Ed McMahon was definitely a good man.

I think Michael Jackson was a freak show but he was very much definately an icon of america and it was very shocking when he died. Totally unexpected. However, lets not forget Farrah Fawcett either. Ed mcmahon was a great man but was also 86 years old. He lived his life.

What's so fascinating about Michael Jackson was the depth of the yin-yang in his life. He was so brilliantly talented, yet so deeply troubled. We fixate on people like that just as we would someone with two heads. We commoners can't understand how the exceedingly gifted are so often whack jobs with dark sides that can shade the sun.

You and I have a little talent around the edges that we coax to life to produce some barely useful thing. On the other hand, Michael Jackson (with fellow MTV maven Madonna) redrew the map of how to be a music celebrity in the US. It was no longer about good songs and a competent voice. Jackson made it a full-on show with hyper-kinetic dance, hypnotic clothes and songs that throbbed their way into our subconscious. (Just listen to "Billy Jean.") Michael Jackson stayed at the pinnacle of performance productivity for about 10 years, longer than the Beatles.

However, that kind of talent apparently can't exist without screaming demons that eventually erupt in bizarre behavior and shocking revelations. His fixation on kids and beyond healthy appearance almost erased his blinding talent in my mind. It's hard to be sympathetic when you hear about the death of someone that strange, that far past the norms of behavior. He was deeply troubled, perhaps as troubled as he was talented.

It's a strange world. So many of us do what we can and walk through life in obscurity. Then a guy like Michael Jackson sprints by on a path of his own and we think he's got it all. But it's a path that diverges with normal behavior and we will make him pay eventually.

Strange case...

--Bob

This has been a rough week for celebrity deaths! Farrah too....

Granted, He was talented, but Im tired of hearing about MJ. There are tons of things going on in the world w/o having to turn to the news and only hear about him. Sorry to offend, but these things going on in our world today are more important than a very disturbed person's life.

I think that in his own way Ed McMahon was just as popular and will be missed by many.  It may be that people may have noticed his passing just as much if not more but there was a lot more media excitement about Michael Jackson because his death was untimely (he was only 50) and unexpected, by me at least!  And the media always did seem to be fixated on MJ.

It is tempting sometimes to confuse someone's talent with their moral, ethical or other personal choices.  I enjoyed Michael's songs and his singing and dancing very much.  The great tragedy of his life is that it looked to me like he could never really appreciate himself enough.  It is heartbreaking to see early videos of Michael Jackson performing or just being the way he started out.  He was blessed with a beautiful face and no plastic surgeon should have ever messed with it.  Too much money and power piled on top of too much emotional baggage possibly complicated things also. 

I will never forget either Ed McMahon or Michael Jackson ... and when I think of Michael Jackson, I will never forget that great recording he made when he was a little kid of the Christmas song "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus!"  I love that recording and it just wouldn't be Christmas without it. 

They can't take that away from me!

Michael Jackson was a child molestor despite what the court had to say on the matter.  I'm sorry, but anyone sleeping in beds with children and giving them "Jesus Juice" has some serious, hard-core flaws that can't be fluffed over by a bunch of hit singles and albums.  He was clearly a troubled man and hopefully he is finally at rest.

Michael Jackson was a very gifted man, and despite his faults he did try to reach out to the world and give them some happiness with his talent.  Michael Jackson, Ed McMahon, and Farrah Fawcett all will be missed.  I send my condolences out each of their family members.

From My Blog:  It saddened me to hear of the deaths of  Michael Jackson, Farah Fawcet, and Ed McMahon.  All were American icons diverse in their individual talents, yet personally troubled in different ways.  Michael's legal and constant cosmetic health issues, Ed's very public bankruptcy, and Farah's valiant yet heartbreaking battle with cancer.  With all that being said, I ask that we remember them not as the Hollywood personalities we gawked at on the cover of supermarket tabloids . . . but as amazing, incredibly brave and talented, human beings that changed the image of pop culture forever.  May you all rest in peace. . .

Nikro said…

Granted, He was talented, but Im tired of hearing about MJ. There are tons of things going on in the world w/o having to turn to the news and only hear about him. Sorry to offend, but these things going on in our world today are more important than a very disturbed person's life.

