Did you hear who died?

[Capellini]

That was a long time coming, though. Apparently she hadn't even been well enough to speak for some weeks now. Sad for her family, her son has been having a hard time lately.

[TwistedSister]

Michael Jackson, this afternoon. Heart gave out on him.
Holy freekin crap!
He was a strange dude, but talented.
Three in one week, they must be planning a talent show someplace.

[Rainswept]

I just came to post that too. Wow.

[Capellini]

Michael Jackson, this afternoon. Heart gave out on him.
Holy freekin crap!
He was a strange dude, but talented.
Three in one week, they must be planning a talent show someplace.

Didn't you know? Famous people always die in threes.

[Almighty Doer of Stuff]

At least the world's water bills will be lower, now that the Fawcett has been turned off.

*tries for a rimshot, beans the referee instead, gets ejected from the game*

[~NoodleDemon~]

I was just about to start a new thread about Jackson, 'till I saw this.

It's a damn shame such an incredibly talented dude got so screwed up by his family and by circumstance and had to die so ignominiously.

I guess it's for the best; he was not a happy guy. I mean, happiness must be next to impossible when you're getting the flashy red pants sued off of you by every second person you meet for everything from business unfairness to child molestation...

[Edd]

Michael Jackson, this afternoon. Heart gave out on him.
Holy freekin crap!
He was a strange dude, but talented.
Three in one week, they must be planning a talent show someplace.

Didn't you know? Famous people always die in threes.

I remember discussing this with my brother when Princess Diana died; he was unaware of the phenomenon. I pointed out that Mother Theresa had also just passed shortly before Diana and mused, 'I wonder who the third one will be?'

He answered, 'It's already happened. Tupac.'

[~NoodleDemon~]

Michael Jackson, this afternoon. Heart gave out on him.
Holy freekin crap!
He was a strange dude, but talented.
Three in one week, they must be planning a talent show someplace.

Didn't you know? Famous people always die in threes.

I remember discussing this with my brother when Princess Diana died; he was unaware of the phenomenon. I pointed out that Mother Theresa had also just passed shortly before Diana and mused, 'I wonder who the third one will be?'

He answered, 'It's already happened. Tupac.'

Wow.

Well, only the third one was worth anything, or did anything worthwhile to be famous for, so...

[Rainswept]

TV is calling him "The most famous man in the world." Do we think that's true?

My guess would have been Bush. I know it certainly used to be Michael Jordan.

[bacon]

wow - michael jackson

excellent artist and performer - i was listening to some of his earlier stuff from recently - guy had talent

never thought that he would go that way, always thought it would be something more flashy

[TwistedSister]

TV is calling him "The most famous man in the world." Do we think that's true?

I would think quite possibly.
One for his immense talent.
Two for his immense weirdness.

Either way, people talked about him, loved him or hated him.
Such a shame, I don't think he was ever really happy.

[Wawizzle]

I personally don't care about MJ's death because I don't know him. His music is good and he did a lot for the industry but besides that he was just another celebrity. Must be "my generation."

I'm going to be irritated by the massive coverage of him over the next month(s). There probably more important things going on right now.

I think deaths of celebrities are so big because it reminds people of their own mortality. Or, the uncynical part of me would like to think so.

[ET, the Extra Terrestrial]

TV is calling him "The most famous man in the world." Do we think that's true?

My guess would have been Bush. I know it certainly used to be Michael Jordan.

Right now he is, because he's quite famously dead.
I would say that he has been the most famous person in the world several times. When "Thriller" came out, when he was accused of child molestation, right now for being dead, and maybe a couple of other times that I can't think of. Lots of people get to be the "most famous" for a while - Osama bin Laden, George W. Bush, Barack Obama - probably lots of heads of state are, at least briefly, along with music icons and some sports icons. If someone discovers time travel or immortality, they'll be tops for a while.

Mrs. T and I sometimes play a morbid little game. When someone famous dies, the news has it that day, and the next day there's some retrospective or something, and depending on how famous they were, it can go on for quite a while. We'll be saying "Well, it looks like Michael Jackson is still dead" for at least a couple of weeks, I'm sure. Personally, I don't really care whether he's alive or dead, I never cared much for his music, and he was just too bizarre. It's just another senseless piece of fluff news they'll use to avoid talking about issues that actually matter.

[~NoodleDemon~]

I admit that excessive coverage will grate on my nerves.

But somehow, I was saddened. Never again will I hear another song like 'Billie Jean' or 'Thriller'...

[PKMKII]

I feel sorry for the guy. If he did molest any children, there's no excuse for it, but he had one screwed up childhood. I can't help but think that if he hadn't had such a bastard of a father, he could have done a lot more.