Wow, I did not expect to lead with this news this week. This was a very sad day in the entertainment world with the passing of Michael Jackson and Farrah Fawcett. Michael Jackson passed away at the age of 50 today in Los Angeles due to cardiac arrest. Wow is really all that can be said. That news just leaves you speechless. The internet was just crazy this afternoon when word started getting out and it actually shut down Twitter at one point at least. Just what does the story of his passing compare to? That is what I’ve been wondering all night. The worldwide impact that this story has had really has few that can compare. I don’t think we can really put it into comparison just yet until the tributes continue to play out over the days ahead. I’ve known all day that I would be typing up my thoughts on Michael Jackson for the Wrap Up and have been trying to think what I could write that would even do his career justice. I’ve found myself watching a lot of his videos on You Tube tonight. It’s like this news is still so shocking that it really hasn’t sunk in yet. I grew up watching Michael Jackson and listening to his music. I spent countless hours watching him on MTV as a kid, teenager, and beyond. The King Of Pop had an amazing career that has inspired so many other musical careers. He has always been one of my all time favorite singers. People often talk about having “it” when you are a performer. Michael had “it” big time and could take over a stage like few were able to do. Michael grew up performing with his brothers in the Jackson 5 and ended up going solo. To say how huge that he was in the 80’s is an understatement. He defined the words, music superstar. Thriller which was released in 1982 is still the highest selling album of all time selling over 100 million copies. 7 of 9 songs on that album were top ten singles. With that album and song, he is always linked to Halloween for me. When it’s time for Halloween, it doesn’t seem like it until you hear that song and/or see that video. One of my favorite albums of all time is still his HIStory album which came out in 1995. It was two discs with the first disc being a greatest hits and the second disc being new material. I was so excited for this album to be released and loved it. One of my favorite songs of his when I was little was “The Way You Make Me Feel”. I would turn the volume way up on the TV when the video would come on TV and I probably drove my parents crazy with it. Ha ha. 1992 saw a big time favorite pairing of mine. The two MJ’s. Michael Jackson and Michael Jordan. Michael Jordan appeared in Jackson’s video for “Jam” which was adopted as a big time basketball song. Jordan appeared in the video with the theme of it being the combining of their amazing talents. If you want to see a fun segment, watch the clip at the very end which has Jackson teaching Jordan how to dance. It is so great. I still remember when MTV would run weekend long marathons devoted to him playing his music videos, concerts, and any sort of documentaries. I would watch a lot of those marathons. Actually, I’m fairly sure that I have some of those marathons on some tapes somewhere. I would have loved to have seen him in concert cause I can’t even imagine how amazing that it would be. I watched several of his concerts on TV over the years and he was always incredible. I guess I’ll just go over some of my favorite songs of his in no particular order: Thriller, Man In The Mirror, Leave Me Alone, Another Part Of Me, Jam, Remember The Time, Who is It, Give In To Me, Will You Be There, Scream, Billie Jean, Earth Song, You Are Not Alone, and so many more. I do have to say that seeing all of these fans gathering in various places to pay tribute to him is just awesome to see. Jackson was said to have been performing at the Staples Center last night in LA rehearsing for his upcoming comeback tour in the UK. The worldwide impact that Michael Jackson made can’t be put into words. The world is definitely in mourning tonight at the loss of one of the biggest superstars, Michael Jackson.
The other sad news of the day was Farrah Fawcett passing away at the age of 62 after a long, horrible battle with cancer. This has been such a sad story to hear about over the last while to hear how badly she was doing battling this horrible disease. She is, of course, most famously known for her role in Charlie’s Angels.
Wow, this is a sad Wrap Up cause I also have to discuss the passing of Ed McMahon earlier this week. I have always said what a fan of Johnny Carson that I was and of The Tonight Show. Ed McMahon was a huge part of The Tonight Show. I can’t even tell you how many nights that I stayed up watching The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson with Ed McMahon right by his side. Ed McMahon was beloved and the people giving tributes to him and saying kind words has been great. He touched many lives and he will be greatly missed. One of the better comments that I’ve seen this week was someone saying that Carson must have wanted someone to hang out with and laugh with up there in heaven. Can you imagine the reunion that they are having?
Obviously, I want to send my thoughts and prayers out to everyone dealing with this these huge losses this week.
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen is already setting box office records as the movie had the best Wednesday debut box office ever. The movie did $60.6 million on Wednesday which topped Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix which did $44.2 million in 2007. I have yet to make it to the theatre to see Transformers but I am going to get out there and see it this weekend.
Movie box office numbers for last weekend. 1. The Proposal - $33.6 million. 2. The Hangover - $26.7 million. 3. Up - $23.4 million. 4. Year One - $19.6 million. 5. The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 - $12 million. 6. Night At The Museum - $7.8 million. 7. Star Trek - $5.5 million. 8. Land of the Lost - $4.3 million. 9. Imagine That - $3.2 million. 10. Terminator Salvation - $3.2 million.
I watched one of the most interesting and best behind the scenes featurettes ever for a DVD box set. On season one of Lost, there is a feature on how they shot the pilot episode. It is just incredible to watch. I was just in awe watching how they shot scenes including the plane crash among many things. Some good comic relief is watching them try to come up with the concept of the polar bear. Lots of good commentary from the producers on that one. Many of the cast are interviewed for it and they do talk to the cameras too at the time of shooting the pilot episode. One comment was just how amazing the episode was with them feeling like that they were on a movie set instead of a television show. If you’re a Lost fan, I highly recommend checking it out. I thought it was incredible and just a lot of fun.
