COURTESY OF MTV.COM FOR THE CHAT
11 pm EST/8 pm PST, Feb. 19, 2001


thanks to 2getherdotcom.com for providing the following transcript

Evan:
who were there to support his family and friends and to celebrate his life... and it was also important for me to be there so I could experience my own loss directly.

mark231:
What is the last episode like w/ Mike, can you tell us anything about it?

Roger:
The last episode that featured Michael is about the band arguing over who wrote a song they're about to perform on stage..and it turned out very funny.
After that Michael was too weak to appear.

LC_Elyse:
Do you have any special memories about him that you would share w/ us?

musical_angel_04:
What was your favortie moment w/h im, just to get you thinkin of the god times, instead of the bad

Roger:
We had a girl who got to visit the set and her favourite band member was Michael
He was home sick and very dispapointed. I called him @ home and asked him speak w/ her
I don't know what he said to her but her face lit up and it made her entire weekend
& it just showed me how he was able to give joy to people even when suffering.

Brian:
That's not an unusual story... Michael having gone through so much turmoil
in his whole life.. had an amazing ability to conect w/ others. He was able to find what people most needed and respond to it, completely overlooking his own needs.
I look back at that w/ sadness but also much joy... that he was able to comfort people around him, even during his sickness.

Evan:
I knew Michael for @ least 2 days before I even knew he was a cancer survivor which speaks to how little Michael wants people to see him in a symphathetic light.
In other words Michael didn't want people to feel sorry for him---not as a victim. His cancer was simply a reason for him to do his life's work and live life the way he did.

Noahsgrl01:
My 2 friends just died too of drunk driving I was wondering if there is any advice that you can give that will help this pain go away

Helen:
I don't know when your friend died--buty my granddaughter recently had a friend die in a car accident and one of the things they did was a lot of rituals around the funeral
They had a collage of pictures depicting her life--they had a ribbon that they made w/ her fave colour. The mother of the child who died asked the girls to pick up the clothes that her daughter would wear in the casket.
Messages were written on helium balloons as well as on the tree that the car crashed on--but the importance of this is that rituals help w/ healing.
It is also useful to understand the process of grief--understanding this process helps normalize the way you are feeling.
I would suggest you find people you can talk to--either your counsellor @ school or find a support group or read a book on grief.

mlw02: Is there a way that the fans at home could help?

Brian:
One way is to make a donation to the Michael Cuccione Foundation for Cancer Research that address is on the MTV site and we will put it up @ the end of the chat

elf21284:
How many episodes from this season will Michael actually be in?

Brian:
He's in 4 of the 6 episodes... to different degrees. In 2 he's featured prominently... the other 2 he has more of a supporting role.

ashleejune:
Evan, how does this inspire you tolife life to the fullest?

Evan:
Well, for one thing I don't take anything for granted... Another thing is I don't wait around for things to happen. I seize opportunities and I think the way it has most profoundly affected my life is that I talk to my family members every day and let them know that I love them... it seems really simple but it makes a huge difference

MichaelCsfan4eva:
How would you think your life would be if you had not met Michael?

Evan:
I certainly wouldn't have laughed as much as I have in the last couple of years and I definitely wouldn't have enjoyed going to work as much as I did
I also fell I learned a lot from Michael... he understood what life was about real early and it wasn't really complicated for him... I think we can all learn from that.

MusicalBliss:
From what I saw on the show, Michael seemed like a very postive person, was that just QT or was it really Michael?

Roger:
One thing that the character QT and Michael had in common was an incredible sense of joy and optimism... the harder things got for Michael he smiled
And he looked @ life as something to be enjoyed and not to be feared... I think some of those qualities came through when he portrayed QT

queenbee1070:
It was obvious to me that on tonight's show Michael was very ill. Was it difficult to see him like this?

Brain:
Yes... Michael had been sick for much of the production of the show And it was alwyas difficult to see him struggling w/ his illness

Evan:
Had among other things a unique ability to normalize anything he could take anything and have the ability to make others feel comfortable w/ it..
More so than anyone else in his position
If it was @ all easier to see Michael like that it was 'cause Michael made it that way.

Brian:
I'd like to add something as well... Michael was sick when we were shooting this evening's episode, but he was not in a tremendous amount of pain, not suffering... Michael always believe it was better to live your life out in the open, even if you're sick... Seeing him although slightly sick on screen, was also a testament to his courage and lack of shame over his condition.

StarDust1197:
What's the future of the group and the series?

Roger:
That is really up to you, the audience... Michael loved doing the TV show and like any TV show it is dependent on ratings.
If enough people watch the show, it will continue... if not, these episodes will be the last ones.

Moderator:
Thank you for participating in tonight's 2gether chat. We hope that we were able to answer some of your questions and help ease the loss of Michael Cuccione. We will always miss him.
Donations to Michael Cuccione Foundation for Cancer Research would be greatly appreciated so that Michael's dream never dies: The Michael Cuccione Foundation for Cancer Research PO BOX 31081 #8-2929 St. John's St. Port Moody. V3H 4T4

Evan:
Goodbye everybody and thanks again for your wonderful questions--I'll see you next week.

Roger:
Thanx for joining us... Michael was all about laughter, so when you watch the episode, please have a good time

Brian:
Good night everyone...thank you for your warm support and your fond memories of Michael.