The Thrill(er) is Gone

Now comes the news we've eagerly anticipated for a few years now.

There's going to be another Michael Jackson trial. Whoop-de-doo..

I don't know about you but I can't wait...to not watch it on television.

Jeeeezuz, Mary and Joseph...Joseph Jackson that is.  By all accounts, Michael Jackson's childhood was dysfunctional at best.  There have been accusations that his father was abusive.  We know he didn't grow up in a particularly normal way because his childhood unfolded before our adoring and then prying eyes.

The kid couldn't catch a break.  First he was a black teenager and then, miraculously, he was somewhat white.

He had a stereotypical African-American nose and then he had a stereotypical White Anglo Saxon Protestant nose.  A few of them actually.

Then his best friend was a monkey, then Elizabeth Taylor, then the little boy next door.

Michael Jackson was one of the most talented performers the world has ever seen...and one of the weirdest.

Fine, we know all of that.  But he's dead now so why can't we just let him rest in peace?

Because, as we learned from the late great Elvis Presley, celebrity can live on forever and reap millions and millions of dollars for those interested in capitalizing on their relationship with the dearly departed.

Yoko Ono, Priscilla and Lisa-Marie Presley, countless Kennedys, they all trade on the name of their dead family member.

The Jackson family seems to be no different.  They are bringing a wrongful death suit against Michael's promoter  and hope to win in the millions, if not billions.  Quincy Jones may even testify as to what he thinks Michael Jackson would have earned had he lived and performed longer.

The naked greed of these people is astonishing.  They claim to have a love for, and to miss, whomsoever but what they really want is money.  They suggest that the money will go to the children but you have to ask yourself "how much money does a person need?"

Michael Jackson, the same guy who bought the Beatles catalogue...yeah, yeah, yeah, those Beatles and that catalogue...was worth a fortune when he died and he left that fortune to his kids and, presumably, the rest of his family.

So once again the airwaves will be full of quotes and analyses and conjecture and courtroom drama.

OJ, Casey Anthony and yes, even Michael Jackson, were the subject of these big trials.  There will be gavel to gavel 24/7 coverage and careers will be made.

For my part, I expect to tune it out, kick back with a brewsky and listen to one of my favorite songs, so aptly named, it's scary...

"Beat it...!"