Live Coverage of Michael Jackson Memorial

The Michael Jackson memorial and funeral services were covered lived by just about any network with an available camera or feed. It was covered on the radio, online, and on television in an unprecedented amount of coverage.

12:00 p.m. (EST) Michael Jackson's pallbearers brought out the solid gold casket from Forest Lawn Cemetery where a short ceremony took place earlier for the fallen pop icon. We are informed that Michael Jackson's body will be taken to the Staples Center, then will be returned to Forest Lawn Cemetery.

On Fox News, Shepard Smith anchored. Greta van Susteren mentioned how much the Michael Jackson memorial was going to cost a broke state of California. She brought up the fact that elephants were being brought into the Staples Center sometime after the memorial.

On CNN, Democratic strategist Donna Brazille, CNN contributor Roland Martin, anchor Campbell Brown, and contributor Jeffrey Toobin spoke in gowing tones. Anderson Cooper and Soledad O'Brien anchored for CNN. Anderson Cooper commented that the moment he saw Michael Jackson's casket, it actually hit him that Michael Jackson was indeed dead.

Donna Brazille spoke of what of what an influence Michael Jackson had. She talked of growing up to his music and how, when bussing (the forced transfer of students to integrate schools) started, bus drivers would play music by the Jackson 5 because everybody like the music and it seemed to satisfy both races of small children, somewhat helping a tense situation. She spoke of how, when the Jackson 5 appeared on the Ed Sullivan show, it was a family event. She said that Michael Jackson helped "usher in" the modern age of race relations, helping pave the way for Tiger Woods, the Williams sisters, and Barack Obama.

12:20 p.m. (EST) Michael Jackson motorcade leaves Forest Lawn Cemetery for the Staples Center.

Networks began following the motorcade...

CNN talked with the editor of Jet magazine and the Hilary Rosen, former CEO or RIAA, and they listed artists that were scheduled to appear during the memorial service: Usher, Mariah Carey, Stevie Wonder, Akon, John Mayer. Jermaine is to perform "Smile." Lionel Richie will lead a star-studded "We Are The World," a song he co-wrote with Michael Jackson, finale.

Roland Martin mentioned that the various musical tributes to Michael Jackson over the past few days. He said that the focus was on celebration as opposed to mourning.

Brian Oxman, former attorney for Michael Jackson, spoke on Fox News. He said he believed that historians would dissect the singer's life intensely for at least the next 50 years. He said that Michael Jackson was innocent of all charges that had been lodged against him and he felt that it was the duty of the family and those who knew Jackson to save his legacy and help prove that Jackson was innocent.

On Fox News, Shepard Smith said he was "astounded" that part of the Los Angeles freeway system was completely shut down to allow the passage of the Michael Jackson funeral motorcade. He noted that that probably wasn't going over too well with those needing to get to work.

12:48 p.m. (EST) The trip to the Staples Center was expected to take approximately 25 minutes. At 12:48 p.m., 28 minutes after it pulled out, the motorcade pulled into the Staples Center.

On Fox, Shepard Smith said that he is expected something "unexpected," citing that wherever Michael Jackson went, things happened.

Hilary Rosen on CNN predicted that Michael Jackson's estate would be out of debt within the next couple months, given the sales of his merchandise since his death. She added that more albums, videos, tributes, merchandise, and future releases of perhaps his last rehearsal, new music, and such will no doubt put the Michael Jackson estate in the black.

All networks began showing images from inside the Staples Center...

Roland Martin on CNN points out that people support musicians and celebrities because of their work, foregoing all the controversies and bad press. It becomes a focal point outside the personal aspects of an individual that people might find unpalatable.

1:10 p.m. (EST) Smokey Robinson, with a picture of Michael Jackson and the words "In Loving Memory of Michael Jackson King of Pop 1958-2009", opened the memorial service at the Staples Center, reading condolences from Diana Ross (who Michael Jackson named in his will to take care of his children if his mother, Katherine could not) and Nelson Mandela.

1:13 p.m. (EST) A moment of silence.

CNN showed images from Times Square, Harlem, and Raleigh, North Carolina, Gary, Indiana, and the First A.M.E. Church in L.A. Charlie Gibson joked on ABC that part of Michael Jackson's uniqueness was that many of the people who attempt to cover his music do not seem to capture the music's essence. He used the phrase "mangled his music."

1:30 p.m. (EST) With a backdrop of towereing sunset-lit facsimiles of church windows, a choir sang "We Are Going To See The King" while the crimson-flowered casket was brought and placed in front of the stage.

1:35 p.m. (EST) Revered Lucious Smith delivered a heartfelt eulogy.

1:40 p.m. (EST) Mariah Carey was the first performance. Struggling with tears at first, she sang "I'll Be There," a song she had covered and took to number one in 1992, 22 years after the Jackson 5 hit the top of the charts with the song.

1:44 p.m. (EST) Queen Latifah gave testimony to the "biggest star on Earth." She shared a poem, "We Had Him," by Maya Angelou written especially for the occasion. The end of the poem: "We know we had him, and we are the world."

1:49 p.m. (EST) Lionel Richie sang "Jesus Is Love."

