HBO's 1992 bonanza: "Dangerous"
Does anyone remember 1995?
HBO does. MTV and ABC, too. This was the year that perhaps the single biggest event in HBO history disappeared in an afternoon; the year MTV was embarrassed with an on-line chat; the year ABC got flack for playing footsie with a super-star.
The one common denominator: Michael Jackson.
As you know by now, and have always known - MJ's relationship with TV has been symbiotic; he used it when he needed to, and TV was desperate to accommodate. But otherwise he avoided it assiduously. There was only one bona fide SAG TV credit over the years (a voice on "The Simpsons"), the Jackson 5 cartoon series, and the '70s variety series (both of the latter, short-lived.)
-Photos: Fans react
-Photos: Michael through the years
But beyond MTV - already an enormous amount of press on that, and no need to go over that ground again here - his relationship with HBO was hugely important too. HBO got rights to his Bucharest "Dangerous" concert in 1992 - a $20 million deal which to that point was one of the most important investments the pay network had ever made.
Here's what the press release said upon announcing it:
"HBO's concert telecast will mark the culmination of the highly successful European leg of the "Dangerous Tour," which began on June 27 in Munich, Germany, where an SRO crowd of more than 70,000 were delighted as Jackson ended the show by donning a Rocketeer-styled jetpack and flying out of the stadium.
"Fan anticipation began running high when Jackson announced his "Dangerous Tour" would offer the world "the most state-of-the-art performance it has ever seen." Justifying that claim, Jackson's "Dangerous Tour" set and equipment weighed in at more than 1,000 tons, including two tons of costumes for the dynamic show.
" Federal Express, the international overnight shipping firm, had to use two Series-200 747 freight jets to transport the massive staging from Los Angeles to Germany, where it was then transported on 65 big-rig tractor trailers. Jackson's enormous load marked the largest "single vendor" shipment in the 20-year history of Federal Express.
"Following the opening night performance, Sony Music, the company Jackson records for, hosted a fantastic party for him. Taking over a huge park near the Olympiastadion, where Jackson performed, Sony created a country fair, complete with rides (carousels and dodge-'em
cars) and 15 internationally flavored food kiosks for more than 2,000 VIPs."
In 1995, Jackson and HBO were to take their next step together.
Only problem: His new album, "HIStory" was languishing.
1995 was an amazing year in the life of HBO, and in the amazing life of Michael Jackson. For all the details, here's a handy timeline:
May: Jackson participates in the first on-line live chat in the history of television, or so claimed MTV, whose audience could post questions for Jackson through America Online, Prodigy or other web services, such as they were. Did not go well at all: 'Is your new album doing as well as expected?' ' someone typed in. Twenty three minutes later came the answer: "Yes, it is." Another question: Anything to rumors of a split with Lisa Marie. Many many more minutes passed: "Never believe the tabloid garbage,'' he said. ''Don't waste your time or money." And that was pretty much it. Only a handful of questions got asked, and answered.
July: HBO has announced the big followup bookend concert to the one that aired from Bucharest in 1992 - to that point one of the gaudiest and most expensive events to have aired on HBO. But already things seemed weird. Per the Hollywood Reporter, HBO chief Michael Fuchs "has allegedly suggested using "Forrest Gump"-style animation to create the illusion that the concert's audience includes several of the late titans of pop, such as Elvis Presley and John Lennon, rocking along with Jackson."
July 26: Jackson and Mayor Rudolph Giuliani say the concert will be held Dec. 10 at a still un-decided location. "I love New York," he says at presser. But he will not necessarily love the venue - he wants something big. But...Chris Albrecht, HBO's president for original programming, said the concert will have a "more intimate" feel than the Bucharest one.
July 26: ABC gets a "deal" for puffball docutainment special "Michael Jackson Changes HIStory," which some think was a Jacko quid pro quo to get him to sit down with Diane Sawyer earlier in the year. ABC acknowledges it gave Jackson's record label, Epic, 10 free commercial spots - per one press report - "in exchange for an uncertain number of Jackson shows such as the new one."
Dec. 7: He collapses on-stage at the Beacon on 74th while rehearsing for Dec. 10 HBO concert, just before 5 p.m. Rushed to Beth Israel Medical Center. In stable condition, but blood pressure low - 70 over 40. Per the Times account: "Linda Wolff, the owner of Joe's Boutique, a store next to the theater, said she had picked up the sounds of Mr. Jackson's rehearsals all week through the walls. Just before his collapse yesterday, she said, "He was doing his song 'Black or White,' and then it just stopped."
Some speculation of med overdose in the press: He'd been using painkillers after his head was burned in the 84 Pepsi fiasco.
Dec. 7: later that day: HBO, which hopes special will be seen by 250 million worldwide, said status uncertain. Show was to have been taped on the 8th, then the rest on Saturday, for the Dec. 10 telecast on Sunday. HBO executives gulp visibly.
Dec. 8: Some speculation that he had cardiac arrhythmia; gastroenteritis, an inflammation of the stomach and intestines, dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, and possible kidney and liver problems. "Mr. Jackson will require several days of critical-care monitoring and treatment," doctors said in a statement.
Dec. 8: HBO concert officially "post-poned" and year and half marketing effort by Sony to get "HIStory" off the mat is history. Show would have included six piece band, 40-piece orchestra; 32 dancers, but because of bigger stage seating capacity is reduced; theater now only holds 1700; rumors Jackson is unhappy with tiny venue. HBO schedules "The Specialist," starring Sylvester Stallone and Sharon Stone, for that Sunday night.
Dec. 8: And yes, first big whiff of controversy, when Daily News gossip columnist A.J. Benza reports the following: "Michael's sexy sister phoned us from Germany with this little nugget of sisterly charity: "I know all of Michael's little moves and his little schemes that he pulls when he thinks he need attention. . . . It's a publicity move." With a sister like this, who needs supermarket tabloids?"That's why he flew his own doctor in, so he would give the reports out and they [the media] wouldn't get it from other doctors," added La Toya, who said she spoke to their mom. Mrs. Jackson, La Toya related, said doctors told her "there was no reason for [Mrs. Jackson] to come. He's fine."
Dec. 9: Doctors refute LaToya: Dr. William Alleyne of Beth Israel North Hospital told a news conference, "Absolutely. . . . We were fortunate that we were able with the assistance of the EMS team and the emergency team at Beth Israel to rapidly replace his fluids and restore an adequate blood pressure."
Dec. 9: Later that day, the official diagnosis, per AP: Michael Jackson is suffering from a viral infection and had been ill for a week or more before he collapsed during a rehearsal this week, a doctor said Friday.Dr. William Alleyne said diarrhea from the infection led to severe dehydration, which in turn dangerously quickened Jackson's heartbeat while lowering his blood pressure, causing his collapse. No evidence of drug use. He could - doctors add - have died.
Dec. 12: He's cleared to leave the hospital.
Dec. 13: He's out. Here's the AP wrap:
"Blowing a kiss to excited fans and flashing a victory sign, Michael Jackson left a hospital Tuesday under doctor's orders to get more bed rest after treatment for a life-threatening illness.
A white van whisked Jackson away, and his publicist wouldn't say where the singer was headed to continue his recuperation.
"Jackson, wearing rouge and foundation, a black fedora and long black coat, walked out of the hospital on his own. He didn't speak to reporters or 50 screaming fans waiting for him.
"'Michael, we love you! We love you!' several women cried as they ran after the van."
-Photos: Fans react
-Photos: Michael through the years