The memorial service at the Staples Center in Los Angeles included a rendition of Jackson's "Gone Too Soon" performed by the recording artist Usher.
(Wally Skalij/ Associated Press/ Pool)
COMMENTARY
Live or via screen, millions bid idol adieu
Jackson tribute lovingly recalls only his virtues
The memorial service at the Staples Center in Los Angeles included a rendition of Jackson's "Gone Too Soon" performed by the recording artist Usher.
(Wally Skalij/ Associated Press/ Pool)
Yesterday’s Michael Jackson memorial in Los Angeles was like a royal funeral, with Jackson’s gold casket looming before his grieving family and several of his brothers wearing a single sequined glove in homage. The self-titled King of Pop was given the kind of dignified farewell - and wall-to-wall media coverage - usually reserved for nobility.
There was plenty of personal tribute during the two-hours-plus event, with Smokey Robinson, Berry Gordy, and others sharing intimate memories with a
And there were many nods to Jackson’s musical influence, with clips and photos of Jackson in concert intermingled with onstage performances by Mariah Carey, Stevie Wonder, Usher, and Jennifer Hudson, who roused with an anthemic version of Jackson’s “Will You Be There.’’ Gordy, in his affectionate musings, acknowledged Jackson’s “sad times and maybe some questionable decisions,’’ but he was unequivocal about Jackson’s brilliance: “ ‘The King of Pop’ is not enough for him. I think he is simply the greatest entertainer that ever lived.’’
But the carefully choreographed event also served as massive image rehab, an effort to attach a human personality to the man-child of tabloid lore, the adult who faced child-molestation charges, the overanalyzed figure about whom Fox News opined yesterday, “Did Michael marry Lisa Marie or did he marry the ghost of Elvis?’’
In the day’s most potent moment, the Rev. Al Sharpton directly addressed Jackson’s three children from the stage: “Wasn’t nothing strange about your daddy,’’ he said to them, as they sat in the front row. “It was strange what your daddy had to deal with.’’ The comment brought on a standing ovation.
A tearful Marlon Jackson echoed Sharpton’s sentiment: “Maybe now, Michael, they will leave you alone,’’ he said.
In her passionate speech, US Representative Sheila Jackson Lee, a Texas Democrat, made the most explicit reference to Jackson’s legal troubles, and to those like her fellow member of Congress Peter King, who this week condemned Jackson as a “child molester.’’ “We understand the Constitution,’’ Jackson Lee said, “and we understand laws, and we know that people are innocent until proven otherwise. That is what the Constitution stands for.’’
Perhaps for the first time without qualifying statements, fans were given a sustained glimpse of Michael Jackson the father, Michael Jackson the sometimes average guy who ate Kentucky Fried Chicken with Magic Johnson, and Michael Jackson the contemporary friend, about whom fellow child-star Brooke Shields said, “He loved to be teased.’’ She also remembered Jackson’s unsuccessful efforts to teach her the moonwalk. “He was caring and funny, honest, pure, nonjaded, and a lover of life,’’ she said.
Since Jackson’s death at age 50 on June 25, the public and the press have been wrestling with how - and how much - to mourn him. Jackson splits opinion even in death. But there was no ambiguity in the air at yesterday’s memorial, which found the arena audience unusually quiet and respectful except for an occasional shout of “We miss you, Michael’’ and “Long live the king.’’
The event was the Jackson family’s moment to push the pause button on all the controversy, to take control of the story. In the hours leading up to the memorial, the media madness was typically insane, from CNN helicopters following the hearse with Jackson’s casket glowing in the back, to BET correspondents urging us to postpone judgment of Jackson as “there are no perfect heroes.’’ The networks brought on their biggest names, with CBS mobilizing Katie Couric and ABC delivering Charles Gibson with Martin Bashir, maker of the 2003 documentary in which Jackson talked about sharing a bed with boys.
And, of course, in the hours, and days, and decades hence, debate will continue about the life of the man in the gold casket and his legacy. But yesterday, Jackson’s family and friends had the chance to remind us why we might care in the first place.
Matthew Gilbert can be reached at gilbert@globe.com. For more on TV, visit www.boston.com/ae/tv/blog/. 
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