Michael, Farrah: Why We're Fascinated and What We Should Do About It

Welcome to the aftermath of Michael Jackson's death. Take your shoes off. Stay awhile.

The sudden passing last week of the King of Pop, and the death of Charlie's Angels alum/artist Farrah Fawcett, have brought out the news cameras and spawned a smorgasbord of big bold headlines. So, now that the red carpet has been rolled out for the biggest media blitz of the year, what have we really learned?

•That Jackson left an indelible imprint in the hearts and minds of millions? (We already knew that.)

•That the passing of Fawcett, a courageous lady whose brave efforts to be seen as a serious actress -- and a cancer victim who was determined never to give up yet destined to go out with dignity -- would somehow be overshadowed by Jackson's death? (We saw that one coming.)

•That we've already forgotten that Ed McMahon, Billy Mays, Fred Travalena, Gale Storm and Karl Malden died in the past week, too? (R.I.P. Ed, Billy, Fred, Gale and Karl.)

Here's the thing: The media soiree surrounding the death of Jackson and, to some extent, Fawcett, could be teaching us something on a deeper level. We need to ask ourselves, why we were so fascinated -- and still seem to be -- by these individuals in the first place? What was it that caused us to take a second look and, inevitably, be enthralled?

Most likely, we were inspired by them. But, if that is/was the case -- if we were truly inspired by Jackson and Fawcett and McMahon and Mays and Travalena and Storm and Malden -- then we really ought to take that fascination and idolization and ask ourselves what we can do with it.

Grieving is inevitable. Let's not underestimate the significance of that. But in the 21st century Twitterverse we suddenly find ourselves in, we tend to immortalize and idolize that pretty thing "out there" and often sit in a state of static fascination about it, taking few positive actions to "pay it forward." (See Right Wing Christianity 101.)

We're bigger than that. We're stronger than that.

I propose that Jackson, Fawcett et al arrived -- and left -- not only to spark admiration, but also to give us an opportunity to take the gifts they left behind, and give something back to ourselves and to the people in our lives.

What's the alternative? To be left stranded in our living rooms in front of the wide screen, simply bug-eyed and transfixed, our hanging jaw scraping the carpet as we give birth to a serious case of rug-burn?

(To all shag carpet hanger-ons: Don't say I didn't warn you.)

Farrah Fawcett: 1947-2009

Ed McMahon: 1923-2009

Karl Malden: 1912-2009

Fred Travalena: 1942-2009

Billy Mays: 1958-2009

Gale Storm: 1922-2009

**Photo of Jermaine Jackson (top), at Neverland Ranch in an NBC interview with Matt Lauer, taken by Trae Patton.

Follow Greg Archer on Twitter: www.twitter.com/chroniccharlie

Comments

[Merlin7]

Well, 95 percent of us were not fascinated by these characters and are not very interested in their demise.
It suits the media to pretend that the general public cares about celebrities because that allows the media to obsess about these matters instead of doing their real job of informing the public about what's going on in the world. The mainstream media have never done their job very well, but in recent years they seem to have abondoned their informative role almost entirely in favor of government press releases, corporate shilling and assorted celebrity nonsense.

What's especially disturbing is that MSM news budgets appear to originate from some central source. Often they will cover the same story in precisely the same way with precisely the same emphasis -- something that just wouldn't happen if they weren't being choreographed. (I was a journalist for many years and know a media fix when I see one.)

It's all pretty sleazy and increasingly ominous for those of us concerned about the future of our democracy. And now we are supposed to forget about soaring deficit, out-of-control military-industrial complex and staggering economy to focus on poor Michael Jackson's drug problems? Sorry, I don't think so.

[darker]

what we should do about it?
get a life.

[TenThings]

Poor Fred Travalina - what a great talent. Glad you mentioned him here.

You know, since the beginning of the Movie Star system, made up by Americans, around the early part of the 20th century, people have always been fascinated with celebrity deaths.

Does anybody remember who else died when pop Icon, Rudolph 'Valentino died in 1926?

There are those that die, and then there are those that D.I.E..

I'm sure if you IMDB 1926, you'd find the equivalent of sex symbols like Farrah, sidekicks like the McMahons, pitchmen such a s Billy Mays, etc. but people remember when Valentino died.

Go Figure..