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PiiiilffiiiiiiiiiiilifiiiiiiiiiillViiPPli 2D ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT/®Je CjKlottt Tuesday, November 25, 2003 Can Jackson handle latest blow? By Nekesa Mumbi Moody THE ASSOCIATEEr PRESS NEW YORK - In the 10 years since Michael Jackson first stood accused of child molestation, the superstar has man- Michael aged to eke- out two plat- i n u m albums, a hand ful of hits and some highly rated television specials. Yet his fan base has shrunk, and he’s been ridiculed and reviled by the general pubUc for his bizarre appearance and behavior. His new single, "One More Chance,” didn’t even register on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart. Now his imminent arrest on another molestation alle gation could be the final nail in the coffin of his career. “I think Michael Jackson’s career is not over — it’s still ongoing _but it’s already been severely diminished,” said Andy Pemberton, editor in chief of Blender magazine. “He appears from the out side a very disturbed indi vidual.” “He has a huge fan base, especially in New York, and I’m very very curious to see what the audience is going to say,” said Jeff Z., program director of New York City’s WKTU. But “if the allega tions are proven, we would probably take off all of Michael Jackson’s songs.” Sean Ross, vice president of music and programming for Edison Media Research, says if Jackson is to recover, "he would have to make a great record, plus he would have to be at a label he was not at odds with, plus, it would probably take some restoring of his personal rep utation.” On TViesday, the same day Jackson’s "Number Ones” greatest hits album came out, authorities in Santa Barbara County searched his Neverland ranch in con nection with molestation allegations by a single underage accuser. On Wednesday, they announced an arrest warrant had been issued. It comes a little over a decade after Jackson was forever tainted by allega tions that he molested a 13- year-old boy. Jackson denied the accusations, and charges were never filed, but he reached a reported multimil- lion-dollar settlement with the child. Yet in truth, his career had already begun to slide by then. His eccentric behavior in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s _ from sleeping in a hyper baric chamber to wanting to buy the Elephant Man’s bones _ had already caused fans from his "Thriller” hey day to abandon ship. Along with his continued plastic surgery and his skin tone change from dark to light (due to vitiligo, he says), he was gamering. more atten tion for his freakish persona than his music. In 1995, he made a come back attempt with the dou ble-disc set "History.” It sold more than two million copies, yet garnered only one major hit, "You Are Not Alone,” and was considered a commercial disappointment. In addition, his quickie mar riage to Lisa Marie Presley was perceived as a public relations ploy, and his con tinued fidendships with chil dren turned many fans away. Another quickie mar riage to his nurse, Deborah Rowe, who bore him two of his three children before they divorced, also befuddled many. Since then, Jackson has made so many missteps it’s hard to keep count. Just over the past 18 months, he’s dravm criticism for dangling his baby over a balcony (he apologized), keeping his chil dren masked when they travel outdoors, and his goofy behavior in a court room during a lawsuit. Closeups of his face — seri ously altered from plastic surgery — draw gasps. Then there was Jackson’s racism accusation against then- Sony Music Chief TDinmy Mottola. And in an ABC special ear lier this year, Jackson told interviewer Martin Bashir that he was still sleeping in the same bed with children, although he denied there was anything sexual about it. Still, Jackson has had suc cess in the wake of his trou bles that other stars would envy. He’s been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice (once as a mem ber of the Jackson Five), received several honorary awards and garnered sup port from high-profile celebrity fnends, many of whom feted him during his 30th anniversary concert special, which CBS aired to high ratings in 2001. Only last month, he was given the Humanitarian Award at the 2003 Radio Awards. His last album, 2001’s "Invincible,” sold approxi mately two million copies, which are considered great numbers for most artists, especially a performer whose career has spanned more than three decades. Jack son’s albums, however, are much less profitable because he spends millions of dollars making them. “One More Chance,” the only new song on his “Num ber Ones” disc, was produced by R. Kelly, whose talent and career are flourishing despite child pornography charges stemming from an alleged encounter with an underage girl. But when “One More Chance” was released to radio last month, it barely got any play on pop stations and only moderate attention from urban radio. Even WKTU, which Jeff Z. described as a huge support er of Jackson’s music, wasn’t playing it. “My audience really hasn’t looked for the new single,” he said. “We were waiting to see how well it was going to do and what the perception of him out there really was.” With Jackson’s arrest and possible trial, that percep tion might be beyond salva tion. TV talker Oprah accepts humanitarian award THE ASSOCIATED PRESS PHILADELPHIA - Syndi cated talk show host Oprah Winfrey was awarded the Marian Ander- Oprah son Aw a r d on Tues day for her efforts helping minority students and fami lies. Winfrey, 49, who received the award from Mayor