Blogs and Stories
The Ultimate Thriller
I heard the news while in Beverly Hills, and from the first ping on my BlackBerry to the next stoplight, the news spread like a California wildfire. Within 10 minutes, traffic from nearby UCLA Hospital, where he died, was backed up to Beverly Hills and radio stations were saying, “stay off the freeways.” Which gave everybody a wonderful opportunity to sit in their cars and hear radio station after radio station dig out their Michael Jackson favorites. I turned my radio off and I could still hear the melodic beats from Thriller up and down Rodeo Drive. Suddenly BlackBerry and cell service was jammed. People were crying. Michael Jackson was dead. All Hail the King.
I always found Michael to be a nice guy, actually. He was the most soft-spoken person in entertainment and surrounded himself with so many people—I never did figure out who did what and why. His security platoons seemed to always create more havoc than there already was. His spokespeople always felt like they were dealing with the leader of the Western world. But his family—all of them—was always congenial and supportive and, frankly, incredibly grateful to be along for the ride. They stuck with him through all the bad and had their hearts broken more than they could ever have imagined. Ironic, then, that it was Michael’s heart that finally stopped.
So now what? There will be no comeback tour. There will be no more whispers. There will be no more Wacko Jacko moments. Even though he no doubt leaves behind him a terrifying mess of legal and financial issue, the gift he leaves us with is the music. The beats. One of the necessary soundtracks of our lives. And if you hit your knees tonight, thank God for Michael Jackson. Because in a nation that lives on thrills, he was the ultimate Thriller.
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.
John Talks Joe
Lloyd Grove is editor at large for The Daily Beast. He is also a frequent contributor to New York magazine and was a contributing editor for Condé Nast Portfolio. He wrote a gossip column for the New York Daily News from 2003 to 2006. Prior to that, he wrote the Reliable Source column for the Washington Post, where he spent 23 years covering politics, the media, and other subjects.
The Greatest Showman on Earth
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.
Citizen Affleck
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.
Bracketology with Jimmy Kimmel
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.
Well done, Mr. O'Brien. A thoughtful piece.
Not an apotheosis, but nonetheless a valediction
that at least precludes mourning.
Mike Huckabee said it best "He was a human, He never got to be a child" That's all he wanted to be, he was NEVER a child molester. May he rest in peace.
You hit the nail on the head. The sheer beauty of Michael's music is that he practically dared you not to get up and dance. From "Rock With You" to "Dangerous", any sentient being couldn't help but groove to his music. I was looking forward to his comeback because there will never be another like him. Ever. How lucky am I to have had the Beatles and Michael in my lifetime.
this article is way beneath the dignity of this site. if there were ever any question that Pat O'Brien is a silly flake, this article banishes all doubt, yet here it is.
get real, Beast!
Thank you.
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