M-Net grabs the controversial Michael Jackson abuse documentary film, Leaving Neverland; quick-schedules it for Friday and Saturday at 9pm.

M-Net (DStv 101) has grabbed the controversial and must-see new documentary, Leaving Neverland about young men speaking out about how Michael Jackson allegedly sexually abused them for years and will quick-show the buzzed-about film in two parts this Friday and Saturday night.

M-Net will show part 1 of Finding Neverland on Friday 15 March at 21:00, with part 2 on Saturday 16 March at 21:00 in South Africa and across Southern Africa on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV platform.

The shocking Leaving Neverland had its premiere last month at the Sundance Film Festival in the United States and was broadcast on HBO last week and is distributed internationally by the Kew Media Group.

To accommodate Leaving Neverland that M-Net is rushing to viewers in Southern Africa, M-Net will broadcast double episodes of America's Got Talent: Champions at 18:00 and 19:00 on Friday, and the season finale of A Million Little Things an hour earlier at 20:00.

On Saturday M-Net will show Sky's Carnage at 17:30, The Kids are Alright at 18:30, American Housewife at 19:00, Murphy Brown at 19:30, Riverdale at 20:00 and the Sunday night movie Death Wish that is being replaced by the second part of Leaving Neverland.

Leaving Neverland is produced and directed by the award-winning Dan Reed with the 4-hour documentary that is harrowing, yet must-watch television, telling the story of James Safechuck and Wade Robson - now adult men in their 30s - who befriended Michael Jackson at the ages of 10 and 7 respectively.

Through gut-wrenching interview with both as well as their mothers, wives and siblings, Leaving Neverland crafts a portrait of sustained abuse by Michael Jackson over years, and explores the complicated feelings that led both men to confront their experiences after both eventually had sons of their own.

"Bringing Leaving Neverland to Southern African screens is a testament to the fact that M-Net brings the most compelling content to the continent as quickly as possible," says Lani Lombard, M-Net's head of publicity.

"Please note, however, that the documentary is not suitable for younger viewers as it contains strong language, discussions of self-harm and graphic descriptions of child sexual abuse."

Kew Media Group has sold Leaving Neverland in over 130 countries and counting and last week M-Net told TVwithThinus it is looking into possibly acquiring it, which it did.

Jonathan Ford, the executive vice president of sales at Kew Media Distribution, in a statement says "We are seeing unprecedented interest in Leaving Neverland from a host of leading broadcasters and platforms worldwide".

"Dan is an exceptional filmmaker and has delivered an utterly compelling documentary on a very difficult subject. This, along with the continued global scrutiny of Michael Jackson's personal life, is a real factor of this huge demand."

The Simpsons decided to pull an episode a 1991-episode featuring Michael Jackson who did an uncredited appearance, following the revelations of Finding Neverland, with The Simpsons producers saying the documentary's shocking revelations doesn't allow The Simpsons' episode "to remain".

Why this episode of The Simpsons is going away forever and FOX is removing it everywhere and from everything - unless you already have a copy.

A classic episode of The Simpsons is being removed from broadcast, streaming and even DVD - anywhere it exists - with viewers who will never see it again unless you've already downloaded it or have it on a video or DVD box set, and here's why.

The production company of The Simpsons, in their own decision, is removing a 1991 episode of the long-running series that was broadcast on M-Net (DStv 101, then jumping to VUZU (DStv 166) and FOX (DStv 125 / StarSat 131 / Cell C black 201), that features a guest appearance by singer Michael Jackson.

In the third season The Simpsons episode entitled "Stark Raving Dad", Michael Jackson voiced the character of Leon Kompowsky who is a patient in a mental institution, who believes that he is Michael Jackson, and where Homer also ends up temporarily after Bart takes his dad's mental stability test.

When Leon calls and Bart answers and he says "I'm Michael Jackson. It's true. I'm with your father in a mental institution," that is really Michael Jackson speaking.

The episode also contains the song, "Happy Birthday Lisa", that Michael Jackson wrote specifically for this episode of The Simpsons.

