The more than 1.6 million fans who registered to attend Michael Jackson’s memorial service at the Staples Center in Los Angeles waited to learn yesterday whether they were among the lucky few to win tickets for tomorrow’s ceremony. Fans registered for free at the Staples Center website for the random drawing of only 8,750 names. Each person selected will receive two tickets and was being notified yesterday by e-mail, according to the Staples Center. The odds of getting a ticket were about 1 in 183. The tickets will admit 11,000 people to the Staples Center and 6,500 to the Nokia Theatre overflow section next door. The streets around the stadium will be closed to prevent those without tickets from trying to attend, police said yesterday. Jackson, 50, died June 25 after going into cardiac arrest in the bedroom of his rented mansion. The cause of death has not been determined. Autopsy results are not expected for several weeks. Jackson’s family was planning a private ceremony at Forest Lawn Memorial-Park in the Hollywood Hills, LAPD Assistant Chief Jim McDonnell said. Madonna had a Jackson impersonator dance to “Wanna Be Starting Something’’ at her concert Saturday in the same London arena where Jackson was to have staged his comeback. Colin Powell said in an interview aired yesterday that Jackson had controversy in his life, but in death his art should be celebrated. “Yes, there were some challenges in his life,’’ Powell told CNN’s “State of the Union.’’ “Yes, there was a great deal of controversy about him. But he’s now passed on. Let’s celebrate his art.’’ The memorial service will be broadcast on NBC, ABC, CNN, MSNBC, and E! Entertainment. (AP)
Little People seek ban
The group Little People of America called yesterday for the Federal Communications Commission to ban the use of the word “midget’’ on broadcast TV. Leaders of the group said the word, which was prominently featured in an episode of NBC’s “
Celebrity Apprentice,’’ is as offensive as racial slurs. “Historically, the word ‘midget’ has been used to objectify people, like in the circus,’’ said
Clinton Brown III, co-chairman of the 52d annual National Conference of Little People of America, which is taking place in New York this week. “We’re in the 21st century. We’re beyond that.’’ In the April 5 “Celebrity Apprentice’’ episode, contestants including
Joan Rivers created a detergent ad called “Jesse James and the Midgets.’’ The contestants suggested bathing little people in the detergent and hanging them to dry. Members of Little People of America responded by filing a complaint with the FCC. “This is not just a complaint but a kickoff to educate Americans unaware that the ‘M-word’ is offensive to little people,’’ said
Michael Petruzzelli, whose son is a little person. Calls to the FCC and “Celebrity Apprentice’’ host
Donald Trump were not returned yesterday. (AP)
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