27 Years Ago Today: Jackson Redefined Music

CLEVELAND - Michael Jackson came to the world's attention as a blindingly gifted child star in the late 1960's. A decade later, he morphed into an adult superstar with the 1979 release of Off the Wall. But the most important day of Jackson's career didn't take place until November 30, 1982.

At the time, it felt like just another day.

Today marks the 27th anniversary of the release of the historic Thriller album. Released on Epic Records, it was Michael's sixth solo album and his second straight collaboration with super producer Quincy Jones. At the time, Jackson's status in the music industry had not yet become ethereal. It was merely outstanding thanks to the chart topping success of Off the Wall. He was seen as an incredible vocalist who possessed a huge repertoire of dance moves and at age 24, he was a burgeoning superstar. The Thriller album was met with mild kudos, not universally effusive praise when it hit record stores. Some critics even issued negative reviews of the album, especially after the tepid yet fun lead single (a duet with Paul McCartney) called, "The Girl Is Mine" hit radio five weeks before the entire album debuted.

It wasn't until the first couple months of 1983 that the album became a runaway freight train of unparalleled success. Jackson crafted a cutting edge music video for the song "Billie Jean" which infused the record with a huge jolt of electricity. The music video for "Beat It" was issued in early spring and became another massive hit with its amazing merging of rock, pop and heavy metal. By now, it was becoming very clear that Michael was the biggest star in music and his popularity was greatly augmented by his visual style.

With his show-stopping performance of "Billie Jean" on the televised "Motown 25" special, Michael had officially ascended to legend status and had become a veritable pop culture phenomenon. His singing, dancing, wardrobe and command of the stage were as awesome, precise and singularly brilliant as anyone in the history of show business. During the next several months, he released more "low-key" singles from Thriller, all the while planning his most ambitious project yet.

The film for the album's title track.

Released on December 2, 1983, "Michael Jackson's Thriller" took amazing to another level. Filmed and produced as though it were a feature length film, the 14-minute opus firmly entrenched the 25-year old Jackson into the ranks of only the most accomplished pioneers in entertainment history. The groundbreaking flick caused the one year old album to once again scale the music charts and sell an astonishing one million copies per week after nearly 55 weeks in release. This ushered Jackson into 1984 on an historic streak of unfettered success, popularity and achievement. It was no surprise that the supernova earned 16 awards in less than six weeks for the superlative album.

Sheesh.

By now, sales of Michael Jackson apparel and other accouterments were in the tens of millions. "Making Michael Jackson's Thriller" became the biggest selling home video in history and his signature Jheri-curled hair was a mainstay as was his single, white glittery glove. It was ironic that Jackson was such an original figure given the fact that he was an amalgamation of many showbiz legends from Charlie Chaplin and Fred Astaire to Sammie Davis, Jr. and James Brown. The degree of idolatry that engulfed his very being was on par with Elvis Presley and even The Beatles. Thriller, the album went on to become the biggest seller in history with some estimates set at an absolutely staggering 104 million copies sold globally!

I believe that the true legacy of Thriller lies in the fact that it changed the way the music business handled and promoted new music. The crossover hits on the record, the shattering of racial barriers, the numerous songs released as singles, the revolutionary nature of the music videos that created even greater fanaticism with the album, Jackson's singular and imitable style and the sheer perfection in every facet of the production and performing of the music. In short, Thriller birthed the music industry as we know it today.

We all owe a debt of gratitude to the great Michael Jackson for blessing us with that indelible masterpiece 27 years ago today.

Jackson's 4 Awards Are An Appreciation Too Late

CLEVELAND - First off, I am absolutely thrilled that the great Michael Jackson won four awards at the 37th annual American Music Awards last night. But I am outraged that it took the man's death to occur for him to get properly appreciated.

That's disgusting.

