Greetings…
Boy, it sure has been “one of those weeks” in regards to Celebrity
deaths in the news. Three legends in their own right passed away,
two of them on the same day…
“They” always say it comes in three’s…
Ed McMahon, Johnny Carson’s sidekick for decades passed away. For those
of us who “went to bed” with Johnny Carson for years first were greeted
by the booming voice and iconic phrase, “Heeeeeeeaaar’s Johnnyyyyyyyyy”.
Of course, McMahon is known for various other things and in recent years
had had some financial troubles due to a frivolous lifestyle and the
over the top spending of a much younger wife. Many celebrities in
Hollywood came to his aid out of respect for the “good ‘ole days”…
Ed McMahon lived a full life and passed away at 86…
The next death saddened me because I had been following her battle
with anal cancer for the past three years. Of course, I’m talking
about Farrah Fawcett, who died yesterday at the age of 62…
I don’t think there is a man out there today that was around in the
70’s who didn’t own the biggest selling poster of all-time of Farrah
in a bathing suit, flashing that famous smile and the more famous
hairstyle that is still somewhat duplicated thirty years later…
If he didn’t own the poster, chances are a friend of his did and boys
and men drooled more than infants when they stared at that poster…
Farrah was on the hit series Charlie’s Angels for only one season and
yet made an impression on the world that very few stars can achieve
today…
She showed incredible strength during her battle with cancer and
journaled her battle which was televised a few weeks ago…
While the other two deaths were no surprise, the death of Michael
Jackson yesterday has sent shock waves through-out the world and
yes, I said “the world”…
What can you say about Michael Jackson that hasn’t already been
said since he came out on stage 40 years ago. Yes, I know he was
probably the strangest human I have ever seen, and the child
molestation allegations all but ruined him and now that he will
meet his maker, he will face the ultimate judge and jury. That’s
not for me to discuss right now…
The cause of his death hasn’t been officially released yet because
tests are being done. He was in debt up to his eyeballs to the
point of losing his beloved Neverland Ranch. Do I think he died
of natural causes? Nope, but again, that’s not for me to say right
now…
I feel sad about his death for many reasons. At 50 years old, he was
a big part of my youth musically, the man was a genius and like him
or not, you can’t take away what he accomplished in his long career…
I’m also sad because Michael Jackson became a freak along the way and
if you know anything about his childhood, you know it had an impact on
his adult life and I find myself wondering how his violent child abusing
father is feeling right now…
Sorry, just typing out loud…
Anyhoo, I realize people we all know personally die every day and these
three I mentioned we never knew, but that’s not to say they didnt’ have
an impact on us. Each one in their own right carved a place in history…
May they all rest in peace and for each of them peace will be the ultimate
gift…
Have a great weekend everyone and I’ll stop now and take a cue from one
of Michael Jackson’s hits and…
Beat it…
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Yes I agree that this certainly has been a week of sadness.
I watched all the episodes of Charlie’s Angles and Farrah Fawcett was my idol. I was desperate to look like her, behave like her and I adored her beautiful smile. Even today (at 40 years old) I don’t think there is any other actress who will take the special place she had in my heart. I gave up following all the news about her after I hit my twenties but I always stopped to read or gaze at any article of photo or picture of her that appeared in any magazine or the newspapers. To me she is still the best looking woman I have seen and has most beautiful smile of them all. Farewell to you and may you life on the other shore be beautiful and fulfilling.
I loved some of Michael Jackson’s music, though I can’t say I was an ardent fan. I loved the way he danced on stage and I loved the video clips of Beat it and Thriller which I watched over and over again. I followed his trials on both occassions when he was accused. While I don’t believe most of the things that were said about him or that he was a phedophile, I personally believe these accusations were motivated more by greed than anything else, especially the Chandler case. But I do agree with you that he was certainly weired. I just wish his family had been more supportive of him. It seems to me that he was left to battle on on his own or with only fans and friends to support him. May he find the peace and happiness that seemd to elude him in this world on the other side of the divide and may his soul rest in peace.
I must say that I have been affected greatly by all the death this week. I think that I thought that Farrah was going to die because of all her struggles so I was a little more prepared for that but Michael was a complete surprise. Farrah actually changed my viewpoint alot, at least on my impression of her, bnecause I always just saw her as that poster untill the cancer. Her struggles made her more of a person to me or maybe a stronger person in general than I ever thought. I suppose that that is a flaw in me, but either way it changed the way I think. As for MJ, as I look back, he was a big part of what I listen to even now, and even though I basically had written him off in alot of ways, I think that his influence on the music scene really affected us all whether we admit it or not. I will always appreciate that he gave me an appreciaton for things in general that make me whant something more, higher expectations I guess. So if anything I am happy that I dont just accept CRAP or boring because of that influince. I wish he hadn’t went where he did obviously, because in a way it discounts what he did in his life or at least people will see it that way, which is unfortunate. I probably wasnt as affected by Ed McManns passing as much, but I spose as the “younger” generation I just wasn’t exposed to him as much. I hope that both FF & MJ find peace & happiness wherever they are… Thanx Jamie for talking straight up like you always do and thanx for the forum that you have….
