Las Vegas Weekly

October 27, 2009 · 4:08 PM

This Is It premiere includes star for Joe Jackson at the Palms

By Robin Leach

George Maloof, Joe Jackson and Johnny Brenden.

Photo: Denise Truscello/WireImage

Michael Jackson’s eagerly awaited film This Is It premieres at midnight and begins playing on theater screens around the world 24/7 for just the next two weeks -- and Las Vegas gets it first! Joe Jackson, the patriarch of the famous family, will introduce the film at 9 tonight, three hours before other West Coast screenings -- but at the same time as the East Coast -- at the Brenden Theatres in the Palms.

At 7:30 this evening, theater owner Johnny Brenden and Palms owner George Maloof will present a celebrity star to Joe at a ceremony I will emcee.

Michael died in Los Angeles on June 25 after two days of dress rehearsals and 10 days before the entire cast and crew were due to leave for London and the 50-concert run at the 02 Arena set to begin in August. This Is It was edited from more than 100 hours of videos shot behind the scenes from the start of the live show’s creation through final rehearsals.

One VIP who has already seen the movie directed by Kenny Ortega, who brought the Sirens of T.I. to life on the Strip and helmed Dirty Dancing and the High School Musical franchise, is legendary actress Elizabeth Taylor, Michael’s longtime friend. She says the documentary is “the single most brilliant piece of filmmaking” she has ever seen. She tweeted: “It cements forever Michael’s genius in every aspect of creativity. Fans should see it again and again.”

Here’s the ROYAL ROBIN RUNDOWN of tonight’s special screening with Joe:

A drum line will begin shortly before the star-presentation party arrives at 7:30 p.m. in the Brenden Theatres lobby. I will serve as emcee to welcome Joe and his guests, including Floyd Mayweather Jr., Mike Tyson, Chuck Liddell, Rasheda Ali, Todd Bridges, Vanilla Ice, music and film producer Paul DeAngelo and Rudy Clay, the mayor of Gary, Ind. -- Michael’s birthplace.

Behind the scenes, there’s continuing debate whether a Michael Jackson Museum will land in Gary or here in Las Vegas. We hope to have Joe clear up that mystery. Joe introduces the movie at 9, and at 11, he will head up to The Playboy Club to offer his reaction to the movie. A party in the rooftop Moon will follow that, where Joe has approved Art Leoncio and J. Boogie of Freestyle XPressions performing a special tribute to Michael. The duo will replicate “Thriller” and pay homage to the King of Pop in celebration of the movie’s release.

J. Boogie is the host and choreographer of Men of X at Hooters Casino and performs with Zowie Bowie at the Pub in the Monte Carlo on Fridays and Saturdays and during their Vintage Vegas show on Sundays.

We’ll have a full photo report of the star ceremony along with our interview with Joe and movie review right here at Vegas DeLuxe tomorrow.

Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.

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