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Jackson recovering, but his career is ailing

Salon.com Arts & Entertainment | Jackson recovering, leaves hospital: "Michael Jackson was recovering from flu symptoms and was in good spirits after a short hospital stay that prompted another delay in his child molestation trial, a doctor said."

Arguably one of the most bizarre sentences in recent memory... I am at a loss on the whole MJ issue. I had wanted to side with the angels and offer benefit of the doubt because of his extraordinary weirdness; but when the Crown Prince of "celebrity" kooks, Corey Feldman, rolls on you, the writing is on the wall (or "Off the Wall" as the case may be).

And then there's the British Geraldo Rivera, Martin Bashir. Gingerly stepping across an ominous slate grey tableau in a curiously ill-matched ensemble, Bashir promises startling revelations into Michael's secret world. The second of his exposes on the Pop icon, Secret World promises to focus almost exclusively on the molesation allegations that became a hot button issue of his first program. Bashir obviously didn't receive his previously unprecedented access to MJ this time, so we can expect more sensational interviews with former friends, employees and perhaps even other alleged victims.

None of this is any good, for Mike, but what's worse is the rising star of his heir apparent Usher. Usher's performance at the Grammy's nailed shut the coffin of Jackson's heretofore unchallenged mystique as a performer. Usher outsang, outdanced and outsexed Michael to the extent that this generation has found it's new Idol. There isn't another male artist right now who can match Usher's charisma, dancing and vocal ability. Justin Timberlake is the closest, but despite his whiteness, Usher is killing him where it counts... selling records.

Seeing Usher manage the fame, the demands of recording, performing and dating hot chicks makes Mike's failure in the latter seem extra creepy. And Usher kept his own nose! Jackson's degeneration into self parody is pitiable, but his gradual retreat from anything approaching a human appearance has made it all the easier to write him off as a creature whose emotions and motivations are unknowable.

I feel badly for Jackson. This is a no win for him. But I have to wonder about the parents of the alleged victims. Fame is not a child care credential. As a parent, I know my child has nothing to fear from Jackson because my kids would NEVER be alone with him. PERIOD. The current accuser encountered the star more than ten years after his headline grabbing settlement. That should have been a clue and a half for any parent. What were they thinking?

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