TV scrambles to cover Michael Jackson’s death
The specials remembering Farrah Fawcett were all set to go when news broke Thursday afternoon that Michael Jackson had died in Los Angeles. While cable news networks went into “we don’t know anything, but we’re going to blab about it anyway” mode, broadcasters scrambled to change their schedules to add tributes to Jackson. Here’s what I know so far; I’ll update for changes or additions.
NBC, which had planned a one-hour Fawcett special, will now air a two-hour “Dateline” combining “Michael Jackson: American Legend” with “Farrah Fawcett: The Life & Death of an Angel.” Ann Curry and Meredith Vieira will anchor from 8-10 p.m.
ABC had already moved up its Barbara Walters “20/20″ special on Fawcett from Friday. Now, an ABC News special report on “the unbelievable life and shocking death of music icon Michael Jackson” has been added at 8 p.m., anchored by Walters and Martin Bashir of “Nightline,” who conducted that famous 2003 interview with Jackson. The Fawcett hour follows at 9 p.m. In the last week, Walters interviewed Ryan O’Neal, Jaclyn Smith, Alana Stewart and hairstylist Jose Eber, among others, about Fawcett.
CBS, the only network without a Fawcett special, has added “CBS News: The Life and Death of Michael Jackson” at 9 p.m.
Fox is reportedly considering some sort of Jackson tribute during “So You Think You Can Dance.”
Poor “Entertainment Tonight” was all Farrah, having been completed and fed to affiliate stations (including KMOV) before Jackson’s death was confirmed. A crawl during the broadcast added that explanation.

