The theatre of the absurd that is the Trial Of Michael Jackson premiered last night. Details about Jackson's alleged sordid bedroom behaviour with his sleep-over kiddie pals -- as introduced last night in shocking opening arguments -- should hook viewers for months.

The nightly, half-hour recreations (airing locally on Star! at 7 p.m. and MuchMoreMusic at 9 p.m.) are taken from transcripts of the previous day's testimony. (Cameras were banned from the real courtroom.) Actors play all the key roles, including the 46-year-old singer, his lawyers, the judge and the prosecuting attorneys.

It airs in the U.S. on E!, which is, coincidentally, the sound Jackson makes on many of his records.

Actor Edward Moss plays the mock Michael. He sat silent in last night's debut, black wig, white makeup and plastic nose in place.

Despite all the props, Moss is a little too fat in the face for the role. His thick, painted on eyebrows looked more Groucho than Jacko.

He didn't have much to do last night except shift in his seat. If Jackson testifies, Moss, who played the singer in Scary Movie 3, will get plenty of moments.

The producers wisely resisted the temptation to camp it up. There are no musical cues (not even a few bars of Jackson's Gotta Be Startin' Somethin'), no showy graphics.

The courtroom looks a little too well lit and clinical, but at least it doesn't look like a Saturday Night Live set (although it's sure to be spoofed there soon, perhaps making TV history as the first recreation of a re-creation).

The camera movement is a tad too slick, enough to remind viewers that this is a scripted soap, not a documentary.

A young woman with a British accent hosts the show, which is produced by a crew from the U.K.'s Sky News. She somehow helps make it seem less tacky than if Billy Bush or Ryan Seacrest were setting it up, although Joan Rivers would have killed.

The guy playing Jackson's lead lawyer, Thomas Mesereau, is a dead ringer for former NHL great Pat "Whitey" Stapleton.

Before it's through, this transcribed TV drama will make Survivor look like 60 Minutes.