Michael Jackson ‘Unmasked’

ABC reportedly paid $5 million for the U.S. broadcast rights to the British-produced show which will focus on Jackson, his career, his children, and on plastic surgery. ABC is billing the special as "unprecedented and exclusive access to Jackson’s private life." The show, which aired Monday in Britain, will be aired in the U.S. Thursday as part of a two-hour 20/20. NBC is also planning a special on Jackson for February sweeps.

Journalist Martin Bashir followed Jackson for eight months during taping of the documentary. Jackson discusses the baby-dangling incident, saying his son was never in danger. "I love my children. I was holding my son tight and strong. Why would I throw a baby off a balcony? That is the dumbest, stupidest story I’ve ever heard." Jackson says. Yet he does not think it dumb or stupid that his sons have the same name, his youngest son Prince Michael II’s face is constantly covered by yellow gauze - even while he is fed.

Bashir touches on the subject of plastic surgery and says Jackson practically begged him to stop questioning him. Bashir says the 44-year old pop star basically refused to discuss the 1993 child-abuse investigation Jackson endured. He was never charged but it left a bad taste in the public’s mouth. Jackson has a fascination with Peter Pan and has many statues of the boy who never wanted to grow up all over his Neverland ranch. It seems Jackson sees himself as a sort of Peter Pan. There have been recent reports that Jackson has a new 12-year old friend that he spends time with. The boy’s name has not been released, but come on…where are his parents? Whether or not it is innocent (and the term is used loosely) is not the question. A 44-year old man befriending a 12-year old boy wouldn’t be thought of as normal outside the hazy glow of celebrity. But because it is Michael Jackson, it’s grudgingly accepted by the public, as it devours the inevitable rumors surrounding such an odd relationship.