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CNN Saturday Morning News

Michael Jackson Receives Raves for Concertgoers

Aired September 08, 2001 - 09:10   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN ANCHOR: He's back, he's bad, his fans are glad. But is he here to stay? Michael Jackson is celebrating 30 years of his solo career with two star-studded concerts at New York's Madison Square Garden.

COLLEEN MCEDWARDS, CNN ANCHOR: That's right. The first show was last night. Everyone wants to know if he's still a thriller.

CNN's entertainment news reporter, Jodi Ross, is live in New York. Well, is he?

JODI ROSS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Colleen, he still is.

MCEDWARDS: OK.

ROSS: That's, at least, what his fans and celebrities told us last night, but the show did not disappoint, especially after all the hype and hoopla that's been surrounding these two concerts.

Michael Jackson delivered. He showed up last night with Elizabeth Taylor, of course, his friend, who's been his supporter for years. The two of them were running kind of late. We heard they came about 30 minutes into the show. But, of course, Michael was not first up, so that was OK. He -- they arrived together.

The show was jam-packed. It was an all-star lineup, starting with Whitney Houston, the Jackson Five reunion, and there was a huge list of people that performed at this event. Whitney Houston sang "I Want to Be Starting Something," a popular song of Michael's. I think she chose that one.

There was a "Wiz" medley where Al Jarreau was dressed as the Tin Man. That was a really popular number in the show. "The Wizard of Oz" is a popular movie to Michael, it's a movie he's a big fan of.

James Ingram and Gloria Stefan sang "I Just Can't Stop Loving You," of course one of his famous ballads.

Some performers picked the songs they wanted to sing, some, I believe, Michael asked them to sing. But it really gave you a good range of Michael old, and then he did a little bit of new also. We heard he sang his new song, "You Rock My World," and of course he talked about the new album, "Invincible," which comes out October 30. The reunion with the Jackson Five, the highlight of that is that they -- it was the same choreography from 17 years ago, the Motown show. They recreated all the dance moves and all the dance steps, and it was pretty authentic.

And this "Wizard of Oz" theme, like the "Wiz" medley that was in the show and the Liza -- Liza Minnelli came out and sang "Somewhere Over the Rainbow," which was, of course, her mother's song, lent -- that feeling was also a part of the Tavern on the Green party that we attended after the concert.

This was like a party I've never seen before. It literally felt like Oz, and this is kind of what I picture Neverland to be like, where Michael Jackson lives. There were arcade games and carnival booths and singing Munchkins and candy stands and cotton candy carts.

Michael showed up there around 1:30 or so, I believe. There was dinner for 1,000 people. Michael sat at the table with his parents and his brothers. Many celebs attended the party. We got to speak to Susan Sarandon, who said the concert was terrific, to Usher, who's a friend of Michael's from way back, lots of famous faces. Everybody was thrilled, had a great time.

And we were there until about 3:30, if that gives you any idea of how late the night went.

MCEDWARDS: Tough, tough, tough assignment for Jodi.

SAVIDGE: Yes, yes.

MCEDWARDS: Late, though, late for his own tribute.

ROSS: Yes, he was a little late, but I think they held things, Colleen. But he -- you know, his entrance was very well planned, so I don't think that was a surprise.

MCEDWARDS: Yes, OK.

SAVIDGE: And you wouldn't want to have to fill until then, I guess.

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