---

Please understand this is not directed at you personally Nikro, but many folks I know are saying the same thing. . . granted the media is taking a brief hiatus from reporting the usual disturbing news, i.e. "SC Governor cheating on his wife in Argentina or the atrocities of the war in Iraq, the Dow plummeting, or Brittany Spears new tattoo"; how dare we let our moment of prayer interfere with that news. . . .

Ed McMahon will be missed but as many have said, he lived a good long life and death comes to us all.  He was fortunate to have 80+ years.  I cried when I heard Bea Arthur died because I loved her in Golden Girls.  I was upset to hear about Farrah's failing health because I am a cancer survivor and wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy.  But my family was all in love with Jaclyn Smith and not Farrah.  Yes, she was a talented woman but in my home she just wasn't "all that."  My siblings and I were forbidden to listen to rock, pop, etc. because my father, a Marine drill sgt said that kind of music was trash.  However, my sister and I were on dance teams and I was on a speed skating team so we were introduced to the music thru our instructors. 

The press would have the public to believe that Michael Jackson's death was untimely or unexpected but I don't believe it was.  He had a history of drug use and abuse and through the years it was obvious that his health was failing. 

What saddens me is all the people who are wishing and hoping that all these stars will RIP.  I am a Christian and I don't believe that just because you die you find yourself in Heaven.  I believe that you must repent of your sins and make a personal profession of faith and choose to live for the Lord.  I have a burden for lost souls and I just wonder how many of these celebs that we love and admire will be in Heaven and how many will be cast into the lake of fire, the final destination for those who choose not to follow the Lord.  I guess no one can really know another's heart and only time will tell.  Nothing will change their final destiny because it has already happened but it's not too late to reach those still here on earth.

I'm all for those who choose to promote charities and save the world, the whale, etc.  Who's going to represent the Lord and save lost souls?

"Born once--die twice.  Born twice--die once."  The Christian experiences Hell on earth and Heaven for all eternity.  The unbeliever experiences Heaven on earth and Hell for all eternity. 

The party in Hell has been cancelled due to extreme heat and fire but the Lord is hosting a party in Heaven and all you have to do is accept the invitation.  The choice is up to you. 

bkovacs said…

What's so fascinating about Michael Jackson was the depth of the yin-yang in his life. He was so brilliantly talented, yet so deeply troubled. We fixate on people like that just as we would someone with two heads. We commoners can't understand how the exceedingly gifted are so often whack jobs with dark sides that can shade the sun.

You and I have a little talent around the edges that we coax to life to produce some barely useful thing. On the other hand, Michael Jackson (with fellow MTV maven Madonna) redrew the map of how to be a music celebrity in the US. It was no longer about good songs and a competent voice. Jackson made it a full-on show with hyper-kinetic dance, hypnotic clothes and songs that throbbed their way into our subconscious. (Just listen to "Billy Jean.") Michael Jackson stayed at the pinnacle of performance productivity for about 10 years, longer than the Beatles.

However, that kind of talent apparently can't exist without screaming demons that eventually erupt in bizarre behavior and shocking revelations. His fixation on kids and beyond healthy appearance almost erased his blinding talent in my mind. It's hard to be sympathetic when you hear about the death of someone that strange, that far past the norms of behavior. He was deeply troubled, perhaps as troubled as he was talented.

It's a strange world. So many of us do what we can and walk through life in obscurity. Then a guy like Michael Jackson sprints by on a path of his own and we think he's got it all. But it's a path that diverges with normal behavior and we will make him pay eventually.

Strange case...

--Bob

---

Beautifully written Bob! 

First of all, I don't believe for a second MJ was a child molester.  I think we "normal" humans didn't understand him and, in our culture, that meant he must be doing something horrendous.  From all accounts, I think Jackson was a true man-child.  He never had the opportunity to "grow up" in the normal sense.  He was shoved out on stage at age 5 and knew nothing else.  You can't grow up like that and be "normal".

An enormous talent, he was.  To deny that is to just be delusional.  Everyone said he was painfully shy in person and that tells me the stage and performing was the only place he felt he could be who he really was.  I feel for MJ.  How tragic to have all that fame and glory yet not be able to function around people. Sure, he did some strange things but thinking he was a freak because of them really says more about us than it does him.  All the way back in school we can remember how the kids who didn't conform to peer expectations were treated.  Adults do the same, but we tend to not be so honest about it.

