The Jacksons: An American Dream is a five-hour American miniseries broadcast in two halves on ABC and originally broadcast on November 15 and November 18, 1992. It is based upon the history of the Jackson family, one of the most successful musical families in show business, and the early and successful years of the popular Motown group The Jackson 5.
The miniseries was executive produced by Suzanne de Passe and Stan Marguiles, produced by Joyce Eliason, Jermaine Jackson and Margaret Maldonado and directed by Karen Arthur. The Jacksons: An American Dream is based on Katherine Jackson's My Family autobiography.
Plot
The miniseries stars Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs as the Jacksons' patriarch Joseph Jackson, Angela Bassett as the family matriarch Katherine Jackson, Jason Weaver and Wyllie Draper played Michael Jackson in different eras, while Bumper Robinson and Terrence Howard played Jackie Jackson in different eras, Angel Vargas played Tito Jackson, Margaret Avery as Katherine's mother Martha Scruse, Holly Robinson Peete as Diana Ross, Billy Dee Williams as Berry Gordy and Vanessa L. Williams as Suzanne de Passe.
The film is mostly based on the autobiography written by Katherine Jackson, who issued the 1990 biography, My Family and the film's main focus was based on how Joseph and Katherine managed to raise their children, first in Gary, Indiana, then later dealing with The Jackson 5's early fame and its consequences. Another main focus on part two of the film is based on the struggles of young Michael Jackson as he deals with his brothers marrying early into The Jackson 5 success, his problems with acne as a teenager and his eventual solo superstardom based on the success of the albums Off the Wall and Thriller as well as his difficult relationship with his father.
Michael Jackson’s voice is heard on: “Beat It,” “Human Nature,” “Billie Jean,” “I Want You Back,” "I Wanna Be Where You Are," “I’ll Be There,” “Rockin’ Robin,” “ABC,” and “Dancing Machine.” On all other songs, the Michael Jackson vocal part is performed by Anthony Harrell, Jason Weaver or Kipp Lennon.
Reception
The Jacksons: An American Dream became one of the most popular and successful music-biography miniseries of the 1990s. The first part of the miniseries was the highest-rated program broadcast during the week of November 10 - November 17. The series won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Choreography, and was also nominated for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Hairstyling for a Miniseries or a Special, Outstanding Miniseries, and Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Drama Miniseries or a Special.
Bumper Robinson won a Young Artist Award for Best Young Actor in a Television Movie, and Alex Burrall and Jason Weaver both won a special award for Outstanding Young Performers Starring in a Mini-Series. The miniseries was later rebroadcast on VH1 and released to VHS and DVD. In 2004, VH1 would produce Man in the Mirror: The Michael Jackson Story, which picked up Michael's life from the end of The Jacksons to the present, which at the time included him standing trial on charges of child molestation.
The movie has aired frequently after the passing of Michael Jackson, mostly on TV One, and VH1 followed by Man in the Mirror: The Michael Jackson Story.
Bloopers
During the part of 1959, it shows the birth of Michael. He was born in 1958.
The film also chronicled that as soon as Michael made his singing debut at his elementary school that he joined his brothers' band and became lead singer in 1964. In real life, however, both Michael and Marlon joined the band as percussionists and Michael didn't begin singing and dancing with his brothers until 1966.
In several scenes, young Michael has a pet rat but Michael didn't have pet rats until well after The Jackson 5 established themselves in Motown.
The Jackson 5 records the song "I'm Going To Kansas City" in the studio for Steeltown Records, but their first single was "Big Boy". The Jackson 5 in real life never recorded "Kansas City".
When the boys auditioned for a record deal at Motown, Berry Gordy was present but actually he was out of town.
In scene where it showed the boys and Suzanne on a plane that kept moving back and forth and Michael looking upset, it shows the oldest Jermaine in a seat behind Michael. It is a mistake because in the next scene it shows a younger Jermaine with a groupie in a hotel room.
As the film switches from 1982 to 1983, Michael is seen recording Human Nature. This could not be, because Thriller was released in November 1982
Also in the movie during the scene in Motown 25 the glove is in the right hand even though in actuality it was on his left during this performance
There are also inaccuracies in the sequence where the Jacksons are filming the Pepsi commercial:
- the company is never named for legal reasons;
- it is set on a soundstage rather than the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, where the commercial was actually filmed;
- there are several pyrotechnical explosions rather than one;
- Michael is seen falling down the stairs after his hair catches fire, yelping about it (recently released video of the actual accident shows Michael didn't realize his hair caught fire for a few seconds, he continues dancing down the stairs. In the video it seems he noticed and began hopping up and down in panic (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YnhgcOgg_4E). His brothers then come to aid him, doing so, they knock him down);
- generic music is performed rather than the arrangement of "Billie Jean" that was actually utilized for the commercial.
References
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