October 27th Will Be Thriller Night When CBS Premieres Michael Jackson’s Halloween
Alas, “Michael Jackson’s Halloween” is a new CBS holiday animated musical special and not a new slasher flick about a maniac in a “Thriller” jacket and pale Michael Jackson mask murdering teenagers with his razor-bladed sequin glove while determined chimpanzee psychologist Dr. Bubbles attempts to put an end to his reign of terror. I’d watch that. We’d all watch that.
Halloween season is in full swing, as evidenced by the sheer amount of Christmas merchandise already up in stores. Seriously, what’s up with that? It’s not even October yet.
I digress…
The important thing is that there aren’t nearly enough made-for-television Halloween specials for the whole family these days, certainly none that have become annual traditions. I mean, there’s “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” and… that’s really about it. Even 1979’s “The Halloween That Almost Wasn’t” with Judd Hirsch as Count Dracula in his finest Saturday Night Fever disco suit failed to become a holiday staple. ABC has been trying the past few years with “Toy Story of Terror,” but if you’ve actually watched it, the special isn’t even particularly Halloween-based.
CBS is looking to possibly start a new tradition on Friday, October 27th, with the world premiere of the new one-hour animated holiday special “Michael Jackson’s Halloween.” Featuring a slew of celebrity voices and boasting music by the late, great Michael Jackson (i.e., “Thriller”), “Michael Jackson’s Halloween,” from the director of the dreadful Spawn and underrated Frankenfish, will tell the frightfully fun tale of two millennials (and a dog) that find themselves in a haunted hotel on Halloween night and experience a spooky adventure that culminates with them having to Google search who the hell this Michael Jackson guy is singing and dancing.
Hopefully, this special will be a success leading to more real-life musical acts getting their own animated Halloween specials. Will “Prince’s Purple Rain of Terror” or “NWA: Samhain Outta Compton” be next?
From the Press Release:
“MICHAEL JACKSON’S HALLOWEEN,” a new one-hour animated adventure with Michael Jackson’s acclaimed music as its soundtrack, will be broadcast Friday, October 27th (8:00-9:00PM. ET/PT), on the CBS Television Network. Created and produced by Optimum Productions, the Michael Jackson company now owned by his estate, the special will feature the voices of actors Christine Baranski, Kiersey Clemons, Alan Cumming, George Eads, Brad Garrett, Lucy Liu, Jim Parsons, and Lucas Till.
The special follows millennials Vincent (Till) and Victoria (Clemons), who meet “accidentally” on Halloween night and find themselves, along with Ichabod the dog, at a mysterious hotel located at 777 Jackson Street called This Place Hotel. Once inside, Vincent and Victoria are sent on an unexpected, magical adventure of personal discovery, culminating in a spectacular dance finale featuring an animated Michael Jackson.
“MICHAEL JACKSON’S HALLOWEEN” was created and produced by Optimum Productions, with animation production by Hammerhead. John Branca and John McClain, co-executors of the Estate of Michael Jackson, serve as executive producers. Daniel Chuba is the producer, and Mark A.Z. Dippé is the director.
Categorized:News
