A Report From the Front
Posted at 5:20 AM on July 7, 2009
by Dale Connelly
(29 Comments)
Here's a report from former Morning Show chief correspondent, now freelance journalist, prickly commentator and part-time ambulance chaser, Bud Buck:
Dateline: Los AngelesRest in peace, Michael Jackson.
Peace to you as well, Jackson media blitz complainers.
My deepest sympathies.With today's memorial service, the first wave of madness is almost over, but the next waves are just beginning. We have the disposition of the estate and the custody of the children to get through. Then there's the future of Neverland - will it be a gaudy theme park or a self-important museum? And finally, once the King of Pop is laid to rest in his gold-plated casket, the process will begin to find a permanent resting place for all the money that is yet to be made from his image and his legacy.
We are witnessing the birth of an industry - Legendary Michael Inc.
The same people who brought you the Princess Diana Collector Plate Series and the Engraved Reversible "Aloha from Hawaii" Elvis Earrings are already at work on future keepsakes. And of course the coverage will continue, because what else is going on in media right now that has this kind of growth potential?
When a celebrated performer dies too young in a culture that has already turned mysterious death into an obsession through countless novels and crime drama TV shows, you can be sure the investigations, new revelations and conspiracy theories will multiply like rabbits under the deck. I've already contracted to do a 6 part series of prime time reports along with a website and a Twitter feed under the working title "Michael - What Happened?" The premise? I have no idea at the moment, though I'm looking into anonymous tips that Dick Cheney can't account for his whereabouts during the crucial time frame. I promise you, it will be Can't-Look-Away entertainment.
And for those of you who claim you will look away, I say this: "I pity you."
The calculations have already been done, and your lack of interest in the Event of the Century identifies you as someone whose attention has dropped in value to approximately the level of one share of Chrysler stock. Sorry. The potential audience for this is huge and in the heart of the prime demographic. In a fragmented media landscape, something this big cannot be ignored. As much as you may consider it invasive and overdone, just like the Zebra Mussel and the Emerald Ash Borer, it is not going away.
So my advice is to learn to live with the death of the King of Pop.
It has been added as a permanent feature of the cultural landscape, not to mention its already proven track record as an effective economic stimulus plan and its growing status as a long-term career opportunity for people like me.Thank you Michael, for everything you have given, and will continue to give.
This is Bud Buck!
Wow. It seems like Bud has gone completely overboard!
Will you watch any of the coverage today. If not, how will you avoid it?
Comments (29)
good morning, All! the goats made me take the TV out of their barn when they tired of Anna Nicole hoopla, so i know they won't follow the King of Pop endless speculations either. we'll be busy watering the gardens - it is so dry up here - and trimming hooves today, so we won't have to worry about overexposure to funeral/memorial programs on tv. and tonight we'll Netflix.
although i'd watch a bio on Karl Mauldin....
thanks for the "Old Blevins" Dale and MIke!
Thanks for the comment, Barb.
What's inovlved in hoof trimming? It sounds like something a little more involved than what we do with our little fingernail clippers.
Michael Jackson died?
I won't be watching either, I'm off to the library needing more books rather desperately.
I somewhat understand the big mourning over MJ (highly talented, greatly tragic)but am pondering the longlastingness of it. It seems like when somebody dies about all you can say is the standard who, what when, where, why, add a bio too. It's the endless fill with celbrity comments and speculation that bugs me. But then there ARE a LOT of celebrities and summer being a slow news period, maybe it makes some sense, maybe could be worse!
I am a huge Jackson 5 fan and have loved watching old footage of Michael Jackson as the incredible child prodigy that he was on YouTube long before now. I also enjoyed a lot of the music from his solo career. That said, I will be working throughout the day, after which, I'll go home to my children who will all have their various requirements. I will run my 5 or 6 miles, as I do each day. There's not a lot of time to observe media coverage in my life. Keeping busy is a sure way to stay ignorant of pop culture. ;-)
Yes, Laurel...word of Michael Jackson's death hasn't reached the wilds of NC yet eh?
The blog is so quiet this morning, I'm thinking everyone must be in LA gathered outside the gates having won the coveted ticket or hoping to score on one or two.
Even Neal Conant on Talk of the Nation admitted that he too will be including some talk about it today.
Barb, waiting with baited breath for your description of goat hoof trimming (smile).
BTW, I've heard of a farrier who will trim them for a mere $25 each (goat).
I shall spend the day with the living - none of it watching TV (unless you count the 1/2 hour Daughter gets in the evening - but I doubt PBS Kids will be interrupted today with MJ coverage, so I think my recording for her later viewing is safe).
Happy Tuesday all!
Upon further reflection, I guess an argument could be made for Curious George, Elmo and their PBS brethren pausing to mourn the passing of the King of Pop. After all they are all highly marketed entertainers who haven't been allowed to grow up...
Sorry, Dale, Mike, and all of RH.
I shut off the radio feed this morning for a live TV feed from London. An art project is putting 2400 people (for an hour each) on a statue base that's unused in Trafalger Square.
See http://www.oneandother.co.uk/
I got wrapped up in the drama of the scene. The woman on the plinth just spotted someone in the crowd whom she hadn't seen for 25 years.
How about a live TV feed from the RH studio?
I also heard Neal Conant say that even MPR will be covering Micheal Jackson today. I don't think I will be following much or any of the coverage.
I'll be at home alone in Clarks Grove wirh all the projects that I have been putting off waiting for my attention. Perhaps as a tribute to Michael I could moon walk as go about doing my chores or I could wear just one glove as I work in the garden.
