http://www.slate.com/blogs/blogs/browbeat/archive/2009/06/26/if-you-can-do-the-bart-you-re-bad-like-michael-jackson.aspx
"I love Bart," the King of Pop once told producer James L. Brooks. "I want to give Bart a No. 1 single." In fact, "Do the Bartman" rose to No. 1 in the UK, but not the U.S., while uniting two cultural icons. PLUS: Watch Jackson on "The Simpsons."
It was not released as a commercial single in the US, which under the rules at the time made it ineligible for the Billboard Hot 100. It reached #11 on the airplay chart, which means that (given the song's appeal to single-buying youngsters at the time) it almost certainly would have hit the top ten if they put a single out, although I don't really think it would have hit #1.
Apparently Michael also wrote "Lisa, It's Your Birthday", although they say he didn't sing it.
Update: Fox will run the "Do The Bartman" video prior to tonight's rerun, along with a memorial title card.
Once Upon A Time, Brett A. Pasternack wrote:
Memorial title card? Who died?
** Captain Infinity
John Jay Smith.
Before tonights episode they're broadcasting Do The Bartman in Honour of Michael Jackson
/The Simpsons/ will re-air the music video for "Do the Bartman" and show a title card in memory of Michael Jackson before Sunday's episode at 8 p.m. on Fox, EW.com has learned. The 1990 pop-rap hit was co-written by Jackson without credit. A fan of the animated comedy, the pop sensation�who passed away on Thursday <http://news-briefs.ew.com/2009/06/michael-jackson-dies.html>�told executive producer James L. Brooks that he wanted to write a No. 1 song for Bart. (Featured on the album /The Simpsons Sing The Blues/, "Do the Bartman <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKmplCJfOf8>" was never released as a single in America, but it reached No. 1 in the UK, while the Brad Bird-directed video enjoyed heavy rotation on MTV. ) Jackson's other /Simpsons/ wish came true when he guest-starred in the season 3 opener "Stark Raving Dad" as an oversized mental patient; this time, he was credited as John Jay Smith. Alas, syndication rights issues weren't resolved in time for that episode to be rebroadcast on Sunday.
http://hollywoodinsider.ew.com/2009/06/michael-jackson-the-simpsons-to-air-do-the-bartman-video-in-tribute.html?xid=rss-feed-tvwatch-Michael+Jackson%3A+%27Simpsons%27+pay+tribute
Bruce Gomes
On Sat, 27 Jun 2009 14:51:33 -0700 (PDT), TMC wrote:
I see Brett sent this out earlier!
Couldn't get this out earlier, had a old routing table entry blocking me.....darn.
Bruce Gomes
Once Upon A Time, Bruce Gomes wrote:
That's OK, everybody has already seen it, way back in 1991. There's really no reason to show it again.
** Captain Infinity