When the episode was originally shown, people didn't know that Michael Jackson had lent his voice because his involvement was uncredited until years later, with the name John Jay Smith appearing in the credit list instead.

The pulling of The Simpsons episode comes after the controversial HBO documentary film series, Leaving Neverland, distributed globally by the Kew Media Group, was first screened at the Sundance Film Festival and this past week on HBO in the United States.

It tells the story of two boys, Wade Robson and James Safechuck - now in their 30s - who describes in horrific detail how they were allegedly sexually abused by Michael Jackson from the ages of 7 and 10.

Kew Media Distribution already sold Finding Neverland to 130 countries and territories including the United Kingdom, the Middle East and New Zealand. TVwithThinus asked M-Net last week if it had acquired it and the pay-TV channel said it doesn't have it yet but would look into it.

About the scrubbing of The Simpsons episode, the longtime executive producer, James L. Brooks told The Wall Street Journal that "It feels clearly the only choice to make".

The Simpsons creator Matt Groening and producer Al Jean were in agreement with James L. Brooks to forever bury the specific episode, with Brooks telling the newspaper that "This was a treasured episode. There are a lot of great memories we have wrapped up in that one, and this certainly doesn't allow them to remain."

He said it was important to remove the episode because "the documentary gave evidence of monstrous behaviour" and that the episode must be removed "to show compassion for Michael Jackson's alleged victims".

Removing The Simpsons episode from all broadcast, syndication, streaming, DVD and other platforms will take time but James L. Brooks said that "the process has started".

BREAKING. 'This Is It' red carpet premiere shown on Vuzu.

You're reading it here first. On the global pop culture diary, next week is obviously Michael Jackson week. (Unless of course, you've been living under a rock.)

I can be first to tell you to get ready to stay up late or set the VCR or PVR.
Vuzu (DStv 123) got the rights to broadcast the red carpet premiere of Michael Jackson's Michael Jackson - This Is It movie premiere on Wednesday morning, 28 October from 01:45 to 02:45. Michael Jackson - This Is It is a movie montage celebration, culled from the more than 100 hours of video footage of the live rehearsals just before the singer's death for his upcoming British tour. He would have performed in Londen's O2 Arena.

Vuzu also brings fans an EXCLUSIVE screening of Michael Jackson - This Is It on Friday, 30 October at the Cresta Mall in Johannesburg and the youth channel has 5 double tickets to give away as prizes.

To win one of these 5 double tickets you have to go and create a Vuzu profile on the website here, upload  your moonwalk (or basically just your best MJ moves, or a photo of you as the ''the gloved one'' aka in any MJ gear). Then send an email to competitions@vuzu.tv with your usename and profile link to let the channel know that you've entered.

The winners will be announced on Monday (26 Oct) on Vuzu's official website and on the daily Vuzu entertainment showbiz roundup show, V Entertainment.


In other related news of course, Michael Jackson - This Is It has also passed the 180 000 mark for TICKET PRE SALES in South Africa, breaking the record for the movie with most advanced tickets sold in South Africa . . . EVER.

On Wednesday morning at 02:00 I will be at the exclusive worldwide premiere event with Ster-Kinekor joining in the global release of the movie. Ster-Kinekor is joining the global event with 02:00 screenings at SK Fourways in Johannesburg, SK Gateway in Durban, Cavendish in Cape Town (where I will be) and SK Sterland in Pretoria.

After the official premiere, the movie will be on circuit for a 2 week limited release (normal times and ticket prices apply.

Ster-Kinekor will also be putting up a special, what they call ''Celebratory Wall'' at selected cinemas. This will celebrate the King of Pop's life and work. Moviegoers will be able to write personal messages that will be collected by Ster-Kinekor for a bound album to be sent to the Jackson family in acknowledgement of the contributions he made to Africa.

UPDATE 11:40 - I just got word that the DStv sister channels, Channel O (DStv 320) and mk (DStv 324) will also be carrying the red carpet premiere live at the same time as Vuzu (DStv 123).