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The Michael Jackson I Knew
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Michael Jackson died this afternoon. Pat O'Brien on the pop star he once knew—and the plans he made for a comeback.
Last March, on a day when the stock market tumbled (again) and unemployment went up (again), there was some good news: Michael Jackson held a long-awaited news conference in London to announce that he has found employment in this impossible economy and that he would perform ten final concerts in London, at the new O2 Arena.
Now if this comes as a surprise to you that Michael Jackson was heading back onstage, imagine what a surprise it was to those who read the last tabloid stories that Jackson was half-blind, needed a lung transplant, and was afflicted with Alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency, which apparently is as bad as it sounds.
Michael went on stage and said something really meaningful like, “I love you so much,” and then went into the balcony to watch a series of Michael Jackson impersonators do their impersonations for him.
But no, there he was that morning, uniformed in embroidered black and silver, and wearing the darkest sunglasses this side of Jack Nicholson. After keeping screaming fans waiting for 90 minutes (there were traffic problems), Jackson came out and approached a podium loaded with a teleprompter and a microphone. It was bad enough that he couldn’t seem to get used to a mic right away, but I had to wonder what was the teleprompter for? Because all he said basically was, “This is it.” And his mantra, “You have to know I love you so much.” Honestly, this had to be that teleprompter operator’s easiest gig ever. With another “this is it and see you in July,” Michael then disappeared behind the curtain, only to be seen again, apparently, in July.
The news conference and the surrounding excitement about a comeback, which most people speculate is intended to help pay off his massive debt—hey, give him credit, at least he went back to work and didn’t ask for a bailout—was typical Jackson mayhem, but I have to admit he seemed more animated when he left his child-molestation trial and got up on an SUV and danced.
Back in my Access Hollywood days, I was the only TV guy invited to Michael’s 40th birthday party, with the intention of getting the reclusive pop star to finally say something to his fans. As he arrived, his bodyguards—I counted eight—shoved everybody in sight out of the way and he ran up a set of stairs. I ran after him (thinking, “What would Geraldo do?”) and when I got to the staging area he was behind a curtain waiting to greet the others who were invited. It took roughly 40 minutes for Michael and a few handlers to actually decide which curtain to enter from. Finally after what seemed a lifetime, Michael went on stage and said something really meaningful like, “I love you so much,” and then went into the balcony to watch a series of Michael Jackson impersonators do their impersonations for him. With that, the party was over. The next time I almost saw him was after the molestation trial when I was kicked out of Neverland after being invited in. I did get to see the merry-go-round, but I wasn’t allowed to stop and ride the ponies.
As far as comebacks are concerned, I’m generally in favor of them. After all, I went to the Cream comeback tour. I saw one of Dylan’s comebacks. And I’ve attended three Who farewell concerts. (I even, briefly, participated in my own comeback.)
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Peter Beinart, senior political writer for The Daily Beast, is associate professor of journalism and political science at City University of New York and a senior fellow at the New America Foundation. His new book, The Icarus Syndrome: A History of American Hubris, will be published by HarperCollins in June. Follow him on Twitter and Facebook.
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Pat O'Brien has been a broadcaster for more than three decades, including many years as the co-host of Access Hollywood and The Insider. A former anchor for CBS Sports, he is also the author of Talkin' Sports: A B.S.-er's Guide. He divides his time among Los Angeles, New York, and Nantucket.
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Pat O'Brien has been a broadcaster for more than three decades, including many years as the co-host of Access Hollywood and The Insider. A former anchor for CBS Sports, he is also the author of Talkin' Sports: A B.S.-er's Guide. He divides his time among Los Angeles, New York, and Nantucket.
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Pat O'Brien has been a broadcaster for more than three decades, including many years as the co-host of Access Hollywood and The Insider. A former anchor for CBS Sports, he is also the author of Talkin' Sports: A B.S.-er's Guide. He divides his time among Los Angeles, New York, and Nantucket.
sophia5
In light of the recent monkey attack where a woman
lost her face . . .
. . . Just wondering
maybe
it was Bubbles The Chimp who ate
Michael Jackson's nose off ?
nickmagoo
Pat O'Brien calling Jacko weird is like...well, it's just too easy.
And to call Dylan's tours "comebacks" is just inane - the man's been on tour almost non-stop since 1988!! In fact, some wags refer to it as "the never ending tour." Pat O'Brien, perhaps the epitome of lame ass yet omnipresent infotainment...
twinsister
"This Is It" now, one hopes about Michael Jackson's comeback. His lips look pumped, enhanced, like Barbara Hershey's, and now he sounds like Liza Minnelli when he speaks. The Gloved One, formerly a Diana Ross clone, may be suffering from multiple personality disorder.
Johnny-Boy
I'm sorry, but to provide a veue for Pat O'brien to call someone "Weird" is similar to providing space for Bernard Made-off to write an ethics doctrine.
There are times when I question the editorial selection process of The Daily Beast. I find it difficult to believe that Tina Brown is knowingly transforming this site from a new and interesting take on the political and cultural aspects of the Nation, into just another celebrity gossip rag, deviod of anything relevant to the adults who were lured here.
Mr. O'brien, please stop calling people names, especially when you are the poster child for the "weird" set yourself.
jogonovo
This is an entertaining, insightful piece. Kudos to Mr. O'Brien for fighting back, finding work, and doing it well.
ABE191
I think anyone has the right to call Michael Jackson a little weird. I mean for God's sake, the guy went from being a cool black kid with an afro and a great pop voice, and slowly transformed into one of the palest, oddest people I know. He makes his kids wear a veil over their face. How is he not weird? Furthermore, Michael Jackson needs to stop touring. How does he even have fans anymore? I think the most recent song I have heard that he made was from the '90s. Does anyone listen to his new music? And if anyone is interested, I found a great blogging website, asol.org, where you can make your own articles and blog about anything that bothers you.
CultureVulture
Agreed, Johnny-Boy!
Pat O'Brien on Michael Jackson on The Daily Beast, FEATURED no less.
This brings 'consider the source' to a whole new level.
All three of you are in need of rehabilitation.
claudiusmeximus
I agree with Sophia5, given the allegations against michael jackson, I wouldn't be surprised if bubbles in defense of his dignity bit his nose off...
JD92840
Yeah a Tax Free series of concerts!
What he earns there can't be taxed here. And should he not come back to the USA, well he escapes all his financial worries, now doesn't he?
We give this child molesting, baby hanging over the balcony idiot more press?
HTuttle
King of Sick.
Siouxie921
For all of you wishing for The Big Comeback? It's never going to happen. He may stage and attempt a tour but, newsflash, Mr. Jackson is seriously mentally ill.
ForumDriv
I like that Pat can make fun of his own comeback...and he can write too! Nice.
GPatton
Now he's in heaven with Jimmy, Janis, Jerry, Elvis, Lady Di, Abraham, Martin and John and, of course, Farrah....G Patton
TheWildestofThings
Abraham.......Lincoln? haha, your list is interesting. No Cobain? ;[
TheWildestofThings
R.I.P Michael Jackson, you may not like the man, but his music and contribution to countless artists through inspiration is undoubtedly what he will forever be known for, I just hope the news coverage of this doesn't turn into an "anti-Michael Jackson" crusade regarding the accusations of molestation. Also, I'm curious as to who will be playing "The Prince" in the future biopic~
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