I will try to find some occaision to meet up with fellow Heartlander, Mike. I missed the water ski show that he participated in over the 4th of July week end, but I have seen stories about it in the local paper. I am amazed at the pyramid formations that are part of the performances done by the Albert Lea water skiers.
When the digital TV revolution came, we had our own rebellion of sorts and just removed the darned thing. It sure reduced the clutter in the living room (and from our brains!). So far, it's working to get our news online and from RH...what more do we need??
...although I'm not sure how we'll know from where to order our MJ collector's plate....
Perhaps, as Jim suggests, I'll go about my gardening today with one glove...moon walking while I mow may not be wise.
good observation, Anna, about Curious George et al. and KOP.
Cynthia, i knew you'd smile as i describe hoof trimming (she knows this is my LEAST favorite duty for the goats).
Dale, it's a lot like trimming the finger and toenails of your infant only the baby weighs 140 pounds and is a whole lot stronger. takes quite a bit of hand strength and a sharp trimmer (which means, at times, this involves blood - mine, usually :-)
a good description can be found at
http://minnesotagoats.org/pdf/MDGA-Hoof%20Trimming.pdf
OMG - $25/goat! Cynthia, maybe we should go into business??
i knew i'd screw up the URL. try again
Minnesota Dairy Goat Association Website
Heartland Hoof Trimmers has a real nice ring to it. After Barb and Cynthia are well established it would make a great band name. Who needs Michael JAckson when the Hoof Trimmers are keeping the beat?
dale thanks for the continuing sagas of bud buck, senator loomis beechly dr larry kyle, bubby and the rest of the old morning show gang. the comfort of having these old familiars along with you and the great tunes makes life go a little more smoothly and pleasantly. as for the news of the day we will take it for what its worth and continue on.
Not having a TV enables great ease at avoiding "news" of any kind. Especially this kind.
I'm back from London and once again with RH. Thanks for your patience. The photographer who replaced the woman who'd been drawing people in the crowd, is not the entertainer she was.
Still, the sights made me want to be in London again.
Maybe I'll settle for being in Minneapolis later today.
Being the anti-hype (and, come to think of it, anti-hip) person that I am, I'll be giving the media circus a miss. Not having television helps.
Also an option for hoof trimmers would be goat manicurists or (for those that are more erudite) hoof abbreviationalists.
Just learned that an animal with hooves is an 'ungulate.' Not a great marketing word but could be made a bit more palatable to the ear with 'ungulate parlor' or 'ungulate salon.' Just have to be careful of businesses like Darlene's Beauty Barn up in Duluth. I grew up in Duluth and I could never understand why, if you were looking for beautification, you'd go to a beauty 'barn.' But that's just me wondering questions I shouldn't be wondering again...
At first sight, I thought this was how this sentence from Bud Buck's report read:
"The potential audience for this is huge and in the heart of the CRIME demographic." I was beginning to give Bud some credit, but then I re-read the sentence.
I am pretty sure I'll be very, very busy at work today - no TV, et al, for me.
Can anybody tell me why I get this lately when trying to post something?
Movable Type
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Good Morning RH,
Great to hear from Serious Bud Buck! I'm entertaining the notion of painting the bathroom today and may catch some of the coverage, but will have Jasper on most of the time. I credit Jackson 5's, I Want You Back, for influencing my dancing style. Too bad I don't have the equipment to send in a clip; it's beyond description. Lora is even better though - she actually can moondance.That would impress me even if she weren't my daughter!
Along with the contributors Tim mentions, I most miss hearing from Cap'n Billy and the boys of the Muskellunge. Ain't that right boys?
Ken, thanks for the link to the Plinth project. Jim, good luck with the moon walking, watch out for the tomatoes though.
As to MJ, I'll avoid most of the hoopla today. Mostly I just wonder how talent gets usurped by weirdness.
I agree with Joel about "news" in general. And thoughlike Jeanne, we're still (by choice) no longer connected to the TV world, we'll no doubt hear about MJ on MPR and internet...
I'm with Tim, too, being glad we still hear from the likes of Bud Buck, Cpn. Billy... Dale, there was a spot you used to do about Future Historians or something like that -- I would try to describe it to others, unsuccessfully. They might be interested in today's blog!
I mean MOONWALK - you all know know that's what I meant, damn it!
Heartland Hoof Trimmers ...I LIKE it! Thanks, Beth-Ann!!!!
Alas...off to work. the day is just my kinda day...sunny, breezy and coolish. Ah,the "cave" in duluth awaits...have a good one, y'all!
well, i AM going to watch some today---I been playing my old cassette of Thriller a lot lately---and i still know every word and nuance.
look past the weird, i say, and remember the amazing singer and dancer and songwriter...and his tremendous body of work.
I grew up with MJ, and always liked his music--and felt sorry for the weirdnesses he developed.
Oooh, thanks Dale for the Uncle Earl (heard in rebroadcast). There really is NOTHING else like square dance music called in Chinese, and I never was able to catch who that was before.
Kay, you said it well -- and it's sad when you think about his whole life.
Another comment from crabby ole "Larry."
But this time a compliment. Dale's efforts to keep the characters of the morning show alive in print are both brave and indeed entertaining. HOWEVER. Unless Tom Keith is on the outs with MPR or Vice Versa (one of which certainly seems to be the case) I don't see why from time to time Dale and Tom couldn't do something on the phone. Like a Spin Williams. That character was usually on the phone from the "endless meeting" anyway. Tom wouldn't even have to leave his "retirement" home and since Dale's comedy writing is still top notch, this just seems very doable. The complete loss of Tom's talents, at least for Radio Heartland, is a mystery. His "retirement" won't preclude a few PHC appearances this coming season I bet. In fact I'd bet real money on that...
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