Matt Lauer turned an awkward media situation into fascinating television this morning. While the rest of various news outlets circled the Neverland Ranch due to the rumors of a Michael Jackson memorial that will apparently now not take place there, The Today Show went into the largely-empty mansion. The tour included a stroll through Jackson’s huge kitchen — “the size of Meredith [Viera]’s kitchen,” noted Lauer slyly — on into Jackson’s bedroom. There, deep within a huge closet, Lauer revealed a small “secret room” that had triple locks.
Lauer also conducted an interview with Jermaine Jackson. “I wish it was me,” said Jermaine, referring to Michael’s death and sobbing. He said that Jackson’s three children, ages 12, 11, and 7, were taken to see their father’s body shortly after he died. Jermaine also addressed the question of the children’s custody by the Jacksons’ mother, Katherine. Lauer asked whether Katherine, at age 79, was up to such a task, Jermaine said she was indeed “capable… she loves the laughter and the kids.” Jermaine also said that there was some talk with Michael that after he had finished his solo tour, there was the possibility of a Jackson 5 reunion. Lauer said the quarters for the children in the house were “understated… not over-the-top at all.” There was also a classroom on the grounds, since the children were home-schooled. Jermaine also told Lauer that he hopes Michael’s “final resting place” will be the Neverland Ranch. Working on a story that can frequently become melodramatic, Lauer conducted a calm, classy series of reports throughout this morning’s Today Show.
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Lauer has always been a class act!
My heart goes out to him.
Still, what is up with the Jackson 5 reunion myth? EVERY time one of the brothers has been interviewed in recent decades, they have suggested Michael was going to do a reunion. Sorry, but if he didn’t do it in 20 freaking years, then he wasn’t going to do it! He knew how to arrange a family collabo when he wanted to. He worked with Rebbie, Janet, and Tito’s nephews (3T) over the years. Clearly he was NOT interested in the Jackson 5 reunion. It’s sad that the Jackson’s seem so fixated on glory and fame even when EVERYONE else knows it has been over.
Not trying to be mean – but was Jermaine’s hair painted on? The sides & back didn’t even look real. Anyone else notice this?
Sounds like this was very nice. I wish I had watched. I don’t watch Today or Matt Lauer. Matt loves Matt way too much.
I think that the media need to give Michael’s true Fans time to heal. What an invasion, going through his stuff like that. This is so out of control. God bless Michael, and may he truly rest in peace.
Does anyone know when this full segment will air again?
Does anyone know when the full segment of this interview will air again?
enough already—-don’t think the Pope dying got this over-coverage
May he rest in peace now—lets hope other’s that rely on drugs get the message.
I did think Matt’s presentation was very good!
I agree with you, Pam. This media is out of control as always – going into Michael’s bedroom?? Good god – he’s not even buried yet. Also, what are you trying to imply by bringing up the triple-locked door??? Media and those of you who suck this stuff up, get a grip on yourselves! Michael was a brilliant, creative genius. Michael turned away from Neverland because of this kind of intrusion. Stop.
I have never posted a comment before on anything until today.
I am so disgusted and disapointed with all this coverage the Today show is giving Micheal Jackson
Enough is enough can we get back to the world most of us live in.
The madness continues. This kind of coverage is outrageous. Matt Lauer is a d*uche-bag. As is always the case where Michael is concerned, the crass public and media will milk this until there’s no more money to be had. I guess we’re in for a long haul. Michael, we love you. You were a true musical and creative genius.
I felt really uncomfortable watching the coverage … I was thinking of what was alleged to have happened at the house … and most of all, the hypocrisy of the US media who are now falling all over themselves now that MJ is gone. All they’ve covered in the last decade has been the bad and bizarre … can’t have it both ways.
I think it’s odd that the family wants to turn Neverland into a family retreat when Michael didn’t want to have anything to do with it after the trail. I have a feeling the Jackson family will milk Michael’s death for all it is worth. He will be over-exploited for many years to come. I wouldn’t put it past them to try to turn Neverland into Graceland. It’s like they are trying to worm their way into MJ’s life anyway they can, even though he’s dead.
