RIP

Posted Thursday, June 25, 2009, at 8:33 PM

What a long sad week this had been. Well, really it was a horrible day when you think about the icons we lost within hours of each other.

First we lost Ed McMahon, who was a television icon, known best as Johny Carson's sidekick on The Tonight Show, but at the time I wasn't old enough to see much of The Tonight Show, so I knew him from Star Search. In his later years he did numerous television spots, including on one of my favorite shows, "Scrubs".

Then, this morning, came news that Farrah Fawcett had passed away after a two year battle with cancer. Her life was full of ups and downs. She shot to stardom in the 70s, most notably with her role in Charlie's Angels and her marriage to Lee Majors. In the 80s she had some hit movies that showed her serious side. In the 90s the world saw a new side of her as she appeared in Playboy, nude, twice. Once in 1995 and again in 1997 at the age of 50. While her death was surprising, she was battling cancer and while people can beat cancer, people usually set themselves up to lose someone to cancer.

Then, this afternoon, the absolute shocker, as Michael Jackson, apparently died of a massive heart attack. No matter how you felt about him (I myself stopped being a fan when the molestation charges came out in droves) he was an icon for a multitude of generations of people. He first burst onto the stage around 1966 with the Jackson 5 and even at his death was prepared to go back to touring, which would have put his career spanning four decades. He was a great artist and an even better entertainer. He performed with the best at the apex of his career in the late to early 90s, but as the 90s rolled on he became more ecentric and then came the molestation charges which effectively ended his career in the United States. But around the world he still had a huge following.

Apparently he was even going to tour in the United States as he had rented a house in Los Angeles and was practicing at the Staples Center. Because he was a perfectionist when it came to his art he was in work overload getting ready. Whether or not this could have played a role in his death will remain to be seen. It has also been widely reported for years that he had an addiction to pain relievers and this too could have caused his heart to fail.

Whatever the ultimate cause of his death he was an icon and looked up to by millions. All three were.

My top five Michael Jackson songs were

1. Thriller

2. Rock With You

3. Smooth Criminal

4. Billie Jean

5. Man in the Mirror

So, rest in peace, Ed McMahon, Farrah Fawcett, and Michael Jackson. The world is a lesser place without you.

Please keep comments civil

Update:

Billie Mays was found dead at his home this morning. He was 50. He was one month older than Michael Jackson. The day before, he had supposedly been involved in an accident when the wheels on the plane he was on, upon landing, burst causing the plane to slide to a stop. Whether or not the accident yesterday had any cause into his death, as he did say that the luggage compartments ahead had opened and stuff had hit him in the head, remains to be seen.

That is four celebrity deaths in one week. While around the country many more unknown people died, these people had been in front of us, for many of us, for most of our lives. They were like family. They will all be missed.

Comments
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[Show in chronological order instead]

Did anyone realize Karl Malden passed away on the same week?

-- Posted by Chunky Peanut Butter on Sun, Jul 19, 2009, at 2:56 PM

I'll remember her for the tv movie "A Murder in Texas". She really got to showcase that she could be a serious actress. Unfortunately the poster was, at the time, the top selling poster of all time, and that's probably what she will be remembered for. That, and her odd performance on David Letterman.

-- Posted by MichaelHendricks on Wed, Jul 15, 2009, at 12:23 PM

Will Farrah be remembered for anything other than "The Poster"?

-- Posted by Chunky Peanut Butter on Tue, Jul 14, 2009, at 7:51 PM

I saw a funny thing yesterday. Bill O'Reilly talking about Michael Jackson after he had settled out of court with that family in 94. He stated that settling out of court doesn't necessarily make you guilty. I guess he really didn't want to go after Michael Jackson on that one considering that Billo had his own out of court settlement on a sexual harassment lawsuit.

-- Posted by MichaelHendricks on Sun, Jul 12, 2009, at 3:34 PM

Now that the crying is (should) be over, one question remains. Are we celebrating the genius of MJ, or the genius of Quincy Jones?

-- Posted by Chunky Peanut Butter on Sun, Jul 12, 2009, at 2:04 PM

Hey guys "You wanna be startin something"? I suggest you look at "the man in the mirror" and watch out for those "smooth criminals".

