• by Wayne Friedman , Staff Writer, June 16, 2005

What better way to explain the return of Phil Jackson's calming TV demeanor as coach of the Los Angeles Lakers, TV sports anchor Keith Olbermann re-teaming with his longtime TV partner Dan Patrick on Patrick's ESPN radio show, and the Jackson family back on primetime television?

Well, nothing is in the bag yet for the Jacksons.

A six-episode reality show of the Jackson family, including the recently acquitted pop singer Michael Jackson, is being shopped around to ABC, A&E , and Fox. According to a story by theHollywood Reporter, the reality show will divulge behind-the-scenes video of the Jackson family in an effort to improve their public image after intense media coverage of the trial.

We can only imagine that this type of show will yield the kind of valuable entertainment insight that those crazy newlyweds, Britney Spears and Kevin Federline, offered up in the recent UPN reality show, "Chaotic." That is, some hard-driving head scratching. A possible Jackson reality show should reveal more, such as how much money the Jackson clan might need to help pay some of its legal bills -- not that reality shows of this type initially generate any significant income. To amp things up, I suggest the Jackson team bring a camera into meetings with the network programming chiefs, just to see them laugh nervously when presented with the pitch.

Celebrity-verite is what this style is about. But, it's not foolproof despite highly comical celebrity maladies. What happened to wayward Anna Nicole Smith on E!? Maybe one needs to examine and honor the original -- MTV's "The Osbournes" - for clues.

Then, marvel at Michael Jackson brushing his teeth, combing his hair, or, in the best Ozzy Osbourne reality-show chore, moon-walking his way to taking out the garbage. It's no doubt a "Jackson Family Values" show would be a real thriller.