Exclusives

TMZ has obtained a text message from Joe to Abbey Wilson -- his ex-girlfriend who triggered the melee -- sent just hours after the incident.

The text was sent August 28 at 1:11 PM -- the incident happened in the early hours of that same day. Joe wrote:

"Your statement is the truth. That jade threw a drink on me when I was talking to you and I reached around to tap on her shoulder to see who it was. Brody then grabed [sic] my shirt and ripped it partialy [sic] off. I curled up in a ball and covered my face. Joe never touched anyone!!!!!!! Most important!!!!!"

Sources close to the situation tell us Culkin -- who became pretty close with Michael after starring in "Home Alone" in the early 90's -- has made arrangements to be at Glendale Forest Lawn Memorial Park for the burial.

Macaulay Culkin's press agent Michelle Bega tells us, "I can confirm Macaulay Culkin was invited, but I cannot confirm whether or not he is attending the memorial service this evening."

Yesterday, Katherine Jackson filed documents in L.A. County Superior Court, which contained the bill from Forest Lawn. The bill requests payment for security charges, barricade rentals and "temporary invaultment" of Michael's body from the beginning of July.

The exact cost of the bill has been redacted, but a lawyer for the special administrators of Michael's estate said yesterday in court that the final number for everything would be "extraordinary."

Katherine's request to have MJ's estate foot the bill was approved yesterday. In the docs, it says "Payment must be made as soon as possible if the family is to avoid the public embarrassment and added grief, in addition to the inconvenience, inefficiency and unhappiness, of having to make new arrangements for the funeral."

The docs also show the Glendale Police Department "indicated that they will not provide their services without receiving payment prior to rendering those services."

TMZ has learned the Jackson family has an after-party scheduled to begin right after Michael Jackson's funeral tonight -- a party they're calling a "Celebration of Life."

The family will go straight from the Forest Lawn cemetery in Glendale to a place called Villa Sorriso Ristorante -- an Italian joint in Pasadena.

The restaurant's Executive Director of Operations has confirmed that Randy Jackson made the reservation several days ago and "bought out the facility for the night."

The exec also tells us several members of the Jackson family have been regulars at the place for years.

We're told the restaurant is expecting around 275-300 people to attend.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ the only person the LAPD is focusing on in Michael Jackson's homicide investigation is Dr. Conrad Murray.

TMZ has been reporting for weeks that other Jackson docs have been scrutinized by law enforcement and the L.A. County Coroner's office. Sources say, however, Dr. Murray is the only person in their crosshairs in the homicide investigation.

As for the other docs who prescribed to Michael Jackson, they are by no means in the clear. There is an active investigation on several fronts for fraudulent prescription practices as well as prescribing to an addict.

The guy who directed "The Notebook" is finally experiencing the kind of sadness that he made us endure -- the kind of sadness that only a couple million dollars could cure.

Nick Cassavetes -- who's also a prominent movie writer -- has just filed a lawsuit against New Line Cinema claiming they baited him into a big-time project only to drop him right before it was set to go into production.

Cassavetes claims he was originally supposed to "supervise the script" for a movie originally titled "Elephant Orphanage" -- which was later changed to "Peaceable Kingdom." Nick says he agreed to take $275,000 for the job -- along with a promise that he'd get "several million dollars" to later direct the film.

But Nick says the simple "supervision" turned into a complete rewrite -- a service he usually charges $750,000 to do.

In the lawsuit, Cassavetes claims when he finished the script, New Line dropped him as a director ... and then refused to pay him a single penny.

Now, Nick wants $1,050,000 for services he already performed -- plus the "several million dollars" New Line originally promised him for directing.

See, Hollywood really is like "Entourage."

And in a move more transparent than her Playboy spread outfits -- her dinner date last night was of Cuban descent.

We've learned there will be a special guest singing at Michael Jackson's burial tomorrow night: Gladys Knight.

