Were it not for the unexpected death of Michael Jackson this summer, it would be easy to view A&E’s “The Jacksons: A Family Dynasty” as a strange extension of the “Real Housewives” franchise: “Real Ex-Pop Stars of Los Angeles.”
Certainly, the first two episodes, which air Sunday night, follow a familiar format, in which we meet the principals — Jackie, Jermaine, Marlon and Tito — and their big houses and fancy cars, and we watch as they eat in various locales. The brothers quickly assume their roles: Marlon is the funny one; Tito, the peacemaker; Jackie, the father figure; Jermaine, who left the group when the group left Motown, the troublemaker.
“The Jacksons” does have the benefit of bygone celebrity, which the producers milk with many old photos and clips, and an actual narrative: The brothers are coming together not only for this reality show, but also to produce an album that will, they hope, rekindle the Jackson sound.
If Michael were still alive, the show would no doubt be fueled with the tantalizing possibility of an appearance by him, which, of course, would have never happened. But he died shortly after filming began, and “The Jacksons” became something else entirely: another grim example of the siren call of reality television. continue reading…
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