NEW DETAILS about the Cancelled 1995 HBO One Night Only Special

redjacksondance

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Interview with choreographer Barry Lather, who has worked with Michael on Captain EO, the Dreams Pepsi Commercial, Jam, the 1995 HBO One Night Only Special and Ghosts + Janet Jackson's Nasty, When I Think Of You and The Pleasure Principle! On the Red Jackson Dance YouTube Channel. Enjoy!
 
The new details about the cancelled 1995 HBO One Night Only Special are for example:

Some of the (dance) steps that were planned for the 'Thriller' (1995 HBO Special) performance were later used in the 'Ghosts' short film.

The 'Smooth Criminal' (1995 HBO Special) performance was planned to be visually different, and they also planned to incorporate bungee theatrics into that performance.
 
I think it would've been a good idea to approach the show with a new take because Michael was stuck in his usual routine that doing something outside of that would've felt refreshing. It was only 1 show so it would've felt right to make it different than what you'd see on his tours
 
I think it would've been a good idea to approach the show with a new take because Michael was stuck in his usual routine that doing something outside of that would've felt refreshing. It was only 1 show so it would've felt right to make it different than what you'd see on his tours
They had to make these shows different and stripped-down (compared to his tours) given the fact that technically the Beacon Theater is a small venue.

Michael Jackson was about to perform 2 HBO Special Shows: one one night he would have performed his classic hits, and on the other night he would have performed his new songs from the 'HIStory' album.
 
They had to make these shows different and stripped-down (compared to his tours) given the fact that technically the Beacon Theater is a small venue.

Michael Jackson was about to perform 2 HBO Special Shows: one one night he would have performed his classic hits, and on the other night he would have performed his new songs from the 'HIStory' album.
God damn it if only Michael hadn't collapsed and pissed Lisa off we could've had two awesome performances
 
I think MJ said himself didn't he, that he'd love to do Billie Jean in a different style - but the 'classic' is what people would expect. I'm sure this was in the MTV interview from 1999 from memory?
 
God damn it if only Michael hadn't collapsed and pissed Lisa off we could've had two awesome performances
I sooo wish he had done those shows. They would have been incredible! I blame it on his collapsing and not on Lisa Marie. That marriage had been over for quite some time by that point.
 
I think MJ said himself didn't he, that he'd love to do Billie Jean in a different style - but the 'classic' is what people would expect. I'm sure this was in the MTV interview from 1999 from memory?
I sometimes think Michael underestimated his fans. I think most people would have loved to have seen something new. I love the "classic" performances of all his songs but after seeing the same thing over and over again, I would have appreciated a switch up. Even if it was only for these shows.
 
Yeh but the thing is having Lisa at the hospital stressed Mike out
Sorry, now i get what you were saying. I thought you were blaming Michael for Lisa Marie behaving the way she did at the hospital.

She came in there like a bat out of hell upsetting Michael. Just what he needed while in the hospital. 🙄

Those shows would have been great!
 
That actually sounds like a ‘theater performance’.. really curious if he has more footage in his archives. :)
 
What footage I've seen of it..


Parts of it would've aged very poorly. Worse than the worst moments of MJs concerts, which, personally, I can't think of any, and I'm talking about styling, not lip syncing or his ability. Aesthetically I think all of his shows about hold up and even if not, Michael does make the difference. So maybe, it would have balanced out,but without him there I can't see the difference.

Other parts would've absolutely been one in a million though.

 
I think MJ didn’t want to do those shows, probably because they were demanding and involved learning all-new routines and performing live for a smaller crowd. I also think the reason MJ never changed his stage act is not because people expected the « classic routines », but again because he didn’t want to go through the process of learning a new act.
 
I think MJ didn’t want to do those shows, probably because they were demanding and involved learning all-new routines and performing live for a smaller crowd. I also think the reason MJ never changed his stage act is not because people expected the « classic routines », but again because he didn’t want to go through the process of learning a new act.
I wouldn't put it past him. According to someone who worked with Michael, if he lost interest, he'd find ways to back out, alluding to staging his collapse. He could've reschedule if he really wanted do it
 
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michael had no problem learning (and creating) new choreography for his short films. I don’t see what difference a live performance makes. in fact, he had been doing that since he was a child.

certain things are so iconic and distinctive that they can’t be altered. instead they serve as the foundation to be built upon.

 
Sorry, now i get what you were saying. I thought you were blaming Michael for Lisa Marie behaving the way she did at the hospital.

She came in there like a bat out of hell upsetting Michael. Just what he needed while in the hospital. 🙄

Those shows would have been great!
In a way I don't blame her he was missing and she no idea where he was....I would be mad too
 
I dont understand how we can't see footage of him from this show yet this is it was the last thing he did & it was released in theaters. Hell i don't see how we still don't have the final Apollo mitm on the crane
 
In a way I don't blame her he was missing and she no idea where he was....I would be mad too
In this instance she knew where he was. She knew he was in NY rehearsing for these shows.

