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TV gives tributes to Jackson and Fawcett

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By WALT BELCHER | The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 26, 2009

Various television networks are shuffling their schedules to pay tribute to two popular icons who died Thursday: Michael Jackson and Farrah Fawcett.

Here's a round-up:

Today

MTV, where many of Jackson's best videos debuted over the years, continues paying tribute today with non-stop Michael Jackson music videos, exclusive performances and footage from the MTV vaults that has not been seen in years until 6 p.m.

MTV News presents "A Celebration of Michael Jackson on MTV" featuring the entertainer's greatest moments on MTV.

At 7 p.m., the network will air an encore presentation of "Randy Jackson's: America's Best Dance Crew" featuring Michael Jackson's classic hits.

Encore editions of the MTV News special, "A Celebration of Michael Jackson" and "Randy Jackson's: America's Best Dance Crew" featuring Michael Jackson's music will air throughout the weekend on MTV.

At 9 tonight CNN's "Larry King Live" will have a special tribute to Michael Jackson.

At 10 tonight on NBC "Michael Jackson: King of Pop" features Ann Curry's look at the artist's legacy.

ABC News will air a special edition of "20/20" – "Michael Jackson: The Man and His Music" at 9 tonight. Anchored by Elizabeth Vargas, the special will trace Jackson's career.

SATURDAY- SUNDAY

E! The Entertainment Network will have multiple repeats of "True Hollywood Story: Michael Jackson" including 11 a.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday. This two-hour documentary about the life of this important pop icon, charts his journey from childhood to superstardom.

The "E! News Special: Michael & Farrah: Lost Icons" debuts at 10:30 a.m. Saturday and will repeat often. This 30-minute special chronicles the lives of two famous American icons.

On the BIO Channel, "BIO Remembers: Michael Jackson" at 10 p.m. Saturday has interviews with Michael Jackson's family, friends and colleagues – including Smokey Robinson, Gladys Knight, Liza Minnelli, LaToya Jackson, Katherine Jackson, Jermaine Jackson and others.

The Oxygen network repeats the recent NBC special "Farrah's Story" at 3:30 p.m. Saturday. Using Fawcett's own videos it recounts her battle with cancer.

At 8 p.m. Sunday on BET is a repeat of the BET Awards '09, the Jamie Foxx-hosted awards show that featured a special tribute to Jackson.

WGN America plans a "Charlie's Angels" marathon (10 episodes in total) in tribute to Fawcett on Saturday and Sunday nights. The marathon will include highlights of her career.

TV Land will pay tribute to Fawcett with the airing of episode one and two of the short-lived 2007 reality series "Chasing Farrah" starting at 9 p.m. on Saturday.

TV Land will air the 1992 five-hour mini-series, "The Jacksons: An American Dream" on Sunday from 2 to 7 p.m. with an immediate encore presentation from 7 p.m. to midnight.

MTV will continue its tribute to Jackson by frequently the special "A Celebration of Michael Jackson." And MTV2 will play Jackson videos from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.

MONDAY

The Fox broadcasting network will air an encore of the Jackson-themed "American Idol" performance show at 8 p.m. Monday. This season's Top 13 contestants performed music from Jackson's songbook, including "The Way You Make Me Feel," "Black or White," "P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)," "Remember The Time" and the seminal hit "Beat It."

At 10 p.m. Monday on the BIO Channel is "Bio Remembers: Farrah Fawcett."

WEDNESDAY

MyNetworkTV (WTTA, Channel 38) will present an encore of the 2006 World Music Awards, during which the "King of Pop" was honored to mark the 25th anniversary of his seminal album "Thriller." It will air at 8 p.m. Wednesday.

The World Music Awards paid tribute to Jackson for his contribution to the music industry and presented him with the Diamond Award given to artists who have sold over 100 million albums. It was one of the last TV appearances by Jackson.

"E! Michael Jackson," debuting at 10 p.m. Wednesday has full cooperation from Sony, Jackson and the Jackson organization. The one-hour special is the definitive documentary on the pop icon and his music. It features personal home videos, new and archival interviews with Jackson, his family and friends, including a comment from the choreographer who taught the pop icon how to do his trademarked Moonwalk.

Reporter Walt Belcher can be reached at (813) 259-7654.

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