Michael Jackson Changed Television

June 25, 11:55 PMIndianapolis TV ExaminerMichael Husain

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Goodbye to the King of Pop

There may be no entertainer who has had more impact on television than Michael Jackson.  While he is being rightfully lauded for his impact on the music industry, the King of Pop also changed television.

Broke on scene as 11 year old on Ed Sullivan show with Jackson Five. Appeared on the Sony and Cher show, and many others.  But he would take stardom, and thus television celebrity, to new heights.  

In 1982, when he released “Thriller”, he also helped launch the MTV-era.  The then new music television channel had been much criticized for a perceived all white playlist.  With “Thriller”, MTV started a heavy run of Jackson’s videos.  The pairing was great for both of them.  MTV grew its audience in ways it hadn’t imagined, and Jackson’s Thriller--with its nearly 14 minute movie short music video--became the greatest selling album of all time.  It moved 50 million copies worldwide, and 7 of Thriller’s 9 tracks went top ten.

There were plenty of other television moments for Jackson.  In 1984, while filming a Pepsi commercial for television, his hair caught on fire.  It was a serious injury.  But once it became apparent he would survive, it was fodder for many jokes.   

His Moonwalk and other dance moves would drive the ratings of Grammy and other awards shows or made for television events, including the Motown 25th Anniversary Special, and the 1993 Super Bowl Halftime Show.  

Even as his music career waned, Jackson could draw a television camera and audience like few others.  

In 2002 he drew outrage by dangling his infant over hotel balcony.  In 2003, he drew shudders when he acknowledged in a television documentary that he routinely shared his bed with children...although not sexually.  And of course his sexual molestation trial brought massive coverage and kept networks like CNN and Court TV in business for months on end.  

And, now in death, like Elvis or John Lennon, every television network and many of the cable outlets are off the wall with coverage of Michael Jackson.