I fell asleep at night watching Johnny Carson w/ Ed McMann……had the Farrah Fawcett hair cut……and danced to Michael Jackson music…
Each will be missed
Phoebe
In Virginia
As you stated, it is truly a sad week of losses. May they RIP.
it is almost impossible to grasp that farrah and michael passed on the same day. i love the jackson 5 and i loved watching michael dance like no other. the only thing that i am having problems with is that is seems his death has overshadowed farrah’s death. they mention about her death but all the headlines are on michael. grant you he was an enormous and wonderful performer but i just hate the fact that farrah is not more visible here.
I agree Debbie, like you, I feel bad that Farrah’s struggle and passing has been overshadowed by Michael Jackson’s death. I understand it, but it still saddens me. As I said in my article, she was iconic and made an impact on millions of men and women. Like so many others, I had the “farrah Do” for years and as a hairdresser, was subjected to the irrational requests of duplicating the hairstyle on women who had 3 hairs on their head and wanted feathered wings!
Jamie
lol. it is a shame that ed mcmahon and michael jackson had to die so far in debt. they once had it all, or so we thought. their legacy’s cannot be replaced. the pictures of ed mcmahon that keep flashing through my mind are those of recent past where he was discussing his financial situation. it was just terribly sad. he was frail and just sick looking from having to discuss this with the whole world. i feel bad for all families involved.
by the way jamie, the lol part of my last post was due to the comment you made about the women who only had 3 hairs on their head and wanting feathered wings.
Hi Jamie,
Thanks for your touching eulogies to all 3 of these legends. I have to admit the one that shocked me was the passing of Michael Jackson. I grew up with him through his music and the Jackson 5 cartoon shows when I was a kid. I know he had his problems but as you said, the man was a musical genius and I will always love his stuff. Thriller was my all time favorite song and video!
It saddens me though that even as early as yesterday, less than an hour after the announcement of his passing, people had already started circulating extremely bad jokes of extremely poor taste about him; I’ve already read and heard things like “… at least now all the little boys out there will be safe…” and even “well, I guess he ran out of little boys so he decided there was nothing else to live for…”. I am livid to know that people could be so cold! Yes, he was on trial for molestation, but no he was NOT convicted. Unless any one of us or these jokesters were actually present and can say 100% that they witnessed these alleged acts, then they really do not know what did or did not transpire between MJ and anyone.
My grandma always said that it is never a good thing to “speak ill of the dead”. Karma DOES have it’s way of coming back around and biting us in the butt for the ignorant things we say and do, and I think that the folks out there who will crack jokes about MJ at time when his family is mourning his death will be no exception to the Karma rule.
Again thanks Jamie for the words you shared with us not only for MJ, but for Farrah and Ed as well. May God rest their weary souls.
Sherry
I have to agree about the overshadowing of both Farrah and Ed’s death due to the sad passing of Michael Jackson. It doesn’t seem right somehow. But I don’t know how much any of it will matter 50 years from now. Or perhaps sooner. MJ’s legend will continue thru time. Farrahs disease and her fight for it will hopefully spark change and recognition that will grow and continue thru time. What an awful type of cancer and such a private area of the body. To have to have that area invaded on a regular basis….We all cringe at having to have colonoscopies.
I had not really like the person Farrah Fawcett seemed to be as I was growing up but I have seen her courage and care over the time she has been fighting for her life. Her story and death hit me in an unexpected way.
MJ died when he was a child. The first time he was in an abusive situation killed who he should have been as an adult. Talented, humble perhaps and a better father. Not someone who felt they had to “Change”. Not someone who was stuck in “Neverland”. I don’t know if he did the things he was accused of so it causes conflicting feelings. It has for a while now.
I have friends that have known his family. I live in Indiana and I met some of his family, long ago. One sister. She was very kind, humble. Not really like the others in her family. So now it is for them that I am sad. The family and close friends. But, especially MJ’s mother.
I have lost a child and 2 grandkids. I know that pain. MJ may have been 50 but he was still his mother’s child and children are not supposed to die before the parents.
And Ed McMahon? Well, I never did win that Publishers Clearinghouse Sweepstakes, but I will always remember him with Johnny.