-- Posted by wallismarsh on Sun, Jul 12, 2009, at 6:54 AM

You had to turn on off? What does that even mean?

Of course, now you will try getting out of your little blunder by claiming you meant to do it.

-- Posted by MichaelHendricks on Sat, Jul 11, 2009, at 9:19 PM

Michael Jackson's memorial was tough to watch and I've yet to watch it all the way through. Music and entertainment truly lost a great person. It will be interesting who CAN pick up where he left off. When Elvis died no one thought that anyone could even measure up to what he did, Michael Jackson eclipsed Elvis. Who will be the next generation's Michael Jackson or Elvis.

-- Posted by MichaelHendricks on Sat, Jul 11, 2009, at 3:15 PM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qznnrXEiX...

Check out the spin move at about 2:40.

Randy screws up the start and MJ tries to fix. This was about a year before Thriller.

This is a true classic.

-- Posted by wallismarsh on Sat, Jul 11, 2009, at 3:07 PM

All of the mentioned were great personalities.

I my opinion Michael Jackson was the greatest singer, songwriter, performer of my lifetime. I was working on an oil well when I heard he died. I had to actually be alone for about 25 minutes and I asked the rig guys to shut up about the bs they were saying about him.

My favorite Jacksons songs were:

Can you feel it and shake your body down to the ground.

Both underrated classics.

-- Posted by wallismarsh on Sat, Jul 11, 2009, at 2:55 PM

Yes, finally, a senator has been seated in Minnesota. And the HUGE difference between you and Al Franken is that he is funny and very successful at it.

-- Posted by MichaelHendricks on Thu, Jul 2, 2009, at 12:49 PM

I am more convinced than ever that steffanie is actually a 15 yr old boy. Who else would say these crude and insulting things and think it's funny.

-- Posted by MichaelHendricks on Wed, Jul 1, 2009, at 10:02 PM

Now if we can only get Steffanie to do the same...

-- Posted by Rural Citizen on Wed, Jul 1, 2009, at 3:44 PM

Oh jeez. That's all I have to say, Belle.

-- Posted by McCook1 on Wed, Jul 1, 2009, at 2:57 PM

Though I get the feeling you watch a lot of South Park and probably thought since they referred to his youngest as blanket the entire episode that it was his real name.

-- Posted by MichaelHendricks on Wed, Jul 1, 2009, at 12:33 PM

Michael Jackson didn't have a kid named blanket. The media gave the nickname to his youngest. Come on now, steffanie, if you are going to trash someone, at least get your facts right.

-- Posted by MichaelHendricks on Wed, Jul 1, 2009, at 12:32 PM

Yeah and you have no proof of anything. Let it go and why don't you try to improve your own life without worrying about others'.

-- Posted by Rural Citizen on Wed, Jul 1, 2009, at 11:39 AM

sounds like you have experience and first hand knowledge that MJ actually committed these crimes. Maybe tacos really aren't your calling. He was found not guilty and had a turmulous childhood. Maybe he liked being around children more than adults because the children didn't lie to him and treat him bad. Doesn't mean he did anything.

-- Posted by Rural Citizen on Wed, Jul 1, 2009, at 11:05 AM

You know Steffanie, you've always got to find something negative to talk about. Remember, not everyone is as perfect as you. People need to focus on the positive and maybe people like you will just go away.

-- Posted by Rural Citizen on Wed, Jul 1, 2009, at 10:53 AM

Agreed. Some things people do I just don't understand. Let them rest in peace and move forward with your own life making it a better place to live now instead of living in the past.

-- Posted by Rural Citizen on Wed, Jul 1, 2009, at 10:08 AM

I can't say I "remember" what it was like to go through Elvis or Monroe's death but from what I've learned about them it wasn't pretty either.

The most sickening thing is the mayor of Gary, Indiana that wants the family to bury him in Gary so his town can have some kind of tourist attraction. McCook asks for a retired electric chair and it's national uproar. Gary asks for Michael Jackson's dead body and... nothing, just another part of the circus.

-- Posted by McCook1 on Wed, Jul 1, 2009, at 9:52 AM

Don't you remember what it was like when Elvis died or Marilyn Monroe? Talk about media circus. Unfortunately, the media and public participation is so much worse now that it was then. We'll all get thru it. Just hope that we don't loose the memories of the impact that each one of the people had.

