June 29, 2009 17:24

2003 Michael Jackson documentary for repeat US airings

'Living With Michael Jackson' to be shown over a dozen times

Photo Gallery: Michael Jackson
Photo: Pa Photos

A 2003 documentary in which Martin Bashir spent eight months with Michael Jackson is set to be aired 12 times by cable channel MSNBC in the US.

'Living With Michael Jackson' has already been shown six times so far since the death of the 'King Of Pop' last Thursday (June 25), and will be aired a further six times by MSNBC alone.

In addition, terrestrial channel NBC will air a one-hour edit of the documentary tonight (June 29) as a 'Dateline NBC' special. Bashir is now an NBC news anchor, but was at ITV in the UK at the time of filming.

Jackson admitted sharing his bed with children in the documentary, which led to charges of child molestation against him.

Over 27 million people tuned in to see the initial airing of the special in February 2003, the highest ratings for the network in 12 years.

Jackson's death dominated TV content in the US over the weekend with the BET Awards reshuffling its plans in order to include tributes to Jackson.

Meanwhile, MTV, which rarely shows music videos anymore, aired non-stop Michael Jackson videos and concert footage from Thursday evening to 6pm on Friday.

Last night's episode of 'The Simpsons' on Fox was book-ended by the 1990 music video for 'Do The Bartman', which was co-written, produced and voiced by Jackson.

Variety reports that Jackson also lent his voice to a 1991 episode of the animated series entitled 'Stark Raving Dad'. The singer played an institutionalised man who thought he was Michael Jackson. It is not clear if Fox can re-air the episode due to syndication agreements, however.

--By our New York staff.
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