Jacko Steps Up Fight with TV Journo

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Lawyers for Michael Jackson -- who was the reality-show king earlier this month, until the "Joe Millionaire" finale came along -- requested a court injunction in London Monday to block British journalist Martin Bashir's TV company from releasing unused footage filmed during "Living with Michael Jackson," reports the Associated Press.

Jackson, 44, has complained he felt "more betrayed than perhaps ever before" by the program, which was produced for Granada TV and was seen by a staggering 27 million viewers when ABC aired it on Feb. 6. (The "Joe Millionaire" finale was seen by nearly 40 million viewers.)

In the documentary, Jackson blithely revealed that he has let children sleep in his bed. Bashir also expressed concern about the musician's treatment of his three children: Prince Michael I, 6, Paris Michael, 4, and 11-month-old Prince Michael II.

Jackson and his company MJJ Productions Inc. said in a statement that they were seeking an injunction against Granada so that it cannot use unseen footage until other issues between Jackson and Bashir are settled -- specifically, whether the journalist "breached the terms on which he was permitted to film Jackson.

"Consistently Michael Jackson has argued that Martin Bashir and Granada broke the agreement by which he was permitted to film Michael, concerning ownership of the filmed material and permissions relating to the inclusion of the Jackson children," reads the statement.

Granada has vowed to fight the injunction vigorously. A hearing is expected this Friday.