THANK GOD! LENO IS FREE

Judge Melville has taken some time out of trying to decide if Jackson is a child abuser or not in the legal sense of the term to give his full attention to a more serious issue: Can Jay Leno crack gags about the case while he might be called as a witness? Yes, he can, concludes Melville:

"I am not attempting to prevent anybody from making a living in the normal way that they make their living."

What... Leno gets paid for doing that monologue? Let's hope it's not pay per laugh, otherwise the poor sod'll be starving. It's great, though, that Melville has crystalised an important point of US law: it doesn't matter if you're in contempt of court, providing you're getting paid for it.

Talking of contempt of court, can the official Michael Jackson website coverage of court proceedings really be acceptable? You wouldn't expect balance, but... surely the hugely selective and emotive reporting is slightly contemptuous of the whole process itself?

Back at the courtroom, the defence has tried to get everyone involved to go out to Neverland so they can see for themselves that the boy scout dolls and tigers and wine cellars and whirligigs. Judge Melville rejected the request; although perhaps if the defense offers him a go on the merry-go-round he'll change his mind.

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