As the passing of two celebrities has given the news reports something to grind over. The more important issues, umemployment, the breakdown of financial systems seem to have taken a back seat!Why when these celebrities don't put food on the table or a roof over our heads. Please focus on what is really important to this nation and the world..

Hi Brian it's strange how all this talk positive coverage of Michael's music when he's dead but only the molestation case was talked about when he was alive. Yes Michael is Global and it's because he reached out to the World. I can't think of a favorite song but what did come to mine was Gone to Soon. Yes Ryan White was helped by Michael Jackson and many others as he suffered from aids. Always putting others first. I will remember the MoonWalk yet I could never do it. Tortured in life but hailed in death. Now I guess many will be attacking Michael's kids the way he was treated. I except the World will mourn Michael's passing as it was the World who loved him and he loved them. Michael brought the words Man in the Mirror, We are the World and Make a Change long before Barack Obama. Yes Michael even warned us about Global Warming in one of his videos. He was far ahead and let his music do the talking but people didn't listen they just danced. One of Michael's records called Leave me alone is now answered. May he now rest in peace as he is surely in Heaven.

A lesson to us all we never know when we are called home.

The best thing that could ever happen to CNN. NBC, and MSLSD is that you guys go out of business. the reason why is because you guys are nothing but useless hacks.

My first concert was the Jackson Brothers "Victory" Tour at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee, in August of 1984.  I owned a copy of "Thriller," of course (a vinyl LP - remember those?!)  Despite the success of that album, I really prefer the music of the Jackson 5.  (Remember they had their own Saturday morning cartoon?)  And Michael's best solo album, in my opinion, was "Off the Wall."  That came out while I was in fourth grade.  It still holds up today....  It's just too bad that - if Michael was indeed innocent of the charges repeatedly leveled against him - he never really got to repair his reputation before he passed.  Shakespeare's words from "Julius Caesar" seem appropriate in that case:

"The evil that men do lives after them,
The good is oft interred with their bones."

So true, so often - fairly or unfairly.

Laurel

By the way. Make sure that Chris Matthews, which is complete moron, and Keith Overbite, which is an incompetent boob, know they should be slapped and sterilized. Can't wait to see which one's first.

Dear Brian - I mourn the loss of Farrah Fawcett and recognize the passing of Michael Jackson.  Still, I fee it's sad that the new media emphasize MJ's video & musical talents and ignore his questionable acquitals....perhaps multi-million $$ settlements do that and not NBC/media.  Let's celebrate and respect those who gave their lives for our country and lost their lives for our country's short-comings (healthcare/pre-natal care).  Thanks, JoAnn, Cutler Bay, Fl (Miami)

Hi Brian

Thanks for the blog and the link to Michael Jackson.  I'm getting ready to get on a plane to North Carolina and will take with me to read.  I'll have to catch tonight's broadcast on the web when I arrive. NBC'S coverage of all the crazy things happening this week had been superb.

Have a great weekend.

Brian, I sincerely hope tonight's broadcast will not devote so damn much time to Michael Jackson. I feel the coverage was way out of proportion to individual. But then that's just one man's opinion. At least last evening I was able switch over to ESPN and watch the NBA draft in progress.

Evening, Brian.

First off, thank you for the links. I think the video you shared from Andrew Sullivan's blog is the perfect one to remember Michael for. He was such an incredible singer/performer at such a young age, and only grew much more so from that as years went by.

As David Gregory said earlier today, the best thing he heard today about Michael Jackson's legacy, "Time to turn down the chatter and turn up the music.", as said by LA Reid, chairman of Island/DefJam music group. I think that's what most people around the world are thinking today. At the end of the day from all of the controversy surrounding Michael Jackson, (as far as media goes) it's all really about the music when the end of a person's life comes, and I'm glad to see he's being remembered that way.

