Nothing, it seems, will stop the rumors of Michael Jackson's Vegas comeback, not even death.

I spent years on this blog denying that Jackson was capable of mounting a successful Vegas show. I take no pleasure that his premature demise proved me correct. Even in the twisted world of Jackson, it is heartbreaking to read about the real people affected by any death.

Television reporter Alicia Jacobs tweeted about one of the most touching moments in the blanket coverage of all things Jackson when she found herself near Paris Jackson, the late entertainer's daughter, at the AMP hair salon at Palms. As they talked, Paris told Jacobs that she had "been enjoying hanging out @ Palms pool..then rain started. Coolest thing she said is, when it rained, she danced in the rain & loved it!"

After the haircut, Jacobs reported, workers had to gather up all the little girl's cut hair. Jacobs just found that odd. But if you think about what a tabloid might pay for that hair so it could run DNA tests ... .

The strangest thing to me is that the death of Jackson has done nothing to cool speculation that Vegas should create some sort of shrine or tourist destination to the pop singer who ruled the '80s. Why does anyone think this would be successful? I have heard plans to move parts of Neverland Ranch here, other plans for a Jackson-themed show and even a casino, all since the singer's death.

Speculation reached a peak yesterday when Norm Clarke in the Review-Journal wondered if casinos are lining up to make the Jackson family offers. I don't think so. But a lot of others disagree. Most of them are the people like Jack Wishna and stray family retainers who have been talking for years about Jackson projects in Vegas, none of which ever happened. Indeed the headline of Clarke's column took the next step beyond Jackson's legacy drawing crowds and selling tickets in Vegas to in some way arguing that Jackson's popularity may even save Vegas from its current economic doom. The headline: "Can Jackson lift LV to prosperity?"

I would like to answer that clearly: no. There is a tribute in Jackson's honor going on at the Palms for charity and that ought to exhaust the possible future for Jackson memorabilia and music in Vegas. Certainly, Jackson's huge celebrity and untimely demise have been a top story for weeks and the result has been a huge boost in sales of his music. But mourning a celebrity of the caliber of Jackson was going to be outsized no matter his death. That does not suggest a long-term future for impersonators, tribute shows or memorials.

Jackson's musical accomplishments are legendary. And his former collaborators, from Quincy Jones to the more recent ones behind the O2 shows, are fully capable of creating a musical and visual tribute to the performer without Jackson. But who would want to see it? Jackson's unique and individual talent means there will be a gigantic hole at the center that no tribute can fill. And there are aspects of Jackson's life that remain very disturbing. Expect plenty more uncomfortable details to be revealed in tell-all books in the months ahead. Those will sell. Therefore it will be some time before Jackson's work can be taken independently from his controversial life.

By coincidence, there is an auction beginning today at Planet Hollywood including items that once belonged to Michael Jackson. According to the Las Vegas Sun:

"The 21 Jackson- and Jackson 5-related auction items, which include vintage photos of Jackson from the '70s, early concert posters and Jackson-worn costumes, are expected to be sold Friday between 2-5 p.m."

This will be the second Michael Jackson-related auction in Vegas in recent years. The last one in May 2007 (pictured) was at the Hard Rock and provoked, as with most things Jackson, a lawsuit,

The Sun also has the image I remember best of Jackson in Vegas. It was taken on  Nov. 20, 2003. It was a time of typical Jackson craziness. Jackson needed to be on his way back to California to face accusations of child molestation. Instead, Jackson spent two hours or so being driven seemingly randomly through Vegas streets in a black SUV. Following him were the media helicopters, police and fans in cars. Eventually Jackson arrived at Green Valley Ranch resort and casino, directly across the street from my home where I am  typing this now. The photo shows a pale spectral Jackson in the back seat of the SUV with a serene expression. Moments earlier he had been blowing kisses like all the world was a fan. In the photo, Jackson looks like he could be leaving a stadium concert undeterred by the chaos and stress of the car's other occupants, not to mention the nuttiness outside at the edges of the frame. But it was not a concert; it was a freak show. By morning Jackson was on his way back to California. (And there would be more scandal and court time spent over a surreptitious recording made during that plane trip.)

