More often than not, when I bring up Michael Jackson in a beer related conversation, I have to digress from the topic and briefly explain that I am not referring to the late King of Pop, but I am referring to perhaps the most influential beer enthusiast to have lived in the past century.
Besides elevating beer in the epicurean world as a from a low brow beverage to a fine and delicious imbibement packed with culture and history, Michael Jackson quite literally defined what beer is (The World Guide To Beer)
There is no need for me to rehash a biography of Jackson since 1) that is not the gist of this post and 2) it has already been done (in fact Wikipedia does a decent job, as does BeerHunter.com). Simply put, I found another reason to be fond of Jackson. I recently stumbled across a clip of Jackson on Late Night with Conan O’brien, and found it quite worthy of repeating.
The nature of beer is nicely summed up in the unpretentious, jovial, and passionate Jackson. It is clear that while there is no aristocratic/snobby air about him, he is quite concerned with his conviction of the superiority of beer. Since I never was given the chance to meet the man (who was tops on my list!), this clip will have to suffice. I think that this clip answers the question “Who Was Michael Jackson” better than most encyclopedia abstracts. Enjoy!
I like how fast he was to answer Conan’s question
:
Conan: What is your least favorite beer?
Michael: Corona.
[Reply]
Hahaha! Yeah, I thought that was great. no hesitation whatsoever.
[Reply]
Thanks for the post Nate. Always learning something new on this site.
I was at my local liquor store and overheard a woman asking the clerk for a good beer, something like a Corona. Hahahaha! Kind of an oxymoron, eh? He should’ve suggested tonic water!
[Reply]
This is the first I’ve ever seen a clip of the late great Michael Jackson. In all honesty, he does seem a little impaired on the clip. Don’t know if that was his failing health or perhaps a bit too much “Sampling” before his appearance.
[Reply]
@Kirk…thanks! I’ll be honest…there was a time in my life when I thought Corona was cool…we all start somewhere. But yeah, these days I’d prefer tonic!
@Don…yeah, I’m pretty sure it was as a result of the sampling. I found it funny, but a good reflection on his personality…he wasn’t a mean drunk.
[Reply]
@Nate, no, he seemed like a sweetheart. He seemed like the kind of guy it would be great tho have a “Sampling” with to the wee hours of the morning.
[Reply]
I believe he had Parkinson’s disease. That would explain his mannerisms.
[Reply]
The Parkinson’s Disease was definitely showing in this clip, unfortunately. But Mr. Jackson’s wit and personality shined as always. Such an entertaining clip. I could watch this 10 times more and laugh just as hard each time. Thanks for finding and for sharing.
[Reply]
I was fortunate enough to meet Michael on several occasions, and have autographed copies of two of his books.
Knowing the great man’s dedication and professionalism, I am certain that the Parkinson’s was taking its toll by the time this clip was recorded.
At a tutored tasting I attended (the first time I met him – back in 1989) he actually consumed about a sip of each beer until after the tasting, and he had saved a bottle of Sam Smith’s Oatmeal Stout for afterwards.
[Reply]
@Big Tex and @Brad Yeah, the Parkinson’s seems to have a devastating effect…
@Bob That is very cool Bob…I would love to have met him. In a culture in which pictures of some idiot Hollyweird celebrity taking out there recycling causes the masses to swoon, a guy like Jackson who developed the niche we all love means a lot to me.
[Reply]
i wish he would’ve spoke on the beer more. let conan know why he was tasting/smelling what he was
[Reply]
@Rich, yeah…Conan and all the other late nighters always steer the conversation exactly where they want it to go for the sake of cheap laughs.
[Reply]