I've been watching music videos, reading, and listening today...and it's just unbelievable. I imagine the next Grammy awards will have a huge dedication to Michael Jackson, they'll probably start planning that pretty soon. I talked to my Nana last night, who arrived in New York with family on their first night last night, and she told me they heard about Michael's passing in the streets of Times Square where everyone was watching/reading the jumbotron.

Realizing that there are many more things going on in the world, I do imagine that when Elvis Presley passed he was all over the news just as Michael has been. I've been hearing a few people accusing Michael Jackson of being bigger than Elvis Presley, and being from a family of Elvis Presley fans, I can't say that's fair. King of Rock n' Roll, and King of Pop. There's no comparison.

Something I didn't comment on in last night's broadcast, the remarks by Ahmadinejad. I could not believe what I was hearing. I actually laughed out loud with disbelief. Besides the fact that I couldn't believe he was accusing President Obama of interferring, the fact that he was demanding an apology from President Obama blew my mind. And for what? For letting the world know that we are against a people's own government killing their own people, and that we support freedom for all? Our President has nothing to apologize for. It just made me so mad...

I'll see you real soon, Brian.
-Cary

The link to that amazing video of Michael performing "I'll be there" a cappella was positively ASTOUNDING.  Thank you so much for sharing it.

And as I said on my own website, may he rest in peace.  For all his weirdness, the truth is that music, of all kinds, in all genres, is all the better because of him.

Brian:

Just got home from work to see the news LIVE and more of Jackson.  No offense Michael's on my IPOD but this is over the top for the coverage!  Stephanie I agree with you.  He was an important artist BUT lived a very mixed up life IMHO!

As far as your link to Andy Sullivan, as we used to say in the 80's gag me with a spoon!   He seems to be the expert on everything American.  

You do understand he is not a US citizen.    I just love these foreigners that land in America and continue to know more about America than Americans.   He is a male Ann Coulter!   When I see see either of them on TV, I have to turn the channel.  Thanks for letting me vent about two of the biggest egos on TV!

Best to All!    

You people are reprehensible - almost all of the "nightly news" about Michael Jackson, while the House is debating the energy bill, which will ruin our lives and cost more than we can afford and intrude in every facet of our lives.  
It's too bad you can't feel that that's important to investigate and explain to the people.  Could it be that you just want Obama to continue screwing up our lives??

I can't believe that with everything that is happening in the world today that you dedicated 30 minutes of air time to a drug addicted, washed up, has been, pedophile. Most people don't care that much. You have lost me a viewer for good.

Brian
There's enough coverage of Michael Jackson without your using most of your broadcast for it. Hate to say it, but you're selling out.
So much actual news goes unreported because of these irresponsible decisions.
If you want to provide in-depth information about Jackson, post a link to Maureen Orth's website.
She has covered him extensively over the years.
The Nightly News is not the venue for this.

I'm sorry there was no other news in the world today. I can't believe Michael's death was all the news you had to offer today. Thats Tom's chair your sitting in, act like a newsman!

Ok Brian, I understand last night that you devoted so much time to MJ and FF. But tonight, come on. was it 3 minutes or 4 that you devoted to world and national news? I'm a huge fan and devoted nightly news watcher, but this is ridiculous. With all that's going on in the world right now, this is unbelievable that you would not just make this the subject of special reports and virtually ignore what happened in the world today.
I'm so close to giving up on you.

Must be something wrong with our TV. I tuned into NBC News with Brian Williams but got Entertainment Tonight with Brian Williams?????

I appreciate Michael Jackson's talent but I cannot understand your coverage.  There are more important events to cover.  You are not a tabloid program.  Leave the Jackson memorials to Access Hollywood.  I expected more of Nightly News

OK Brian, enough is enough.  I mean enough of Michael Jackson.  Leave it alone.  Why should he get so much publicity and so much less for Farrah Faucett?  Michael had a tragic life and did impact the music industry.  His music will certainly stay with some but Michael is gone lets drop it and get on with more important issues facing this country.

