Michael Jackson: Comedians reacted differently

Michael Jackson: Comedians reacted differently

For years, comedians have made fun of Michael Jackson and his life. However In deference to the beloved pop star's family and fans, though, many treated his death differently.

Universal Pictures' "Bruno" screened in Los Angeles on Thursday night with a scene involving Jackson's sister La Toya Jackson has been removed from the movie. A spokesman for Universal remarked that the decision was made by the filmmakers "out of respect for the Jackson family."

The news of death of Michael Jackson broke just after or during the tapings of most of Thursday's late-night shows. Jimmy Fallon's "Late Night" on NBC channel made a point of the timing, by using a graphic at the top of the show to announce that the show had been taped at 5:30 p.m. EDT.

Jay Leno, the comic who did the most to turn Jackson into a late-night staple, did not  return to the air until fall. His spokesman said that he was not available for comment.

Comedian-magician Penn Jillette found himself in an awkward spot on Thursday. He was a guest on a radio program promoting the return of his Showtime series when the news of Jackson broke. Jillette found himself thinking back to John Lennon's death.

Jillette said, "I was really upset by it — as upset as I could be by someone dying outside of my family and friends,"  "And I remember the people who were flippant and joked about it in any way really kind of broke my heart." "I have a lot of respect for what music does for people and the connection you get with an artist."

Jackson's death was badly timed for CBS' David Letterman and Craig Ferguson. Both taped their Friday show in advance and are dark next week.

On Friday, Conan O'Brien did not address Jackson in his monologue, but did during an interview with Snoop Dogg on "Tonight."

O'Brien said, "I was driving home last night from the studio and every station was playing all of that music and it was great,"  "It's actually the best way to remember (him)."

Jimmy Kimmel, who did his ABC show live, did not appear to be in the mood for a joke about Jackson on Thursday till the punchline.

Said Kimmel: "What's especially sad is that most people of a certain generation only know Michael Jackson as a crazy guy who had a lot of plastic surgery — whereas the truth is, he was not only an unbelievably talented, groundbreaking performer, he also helped break down the racial prejudice in this country. He was an extremely powerful symbol: a black performer who whites could relate to and then later in life, a white performer who blacks could relate to."

Other comedians were more irreverent despite the news being so fresh.

Michael Ian Black, a comedian who rarely avoids sensitive material, wondered in a message on Twitter if the autopsy of Jackson would reveal Tinkerbell inside, alluding to his Peter Pan nature.

Comedian Rob Corddry, former "Daily Show" correspondent, turned the joke back on TMZ, which had the scoop on Jackson's death. Corddry tweeted: "I wish it had been Michael Jackson that broke the story of TMZ dying. I can almost hear the high-fives."

The Onion also did not lose any time. In a tweet Thursday, it reported: "BREAKING: Last Piece of Michael Jackson Dies."

The satirical newspaper followed that up on Friday with a brief story on its website with the headline: "King of Pop Dead at 12" — suggesting Jackson always remained childlike.

Megan Ganz, associate editor of the Onion, said the paper's Manhattan office felt almost like a "real newsroom" Friday, with its writing staff rushing around to produce copy on Jackson's death.

Ganz acknowledged the Onion had received complaints from readers who said their Jackson stories were insensitive.

Ganz continued,  "It's kind of funny to me that people are saying `too soon, too soon' about these jokes because people have been making jokes about Michael Jackson for the last 20 years," "We really tried to think of something that was somewhat meaningful about his life — that wasn't just one more joke at the expense of Michael Jackson — because he's weathered quite a few."

The comedian widely acknowledged as being the first to joke about Jackson . However  Eddie Murphy has declined to comment on the singer's death. It was Murphy who in his 1983 classic standup special "Delirious" famously said that Jackson "ain't the most masculine fellow in the world."