1:53 p.m. (EST) Berry Gordy, founder of Motown Records, spoke a few words in remembrance. He said that Michael Jackson raised the bar and surpassed it. "He is simply the greatest entertainer that ever lived."

2:03 p.m. (EST) A video montage tribute was shown, ending with the song "You Are Not Alone."

2:07 p.m. (EST) Stevie Wonder appeared on stage. After a few words, he performed a song that he had sent to Quincy Jones, who had Michael Jackson perform it. Stevie Wonder sang "Never Dreamed You'd Leave In Summer."

2:15 p.m. (EST) Kobe Bryant and Ervin "Magic" Johnson said a few words in memoriam. Magic Johnson told a story about going to Michael's home to discuss his appearance in Michael Jackson's video, "Remember the Time." He said he had ordered grilled chicken, but when dinner began the chef brought him his grilled chicken but Michael a bucket of "Kentucky Fried" chicken. He said he couldn't beleive. The audience laughed. Johnson said it was the greatest moment of his life, sitting on the floor eating Kentucky Fried Chicken with his idol.

2:20 p.m. (EST) Jennifer Hudson performed "You Will Be There." Michael Jackson's voice filled the Staples Center in a soliloquy to end the song.

2:25 p.m. (EST) Reverend Al Sharpton then said some words of remembrance and praise. "It was Michael Jackson," he said, that "brought the world together." "We are going to uphold his message," Sharpton said. He spoke of Michael's perserverance and his resilience. "Michael never stopped." He finished with a round of heartfelt "thank yous" and was embraced by the Jackson family as he left the stage.

2:33 p.m. (EST) John Mayer stepped onto the stage and did an excellent instrumental version of "Human Nature," which was co-written by Steve Porcaro of the band Toto and a hit for Jackson in 1983.

2:38 p.m. (EST) Brooke Shields, longtime friend and companion, fought back tears and talked of her friendship with the King of Pop. "We had a bond," she said. She said they made each other laugh. "Michael loved to laugh... His sense of humor was delightful." She finished, introducing Michael's favorite song, "Smile."

2:47 p.m. (EST) Jermaine Jackson sang his brother's favorite song, which was written for a Charlie Chaplin film.

2:51 p.m. (EST) Martin Luther King III and Bernice King said a few words of praise. Martin Luther King III quoted his father's words of doing one's best so no one else could do it better.

2:59 p.m. (EST) Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee (Texas) spoke on behalf of the United States Congress. She bluntly announced that the Constitution of the United States stated that an individual is innocent until proven guilty. She said because of his philanthropism, the U.S. Congress paused for a moment of silence upon hearing of his death on June 25. Congresswoman Lee announced a resolution before put to the floor of Congress that comemmorates Michael Jackson as an American legend and world humanitarian.

3:07 p.m. (EST) The man many call Michael Jackson's heir apparent, Usher. performed "Gone Too Soon." Partway through the performance, Usher descended from the stage to stand beside the flower-draped casket. reaching out and touching it. He choked up just before he sang the last three words "gone too soon."

3:11 p.m. (EST) The video of the Jackson 5 singing Smokey Robinson's "Who's Lovin' You."

3:13 p.m. (EST) Smokey Robinson then remembered Michael Jackson performing his song. His memorial had the audience laughing, delivering a self-deprecating and moving story about Michael Jackson's singing ability. He said that he has young people to this day come up to him and say, "So you're singing Michael Jackson's song." The audience laughed.

3:18 p.m. (EST) Shaheen Jafargholi performed "Who's Lovin' You." This 11-year-old young man proved why he came so close to winning "Britain's Got Talent" this year.

3:21 p.m. (EST) Kenny Ortega, Michael Jackson's director, spoke about Jackson's last reheasals and concert tour preparations in the Staples Center. He called the Staples Center "Michael's house."

3:24 p.m. (EST) The "This Is it Concert Tour" ensemble sang "We Are The World." Children were brought on stage and the tour ensemble sang "Heal The World."

3:34 p.m. (EST) Jermaine Jackson thanked the audience and the fans. Marlon Jackson choked up, got control of himself, and then remembered his brother. He said that his brother endured considerable pain in his life. He said, "Maybe now they will leave you alone." He asked that Michael give his Marlon's twin brother, Brandon, a hug. Then Michael's daughter, Paris, said the last words. She said her dad had been "the best father anyone could ever imagine" before bursting into tears.

3:41 p.m. (EST) As the music of "Man In The Mirror" played, the casket was borne out of the Staples Center for its return trip to Forest Lawn Cemetery.

3:44 p.m. (EST) The Reverend Lucious Smith ended the ceremony with a few words of hope. He closed the memorial with a prayer.

Larry King said that the "stick out" of the memorial for him was Reverend Al Sharpton's small speech. He said Sharpton outdid himself. Larry King compared the end of the memorial service with that of Frank Sinatra's. And the talk show great actually stopped talking, paused, blinking quickly, when he spoke of Usher stepping down from the stage and touching Michael Jackson's casket.

4:30 p.m. (EST) Motorcade leaves Staples center for return trip to Forest Lawn Cemetary.

(continually updated...)