Michael Jackson autopsy special pulled by Discovery [poll]

Michael Jackson can rest a little more peacefully -- a fictionalized reenactment of the pop singer's autopsy, scheduled to run in January on Discovery Channel in Britain and elsewhere in Europe, has been yanked.

"Given the commencement of legal proceedings beginning next week, and at the request of Michael Jackson's estate, the scheduled broadcast of the medical documentary related to Michael Jackson's official autopsy has been postponed indefinitely," Discovery Networks International said in a statement Friday.

"Legal proceedings" refers to the trial of Dr. Conrad Murray, Jackson's physician at the time of his June 25, 2009, death. Murray's defense team plans to argue that Jackson killed himself with an overdose of propofol, a prosecutor said Wednesday after hearing the defense intended to focus on a second syringe found on the scene.

A print advertisement for the fictional, unauthorized program -- which wouldn't be shown in the U.S. -- shows a body covered by a sheet, with one hand poking out wearing the singer's well-known sequined glove.  "Michael Jackson's Autopsy: What Really Killed Michael Jackson," was to have aired on Jan. 13.

An online fan petition against the program was started in early December, and co-executors of Jackson's estate contacted David Zaslov, president and chief exec of Discovery, in a letter Wednesday that called the ad "debased, sick, and insensitive."

"Your decision to even schedule this program is in shockingly bad taste, insensitive to Michael's family and appears motivated solely by your blind desire to exploit Michael's death, while cynically attempting to dupe the public into believing this show will have serious medical value," said the letter, posted by TMZ.

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-- Christie D'Zurilla

Reuters contributed to this report.

Photo: Michael Jackson in June 2005. Credit: Timothy A. Clary / AFP / Getty Images

Comments

[Alessandra]

Discovery made the right decision.
Fans of Michael Jackson are pleased with the cancellation of the program.
United we are strong.
All for love.
MJ forever.

[Morzeny]

Co-executors John Branca and John McClain deserve credit for calling out Discovery Channel on this program and especially on this sick ad. It's about time someone showed some guts and leadership in telling some of these TV programmers they have crossed the line. Michael's fans and family should be grateful for this.

[Roberta]

I was happy to sign the petition and am so grateful that Discovery is doing the right thing. Many thanks to Michael's executors for their efforts also.

[CapitalG]

Can I at least buy it on Blu-Ray somewhere? Really wanted to see this show. Nobody gets fake dissected like MJ. Well, maybe some Area 51 aliens, but it's still some pretty rare air.

Actually... hey Discovery I have a better idea. MIchael Jackson dissected by Sarah and Bristol Palin. Yeah baby! Can you say RATINGS BONANZA?!?!?! Just a thought D. I got a million more. Call me.

Palin 2012!

[Whatzamattayu]

hey why all the fuss? They were only trying to make a buck! Whacko Jacko, his wierd lifestyle and strange sudden death are ripe fodder for conspiracy theories. He's like Area-51, Elvis, Bigfoot, and the search for the loch ness monster. Discovery didn't air their show this time, but sooner or later they will. And so will many others. Inquiring Minds want to know!!!

[Karen]

Good call. When I heard about the proposed show, I was repulsed, and thought it was an awful idea. I'm not surprised Michael died the way he did, but he deserves to rest in peace. He had an awful life.

[doubting thomas]

I was never a fan of Michael Jackson, but whoever thought thought a show like that would be entertaining, should receive immediate psychiatric evaluation.

[gary]

Freak in life, Freak in death. If Discovery was PAYING the family I suspect the would have been less concerned.

[Tim_CA]

(yawn)

[Rick]

I am wondering why this show is/was/will be censored in the USA? I thought only dictatorial countries and governments would limit or restrict access to information.

Who is protecting me from information? From what else am I being shielded? It would be nice if there was a mechanism that would allow me access to other "banned" shows and articles from within the USA.

While some people may be upset about this show, others would have watched it and found it interesting. I did not enjoy MJ's music but would never have thought to restrict access to it for people who did enjoy it. I like these types of shows because of the counter-view they provide on popular or current issues. It's too bad there are people who don't want me watch and listen to the things I enjoy.

Maybe I should be in charge of authorizing shows/information for awhile.

[anon]

Wonder just how long it will take for the documentary to *leak* onto the web.

[ED A]

Seems to me there's a LOT of interest in this issue. I bet a lot of people read this LA Times article as well. Lot of interest is why Discovery decided to make such a program.

[Taxed to Death]

I would have liked to see it. There are so many rumors about all of the cosmetic surgery Micheal Jackson had done it would be interesting to see if it was in fact true. If the autopsy went into detail we would have know if it was true if he had a plastic nose and if in fact he had treatments for the pigment... or lack thereof on his skin.

I enjoy knowing facts. This would have put a lot of questions to rest.

[frank simms]

I could not care less. This sad person was a freak.

[whitney]

probably would not have watched it; however, would have read accounts of it afterward. Loved his music and thank goodness for CDs and digitizing of his music for posterity.

[Aunt Bee]

"If they can get you asking the wrong questions, they don't have to worry about answers." ~ Thomas Pynchon

[rb7385899]

this is every bit as legitimate as tv specials on alien autopsies or re-enactments of 9/11 showing that bush (or the jews) was behind the bombing.

freedom of the press rocks !!

[Anynosiemouse]

This Freak Show is unstoppable.

[rex dart eskimo spy]

I was hoping that Discovery would have done the MJ autopsy in Al Ca pone's Secret Vault with the cast from "Who's Line is It Anyway" and included mock autopsies of some of MJ's backup dancers from the Thriller days. Throw in a few religion of peace beheading videos for fun.

For an encore, perhaps Discovery would consider filming migrating penguins being run over by a thresher. call it "Mulch Of The Penguins" and put it on instead of cartoons for the kids.

Now that would be entertainment.

[veritas]

you do know that you didn't have to watch it, right?

[Raymond]

Autopsys are crimes commited aganist the body of the of the loved ones that has passed on......
( i'm not a fan of this person ) but he didn't need to be cut up all the organs removed no one needs that...as to the physician who perscribed the meds ...
this person took the meds you perscribed and did not follow the instruction
you gave him or the ones on the bottle...this person killed himself ...

[k]

A "fictionalized reenactment" of Jackson's autopsy?? Are you freaking kidding me?? Is the Discovery Channel that desperate for programming -- and ratings? Good gawd...

[Rbensn]

I guess the money to the family wasn't enough. Joe Jackson would let him be stuffed, mounted and pushed around the stage on rollerskates if the money was right.

[Loveliveshere]

I don't really care if this was about Michael or anyone else, this is sick. Everyone has the rite to have a little privacy. Just because some feel the need to know every little thing about Michael, does not mean it's human decency to expose this. The need to always know someones dirt in their lives is a bit morbid. Everyone has done things in their life that they aren't proud of. Put yourself under a microscope, would you want your life posted around the world? After death would you want them to dissect you and air it so your family and loved ones can watch? Who cares that it was Michael Jackson, no matter what way you felt about him, he was still human, and people who love him, are also human. This is about human descentsy. But from reading these comments, it's no wonder our world is going to hell. There SHOULD be limits on how much you can exploit someone's life, No matter how much you don't have a life of your own and have to cling to someone else's error, EVERYONE deserves to have some privacy. This hole thing sickens me. I am a child of God, and this is inhuman.

[cherish barrett]

Im glad that they decided to not show it. Because its just not right. Yes i am a MJ fan always and forever. But people fail to forget that MJ was human too. How would you feel if one of your close family member's autoposy was on national television? Its just not right at all.