Michael Jackson's influence

[0:00] ..." Continue our coverage of the death of Michael Jackson and be affected in this head on so many people. Joining us from Syracuse University where he is a professor of popular culture and television is professor Robert Thompson. Professor that you -- the the death of Michael Jackson is inescapable. And becoming as he does on the day of the death of another. Popular icon of the seventies Fossett. How"...

[1:02] ..." mean to take nothing away -- Were important to the culture. But Michael Jackson was one of the biggest stars. The of the era and lots of -- complying. You know usual weasel -- king it's."...

[1:29] ..." remember for example hearing of the death of the Elvis Presley. Or John Lennon and will remember where they weren't what they were doing when that happened. There are people in their thirties and forties and fifties who feel the same way about one they heard yesterday about Michael Jackson right."...

[1:46] ..." of a lot of these including. Kids -- don't even know Michael Jackson. Work that well are not going to be able to what. Avoided any. So much more extensive by mean. We've Elvis and John Lennon and both kinds of stories we didn't have the multiplicity. Of -- Now all these 24 hour. Cable channels -- What 730. Last night it was extraordinary. The amount and the nature of the coverage this -- also lead to signal how much later this story broke and -- That it did in the Internet CNN and so forth through what we're still reporting. You know Michael Jackson rushed to the hospital. Good hours after. This story broke."...

[3:29] ..." Michael Jackson's legacy maybe. His odd behavior beyond his music. -- for example dangling his his baby son over. The balcony of the of"...

[4:05] ..." they. Anybody of course who was alive during the time that the Michael Jackson the life is going to always. Remember him in that dual. Thing of being -- great performer but the same time someone with a lot of really. Peculiar idiosyncrasies. Yet you know hundred years when all of us --"...

[4:56] ..." guy and being led by a lot of people. In our chapter. Michael Jackson's death. This was a of these. Really great American epic stories of pol celebrity's. Can absolutely destroy human being I think this"...

[5:44] ..." you -- thriller professor and that album which was the best selling pop album of all time. And sold something like a hundred million copies worldwide. Was released 27 years ago when accompanied by his lethal"...

[7:17] ..." Quantity of great performances. -- you know the competition was strong. But Michael Jackson comes out and he performs -- that they that we change and I swear it was like. He was performing in the"...

[0:00]" Continue our coverage of the death of Michael Jackson and be affected in this head on so many people. Joining us from Syracuse University where he is a professor of popular culture and television is professor Robert Thompson. Professor that you -- the the death of Michael Jackson is inescapable. And becoming as he does on the day of the death of another. Popular icon of the seventies Fossett. How is it that Jackson is making section an impact."

[0:28]" Well I mean he's here were talking about. One of these -- entertainment. Are. You know our nation's history -- simply in the modern era this guy can be compared with. You know Sinatra and Elvis and for that matter PT Barnum so. I mean this is they've read these huge story and also really beat international's story. As well -- that big star icon of the seventies. At all all of the rest that it might mean to take nothing away -- Were important to the culture. But Michael Jackson was one of the biggest stars. The of the era and lots of -- complying. You know usual weasel -- king it's. It's an exaggeration. King size king of the king of that. Wouldn't let the jet was called king of pop. It was really not a hyperbole."

[1:27]" The people who were of a certain age will remember for example hearing of the death of the Elvis Presley. Or John Lennon and will remember where they weren't what they were doing when that happened. There are people in their thirties and forties and fifties who feel the same way about one they heard yesterday about Michael Jackson right."

[1:45]" Yeah I think people of a lot of these including. Kids -- don't even know Michael Jackson. Work that well are not going to be able to what. Avoided any. So much more extensive by mean. We've Elvis and John Lennon and both kinds of stories we didn't have the multiplicity. Of -- Now all these 24 hour. Cable channels -- What 730. Last night it was extraordinary. The amount and the nature of the coverage this -- also lead to signal how much later this story broke and -- That it did in the Internet CNN and so forth through what we're still reporting. You know Michael Jackson rushed to the hospital. Good hours after. This story broke."

[3:29]" Michael Jackson's legacy maybe. His odd behavior beyond his music. -- for example dangling his his baby son over. The balcony of the of the German hotel. The virtual reconstruction of his face in the way that his skin he admittedly had a skin condition. Became so much lighter the fact that he walked around with -- a glove on his hand one of his trademarks but with a mask over space and public."

[3:55]" I mean I don't think that will be his legacy. I think in the end his legacy that would last for a long long time. Going to be his recordings and videos that can that they. Anybody of course who was alive during the time that the Michael Jackson the life is going to always. Remember him in that dual. Thing of being -- great performer but the same time someone with a lot of really. Peculiar idiosyncrasies. Yet you know hundred years when all of us -- were alive when Michael was alive are gone I think we're probably still going to be listening to thriller. Yet only historians of you know popular culture are going to be able to deep deep deep sales some. Some of those sort. It was great. You know certainly we've got a good combination here one of the greatest. Entertainers. Of all time. And one of the most. Peculiar biographies. And I don't think those are unrelated I think this is the guy and being led by a lot of people. In our chapter. Michael Jackson's death. This was a of these. Really great American epic stories of pol celebrity's. Can absolutely destroy human being I think this guy became so statement. That he is really required him to retreat from. Human life. Led by regular people ZF. These -- get the sense that he was living on planet Michael I think to a great extent he was that."

[5:34]" So some people may could remember. The charges of of a child molestation against him and forget the fact that he was acquitted. NN crop but it you mention that you -- thriller professor and that album which was the best selling pop album of all time. And sold something like a hundred million copies worldwide. Was released 27 years ago when accompanied by his lethal dancing the moon walking performance. It really is unforgettable in --"

[6:03]" It is I mean it's you know there are only a few room we. Rate rate albums. In. Popular music sergeant pepper is certainly. One of them every but he would have their nominations but thriller is certainly up there. With I mean one song after another. We -- idea twentieth anniversary dvds comes with three of the video and those -- completely. Raise the artistic bar. Alia. Music video would be. Would be made so yeah I mean he's had an extraordinary. -- that it. Self I think if you forget the Motown years you forget the Jackson 5 PP if you looked only at. Thriller. What -- extraordinary achievement that. The -- the thing every but he keeps talking about in an irate I concur. I remember I was in. But first year graduate school and I remember watching that -- vote count 2525. Anniversary special. To me. -- And we're talking and the specials like to would have hours long it all during prime time and an unbelievable. Quantity of great performances. -- you know the competition was strong. But Michael Jackson comes out and he performs -- that they that we change and I swear it was like. He was performing in the world that had no friction. Why did across that. Stage what that performance was relieved jaw dropping your."