Ouch. This one’s going to be a talker, I’d imagine.
Mad Magazine is bringing up its annual “MAD 20″ list, and the number one dumbest thing of the year? According to them, it’s the beatification of the late King of Pop, who died in June allegedly due to the sleeping medication in his system.
If you check out Comics Alliance, where we found this story from, you’ll see the page in question, a stained-glass image of Jackson with some llamas, a monkey, and some crotch-grabbing. I can’t look at it without a weird mix of horror, awe, and laughter.
Considering how divided people have been over Michael Jackson’s death — one half cracking jokes, the other half mourning over his death, and another half more or less wishing him a not-so-happy afterlife — I’m curious to see how Mad’s issue will play out. There’s certainly a line between hilarious humor and poor taste: has Mad moonwalked over it?
Either which way, the book — which also has Sarah Palin, Glenn Beck, Kanye West, and Michael Jackson’s doctor on the list — comes out tomorrow. What say you, Rama readers?
November 16th, 2009 at 6:07 pm
While I think those asshats Cheney, Palin, and Beck (and let’s not forget that fat, drug-addicted hypocrite Limbaugh) are as dumb as dumb gets, I’m fine with it.
I’ve never understood all the love for Michael Jackson. I supppose he was sort of cute and showed some talent in his Jackson 5 days, but even in his Thriller heyday I thought he was a total freak (and I definitely thought the music sucked). But, in retrospect, he seemed relatively “normal” then, when compared to the skin bleaching, plastic surgery, Elephant Man remains, and his “special” relationship with children in the later years.
I haven’t seen the issue, but now I’m interested in checking it out (I haven’t bought MAD in, I don’t know, maybe 30 years?). Poor taste? Nah… People die, but few of them die and create the ridiculous media circus that Michael Jackson did. He certainly isn’t worthy of the deification he’s received in death. No one does, really, but that’s the nature of the 24-hour news cycle we live in now.
I’d bet this magazine will be slamming the media for its coverage of Jackson’s death as much as Jackson himself. Jackson was a bad joke in both life and death, and the American media, with its obsession with tabloid “journalism,” is a bad joke too.
November 16th, 2009 at 7:53 pm
Shaun,
I guess your part of that random “other half” arent you? If u didnt think Michael’s music was any good, what music was better during that time? Who can u compare to Michael Jackson from the late 70’s-early 90’s???? Or even in entertainment in general? ( Dont even try and say Elvis). I’d say maybe Prince was in his league based on his songwriting & instrumental skill, BUT Michael embodied professionalism, enormous talent, and regardless of what MAD mag says, he was one of the most well-read, savvy, and intelligent people in the entertainment business.
People underestimated Michael Jackson’s talent, and i can see ur one of them. Im just glad that MOST people finally seem to be waking up to the fact that he was one of the best performers of this century, plain and simple.
November 16th, 2009 at 11:28 pm
As a performer Jackson was one of the best.
As a person however, sadly lacking. Sure he did some “good” things, but they are seriously outweighed by the stigma of child molestation that haunted the latter part of his life. Innocent people don’t settle out of court when accusations like that are thrown around. Try to defend it all you want - but if it looks like sh!t, and smells like sh!t, it’s definitely sh!t.
Apart from the molestation, his place on the list is wel and truly deserved based on his amazing ego - or have we forgotten the Michael Jackson “History” debacle. He was the best exmple of narcissism at it’s worst - 100 ft statues and all.
Enjoy the music, but don’t idolise a twat.
November 17th, 2009 at 2:28 pm
It’s one thing if people who believe MJ’s a pedophile did their homework & checked the other side – he’s an innocent victim of extortion. I bet no one has. ANYONE DECENT will check @ least 1 source below in ea. of the allegations.
Jordie Chandler allegation which was settled:
1. “Was Michael Jackson Framed? The Untold Story,” Mary A. Fischer, GQ, October 1994, buttonmonkey(dot)com;
2. “Bury the Never Ending Myth of Jackson as Child Molester,” Earl Ofari Hutchison, July 8, 2009, huffingtonpost;
3. Redemption, Geraldine Hughes, legal secretary for Barry Rothman, Dr. Chandler’s lawyer, who witnessed the set-up.
Gavin Arviso trial, JACKSON ACQUITTED ON ALL COUNTS:
1. Michael Jackson Conspiracy, Aphrodite Jones.
2. Jackson: The Untold Story of Neverland (DVD) by Larry Nimmer (some excerpts on YouTube).
3. On Michael Jackson by Pulitzer Prize-winning critic for NY Times Margo Jefferson.
November 17th, 2009 at 3:56 pm
I’ll leave the MJ argument alone–clearly everyone now has established their (largely uneducated) opinions about the man, though I WILL say that anyone who says his music isn’t any good, is, well, missing out on something when it comes to their musical ear.
More importantly though–who the f-ck still reads MAD magazine???? Talk about something that’s f-cked with boys and should be dead….that’s MAD magazine for me.
November 27th, 2009 at 7:19 pm
Michael Jackson was amazing, he was such a star in every right. Here’s to wishing his heart and love live on forever. Long live MJ!