Good Evening Mr.Williams, Another fine broadcast this evening. First of all the world has certainly lost a music icon in Michael Jackson as people remember him throughout the whole world. I do own the "Thriller" album which had alot of great dance music and all of it still holds today. Also, I own the "We are the World" single that Michael Jackson co-wrote and brought together all kinds of legendary singers. Many songs will be played for years and years to come. Seeing the reports by Rehema Ellis and Dawna Friezen showed how he reached people all over the world so many people will really miss him and his music. As Mr.Holt showed in his report he was a huge success from the beginning and bridged the divide to appeal to everyone.
So many people paying tribute to him and remembering his music.
He had great success and endured some very tough times.
May he now have peace.

Thank You for the broadcast Mr.Williams. Peace to You and to All!

Lots of Love to Laurel,Jackie,Stephanie,Claudia,Celine,Anna,Lori,Cary and Matt!
Be Well Always!
Stay Extra Safe and Well Richard!
XOXO

55 minutes on Michael Jackson, 3 minutes on Governor Sanford... when the climate control act, Cap and trade is being voted on in the House of representative. What enabling from NBC of the White House policies. I will not tune it to your bias coverage again.

Hi, Brian.

I'm just stopping by here a second time to thank you for giving us this week's news. Great broadcast tonight. The tributes to Michael Jackson were beautifully written and put together, I was happy to see you ending the night with the video you shared in your blog today. The perfect one to remember him for, at such a young age when he had so much passion for music and for performing. Also, glad to hear you agree that down at the end of the day despite all of what he was controversial for, it all goes to his music.

Take care, and have a good weekend.

Thanks again!
Good night,
-Cary

Even the Congress held a moment of silence today for MJ. Hardly a word was mentioned about Ed Mc. when he died and he was a true patriot serving in two wars to protect America. MJ was talented but ED kept us laughing for some 30 years with his decent humor. At least Fox has resumed regular broadcasting and stopped the total madness seen on msnbc with matheews and oberfool and that red keek

Amen to those who feel other close-to-home issues have taken a back seat to things more celebrity newsworthy (to whom?).  Don't misunderstand, I also feel deeply for the untimely passing of Michael Jackson, but not one mention (i.e.) of Farah Fawcett in the nightly news nor other issues on the national economy, etc. which are affecting most of us deeply everyday.  And later tonight, an hour devoted to Michael Jackson.  Sharing 1/2 hr. at dinner was enough.  I can read the papers.  Shame on NBC Nightly News.  Is this what we have become, a nation more interested in a celebrity's life than our everyday life?  

Wow.  The economy's a mess, Iran's teetering (lessee,  they're working on nukes, right?), we're still fighing wars halfway across the world, North Korea is acting out, and you guys spend the better part of two broadcasts on Michael Jackson???!!!!  Yes, he was talented.  Yes, he was weird.  But come on!  Since when does this merit two nights of national news? Edward R. Murrow is spinning in his grave.

Hi Brian,

Thanks for the links. I've really gone back in time today and last night with my earliest memories of Michael and The Jackson Five. When I turned twelve, I was allowed to go to the local Woolworth's and get their records. I had gotten a portable record player for my birthday. The Jackson Five basically helped me go from the stage of Barbies to blue eyeshadow and ice pink lipstick (in a playful way). And I remember the first time I saw the "Thriller" video. It was amazing and unfortunately I began to judge other videos by that.
I enjoyed the segments by Donna Frieson and Lester. I'm glad that people can celebrate the brilliance of michael's music. He was a complex individual and I'm not going to judge(although I did), what happened in his private life. I agree with Quincy Jones, that Michael was a victim in some way. But I'm not going beyond that...

As for Gov. Sanford, he did it, and I knew he would at some time. I just wish that someone would get their hands caught in a cookie jar without having to inform everyone that they're reading the Bible. It's if they have to brag about it. Maybe they should be reading the Bible while their hands are in the cookie jar, then they wouldn't have so much room for so many cookies. That's the kind of people you always have to watch out for.

