I'm glad it was televised - some of us can't travel cross country to be at the memorial in person and want to pay our respect. I grew up with Michael, listening and dancing to his music. He deserves the positive publicity he is finally getting, and while it may be a bit outlandish at this point, the MEDIA OWES IT TO HIM. No person has ever been or will ever be a better all around performer, dancer, singer, song writer, Hollywood philanthropist than him. Too bad he had to die to finally get all this attention. God bless you, MJ.

i was not a big fan of michael jackson, but his talent, no one can take away. i am saddened by his death, wether self inflcted or not. but i agree, he was a singer/dancer/entertainer, and the media coverage is overdone. the poor tax payers in california should be in uproar over all the police that are needed to keep order for this day???? and none of our troups that die on a min. to min. basis are covered, our interest as a nation in what is (IMPORTANT) and non important always seems to amaze me..... sad!!!!!!!!!!!!

I too have had enough of the Michael Jackson coverage, and I sincerely hope that it doesn't pre-empt regular programming on the commercial channels. That's what CNN and MSNBC are for.

you dont want any tv coverage? leave your TV off!!! you want tv coverage? turn you tv on!!! it's simple..If you dont care about Michael Jackson shut you mouth off!!!

Thankfully my tv is out so I dont have to watch the sorriest spectacle since Diana died. Only stargazing idiots will watch this tripe

I am very much looking forward to Michael's memorial service. He was an incredible talent for four decades and millions of us grew up with him and watching him perform - I am so sorry to have lost him so young and I am so sorry for his brothers and sisters. I, for one, never believed the trashy rumors about him; I am quite certain he was really a very good person. Why do people always want to believe the worst of others? It's a real shame... and some of the comments are really disrespectful right now. He was a real person and he has a real family - if you don't want to watch, change the channels! Let the rest of us spend a couple of hours in his memory.

I agree enough is enough. Short of avoiding all news (whether paper, tv, or internet) you can not escape the incessant coverage.

Was MJ's death newsworthy? Sure - just as Farah Fawcett's, Ed McMahon's, Billy Mays', and Karl Maldon's deaths were newsworthy. come to think of it I the last two Presidents who died did not get this much coverage combined.

I don't think his funeral should be televised, nor should the media be allowed in with cameras, a funeral should be a place for his family & closest friends he knew him on a personal basis, not for reporters to be there interviewing people, & showing personal moments to the world. let his family & good friends say good-bye to him in piece & quiet without noisy,nosey reporters carrying tons of equipment for their own personal gain($$) he's been followed around all his famous life stopped,questioned,& bothered leave him go to his grave alone in silence!!

Jackson WAS a god.

Man, how did so many of you come to the same place... "Waaa waaa, we don't want coverage, because we go against everything!" --> if you don't care then DONT WATCH IT.
And better yet, if you ARE crying about coverage .. WHY are you discussing the whole thing here!? Isn't that the exact opposite? Now stop whinning you hypocrites and if you don't care about it - just go do something ELSE! And let the people (and quite a huge number of us) who actually care enjoy our last moments of MJ

it fascinates me that throughout history, the storytellers are rewarded out of all proportion to their seeming contribution to society's betterment. there must be some primal niche in our collective tribe that people like michael jackson fill.