When F. Scott Fitzgerald profoundly claimed that there were no second acts in American lives, he hadn't encountered the information era.

As it turns out, almost everyone now has a second act, and many people have third, fourth and fifth ones, too!

That certainly can be said of Michael Jackson. On trial just a few months ago for child molestation and conspiracy, the acquitted singer was already then well into the drama that constitutes his life.

The next act picks up in London, where Jackson is ensconced at the very expensive Dorchester Hotel. He's there on the dime of Abdulla bin Hamad Al Khalifa, a Bahraini prince, who's picking up the tab for everything.

Jackson and the prince are not alone, however. They are joined right now by attorney Thomas Mesereau Jr., who so brilliantly defended Jackson in his trial.

Also there are fired-then-reinstated publicist Raymone Bain, as well as Jackson's three children and their nanny, Grace Rwamba.

But even more interesting are two more people new to the crowd: Atlanta music-business attorney Joel Katz and Island/DefJam Records chairman Antonio "L.A." Reid.

Their project is simple. My sources say that Katz has come to represent the Prince in a deal that would fund a record label for Jackson at Island/DefJam's parent, Universal Music Group.

Katz is not new to the Jackson picture. I'm told he represented Jackson's brother Jermaine for many years in the mid-'80s. He's listed on the credits for the 1984 Victory tour as Jermaine's legal eagle.

Coincidentally — that is, if you believe in coincidences — Katz represents Reid as well. (Jackson probably does not know this. Maybe someone at the Dorchester can show him this column.)

It was Katz who negotiated Reid's deal that made the latter head of Arista Records in 2000. He later got Reid out of that deal and made the current one at Universal.

What Jermaine will get at the end of the day is uncertain. For years, Michael's elder brother has floundered, after a promising series of hits in the mid-'80s.

In his memoir of life with Michael, Jackson's former PR guy Bob Jones claims that Michael purposely sabotaged Jermaine's career.

If the project comes together, and it should, the first order of business would be to record that charity single Jackson has been promising since Hurricane Katrina.

Even though Stevie Wonder turned him down, Jackson has been campaigning among various other stars for weeks.

Katz, whose Rolodex is filled with star R&B and hip-hop clients, would be a tremendous asset in lassoing contributors. First up would be James Brown, the man whose dance steps Jackson copied at an early age.

Next to be tapped, I'm told, might be Jay-Z and Beyoncé, thanks to the Universal connection. Jay-Z, believe it or not, is now president and chief executive of Def Jam. Beyoncé is his girlfriend. And so on.

Universal is the No. 1 music company right now, boasting everyone from Eminem and 50 Cent to Bon Jovi, Kanye West and Mariah Carey.

Under the right circumstances, UMG could cajole any of its stars to appear on Jackson's single or even on a comeback album.

http://www.foxnews.com/st...14,00.html

this is an oddly written article. wanders off on too many tangents.

Tessa said:

Fox news at its finest.

Tessa said:

Roger Friedman in a nutshell

Tessa said:

Four words: Fox News Roger Friedman!

manthevan said:

Glad I'm not the only one who thinks so. Always very loose with the facts and proper names and titles as well.