The West Coast premiere screening of Jackson 5 In Africa Saturday August 22 in Los Angeles

The Downtown LA Film Festival will show “The Jackson 5 in Africa” for its closing-night gala. Director Mamadou Johnny Sekka documents the Motown sensations on their 1974 trip to Senegal, with father Joe as escort for their first African tour.   The unfinished film was cut short after investors ran out of funding. It sat around for decades until it was found and released by the Harlem-based nonprofit ImageNation Cinema Foundation.  To read more about the film, click: Jackson 5 in Africa.

Check out a trailer of the film below:

Going Back To Indiana: Thousands Pay Tribute To Michael Jackson In Gary

Photo:MJJ Pictures.com

The tributes and memorials to the late Michael Jackson continue around the world. A memorial was held for him today in his hometown of Gary, Indiana. Jackson’s father, Joe and Reverends Al Sharpton and Jessie Jackson were expected to attend, USA Today reports.

Read the full article: JACKSON HOMETOWN TRIBUTE

Moments From The Michael Jackson Memorial

Michael Jackson Memorial Program

Friends, family and a world on fans came to say goodbye to Michael Jackson in a memorial at The Staples Center on Tuesday.

A host of celebrity friends, including Queen Latifah, Brooke Shields, Mariah Carey, Usher, Jennifer Hudson, Stevie Wonder, Motown Records Founder Berry Gordy, Lakers Magic Johnson and Kobe Bryant, Lionel Richie, John Mayer, brother Jermaine Jackson and daughter Paris Jackson,  remembered the singer with moving words and songs.

Here’s a look back at some moments from the event. Michael Jackson 1958-2009.

Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee: “We are the world and we are better because Michael Joseph Jackson lived. On behalf of myself and the people who are here, Michael Jackson, I salute you.”

President Barack Obama, asked about the outpouring of emotion related to Jackson’s death during an interview in Moscow: “There are certain people in our popular culture that just capture people’s imaginations. And in death, they become even larger. Now, I have to admit that it’s also fed by a 24/7 media that is insatiable.”

Brooke Shields, recalling a moment she shared with Jackson at Elizabeth Taylor’s 1991 wedding: “We snuck in and took pictures of ourselves next to her dress. We always seemed to revert to being little kids.”

Jennifer Hudson’s Tribute to Michael:

Paris Jackson’s Speaks About Her Father:

Coverage of Michael Jackson’s and Farrah Fawcett’s Deaths Bring In Huge Ratings For Magazine News Themed Shows

Farrah Fawcett

The news of the deaths of Michael Jackson and Farrah Fawcett on June 25 boosted syndicated news magazine shows into huge ratings. Coverage of the deaths of the two icons help propel all shows, giving them great numbers for the week ending June 28. Entertainment Tonight was the top rated show for the week, followed by Inside Edition, Access Hollywood, The Insider, and Extra.

Michael Jackson’s Memorial Expected To Be Watched By The World

Fans leave messages on a Michael Jackson poster outside The Staple Center. Photo: Getty

Michael Jackson’s Memorial will be held on today live at The Staples Center in Los Angeles and is expected to be the most watched event in history.

Among the stars signed on to perform in a celebration of the singer’s life and career are Stevie Wonder, Mariah Carey, Kobe Bryant, Smokey Robinson, Brooke Shields, Jennifer Hudson, Lionel Richie, Usher and John Mayer. There is expected to be an estimated 500,000 or so outside of The Staples Center who also want to celebrate the life of the pop star.

Most of the major broadcast networks will cover the memorial live, as will the cable news nets and MTV, VH1, BET and TV One.

AEG has arraigned for the memorial to be broadcast live on 88 theaters across the country, including Mann 6 in Los Angeles and Jackson’s home state of Indiana.

E! plans to cover the service and devote a full day of programming to Jackson. MTV will have a special day called  “Michael Jackson Television” on Aug. 1, for the channel’s 28th anniversary.

Many news-based and streaming video sites will be airing the Michael Jackson memorial live at 10am PST on Tuesday.

CBSNews.com, which is owned by CNET parent CBS, plans to stream video provided by Los Angeles-based CBS station KCBS, as well as other sources. TV.com , also a CBS property, plans to stream the CBSNews.com content as well.

