TV has been wall-to-wall Michael Jackson since his untimely death on Thursday. We asked the writers at our sister site, TV Squad, their impressions of the TV coverage on Thursday night, after we all learned of Jackson's passing. Read on to learn what some of them said."There aren't many people who can make the death of Farrah Fawcett (or Ed McMahon, for that matter) seem like minor news, but Michael Jackson managed to ... But all three networks were able to integrate the two tributes quite well, giving Farrah the time she deserved while concentrating on Jackson's life and death. The '60 Minutes' interview with Ed Bradley from 2003 was the most striking thing to me; it showed how out-of-touch the man was in the last few years. It also struck me that it's barely five years later and both Bradley and Jackson are now gone." -- Joel Keller
"While there was a plethora of TV coverage on Michael Jackson's shocking death, one person really stood out for me. Keith Olbermann on MSNBC anchored for five hours straight, single-handedly guiding the coverage and speaking extemporaneously on a subject that I don't think is his specialty. He was brilliant. He didn't overhype the story or sensationalize it with tabloid gossip. He stuck to the facts as were known and editorialized only to point out the irony of people flocking to the wrong star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (Michael Jackson the disk jockey, not Michael Jackson the pop star). So, kudos to Keith. I was duly impressed.
My second thought on the coverage was that CBS had a superb interview from 2003 that Jackson had done with the late Ed Bradley. It was from '60 Minutes,' and if you had a chance to see it, there was little doubt that Michael Jackson was in a very fragile state even then. It was Bradley at his best, asking tough questions and getting insightful answers." -- Allison Waldman
Michael Jackson Photos
Michael Jackson at the Martell Foundation Dinner on April 14, 1984.
Ron Galella, WireImage
FILE - In this Jan. 31, 1993 file picture, Michael Jackson performs during the halftime show at the Super Bowl XXVII in Pasadena, Calif. Jackson has died in Los Angeles at age 50 on Thursday, June 25, 2009. (AP Photo/Rusty Kennedy)
Rusty Kennedy, AP
Bubble's, Michael Jackson's Pet chimpanzee.
Jim Smeal, WireImage
US popstar Michael Jackson addresses a press conference at the O2 arena in London, on March 5, 2009. Pop megastar Michael Jackson announced Thursday he will play a series of comeback concerts in London in July, his first major shows for over a decade. Four years after his infamous child abuse trial, the 50-year-old eccentric singer confirmed he will play 10 gigs at the giant London O2 arena starting on July 8. AFP PHOTO/Carl de Souza (Photo credit should read CARL DE SOUZA/AFP/Getty Images)
Carl De Souza, AFP / Getty Images
Michael Jackson shopping for art pieces in Beverly Hills April 20, 2009 X17online.com
X17online
Diana Ross & Michael Jackson
Barry King, WireImage
British singer Lily Allen performs at the Glastonbury festival in Somerset, Friday June 26 2009. Glastonbury revelers were coming to terms with the loss of Michael Jackson today as they coped with boggy conditions during a morning of solid rain. (AP Photo/Joel Ryan)
AP
British singer Lily Allen performs at the Glastonbury festival in Somerset, Friday June 26 2009. Glastonbury revellers were coming to terms with the loss of Michael Jackson Friday as they coped with boggy conditions during a morning of solid rain.(AP Photo/Joel Ryan)
AP
A sidewalk shrine of mementoes, flowers, candles and notes adorns the star of Michael Jackson on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Los Angeles Friday, June 26, 2009. Jackson died Thursday of an apparent heart attack. (AP Photo/Reed Saxon)
AP
People walk past a tribute to Michael Jackson in Toronto, June 26, 2009. Jackson, the child star turned King of Pop who set the world dancing but whose musical genius was overshadowed by a bizarre lifestyle and sex scandals, died on Thursday. He was 50. REUTERS/Mark Blinch (CANADA ENTERTAINMENT OBITUARY IMAGES OF THE DAY)
Reuters
Stars react to Jackson's death | Jackson jokes cut from 'Bruno'
Remembering Michael Jackson | Michael Jackson TV coverage
Watch 'We Are the World' the documentary | TV Squad's Jackson Coverage
Michael Was a Fanboy | Memories of 'Thriller'
"What struck me the most about last night's coverage was how all of the news stations (CNN, FOX News, etc) were holding back on announcing him dead. They wanted to be sure, but you could actually see them straining not to say 'TMZ is reporting that Jackson has died...,' biting their lips and just saying that he was rushed to the hospital, that the family was at his side, that now he was in a coma. They didn't want to say that the only source was TMZ, which is a good thing, but in this day of the web it was really odd to be going to various sites to see what they were saying and at the same time watch various TV channels and seeing them to just trying to fill time until the L.A. Times confirmed it." -- Bob Sassone
What's stood out to you about the media coverage of the death of one of pop's true icons? Share your thoughts here.
Reader Comments (4)
DfromNJ at 8:46PM on Jun 26th 2009
Yes ...well truly sad...he was one of greatest icons..but I dont feel he deserves..all the media press...enough is enough..lets let the "man" rest in peace...LIFE GOES ON!!!!!
DfromNJ at 8:45PM on Jun 26th 2009
Yes while truly sad...and yes he was one of the greatest icons...I feel he does not deserve all of the media coverage....lets let the "man" rest in peace...LIFE GOES ON!!!!!!
Janet at 11:08AM on Jun 27th 2009
While it's kind of sad that the deaths of both Ed McMahon and Farrah Fawcett were overshadowed by the untimely death of Michael Jackson, let's face it...The media is always going to cover what is the most salicious and attention-getting! ALL deaths are incredibly sad, but the last bit of news about McMahon was that his house was about go into foreclosure and Farrah Fawcett HAD her "time" in the form of the documentary a few weeks before HER death. Michael Jackson transcended SO musically, SOMEONE was going to get overshadowed! I was a fan of all 3; and I wish them RIP and prayers for their respective families. To all you haters...GROW UP! Jackson's footprint on the world will be felt for all time! ALL THREE WILL BE MISSED
Shirley Youngs at 6:44PM on Jul 6th 2009
Don't you think when someone has, in all probability, killed himself by overdosing, it's inappropriate to treat him like a saint with all the adoration by the media? Too much! Time to hush! He was a great talent but a man with questionable character.