Michael Jackson's Farewell Tribute: Play By Play

I simply cannot believe that Michael Jackson is gone. It’s just unreal. Even this morning, I woke up thinking this must be a dream. But, sadly, the legendary entertainer is gone. And we here at the Brew know you have to hold down that 9-5 and everyone doesn’t have fancy TiVo, so we took it upon ourselves to live-blog the Michael Jackson memorial tribute service.

Don’t thank us, please. It’s our duty.

So, let’s go inside the Staples Center.

1:13 pm (ET) Smokey Robinson reads comments from Diana Ross and Nelson Mandela fondly remembering MJ's life, career and legacy [after Smokey speaks, program takes an extended break]

1:34 pm Choir takes stage, sings "Soon And Very Soon"

1:35 pm MJ's solid bronze casket is brought in, covered in red roses (tearing up now)

1:38 pm Pastor Lucious Smith takes podium, reminds audience that MJ was more than an icon, he was a father, a brother, a friend, etc... Tells audience that even though he's gone too soon, as long as we remember him, he'll be there forever. Smith says MJ did so much to try and heal our world. Asks may this moment of remembrance and healing bring comfort to those who loved MJ.

1:41 pm Mariah Carey takes stage in flowing black dress with a little sequins, sings "I'll Be There" (Mimi looks good!)... Trey Lorenz joins her for a lil duet, ole school style. Trey smacks that high note! They do a lil a capella breakdown and the end. (Can I cry now?)

1:46 pm Queen Latifah takes the podium and remembers how she and her brother used to groove to MJ back in the day. Queen reads a touching poem written by Maya Angelou for MJ. (After seeing the Queen in person in New Orleans last weekend, I must admit I've got a lil girl crush on her but not in a lesbionic way...she's got great skin! Okay, I'm oversharing.)

1:51 pm Lionel Richie sings "Jesus Is Love," and he's doing the choir leader bounce... (I feel a churchy moment coming on!)

1:55 pm Berry Gordy takes the podium and reads statement on behalf of the Motown family, expresses his grief and love for MJ (camera shows all of MJ's brothers sitting in the audience in shades, black suits with yellow ties and all are wearing a single gloves... a fitting tribute)

1:58 pm Gordy says MJ's version of "Who's Loving You" was better than Smokey's (audience laughs...including Smokey); Gordy continues with other fond memories of the Jacksons and MJ's career

2:01 pm Gordy admits MJ made some questionable decisions but says there were so many other high points to MJ's life and career; calls MJ "the undisputed King of Pop the world over"

2:03 pm Gordy calls MJ "the greatest entertainer," audience erupts in applause

2:05 pm Video montage of MJ's classic hits, magazine covers, interview clips, etc...

2:08 pm Stevie Wonder takes stage at his piano, says "this is a moment that I wish I didn't live to see come but as much as I can say that and mean it, I do know that God is good and as much as we may feel -and we do- that we need MJ here with us, God must have needed him far more."

2:10 pm Stevie sings "Never Dreamed You'd Leave in Summer" (I am really going to cry now)

2:13 pm (I can hear the lady in the cube behind me sniffling. Dang Stevie...)

2:16 pm Standing ovation for Steveland Morris

2:16 pm Kobe Bryant and Magic Johnson take stage to talk about MJ's humanitarian works (I'm not even going to say nothin' 'bout Kobe...); Magic talks about meeting Jackie Jackson some 30 years ago and getting to know the Jackson family

2:19 pm Magic talks about his experience during the "Remember The Time" video, shares a funny story about he and MJ eating a bucket of KFC; Magic says this is a celebration of MJ's life and legacy, thanks MJ for opening up doors for African Americans

2:22 pm A fabulous-looking in all white and pregnant Jennifer Hudson sings "Will You Be There" (better known as the Free Willy song)

2:26 pm Rev. Al Sharpton shares his memories of MJ (oh, take 'em to church Al); draws a clear line from global acceptance of MJ to Tiger Woods and Barack Obama