John Street and musician Quincy Jones, a 2001 winner, said she hopes to “light up the world,” Winfrey said she stands on the shoulders of people like Anderson, a black opera singer from Philadelphia who fought discrimination to become the first black singer to perform with the Metro politan Opera in New York. The award, established in 1998, honors artists and per formers for their humanitar ian contributions, Winfrey has transformed her celebrity into activism by starting numerous charities including Oprah’s Angel Net work, a charity that raises money from viewer and celebrity donations. The money has been put toward scholarships and building homes for Habitat for Humanity, as well as the construction of 34 schools in 10 countries. In 2005, she will open the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls, an educa tion program in South Africa. She is also the spokesman for A Better Chance, an organization that offers scholarships to minority high school stu dents to attend prep schools. In addition to her philan thropy, Winfrey testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee in support of the National Child Protection A(* of 1991. >• / Lion kinGI Live On Icel DEC^ lO - 14 Wed. DEC. 10 ★ 7:00 PM OPENING NIGHT ALL TICKETS $11 (Excluding Fronr Row ond VtP Seors. No double discounrs.) Buy tickets at www.disneyonice.com ticketmaster Ticket Centers, Coiiseum Box Office or cQii (704) 522-6500 For informorion coii (704) 057-4301 • Groups (704) 057-4722 TICKET PRICES: $36 Front Row - $30 VIP - $25 - $19 - $15 - $11 (Service charges and handling fees may apply.) H F R 0 - H 01 E il I C (I fl 0 U L T U R R [ C E R n R Board of Directors and Staff EXTEND AN INVITATION TO OUR ANNUAL Stroke hasn’t slowed Guillaume azzy Holiday Luncheon By Lynn Elber THE ASSOCIATED PRESS LOS ANGELES - Robert Guillaume never considered hiding the lingering effects of his 1999 stroke or hiding out — from an industry unforgiving of physical imperfection. “I was not so vain as to try to pretend that nothing had happened. That never con cerned me, how people might respond to something which is very common,” he said. Guillaume, who was co- starring in ABC’s comedy “Sport Night” when he was stricken, has kept his career on track despite muscle weakness that he said forces him to “gimp about.” He returned to “Sports Night” after recuperating and remained with the show until its premature end in May 2000. His character, executive producer at a sports news channel, was portrayed as coping with a stroke. There have been guest appearances on TV shows including “8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daugh ter” and “B. Smith with Style” and a part in the upcoming film “Big Fish” with Ewan McGregor and Albert Finney. For DIY, the Do It Yourself cable channel, Guillaume provides the introduction for the five-part series “Enable Your Home,” showing Mon day through Friday (Nov. 24- 28) at 7 p.m. EST, Featuring: A Sign of the Times, Big Band Afro-American Cultural Center’s Teen Dance Ensemble Afro-American Cultural Center’s Teen Drama Ensemble Thursday, December 4, 2003 11:30 AM - 1:30 pm In the first episode, a kitchen is fitted with adjustable counters and appliances for a retired doc tor in a wheelchair. Bath room improvements for an arthritic homeowner and ways to create a more livable living room are featured in the second and third episodes. In the fourth half- hour, an apartment is adapt ed for the vision-impaired. AT The Westin Hotel Uptown Charlotte - 601 South College Street Tickets: $50.00 Please RSVP by November 27, 2003 TO 704/374-1565 ext. 22 Is Jay-Z really retiring? ‘The Black Album would take him out on top Afro-American Cultural Center Cordially invites you to Night Sounds from Afro-Am Honoring Continued from page 1D verse, I’m only biggin’ up my brother/ Biggin’ up my bor ough, I’m big enough to do it/ I’m that thorough, plus I know my own flow is fool ish.” And then he immediate ly quotes Biggie yet again. lb those who don’t like his subject matter: “I dumb down for my audience and double my dollars/ They crit icize me for it but they all yell “Holla!’/ If skills sold truth be told I’d probably be/ lyrically Talib Kweli.” Whether or not you’ve heard of Kweli, Jay’s point is proven. He’s still gangsta, of course, shooting and stab bing and quick to “leave your smarts on the side of your garment.” But Jay’s' voice sounds deliberately weary at times, and at others simply amazed at himself, at how good he’s become and how much money he’s made. Like the pimp on “Threat” says, he’s sincere. Maybe that’s why it’s easy to believe this is his last album. Then again, Jordan came back not once but twice, and Jay-Z has clearly .stated his intention to become a music executive. “No I’m not through with it/ In fact I’m just previewing it/ This ain’t the show I’m just EQ-ing it,” he says. As “The Black Album” comes to an end with Jay-Z reminiscing over a bluesy track, you don’t know whether to tip your hat or start clapping for an encore. Johnny “Chief’ Holloway accompanied by A Sign Of The Times Friday, November 28, 2003 *8:00 PM at FourPoints Sheraton Hotel 401 S. McDowell St. • Charlotte, North Carolina $40 per Person - $75 per Couple Cash bar and heavy hors d’oeuvres For advance ticket sales, call 704-374-1565 401 N. Myers Street, Charlotte, NC • 704-374-1565 www.aacc-Charlotte.org limiiililiiiiiiiiiliiiliiiiliiiiiilllillliiiiilliiilliiliilllllillliliili
The Charlotte Post (Charlotte, N.C.)
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Nov. 27, 2003, edition 1
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