After just returning to the creative end of Heroes late last year, Bryan Fuller is once again leaving the show. Not really sure what to make of it. That show has been so all over the place in the creative end over the last couple of years. It’s such a shame too cause the show was so great in the first season. That first season was a show that you just had to watch wondering what was going to happen next. The last couple of seasons have been so all over the place with it being impossible to remember who has what power and whatever. I did think that the show had gained some momentum in the last half of this season and Fuller was a part of that. So, maybe us Heroes fans should be concerned?
More TV show premiere dates for the fall season. CBS has announced their premiere dates and here is when you can expect to see the new episodes rolling out. Survivor Samoa premieres on Thursday, September 17. On Monday, September 21, these shows will premiere: How I Met Your Mother, The Big Bang Theory, Accidentally On Purpose, Two and a Hal Men, CSI: Miami. Premiering on Tuesday, September 22: NCIS, NCIS: Los Angeles, and The Good Wife. CBS rolls out The New Adventures of Old Christine, Gary Unmarried, Criminal Minds, and CSI: NY on Wednesday, September 23. CSI and The Mentalist premiere on Thursday, September 24. On Friday, September 25, Ghost Whisperer, Medium, and Numbers premiere. On Sunday, September 27, The Amazing Race, 60 Minutes, and Cold Case premiere. The new show, Three Rivers, premieres on Sunday, October 4.
NBC also made these announcements. The Jay Leno Show premieres on Monday, September 14. The new season of The Biggest Loser will debut on Tuesday, September 15. On Thursday, September 17, SNL Weekend Update Thursday, Parks and Recreation, The Office, and Community all have their premieres. Heroes will premiere on Monday, September 21. On Wednesday, September 23, Parenthood and Law & Order SVU premiere. Law & Order along with Southland premiere on Friday, September 25. Premiering on Saturday, September 26 is the new season of Saturday Night Live. The new show Trauma will premiere on Monday, September 28. 30 Rock premieres on October 15. Chuck, Mercy, and The Marriage Ref will premiere at midseason.
All right. Here we go. I said that I would finish commenting on TV Guide’s Top 100 Episodes Of All Time. The top ten has been revealed. Some of the shows included are ER, The Honeymooners, I Love Lucy, Lost, Seinfeld, 24, and more. I’m just going to comment on a couple of them. The pilot episode for Lost was ranked at number five making it the only episode from Lost to make the top 100 which kind of baffles me. The pilot absolutely deserves to be ranked this high. It really was like watching a movie with how it was shot and produced. Just incredible. The first twenty minutes or so are a wild non stop run of action. Number one on the list goes to Seinfeld with “The Contest”. This episode was all about what the title says and it was the contest between the four which pushed the boundaries of network TV. I am also surprised to see that more Seinfeld episodes didn’t make the list. The link is here if you want to read the full top ten list: http://www.tvguidemagazine.com/feature/tvs-top-100-episodes-of-all-time-10-1-1467.html
TV on DVD releases for Tuesday, June 30. Eastbound & Down (Season One), Entourage (Season Five), Eureka (Season 3.0), Parker Lewis Can’t Lose (Season One), Stargate: Atlantis (Season Five).
You Tube Video Of The Week: Here is a tribute to Michael Jackson from You Tube with Michael Jackson and Michael Jordan paired together for “Jam” from 1992.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=13ZGZexsaFo
Twitter Updates Of The Week: Just thought I’d pick out some random ones with people talking about Michael Jackson today. I also wanted to include Justin Timberlake’s comments to ET cause I was interested to hear what he had to say about Michael. "I can't find the words right now to express how deeply saddened I am by Michael's passing. We have lost a genius and a true ambassador of not only Pop music, but of all music. He has been an inspiration to multiple generations and I will always cherish the moments I shared with him on stage and all of the things I learned about music from him and the time we spent together. My heart goes out to his family and loved ones." Dick Clark had these comments: "I knew Michael as a child and watched him grow over the years. Of all the thousands of entertainers I have worked with, Michael was THE most outstanding. Many have tried and will try to copy him, but his talent will never be matched. He was truly one-of-a-kind."
Ok, now on to the Twitter updates today:
Ellen DeGeneres: So sad to hear about Michael Jackson. His music changed our lives. The world has lost an amazing singer and dancer. I will miss him.
Lance Armstrong: Terrible news about Michael Jackson and Farah Fawcett. My best to their friends, fans, and families.
Larry King: I interviewed Michael Jackson when he 12 and with the Jackson 5.
Soleil Moon Frye: I shared a few amazing moments with Michael as a kid+they left memories I will never forget. You were bigger than life RIP
John Mayer: I truly hope he is memorialized as the '83 moonwalking, MTV owning, mesmerizing, unstoppable, invincible Michael Jackson.
Arnold Schwarzenegger: We lost a great entertainer and a pop icon. My thoughts and prayers go out to Michael Jackson's family, friends and fans.
Eliza Dushku: Listening to MJ at photoshoot when we all heard~ surreal.
Taylor Swift: It just doesn't feel real.. Everyone is walking around backstage saying "Have you heard?".
Tough week in the entertainment world for sure. Take care and God bless!!
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