Trial update: Randy on the stand

TRIAL FIREWORKS: During his second day on the stand Thursday, AEG Live head Randy Phillips testified that he never consulted a shrink to help Michael Jackson despite the urgings of tour director Kenny Ortega and production manager John Hougdahl. In one of several emails displayed to jurors, Hougdahl wrote, "I have watched him deteriorate in front of my eyes over the last 8 weeks. He was able to do multiple 360 spins back in April. He'd fall on his ass if he tried it now." According to Hougdahl, Jackson said earlier that night after watching a pyrotechnics demonstration, "You aren't going to kill the artist, are you?" adding that he didn't appear to be referring to the fireworks. Ortega wrote to Phillips that Jackson had been "trembling, rambling and obsessive," and seemed unable to rehearse due to "real emotional stuff."In another email, Phillips told Jackson's business manager, Michael Kane, he believed the singer might have breached his contract by missing rehearsals, the AP reports. "And I thought it couldn't get worse," Kane responded. Phillips said Kane had been seeking a $1 million advance for Jackson against the earnings of his This Is It shows. Phillips denied that he ever threatened Jackson over missed rehearsals. "We would have never dealt with Michael that way," he said. He also rejected the idea that he was responsible for Jackson's health. "I'm not responsible for his medical needs," Phillips said. "We're promoters—that's what we do." Phillips' claim contradicts his repeated statements after Jackson's death that M.J. was his best friend. No one heard him say then that he was just the promoter. (6/7a)