Hi Jamie:
I just said the exact same thing to my daughter regarding Michael Jackson before jumping on to check email. I wonder how his father feels today? As a victim of child abuse, I hope that Michael finds the peace his soul searched for while on this earth, and I hope that when his father meets the only judge that he will answer dearly for what he did to his son. My daughter and I also discussed the sadness in the fact that Michael was never happy in his natural black skin. What a sad statement on our society that so many black talented men and women still wish they were born white. Also so sad are those around Michael who used him and his fame and the media that exploited him and gave him no privacy or dignity. Sad sad sad. Ed, God bless him lived a long life, filled with wonderful memories until the past couple of years. Farrah will finally have the healing that she fought so hard for. She leaves for all of us beautiful memories and also the knowledge that yearly checkups are so very important. What a horrid battle for such a beautiful woman. They will all be remembered with love by me.
Thank you on a personal note Jamie regarding Scooter. His end isn’t here yet, but comments about quality of life are something I watch for each day, and will afford him the dignity he deserves when that quality no longer exists. I love you gal. Have a great weekend.
I was never a die-hard Michael Jackson fan, but never the less I’ve always been a fan. I personally never believed those allegations against him. If they were true…what parent would take a settlement? Anyone who would touch my child like that would go down! But…that’s just my own opinion. Bottom line…the music world has lost an icon and as Jamie said, no matter what your opinion of him, he was a true talent and an influence on the music industry of today. RIP Michael…music will never be the same.
The world lost three entertainers who had different careers. Farrah Fawcett was a very beautiful, courageous woman and her death is over shadowed by Michael Jackson’s demise. Michael was one of the most talented persons to ever grace the earth. However, he turned himself from a good looking black man into some kind of freaky looking person. I believe that all of his odd behavior affected his popularity in later years. Perhaps he wanted to leave behind that unhappy boy he had been by changing the way he looked. Maybe now he will find happiness. The world will miss him.
HELLO MY DEAR FRIEND JAMIE,
THANK YOU FOR PAYING TRIBUTE TO THESE WELL KNOWN INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE PASSED. I THINK YOU HANDLED IT QUITE WELL. I ESPECIALLY ENJOYED THE CAREER OF MICHAEL JACKSON. HE HAD SO MUCH TALENT. SADLY, HE WAS NOT A HAPPY MAN. I HOPE IN HIS PASSING THAT HE HAS FINALLY FOUND PEACE. TAKE CARE OF YOUR SWEET SELF, JAMIE……………..ALWAYS……………TOMMY
I know that for a while Michael Jackson and Liz Taylor were close friends. Did that friendship endure? Haven’t heard a peep from her regarding his death. I believe she’s having health issue also.
I want to thank you very much for talking about the death of 3 people that were very important to SO many people. They touched SO many people lives. Ed McMahon was someone we grew up with (depending on our age) He helped to put us TO sleep.
Farrah I expected her END was near but STILL sadden.
Also thought her loss was not published as much as it would have had it NOT BEEN FOR THE LOSS of Micheal Jackson.
The loss of Micheal REALLY bothers me it ISN’T just because I am 50 also. I THINK just because it was SO unexpected. On Friday morning I was in a waiting room and one of the morning program was talking about his -our Loss. They showed clips other people singing his song etc. And I JUST BALLED like a BABY. (I did hear that he died on Thursday)
My daughter said my face was RED and all.
They ALL REALLY BOTHER ME. I feel like I grew up with all 3 of these people and I guess to lose 3 in one week is VERY hard. Not just for me. But for ALOT of us BABY BOOMERS.
As you say, Jamie all will be missed terribly, especially Farrah Fawcett, I will really miss her, since I emulated her when I was young, had the hair and some of her well known qualities, I even cried with the specials they showed about her and have followed her three year battle with cancer just as you have been doing, she will be truly missed by millions who loved her blonde tossled feathered back hair and gorgeous teeth. Ed McMahon I use to really like, he seemed such a sweet man, he will be missed also, but I noticed that Ed McMahon was not paid much attention at time of his death by the media or even other people around, it’s really a shame that he did not receive the attention that others did. And as to your remark about MJ’s freakiness, well he really wasn’t freaky at all just escentric when it came to trying to relive a childhood he never had, and as you say he had a father that was abusive, not only was his father abusive but controlling as well, greed took over that mans life and he used his own son to accomplish that, even in his statement after his son’s death in my mind he is still a greedy man by the fact that he said that now his son is dead he will be more popular than he was alive, what a horrible thing to say or think, shame on Joe Jackson ! but we all will never get over the fact that Michael Jackson molested those boys and hung his newborn child over the railing. I did enjoy your post, always enjoyable Jamie, keep up the good work.
I just wanted to add that I agree with Debbie and Jamie about Michael Jackson overshaddowing Farrah Fawcett, it is a shame that in respect they treat one more important than the other.