Michael Jackson's Doctor in Tell-All TV Documentary; Prison Minister Reacts to Verdict
A tell-all television documentary about Michael Jackson’s doctor is set to air this Friday just days after he was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter.
The 50-minute documentary, titled “Michael Jackson and the Doctor,” will explore the untold story of Dr. Conrad Murray, who chose not to take the stand during his six-week trial that ended Monday.
MSNBC will broadcast the must-see exclusive, which promises to deliver the inside scoop behind Murray’s relationship with the famed King of Pop.
Get Our Latest News for FREE
The program chronicles the trial from the points of view of Murray and his defense team, giving an exclusive look into the past two years of Murray’s life, MSNBC detailed in a press release.
October Films co-produced the documentary with what’s it all about? productions and spent two years gaining exclusive access to Murray and his team of lawyers led by Ed Chernoff and J. Michael Flanagan.
Filmmakers began interviewing Murray in November 2009 before he was charged with involuntary manslaughter following Jackson’s death in June.
Murray was accused of gross negligence after he gave Jackson what became a lethal dose of propofol, a powerful anesthetic, without setting proper safeguards. Other sedatives including lorazepam and midazolam were also given to Jackson prior to the propofol, which failed to bring him to sleep. The defense argued in court that the artist took the deadly dose himself.
Prosecutors painted Murray as a physician who acted well below the standard care required of a doctor, not monitoring Jackson after administering the drugs and even giving improper CPR to the performer after discovering he was not breathing.
After about eight hours of deliberation, a jury found Murray guilty on Nov. 7. He could face up to four years in prison.
Finally breaking his silence in the upcoming documentary, Murray reveals never before told stories of Jackson in a series of personal interviews, including details of the pop singer’s fragile health and mental state, and the immense pressures Jackson felt leading up to his world tour.
The 58-year-old cardiologist also discusses his personal relationship with the entertainer and the star’s family as well.
Strategies behind the defense team will also be revealed in the MSNBC broadcast, which will premiere on Friday, Nov. 11, at 10 p.m. ET and again on Sunday, Nov. 13 at 9 p.m. ET.
Directed by Tom Roberts, “Michael Jackson and The Doctor” is distributed by Zodiak Rights, which has already secured pre-sales with major broadcasters around the world including Channel 4 in the UK, Nine Network in Australia and over 10 other international broadcasters.
It is unclear how much Murray will profit from the documentary, though many are expecting millions.
The doctor currently remains in custody at the Los Angeles County Jail, awaiting sentencing on Nov. 29.
Reaction to the guilty verdict has been mixed.
Marty Angelo, a former television producer and band manager for rock ‘n’ roll bands – now a full-time prison minister and founder of Once Life Matters ministry – believes it was a shame that it all came down to blaming the doctor for Jackson’s death.
“I can see where [Murray] made his mistakes but let’s remember just who demanded the drug in the first place,” Angelo said in a statement.
He commented that if Murray had not administered the drugs that Jackson demanded, another doctor would have done it anyway.
“Michael Jackson was a known substance abuser for years,” he noted. “His life revolved around the ups and downs of his next fix and his next hit.”
“It is unfortunate for Jackson that his consequence was death,” he added. “No one is immune to the consequences of substance abuse.”