Everyone knows that I adore and love Michael and always have, but this isn't a "fan rant" on my part. I'm just very upset that, prior to last night, Michael hadn't won an AMA in 20 freakin' years! Yes, he has now won a record 23 AMA's, but the four he posthumously won last night seemed to be too little too late in appreciation of the relentlessly vilified Jackson. Even the man who accepted his awards on his behalf, his brother Jermaine was a questionable choice. Jermaine is the man who so often defends and praises his legendary brother with great effusion, but he's also the guy that wrote, recorded and released a vitriolic diatribe in the form of a song against Michael in 1991.

Jerk.

Even though it is obvious that Michael's stunning death five months ago greatly influenced sentiment towards him in voting last night, it is also true that he genuinely deserved each of the awards he won. He'd been nominated for five, and won four, losing out to teen sensation Taylor Swift, who very deservedly won Artist of the Year. Swift, beauty that she is, accepted her award via satellite and was humble and thoughtful as she acknowledged Michael's iconic brilliance and lamented his loss saying, "we'll miss and love [him] forever."

Michael dominated the AMA's 25 years ago. That was the evening that he, flanked by Brooke Shields and Emmanuel Lewis won a record 8 awards for his steamrolling Thriller album. His fame and popularity were at an all-time high at that time, and he was still the world's most dominant and iconic entertainer when he won five years later. In the two decades since that last win in 1989, he became an oft-maligned, heavily criticized and mocked pariah. Dogged by two different child molestation allegations a decade apart and a rapidly changing visage, Jackson's superlative legacy absorbed massive destruction. As a result, he became a laughingstock to idiots the world over, though he still retained a great measure of his enormous mystique (especially abroad) and by the spring of 2009, he had planned a stunning comeback to the world of live performing.

When he died on June 25, 2009 as a result of a prescription drug overdose, it tore my world apart but predictably, it provoked and inspired global tributes and a re-evaluation of his legend. Even his hastily assembled film, "Michael Jackson's This is It" has received extensive critical acclaim. As far as I'm concerned, the world should have shown Michael this love while he was around to appreciate it.

This praise now just seems fake.

20 Years On, 'Back to the Future II' Still Awesome

CLEVELAND - Michael J. Fox is one of my all-time favorite actors, but I must admit, it's probably because of just one of the many roles he has played during the past three decades and it may not even be his most popular.

Marty McFly.

That's right. Fox's portrayal of the 17-year old skateboarding, aspiring musician in 1985's blockbuster hit film Back to the Future got me hooked like a raging crack addict on both he and the film. Needless to say, I eagerly anticipated the long awaited sequel which ended up taking four years to come to movie theaters. And so it was, 20 years ago today that Back to the Future, Part II premiered, much to the delight of my 12-year old self. I had been hanging on every little morsel of info I could that came out prior to the sequel's release. I salivated with joy at a featurette that was produced and broadcast in the weeks leading up to the film's theatrical release. In short, I was insanely obsessed.

Fox starred on TV's "Family Ties" as the ultra-Conservative and proudly young Republican Alex P. Keaton beginning in 1982. When Back to the Future was released in '85, he was in the midst of his third season and enjoying tremendous success on the series. By the time the sequel came out, "Family Ties" had ended and Fox, at age 28, still convincingly played the adolescent McFly with charm, verve and enthusiasm. He even played multiple roles in the flick as well as the finale to the trilogy which was filmed concurrently to Part II and released six months later.

Back to the Future, Part II picked up when the first film left off. Still set in 1985, the sequel called for Fox as McFly to travel 30 years into the future to 2015 to fix a "flaw" in his future kids' life. Doing more harm than good, McFly unknowingly returns to his "present time" of 1985 thinking all was corrected. He soon finds that he must return to 1955, the era to which he traveled in the first movie to correct a "simple error" he made in 2015 that wound up ruining not only his own past and present, but his entire family dynamic and the world at large! The film allowed us to view events and scenes from the first movie at different angle against the backdrop of a more layered and complex story.