2:30 pm Sharpton says "every time MJ got knocked down, he got back up. MJ never stopped!" Sharpton says to MJ's children "nothing was strange about your daddy, it was strange how they dealt with it" then goes on to thank MJ for his work (Jackson family embraces Sharpton at the end of his remarks)

2:34 pm There's a break in the program, crowd begins to briefly chant "Michael, Michael"

2:35 pm John Mayer takes stage (still not so sure why he's there, but I like dude) and starts the first few lines of a semi-instrumental version of "Human Nature" on his guitar (crowd goes nutty... I'm jammin' at my desk)

2:39 pm A teary Brooke Shields takes the stage (don't make me start, girl), says MJ was one of a kind and shares her various memories of the time she spent with MJ

2:48 pm Jermaine Jackson sings "Smile" from Charlie Chaplin's movie "Modern Times" (hang in there JJ)

2:53 pm Martin Luther King III and Bernice King take stage, MLKIII says no matter what your job, you must do it to the best of your ability even if you're sweeping streets (I'm impressed with his being able to say "street sweeper" repeatedly without tongue-twisting)

3 pm Texas Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee gives remarks, mentions that people are innocent until proven guilty (crowd erupts in applause), talks of MJ's good heart and that many people didn't know MJ's whole story, especially regarding his humanitarian work

3:07 pm Jackson Lee introduces Resolution 600 that notes MJ as a world humanitarian (standing ovation)

3:08 pm Usher performs "Gone Too Soon," he lets out an emotional sigh at the end (it looked a little dramatic to me, but I'll give you the benefit of the doubt Ursha!)

3:13 pm Usher embraces Katherine Jackson (now, I really wanna cry)

3:13 pm Video of young MJ singing "Who's Loving You"

3:14 pm Smokey's back... talks about writing "Who's Loving You" and young MJ showing all the emotion of a grown man when he sang that song

3:18 pm Smokey says MJ is in a place now where he will live forever

3:20 pm "Britain's Got Talent" kid Shaheen Jafargholi sings "Who's Loving You" (where do their accents go when they sing? Great mystery of life...)

3:23 pm Kenny Ortega (Michael's tour director) introduces Shaheen and comments that MJ invited him to sing during the "This Is It" tour in London; Ortega talks about MJ's last rehearsal inside the Staples Center

3:26 pm Ortega introduces "We Are The World" performance, followed by a "Heal The World" performance (both are equally touching...and who is this Asian woman with the gritty voice? Love huh!)

3:35 pm Jackson family takes stage; Jermaine thanks everyone for attending the tribute; a teary Marlon says he's trying to understand why the Lord has taken their brother home, says a part of him went with MJ when he died

3:39 pm Marlon asks "how much pain can one take" after a lifetime of MJ being judged and ridiculed, says "maybe now they will leave you alone"

3:40 pm Marlon asks MJ to give a hug to his identical twin brother, Brandon, in heaven (family hug)

3:42 pm (Oh Lord help me...) Paris Jackson takes the stage, says she loves her father, fighting back tears

3:43 pm MJ's casket is wheeled out of the Staples Center

3:45 pm Pastor Smith returns, says there will never be another MJ; encourages everyone to take a look in the mirror; asks that this be more than a memorial for MJ, but a reminder of what he means to us

3:47 pm Pastor Smith closes with a prayer, thanking God for the memory of MJ, the gift of music, the man he was and what he sought to do with his life, remind us that we can make a difference if we make up our minds, asks that we demonstrate love in our neighborhoods, stop judging people based on color

3:49 pm Tribute ends.

Wow, what a beautiful way to remember MJ. I'll admit, I thought this would turn into a spectacle of certain celebrities trying to clamour for their moments in the spotlight, but this was a fitting tribute to a legendary man. It also served as a reminder of what we can all do to heal an change the world.

We'll miss you MJ!