Without MJ, Jackson Brothers Bland And Boring

CLEVELAND - Watching "The Jacksons: A Family Dynasty" on television last night began as a curiosity, then descended into intense boredom and ultimately embarrassment. Featuring brothers Jackie, Jermaine, Marlon and Tito, this shameless "reality show" ignored its most glaring reality.

Without Michael Jackson, the other brothers suck.

I hate to say it, but that has been fact for 40 years now. The fact that these four non-descript middle aged men are appearing in their own "mini-series" on A&E less than six months after Michael's death feels curiously and suspiciously suspect and opportunistic. But I won't venture into that territory. Instead, I want to condemn this farce as arguably the most worthless piece of trash in the history of American television. Its only appeal is in examining what the brothers were feeling after that horrible news came to the world on June 25, 2009.

Because of the white-hot luminosity of Michael's mega stardom, the other brothers never had a chance of being worthwhile. That was obvious even in 1969, when an 11-year old Michael enraptured the crowd and television audiences on The Ed Sullivan Show with his singing and awesome stage presence. The other brothers were in the background for a reason and should never have been allowed on center stage. It's not that they're completely terrible or totally untalented, it's just that they can't be evaluated without being compared to Michael's stunning brilliance and groundbreaking career. It was very telling when, during a scene in the debut episode the brothers arrived at a dance studio to work on some moves. While we are being forced to try and look at these guys on their own merits, their 1978 hit "Shake Ya Body (Down to the Ground)" blares over the speakers with Michael's indelible and magnificent voice filling the room singing the lead vocals. At that moment, it is shown very subtly that Michael Jackson was overqualified to even be a member of the Jackson family.

I'm just sayin'.

Of course, there was the usual bickering and petty disagreements between the brothers and too many seemingly fake moments, but what was most appalling is how every time an interviewer asked the brothers if they were financially capitalizing on Michael's death, they issued truly inane rejoinders that went something like "how can we capitalize off something we created together?" In other words, these delusional wiseguys feel as though they were all equal to Michael, you know the man that authored a litany of legendary albums and music videos and became the most iconic and popular entertainer in history.

Um, yeah.

There was another moment in the show where Jackie, Marlon and Tito visited a record store. As they perused the CD section marked "Jackson," they ran across a multitude of family hits. There were several classics from Michael and a few from his fellow family icon Janet and maybe two or three Jackson 5 records. Marlon marveled at the expansive collection that his family had at the store and mumbled to Tito proudly, "we need our own division." I couldn't help but shake my head in disbelief. Will these guys ever understand that "we" is far too strong a word for what the legendary Michael Jackson accomplished on his own? That Janet Jackson accomplished on her own? Beyond those two seminal figures, the Jackson clan is far from being a dynasty.

Delusional and irrelevant is more like it.

Seeing Michael Jackson In Concert: A True Thrill

CLEVELAND - Michael Jackson tragically never got to perform his 2009 "comeback" concerts in London's O2 Arena. But in 1984, the legendary entertainer toured the United States with his brothers and when they traveled to Cleveland, I was there to witness the master in person.

Talk about the thrill of a lifetime.

It was 25 years ago today that "The Victory Tour" wrapped up its two night stint in Cleveland's Municipal Stadium. It was a highly ambitious undertaking featuring all six Jackson brothers but of course, Michael was front and center. At the time, the ticket prices were the subject of much controversy and criticism as they were a steep-for-1984 $30 a piece. What's more, they had to be purchased in quantities of four which was unreal. Many folks paid the outlandish price largely because at the time, Michael was at the height of his mega-popularity. Indeed, the historic Thriller album and its iconic spawn of music videos were still riding a huge wave of unbridled hysteria worldwide. Jackson had also won a truckload of awards for that steamrolling era of brilliance and seeing him live in concert in the second half of '84 was utter bliss.

Even though I was just 7 years old, I remember many aspects of Michael in concert. I remember how electric he was on stage, especially singing the frenetically paced "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin." I remember some of his trademark acts of showmanship such as pulling his fedora down over his eyes as the bassline of "Billie Jean" kicked in, then tossing the hat into the audience for people to fight and faint over. I remember laser-like theatrics and his famous Jheri-curled hair shaking as he popped his head, kicked his leg and pointed his finger.

The man was always indelible.

I had the presence of mind to bring a pair of binoculars to the stadium with me to get a better view of Michael (I'm talking as though his brothers didn't exist). Unfortunately, my nearly 16 year old cousin snatched my binoculars from me to allow a pretty girl to use them in hopes of impressing her with his "thoughtfulness."

What a creep.

During the spring and summer of 1984, Pepsi issued limited-edition cans of their popular soda adorned with all six brothers' signature. I collected them heavily, and they became coveted artifacts from that tour. My grandfather became my hero (temporarily) as the tour approached. My aunt Trina won tickets to the concert which sent her into a frenzy, and she was a little unsure whom to give the extra tickets to. My grandfather, in his trademark authoritative voice demanded that I be given one of the tickets. "You know how that boy feel about Michael Jackson," he yelled.

I was in.

That was such a long time in the past, half Michael's life ago and over 78% of my life (so far) ago. In any event, I will always treasure that magical, brisk Autumn night a quarter century ago. I've said it many times and I'll say it again:

I love Michael Joseph Jackson. Always and forever.