It was amazing and innovative.

The film ended in a cliffhanger, just as the first one did and segued into the Western-themed Back to the Future, Part III. Among the awesome aspects of Part II was the hoverboard in 2015 as well as the Nike sneakers with "power laces."

It saddens me to this day that Fox became afflicted with Parkinson's Disease two years after this film's release, though he didn't publicly disclose that until 1998. Now 20 years hence, he has since retired from acting because of the degenerative nature of the disease, but he's remarkable in his positive attitude about it. In Back to the Future, Part II, the 1985 McFly always grew enraged when someone called him a chicken and that fact greatly compromised his future. For Michael J. Fox, he's been anything but a "chicken" in dealing with his present.

That's why, no matter what, his future will always be bright.

'Harlem Nights' Ended A Brilliant Era In Comedy

CLEVELAND - As a child, I idolized one of the worst people a child of the 1980's could idolize: Eddie Murphy. From his hilarious stint on Saturday Night Live to his mega successful films, Murphy was a huge part of where my comedic sensibilities derived. But to me, his true genius hit its apex with the release of Harlem Nights.

The critics hated that flick.

Hard to believe, but it was 20 years ago today that Murphy's final film of the '80's hit movie theaters nationwide. But Harlem Nights, a period piece set in 1938 Harlem, NY had far more value than its unimpressive storyline would indicate. First off, Murphy wrote, directed and starred in the film. Secondly, he assembled a highly accomplished cast that featured Danny Aiello and Michael Lerner as well as Della Reese and Jasmine Guy. Those people were just the icing on the cake. The cherry on top was the appearance of legendary comedians Richard Pryor and Redd Foxx alongside Murphy, who was the biggest box office draw in the U.S. at the time.

Pryor, who turned 49 a month after the film's release had long been the biggest comedic influence for Murphy, who turned to comedy as a result of being amazed at Pryor's racy performances. Similarly, Foxx had been one of Pryor's influences early in his career.

The story of the movie is less important when compared to the awesome assembly of three generations of comedic gold. Foxx, then 67 was best known for his legendary portrayal of junk dealer Fred Sanford on the 1970's sitcom Sanford and Son. Pryor was quite possibly the biggest influence in the history of modern comedy and like Foxx, enjoyed a successful acting career. Murphy, at age 28 was the baby of the group but had amassed far greater film success and financial rewards than both Pryor and Foxx combined. Even still, the hilarious triumvirate meshed well together and each had their individual moments of humorous grandeur in the film.

As great as Harlem Nights was as a showcase of legendary black talent, there is a very sad fact about what that movie came to represent. Pryor had been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis just three years prior to this film but had not yet begun showing any of the debilitating signs of the disease. Just a few years after Harlem Nights, the effects of MS became so visually obvious that Pryor began to look and act like a shell of his former self. Foxx died less than two years after Harlem Nights premiered and Murphy's film career, nearly perfect until this film was never quite the same. In essence, Harlem Nights ended an amazing era in comedy.

Pryor died in December 2005, which saddened many who remembered the man as a true giant in his field. Though no longer an A-list actor, the 48-year old Murphy has spent the past 15 years reinventing himself as an actor. He hasn't done stand up in 22 years, since 1987's Eddie Murphy Raw, but he still holds some appeal to children (of all people) with his more family friendly roles.

Harlem Nights was a huge deal to me in 1989. Not only did it contain my man Eddie, it also featured Arsenio Hall in a bit part. Hall's celebrity was heavy on the rise at the time because of his eponymous late night talk show which had become a sensation, and I was a big fan of his too. I must admit, I refuse to accept anything Murphy has done after his awesome string of hit films in the '80's (except 1992's Boomerang) so Harlem Nights was almost like saying goodbye to the Eddie Murphy that I knew and loved.

I still can't believe it's been 20 years!

