Michael Jackson Season

HALLOWEEN IS OVER, and Michael Jackson season has come to an end. Michael Jackson season? Yes, for real. Michael Jackson season is a rather new institution in America. It starts on June 25, the anniversary of his death, and continues through, and culminates with, Halloween. It consists of a never ending array of tributes, parties, impersonators, parades, and finally, the big Mmichael Jackson costume blow out on Halloween itself. After Halloween, its all over, and the off season begins, during which preparations are made for the following year. Each year plans are laid for a bigger sesaon nest year. Its becoming big money. You might not've even known of the existence of Michael Jackson season. Now you do. You'd probably want to add it to your list of "only in America" kinds of things. Michael was and is beloved the world over, but only in America is there a "Michael Jackson season", at least, so far. And just think, its still only been a few years since his death. This thing has a chance to grow, and really become big. Could it someday supplant Christmas as the longest and most lavish holiday season of the year? Probably not, but, as they say, one never knows. You also have to admire anyone who can do a good impersonation of Michael; he was truly one of kind, and hard to duplicate, you would think. Yet the field seems to be fairly crowded with good ones. One must be tall, slender, and be able to dance as well as sing, and do it quite well. Any handsome dude with thick, well combed dark hair and a deep voice can do a passable Elvis, but Michael is on another level. In a country where we erect monuments to celebrities, especially those who entertain us, which means essentially all celebrities, for a celebrity to have a season is truly impressive, if not particularly surprising.