By-the-minute scoop on what happened inside the Staples Center at Michael Jackson's memorial service
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
10:32 - The place is packed and completely silent. This is enormous respect.
10:33 - Casket just rolled in along the left of the stage.
10:39 - A woman in my row is convulsing and hyperventilating as they're laying down the casket. Between speakers, men and women scream: "We love you, Michael!"
10:46 - Excerpt from memorial program: "Mike, I love you deeply, and I can't wait to see you perform again. - La Toya."
10:47 - Very few dry eyes after Mariah Carey's "I'll Be There." Grown men are crying.
10:56 - Very much a funeral atmosphere. No introductions, no ego. Participants walk up, speak and share memories then sit. In between, you could hear a pin drop.
11:01 - Crowd is so mixed. Germans in matching red track suits next to fans from the Midwest. It's clear a lot of these people traveled a long way to be here. You can't help but think this mixed crowd is exactly how MJ would want it.
11:05 - First true standing ovation, when Berry Gordy declared him too big for the "King of Pop." Gordy said, "He was, simply, the greatest entertainer that ever lived."
11:06 - Memorial program excerpt: "Uncle Michael, I can't even begin to express how important you have been in my life. I love you, applehead. - Taj."
11:13 - Stevie Wonder's performing, but everyone's looking at the peaceful, illuminated gold casket in front of the stage. It's so hard to wrap your head around it. He's IN there ...
11:16 - MJ impersonator ratio is about 1:500. Surprisingly low.
CLICK HERE FOR PICTURES TAKEN AT THE MEMORIAL
11:24 - It's incredible to see the Staples Center like this. The halls are empty. You'd think it was closed. Then you walk in the arena and thousands of people are standing and clapping as Jennifer Hudson performs.
11:32 - Never thought I'd see Al Sharpton speak before thousands of sobbing tweens. Crazy.
11:36 - Someone screamed Machiavelli in a thick accent. These folks want a resurrection. At least they have John Mayer.
11:39 - As the event goes on, some of the somber vibe is giving way to a more celebratory mood. The whole top row of section 101 is dancing. But it's still incredibly respectful.
11:40 - Celebrity that has garnered the most camera flashes so far is Brooke Shields, who's barely keeping it together.
11:53 - #1 fashion accessory: white fedora with a black band. There's at least one in every section.
12:09 - Notable shoutouts in the last five minutes: "We miss you, Michael!" "You are my hero!" "Power to the people!"
12:10 - First person to make contact with the casket: Usher.
12:24 - Shaheen is a crowd favorite from where I sit. There was a collective "awwwwww..."
12:36 - It's been about as organized, peaceful, emotional and fitting a farewell as you could expect for this man. Everyone is on their feet.
12:43 - This place just erupted with emotion. When Paris spoke, you could hear people begin sobbing from every direction. I think that was the last big tug at the heartstrings.
12:44 - The crowd is slowly exiting.
12:51 - There was a moment when Paris was saying her goodbye to her father and a group of people started screaming. It was a little sad and scary to see even a glimpse of the hysteria that haunted Michael in his life directed at his child. The surrounding crowd told them to mellow out, and the ceremony moved on.
12:58 - I'm now outside, where skywriters have written "MJ"
1:07 - It was truly emotional and a perfect tribute for him. So glad I went. There are still huge crowds in the streets.
More Michael Jackson News, Tweets, Photos and Video:
Special Coverage of the Life and Death of Michael Jackson (1958-2009)