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TV Nets Scrambled To Cover Michael Jackson Legacy

  • TV Week, Thursday, June 25, 2009 10:35 PM
Pop icon Michael Jackson died yesterday afternoon, not long after being rushed to UCLA Medical Center. It was the site of a syndicated newsmagazine, TMZ.com, which first reported the news of his hospitalization and also broke word of his death.

The TV networks then scrambled to pay tribute to Jackson with specials on his life. ABC News -- which had scored several exclusive interviews with Jackson during his career-- aired a 9 p.m. special. NBC expanded its previously announced Farrah Fawcett tribute to 9-11 p.m. and devoted it to retrospectives on both pop icons. CBS decided to air a 10 p.m. special on Jackson, with some coverage of Fawcett.

Interestingly, MTV -- which became an institution in part due to Michael Jackson -- didn't seem particularly interested in the passing of the singer. Until 5 p.m. West Coast time, the network was sticking with regular programs such as "Is She Really Going Out with Him." Later, Variety reported that MTV was planning to air a Michael Jackson special "at some point." MTV once distinguished itself with coverage of the passing of Kurt Cobain.

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