Jordan Deserves LeBron's NBA Proposal

CLEVELAND - LeBron James, basketball prodigy extraordinaire, mentioned last week that he will switch from uniform number 23 and start wearing his Olympic number 6 next season and hopes that the NBA will follow his lead and retire the number league wide in honor of Michael Jordan.

Many have scoffed at this idea.

James, 25 next month is in his 7th NBA season. During his still ascending career, he has both met and exceeded the sky high expectations placed on him after a stunning and highly publicized high school career. Jordan, the recently enshrined basketball Hall of Famer has been widely considered the greatest NBA player in history for at least the past 12 to 15 years. With a pro career that was both legendary and globally pioneering, Jordan achieved an ethereal status that no one ever has in the history of the sport. It is because of that fact, not to mention MJ's omnipotence even in today's game and the way he changed the way business is conducted and pro athletes are marketed that makes LeBron's idea a no-brainer.

No one deserves it more than Michael Jordan.

Naturally, the idea has been met with a lot of criticism and resistance. Many in disagreement readily acknowledge Jordan's epic accomplishments but feel that the greats that came before him are either just as deserving or even more so to have their uniform numbers retired. An NBA player has never had his number retired, but Major League Baseball's Jackie Robinson, an exceptional player and the first African-American to play in the majors during the modern era had his retired more than 40 years after he played his last game.

Jordan retired for the third and final time six years ago.

Here's my take: the NBA's logo is a silhouette of former L.A. Lakers great Jerry West. Without question, West was an awesome player and was known as Mr. Clutch for his penchant for late-game heroics during his 14-year career. However, West was far from being the most prominent member of even his own era. He won just one NBA title and no MVP's, while Bill Russell racked up 11 NBA titles and 5 MVP awards. Wilt Chamberlain won 11 rebounding titles, 7 scoring titles and 2 NBA titles. Oscar Robertson was the only man in history to average a triple double over an entire season and cumulatively, he averaged one for his first five seasons combined.

Wow.

The point is, each one of those guys were far better choices to be bestowed the honor of being the logo. If it were a racial issue (those days were very uneven racially), Bob Cousy or George Mikan were more accomplished than West. Hell...Celtics coach Red Auerbach would've been an awesome choice given his mystique and iconic presence in leading Boston to 9 league titles.

For people to say Jordan is undeserving because of others like Chamberlain and Russell, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson, Dr. J and Larry Bird completely ignores the merits of the guys that should've been the logo over West. Plus, MJ popularized the game to such a degree that folks became fans of him that didn't even like or care about sports...and then they became basketball fans (that's how I became a hoops fan). In today's game, LeBron and Kobe Bryant are the two most obvious spawns of Michael's awesome trailblazing. From his demeanor and fire on the court to his perfectly crafted image off it, these guys were heavily influenced.

Watch an NBA game today and look at Jordan's mannerisms, iconic Jumpman logo and often references to him all over the place. To paraphrase LeBron, when one thinks of fly kicks, game winning shots and high scoring performances, you think of Jordan. Plus, the man was a winner and a money player in the crunch on both sides of the ball.

This is a debate and it shouldn't be. Commissioner Stern; retire Jordan's number 23 all across the NBA. Even if it means setting a team-by-team mandate to do so.

Considering what MJ continues to do for your league, you owe him at least that much.

Young's 50th Episode Critically Acclaimed

CLEVELAND - In a decidedly surprising development, critics worldwide have submitted generally positive reviews and critiques of "Deante Young's Thriller," the 50th episode of the obscene web series, a Date with Deante.

Talk about a change.

The short film, which serves as the show's second season finale was praised by many for its script and production, as well as its twist ending. Normally, the show is the target of harsh criticism and vilification, but not this time. Gabriel Svedka of The London Mirror opined; "Mr. Young's Thriller film is extraordinary in its scope relative to his past clips. He is clearly a comedic powerhouse and this flick illustrates that." Aden Winthorp of The Chinese Opinion wrote in his daily column that "Young is a grand filmmaker with a brazen flair for the most shocking of humor. He is a legend in the making."