I believe Micheal Jackson truely liked being around little kid for he was one emotionally himself.  I could be wrong, but I don't think he molested any of them, ever.  I think he was really shocked to learn the public didn't like what he was doing, having all the young boys over.  He was a genius, for sure and a misunderstood one, at that.

I'm not saying everything he did was ok. You don't dangle a kid from a balcony.  But, I doubt there was a mean bone in his body.  He just wasn't like the rest of us and didn't see things the way the rest of us do.  I don't know if he's resting in peace now.   Have no way of knowing.  Hope he is.

How very sad that an icon of talent had to endure the wrath of a sadistic father who by the way is as about as UGLY as a human beinging can be in appearence that is! 

Totally destroyed MJ's self confidence and destroyed his self image. Joe Jackson is a creature from HELL. His other children know that. Their lives were also affected by his abuse and dysfunction. And the worst thing about it , is that he proffited from the talents of his children. His wife was the ONLY "Rock" of the family of the Jackson family.

Micheal's children will continue to give to the people as thier father did. We just need to give them time. I am confident that their father's memory love and guidence will inspire them to carry on his talent. I hope that his remains will be at "Never Land" for all of the world to see.

Nancy, Illinois

MJ was self distructive from the get-go

M.J. sought fame and celebrity and received it beyond what he even dreamed possible and wasn't prepared for the negative aspects of fame and celebrity.  It broke him.   He may have also had very dark psychological problems.  He was a Popular Icon and was involved in important things.  He and others around him steered his fame to have at least some popular impact... He broke the MTV color line.  He was not as IMPORTANT to culture as a Ray Charles or Stevie Wonder however.  He did however sell more than anyone else.   He's now like others who could not handle fame and find the balance of life and celebrity.. Belushi, Cobain, Morrison, etc. etc.

McMahon's public personna was honed to avoid controversy so he could continue to be a product pitchman for ad agencies.  His alcoholism, financial and personal problems were kept more private but in reality were pretty messed up.

Farrah rose above her flavor of the week poster/Charlie Angels beginning.  She developed herself into a good actress and tried to find balance in her life amongst the fame and celebrity madness.  

All of these people had their own lives that we only know pieces of and develop our perspective and opinions about.

None of them could possibly live up the hype surrounding them.  They did however excite US .. the public.  I mean the live Moondance and Thriller video? The spectacle of Jackson rising from Disco's ashes into a New Wave Dance era?  Wow.  Exciting stuff.   He did get to start something....  He did have worth and value in making people feel good.. even briefly about themselves or in many cases about other issues.   He wanted to be King of POP and do some good things.  He did.  Unfortunately there was the bad and ugly side too.   Fame and celebrity is cyclical.  Those who need it too much will always be crushed and it will always end badly for them.  It's sad, tragic, inevitable.

It should also remind us of more important things in life than being famous, looking good, and performing impressively--That isn't enough for anyone.

I toatally agree with you! He was Peterpan, his childhood was taken from him, he was a child at heart, could even go out in public like a normal person the public would never give  him any peace. In a American we are Innocent till proven guilty, he was guilty in many eyes after found innocent.

I like Micheal Jackson long time ago but was shocked to hear of his death but he had more publicity than Farrah Fassett which surprised me she was very popular in my younger years .  why does everything have to be about Micheal??????

I am a vet of the Air Force - Vietnam ERA, served during the war but not IN the war,  my ex did 3 tours of duty in Vietnam as a door gunner on a helicopter.  I have always been proud of my service and his to this country, even though I am a woman and didn't do much.  Tell me you weren't a war-protesting hippie, please!  It's sad what the media does, they certainly only report what they want, or maybe what they think we want to hear.  I want the truth, unvarnished, untainted, unrestricted.  I can take it.  As far as Jackson is concerned, I think he died by accident, that anesthesia stuff isn't meant for private use, didn't he know he might not wake up?

With God there are no accidental deaths.  Everything is done in His own time.  God is on time every time!

With MJ there are lots of judges, but can we definitely say who is guilty or innocent anymore.  The molested children themselves have come back and retracted and stated "They did it for money", but he is gone and will never be vendicated.  There are a lot of skeletons in a lot of closets and unfortunately when you become part of the social money makers, your life is taken apart and some truths become stretched into lies.  May he rest in peace, the peace he never received while living and could only find in death.

