43:I[185,["/_next/static/chunks/0sxns9k8ywops.js","/_next/static/chunks/11fk-1ie3w6mp.js","/_next/static/chunks/1uc4qdk4uj22c.js","/_next/static/chunks/0jvahffpql9nd.js","/_next/static/chunks/0agcep-t686m_.js","/_next/static/chunks/2_mrasy1s2owt.js","/_next/static/chunks/1nsk8jrr9fqe6.js"],"SendEmailButton"] 45:I[63625,["/_next/static/chunks/0sxns9k8ywops.js","/_next/static/chunks/11fk-1ie3w6mp.js","/_next/static/chunks/1uc4qdk4uj22c.js","/_next/static/chunks/0jvahffpql9nd.js","/_next/static/chunks/0agcep-t686m_.js","/_next/static/chunks/2_mrasy1s2owt.js","/_next/static/chunks/1nsk8jrr9fqe6.js"],"AddToLibraryButton"] 48:I[45269,["/_next/static/chunks/0sxns9k8ywops.js","/_next/static/chunks/11fk-1ie3w6mp.js","/_next/static/chunks/1uc4qdk4uj22c.js","/_next/static/chunks/0jvahffpql9nd.js","/_next/static/chunks/0agcep-t686m_.js","/_next/static/chunks/2_mrasy1s2owt.js","/_next/static/chunks/1nsk8jrr9fqe6.js"],"SignupCTA"] 3b:["$","h1",null,{"className":"max-w-[22ch] font-display text-[clamp(32px,4.5vw,48px)] font-medium leading-[1.05] tracking-[-0.02em] text-[color:var(--fg-1)] text-balance","children":"Michael Jackson: Too Big to Fail"}] 3c:["$","div",null,{"className":"flex flex-wrap items-center gap-x-4 gap-y-1 font-mono text-[12px] uppercase tracking-[0.1em] text-[color:var(--fg-3)]","children":[["$","time",null,{"dateTime":"2026-04-27T07:00:00.000Z","children":"April 27, 2026"}],["$","span",null,{"aria-hidden":true,"children":"·"}],["$","span",null,{"children":"00:25:59"}],false]}] 3d:["$","p",null,{"className":"max-w-[60ch] text-[18px] leading-[1.5] text-[color:var(--fg-2)]","children":"The idea of Michael Jackson remains strong enough to overshadow the man himself."}] 44:T531,

The biopic “Michael” solves the third-act problem of Michael Jackson’s life by simply ending before the 1993 lawsuit that alleged child sex abuse, and before his appearance and behavior took a drastic turn. It leaves the King of Pop someone you can love without qualification—but not someone you can understand.

Guest: Aisha Harris, co-host of NPR's Pop Culture Happy Hour podcast

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Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn, Anna Phillips, Madeline Ducharme, and Rob Gunther.

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