The Liz Smith Column | 07/02/2009 11:00 pm
Liz Smith: The Beginning of the Jackson Afterlife Saga – But Leave the Kids out of It!
From fans and non-fans, the pleading question is already being asked: ‘Will there be no end to this?’
Image: Fabio Ikezaki/Flickr
No moping or depression or indications that he didn’t LOVE being a star and the center of attention.
Michael had more than a bit of Judy Garland in him. She, too, loved to play the victim. The famous "Wizard of Oz" star would, when grown up and troubled, blame her mother: "Mama was the real Wicked Witch of the West," Judy would often claim, denying responsibility for her own adult issues. (In Gerold Frank’s great biography of Judy, the myth of Mama-as-monster is pretty much put to rest, even if Ethel Gumm was, indeed, a too-strong, too-obtrusive stage mother.)
From what we’ve seen of Joe Jackson since Michael’s death, he seems a pretty cold, calculating character. Still, maybe Michael was gilding that soiled lily of his "lost" childhood just a bit. It made a better story, and Michael was never more appealing than when talking about his "pain" in that high childish voice. (This was a voice he often discarded in private.)
Judy once told her daughter, Liza Minnelli, "Sympathy is my business." I wonder if Michael knew that story?
Michael had more than a bit of Judy Garland in him. She, too, loved to play the victim. The famous "Wizard of Oz" star would, when grown up and troubled, blame her mother: "Mama was the real Wicked Witch of the West," Judy would often claim, denying responsibility for her own adult issues. (In Gerold Frank’s great biography of Judy, the myth of Mama-as-monster is pretty much put to rest, even if Ethel Gumm was, indeed, a too-strong, too-obtrusive stage mother.)
From what we’ve seen of Joe Jackson since Michael’s death, he seems a pretty cold, calculating character. Still, maybe Michael was gilding that soiled lily of his "lost" childhood just a bit. It made a better story, and Michael was never more appealing than when talking about his "pain" in that high childish voice. (This was a voice he often discarded in private.)
Judy once told her daughter, Liza Minnelli, "Sympathy is my business." I wonder if Michael knew that story?
Read more about: Charles Casillo, Children, Diana Ross, Elvis Presley, Entertainment, Ethel Gumm, Family, Gerold Frank, Gossip, Joe Jackson, John Updike, Judy Garland, Katherine Jackson, Liz Smith, Liza Minnelli, Marilyn Monroe, Michael Jackson, News, Relationships, The Liz Smith Column
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106 Reader Comments (so far…) Sign In or Register to comment
James Gemmell
I agree 100%.
It also boils down to economics. It sells magazines and newspapers. It’s a cash cow. The media is going to milk it for as long as they can.
Goodmorning! Are we the only ones up? (smile)
I am deathly sick of it all.
Worse, on the 11PM news in Los Angeles they are now referring to Diana Ross and Lady Diana.
The event at Staples on Tuesday of next week is being called the "pedophile parade."
Doesn’t anyone care that people are fighting for freedom, that our troops are fighting for our freedom, that women are being raped, that kids are being molested………
I’m disgusted with the human race.
I agree with you, all … more to the point however, the bloke created this with his life, and no one looked after the children, who ever they really belong to, biologically. For people to be surprised about the ? drug life of that person, where are their minds?
Leave the kids out of it? Impossible… their "parent" put them in this mess - imagine what they have been exposed to daily living with him. Now, transfer them on to his mother? Please!
With this, I click off anything about that person.
Victoria J,
Your comment is intentionally ignored.
Goodmorning Sharon Belko!
I agree leave the kids alone. I will say I don’t think Michael Jacksons parents are the best choice for guardianship. Joseph Jackson was a cruel and heartless father to his own children. Now, he wants to get his hands on M.J.s children.
I hope a pair of responsible adults will be found for guadianship. Persons who care about the welfare of the children and not economic gain for themselves.
I think it’s very sad that people are making money hand over fist from the death of Michael Jackson. His children have to be going through a very hard situation. and I agree with everyone else here, that the children need to be sheltered from the press
I pray for them nightly, they’ve never knew their biological mother and she took 8 million dollars to stay out of their lives. Those three kids need to stay together.
The Jackson kids and Mom will be very good to them, and if any thing to Mrs. Jackson those kids not only have Dianna, they have aunts and uncles who love them