I used to see Michael Jackson some Friday nights in the late 1970's and early eighties. He was a fan of our show, "Taxi", and he used to sit in the booth, above the stage, and watch the taping. This was on the Paramount lot, where I was first chasing fame. Fame was a bit different in those days. There were only three networks, no cable, no reality shows, less movies made, and far less coverage of celebrity. This is before ET and People Magazine, etc. That's not to say we weren't interested, we were, but the level of interest hadn't reached the frenzy it has today. This was also before "Thriller" and more importantly the "moonwalk". That moment when the audience stopped and gasped at what they saw. I remember watching it at home. It was the 25th Motown Anniversary show. I was a huge Motown fan and had the show playing in the background. I had first heard "Billie Jean", on my way to work. I remember parking in my spot at Paramount, and sitting there while the song finished. I went into the stage and asked Marilu Henner if she had heard this new song by Michael Jackson. We both agreed it was great.
A few nights later I was watching the special. The intro started, Michael struck a pose and then did something on that stage that I had never seen before. I thought, wow, now that's a "song and dance man". It's hard to try to reconcile that image and the picture that is being drawn now. I wonder if when you burn that brightly can you really ever get old. Can you not be, who you were? Can you deal with the pain of failure, after all that success? The pain of our society's need to destroy what we have built up. The real pain of getting older, and, in that pain, the grim knowledge that maybe you can't do it anymore. I was never that famous, and yet it is something I deal with myself. Add to that, Michael Jackson's seeming search for the childhood he felt deprived of. I heard someone who knew him when he was young say, he was mature as a child, and became more childlike as he got older. Benjamin Button like, I guess.
The next reports will be ugly. If the reports are true, Michael Jackson was even more troubled than we knew. We all have things we keep secret but when you are in the public eye those secrets do emerge. Even with all the coverage of how bad things were, we may find out the whole thing was even more a house of cards, and that this planned comeback was really beyond the person Michael had become. The promoters hired a doctor to be with him at all times. That alone, seems like a clue to how precarious this venture was.
To me, this is a cautionary tale, and there are many morals to this story. The one that strikes me is, that you have to find a way, no matter who you are, or what you do, to accept who you are. To accept where you are, in the journey, that is your life. To appreciate your achievements and never stop learning but know, what you can and can't do. Sometimes when I speak to kids, I tell them that they should all follow their dreams, but then I tell them that there comes a moment in almost everyone's life, when you have to put your dreams in your pocket, and make a life for yourself.
My thoughts are with Michael Jackson's kids and his family. Thanks for the memories, Michael.
T
The death of Michael Jackson's saddens me. He was an amazing individual who had to endure a lot of tragedy to live the dream.
I remember watching the video titled "Black and White" while dancing when I was three. I am rewatching his videos. I remain stunned by his talent at the age of twenty one.
He is finally making a comeback he deserves. Fans are rediscovering his music and forgetting about his demons. I hope his death will introduce a new generation to his music. I tutor middle school students. They were ignorant of his genius last year. I hope they started paying attention to his music. He will forever influence popular music. He deserves acknowledgement from future generations.
I have made no bones about it since Michael Jackson's passing that I was tired of hearing about him with little on the passing of Farrah Fawcett. But in watching Nancy Grace on Headline News last night, I am deeply saddened by the latest regarding these 3 kids that we all have been led to believe are Michael's kids. A doctor has come forth claiming paternity to the two oldest ones. And Debbie Rowe seems to have gone back and forth through the years as to whether she is the biological mother, or "just a surrogate"! And the report on the youngest child just broke my heart...a black market baby with both sperm donor and surrogate remaining anonymous?? And Michael never adopting any of these children which would have given him legal rights? Another area to think about in this situation is these kids rights to not only parental history, but their medical history as well! God forbid (and lets hope/pray it never comes to this) that none of these children ever need to know their family medical history for something that could ultimately save their lives! The two oldest ones...if this doctor truly is the bio dad...at least have a partial family/medical history. But the youngest? This poor child literally has no past whatsoever!! Biologically speaking that is. And that is the saddest thing I can think of happening to a child. I hope/pray that when the custody hearing takes place on Monday, the judge weighs everything, and keeps what I've just said in mind. And I also hope that this judge takes into consideration that these kids may need (more than likely will need) counselling to undo all the damage that Michael has done by raising them to believe that he was their father...even if his intentions were of a loving nature.
Very good & touching words Tony! No one wants to live that kind of tragedy!The best everyone can do afterwards, is to dry its tears and keep on listening to his music! We have lost 2 kings this century and the last one...that's enough!
Hi Tony,
Just to let you know, I have been a fan since Taxi, Who's the Boss? and your talk show. I was pretty disappointed that your talk show was cancelled. I watched almost every day, except when life interrupted. Well my opinion is that, unfortunately, these days people like talk show hosts who give away the most money and prizes. I like watching talk show hosts for who they are, especially when meeting their guests. Kids are the funniest and the most honest. I do not like reality shows at all. I think that it is easy money spent for networks rather than hiring writers and actors and produce quality programming. I grew up with shows like yours, MASH, Golden Girls, All In The Family, Welcome Back Kotter, 1920s to 1940s movies, Charlie Chaplin, Bruce Lee movies.
To me, the paparazzi seem quite insane with their digging out and displaying the dirt on celebrities and pseudo-celebrities and wanting to be the first to report on celebrity news, which is pretty sad nowadays. I don't know much of what celebrities these days are famous for because I don't watch reality shows. I think reality shows are really what you see on the news.
With Michael Jackson's death, I pray for his children and his family more than anything. I pray that they are protected from the media. Losing a father is a hard experience to live through. It is a lifelong healing journey. I pray that they have a grieving support system in place for all the family members, especially his children.