Anyway, Brain I hope you have a beautiful weekend. And I couldn't help but notice your tie. Why is that? Someone needs to do some sort of sociological study as to why people notice your ties.

Bye for now.

Vicki

P.S. I'm leaving for Cherokee, N.C. on Mon. but of course I'll be watching you and commenting, (I'm not limited to just one computer there).

Brian,
What a news broadcast tonight. With the house voting on the largest Cap and Tax, I mean Trade, bill in history while you were doing your broadcast and you have not one word to say about it. A bill that will be the largest tax increase on the American people (rich and poor) and will drive the last of our industry to China or India and you do Micheal Jackson for 20 minutes. No wonder you and the other Pravda media sources continue to lose viewers. You do not provide us with news. You give us human interest stories. The people are turning off main stream media and going to the internet sources for the real news. Enjoy your multi-million dollar salary for now because with no viewers, it will be gone.
OH! I just remembered. Your parent company, GE, stands to make Billions of dollars from the Cap and tax plan. Now I understand why there was nothing said about. Do you sleep well at night knowing you are misleading the American public like you do.
Jeff may not allow this one to be posted!!!!!

justBfair

Brian - 20+ minutes of coverage on the death of an entertainer 20 years past his prime and at least 15 years into a severe decline in physical and mental stability.  3 minutes to cover the rest of the world including Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, the economy and the meltdown in state governance in New York and South Carolina.  I am severely disappointed.

I thought this was a news program. Tonight's show should have been on the Biography channel. Michael Jackson's death possibly deserved 10 minutes of the 30 minute broadcast, especially when NBC was having an hour on Jackson later in the evening. There was no mention of Farrah Faucet. Here was a woman who struggled with death for several years. Her death deserved a few minutes as well.

There was a lot of other news today: the White House meeting between Obama and Merkel, possible Israel/Gaza deal, House passage of a climate bill, new land law affecting the Amazon, and several NBA sports stories.

Extremely disappointed in the editing of tonight's program.

Brian,
Tonite I did something I rarely do, I turned off the NBC news. I have had enough of the tabloid journalism coverage of M J's life and the suppoitions about the manner of his passing. When there is news about him,report it, then please return to the important issues of the nation and world.

Brian
Shame on you for tonights broadcast featuring Jacko in its entirety.  Farrah Fawcett was also a star and deserves recognition also.  She has suffered from a disease that has few survivors.  Jackson was an entertainer, but also a very troubled man with criminal charges against him at one time.  To devote practically the entire broadcast to him was, to say the least, utterly ridiculous.  Two stars are dead not just one.  Shame on you Brian!!!

MJ's pedo problems aside, can you imagine having an entire industry looking to you to lay the golden eggs to justify their very existence, to give them a JOB? Myself, Elvis,the Beatles, Einstein, Bell and Edison are among the few who know that feeling. If the people MJ encountered in music were anything like the parasites in the banking, computer, photography and medical technology fields; having maggots feed on his dead body must be a relief.

Brian, Does it ever stop? Michael Jackson was unfortunately a product of his/our (70's) time. We made him into a person who craved seclusion, who had to retreat to survive. Stories of his horrible childhood beatings, no school, no friends, only work. I can't imagine treating one of my sons that way. But, he was and he survived? Did he? Some of us can handle stress and some of us cannot. I can close my eyes and remember the first time I heard the song "Ben", although in a rat movie it has been my long time favorite of Michaels. Thriller, I was a young 24yo mother trying to make ends meet. I could turn to MTV and excape in his dance and songs.By the time i reach my 30's I was somewhat over Michael Jackson, but if one of his songs came on the radio I would crank it up and sing along. Didn't we all? It is a sad sad world that jokes of peoples lives. Maybe he did commit the crimes against children, Maybe he didnt. About now, he may be in front of his maker answering for that very issue. But it was never up to us to judge him or anyone else. We dont know the truth. Its also a shame all this overshadowed the death of Farrah Fawcett, another superstar in her own right. Does any famous person every please every common man? I don't think so. I feel horrific grief for his children and Michael himself, for I dont think he ever really knew true love, even tho he was adored and idolized by millons. May God Rest his Soul.