There are other instances where she didn't know where he was but she wasn't sitting at home crying about her missing husband . She was vacationing (multiple times) in Hawaii with her ex-husband. She found ways to fill her lonely days 😂
 
I dont understand how we can't see footage of him from this show yet this is it was the last thing he did & it was released in theaters. Hell i don't see how we still don't have the final Apollo mitm on the crane
This Is It was in theaters to recover the cost of production for the tour. To pay millions in production for a tour that never happened is giving away free money so in order for the company to get their money back, they had to release something.

The HBO special was less costly and could've also been paid back with money from the HIStory tour.
 
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I dont understand how we can't see footage of him from this show yet this is it was the last thing he did & it was released in theaters. Hell i don't see how we still don't have the final Apollo mitm on the crane
That Man in the Mirror performance wasn't at Apollo.
 
I sometimes think Michael underestimated his fans. I think most people would have loved to have seen something new. I love the "classic" performances of all his songs but after seeing the same thing over and over again, I would have appreciated a switch up. Even if it was only for these shows.
I think he sometimes underestimsted fans in a sense that he thought we always want to see bigger, better, whatever show, when in fact msny fans would’ve LOVED to see a more stripped down show where his VOICE played the biggest role. Sure, the elaborate shows were awesome and exciting, but I still have to say I prefer the Bad tour over the HIStory tour, even though there were less ”theatrics” during the Bad tour, simply because he sang live and it was more ”raw” and ”authentic” and 100% live. It was more about the vocal performance than just theatrics, and it’s more exciting to see the different shows from different cities, because it’s live. I loved the visuals during the HIStory tour, don’t get me wrong…but I hated that he was lip synching (as did most of the artists that also danced and had a ”show” during that time..it had become the new, unfortunate trend..🥲). His voice was so unique, his vocal abilities were OUT OF THIS WORLD..and he could’ve moved everyone watching just by standing there and singing. I mean, remember him singing ”You Were There” to Sammy David Jr.?!! 😍😍😍 The voice, the performance….so simple…yet so POWERFUL and EMOTIONAL, giving you instant goosebumps! 👍🏻😍😍😍 I would’ve DIED if I could’ve experienced a more intimste and stripped down show even just once. 😍 He wouldn’t have had to quit doing the big shows but just one smaller show would’ve been amazing.. (but only if I would’ve gotten tickets and been in the front row though…other wise I would’ve died if jealousy 💔😩😬😂😂).

As for Lisa Marie…yeah they both had issues and I so wish they could’ve worked things out because I truly believe they both were each other’s ”love of their life” and they both would still be here, had they not broken up. I think Michael needed his own space at times, which fed Lisa’s insecurities and Lisa wanted to be with him 24/7 and if she couldn’t , she jetted off to be with her ex-husband, which fed Michael’s insecurities and probably made him jealous, considering he wanted to have kuds and a family SO BADLY, and she wasn’t willing to do that, so to know she’s frolicking sround with her kids and ex-husband, playing family, since they DID have kids together, must’ve been triggering for Michael, which probably made him want to ”take a hike” and so they kept feeding each others insecurities, until they couldn’t get out of the viscious cycle any longer. 💔 Add to that all the people whispering into their ears….I also found interesting that Riley mentioned in her and Lisa’s book that Lisa had said the last time she had hooked up with Danny was in 1998 or 1999 (can’t remember which one), so it was funny that that was also the same time thar they stopped seeing each other for good. So I wonder if Michael found out…or if she got it on with Danny to get over Michael? 🤔 I mean, something clearly happened around 2000-2001. Michael didn’t seem his happy self around that time really. In hindsight, it could match with him and Lisa breaking up for good. I think late 1998, early 1999 was when they were last seen together? 🤔
 
I think he sometimes underestimsted fans in a sense that he thought we always want to see bigger, better, whatever show, when in fact msny fans would’ve LOVED to see a more stripped down show where his VOICE played the biggest role. Sure, the elaborate shows were awesome and exciting, but I still have to say I prefer the Bad tour over the HIStory tour, even though there were less ”theatrics” during the Bad tour, simply because he sang live and it was more ”raw” and ”authentic” and 100% live. It was more about the vocal performance than just theatrics, and it’s more exciting to see the different shows from different cities, because it’s live. I loved the visuals during the HIStory tour, don’t get me wrong…but I hated that he was lip synching (as did most of the artists that also danced and had a ”show” during that time..it had become the new, unfortunate trend..🥲). His voice was so unique, his vocal abilities were OUT OF THIS WORLD..and he could’ve moved everyone watching just by standing there and singing. I mean, remember him singing ”You Were There” to Sammy David Jr.?!! 😍😍😍 The voice, the performance….so simple…yet so POWERFUL and EMOTIONAL, giving you instant goosebumps! 👍🏻😍😍😍 I would’ve DIED if I could’ve experienced a more intimste and stripped down show even just once. 😍 He wouldn’t have had to quit doing the big shows but just one smaller show would’ve been amazing.. (but only if I would’ve gotten tickets and been in the front row though…other wise I would’ve died if jealousy 💔😩😬😂😂).

