c4countdown

I'm really shocked by this! Despite some of the controversy of the last few years, he was a massive icon for anyone who had there youth (or second youth!) in the 80s and 90s...very very sad. RIP Jacko.

Yes indeed, Michael Jackson passed away today at the age of 50. He died of a cardiac arrest. Today is a sad day because both him and Farrah Fawcett were legends and they died on the same day -- today.

Ironically, he was scheduled to be in London in a few days.

Barry, what can I say except... You are absolutely right. That is very sad, and even though some of us may think his personality took a turn for the worse it is still a massive shock. I can't believe that happened, but at least he is in a better place now. Condolences to all his family and close friends.

Thrilling news. In a Bad way of course. No chance of Blood On The Dancefloor in London now, except possibly suicidal ticket-touts for his fifty gigs.

Jason Larsen wrote: I can't believe that happened, but at least he is in a better place now.

I don't see how it is a better place - luxury Los Angeles pad .v. hospital morgue - if it were me, Jason, I'd settle for the former.

Chris Corby wrote:

Jason Larsen wrote: I can't believe that happened, but at least he is in a better place now.

I don't see how it is a better place - luxury Los Angeles pad .v. hospital morgue - if it were me, Jason, I'd settle for the former.

I'd say the air conditioning is more reliable in the latter however.

Chris Corby wrote:

Jason Larsen wrote: I can't believe that happened, but at least he is in a better place now.

I don't see how it is a better place - luxury Los Angeles pad .v. hospital morgue - if it were me, Jason, I'd settle for the former.

I hope he doesn't touch the flying spaghetti monsters noodley appendage

I just can't believe it.

I hear he was toying with becoming an Islamic martyr. But the 16 year old virgins were just a bit too old and too female for him.

Wouldn't it be ironic if the autopsy finds the cause of death to be a lack of oxygeon (O2)

Peter Andre is NOW a better singer than Michael Jackson

marc meakin wrote:Peter Andre is NOW a better singer than Michael Jackson

Woah! Steady on there.

Favourite obituary so far

'He touched so many people'

Not sure who quoted it, possibly McCauley Culkin

marc meakin wrote:Not sure who quoted it, possibly McCauley Culkin

I'm pretty sure you quoted it. Maybe Macaulay Culkin said it.

It has been suggested that Michael Jackson had a heart attack practising his dance routine for the O2 concerts

So maybe you can blame it on the boogie

With news of this magnitude, I'm hoping they'll mention it on today's Countdown. Would be pretty disrespectful not to.

When Farrah Fawcett arrived in Heaven, God was such a big fan he decided to grant her one wish. She asked that all the children in the world could be safe. So God killed Michael Jackson.

Is that true?

I have had 20 or so text jokes on this already. First one arrived while death was still unconfirmed: are the jokes prepared in advance or was it just too easy with Jacko?

Jon Corby wrote:Is that true?

I'm kidding, Jon!

And yes David, it's just too easy.

How many of you remember him when he sang with his brothers (The Jackson 5) in the '70s?

Still, I find it very sad that he passed away on the verge of a comeback and ironically so, on his way to London to begin what we can now forget. It is a true shame, knowing that just maybe he might have turned things around and more people would have given him the respect that he deserved.

Something you may or may not know is that his closest friend is none other than Elizabeth Taylor. She had plastic surgery also, and we got to see what a nice lady she had become, especially in the last few years.

Unfortunately, even though many of us were wondering what Michael would be like when he reached that age, we'll never know. We lost him way too early.

According to their attorney, his brothers and Janet are doing fine. But, it is the only consolation we were given as of right now. Whoever their attorney is, they are doing the best job of trying to give them grief, and that's all I can say.

Jason Larsen wrote:According to their attorney, his brothers and Janet are doing fine.

What about LaToya? I'm keen to hear how she's handling it.

Her too. I forgot about her, Jim, I'm sorry.

In the meantime, I have just learned that there have been drugs in the car of the doctor who treated Michael Jackson and it has been towed.

More on that later.

What a legend. One in 6 billion guy. I thought it was a hoax, to die at 50 with tours and all coming up. Will be missed, have a lot of his songs on my iPod and still can't believe he's gone. R.I.P.

Jason Larsen wrote:Whoever their attorney is, they are doing the best job of trying to give them grief, and that's all I can say.

