I have to agree with mrsaugie and happy2bme.

He will be deeply missed & I think the world has truly lost someone special

I too was very sad to hear him pass....like him or dont like him ( personally or professionally ) there is no denying that he had talent, alot of it ...so yeah you might think that this is all a little overboard for the "King of Pop" but to his true fans it is not. He was an icon and will go down in history as such.

RIP Michael.

My take on this, for what it is worth, is that there are a whole bunch of factors involved:

1. You can't deny the impact that MJ has had on the music industry and on popular culture. He IS one of the most important artists of our age. His passing DESERVES recognition, and his accomplishments DESERVE celebration.

2. He died before his time under suspicious circumstances. The news coverage is similar to that given to Anna Nicole Smith and Elvis -- both who died too young under suspicious circumstances. And we STILL talk about Janis Joplin and Jim Morrison and Jimi Hendrix to this day, and neither had the influence that MJ had. They just died under tragic circumstances far too young.

3. He was found NOT GUILTY of any crime, and to draw conclusions from the media reports about his guilt or innocence is IMHO just WRONG. We didn't sit for 3 weeks, every day, in the trial itself. We don't know the truth. We know the rumors and the accusations and the innuendos and the selected facts that the media has reported, and those are two very different things. And those who sat in the courtroom day after day CLEARLY said that there wasn't ANY credible evidence (See Eddie Greenspan, Globe and Mail July 3rd). The media will portray things the way they want to, and I personally won't draw any conclusions without knowing the facts. And let he without sin cast the first stone...

4. He WAS guilty of being "super weird", and that in itself makes for media fodder. And they look for ratings. You can't make a dead celebrity any deader, so to pump up the interest for their 24/7 coverage, they turn to speculation, conjecture, and non-news items. I think this is a function of ANY 24/7 news channel and you see it ALL the time. I choose not to watch because I think 90% of the "news" they broadcast is NOT news at all.

All I can say is that if you don't like the coverage, turn off the TV! I won't watch the memorial service because I think it is more about publicity for the family and for the stars set to perform than it is for the remembrance of MJ.

Kira

Kira - Couldnt have said it better myself :D

I think it's all a bit too much.

I am sad to hearwhen anyone passes.But,why are some people so upset because people are mourning MJ. He was an amazing singer &dancer. And some people loved him.So,get over it. That's just how it is.Why do you care so much that this is being done for him?

There seems to be a morbid curiosity about the death of celebrities. This man was a talented entertainer but strange in his personal life. I say it is time to put him to rest and concentrate on more important matters.

I am not watching the memorial today. Mostly because that's just not for me. However I will say that his music touched my life, like many others music. His music did guide me through some very difficult times. Music has been an important part of human life since it the first person created music. Different people where influenced by different music. I think every person has at least one song that was/is important to them and has helped them. I know I have several, and several were MJs.

Regardless of what anyone thought of him people are going to remember him and memorialize him how they see fit. Just like every other person who's died, famous or not. I memorialize and honor people in my life differently than most people. I refuse to go to funerals after the two I went to when I was a teenager, they just aren't for me and a lot of people judge that.

I guess what I am trying to say is people are going to do things their own way, when it comes to anybodies death.People are going to mourn and they should, mourning the death of anyone who has affected your life is important in the healing process. The simplest way to not watch all the coverage is to turn of the TV, or change the channel.

kiramira , i couldn't have said it better. Thank you!

i am not saying that he did not have an effect on our culture here and else where and that he won't be missed. but i feel that there are other things in the world that needs the same amount of coverage. 2 weeks is over kill.

I see plenty of other news stories being covered, and my news comes from L.A. There is overkill in a lot of news stories.

at the moment I am visiting family stateside... its LIVE on at least 15 channels

Yes right now the memorial is on, almost every channel. Because honestly its popular and LOTS of people want to watch it.But as far as actual news coverage (during news casts), I am actually seeing equal coverage of other stories.

It is ridiculous. Giving that much attention and idolism to any person other than GOD is just reiiculous. Would that many attend the funeral if it were Jesus? I am not a religious fanatic, but come on, let's get real.