CNN plans to stream the memorial service with hosts Anderson Cooper, Larry King, Don Lemon, and Soledad O’Brien.

ABCNews.com plans to stream live with commentary from Charles Gibson.

Fox News‘ live stream will be hosted by Shepard Smith, with from Greta Van Susteren and Megyn Kelly providing live reports from the scene.

Video and social networking
Hulu, which by nature of being one of the most popular video Web sites may be one of the best-prepared sites to handle the load, plans to stream the Fox News feed.

MySpace members will have access to a live stream provided by entertainment company AEG, which owns the Staples Center and was underwriting the planned Jackson tour.

Facebook members will have access to CNN Live feed thanks to a partnership with the TV news channel.

All of the networks will pre-empt their regularly scheduled programming with coverage of The Michael Jackson Memorial. Most will air coverage of news and events related to Michael Jackson all day.

President Obama Comments On Michael Jackson

President Obama commented about Michael Jackson calling him “one of our greatest entertainers” on CNN. A public memorial for Michael Jackson will be held on Tuesday, July 7 at 10am at The Staple Center in Los Angeles. All networks are expected to carry the event live on television and on the Internet.

Black Music Month Artist Of The Day 25: Jackson 5

With the recent passing of Michael Jackson, it just seemed fitting that he would be recognized a second day during Black Music Month. This entry focuses on him as a member of The Jackson 5 and The Jacksons.

Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon and Michael…they really were the first black teen idols the world had. Their harmonies were some of the best, mirroring all of the barber shop quartet acts of the early 50s and 60s. As they grew from boys into young men, their music changed but their style and stage performances only got better. Michael’s journey into super-stardom help change the way we see and here music around the world. That makes The Jackson 5 a perfect candidate for artist of the day. RIP Michael.

Here are The Jackson 5 singing an acapella version of one of the best songs ever written: “I’ll Be There”.

Michael Jackson Remembered

The Hollywood Reporter Remembers Michael Jackson

Bluewater To Release Michael Jackson Tribute

Press Release

To millions he was the King of Pop; one of the world’s most cherished entertainers and a celebrated international icon. With his untimely passing, Michael Jackson left an extraordinary and tragic legacy. Bluewater Productions is paying tribute in October to his memory and legacy with a special collectors edition biography comic.

The newest addition to the publisher’s critically acclaimed biography library will trace Jackson’s rise as a musical prodigy with the “Jackson 5” through last Thursdays sad end. The book will feature highlights from his storied career and cover his enigmatic private life.

“Michael Jackson’s music served as the soundtrack to countless lives…including mine,” said Bluewater president Darren G. Davis, “His influence on our culture has been profound.”

“TRIBUTE: Michael Jackson, King of Pop,” features a wraparound cover and foreword by “The Official Michael Jackson Fan Club’s” Giuseppe Mazzola. Mazzola was also Jackson’s personal friend. The issue is being written by Wey-Yuih Loh, (Political Power: Colin Powell” and “Political Power: Joe Biden) and illustrated by Giovanni Timpano (Vincent Price Presents). Noted cover artist Vinnie Tartamella will also provide an alternate wraparound cover.

“This is a celebration of his life and what he meant to a legion of fans,” Davis said. “Although the book won’t shy away from some of his personal troubles, we try to tell a balanced story that shows Jackson as a musical genius, an unparalleled superstar and as a complex person.”

Davis noted that he initially waffled at producing a tribute comic, but after receiving dozens of emails and phone calls he knew it was the proper way to show respect and give fans a lasting remembrance.

In recent months, Bluewater has become one of the leading producers of biography comics. Launched earlier this year, Bluewater’s “Female Force” has featured influential women such as Hillary Clinton, Michelle Obama, Princess Diana, Sarah Palin and Oprah Winfrey. A follow-up series, “Political Power” launching in July is set to turn the spotlight on politicians like Colin Powell, Barack Obama, and Al Gore.

Bluewater’s biography titles have drawn considerable media attention, including features on CNN, MSNBC, Fox News, and “Live with Regis and Kelly.” It has also been featured in such periodicals as People Magazine, Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune, USA Today and thousands of blogs and other media outlets.