By late afternoon, once the shocking news of Michael Jackson's death streaked across the Internet - and beyond into local businesses and the cozy homes of devoted fans - the skies here in picturesque Westwood were black with helicopters buzzing the frenzied masses below.
Meanwhile, on land routes that normally accessed the state-of-the-art UCLA hospital with ease, were now cordoned off for the most part as University security hand-directed the traffic flow in a bold-faced effort to avoid a potentially dangerous gridlock.
Two dozen or so media outlets were inclined to screech to an abrupt halt in their vehicles and park along the median strip haphazardly - at which point - they bolted up to the front doors of the medical facility where the Pop Icon passed into spirit a few scant hours ago.
It was an impromptu media blitz, if ever there was one, and was reminiscent of the debacle that followed in the wake of Elvis' death decades ago.
Fans held brightly-colored signs etched with loving tributes - and on occasion - broke into a hypnotic chant.
"Michael! Michael! Michael."
Did they half expect their Crown Prince to rise up from the dead - and "moon walk" once last time - before taking a final bow forever?
One fan turned up the sound on his CD Player - and within minutes - bodies were writhing to the strains of the "Man in the Mirror".
My own included.
Catchy little ditty, that!
Did the emboldened hordes descend on Michael's final resting place because the image of the man - though distorted and misguided at times - still inspired them to recognize the power of song?
All of the media heavyweights were in attendance, too.
(MTV, CNN, NBC).
Each news team waited patiently (albeit a bit frustrated with the cards they had been dealt) for the doors of the temporary press room to swing open wide so they could surge forward - animals that they are - and stake a claim at a News Conference guaranteed to satisfy not only their audiences but the curious madding crowd to boot.
One reporter next to me in line shrugged.
"What can the doctors or Police Officials tell us that we don't already know?"
She answered her own question in a cynical tone of voice.
"Time of death. Who he is survived by. Yada Yada Yada."
On the contrary, I pointed out.
In this instant case, enquiring minds were probably pining for all the juicy tidbits.
Was the death accidental?
"No way," one reporter snapped back incredulous at the thought.
Was the unexpected death brought on by natural causes, his own hand, or due to drugs?
Also, there were nagging questions surrounding the hour of death.
Allegedly, Jackson died at approximately 1:21 pm this afternoon.
But, for some inexplicable reason, the legendary POP star was not pronounced dead until about two hours later at approximately 3:23 pm.
I know.
I was sitting at a computer terminal when MSNBC flashed a news alert to that effect.
Bottom line?
Expect the unexpected.
And, a lot of drama, Hollywood-style!
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