Dancing with the Stars Michael Jackson Tribute Begins Latest Jackson Honors

Dancing With the Stars' Michael Jackson tribute was even more anticipated than the Dancing With the Stars results. The Dancing With the Stars Michael Jackson tribute had ballroom dancing performances to Jackson's famed hits, after being hyped for weeks. Dancing With the Stars is a good place for a Michael Jackson tribute, since it is a dancing show, and Jackson defined dancing in the 70's and 80's. But the Dancing With the Stars Michael Jackson tribute was only a warmup act for the Jackson tribute to come in theaters.

It likely wasn't a coincidence that the Dancing With the Stars Michael Jackson tribute show came eight days before This Is It, the documentary of Jackson's final rehearsals, is released in theaters. This Is It could be the biggest "final" tribute to Jackson yet, leaving Dancing With the Stars to just get the ball rolling.

On Dancing With the Stars, contestants paid tribute to Michael Jackson by dancing to "I Want You Back" "Man In The Mirror" and of course, "Thriller." LaToya Jackson was there as well to represent the family, as she is already doing coverage of the show for Access Hollywood.

For all the spectacle around this Dancing With the Stars tribute, it isn't even the first homage to a dead celebrity this season. Patrick Swayze, who participated on the show years ago, was honored weeks ago for his dancing prowess. Naturally, the Michael Jackson tribute was a bit bigger and gaudier.

But in the midst of the Dancing With the Stars Michael Jackson show, they actually had to vote someone out and get on with their season. After all of the tributes, Natalie Coughlin was voted off the show, which surprised some of the judges who gave her high scores most of the way. But Coughlin and dance partner Alec Mazo are gone, while Aaron Carter once again narrowly avoided elimination.

After the Michael Jackson tribute, Dancing With the Stars likely won't spend any more results shows paying homage to dead celebrities - at least not ones who died this summer. The show will go back to work with its nine remaining couples next week.

By the time the next results show comes on Tuesday night, however, Michael Jackson fans will likely be out waiting in line for screenings of This Is it, before it comes out the next morning. MJ's fans boosted Dancing With the Stars ratings up by a nice 10%, but they stand to make a bigger impact in theaters for the next few weeks.

Sources

Television Without Pity- "Dancing With the Stars' Michael Jackson Tribute Not Big or Special Enough" www.televisionwithoutpity.com/telefile/2009/10/dancing-with-the-starss-michae.php#

Access Hollywood- "Natalie Coughlin Sinks Out Of The 'Dancing' Ballroom" www.accesshollywood.com/natalie-coughlin-sinks-out-of-the-dancing-ballroom_article_24468

Hitfix- "TV Ratings: NCIS duo remains dominant on Tuesday" www.hitfix.com/articles/2009-10-21-tv-ratings-ncis-duo-remains-dominant-on-Tuesday