-- Posted by Rural Citizen on Wed, Jul 1, 2009, at 9:46 AM

I can't wait until this is all over. Jackson's death is already starting to turn into a circus. At the very least if we can get past. We've got listen to Joe Jackson, Jesse Jackson, Sharpton and everyone else speculating on drug use and whether he went out like Elvis. Personally, I have better things to concern myself with throughout the day.

-- Posted by McCook1 on Wed, Jul 1, 2009, at 9:30 AM

Thank you ekimsitruc....RIP to all we've lost in the last few weeks who have changed the world in their own way.

-- Posted by Rural Citizen on Wed, Jul 1, 2009, at 9:12 AM

I hate to be a party pooper but can we please get back on topic?

-- Posted by MichaelHendricks on Tue, Jun 30, 2009, at 8:28 PM

My apologies, I forgot the divine one is still subject to Taco Bell policy.

-- Posted by McCook1 on Tue, Jun 30, 2009, at 2:59 PM

Could I get that burrito with a water you've turned into wine while your irradiating us with your divinity?

-- Posted by McCook1 on Tue, Jun 30, 2009, at 12:09 PM

Well, most divine one. Don't take forever making my burrito because I'm hungry.

-- Posted by McCook1 on Tue, Jun 30, 2009, at 12:08 PM

To err is human. What are you Steffanie?

-- Posted by McCook1 on Tue, Jun 30, 2009, at 11:31 AM

Apology accepted and well explained. Maybe Steffanie could take some advise from all of this and be a little more sympathetic and know that not every is as perfect as she is.

-- Posted by Rural Citizen on Tue, Jun 30, 2009, at 7:55 AM

I beg your pardon Guillermo...I'm a Christian and I look at everyone in the same manner until they have done something wrong to me. Saying that her actions is because she's a Christian is pretty hypocritical and downright insane. You both obviously need help.

-- Posted by Rural Citizen on Mon, Jun 29, 2009, at 8:08 AM

Back to the whole reason for this article...RIP. All three have accomplished alot and have changed our lives in one way or another. Thank you for your givings over the years. Steffanie, maybe you can have a little more respect in another life.

-- Posted by Rural Citizen on Sun, Jun 28, 2009, at 2:52 PM

So I give you the full definition of diatribe and you continue to think that there is only one definition. Just sad and honestly not surprising.

I also like how you always start your comments in the middle of a thought.

-- Posted by MichaelHendricks on Sat, Jun 27, 2009, at 11:21 PM

Once again you use selective editing to try to make yourself look smart. The definition of diatribe that I was using in reference to you was not "a prolonged discourse" but " a bitter and abusive speech or writing" or for at least the last diatribe "ironic or satirical criticism".

Next time you might want to make sure you know the FULL definition of a word before you get all cocky with your bad self.

What happened? Did you get fired at Taco Bell? You've been spending quite a lot of time on here lately. Strange for someone who has been criticizing me the last couple of days for spending so much time on here.

-- Posted by MichaelHendricks on Sat, Jun 27, 2009, at 10:18 PM

Your diatribes just keep getting stranger and stranger

-- Posted by MichaelHendricks on Sat, Jun 27, 2009, at 9:26 PM

Whether you liked him or not, you can't deny the fact that he shaped a generation and brought the World together through music. Farrah too will be greatly missed as she brought a serious problem in physical abuse to light with new legislation in the 80's. She wasn't just a pin-up gal, she was a role model to all women to stand up for their rights and beliefs. Both of these stars will be greatly missed in their own right. RIP

-- Posted by Rural Citizen on Fri, Jun 26, 2009, at 2:14 PM

May God's peace be with all those who mourn, and may those lost enjoy His mercy.

-- Posted by MrsSmith on Fri, Jun 26, 2009, at 7:20 AM

I'm surprised you haven't joined up with Reverend Phelps out of Kansas yet. You seem like that kind of personality.

-- Posted by MichaelHendricks on Thu, Jun 25, 2009, at 9:21 PM

I KNEW you would be the first one to be uncivil.

-- Posted by MichaelHendricks on Thu, Jun 25, 2009, at 9:05 PM