Today show host, Matt Lauer, interviewed Michael Jackson’s older brother, Jermaine Jackson, this morning and was given a rare behind-the-scene glimpse of Jackson’s beloved Neverland Ranch.

It was a very emotional discussion, of course, with Jermaine speaking candidly about his brother’s death a week ago today.

He recalled how he learned about the tragic news: “She was crying, saying he was dead. To hear my mother say, ‘Michael is dead,’ to feel and hear the tone in her voice to say her child is dead, is nothing that anyone can ever imagine.  I tried to console her but I wanted to see Michael and I wanted to see my brother. To see him there lifeless and breathless was very emotional for me. But I held myself together because I knew he’s very much alive in his spirit, and that was just a shell. But I kissed him on his forehead, and I hugged him, and I touched him and I said Michael, ‘I’ll never leave you. You’ll never leave me.’”

Even more heartwrenching was what he said next:  “I don’t know how people are going to take this, but I wish it was me.  I’ve always felt that I was his backbone; someone to — someone to be there for him.”

I’ve been wondering how Michael’s three children have been coping.  On that subject, Jermaine said that they took the kids to see Michael after he had died: “I know it’s tough, but I think it was the best thing to do. At first I was against it, but what do you say if you don’t show them?”

The children a currently in the care of Michael’s mother, Katharine, which would have been his wishes, according to his will.  Jermaine said: “I thought it was a great will because the children are fine, my mother’s the perfect person to be there, and it’s definitely him.”

He also led Lauer around the massive grounds of Neverland Ranch.

Jermain also spoke of his brother’s strength: “Michael has always been a person who was against anything like that. But I’m not saying it’s right, because it’s not right, but in this business the pressures and things that you go through, you never know what one turn(s) to.”

While funeral plans are still being made, Jermaine did comment on the speculation that Michael could be buried at Neverland: “This is his home. He created this. Why wouldn’t he be here?”

Watch the interview:

SEE MORE PICTURES OF NEVERLAND RANCH AFTER THE JUMP!

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Regis Philbin had the day off so Kelly Ripa co-hosted the show yesterday with her husband, Mark Consuelos.  It was hilarious when they talked about their two-week long road trip with their children.  Instead of jet-setting around the world, the pair elected to travel with their three children in a rented minivan. 

When they showed pictures of the kids as they visited a variety of sights on the trip, I seriously cracked up because their oldest son, 12-year-old Michael, refused to smile in any pictures.

Image: INF

The Black Eyed Peas were on the Today show’s Summer Concert Series this morning where they performed their hit “Boom Boom Pow” which, as Matt Lauer explains, has been at the top of Billboard’s Hot 100 for 10 weeks. 

I really didn’t like the song at first but once it grew on me, I couldn’t stop singing it.  I think they did a good job considering how tough it’s got to be to do a song like that one outside early in the morning (I see will.i.am got some “assistance” during the autotune sections but I guess that is to be expected).  They looked great too but can I ask what’s up with Fergie’s weird nails?

Despite all of their success, my favorite Peas song remains “Let’s Get It Started” but this new album The E.N.D. features a new kind of sound for them so maybe their best song is yet to come.  They also performed their second single from the album “I Gotta Feeling” which is already catching on even though it’s only been out a week.  If you watch television you’ll be hearing a lot more of it since it’s been chosen by CBS to promote their upcoming fall lineup.

image credit: splashnewsonline.com

Mark Consuelos, the hunky husband of talk show host, Kelly Ripa, was apparently offered a spot on Dancing With the Stars but there’s basically zero chance of him learning the Fox Trot.  Of the opportunity, Mark said: "I’d rather jump through a plate glass window on fire than dance in front of America."  

What about Kelly?  We’ve all seen her do some outlandish and over-the-top things in the past.  Does she want her husband to accept the offer?  Not in a million years, according to Mark.  "She knows how bad I am. It would be so, so bad."

Too bad!  I would love to see him all dressed up in one of those Dancing outfits! 

Kelly Ripa and my favorite guest co-host, Anderson Cooper, had a lot of fun together, as usual this week.  They kicked off the morning with a little banter about shoe sizes and the perfect attendance of one high school graduate who, they speculated, has probably infected dozens of her classmates (that was my first thought) since she’s never missed a day of school since Kindergarten.

Here are some great pictures of Kelly and Anderson hosting the Ultimate Hometown Grill Off.  Don’t forget, if you watched the show, voting for the best brisket nominee runs from today until Sunday, June 7, 2009. 

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Actress, Denise Richards, was seen arriving at the CBS studios for an appearance on The Early Show where she talked about the premiere of the second season of her reality TV show Denise Richards: It’s Complicated.   You can watch the video of the interview with co-anchor, Maggie Rodriguez. 

In the meantime, look at this fantastic pictures of the mother of two!  I think her hair looks amazing!

Talk show host/model/businesswoman, Tyra Banks, was spotted at the Calvin Klein Collection and Visionaire 56 Solar launch at The Standard Hotel yesterday in New York City.  From what I’ve read, Calvin Klein’s collaboration with Visionaire is pretty significant since “Visionaire 56 Solar is the first publication to use patented, formulated inks that have the ability to transform black and white images into brilliant colour.”  That’s amazing and completely relevant to the fashion industry!

To be very honest, I don’t think she looks all that well in these pictures but maybe it’s just the heat from the summer?  I love the dress and the shoes since they look so crisp and nice for this time of year but Tyra just looks warn out and tired. 

Daytime talk show host, Regis Philbin, attended the Disney & ABC Television Group Summer Press Junket at the ABC offices in Burbank, CA over the weekend and I think he looked really spectacular.  I’m not sure I would have picked those colors but he looks tanned and healthy.  It’s hard to believe that we all thought he might retire last year after he had heart surgery.  I’m happy he’s looking so well and is working as hard as ever!

Talk show host, Kelly Ripa, and her incredibly handsome husband, Mark Consuelos, were spotted at the 69th Annual American Ballet Theatre Spring Gala at The Metropolitan Opera House yesterday.  I’m guessing the weather in New York City is fairly warm because Kelly looked comfortable (and really stunning) in her strapless dress.

Sherri Shepherd looked beautiful as she attended Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People of 2009 event at the Lincoln Center in New York City.  The View host looks like she’s got a bag filled with goodies!  I wonder what’s in it!?

 
Photo by Justin Campbell/BuzzFoto.com