Las Vegas' TheVegasEye.com reports that Michael Jackson and his three children attended an evening performance of KÀ by Cirque du Soleil at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, tonight (August 26, 2008). At the end of the show, Michael Jackson said that it was the best production he's ever seen. This marks Michael's second reported visit to a Cirque du Soleil show in recent months. From the report:



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Source: MJJR.net / TheVegasEye.com

Update: This story has been confirmed false, the pictures are of a Michael Jackson impersonator. TMZ likewise posted an alleged picture of Michael Jackson, but that too was nothing more than an impersonator promoting the Wan Wear clothing line (which has ties to the Jackson family).

Celebrity gossip site Perez Hilton has published several photographs purporting to be of a masked Michael Jackson shopping at a New York City bookstore. The pictures were allegedly taken yesterday, August 24, 2008. According to the source who sent the photographs to Perez Hilton, "He looked at some Star Wars books and some Disney coloring books and then left. There were 2 black SUVs waiting outside for him. I'd say he was in there for about 10 minutes total and after he came in they locked the doors and didn't let anyone else in!"



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Source: MJJR.net / Perez Hilton

X17 Online is reporting that model Pamela Anderson was spotted entering Shutters on the Beach hotel in California, specifically to meet up with Michael Jackson himself. While both video and pictures were taken of the occurance, none of them directly feature Michael Jackson--because of this, MJJR.net will treat this appearance as a rumor until additional confirmation is received. The video is below:



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Source: MJJR.net / X17 Online

Michael Jackson's new online competition game, DANCE, has been unveiled and the official prize tournaments begin tomorrow, August 22, 2008. The game is graphically rich, and features digitized real-time motion capture graphics of a Michael Jackson impersonator, believed to be Navi. The gameplay is similar to the ever popular DDR, Guitar Hero, and Rock Band franchises. In the game, you must tap the appropriate arrow key at the right time to allow the Michael Jackson character to perform one of his signature dance moves in beat to the music. The music comes from Michael Jackson's back catalog of hits. Each level consists of a single song, and you must dance to the music and rake up as many points as possible to advance to the next level. If you perform enough perfect combos in a row, the Michael Jackson character does a special trademark dance move. Each level also places "Michael" in a new location, and there are three levels in total (Beat It, Billie Jean, Smooth Criminal).



"Starting Friday 22nd August you can add the Michael Jackson Dance application to Facebook, Bebo or MySpace. Players will compete for hourly, daily and overall prizes including King Of Pop iPod Nanos, a PS3 with 32" LCD TV and 2 round the world flights! Play the brand new Michael Jackson dance game for your chance to win a pair of around the world flights, plus hundreds of other prizes. You will be pitched against other players from all over the world in a battle to be crowned the ultimate champion of this fantastic new game." Full terms and conditions will be available tomorrow.





Check it out: http://dance.michaeljackson.com/

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Source: MJJR.net / MichaelJackson.com

Today at the German Games Convention 2008, Sony Computer Entertainment Europe unveiled SingStar Volume III (Party Edition) which, for the first time, will feature music from Michael Jackson, amongst other major recording artists. A preview of the new game and its music was showcased for the guests at the event. It has been rumored that Navi (a famous Michael Jackson impersonator) has worked with Sony and recorded motion capture animation for this (or a related) forthcoming game. In addition, it has been confirmed that "Beat It" by Michael Jackson will be featured on the upcoming title, Guitar Hero: World Tour.

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Source: MJJR.net / Sony

NME reports that Michael Jackson has launched an online game where users from competing social networking sites can battle each other by mimicking Michael Jackson's trademark dance moves. The game can be embedded into user profiles on all of the major social networking sites including MySpace, Facebook, and Bebo. The top players within this game will be able to compete to win great prizes including a plasma television, a Sony Playstation 3, iPod Nanos, and worldwide plan tickets.

The embedded online game will reportedly be available starting August 22. MJJR.net will keep you updated.

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Source: MJJR.net / NME

Back in March of this year, the owner of the now defunct XtraJet, Jeffrey Borer, and to a lesser extent travel agent Cynthia Montgomery, were ordered to pay $20.25 million to Mark Geragos and Pat Harris for the illegal videotaping the jet flight from Las Vegas to California back in November, 2003. An appeal by Borer was denied several months later. Now, Geragos and Harris are seeking an additional $312,670 to cover attorney fees. The money is again being sought by Jeffrey Borer and Cynthia Montgomery. Cynthia Montgomery had briefly testified during the 2005 criminal trial against Michael Jackson, but only after she was granted immunity from the prosecution due to the FBI investigation into XtraJet's wrongful actions, and her involvement in it. Michael Jackson was also part of the civil suit against XtraJet, but decided to drop his part of the case in 2005 in order to concentrate on the significantly more important criminal trial bestowed upon him.

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Source: MJJR.net / Wire Services

In a new interview with National Ledger, RedOne (who confirmed that he is working with Michael Jackson earlier this year) spoke briefly about what it's like working with the King of Pop. "When it comes to Michael, I'm not allowed to talk about the recording. But I can say he's unbelievable, honestly the best that music has ever known, the ultimate star, artist, musician. Every other star I work with, I tell them I'm working with Michael Jackson, and they're like 'Oh, my God!' And when I tell him, he's so humble and polite, he's like, 'Oh, thank you.'" Of Jackson's forthcoming studio album, RedOne (nee Nadir Khayat) was not about to make any predictions about when it will be released. "It's not like it's a secret, it's just that nobody knows."

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Source: MJJR.net / National Ledger

BMI will be honoring The Jacksons at the 8th annual Urban Music Awards, which will be held September 4th at the Wilshire Theatre in Los Angeles. The Jacksons "were a true American success story, transcending race and redefining the sound of pop and r&b music. They were the first group to have their first four singles hit #1, and they remain one of the most globally influential pop and r&b groups in music." An all-star musical tribute performance is expected at the event, in celebration of The Jacksons.

BMI has confirmed to MJJR.net that members of the Jackson 5 will indeed be in attendance to pick up the award, although the names of those expected to attend have yet to be made public. The event is private, invitation-only, but updates will be provided throughout the day on BMI's official site.



Read the official BMI press release at: http://mjjr.net/content171.html

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Source: MJJR.net / BMI

Ne-Yo, who has long been working with Michael Jackscon on Jackson's forthcoming studio album, talked briefly about this endeavor to Digital Spy in a new interview published August 4, 2008. Ne-Yo confirmed that he and Jackson have not yet physically worked in a studio together, but that they have been communicating and testing ideas via phone calls, e-mails, and MP3s. The Jackson-related excerpts are below:

Q: You've been working with a legendary gentleman recently - Michael Jackson. Have you asked him for feedback on your new songs?

A: No, I haven't, but that's a really good idea actually. I might just have to do that.

Q: Do you have his mobile number?

A: I do actually. I know how to reach him, yeah. Maybe I'll give him a call tomorrow?

Q: What would you do if he said, 'I don't think that song's very good'?

A: You know, he's never told me he didn't like something and not given me a reason as to why. I've been working on some songs for his new album and if he doesn't like something he'll explain to me why he doesn't like it. He'll say, 'I just think the melody could be better' or 'I think that a stronger lyric could go here'.

Q: How's it all going on his comeback album?

A: We haven't actually gotten the opportunity to work in the studio yet. As of right now it's all phone calls and emails and mp3s and I'm not really allowed to say anything about it.

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Source: MJJR.net / Digital Spy