I've never been a real fan of Jackson's, but after watching the live 2 1/2 -hour televised memorial service to him, I must congratulate those around him who produced it.
As a former radio and television producer, I was amazed at the high quality of its production. When I think of how little time they had to pull it together, and all the frantic fan and media mayhem in the few days preceding it, I marveled at its amazing presentation.
Jon Dosa-Palm Springs CA
Tuesday's public memorial for Michael Jackson drew a big, but not a record, U.S. television audience: 31.1 million viewers on 19 networks, according to Nielsen. In January, President Obama's inauguration drew 38 million.
But what happened behind the scenes in the days leading up to the event? Ken Ehrlich, the storied Grammy Awards producer, who worked with choreographer Kenny Ortega to produce the event, shared behind-the-scenes details Wednesday.
Paris Jackson's tearful tribute to her father was unplanned. “My impression was that the brothers and sisters, and definitely not the parents, would talk," Ehrlich says. “Nobody knew she would speak up."
The Jacksons specifically requested the Rev. Al Sharpton, Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas) and the children of Martin Luther King Jr. A few on Ehrlich's wish list were unavailable: Diana Ross, Beyonce, the Black Eyed Peas and Paul McCartney.
The program was rushed into place, with one day of rehearsal. Mariah Carey, who apologized Wednesday for her shaky rendition of “I'll Be There," was the only one who didn't rehearse. Ehrlich e-mailed her, calling her concerns “silly nonsense" and noting that by being human and acknowledging the casket, she created a comfort level for acts that followed.
Ehrlich learned Saturday that the casket would be brought to the Staples Center. He notified memorial participants so they wouldn't be surprised. “I was a little taken aback initially, but the family was absolutely right. It meant so much to the artists and the fans."
Some elements fell into place very late. We Had Him, Maya Angelou's poem (requested by Katherine Jackson), didn't reach Queen Latifah until an hour before the memorial, and Angelou insisted they go over the reading before Latifah hit the podium.
John Mayer was going to play Smile, until Ehrlich learned Jermaine Jackson wanted to sing it. Mayer was happy to switch to Human Nature, the song he was noodling in the studio the day Jackson died.
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