As the Verdict Comes Down, Pundits' Crystal Balls Go Foggy

"I think he's going to be convicted," Shapiro said, noting that he recently polled 36 judges who had tried cases where prior-acts evidence was admitted, and in 35 instances, there had been convictions.

He also noted helpfully that Jackson would be in jail for six months to two years pending appeal and "from my perspective one day in jail will be more than he can manage."

And over at MSNBC, legal analyst Susan Filan -- among those covering the trial who had been heckled by the Jackson-obsessed crowd outside the court each day -- noted that an eerie calm had descended upon the weirdsmobiles, "almost like in the eye of a hurricane," though she predicted "pandemonium" once the verdict was read.

MSNBC moved on to ponder whether if Jackson was found not guilty of felony counts but guilty of misdemeanor charges he could survive even probation.

When the 46-year-old pop has-been finally arrived, looking wan in sunglasses and a dark suit, FNC noted he did not look well and Gallagher reminded viewers about that ambulance standing nearby. On CNN, viewers learned that if the jurors look at Jackson, it will signal acquittal, but if they don't, it would be bad news for the King of Punchlines.

With seconds to go, former prosecutor and FNC guest Wendy Murphy noted that this was "the exact number of days it took the Scott Peterson jury to reach its verdict.

"Frankly, it is too long for an acquittal, not quite long enough for a hung jury. I don't think it's quite long enough for an outright acquittal. I think there is no question we will see convictions here."

"Really?" Shep Smith asked.

"No questions in terms of the timing," she said. "I don't think there is any doubt," she said, but she hedged a bit, saying the jury might convict on the more minor stuff.

The verdict was read.

Not guilty on all 10 counts.

A big disappointment for the cable news networks, but they soldiered on:

"I certainly did" think it would go the other way, Shapiro confessed on CNN. "I didn't think Michael Jackson would be singing 'Beat It.' . . . He will be doing the moonwalk."

Shapiro said he hoped the public would accept the verdict because the jury is "from a very conservative part of California and if they had no doubt, none of us should have any doubt."

On FNC, a disappointed Murphy suggested that Jackson's nickname be changed from King of Pop to Teflon Molester, adding, "We need IQ tests for jurors."

"These jurors have to go to bed tonight and wake up tomorrow and look at themselves in the mirror. And they basically put targets on the backs of all, especially highly vulnerable, kids that will now come into Michael Jackson's life."

Last night, CBS preempted its sitcom "Still Standing" for a half-hour "48 Hours" broadcast on the verdict, while NBC preempted "Fear Factor" for a "Dateline" special. And what of ABC, the network that arguably started it all when it broadcast the Martin Bashir documentary in which Jackson happily discussed sharing his bed with the then-13-year-old cancer victim at the center of the case? At press time, the network had no plans for a prime-time special on the outcome.

Staff writer John Maynard contributed to this report.