The Continuing Fantasy Of MJ’s Future In Vegas
Dispatches from Las Vegas
by Richard Abowitz via Los Angeles Times
Nothing, it seems, will stop the rumors of Michael Jackson's Vegas comeback, not even death.
I spent years on this blog denying that Jackson was capable of mounting a successful Vegas show. I take no pleasure that his premature demise proved me correct. Even in the twisted world of Jackson, it is heartbreaking to read about the real people affected by any death.
Television reporter Alicia Jacobs tweeted about one of the most touching moments in the blanket coverage of all things Jackson when she found herself near Paris Jackson, the late entertainer's daughter, at the AMP hair salon at Palms. As they talked, Paris told Jacobs that she had "been enjoying hanging out @ Palms pool..then rain started. Coolest thing she said is, when it rained, she danced in the rain & loved it!"
After the haircut, Jacobs reported, workers had to gather up all the little girl's cut hair. Jacobs just found that odd. But if you think about what a tabloid might pay for that hair so it could run DNA tests ... .
The strangest thing to me is that the death of Jackson has done nothing to cool speculation that Vegas should create some sort of shrine or tourist destination to the pop singer who ruled the '80s. Why does anyone think this would be successful? I have heard plans to move parts of Neverland Ranch here, other plans for a Jackson-themed show and even a casino, all since the singer's death.
Speculation reached a peak yesterday when Norm Clarke in the Review-Journal wondered if casinos are lining up to make the Jackson family offers. I don't think so. But a lot of others disagree. Most of them are the people like Jack Wishna and stray family retainers who have been talking for years about Jackson projects in Vegas, none of which ever happened. Indeed the headline of Clarke's column took the next step beyond Jackson's legacy drawing crowds and selling tickets in Vegas to in some way arguing that Jackson's popularity may even save Vegas from its current economic doom. The headline: "Can Jackson lift LV to prosperity?"
I would like to answer that clearly: no. There is a tribute in Jackson's honor going on at the Palms for charity and that ought to exhaust the possible future for Jackson memorabilia and music in Vegas. Certainly, Jackson's huge celebrity and untimely demise have been a top story for weeks and the result has been a huge boost in sales of his music. But mourning a celebrity of the caliber of Jackson was going to be outsized no matter his death. That does not suggest a long-term future for impersonators, tribute shows or memorials.
Jackson's musical accomplishments are legendary. And his former collaborators, from Quincy Jones to the more recent ones behind the O2 shows, are fully capable of creating a musical and visual tribute to the performer without Jackson. But who would want to see it? Jackson's unique and individual talent means there will be a gigantic hole at the center that no tribute can fill. And there are aspects of Jackson's life that remain very disturbing. Expect plenty more uncomfortable details to be revealed in tell-all books in the months ahead. Those will sell. Therefore it will be some time before Jackson's work can be taken independently from his controversial life.
Concert promoter AEG, which has a huge presence in Vegas, invested heavily in Jackson's planned comeback in London, and perhaps it is hard to face how little money can be retrieved from unused costumes, unperformed arrangements and rehearsal footage. Jackson was a perfectionist and this work-in-progress material would neither be a fitting nor successful tribute to his legacy.The truth is that the era of Michael Jackson was mostly over decades before the singer died. Yes, he sold out a string of comeback shows in England. But those shows were crucially featuring a living Michael Jackson and perhaps unrealistic hopes by fans of what he was still capable of putting on stage. Now those hopes are fully dashed. There is no stage he will be on. There is no new product that will be created that will interest his old fans like "Thriller." At best, think of Jimi Hendrix's posthumous releases. Or even think of sales on Chinese Democracy when that disc was finally finished. Time passes for everyone no matter how much you dream of being Peter Pan.
Of course, Jackson's videos and singles will be appreciated by old fans and new generations of fans for years to come. But for Vegas in 2009, I am convinced that, far from saving the town, any investment in Jackson's legacy will be another huge money-loser for whatever casino takes that risk. A year from now the media will have moved on to other stories. But I suspect that, a year from now, I will also still be writing blog entries like this one squelching the latest rumors about a Jackson show on its way to Vegas.
I could be wrong, of course. Las Vegas is a town that has a hard time letting go of a fantasy until someone loses a lot of money attempting to make it a reality. But should someone try this one, I am sure that would be the case with any attempt to turn a profit from the memory of Michael Jackson.
Photo: Michael Jackson holds the Millennium Award at a ceremony in May 2000 in Monaco. Credit: Lionel Cironneau / Associated Press
Link / Thanks Sheril Snider!