Remember this? The last really big Michael Jackson TV special that didn't feature the Neverland Ranch?
Taped over two nights -- including September 10, 2001 -- the "Michael Jackson 30th Anniversary Celebration" aired in November of that year and, as MediaPost noted, "averaged a stunning 25.73 million viewers, a 10.9 rating, 26 share in adults 18-49 and an 8.9/23 in 18-34 -- the best scores in the two-hour block for CBS since part two of the February 1993 miniseries 'Queen.' It's also the largest audience for a music special on any network (excluding awards shows) since ABC's 'Beatles Anthology' in November 1995."
Cable's TV One is airing it tonight (twice), part of a weekend of Jacko-retro.
SCHEDULE UPDATE: TV ONE TO AIR ALL STAR MICHAEL JACKSON: 30th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION PRODUCED BY DAVID GEST TONIGHT AT 8 AND 11 PM ET
-- Special is first of weekend full of programming devoted to the memory of the legendary superstar --
June 26, 2009, Silver Spring, MD -- TV One will pre-empt its regular schedule this weekend to air special programming in memory of Michael Jackson, beginning tonight at 8 and 11 PM (all times ET) with the two-hour Michael Jackson: 30th Anniversary Celebration, a star-studded salute to the legendary superstar that hasn’t been broadcast in nearly a decade. (The Michael Jackson Story, previously announced for 8 and 11 PM tonight will not air).
Tonight from 8-10 PM and 11 PM – 1 AM, TV One will air Michael Jackson: 30th Anniversary Celebration, the all-star concert salute to the King of Pop, produced by David Gest, which celebrated his 30 years as a solo performer. The special hasn’t been broadcast in nearly a decade and has the distinction of being the highest-rated musical special in television history. Taped at New York's Madison Square Garden on Sept. 7 and 10, 2001, this special was Michael Jackson's first live U.S. performance in more than a decade and the first reunion with his brothers in 17 years. The roster of performers and guests include Destiny's Child, Whitney Houston, Luther Vandross, Usher, Britney Spears, 'N Sync, 98 Degrees, James Ingram, Gloria Estefan, Mya, Chris Tucker and a host of others. TV One obtained the rights to the special from World Events LLC, a company owned by David Gest and Michael Jackson. The show is being distributed by Alfred Haber Distribution.
On Saturday, June 27, from noon- 5 PM and 7 PM – midnight, the network will air The Jacksons: An American Dream, the award-winning five-hour mini-series that takes a look at the origins of one of the most successful family groups in the history of the music industry. The Jacksons were an average working-class family from Gary, Indiana, but when their father discovered the kids have an extraordinary musical talent they form a band. Winning talent show after talent show, they soon hit it big when Motown called. From there they became the now famous Jackson 5. But along the way their success brought trouble and turmoil. The mini-series stars Angela Bassett, Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs, Holly Robinson-Peete, Terrence Howard, Billy Dee Williams and Jermaine Jackson II, and is produced by Suzanne DePasse, Jermaine Jackson and Stan Marguilies.
On Sunday, June 28 at 7 PM, immediately preceding TV One’s original episode of Unsung on Florence Ballard of the Supremes, TV One will air The Life & Times of Michael Jackson, a one-hour documentary produced by the TV Guide Channel.
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