Here in the U.S., Harry Wexler of The New York Star wrote, "Deante Young's Thriller exudes creativity and genius storytelling. This effort manages to outlast its own filthy elements and survives as a masterpiece of unlimited imagination." Kevin Saxson of The L.A. Tablet remarked, "not since the early days of Howard Stern has a man so reviled created such a fervor and fascination for his brand of sexism and exploitation. But Young does it better than Stern ever did."

A statement issued by Young through his production company thanked the fans and the critics of his show. It also hinted that the entertainer may do an exit interview since his show has reached its hiatus.

We'll be waiting.

Exclusive: Young Reflects On Season 2 Of Series

CLEVELAND - Deante Young has been described in a host of ways, but 'humble' has never been one of them.

Until now.

Young's heavily anticipated short film, "Deante Young's Thriller" premieres online today and also serves as the season finale of a Date with Deante. It is the 50th installment of a web series that has consistently pushed limits, infuriated critics and delighted its followers. Young has spent the past six weeks crafting the flick, but has now decided to reflect on the unforgettable experience he had in producing season 2.

"I'm very proud of what we accomplished this season, " said Young during a press junket for his new film. "We started March 1st and we're now concluding eight and a half months later with a great deal of indelible moments to show for it. I'm blessed that things have worked out so well."

Young was asked what he was most proud of and what he would do differently with season 2 if he could. "I was very proud of the growth and evolution from season 1. From the topicality of the shows to the audacity of the comedy, we really stepped it up. On the other hand, we focused too much on Tony Train Wreck and the trailer park folks."

Young mentioned that once he's done attending parties for the 50th episode, he will rest for a few days, then go back to work on developing season 3.

Episode 50, the final episode of the season premieres today at 6PM.

D.Y. Publicist: Episode 50 Will Debut In 50 Hours

CLEVELAND - According to Deante Young's publicist, the entertainer's highly anticipated 50th episode of his controversial web series will premiere at 6PM EST on Friday, November 13, 2009.

Let the countdown begin.

The statement, released by Young's film company Dirty Truth Films was issued at 4PM Eastern Standard Time, exactly 50 hours before the release of "Deante Young's Thriller," the short film that serves as the 50th episode of a Date with Deante.

The film also serves as the grand finale of the series' 2nd season.

Sources at Dirty Truth Films remained tight lipped as of press time as to the exact nature of the episode. A short trailer was released yesterday that suggested a complex storyline. It has been also confirmed that a private party is planned for tonight in honor of Young's sterling season.

50 Is On The Horizon

CLEVELAND - After a roller coaster ride of perversity, obscenities and endless controversy, Deante Young's cult reality show has reached its much ballyhooed conclusion.

At least, season 2 has anyway.

The shock-tinged web series, a Date with Deante is about to close up shop for the next several months, but not before it unveils its watershed 50th episode on Friday. Young announced weeks ago that the season finale would pay homage to his hero Michael Jackson's seminal music video, "Thriller." Today, a short preview trailer debuts and from the looks of it, the episode will be a very diverse and ambitious endeavor.

Entitled, "Deante Young's Thriller," episode 50 is said to follow an actual scripted storyline penned by Young himself. Dirty Truth Films remained tight lipped about further details of the short film.

In any case, enjoy the 55 second clip above.

HIV Was Blessing In Disguise For Magic Johnson

CLEVELAND - Earvin Johnson was the quintessential basketball player; dedicated, hard-working and mindlessly gifted. To his fans, he seemed to do everything right. But after a dozen incandescent seasons in the NBA, the legendary point guard was forced to retire with a deadly disease.

It may have saved his life.

