Entertaining Posts: 09/29/11

Thursday, September 29, 2011

Witnesses describe chaotic scene at Jackson home

LOS ANGELES | Thu Sep 29, 2011 9:03pm EDT

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - A former bodyguard for Michael Jackson testified on Thursday that the pop star's doctor asked him to grab vials of medicine and an IV bag before an ambulance was called for Jackson the day he died.

Witnesses on the third day of the involuntary manslaughter trial of Dr. Conrad Murray over Jackson's 2009 death described a chaotic scene at the singer's mansion that day, and attorneys for the physician challenged their recollections.

Prosecutors say Murray, who has admitted to giving Jackson the powerful anesthetic propofol that morning as a sleep aid, had discovered Jackson was not breathing at around 11:56 a.m.

Jackson's personal chef described Murray running frantically down the stairs at the singer's Los Angeles mansion between 12:05 p.m. and 12:10 p.m. on June 25, 2009.

"His energy was very nervous and frantic and he was shouting, 'Get help, get security, get (Jackson's then 12 year-old son) Prince'," chef Kai Chase testified.

Bodyguard Alberto Alvarez was one of the first members of the household to arrive in Jackson's bedroom.

"While I was standing at the foot of the bed, he (Murray) reached over and grabbed a handful of vials and then he said 'Here put them in a bag'," Alvarez testified.

Alvarez said Murray then pointed toward an IV stand by Jackson's bed and told him to grab one of the saline bags hanging there and take it away.

The bag had "what appeared to me like a milky white substance. I recall seeing it at the bottom of the (saline) bag," Alvarez said.

MILKY SUBSTANCE

Prosecutors say the milky substance was propofol, which authorities deemed to be the main cause of Jackson's death.

Prosecutors have suggested Murray was trying to cover up evidence of the drugs he had given Jackson by having them bagged up, and not immediately calling for an ambulance.

But Murray's defense attorney, Ed Chernoff, questioned Alvarez's memory of that day.

"Can you think of any reasons why Dr. Murray would conspire with you to hide evidence," Chernoff asked Alvarez, after the guard had admitted that he did not know Murray well.

Alvarez did not get a chance to answer because prosecutors objected and the judge squashed the inquiry.

Chernoff also grilled Alvarez about how, according to his testimony, he could have found the time within a minute or less of walking into Jackson's bedroom to usher the children out the door, bag up the drugs and take down an IV bag, before calling for an ambulance at 12:20 p.m.

"I'm very efficient, sir," Alvarez said, to chuckles in the courtroom.

Asked why he complied with Murray's request to remove the bag and vials of medicine, Alvarez told the court, "I thought we were packing to get him ready to go to the hospital."

Chase, the chef, was grilled by defense attorneys about why, when Murray asked her to get help, she first went to get Jackson's son Prince.

"I want to ask you why you did not get security?" said attorney J. Michael Flanagan.

"Because at the time what I saw was a human being (Prince) in front of me and that was the best choice I could make," Chase said.

Murray's defense team has argued that Jackson gave himself sedatives and extra propofol when the doctor was out of the room, and the additional dose killed him.

Murray faces up to four years in prison if convicted of involuntary manslaughter.

(Editing by Jill Serjeant and Philip Barbara)

Elton John brings "million dollar piano" to Vegas

By Cynthia Johnston

LAS VEGAS | Thu Sep 29, 2011 1:13pm EDT

LAS VEGAS (Reuters) - Singer Elton John opened his new Las Vegas act at Caesars Palace on Wednesday, tickling the ivories on his new "million dollar piano" nicknamed Blossom that lit up to reflect the mood of each song.

"The Million Dollar Piano" show marks the beginning John's three-year residency at Caesar's theater, The Colosseum, and Wednesday's performance was the first of 16 shows scheduled through October. A second series begins in February.

Long-known for his flamboyant costumes, John walked onto a Roman-inspired golden stage in a glittering silver cape, removed to reveal a glimmering black coat and golden shoes before sitting down to play on a custom piano covered with more than 68 LED screens.

"It's great to be back here at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace," he told the crowd, joking that in the 2-1/2 years since he last performed on the stage, both he and singer Celine Dion who also played there had children. "Miracles happen here, I tell you."

He played favorites including "Your Song," "Rocket Man," "Bennie and The Jets" and "Circle of Life" to a welcoming crowd that responded with standing ovations to nearly every song.

"It was just a warm feeling. You feel him, his presence," said audience member Robert Kang, of Washington D.C.

John, who said the idea for the show was born just four months ago, was accompanied by band members Davey Johnstone on guitar, Bob Birch on bass, John Mahon on percussion, Nigel Olsson on drums with a special appearance by percussionist Ray Cooper.

But major star of the show -- other than John -- was his piano, which he named Blossom after jazz singer Blossom Dearie, that lit up with color and imagery to reflect the mood of each song, showing glimmering blue dots for a rendition of "I Guess That's Why They Call it the Blues".

John joked that the piano, which weighs nearly 3,200 pounds and was close to four years in the making, was so capable it even contained an aquarium as the piano lit up with a seascape.

"I think Blossom is pretty good, don't you?" he said.

The 64-year-old British singer was a child piano prodigy who rose from a part-time pub player to become one of the most successful recording artists of all time. He previously completed a 5-year residency at the Colosseum in 2009 with "The Red Piano", which ran for 241 shows.

His spokesman said last week that John was in talks to make a film about his life, responding to media reports about a planned biopic called "Rocketman". The singer/songwriter has sold an estimated 250 million records and won an Oscar and several Grammys.

Newspapers and websites have reported that "Rocketman" would be produced by John's partner David Furnish and Steve Hamilton Shaw and executive produced by the singer himself.

(Editing by Bob Tourtellotte)