Michael Jackson can win the Oscar

MJ win and Oscar? But he's dead. That might be one of the first thoughts some might have. Another could be that he doesn't have a film - but he does.

This Is It, is the documentary styled film created from over 100 hours of video during the preparations and practice for the planned world tour by Michael Jackson. The tour as we all know was heralded to be his comeback, and by all estimates it seems it would have been.

So far the film has wowed critics, and fans. Already the film has brought in $20 million in just one day. Considering it's documentary and entertainment stance, plus a running length of almost 2 hours, that's pretty good. But an Oscar?

Yes the buzz is out there. There are 10 choices for the Best Film Oscar now, so other unquestioned worthy films can be included without problem. The expansion was to address the fact that Hollywood has completely no idea what fans find to be Oscar worthy - and there are few fan favorites like Jackson. The quality of the film is high, the story-telling emotive. As many have said, it provides Jackson the comeback that he likely would have done if he lived.

Plus there is precedence. Most recently for Heath Ledger. And while I got lots of grief form my statement that he did not deserve the Oscar, and that it was given to him just because he was dead (which is all true), it did set the stage to give an Oscar to Jackson. There is more than enough genuine emotion and angst over his death to justify his winning just about any and every award an entertainer can get.

Now if this were just talk about an Oscar for Best Documentary, or Editing, or even Best Direction, I'd be all for it. But they are talking about Best Picture. Which I'm less in love with. Because I judge that by a simple standard. If he were alive would the film get the same attention? The answer is no.

Be honest. It might get awards and attention, but not Best Picture. It would never happen. Hollywood is far to snobbish, and while $20 million in a day is great it's not Spiderman. Still you can never account for the death effect. Ledger proved that in droves.

So will the Oscars be yet another tribute to Michael Jackson? Well it would once again demonstrate the hold that everything Jackson had over the globe. It again would prove that this is the undisputed King of Pop of ALL time. And if you ask almost any of his multi-generational fanbase, he deserves it.

If I had to bet, the odds would be maybe 7 gets you 5 in his favor.