I must be losing it. I'm finding myself near-obsessed with the Michael Jackson story and all its bizarro, sordid and sensationalistic details. From Larry King's nightly hour-long expert-testimony-filled JackoFests to Matt Lauer's morning Today Show tours through Neverland, I've become like a jammie-clad high school girl catatonically-captivated by The Hills. The only thing missing is the incessant texting to my pals to gab about it all.
Let's face it, if you're into train wrecks, it doesn't get much better than this. In the age of reality television, this is the ultimate real-life family freak show. Welcome to The Dead King of Bel Air. The life and death of Michael Jackson is a deliciously perfect blend of The Swan, Wife Swap, The Bachelor, American Idol, Celebrity Rehab, Survivor, Cops and The Surreal Life. And I'm fucking hooked.
There's one helluva ensemble cast in this sideshow. We have Papa Joe Jackson, the verbally and physically abusive patriarch who mourned his son's death by immediately basking in the limelight of the BET Awards while practically hawking T-shirts from his trunk. There's sister Janet, who also chose the BET stage to share her pain. There's brother Jermaine, whose healing process required a little Neverland facetime with Lauer . There's also Diana Ross, who likely is about as surprised to learn she's the children's back-up guardian as I would be if I was in the will. (By the way, if something happens to me I think I'd like Joni Mitchell to raise my young daughter. Joni's mature, mellow, sings great and probably has a mad-cool house in Laurel Canyon. Nah, that's a dumb idea. Better stick with the existing plan).
We also have the shameless, attention-starved, sycophantic, blood-sucking media-whore leeches Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson, who've been about as ubiquitous as Gov. Mark Sanford's love life this past week. Rumor has it that the Dynamic Duo of Dogma are fighting over who gets to eulogize MJ who, a week after his death, is still not buried. I guess when the family's too busy attending awards shows and giving Neverland tours that leaves little time for funerals. Apparently, they can't find the proper place for Michael's grand send-off. Seems like the Rose Bowl, Staples Center and Dodger Stadium are all booked. May I suggest a quaint little church in the Valley perhaps? One large enough to accommodate family and close friends? Ya know, the way other people do it? This is supposed to be a funeral, not a fucking Jackson Reunion Tour. How about just putting the man in the ground with some dignity already?
I suspect the Jackson Family Circus is about to get even more
freakish though. We've yet to to hear from Debbie Rowe, the surrogate who bore two of MJ's kids, and whether or not she's gonna fight to get them back. We've yet to hear from the Supreme Diva herself, Ms. Ross, who's either out at Toys R' Us stocking up on goodies or huddled with her lawyers and publicists. There's the 2002 Will and Testament, which may or may not actually be the "Last." There's the certain legal battles over Jackson's bazillions and the greedy landgrab that'll come from all sides. There's the much-anticipated toxicology report and official autopsy results, which may or may not paint a sad tale of a drug-riddled overdosed cultural icon. Then there's the countless nurses, doctors, lawyers, promoters, colleagues, spiritual advisors and friends who are crawling out of the woodwork to share the juicy lurid details of Michael's life in their insatiable quest for their proverbial 15 minutes. We're also sure to have more tell-all books, TV shows and bio-pics than we could ever have imagined. And speaking of movies, here's a little prediction: "The Michael Jackson Story," starring girlfriend-beating pop star Chris Brown in a career-reviving role. The back-story is tremendous: one tortured soul portraying another.
To be sure, Jackofest is going to be with us for a very, very long time.
The media are trying to have it both ways: They're exploiting Jackson's creepy, horrifying life while simultaneously trying to burnish the image of the talented boy singer on the verge of his big comeback.
Nevertheless, we are talking about a WORLD icon who was a trailblazer, having changed entertainment history, as well as having been an international humanitarian. And believe it or not, as an African American, MJ broke down many racial barriers that opened the hearts and minds of people to allow other African Americans like Oprah Winfrey, and Barack Obama to be able to succeed. Michael did much more than sing and dance well. The repercussions of his success and his fame had an immense effect on Black America socially as well as the world.
I found it only befitting that someone from his family spoke at the BET Awards, which was changed in 2 days to become a tribute to him (albeit not a great production). I find a your comment to be judgmental in a way that is passive aggressively prejudiced. if MJ had passed before the American Music Awards or the Grammy Awards and Janet spoke during a tribute to him, would you have made the same comment?
I did, however, happen to read Bob Herbert's op-ed article about Michael Jackson in today's NY Times (Sunday, July 5). It strikes me that this article is worth a read.
"In many ways we descended as a society into a fantasyland, trying to leave the limits and consequences and obligations of the real world behind"
frenzy&hysteria as a form of denial.
For the record, I am so turned off by "pop culture" that I cannot identify a single tune by Michael Jackson
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HAHA!! That's a lie. Everyone knows at least one Michael Jackson song. That's like saying you don't know who the president of the United States is....
Sure, Jacksons death has created a media frenzy. But the attention they recieve is fueled by the people who watch it. What is sad, is how there are people dying everyday because we are at war, and here a pop icon dies, and suddenly everything has to stop. The Jacksons maybe a controversial family, but only because they are in the spot light and have been exploited by media, and turned into characatures. And who gives them that power? the audience. Your blog post saddens me, because the obsession with Michael Jacksons death, and the misunderstanding you promote, are exactly why American culture is empty and superficial. He was an excellent artist, a genius, and it is sad that the last years of his life he was turned into a monster.
I think we watch not because the Jacksons are so different but because at some level, they really aren't that different at all.
RIP MJ....obviously a lot people loved your music.....
Unfortunetately in our bizarre culture, Jackson's death appears to be great for our economy.
I am old enough to believe that Elvis was the greatest ever. If the Jacksons are smart, they will bury MJ at Neverland and turn it into another Graceland. Memphis and the Presley's make a fortune off of Graceland.
I loved "Waitress" and I thought Adrienne was absolutely brilliant as a writer and actress. I hate that we won't be able to see more of her talent. I send my sympathy to you and her family for that dreadful loss.
"Now that the spender is gone, the Estate is even gonna get bigger"
That should explain Joe the Jackson's behavior. They don't care about him, they only care about what is in it for them. All of them, save the kids.
Besides, Celebrities live the life of ridiculousness in these times. You have to be crazy to be a celebrity in these times.
Look at Farrah Fawcett, broadcasting her failing health on National TV , while trying to avoid lawsuits pertaining to said subject. You think, who surrounds these celebrities?.
Likewise, poor Ed McMahon was fodder for the press over the last 2 years of his life, as he was almost evicted from his Mansions and couldn't pay the mortgages,
Celebrities die, than there our those, that ten years later, you truly see the effects of their death and disappearance from the Planet, Michael Jackson truly is one of them.
What's the better option? Having a known abuser have direct access to them, or split them up and give two of them to a mother who relinquished them for money?
Have a heart, grief has a way of bringing out either the best or the worst in families. This family and the world have lost a genius. The world views him as an icon but for the family he's a son, brother, uncle, cousin, father and so on. Just put yourself in their shoes before you judge them?
This family is an outstanding one that America and the world should really be proud of!
You can't possibly be serious.
#2. I do not judge anyone. I merely comment on actions and bahavior on its face
#3 "Outstanding" family? Really? C''mon...no seriously...really...c'mon...are you serious? Really? That's a joke, right?
Best wishes to you and totally enjoyed your post as I too have been fighting my addiction to the coverage this week.