NEW MUSIC: "GLEE" CAST - BLACK OR WHITE

Official Artwork for Glee Cast: Black or White

The Cast of Glee paid tribute to Michael Jackson on tonight's episode and they absolutely went all-out for the King of Pop in a much-needed boost in public confidence after some pretty mixed reviews over Season Two. 

Among other surprises, Blaine (Darren Criss) did a rendition of Wanna Be Startin' Somethin', while Artie (Kevin McHale) was front and center on Bad and also a Duet with Mike (Harry Shum Jr.) on Scream.  The on-going love story between Rachel (Lea Michele) and Finn (Cory Monteith) was told through I Just Can't Stop Loving You and also, the budding but questionably believable romance of Mercedes (Amber Riley) and Sam (Chord Overstreet), was told through Human Nature.

By a mile my favourite though was the entire Cast's version of Black or White! 

Check it out below:

CONRAD MURRAY CONVICTED OF INVOLUNTARY MANSLAUGHTER IN DEATH OF MICHAEL JACKSON

Still from This is It

At long last we can close this chapter on the Tragedy of Michael Jackson. Conrad Murray, Doctor to the King of Pop himself, was convicted of Jackson’s Involuntary Manslaughter shortly after 1:00 PM PAC. After nine hours of deliberation, each Juror delivered a “yes” when asked whether or not they felt the Defendant was guilty. Murray, 58 years-old, potentially will face up to four years in Prison and lose his Medical License altogether.

Murray is determined to have given Jackson Propofol and other Sedatives to aid the Singer’s Insomnia as he had geared-up for his heavily-publicized This is It Tour in 2009. It was this same lethal Cocktail which ultimately had killed him.

Was Justice served? Shrieks reportedly heard in and outside the Los Angeles Courtroom upon delivery of the Verdict would appear to say so.

(Photo credit: Sony Music)

KATY PERRY TIES MICHAEL JACKSON RECORD: 5 NUMBER 1 SINGLES FROM 1 ALBUM

Katy Perry & Mr. Will-W.

Congratulations to the beautiful and lovable Katy Perry! Perry has become the first-ever Female Pop Artist to top the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Chart with five singles from one album. The streak began last Summer with smash Hit California Gurls ft. Snoop Dogg dominating Airwaves and in Digital Sales, followed by Teenage Dream, Firework, E.T. and now Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.).

Well-deserved! Not even Gaga can come close with her two recent Singles Judas and The Edge of Glory failing to achieve the success of Born this Way. Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.) has however, reached the top of the: U.S. Billboard Hot 100, Hot Digital Songs, Pop Songs, Radio Songs, and Hot Dance Club Charts. Oh yeah, and don't forget the Canadian Hot 100 Chart also!

Perry joins the legendary company of Michael Jackson who achieved the same Record back in 1987 with Bad. Jackson’s Singles: I Just Can't Stop Loving You, The Way You Make Me Feel, Bad, Man In The Mirror and Dirty Diana, all reaching number one on the Hot 100.

The 26 year-old will be arriving in Toronto today for two shows at the Air Canada Centre, in addition to a Meet & Greet with Fans who were lucky enough to win after purchasing her new fragrance Purr.

INTERVIEW: SHAHEEN

Shaheen

13 year-old Actor/Singer Shaheen is onto something special.  Since stunning the world virally with his jaw-dropping audition on Britain's Got Talent before a skeptical and then impressed Simon Cowell, the spotlight has been on the brilliant boy from Wales.  Appearances on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Oprah Winfrey and even a spot on the late Michael Jackson's ill-fated This Is It Tour have solidified the fact that the world is ready to embrace its next big international teen sensation. 

Now ready to unleash his eagerly-awaited debut album When I Come of Age from Island Records/Universal Music on November 22, 2010, the adorable Shaheen took a few moments out of his busy schedule to chat with Mr. Will-W.:Pop Maven readers.

Mr. Will-W.: Hi Shaheen, thanks for dropping by to chat with us as we're honoured to be one of the first outlets  in Canada (and first Canadian Blog) to feature you!  Now we're all excited to hear what's on When I Come of Age. What can you tell us about this first album and why have you decided to release two singles at the same time?

