Voyeurism and Celebrity: Our Michael Jackson Celebrity

The Provocateur ^ | 06/28/2009 | Mike Volpe

[fiscon1]

The only time that I can remember feeling sadness about the death of an entertainer was the death of Frank Sinatra. Sinatra's career spanned nearly six decades. It included an Oscar along with all sorts of musical accolades. I don't remember the media going into quite this sort of a saturated obsession when Sinatra died. It's true that Sinatra died mostly of old age. Yet, Sinatra was exponentially the better singer, actor, and entertainer than Michael Jackson.

[kittymyrib]

There is a backlash brewing over this obscene coverage.

[Tax-chick]

I was sorry when John Wayne died.

[Le Chien Rouge]

The only time that I can remember feeling sadness about the death of an entertainer was the death of Frank Sinatra.

List of public persons I’ve mourned:

1) Pope John Paul 2
2) Ronald Reagan
3) Mother Theresa
4) NYPD and NYFD from 911
5) Tank Man at Tienanmen square (I’m sure he’s dead)

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Friday's Nightly News with Brian Williams had to take the cake.
Brian devoted all but 40 seconds of his half hour to MJ, capping with a Quincy Jones interview. Quincey said he couldn't figure out why Michael had all those pictures of "blue eyed white children" laying around; just couldn't figure it out."

[fiscon1]

I would agree with those, however the article uses the term “entertainer” of which on Reagan would maybe be part of the group.

Also, I hope that all of this ends soon. I like watching the news and frankly I can’t watch any of this.

[LimaLimaMikeFoxtrot]

"There is a backlash brewing over this obscene coverage."

Not enough of one. This society's absolute obsession with celebrity is embarrassing and I think dangerous. Some people don't know how many justices are on the Supreme Court but know everything about American Idol.

Bills like Waxman-Markey get passed because people DO NOT CARE about it the way they do anything Michael Jackson related.

[carjic]

I guess this Mike guy is too young to remember Aug 1977. I have never seen anything like it when Elvis died. And it’s still going on today.

[RexBeach]

I like the people who said that Michael Jackson made Barack Obama possible.

That’s like saying wet streets made rain possible.

Doesn’t make any sense, but the fans love it.

[LimaLimaMikeFoxtrot]

I'm already sick of hearing about Jackson, and this will go on as long as the Anna Nicole coverage.

Yes he made a few great records and was a good dancer but was a troubled freak.

Moment of silence. RIP.

Move on.

Here's a chicken and egg question: Do the media just give the public what they demand re: Jackson, Anna Nicole etc, or do they shove celebrity idol down our throats and claim that's what the people want?

[fiscon1]

I think it’s the former. I think the media goes where the ratings are. I don’t think you can will good ratings if it isn’t what the public wants.

[rollo tomasi]

“There is a backlash brewing over this obscene coverage.”

Maybe with posters on FR and concerned citizens, but the rest of the country was/is glued.

The media is not entirely at fault. If the masses were pissed about cap and control/tax/trade/make the cronies backing the pols. as well as the pols. themselves rich, etc... there would be more coverage.

The vast majority of people want gossip, not boring themselves with government corruption/totalitarian legislation.

[Forward the Light Brigade]

I mourned when the statue of Freedom was knocked over by Chinese Tanks in Peking. I mourned when Obama was eleced and American Freedom was placed on life support.

[fiscon1]

well, that was over thirty years ago. Younger folks weren’t even alive then.