CBS' Michael Jackson show

[lv70smusic]

I admit it: I watched most of this trash TV show last night. Interesting how ready CBS was with an "expose" like this. It makes me wonder how much of it was ready and waiting, like a celebrity's obituary that is obviously written in anticipation of someone's passing. It is also interesting that the network pulled their entertainment-oriented special about MJ that was scheduled for next week while they saw fit to air this "infotainment" program. From what I saw, however, the editorial slant was less harsh than it could have been.

Did anyone else watch this?

[Grant]

I watched it and thought it was just another way to capitalize on MJ's troubles. Hmmmm, they cancel his trubute show for this! I've watched all three, and will watch the one on NBC Dateline tonight.

Well, FOX and CNN also aired one, and NBC will do one. Let's face it, MJ is big news. He's just so unusual.

I hate to say it, but MJ asked for it!

[Dan C]

Actually the CBS show was decently balanced, probably in part because of Harry Smith. They put a lot of Michael's childhood and early career into focus, leading up to his increasingly weird behaviour. It seems inevitable that the poor, lonely, abused kid with amazing talent would eventually become a twisted freak. Very sad.
ABC had a special Friday night as well that seemed a bit more sensational and had nothing new to offer.
Dan C

[Grant]

Originally posted by Dan C

ABC had a special Friday night as well that seemed a bit more sensational and had nothing new to offer.
Dan C

And, no one will have anything new to add until something significant happens. It seems to me that TV jumped on this way too quick.

To get a good story about MJ, I would rather watch something on E, VH-1, A&E, CNN, or FOX. The networks are going to be too tame. They are going to be a bit more freightened of lawsuits.

[lv70smusic]

Wow! I guess I'm glad I don't want that much TV! I didn't realize that everyone has aired or is set to air similar shows, though it makes (commercial) sense now that I think about it.

Originally posted by Grant
I watched it and thought it was just another way to capitalize on MJ's troubles. Hmmmm, they cancel his trubute show for this! I've watched all three, and will watch the one on NBC Dateline tonight.

Well, FOX and CNN also aired one, and NBC will do one. Let's face it, MJ is big news. He's just so unusual.

I hate to say it, but MJ asked for it!

[Grant]

Originally posted by lv70smusic
Wow! I guess I'm glad I don't want that much TV! I didn't realize that everyone has aired or is set to air similar shows, though it makes (commercial) sense now that I think about it.



Let's not forget how Fox, CNN, and CNCNBC, talk about it every hour. At almost any time, you can tune in to one of these cable news networks and see the talking heads give their spin. And the public is very opinionated about all of this too. Also, look how many times we discuss this here on the SH forum? MJ is MAJOR news! He has been since "Thriller"! And he still has legions of fans worldwide!

This is not going away!

[Grant]

The MJ thread in the off-topic forum has been closed for now, but there is new news released today about love letters MJ gave to the accuser. These were part of the items seized in the raid Tuesday. Just saw it on Fox and CNN news. There is more more, but this ain't the forum.

[-=Rudy=-]

MJ is major news only because the media keeps throwing him up in our faces. Not to mention it's ratings month, and the general public has voyeuristic tendencies and, I think, many just want to watch it to hear about the "dirty stuff". It sells ad space on TV.

Yeah, he's an unusual character...but it's so obvious that they feed off each other. He's starved for attention, and the media wants to capture his "weirdness" for the world to see. Personally, he repulses and disgusts me, especially as a father. I have no more use for him. His fan base has been shrinking for years, and I have to question those who stick up for him at this point. (He hasn't been proven guilty yet, BUT the incident in 1993 and subsequent payoff, and the intensive police investigation last week just makes me smell something rotten in the back of the fridge.)

[Grant]

Originally posted by -=Rudy=-
MJ is major news only because the media keeps throwing him up in our faces. Not to mention it's ratings month, and the general public has voyeuristic tendencies and, I think, many just want to watch it to hear about the "dirty stuff". It sells ad space on TV.

Yeah, he's an unusual character...but it's so obvious that they feed off each other. He's starved for attention, and the media wants to capture his "weirdness" for the world to see. Personally, he repulses and disgusts me, especially as a father. I have no more use for him. His fan base has been shrinking for years, and I have to question those who stick up for him at this point. (He hasn't been proven guilty yet, BUT the incident in 1993 and subsequent payoff, and the intensive police investigation last week just makes me smell something rotten in the back of the fridge.)

MJ's popularity is bigger than you might think. And, he's going to get more support with brother Jermaine playing the race card on Larry King.

I have a gut feeling that there is something real serious in the evidence collected by police last week, and we will all soon know what it is.

I don't think it's voeyurism. I think the reason people want to know is not neccesarily because of his percieved strange behavior, or his status, it's because he is a grown man in his mid-40s who prefers and keeps company with pre-teen/teenage boys over all else, and admits to sleeping with them in his bed. We all shudder at the thought of this happening over and over by a superstar many of us grew up with. We all remember the kid who sang "I Want You Back" on Ed Sullivan with his family, rode on top of the pop world in the 80s with his phenomenal talent, and wonder what just what could have brought him to this place in his life.

One very strange thing that stuck out with an interview with one of his loyal friends on Fox yestarday is that he said MJ won't show any affection to females in a gay person's presence because he doesn't want to offend them. He also said that MJ does hire women to keep company for him as a "cover".