Before we get started, we're talking about the new Michael Jackson documentary on today's show.

That means we're going to be talking about child sexual abuse.

Nothing graphic, but I wanted to give you a heads up.

One of the most popular things Seth Stevenson ever wrote for Slate,

were these dispatches from the Michael Jackson trial.

So when the trial was announced, there was a lot of media interest, of course,

in covering the trial everyone thought it was going to be a circus

and who knows what's going to happen and maybe McCulley Culkin is going to testify.

With an umbrella, a white suit, a jeweled vest, spats, and a wave, the hundreds of fans,

Michael Jackson came to court determined to be found not guilty.

We're going to get this behind the scenes peek at Waco Jacko and all, you know,

what life is like in Neverland and it was a process entertainment.

You know, I'll tell you, Ron, just when you think you've seen everything

with regard to Michael Jackson, he pulls another stunt, shows up in his pajama bottoms,

in court. I'm not quite sure how well that went over with the judge.

And that's how I pitched it at Slate, you know, to my editors, like,

I want to go out here and cover this trial because it's going to be hugely entertaining.

And so I went out to Santa Maria where the courthouse was in Neverland District in 2005.

I stayed in like the one decent hotel, you know, in this small town.

I ate at the Jack in the box and I went to the trial every day

and I would walk through these throngs of Michael Jackson fans outside the courthouse.

And then I covered it and I was in the room every day, you know,

...