Shaheen: My album is important to me; it’s not like all the other albums that are coming out, its not very poppy and sounding the same as a lot of other tracks out there. It’s got kind of a Motown/contemporary feel to it. We decided to release Last Train Home/Hip Teens as a Double A-side because they show how versatile I can be. Last Train Home is a great ballad and Hip Teens is faster and a lot of fun. I hope everyone will get involved in my new competition to star in my video for Hip Teens. It’s for anyone who loves to dance. Check out my website for more details.

Mr. Will-W.: Many people don’t know that in addition to being a very talented singer, you also act. Both are very different. Describe how they are different for you. Do you prefer one over the other?

Shaheen: I prefer singing more but acting is something I’ve done and I wouldn’t mind doing again but right now I’ll concentrate on the album and what’s happening now and then possibly one day go into acting or something. I’d like to be in movies maybe. My favourite actors are Eddie Murphy and Jim Carrey.

BARBARA WALTERS' TEN MOST FASCINATING PERSONALITIES OF 2009

I don't watch much television, but on Wednesday nights I am sure to put aside the gym, light some candles, pop open a bottle of wine, cuddle on the couch with my dog Billy and enjoy a hot little hook-up named Glee. During a commercial break, I realized that Barbara Walters would be revealing her annual Ten Most Fascinating Personalities on ABC. I am always curious to see whom she picks and her eclectic 2009 list includes:

10. Lady Gaga - pop's new megastar; it turns out she's not a hermaphrodite (!) and that she enjoys sex with women. Out of respect, she took her sunglasses off for Walters.

9. Jenny Sanford - wife of adulterous South Carolina governor
8. Tyler Perry - director, actor, producer and cross-dresser who overcame an abusive childhood
7. Glenn Beck - Fox News' outspoken television personality
6. Brett Favre - recently retired and then not retired NFL star
5. Kate Gosselin - recently divorced mother of eight and reality television star
4. Adam Lambert - openly gay American Idol runner-up
3. Sarah Palin - former U.S. Vice Presidential candidate and now sexy author; her second time appearing on the list.
2. Michael Jackson’s Children - Paris, Prince Michael and Prince Michael II ...the world is watching more closely than ever
1. Michelle Obama - American First Lady and trash television lover

Who's missing?

MICHAEL JACKSON KILLS IT (FIGURATIVELY)!

Sony Pictures' Michael Jackson documentary This Is It made a killing - pardon the pun - at the Box Office this weekend. The film which follows Jackson's final 02 Arena rehearsals leading up to his planned comeback tour in London, earned $21 million this weekend and a total of $32.5 million since its mid-week release. Mighty impressive. The studio has yet to announce plans to extend its two-week cinematic run but thus far, reviews have been very positive. Hopefully I'll be able to make it out to the theatre to see it soon.

Studios were wise to stay away from releasing new films this weekend with Halloween festivities foreseeably cutting into ticket sales, but Paranormal Activity continues to astonish, pulling in $16.5 million this weekend. With just a $15,000 budget, this little engine who could has made a whopping $85 million in total. Oddly, there are "illegal" copies of the film floating around the internet, but this doesn't seem to have impacted ticket sales. Can the MPAA explain this paranormal activity?

Previous week releases Law Abiding Citizen ($7.3 million), Couples Retreat ($6.1 million), Where The Wild Things Are ($5.1 million) and Amelia ($3.0 million) all continue to perform respectably in this weekend's Top Ten.

NEW MUSIC: MICHAEL JACKSON - THIS IS IT

Premiering at midnight on his official website, Michael Jackson's first posthumous release This Is It has finally surfaced after much ink on the matter. The track features backing vocals by his brothers and will be featured on the two-disc set This Is It from Epic, slated for an October 26, 2009 release. The song will be featured during the ending credits of the film of the same name, based on footage from Jackson's 02 Arena rehearsals. This Is It hits theatres October 27, 2009.

To be honest, the song isn't much. It's a mid-tempo number which doesn't sound quite complete or anywhere near as polished as the work that we have become accustomed to in Jackson's back catalogue. It certainly isn't a grand finale fit for The King of Pop. Perhaps stronger tracks will be surfacing shortly as there are rumours of albums' worth of material from Jackson who was plotting a major comeback prior to his untimely death.

To hear This Is It in full (courtesy of Sony/BMG), listen below: