meant to indicate one's weakness make things any better?

Washington also said he does not want to file a lawsuit against ABC, but his lawyers are investigating all options.

He broke down when he spoke of Sandra Oh sending him an email of support from her holiday in Spain.

Finally, he said he has several interesting projects lined up, including some exciting series television work.

As the interview concluded, Larry King asked Isaiah Washington what he has learned from the experience and he said "just be the actor, don't worry about the production issues, and at times of great stress - keep your mouth shut."

Hopefully, Isaiah Washington will stick to that advice effective immediately.