OldHippie said…

Ed McMahon was a WW II Vet & got very little publicity upon his death.  Jackson dies from "mysterious causes" and people are going nuts.  It's all I've seen & heard on the news the past two days.  Granted...he had talent.  I also think he was a freak.

I was sad when Elvis died.  I literally cried when John Lennon was shot.  I stopped & said a prayer when I learned Mr. McMahon died.  Didn't shock me at all when I heard Jackson died. 

If you can read this...thank a teacher.  If you're reading this in English...thank a Vet.  Thank you Mr. McMahon.

---

I would same the exact same thing and was thinking about that actually when Walter Cronkite died. Jo

I agree that we didn't understand him and though I thought he was guilty at the time seeing his interviews - thinking he is Peter Pan - makes me think though WRONG, he had kids sleep with just like he was a kid. What is so troubling is that he never got help. I too, Bob, am usually fascinated (as a former Social Worker) with things/people I don't understand but he was surrounded by so many enablers that I just can't get beyond his delusions, drug addiction, on and on.

Well done OldHippie

Jo said…

OldHippie said…

Ed McMahon was a WW II Vet & got very little publicity upon his death.  Jackson dies from "mysterious causes" and people are going nuts.  It's all I've seen & heard on the news the past two days.  Granted...he had talent.  I also think he was a freak.

I was sad when Elvis died.  I literally cried when John Lennon was shot.  I stopped & said a prayer when I learned Mr. McMahon died.  Didn't shock me at all when I heard Jackson died. 

If you can read this...thank a teacher.  If you're reading this in English...thank a Vet.  Thank you Mr. McMahon.

---

I would same the exact same thing and was thinking about that actually when Walter Cronkite died. Jo

---

Walter Cronkite was certainly a fine reporter and he covered World War II as a reporter. Some of that coverage was dangerous, by reporter standards. However, he was never actually in the military.

Still, Cronkite was was an icon and he will be missed. A few years ago, I wrote a magazine article to promote an auction at a meeting of TV/radio news directors. One of the items being auctioned was a lunch with Walter Cronkite and it was one of the most sought-after items on the auction list. I'd have loved to win that bid.

--Bob

I totally agree with this statement.  I truly believe that Michael Jackson was basically a child himself.  I watched some rare interviews with him on YouTube and he seemed very gentle, sensitive, and child like in his mannerisms and his wide eyed look of wonderment at the simple things.  I think he had a great appreciation for things that most people take for granted.  I also think that he struggled because of how he was raised.  He was an introverted person and being in the limelight for so long probably made him even more introverted.  There are some people who become reclusive because of fame and Michael Jackson was one of those people.  I know a guy who is very gentle in the way that Micheal seemed to be.  I liked being around him when I was younger because of his gentle manner.  I can actually see why kids would like to be around someone like Michael.  They probably felt accepted and not intimidated by him because of his personality.

I totally agree with this statement.  I truly believe that Michael Jackson was basically a child himself.  I watched some rare interviews with him on YouTube and he seemed very gentle, sensitive, and child like in his mannerisms and his wide eyed look of wonderment at the simple things.  I think he had a great appreciation for things that most people take for granted.  I also think that he struggled because of how he was raised.  He was an introverted person and being in the limelight for so long probably made him even more introverted.  There are some people who become reclusive because of fame and Michael Jackson was one of those people.  I know a guy who is very gentle in the way that Micheal seemed to be.  I liked being around him when I was younger because of his gentle manner.  I can actually see why kids would like to be around someone like Michael.  They probably felt accepted and not intimidated by him because of his personality.

I agree Gigi! All of us have an expiration date with God. It is on HIS time not OURS. :-)

I agree that all this hype over a person such as Michael Jackson who thought that he could make the world stand still,i for nothing.As he was nothing but a human being that did not care what he did or how he did it.He used his status to get out of severval crimes because he was Michael Jackson.Bull s--t to all this he did not care to even want to be black or he would not have had bleached his pigments and neither did he care about what his family .he was an aggronant brat.

I just wish they'd bury the dude already.

I think that Ed McMahan was a just person.  i liked him on the Tonight Show, I thought he livened every thing up as the side kick.