As for Lisa Marie…yeah they both had issues and I so wish they could’ve worked things out because I truly believe they both were each other’s ”love of their life” and they both would still be here, had they not broken up. I think Michael needed his own space at times, which fed Lisa’s insecurities and Lisa wanted to be with him 24/7 and if she couldn’t , she jetted off to be with her ex-husband, which fed Michael’s insecurities and probably made him jealous, considering he wanted to have kuds and a family SO BADLY, and she wasn’t willing to do that, so to know she’s frolicking sround with her kids and ex-husband, playing family, since they DID have kids together, must’ve been triggering for Michael, which probably made him want to ”take a hike” and so they kept feeding each others insecurities, until they couldn’t get out of the viscious cycle any longer. 💔 Add to that all the people whispering into their ears….I also found interesting that Riley mentioned in her and Lisa’s book that Lisa had said the last time she had hooked up with Danny was in 1998 or 1999 (can’t remember which one), so it was funny that that was also the same time thar they stopped seeing each other for good. So I wonder if Michael found out…or if she got it on with Danny to get over Michael? 🤔 I mean, something clearly happened around 2000-2001. Michael didn’t seem his happy self around that time really. In hindsight, it could match with him and Lisa breaking up for good. I think late 1998, early 1999 was when they were last seen together? 🤔
I love the Bad Tour, too. I love all his tours but you're right, the live vocals from Bad really set it apart. Dangerous was also really good, imo. A good amount of live singing plus some great choreography.

I'm just not one of those people who believe Michael and Lisa Marie were soulmates who are currently skipping around heaven together holding hands.

I think he loved her and that the marriage was real but he was pretty much over it by the end of 1994 at least according to people he worked with in the recording studio.

Everyone focuses solely on what she has said about their relationship but they never mention the things he said. He had several fascinating conversations with Rabbi S (yes, I know what scum he is) but these conversations gave insight into Michael's thoughts on Tatum O'Neal, Brooke Shields, Lisa Marie, Princess Diana, along with relationships, marriage and sex in general. He said some interesting things about how he felt after the divorce (she wanted to get back with him but he was no longer interested).

He also mentioned that he would let a woman follow him half way around the world not because he was interested in her but because he didn't want to hurt her feelings. Now, I can't say that part was about LMP but easily could have been. Whenever I think of LMP, I think of that movie "He's Just Not That Into You" 😂

Wow, I didn't know she was still hooking up with Danny at that time. Damn, Danny, Michael and John Oszajca all at the same time. Girl had her hands full!

I believe Michael's problems in the early 2000s stemmed from the 1999 Munich Bridge incident and him relying, once again, on too much pain medication. Also, things with Sony coming to a head. I don't think she had anything to do with it. He had fully moved on with his life by that point.
 
I think Michael would never feel confident about singing live so long as his voice wouldn't have the same "studio" sound. He would love the technology we have now.
 
I love the Bad Tour, too. I love all his tours but you're right, the live vocals from Bad really set it apart. Dangerous was also really good, imo. A good amount of live singing plus some great choreography.

I'm just not one of those people who believe Michael and Lisa Marie were soulmates who are currently skipping around heaven together holding hands.

I think he loved her and that the marriage was real but he was pretty much over it by the end of 1994 at least according to people he worked with in the recording studio.

Everyone focuses solely on what she has said about their relationship but they never mention the things he said. He had several fascinating conversations with Rabbi S (yes, I know what scum he is) but these conversations gave insight into Michael's thoughts on Tatum O'Neal, Brooke Shields, Lisa Marie, Princess Diana, along with relationships, marriage and sex in general. He said some interesting things about how he felt after the divorce (she wanted to get back with him but he was no longer interested).

He also mentioned that he would let a woman follow him half way around the world not because he was interested in her but because he didn't want to hurt her feelings. Now, I can't say that part was about LMP but easily could have been. Whenever I think of LMP, I think of that movie "He's Just Not That Into You" 😂

Wow, I didn't know she was still hooking up with Danny at that time. Damn, Danny, Michael and John Oszajca all at the same time. Girl had her hands full!

I believe Michael's problems in the early 2000s stemmed from the 1999 Munich Bridge incident and him relying, once again, on too much pain medication. Also, things with Sony coming to a head. I don't think she had anything to do with it. He had fully moved on with his life by that point.
Hold up she was hooking up with Danny and mj at the same time,??
 
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