His name is Brian Oxman, and he has just been interviewed on Channel 4 News. I loved this quote by him "I had told every member of that family that if one day Michael Jackson woke up dead, I would not be silent with my criticism as to what was happening with those medications".

Later on in the programme someone pronounced his nickname as "the Paedo Pan of pop", but Krishnan never noticed.

I heard all his dates have been cancelled. Including 9yr old Tommy and 12yr old Paul who are said to be devastated.

Derek, I believe Mr. Oxman also said he didn't want the same thing that happened to Anna Nicole Smith to happen to Michael, and look what happened!

Interpreting the thread title as an instruction:

What's the difference between Michael Jackson and Alex Ferguson?

Andrew, you've said that before and I still don't know what you mean.

Andrew Hulme wrote:Interpreting the thread title as an instruction:

What's the difference between Michael Jackson and Alex Ferguson?

Ferguson will still be able to play Giggs?

Interesting.

Let's get a few of the obvious jokes out the way then:

Did you hear that Michael Jackons's not really dead? He's gone to Tampa with some kids.

I heard that Michael Jackson was in the children's ward when he died, and had a stroke.

Seriously though, the man was a legended, I think comparisons with Elvis Presley are absolutely justified, at his peak he was the most famous man in the world, possibly even surpassing US presidents, as of course they only get 8 years, and he was in the music business for more than 40 years. You don't have to like him or his music to admit that he was that big.

I apologise in advance...

There are unconfirmed reports that it happened when he tripped over a child's pram.
Police say it's too early to blame it on the buggy.

I did apologise in advance...

I heard that he wanted his remains to be made into plastic bags so he could still pose a danger to young children.

I heard that he was going to be melted down and made into Lego

So Children can safely play with him for a change

2 paramedics arrive at Michael Jackson's home and find him collapsed on the floor.

Paramedic 1: What shall we try first?

Paramedic 2: I dunno. The ferris wheel?

Today Michael Jackson's family have gone to pick out a coffin. When asked what colour they wanted Tito said it doesn't matter if it's black or white.

Looks like Michael Jackson will appear at the O2 after all

In the Bodyworks exhibition

He was looking a bit pale..

RIP mate

There was a paedofile who lived near me called Barry Evans. How ironic that you started this thread. Sort of.

I had dinner with Michael Jackson once and whilst we were having coffee he passed around the Under Eights.

Kirk Bevins wrote:

Andrew Hulme wrote:Interpreting the thread title as an instruction:

What's the difference between Michael Jackson and Alex Ferguson?

Ferguson will still be able to play Giggs?

When Ayrton Senna died, Ryan Giggs was used as well.

What's the difference between Ayrton Senna and Ryan Giggs?

Ryan Giggs can take corners.

He's obviously the man to wheel out when someone dies.

Martin!

All joking aside, I do think his death was a bit of a shame - a shame-own!

He was a genius.

Wow, so now the family want autopsy after autopsy because they really want to know what caused his death. I don't blame them.

I thought for sure only one would be done yesterday, but apparently not. This may take a little while to resolve.

There's a young black guy in the cast of The Full Monty who at one point in the show does a complex three-minute solo dance routine. In the car on the way to Friday night's rehearsal he told me that virtually every move of that routine owed its existence to Michael Jackson, and that it would be tough for him to get through it now because it would be a constant reminder that someone he looked up to as a living legend had died.

Tough times for Jackos girlfriend. First she gets left in Portugal, then her boyfriend dies.

"It's day 96 in the Big Brother house and Jade Goody welcomes a new housemate...."

I saw bits of the event last night from a distance on the pub telly. Please tell me I wasn't the only one that was seriously expecting him to rise up out of the coffin to a Vincent Price voiceover and start dancing...

***Edited was to wasn't, as that was what I meant to say!***

Ian Volante wrote:I saw bits of the event last night from a distance on the pub telly. Please tell me I was the only one that was seriously expecting him to rise up out of the coffin to a Vincent Price voiceover and start dancing...

No you weren't the only one

Is it a JW thing that you have a funeral and yet you still have the body and casket to do what you want with?

Background:"Countdown"in Australia was like our Top of the Pops.

So for all you MJ afficionados, here's some background of his impact/influence.

Follow up if you dare for further instalments on Roo-Tube