Knight's rep confirmed the singer -- who knew Michael when he was little and once shared the same manager with him -- will perform at tomorrow's service.

The service will take place at Glendale Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, CA.

Because one Power Ranger story today just isn't enough, here's one more: The Black Ranger just pled not guilty to DUI.

Lawyers for Walter Jones -- the dude who donned black spandex to fight Rita Repulsa as "Zack Taylor" back in the day -- were in an Alabama court yesterday to enter the plea.

Jones was arrested back in July when cops said he was driving while hammered around 4 AM.

A trial has been set for mid-November.

Law enforcement sources tell us the L.A. County Sheriff's Department is currently reviewing the footage from Guys and Dolls, the place where the Battle Royale occurred early Friday morning.

Here are both sides of the story: Jayde says Joe pulled her hair, threw her down, punched her in the face and then kicked her. Joe admits that he pulled Jayde's hair -- after she threw a drink on him -- but that he never laid a finger on her otherwise.

Both claim the security footage backs up their story.

In documents just filed in L.A. County Superior Court, Andrea Gross says AM had already hired a real estate broker to sell his house, and that her son was about to "accept an offer at the time of his death."

Andrea wants the court to allow her to finalize the sale. The two bedroom, two bathroom house -- pictured above -- is on the market for $699,000.

AM's mother also wants the court to allow her to negotiate settlements of the lawsuits he filed after the 2008 airplane crash he survived along with Travis Barker.

UPDATE: A judge has granted Andrea's requests.

DJ AM's mother just filed documents in L.A. County Superior Court, which say he did not have a will.

His mother, Andrea Gross, is listed as the sole heir.

The documents list AM's annual income from property at $3.5 million, plus an additional $400,000 in assets. The docs list his debts at $2.9 million.

DJ AM had no spouse or children.

Jackson's family had a minor obsession with the "Ricotta Doughnuts" from Market Restaurant in Stamford, CT -- and we've learned boxes of them will be shipped tonight for the service.

Here's the dessert's delectable description: Cinnamon-sugared doughnuts made with fresh ricotta, crushed amaretti cookies and a creme angalaise.

TMZ has learned Hayden Christensen's brother, producer Tove Christensen, was arrested early this morning for felony assault with a deadly weapon -- when he allegedly dragged his girlfriend around 30 feet after she clung to the side of his car.

LAPD responded to a 911 call in Hollywood around 2:30 AM after an argument broke out between the couple. Witnesses told law enforcement that Christensen pushed her to the ground and hopped in his car -- but when his GF reached inside to grab her purse, Tove hit the gas and dragged her down the street.

When police arrived, the girlfriend had visible marks on her arm. They later tracked down Tove at his L.A. home and arrested him.

He's currently being held on $30,000 bail.

The drama began back in May, when Julien's Auction House filed documents saying they couldn't return the property to Michael because someone else was trying to claim it too: Dr. Tohme Tohme.

In new documents filed by Julien's, they say Dr. Tohme² still hasn't signed release papers for the property -- which is the final step in returning Michael's stuff to its rightful owner.

We spoke to Jerry Hawxhurst -- a lawyer for Julien's -- who said Tohme has had the papers for nearly a month. Jerry said if Tohme doesn't sign the papers within the next few weeks, he'll have to take MJ's estate and Tohme to court.

Jerry said this would be "completely unnecessary" and a waste of time and money.

TMZ spoke with Rabbi Chaim Cunin of Chabad House who gave us the following statement:

"When a woman like her uses public airwaves, with access to millions of wonderful citizens of America, and calls some of the most despicable, unspeakable hate mongers of history brilliant, then something is lacking with her intelligence.

This is a constant reminder of how careful we need to be when we talk about hate, because hatred is always present. We need to make sure we are careful and that hatred doesn't rear it's ugly head.

'I'd like for her to think about some older Holocaust survivor having that comment beamed into their home while they are enjoying the freedom that this beautiful country provides and having to listen to her disgusting comments."