Diddler On The Roof.

Have a look at this timeline if you need a quick refresher on the extent to which Michael Jackson has had an influence on popular culture. It's easily forgotten, but still astounding. I've been teetering back and forth as to whether or not the latest round of child abuse allegations have any merit. I'm sure we're all thinking to ourselves "If this many people have come forward over the years, there must be some truth to it, right?" It's a tough call. But I learned a few things last night while watching Hannity and Colmes that really got me swinging over to Mike's side a little bit. Perhaps I'll share...

No one who's ever accused Jackson of molestation has gone directly to the police, ever. They go to tabloids or right to Jackson himself. Ask yourself why. When the maid and bodyguard who've recently testified against Jackson were in his employ, they had media brokers on call at all times. That's someone you pay to sell your story to the highest bidding tabloid. That would make sense if you had said juicy story first, but these people got jobs at Neverland, hired the brokers and then sat around waiting to see/manufacture something scandalous to share with the world. You can't tell me that level of premeditation scores well on the credibility scale. And none of the kids have ever taken the stand - unless they're now in their early 20's and addicted to heroin. It's always the parents who do all the talking and then, of course, all the subsequent spending. Mike is a mark.

Michael Jackson is a strange man. In fact, he's a complete whackadoo. But I'm going to give him the benefit of the doubt for a while longer. Corey Feldman and MacCauley Culkin both refused to testify against him when asked by the current prosecution. As a founding member of both of their fanclubs (culkfeld.com), I have to stand behind their good judgement - like some sort of sad, 31-yr-old wannabee Goonie.