You can go watch this again Austin at http://www.todayshow.msnbc.com
Thank you!!
This whole taping of Michael Jackson’s bedroom, bathroom, etc., is such an unbilievable invasion of privacy. I ca not believe that Matt Lauer would actually agree to do this. It seems that the little dignity Michael was left with, just got taken away from this poor man. Thanks Matt!! Exploit the Dead!!
I agree with you Edward!! But of course all media, including Matt Lauer will claim that this is just “journalism” and that they are doing their job. The truth is, most of the media out there (including Matt Lauer) are spineless, heartless individuals who only exploit the situation. What was Matt trying to say about the “secret room”. He might as well of said that maybe that’s where Michael hid children!! I feel so bad that poor Michael is being exploited this way, and I’ve never even been a fan of his!!
I have mixed feelings about this. The house at Neverland is beautiful, so are the grounds, and I’ve always wanted to see it. However, showing Michael’s bedroom and his private bathroom was very wrong. That was Michael’s personal space – his private place. How low will the media stoop to exploit him? All they wanted to do until his death was trash talk him. Now that he is gone he is the media’s favorite son again. God bless Michael, and may he know how much his true fans really do love him!
SO finally we get to see the infamous secret room – was anybody else creeped the hell out?!
It’s way beyond time for this story to go away. I hate to say it, but I think modern TV news producers thank their lucky stars when something like Michael Jackson’s death comes along. After all, a story like this combines “tragedy” (their words, not mine; his life was far more tragic than his death) with America’s insatiable celebrity obsession.
Filling time is never easier than when you have one story you can report over and over again. News stations might as well be on “summer hours” for all the effort they have to put into spoon-feeding us this junk.
The very culture that has the public obsessed with Michael Jackson’s death is responsible for his divorce from reality, which ultimately made him lose his mind. Is it just a coincidence that the biggest solo stars in history became grotesque caricatures over time? At least groups—the Beatles, for instance—had each other to dilute that mind-bending potion of ultra fame.
We don’t really care. It’s just another reality show.
That Matt Lauer is something else!
What did they do with all of the baby Dild0s?
If you think this over-the-top coverage is going to end anytime soon–think again. ET still can’t leave the Anna Nicole Smith story alone after all this time just as TMZ can’t stop showing us pictures of her kid. She was a D-lister and they went crazy, so imagine the years and years of MJ coverage still ahead of us. That fact that new organizations, and not just the pathetic celebrity media, are lining up to cash in on this story is troubling. Going through a dead man’s house is ghoulish and uninformative. With so many real issues facing us, MJ’s death is insignificant. He’s dead, let’s move on.
Maybe we can’t stop this coverage, but it doesn’t mean we have to watch it. If enough people turn off their TVs (or refuse to buy magazines) when a MJ story comes on, they’ll get the message… eventually.
He was a one of a kind legend. Nuff Said. http://www.niceguyswanted.com/
Uhm, I am surprised no one mentioned how often Jermaine mentioned himself during the interview. For someone who just lost a brother, he seemed very self-centered. I suppose I should not be surprised considering their father and how quickly he tried to exploit and get attention from Michael’s death.
To JohnE and Scot: You are moronic, crass D*ucheBags. Go away. I don’t understand why all this coverage from Neverland and why Jermaine Jackson there all day. Shouldn’t he be helping to plan the funeral? Frankly I don’t care for him – he’s too namby pamby. I don’t sense that he’s a real person. p.s. did you hear Larry King refer to Diana Ross as “Diana Sands.” You heard it here first: Larry King is going senile.
I agree with many of you – why all this coverage from Neverland, the tours of the rooms, endless going on about how beautiful and peaceful it was. Michael left there 4 years ago!
And what’s this about charging people $25 to attend the Memorial service? How could the family let this happen?
there could have been a jackson 5 reunion!!!??? :’(
yeah there was going 2 b a reunion…datz lik old newz man