But while it seemed obvious that Jackson was no longer in any condition to be an entertainer, 2003 -- to me,  at least -- was not the end of Jackson's Vegas time; it was a beginning.

On this topic the mainstream media seem endlessly gullible. I don't care what the Wall Street Journal says. And, I don't care what the New York Times offers. Michael Jackson is not going to be doing a show or shows in Vegas any time soon.

As readers of the Buffet know, since December 2006, I have been swatting at rumors of various Michael Jackson comebacks set in Vegas. I have even offered the dude a gig in Vegas myself.

Yet, despite years of nothing happening, the rumors continue. This time the Vegas comeback story got a big boost from the Wall Street Journal, which reports that Colony Capital will be the factor that makes a difference: "Colony Capital, which owns the Las Vegas Hilton and is a major shareholder in closely held Station Casinos, is in discussions with Mr. Jackson to get him back onstage and in the spotlight via a long-term stand in Las Vegas."

As for leverage with Jackson, Colony Capital recently bought the loan on Neverland, a property Jackson has shown little interest in for years. Still, the media fantasies, like Charlie Brown going for the football, have begun again in earnest.

One interesting thing about the rumors is that as time goes by, less seems to be expected of Jackson. In 2006 the talk was that he would become a headliner in the style of Celine Dion. No resort jumped at that. Later comeback versions claimed Jackson would be part of a Jackson family reunion that might even include sister Janet. Nothing came of that either. Now, the Wall Street Journal story has lowered the bar even more: "The most likely option would be to create something like 'Love,' the Cirque du Soleil show built around Beatles tunes. Mr. Jackson wouldn't be a regular part of the performance but would appear for 20 to 30 performances a year, possibly with his brothers."

This is a horrible idea. Who is going to show up on the nights Jackson isn't performing? Is it a one-price lottery on if you get to see Jackson or do the nights the Gloved one is in the house make for a totally different show?

That aside: The Beatles were a studio band when they made much of their best-known music, whereas Jackson's dynamic live performances and videos of his dancing were integral to his success and key reasons his fans from the '80s would spend a fortune to see a concert featuring him.

But I suspect that there is little interest in a reunion of the Jackson 5 in 2008, and, as a solo headliner, Michael Jackson remains a huge risk.

Jackson's draw remains undeniable. But even the Wall Street Journal's story notes that if Jackson were to become a Celine Dion-style Vegas headliner, "the rigors of any such commitment would likely be too taxing for Mr. Jackson." Jackson's long dormant period means he needs to prove himself like a novice performer. And, no novice performer is worth the expense of creating a Michael Jackson show. It is an unsolvable conundrum.

In the end, nothing has really changed since the end of 2006. Only more years have gone by since Jackson's last hit, and he remains an unproven live performer in this century.  The only headlining Jackson has done in Vegas was the May 2007 auction at the Hard Rock of property he once owned (pictured above).

As a rule, Las Vegas resorts do not believe in gambling when it comes to their entertainment. When considering if the Las Vegas Hilton would take a risk on Jackson, it may be instructive to note that Barry Manilow is its current headliner, and his show, by all reports is doing great, with a contract that runs through  2009.

So, I have contacted Colony Capital to confirm that it is interested in having Michael Jackson as a Vegas headliner. It's considering issuing a statement to me later. If I get it, I will post it for you.

For now, I stand by my belief that a Michael Jackson comeback has become a suitably Vegas version of an urban myth.

(Photo by Sarah Gerke)

I became very curious about the photo that appeared yesterday of two of Michael Jackson's children at the Luxor. In the photo, the Jackson kids are shown coming out of an elevator at the pyramid-shaped casino. This apparently is the first time the two children have had their faces exposed by paparazzi.