VIDEO: John Jay Smith: Michael Jackson on the Simpsons

Note: Although Michael Jackson did lend his voice to this episode of the Simpsons (credited as John Jay Smith), when it came time for the singing parts Michael had an impersonator step in, while Michael himself AKA John Jay Smith read the speaking parts.. this story is told in the DVD commentary for this episode, in the Simpsons box set.

John Jay Smith: Michael Jackson on the Simpsons
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the 3rd season premiere "Stark Raving Dad" featuring the mysteriously named 'John Jay Smith' in what was one of Jackson's only appearances on a scripted TV show.

In fact nothing better illustrates the rise and fall of Michael Jackson than The Simpsons, in it's early years Jackson was a friend to the program and a hero to it's main protagonist, Bart.

Michael Jackson wrote the song 'Do the Bartman' (true story) and Bart Simpson appeared in the full length Black or White video (the full length version hasn't really been seen since it's premiere due to it controversial content except for this week when music stations started rolling it out again), then Jacko went on to appear on the show's third season premiere, one of the first celebrity guest stars on the show, during that ep Michael Jackson was showcased as a hero and a living legend.

Contrast that to the show's seventh season with the episode 'Bart Sells His Soul' we get the following classic quote from Bart"There's no such thing as a soul. It's just something they made up to scare kids, like the boogeyman or Michael Jackson."

Show those two episodes Ten and you've got the essence of the man's spectacular ride down the pop culture slippery dip better than just about any documentary could illustrate.

John Jay Smith: Michael Jackson on the Simpsons