Movies
Movies
DVD
Television
DVDs
PREMIERE PHOTOS
Television
Movies
Misc
Movies
Television
Television
Television
Television
Television
© © 2009 Kevin Mazur/AEG/Getty Images via image.net
Michael Jackson performs at the Staples Center during one of his last rehearsals before his death - June 2009
Celebrity:
This is Not News: MICHAEL JACKSON RUMORS, A JONAS BROTHER ENGAGED AND THOSE HILARIOUS CELEBRITY DEATH PRANKS
Just because our media outlets say it's news, doesn't make it so
By NUTS MCDOUGAL , Columnist
Published 7/2/2009
THE WAY YOU MAKE ME FEEL – LIKE PUKING IN MY MOUTH
Unfortunately, this was bound to happen when you have TMZ running the media.
Yes, I just said that because that’s how bad things have gotten for our journalists, who now turn more to Twitter and Facebook than they do their own sources because, well, just seems so much easier. All they have to do is add you for God’s sake!
Look I have no problem with Twitter or Facebook, even this old, pill popping, alcoholic has and uses both. But I have a problem when our media is using it and basing it for stories and facts. Not that TMZ has this problem because they have everyone calling them up and giving them the scoop in order to make a buck or two.
That’s the main problem. Because TMZ and other gossip outlets are paying off people to give them scoops they are able to jump ahead of the main media outlets that are just trying to get the information the old fashion way – or now through social networking outlets. I understand it is capitalism but when it comes to reporting what should and shouldn’t be news, they don’t care. Everything is an open.
Michael Jackson died. Yes, it sucks. But given the way he was in the latter years of his life is it really such a big deal? I didn’t lose any sleep. Yeah, he made some great songs. Yeah, he was a great performer. But let’s not saint him. He did some really crazy, really weird sh** after he made all these songs that have forever tainted his memory.
But when it comes to bringing up every little sick thing or weird event related to his death and/or life and making it news is a completely ridiculous. Let the man die and let him go out the way he did. We don’t (and I suspect most people don’t want) every little detail of MJ’s life and death on a silver platter. Yes, there are a few of your out there that do want this information but the majority of us already know that probably his death was the result of some sort of prescription or not-legal drug. We know he had issues with his life and issues with his death but bringing up how many needle marks he had in his arms, his multiple aliases, every single detail about his funeral, his autopsy, his will and his children is just not news. Most of the clear thinking people don’t want to know it or don’t care. At least, I don’t.
I will still listen to his music and think “Yeah, he was a freak. But the boy made some great music.” And that’s how I will remember him. Anything else that is claiming to be news just isn’t, whether you get it from Twitter or TMZ.
What’s worse is that these media outlets and TMZ, in particular, preface all these so-called new stories with a fancy logo saying MJ RIP. You know what, dragging his name through the mud isn’t letting him Rest in Peace. It’s the exact opposite and cries from the rooftops that you are nothing but hypocrites.
AND TWEENS EVERYWHERE CRIED ‘NOOOOO’
Oh those poor tweens. Whatever will they do now that Kevin Jonas is engaged.
Will there be a run on mass suicides? Will there be a Great Tween Depression? But more importantly, why are media outlets even covering this? When ordinary people get engaged we aren’t greeted with huge banner headlines and news reports documenting it. We are simply not even aware. Why do we even care if the 21-year-old is no longer on the market? Was he really going to be hooking up with 13-year-old girls on a nightly basis? Even if he did, what would he do with them?
I’m not knocking the boy for getting engaged, but come one anything more than just a one-liner about the event is too much. Yet, what do we get. More than 500-word articles about everything from the kids’ hearts breaking to how he did it. You know what? I could give a rat’s ass. Again, I’m not knocking him for doing all these great romantic things that make slugs like me vomit in my mouth because I could never be as interesting or romantic. I’m just saying I don’t need or want to know about it. It just makes me feel more like the big, fat, loser I am.
BRING OUT YOUR DEAD ... OR NOT
Obviously MJ’s death was the most shocking and headline worthy. But Farah Fawcett also died this week as did Ed McMahon and Karl Malden (not to mention Billy Mays).
Now there is a rash of hilarious fake celebrity deaths that cropping up claiming that they are the next sad, terrible death in the land of Hollywood. From George Clooney, to Jeff Goldblum to even Natalie Portman. All of them have had their names brought up as the next celebrity death. Yes, all of them are still alive. Goldblum even went on a few programs to prove he was alive, in hilarious fashion.
Sure, given how many celebs have kicked the bucket in the last week it may seem like a something to cover from a media perspective. But do your research, find out if they are actually dead before reporting on it. It makes you look stupid and moronic behind belief. Stop reporting this as fact or even rumor. Everyone that has died this week has had a previous medical condition so it should make sense that if you haven’t heard about any condition and they weren’t shot or run over by bus that it is just bunk.
RACIST ROBOTS
And as a footnote, apparently a whole bunch of people are upset because two robots in the new mega-hit TRANSFORMERS: THE RISE OF THE FALLEN promote racial stereotypes both in the way the look and the way they talk. They're freakin' robots. Has anyone seen the movie. People should be offended that all the women in the movie are treated like sex objects and not real people, or that the music and sound design is smarter than the dialogue or how about that Michael Bay is now one of the most successful moneymaking directors of all time -- and yet he still hasn't produced his RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK or STAR WARS yet. Is it really a slow news day when the mainstream media is reporting on this kind of crap anyway. Next thing you know, people are going to be writing about how SAW gives serial killers a bad name. At least this story will be buried by the 15 or so new stories TMZ is breaking about Michael Jackson's death.
Reader Comments
from sez....
7/2/2009 10:00:37 AM
