The Jacksons : an American Dream - wikipedia The Jacksons : an American Dream The Jacksons : An American Dream The DVD cover for the miniseries. Written by Joyce Eliason Directed by Karen Arthur Starring Lawrence Hilton - Jacobs Angela Bassett Holly Robinson Peete Margaret Avery Alex Burrall Jermaine Jackson, Jr. Bumper Robinson Floyd Meyers Jr. Monica Calhoun Jason Weaver Angel Vargas Terrence Howard Vanessa L. Williams Billy Dee Williams Wylie Draper Colin Steele Theme music composer Harold Wheeler Original language ( s ) English No. of episodes Production Producer ( s ) Suzanne de Passe Joyce Eliason Jermaine Jackson Margaret Maldonado Stan Marguiles Running time 240 min. Distributor The Stan Marguiles Company KJ Films de Passe Entertainment Motown Productions PolyGram Filmed Entertainment Release Original network ABC Original release November 15 -- November 18, 1992 The Jacksons : An American Dream is a four - hour American miniseries broadcast in two halves on ABC and originally broadcast on November 15 through November 18, 1992. It is based upon the history of the Jackson family, one of the most successful musical families in show business, and the early and successful years of the popular Motown group The Jackson 5. The miniseries was executive produced by Suzanne de Passe and Stan Marguiles, produced by Joyce Eliason, Jermaine Jackson and Margaret Maldonado and directed by Karen Arthur. The movie was filmed in Los Angeles and Pittsburgh, where director Arthur had previously filmed her feature film Lady Beware. The Jacksons : An American Dream is based on Katherine Jackson 's My Family autobiography. A critical and commercial success, the program won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Choreography. The title alludes to the iconic concept of the ' American Dream '. Contents 1 Plot 2 Cast 3 Historical inaccuracies 4 Reception 5 Soundtrack 5.1 Track listing 6 See also 7 References 8 External links Plot The miniseries stars Lawrence Hilton - Jacobs as the Jacksons ' patriarch Joseph Jackson, Angela Bassett as the family matriarch Katherine Jackson, Alex Burrall, Jason Weaver and Wylie Draper played Michael Jackson in different eras, while Bumper Robinson and Terrence Howard played Jackie Jackson in different eras, Shakiem Jamar Evans and Angel Vargas played Tito Jackson, Margaret Avery as Katherine 's mother Martha Scruse, Holly Robinson Peete as Diana Ross, Billy Dee Williams as Berry Gordy and Vanessa L. Williams as Suzanne de Passe. The opening titles of the film shows footage of the real Jacksons rehearsing, performing on stage, a few clips from the `` Can You Feel It '' music video, album covers, magazine covers and pictures of the family. The film is mostly based on the autobiography written by Katherine Jackson, who issued the 1990 autobiography, My Family. Part one of the film was based on how Joseph and Katherine managed to raise their children, first in Gary, Indiana, then later dealing with The Jackson 5 's early fame and its consequences. Part two of the film is based on the struggles of young Michael Jackson as he deals with his brothers marrying early into The Jackson 5 success, his problems with acne as a teenager, his eventual solo superstardom based on the success of his albums Off the Wall and Thriller and his legendary Motown 25 performance of `` Billie Jean '' as well as his difficult relationship with his father. Michael Jackson 's voice is heard on : `` Beat It, '' `` Human Nature, '' `` Billie Jean, '' `` I Want You Back, '' `` I Wanna Be Where You Are, '' `` I 'll Be There, '' `` Rockin ' Robin, '' `` ABC, '' and `` Dancing Machine. '' On all other songs, the Michael Jackson vocal part is performed by Anthony Harrell, Jason Weaver or Kipp Lennon. Cast Lawrence Hilton - Jacobs - Joseph Jackson Angela Bassett - Katherine Jackson Holly Robinson Peete - Diana Ross Margaret Avery - Martha Scruse Billy Dee Williams - Berry Gordy Vanessa Williams - Suzanne de Passe Wylie Draper - Michael Jackson Abolade David Olatunde - Michael Jackson ( baby ) Alex Burrall - Michael Jackson ( ages 6 -- 8 ) Jason Weaver - Michael Jackson ( ages 9 -- 14 ) Colin Steele - Jermaine Jackson Jermaine Jackson II - Jermaine Jackson ( ages 10 -- 17 ) Terrence Howard - Jackie Jackson Bumper Robinson - Jackie Jackson ( ages 12 -- 16 ) Monica Calhoun - Rebbie Jackson Ebonie Smith - La Toya Jackson Kelli Martin - La Toya Jackson ( ages 8 -- 10 ) Angel Vargas - Tito Jackson Shakiem Jamar Evans - Tito Jackson ( ages 11 -- 15 ) Maya Nicole Johnson - Janet Jackson Monica Allison - Hazel Gordy Robert Redcross - Randy Jackson Nicolas Phillips - Randy Jackson ( age 7 - 9 ) Marcus Maurice - Marlon Jackson Floyd Myers, Jr. - Marlon Jackson ( age 7 - 9 ) Jacen Wilkerson - Marlon Jackson ( ages 10 -- 15 ) Historical inaccuracies This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. ( December 2015 ) The group is shown making a record of Wilbert Harrison 's `` Kansas City ''. `` Kansas City '' was never covered by the Jackson 5, although the band did multiple covers of early hits. In the Motown audition scene, Berry Gordy was not actually in attendance. Instead, the audition was videotaped and shown to Gordy at a later time. The Jacksons are shown getting an audition for Motown due to winning a talent show at the Apollo Theatre, and Joseph is touting it as their first signing. In actuality, the group 's first recording contract was offered by Steeltown Records, a smaller agency based in their native Gary, Indiana, in 1967. The group had done one audition for Motown and was rejected. Following their moderate success with a couple of single tracks in Steeltown, the Jackson 5 felt confident enough to audition a second time for Motown, after which they were signed. In the film, prior to the Motown debut, Michael is seen in a recording studio, which may have been reference to their early career with Steeltown Records. In the scene where Michael is seen shooting for the Pepsi commercial which caused his scalp to catch fire, it shows his body rolling down the stairs. In fact he actually walked down the stairs with his hair on fire and later realized and did a one rotation spin ( not the usual spin move he did ) and shaking his head wildly from the pain. Reception The Jacksons : An American Dream became one of the most popular and successful music - biography miniseries of the 1990s. Part 1 of the miniseries was the third highest - rated program broadcast during the week of November 9 -- 15 with a 21.1 rating. Part 2 of the miniseries was watched by 38.4 million viewers in 22.3 million households becoming the highest - rated program broadcast during the week of November 16 -- 22 posting a 23.9 rating, and 36 share. Overall, the miniseries was watched in 38.3 million households and posted a 22.3 rating and 33 share. The series won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Choreography, and was also nominated for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Hairstyling for a Miniseries or a Special, Outstanding Miniseries, and Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Drama Miniseries or a Special. Bumper Robinson won a Young Artist Award for Best Young Actor in a Television Movie, and Alex Burrall and Jason Weaver both won a special award for Outstanding Young Performers Starring in a Mini-Series. The miniseries was later rebroadcast on VH1 and released to VHS and DVD. The DVD version of the miniseries was released as a two - disc set. The first disc was named `` The Early Years '' and the second disc was named `` The Success Years ''. In 2004, VH1 would produce Man in the Mirror : The Michael Jackson Story, which picked up Michael 's life from the end of The Jacksons to the present, which at the time included him standing trial on charges of child molestation. The miniseries aired frequently after the death of Michael Jackson. It has been shown on TV One, BET, Centric and VH1. It is followed by Man in the Mirror : The Michael Jackson Story. Soundtrack The Jacksons : An American Dream Soundtrack album by The Jackson 5 Released September 29, 1992 Recorded Genre Soul, Funk Length 37 : 51 Label Motown The Jackson 5 chronology 2300 Jackson Street ( 1989 ) 2300 Jackson Street 1989 `` The Jacksons : An American Dream '' ( 1992 ) Soulsation ! ( 1995 ) Soulsation ! 