I would like to sincerely thank Brian Williams and the Nightly News producers for the 80 seconds of non-Michael Jackson news that they presented on tonight's broadcast.  I truly feel that in those 80 seconds, I was given a full and comprehensive portrait of all the important events going on in our country and around the world.  I am glad to see that Nightly News is achieving its goal of becoming indistinguishable from the shows that follow it (in the New York market):  Extra and Access Hollywood.

Sometimes truth is stranger than fiction.  Virtually all of Friday's Nightly News was about Michael Jackson.  Meanwhile, during the "Fun Facts" segment of that night's Late Show With David Letterman (which appears to have been taped before Jackson's death), Letterman said this:  "On Feb. 21, 2003, every story on the NBC Nightly News dealt with chocolate milk."  I wouldn't doubt it for a second.

NBC announced on Friday that they would be indefinitely postponing the debut of Jay Leno's prime time show.  Instead of giving the Monday-through-Friday 10 PM slot to Leno, NBC plans to use that time to broadcast Michael Jackson specials five nights a week in perpetuity.

Please...enough!  I can understand significant coverage for the death of MJ....but the entire show with only minimal reference to Farrah.  You did a nice tribute to Ed when he passed on....but this is too much....last night I turned off the news, did not watch the today show and won't until some sense of reality sets in...what happened in Iraq, Afghanistan - what is the latest on North Korea.  The world is falling down around us...yes Michael is dead....he's dead...move on.

Yes, Michael Jackson was a gifted artist, but let's be honest: his work hasn't stood up to the passage of time.

What has stood up is his bizarre and mysterious persona ---and at a time when America is increasingly obsessed with the famous, his death is the perfect storm of celebrity news coverage.  

I don't blame Nightly for spending most of Friday night's show on Michael Jackson. I know you'll be back to serious business on Monday.

I enjoyed Michael Jackson 30 yrs ago, but now it seems too much time is spent on this topic.

Our family has been watching NBC news for years. I can't begin to tell you how disappointed we have become with the content of the Brian Williams' show, especially the last few evenings. In years past, NBC news was the top NEWS station. If one wanted to keep up-to-date with what was going on in the world, just tune in to NBC.

NBC News is becoming a TV version of People magazine. On 6/25 and 6/26/2009, NBC elected to devote the majority of its news time to the life and death of Michael Jackson...as if nothing else of importance is going on in the world. Last evening (6/26/2009), NBC spent approximately 27 minutes on Michael Jackson's life and advertisements. In 3 minutes of non-ending sentences, Brian gave us a review of a few NEWS highlights delivered in a high-speed monotone. No real details... no analysis. We were left with the sight of poor Brian breathless, in need of some oxygen and stumbling over his words.  

The American public is facing huge issues right now... the controversial Global Warming Bill, North Korean threats to destroy America, the political issues in Congress, etc. These are the important issues in our minds right now. While certainly admired for his musical talents, Michael Jackson's troubled life does not warrant as much time in a NEWS broadcast as you elected to give it.

While you might not care about the views of a single household in America, we believe it is important to let you know that we will soon leave the NBC viewing audience if your view of NEWS continues to dwell upon personalities, rather than hard news.

The Kennedy Family
Phoenix, Arizona

I've been a big fan of Nightly News with Brian Williams but I am afraid last night was sort of the last straw. I have seen the program devote less and less time to hard news stories and more and more time to the sort of thing that belongs in the Sunday Parade. To spend a whole program on the passing of a pop celebrity,no matter how famous, when the county is passing important legislation and the world is in turmoil is beyond the pale. I don't know how much influence you have over content but to ba a party to last night's program is shameful. I will return to watching PBS. It may not be entertaining but it does report the news. I get more news watching John Stewart than I do from your program.

