Michael Jackson, Day Six

No one was surprised Thursday night when the news world was on fire about Michael Jackson’s unexpected death.

But Friday morning, when I turned on CNN, I was stunned to find the cable news network was essentially covering NOTHING else. It was the same story on the MSNBC and FOX.

It was like the death of Princess Diana all over again.

The networks stationed reporters outside of the L.A. Country Coroner’s office, where they waited for an autopsy report that was hours and hours away.

To keep viewers interested they actually teased with promos like this one: Stay tuned. We’ll be back after the break with live coverage of the birthplace of Michael Jackson in Gary, Indiana.

Back in the studios, news anchors interviewed doctors that had never met Jackson, “dear friends” who hadn’t seen the entertainer in almost a decade and assorted celebrity hangers on. One outlet – sorry, they’re a blur – actually trotted out the entertainment editor of The National Enquirer who pointed out that her paper had broken the story that Michael Jackson had six months to live, six months ago!

This is news?

Meanwhile, anyone interested in world events had to squint at the crawl to learn that one person had been killed in an explosion in Afghanistan, that there was more saber-rattling from Korea and that Congress was about to vote on a major energy bill.

“This is what happens when 24-hour cable news spins out of control,” I wrote in my Sunday column.

In an email, Greg agreed.

This Michael Jackson coverage from the television news outlets is driving me crazy. I'm the same age as 'the glove" but find it hard to watch the crying and hand wringing we are exposed to on a daily basis since his passing. Chad Johnson of the Cincinnati Bengals the other day compared it to the tragedy of 9/11! Please! 

Look, Michael Jackson was a HUGE talent. Legions of his fans are grieving. But his death was not like September 11.  Not even close.

As I write this, six days on, there is some return to news normalcy. Still, Jackson is everywhere. Moments ago, MSNBC featured celebrity lawyers, predicting a court battle for custody of Michael Jackson's three children.

Oh no.

If you thought coverage of Anna Nicole Smith's child custody case was over the top, just wait.

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