I believe the abuse he and his siblings endured when they were performing as Jackson Five is the catalyst for his lifestyle choices in his later years. Who can come out of that kind of abuse with a healthy sense of being? Especially with enablers surrounding you, not being able to learn to deal with life issues in a healthy way and with the paparazzi following your every move every day. I pray that the ugliness of the paparazzi does not permeate through Michael Jackson's children's grieving process. They will need to grieve their father loss with a strong support system in place.
As far as Michael Jackson' music goes, it will live on. When I first saw him, I was amazed by such a mixture of raw talent with his dance moves, his singing, his artistry through his videos. I thought Thriller was a very scary video, but I watched anyways. Billy Jean was pretty amazing with his dancing and singing. I was pretty happy to hear that he was going on tour again. I would love to have seen him in concert.
I'm watching Larry King right now. Miko Brando is on, talking about Michael Jackson, Liza Minelli is about to come on. Miko was getting emotional about his friend, and it made me think. I think it is SO important to tell people while they are living how we feel about them. This whole speaking so highly of people once they are gone is just sad. We need to show the love to the living too! When you see your wife, husband, friends, family, imagine they are gone forever.... what would you want them to know? ya, that's a big one....
I wonder if our culture will ever 'turn' against the idea of fame.... that it will be shunned and not thought of as the thing to strive for?
It's funny, because we want to connect with those we admire for their talents/personality, but at the same time, knowing every personal detail, it takes away the mystery and magic of the entertainment world.
Interesting too, that Orwell predicted all this, the cameras, the big brother approach to society, and here we are. It seems as though fame can be a killer, and should be handled as such.
It was quoted by Liza Minelli I think, that once the autopsy reports come out, "all hell will break loose." I hate to think what that means, but I hope his children will be protected more than anything. THAT is the most important thing. I can see in 10 years time, the two oldest children being interviewed all about their lives, their father.... on and on it goes. I kind of hope they choose a private path in life, and not a celebrity/public one.
If we are already in such an invasive world, imagine where we'll be 10 years from now? :(
Kind of scary.
I grew up in the 70's and 80's and it was different back then because we did not have computers, cell phones or cameras so small you would never know if someone was recording you. Today the world has gone celebrity mad....they don't want actors, they want you to crazy out of this world stuff just to be famous. I am in to acting but could care less about all the hype but want to and care more about doing quality movies or tv. The world has gone to far in to reality because they say it is cheaper but it really is no good and years from now they will not be remembered! I loved the 70's and 80's because tv and entertainment was entertaining and I did watch "Taxi" and "Who's The Boss?" and so many other comedies back then but I would say you were famous Tony and I see it being hard to keep it up because once you are on top then the only other option is down, because it would be hard and stressful to stay on top but I would rather be an working actor then just famous celebrity because trust me no one will remember Paris Hilton, Jon and Kate or any other reality star but we do remember Dustin Hoffman, Tom Hanks, Ron Howard, Tony Danza and many other "real" actors who do quality work. Keep hanging in there Tony, because this hype will die off soon and you will start seeing more movie/tv roles coming your way because you are a wonderful actor. But it is up to us to get rid of these crazy reality shows and start complaining to networks that we want to see entertainment like it was before reality and the actors are able to do what they love to do - entertain us! Break A Leg Tony!
Hi Tony,
Sorry I forgot to mention on my last post.
You a an amazing song & dance man also. Always remember age is just a number. You will continue to do amazing things with your life. As a fan I can't wait to watch..
Hi Tony,
It is very sad about Michael Jackson and Farrah.
I just wished the media would have let the family greive in peace and bury him before they started their trash talking. I love how they have all these experts on telling you what happened. Where they a fly on the wall in that room? Regardless of what happend this is still a father, son, and brother to somebody. Last night on Larry King, Liza & Usher did such a beautiful thing. While Larry and various idiots were talking trash, Liza & Usher reminded them that Michael was a person regardless of what you thought and to show some respect for him. What has this world come to?? The world all knows about his faults unless you have lived under a rock. I am sorry that I used your blog for my comments, but I just had to turn off the T.V. I couldn't stand it anymore.
Hi Tony,
Your thoughts are very eloquent and thoughtful. I do feel the need to remark on one thing. You are in reality every bit as famous as Michael. You are known in every country, recognized on every street just as he was. The only difference between you is how you and he have dealt with fame.
Not knowing either of you personally and speaking only as an observer you appear to have kept your feet on the ground and maintained a well-rounded life. Michael did not or could not due to age or circumstances or advisors etc.
I think it's the same for any person in the public eye. Of course these days the press plays a terrible roll in the lives of celebrities and it is inconceivable that anyone should be made to trade their freedom for sharing their talents with us, but it all seems to be in how the celebrity deals with the press and the trappings of fame. Just as Farrah dealt with the person stealing info from health files at UCLA med. ctr. helped to created new laws.
The one quote that Michael told Lisa Marie Presley about thinking he'd end up like Elvis comes to mind. Whatever the circumstances of his childhood, career and life he lived and died by the consequences of his choices.
It's not easy for any of us to grow old. MJ was only two years older than me so this is that much more difficult because I grew up with Michael Jackson like Pepsi or Disney or sliced bread. It's just one more thing telling me I'm not immortal. Especially when having to say goodbye to that little boy, that eternal peter pan exploding with so much talent that you almost can't bear to watch & listen to him. You just expect him to live forever! And his music will....always.
My prayers are with his children & family. I agree with you that there will be ugliness in the days to come and I hope the children are guarded against it and helped through what they have to face.
Oh, and just so you know...I've been a fan of both you and Michael as long as I can remember!