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 McCauley Culkin is going to testify.

With an umbrella, a white suit, bejeweled vest, spats, and a wave to 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 Wacko Jacko and all, you know, what life is like in Neverland. And it was approached his 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

pajamas 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 editor's 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 the Neverland district in 2005 I I stayed in like the one decent hotel, you know, and this is a 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, sitting about 10 feet away from Michael Jackson

at the defense table.

And it was a circus in some sense because there was so much media there and everyone was

doing their hits on TV and the fans are chanting things and waving signs.

And Michael Jackson, every time he shows up, it's a huge event and he's wearing these crazy

clothes.

I mean, and so I wrote about it like it was a circus, and I wrote about it in a lighthearted way

and cracked jokes and talked about what he was wearing.

And I just continued to do that.

And then when he was found not guilty, it allowed people to treat it like entertainment.

This trial was about a horrific crime.

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