My neighborhood is under siege. I happen to live in Westwood, maybe a mile from the UCLA Medical Center. Helicopters continue to whirr overhead. It sounds like the opening of MASH on a loop. The media has descended like a swarm of locusts. And Michael Jackson fans are arriving in droves. This is real annoying for the Iran protesters who are waving flags and marching in front of the Federal Building.Streets in the area are a complete snarl. Not a good night to attend any of the movies showing in the L.A. Film Festival, also going on tonight in Westwood.
And try getting a table at the California Pizza Kitchen.
His house, which is even less than a mile from me, is now surrounded by fans. And tourist vans. Lots of tourist vans. Do not try to get to the valley by going through Bel Air tonight.
In death as in life, the world of Michael Jackson is a circus. Media outlets from around the globe are here. So are fans hoping to catch a glimpse of other Jackson family members. Cellphone cameras are at the ready. Nearby frat houses are blasting Michael Jackson hits (although that’s something they might be doing anyway). There must be a thousand Tweets a minute being sent from the scene.
I’ll report back if anything else happens. Hey, you kids! Get off my lawn! There’s nothing to see here!
P.S.
Fans are also gathering at his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. But it's the wrong Michael Jackson. They're paying tribute to the radio talkshow host, Michael Jackson.
I must admit, I considered wandering over there. Not sure what I would have done, but I felt a pull.
ReplyDeleteAfter I heard about Michael Jackson, my immediate first thought was how strange it was that two of the biggest names from the 70's died on the same day.
ReplyDeleteMy second thought is that immediately a lot of people were talking (on the "oldies" radio station I was listening to) about Michael from the past - the cute, extremely gifted performer that he once was. Personally, I would rather remember him that way than the way he was in the last several years.
It's all about you, isn't it.
ReplyDeleteMike in San Diego
Uh, yeah Mike. Y'see, it's my blog.
ReplyDeleteHow odd it must be for talk radio Michael Jackson to hear "Michael Jackson died today."
ReplyDeleteApparently the "real" Michael Jackson's star is underneath the red carpet that the Chinese Theater set up for the "Bruno" premiere.
ReplyDelete...And there's a scene in "Bruno" in which Sacha Baron Cohen tries to get La Toya Jackson to talk like Michael.
L.A. is weird.
Point taken, Ken. My bad.
ReplyDeleteMike in San Diego.
I heard that since he's like 90% plastic now, they're going to have him melted down and turned into Legos so the kids can play with him for a change.
ReplyDeleteWhy are you blogging when you could be whipping up a batch of M.J. tribute t-shirts to sell for $20.00 a pop?
ReplyDeleteScratch one child-molesting freak. Sorry to speak ill of the dead, but I'm not a fan of him/her.
ReplyDeleteRADIO EMPLOYEE: Hey Radio Michael Jackson!
ReplyDeleteRADIO MICHAEL JACKSON:(British Accent) Yes?
RADIO EMPLOYEE: Do you know Michael Jackson died today?
RADIO MICHAEL JACKSON: No, but perhaps if you hum a few bars, I might be able to fake it.
RIM SHOT
Annnnnnnnd scene.
I know this says something terrible about me, but my first thought when I heard M.J. was dead was, "Ahhh. Little children all over the world breathe a sigh of relief comforted in the thought that their bed is finally safe."
ReplyDeleteYeah, yeah, I'm horrible. He was a talent, maybe a genius, but there's no denying that other thing.
You might want to take a break from the mass gnashing of teeth and read this post about 'Moneyball', if you haven't already seen it:
ReplyDeletehttp://scriptshadow.blogspot.com/2009/06/what-happened-tomoneyball.html
AIDS, am I rite? I knew it..
ReplyDeleteWe wanted to grab the radio Michael Jackson and take a picture of him kneeling at his star with all the flowers and fans. It would have been a great shot.
ReplyDeleteI thought this needed a replay...
ReplyDelete"I heard that since he's like 90% plastic now, they're going to have him melted down and turned into Legos so the kids can play with him for a change."
Very funny, YEKIMI.
I thought this needed a replay...
ReplyDelete"I heard that since he's like 90% plastic now, they're going to have him melted down and turned into Legos so the kids can play with him for a change."
Very funny, YEKIMI.
We are really great at picking our heros. How can Ghandi possibly come close to MJ? I'd be very surprised if Ghandi could even carry a tune much less Moon Walk.
ReplyDeleteEV: rerden...an Aynn Rand hero.
Sky has fallen?! Damn. I remember cruising Van Nuys Blvd. in the '60's with the top down listening to Humble Harve playin' "Pushin' Too Hard," on KHJ...and wondering if I'd ever be a hit with the ladies as a famous DJ. (Ask my ex-wives...)
ReplyDeleteHere's their vid of an early TV show hosted by a young, skinny Casey Kasem.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cmHTyLBIZ1g
"Anonymous said...
ReplyDeleteAIDS, am I rite? I knew it.."
Gee Anon, your logic is as faulty as your spelling.
To get AIDS Michael would have had to have had sex with people old enough to have had sex with someone else. Pre-pubescent virgin children, Michael's preferred prey, wouldn't have had AIDS for him to catch.
He died of sudden cardiac arrest, as was widely reported even before his death itself was announced, probably brought on by abuse of perscription drugs. Sorry to disappoint you.
But nice way to sling in the dated homophobia.
"cardiac arrest" just means your heart stopped. it can be caused by anything, even anal cancer (Farrah could have use the "cardiac arrest" line, but no, they had to be assholes about it).
ReplyDeleteIn this case, AIDS (just to keep the anal theme)
Remind me never to go to an anonymous doctor, as this one's medical knowledge is as appalling as his homophobia.
ReplyDeleteAgain, with all the illnesses (most mental) Michael had, AIDS was not one of them.
Perhaps your opinions would carry more weight if you had the balls to sign your name as I have mine.
i love Michael but someone said he is better of dead than alive this is a day we will never forget R.I.P.
ReplyDelete