Today marks the 18th anniversary of Johnson's stunning, sports world shattering announcement that he'd contracted HIV, the virus that causes the deadly AIDS disease. Because of this fact, he declared that he was retiring immediately from the Los Angeles Lakers, the team he piloted to five NBA championships during the 1980's. For the man long nicknamed "Magic," this was a disappearing act that no one was prepared for, nor wanted to see.

Standing at a podium at the famous Great Western Forum, a very somber Johnson broke the unbelievable news that was apparently born out of his careless promiscuity. The 1991-92 NBA season was barely a week old, and the Lakers were set to defend their Western conference title. They were defeated just five months earlier in the NBA Finals by the Chicago Bulls and were clearly one of the favorites to advance to the '92 Finals.

Until Johnson's announcement.

In the immediate aftermath of Magic's disclosure, the media frenzy reached a fever pitch. Discussions of the AIDS virus pervaded television and print media for weeks thereafter and Johnson was castigated for his brazen and irresponsible sex life. Still, others were sympathetic to the basketball hero's plight and the virtual certainty that he'd be dead within five years.

He stayed very much alive.

A special exception was made for Johnson's retired status and how it related to the 1992 NBA all-star game in Orlando. NBA commissioner David Stern allowed Magic's name to be on the ballot in fan voting for the "mid-season classic." In spite of a few protests of Johnson's participation, he not only played in the game, but dominated and authored several highlight plays. In the closing moments, he defended his buddy Isiah Thomas and supernova Michael Jordan one-on-one and "forced" them both to miss jumpers. Then, the iconic point guard drilled his third and final 3-pointer on the other end to punctuate a surprisingly sharp performance. He wound up with 25 points, 5 rebounds and 9 assists and of course, the game's MVP award as his West squad spanked the East, 153-113.

That summer, Johnson traveled with the U.S. men's basketball team to Barcelona, Spain to help them compete for an Olympic gold medal. That squad, famously dubbed "The Dream Team" had been selected in 1991, prior to his knowledge of his virus. Of course, the Dream Team dominated en route to the gold medal and Johnson began to turn his focus on more pressing matters than basketball.

He became a very visible and famous spokesman for AIDS awareness and founded the Magic Johnson Foundation, which mainly helps combat HIV. He has been the keynote speaker at countless conferences about the disease all over the world and helped influence legislation on seeking a cure.

Johnson briefly dabbled in pro basketball again in the mid-1990's. After aborting a comeback in the fall of 1992, he actually served as head coach of the Lakers for 16 games in the 1993-94 season which ended in a putrid, 5 wins, 11 losses. In January 1996, he returned to the court as a much heavier, slower 36-year old power forward for the final 32 games of the season. After L.A. got bounced easily from the '96 NBA playoffs, he re-retired for good.

During the past dozen years, Magic has become a shrewd and versatile business magnate. His endeavors have elevated his net worth into the hundreds of millions and, with included help from his gig as NBA analyst, maintained his contemporary visibility and relevance.

In the end, that very dark day in Los Angeles two decades ago ended up being the spark that fueled not only a mega empire, but also national education and government cooperation for this horrible disease called AIDS. Kudos to Johnson for turning a huge negative into an even more gigantic positive.

He remains a champion.

The Penultimate Brilliance

CLEVELAND - Shocking and hilarious. Naughty and audacious. Call it what you want, but Deante Young's obscene web series, a Date with Deante has given America something to talk about, laugh about and complain about.

And the fun is just about to end.

The 49th episode of the series debuted last night and became an instant hit. The clip, entitled "Unbreakable" features a decidedly vitriolic Deante as he defiantly taunts his critics and enemies by reaffirming his scathing brand of humor and its intent to exploit. He insists that he's unbreakable and immune from naysayers, doubters and anyone who opposes his unadulterated humor.

There's also an eclectic mix of interviews which predictably showcase Young as the master of irreverence and wit. All in all, a strong effort in a series of strong efforts for the man, who will release the landmark 50th episode on November 13, which will be the season finale.

It'll be breathtaking.