Move Like Michael Jackson
Developed byBBC
Presented byReggie Yates
JudgesJermaine Jackson
Jamelia
Mark Summers
Country of originUnited Kingdom
No. of series1
No. of episodes6
Production
ProducerFever Media
Camera setupMulti-Camera
Running timeVarious Lengths
Original release
NetworkBBC Three
Release14 December (2009-12-14) –
21 December 2009 (2009-12-21)

Move Like Michael Jackson is a British talent show made by independent production company Fever Media and Gogglebox Entertainment and broadcast on BBC Three. It aimed to find people who can dance like the pop singer Michael Jackson. The show aired months after Jackson's death in June 2009. Presented by television personality Reggie Yates, the programme broadcast the auditions of hopefuls as they perform in front of the show's judges: Mark Summers, contemporary R&B singer Jamelia, and Jackson's elder brother and former Jackson 5 band member Jermaine.[1]

Background and production

Entertainer Michael Jackson died in June 2009, in his home in Los Angeles, California.[2] He was regarded as one of the greatest dancers of the 20th century, and popularized several dance moves, including the moonwalk and robot.[3][4] Jackson adapted choreography from figures such as Michael Peters and Jeffrey Daniel and used them his music videos.[3]

In creating the six-part series, the producers stated that they were aiming to find individuals "with the showmanship and technical ability of [Jackson]". Jermaine Jackson was drafted to judge the show,[citation needed] and said of his younger sibling at the time of production, "[He] inspired people across the world to master his moves and create their own unique routines." He added that he was "really excited and delighted" to be a part of the series and looked forward "to finding the UK's most talented and inspiring dancers".[5][6]

Auditions for the talent show were held in October and were open to any persons aged 16 and over.[5] The Move Like Michael Jackson participants had to learn Jackson's signature dance move, the moonwalk, as well as create new Jackson-inspired dance steps for the series.[7] Karl Warner, executive producer for BBC Entertainment Commissioning, said that the show's production staff wanted to "hear from anyone who's ever been inspired by the moonwalk, the Smooth Criminal lean or the crotch grab and find out if they can move like Michael Jackson."[8]

References

  1. ^ Simon, Jane (14 December 2009). "Move Like Michael Jackson". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 14 December 2009.
  2. ^ "Singer Michael Jackson dead at 50-Legendary pop star had been preparing for London comeback tour". Today.com. 25 June 2009. Retrieved 25 June 2009.
  3. ^ a b Glentzer, Molly (1 July 2009). "The steps that made Michael Jackson great". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved 20 December 2009.
  4. ^ "Michael Jackson: 100 facts about the king of pop". The Daily Telegraph. 26 June 2009. Retrieved 20 December 2009.
  5. ^ a b "Jermaine to judge Jackson search". BBC News. 2 October 2009. Retrieved 14 December 2009.
  6. ^ "Brother Jermaine to judge BBC Michael Jackson show". Reuters. 1 October 2009. Archived from the original on 4 January 2010. Retrieved 14 December 2009.
  7. ^ "MJ's bro Jermaine to judge BBC's Move Like Jacko'". The Times of India. 1 October 2009. Retrieved 14 December 2009.
  8. ^ "Jermaine to judge BBC Michael Jackson show". Calgary Herald. 2 October 2009. Archived from the original on 13 October 2009. Retrieved 14 December 2009.

External links

Michael Jackson
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