Keith PlocekYesterday was the second day of Dr. Conrad Murray's manslaughter trial for administering the anesthetic that killed Michael Jackson, and it proceeded without sad revelations like Day One's audio of MJ talking, very slowly, about future concert plans.
This didn't stop the characters from hanging out on Temple Street in downtown Los Angeles. As the trial continues, many of these folks will keep coming back, day after day, to bask in the proximity of being anywhere near another chapter in the legal wrangling that followed the death of the King of Pop.
Dozen of reporters sat around outside the courthouse, waiting to broadcast any updates from inside. With the internet, there's pretty much no reason whatsoever for a reporter to file from a location near the physical trial, but old broadcast habits die hard, and maybe that big concrete building in the background adds some gravitas. Maybe. What is certain is that those reporters are going to get bored and start interviewing the people standing outside. Here are six types of onlookers they'll show you over and over again.
Credit: Keith Plocek
6. The MJ Super Fans
We asked this lady whether she was as a fan of judicial procedure or a fan of the King of Pop, and she smiled and slowly pointed at her photos of MJ. And then asked if we wanted to buy a print.
Credit: Keith Plocek
5. The Conrad Murray Super Fans
This contingency is pretty much guaranteed broadcast time. They've got the slickly printed signs and the contrarian opinions. Conrad Murray deserves a fair trial. This is true. But try telling that to everyone else on the sidewalk.
Credit: Keith Plocek
4. The Wonks
Got a question about Propofol's affects on the body? This guy has the answers. He's a soundbite machine in a white coat. And he's definitely not on Conrad Murray's side, in case you were wondering.
Credit: Keith Plocek
3. The Travelers
Those two on the left drove in from Northern California and that young lady on the right came all the way from Alabama. Alabama gets the win, for now. Just how far will people come to stand outside the trial? Time will tell.
Credit: Keith Plocek
2. The Impersonators
You're always going to look twice, because what if Michael Jackson really isn't dead and he came to check out the trial? But alas, he's dead. No really, he's dead. There are pictures and everything.
Credit: Keith Plocek
1. The Media
Give it a couple weeks, and the media will become the stars of the trial. Has the media coverage influenced the jury? Are media outlets spending too much time covering the trial? Are they exploiting Michael Jackson's death? These kinds of questions can only be answered by the media. Did we mention the media?
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