Judge OKs Jackson film, to debut in Oct.

Los Angeles — A judge greenlit a major Michael Jackson movie deal Monday, and the film is scheduled to be in theaters later this year. The accompanying Michael Jackson merchandise will have to wait — for now.

The film, crafted from hundreds of hours of behind-the-scenes and rehearsal footage shot in Los Angeles weeks before Jackson was to kick off his 50 “This is It” concerts in London, will also feature interviews with Jackson’s friends and collaborators. Portions of the movie will be shown in 3-D and is slated to arrive in theaters Oct. 30.

Fans will have to wait a bit longer before official Jackson merchandise hits store shelves or a museum exhibit of the singer’s memorabilia is displayed.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Mitchell Beckloff delayed approving a pair of lucrative contracts after attorneys for Jackson’s mother, Katherine, raised a series of objections. Attorneys spent hours trying to work out a deal, but Beckloff ultimately delayed a ruling and appointed an independent attorney to represent Jackson’s three children in estate matters.

It is unclear how much the deals are worth, but attorneys for the companies advocating them said the delay could cost Jackson’s heirs a substantial amount of money.

Results of Jackson autopsy to stay sealed

Los Angeles — Coroner’s investigators have completed their probe into the death of Michael Jackson but are not releasing the results yet, authorities said Monday.

The Los Angeles County coroner’s office said police investigators requested that facts about what killed Jackson remain under a security hold while detectives investigate the events leading up to the pop icon’s death.

Neither the coroner’s office nor the Police Department would indicate when the results might be made public.

Jackson died June 25 after his personal physician, Dr. Conrad Murray, found him not breathing in bed. Despite efforts to revive him, Jackson never regained consciousness.

Investigators have been trying to determine to what extent medications may have contributed to his death at age 50. Murray told investigators he administered the powerful anesthetic propofol and multiple sedatives to Jackson in the hours before he died, a law enforcement official told The Associated Press. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the investigation is ongoing.

Murray’s attorney, Edward Chernoff, has previously said the doctor did not prescribe anything that “should have” killed Jackson.

Fox to air two-hour ‘Octomom’ special

New York — The Fox network said Monday it will air a two-hour special on the life of “Octomom” Nadya Suleman, based on footage bought from an online company that paid for access to her life.

Called “Octomom: The Incredible Unseen Footage,” Fox has scheduled the show for 7 p.m. Aug. 19.

Suleman, already a single mother of six, gave birth to octuplets Jan. 26. Curiosity about Suleman turned to some outrage after it became clear that the single, unemployed mother had been using student loans and Social Security disability payments to help pay for her children’s care.

Last month, a California judge appointed a lawyer to oversee the estate of the octuplets, saying he wanted to make sure they weren’t exploited by paid ventures like reality shows.

Footage of Suleman caring for her children was shot by RadarOnline, which struck its own deal with the mother for access. RadarOnline sold access to the footage to a production company, Pilgrim Films & Entertainment, for an undisclosed fee, and Pilgrim made the deal for the special with Fox.

Suleman was not involved in the deal, although Fox executive Mike Darnell said the network and Pilgrim had set up a “six-figure” account for the children.

Kate Gosselin still wears wedding ring

New York — Kate Gosselin said her marriage to Jon would have failed whether it played out in the glare of a TV reality show or not.

“Was (divorce) a product of the show? I feel like it would have happened anyway — cameras on or cameras off,” she said.

Appearing on NBC’s “Today” Monday, Kate Gosselin discussed her separation from her husband, which was announced in June on their TLC network reality show, “Jon & Kate Plus 8.”

Despite their separation, both parents continue with the hit show, which documents the challenges of raising twins and sextuplets.

“In everybody’s life, you make sacrifices,” Gosselin said, referring to her staying with the show. “Everybody has to work. Everybody has a job. Ours is a very unique job. …

“I still feel like this is a good thing. It’s healthy. And the kids would agree.”

Gosselin told “Today” host Meredith Vieira that she still wears her wedding ring for the sake of her eight children, but feels a lot of failure that the marriage is over.

Austin City Limits honored by hall of fame

Austin, Texas — Johnny Cash, B.B. King, Willie Nelson, Bonnie Raitt, Elvis Costello — they’re among the legions of music legends who have graced the stage of the famed Austin City Limits television music show.

That storied history and the show’s lengthy run of 35 years propelled the program to a new honor Monday as an official historic site designated by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum.

The Texas-based music show studio will join nine other designated rock and roll landmarks across the country.

Austin City Limits, which is broadcast nationally on PBS, has hosted more than 800 performances on its stage from assorted musical genres, said executive producer Terry Lickona. It was inspired by the Austin live music scene, but its musical performers have hailed from around the world.