Brian,
I was appalled at the length of Friday's broadcast devloted to Michael Jackson.  With NBC running a special Dateline on Jackson the same  evening, it would seem a reference to view that program would have been appropriate and allow the Nightly News to inform us on the more newsworthy events of the day.

One has the impression that North Korea could have launched a missle at Hawaii, Iran could have declared war on the United States, and a significant and unexected break-through on global warming could have occurred and Brian Williams would nonetheless have ignored it all to give us an entire half hour of repetative detail about Michael Jackson---this notwithstanding that you devoted an entire 2 hour special to the matter later in the evening. NightlyNews's priorities are screwed up. You really cannot be regarded as a serious news program and devote the entire show to this celebrity death to the exclusion of other critically important news.

Regaring yours ratings--since you devoted almost all the news to Michael Jackson, you should know that most of the people crying and wailing in the streets about his death, do not watch the national news regularly and probably do not know where Iraq is.  So who are you trying to attract and who are you irritating?

I just hope you wont continue to spoil his memory like you have been.       He has done some good in his lifetime.  On your show you act like farrah is a angel and Michael has done nothing.

It is sad, that a national news show such as NBC Nightly News devoted all but 4 of the 30 minutes we see nightly to Michael Jackson on Friday night. And those 4 minutes were at the end of the broadcast.
Let see...this week, we lost Ed McMahon. Someone who served our country honorably in the military, entertained us late at night with Johnny Carson, and did other countless good deeds and made great family shows.
Then we have Farrah Fawcett. Icon of the 70's that woman wanted to look like, and men wanted by their side. Bravely fought cancer and made it "real" to Americans as seen by her documentary just in the past weeks.
And Now Michael Jackson. An accused pedophile, not once, not twice, but countless times. A person that seemed to be ashamed of his own ethnic background that he claims he had a skin disorder that lightens his skin. Someone that embraced children in more then one way.
THIS has been your main focus for days now! Hell, even tonights news was more about him then anyone/thing else. And it is 3 days later.
The families of Ed McMahon and Farrah Fawcett should feel disgust with NBC and just about all other media outlets for dedicating so much time to this person...this "false Idol". McMahons family even moreso, since he was a member of the NBC family.
Sad NBC Nightly News....very, very sad.
Even TMZ, which IS a tv ragmag show for entertainment devoted LESS time on him then you have last night.
I guess nothing else in the world happened the past couple of days.

I thought I maybe was alone in my thinking, but I quess not!  Enough already about Michael Jackson, and already the jokes are started.  No one except maybe the President deserves so much coverage.

What a shame that you give so much time to MJ, time that would have been better spent on Vets of present former Wars, who have given so much and let MJ rest in the obscurity which he so richly deserves.

Hi Brian,

I wanted to bring this up before I forget. I watched Lester talking with Toure, the writer who has done extensive work on musical artists, such as Michael Jackson. I wanted to know more about Toure, so I looked him up on various websites. It's just a suggestion, but why don't you have Toure on NBC more often as a music commentator? As you probably know, he's worked for Rolling Stone magazine, MTV, BET, etc.
I think he'd be a great asset.

Hope you're having a great week. I've watched Michael Jackson videos most of the day. There were some I'd never seen. He was a genius and the best in his field.

I'll be watching Lester soon. Have a nice week.

Vicki

Brian:  I never miss the NBC evening news.  However, I'm still amazed at the amount of time given the MJ story.  Truly, given all the important news stories in the world, surely this one doesn't deserve all the time the media is spending on it.  I met more people this past weekend who wonder what all the over-the-top coverage is about! Yes, this troubled man was incredibly talented, and he was a huge part of the country's pop culture.  The big surprise about MJ is not that he has died, but how he managed to stay alive until he was 50!

There is a coup in Hondoras, a possible conflict with a North Korean freighter, riots in Tehran, an energy bill and the possibility of major health insurance reform in Congress, and The Nightly News devotes ten to twenty minutes a night to Michael Jackson!!!!  Unbelievable.  Forget it.   Millions don't care.  Pay attention to things that really matter.  

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