Posted Dec 24th 2006 9:07AM by Robin Leach
Filed under: Shows, Celebrity, Breaking News

Questions are swirling this Christmas Eve as to why pop-star Michael Jackson flew here after midnight ending a six-month exile in the Mid East and Michael Flatley's Irish castle. Is fellow Jehovah Witness, Prince involved in helping Michael re-launch his career while he's on a break from his 3121 Club gig at the Rio starting after New Years Eve? Prince leaves for three-months for a tour that begins after his Super Bowl appearance in mid-January.

Joe Jackson welcomes Michael Jackson to VegasIronically, it was Michael's father, Joe Jackson (pictured) -- who lives in Vegas -- who told us when he was celebrating daughter Janet Jackson's birthday at TAO in the Venetian three months ago that Michael would never again reside in the United States after the child molestation trial in Santa Barbara. Today, the family will be back together again.

Is it just a case of home for the holidays? Or has he been lured back with a lucrative headliner gig on the Strip? Has Prince already shot photos of the new Michael ready to launch his guest-run? Did Palms mogul George Maloof reach out and assure Michael a home at the Palms to complete his comeback album in the new Palms recording studio and Pearl theater opening in March?

Those are the early conjectures as a result of my gossip pal Norm Clarke's world-exclusive story in this mornings Review-Journal:

"Ending 18 months of seclusion in Europe, reclusive superstar Michael Jackson was on a plane to the United States late Saturday bound for Las Vegas, where he plans a comeback. Jackson and his three children, Prince Michael, Paris and Prince Michael II were due to arrive before midnight at a private executive terminal at McCarran International Airport, sources said.We hear that Jackson's friend, Las Vegas dealmaker Jack Wishna, was instrumental in having the pop icon move back to the United States. Reminiscent of Howard Hughes' secretive arrival in Las Vegas on Thanksgiving Day in 1966, Jackson's surprise move came after his father, Joe Jackson, vowed his son would not live in the United States again. The 48-year-old deposed King of Pop has lived in Bahrain and a Celtic castle in Ireland since being acquitted in California of child molestation charges in June 2005. Wishna, reached by telephone, wouldn't comment, other than to confirm Jackson was moving to Las Vegas and to say, "We are working on several projects." Jackson has had more than a dozen No. 1 hits on the U.S. charts, the last in 1995. He has not toured since the mid-1990s. Wishna wouldn't say where Jackson might land on the Strip. Wishna made headlines during Jackson's trial when he courted the entertainer, saying a Jackson comeback would earn a Celine Dion-like contract in Las Vegas. Calling Jackson "one of the greatest entertainers in the world," Wishna said the singer "is poised to return to the top of the entertainment world soon. "It's the latest coup for Wishna. Two years ago, he brokered a deal that put Donald Trump's $2.8 billion Trump International Hotel & Tower on Phil Ruffin's New Frontier site.After arriving in Las Vegas in 1999, Wishna put together a deal potentially worth $250 million for Wayne Newton at the Stardust. Wishna has dealt with Michael Flatley, Britney Spears, Richard Branson and Mohamed al-Fayed on Las Vegas deals."

I've met Michael several times, even one lengthy Atlantic City breakfast with he and Donald Trump. The connection between Wishna and Trump and the mogul and Michael cannot be overlooked with this news. But whatever happens I know it's Michael who strategically timed his return to the States on Christmas Eve!. He knows its a quiet news-day. He knows just moving back will generate world headlines.

But he faces incredible opposition to a Strip resort return. When rumors surfaced before Steve Wynn opened his new hotel that Michael was a potential headliner there or at a rival property most Vegas executives shot down the idea saying that the pop-star's legal problems, arrest record and checkered past would give Casino Gaming Commissioners too many headaches and worries. But in this week of "peace and goodwill to all" along with Donald Trump's second chance gift to troubled Miss USA Tara Conner, maybe just maybe this time it could all happen.

Michael Jackson, who just in the past few days sued his accountants claiming that millions of dollars have vanished in his accounts, may just have given himself the best Christmas gift of all -- a resurrected career back again as the King of Pop! Although I'm en route to Santa Barbara for the Christmas/New Years week with my family, I promise Luxe Life will carefully watch for breaking developments.

*