1995 Singles from The Jacksons : An American Dream Track listing All songs performed by the Jackson 5 except where noted `` Who 's Lovin ' You '' ( Live ) - 5 : 39 Recorded live in Gary, Indiana, May 29, 1971 `` Kansas City '' ( Jason Weaver ) - 2 : 19 `` I 'll Be There '' ( Originally on Third Album ) - 3 : 56 `` In the Still of the Night '' ( Boyz II Men ) - 2 : 51 `` Walk on / The Love You Save '' ( Live ) - 6 : 05 Recorded live in Gary, Indiana, May 29, 1971 `` I Wanna Be Where You Are '' ( Jason Weaver ) - 4 : 21 `` Dancing Machine '' ( Originally on G.I.T. : Get It Together ) - 3 : 17 `` The Dream Goes On '' ( Jermaine Jackson ) - 3 : 50 `` I Want You Back / ABC '' ( Live ) - 3 : 23 Recorded live at the Forum, Los Angeles. August 26, 1972 ( Later issued in its entirety on Live at the Forum in 2010 ) `` Stay With Love '' ( Jermaine Jackson and Syreeta ) - 4 : 19 `` Never Can Say Goodbye '' ( Originally on Maybe Tomorrow ) - 2 : 59 `` You Are the Ones ( Interlude ) '' ( 3T ) - 1 : 51 `` Dancing Machine ( Remix ) '' - 3 : 43 Other songs done in the film but not put on the track : `` Climb Every Mountain '' `` Money ( That 's What I Want ) '' `` Baby I Need Your Loving '' `` Where Did Our Love Go '' `` Beans, Beans, the Musical Fruit '' `` Beat It '' See also The Jackson Family portal Man in the Mirror : The Michael Jackson Story References Jump up ^ Zuckerman, Faye B. ( November 14, 1992 ). `` Highlights ''. The Tuscaloosa News. p. 6A. Retrieved 2010 - 03 - 01. Jump up ^ `` Motown 's Gordy On Discovering Jackson ''. CBS News. Jump up ^ `` ABC posts third straight ratings win ''. The Modesto Bee. November 19, 1992. p. F5. Retrieved 2010 - 03 - 01. ^ Jump up to : Carmody, John ( November 20, 1992 ). `` THE TV COLUMN ''. The Washington Post. p. c. 06. Retrieved 2010 - 03 - 01. ^ Jump up to : `` ABC 's ' The Jacksons ' finales holds top spot ''. Daily News. November 27, 1992. p. 3. Retrieved 2010 - 03 - 01. Jump up ^ Grahnke, Lon ( November 27, 1992 ). `` Highlights ''. Chicago Sun - Times. p. 6A. Retrieved 2010 - 03 - 01. External links The Jacksons : An American Dream at AllMovie The Jacksons : An American Dream on IMDb Michael Jackson Albums Singles Songs Videography Unreleased songs Awards Records and achievements Studio albums Got to Be There Ben Music & Me Forever, Michael Off the Wall Thriller Bad Dangerous HIStory : Past, Present and Future, Book I Invincible Posthumous albums Michael Xscape Soundtracks The Wiz E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial Michael Jackson 's This Is It Immortal Remix albums The Original Soul of Michael Jackson Blood on the Dance Floor : HIStory in the Mix The Stripped Mixes The Remix Suite Compilations The Best of Michael Jackson One Day in Your Life The Michael Jackson Mix 20th Century Masters -- The Millennium Collection : The Best of Michael Jackson Greatest Hits : HIStory, Volume I Number Ones The Essential Michael Jackson King of Pop The Definitive Collection Icon Scream Box sets Anthology The Ultimate Collection Visionary : The Video Singles Thriller 25 : Limited Japanese Single Collection 50 Best Songs -- The Motown Years : Michael Jackson & The Jackson 5 The Collection Hello World : The Motown Solo Collection The Indispensable Collection The Ultimate Fan Extras Collection Other albums Farewell My Summer Love Looking Back to Yesterday Thriller 25 Bad 25 Concert tours Bad Dangerous World Tour HIStory World Tour This Is It Filmography Michael Jackson 's Thriller Captain EO Moonwalker Michael Jackson 's Ghosts Miss Cast Away and the Island Girls Michael Jackson 's This Is It Michael Jackson : The Life of an Icon Bad 25 Michael Jackson : The Last Photo Shoot Michael Jackson 's Journey from Motown to Off the Wall Video albums Dangerous : The Short Films Video Greatest Hits -- HIStory HIStory on Film, Volume II Number Ones The One Live in Bucharest : The Dangerous Tour Michael Jackson 's Vision Live at Wembley July 16, 1988 Television Man in the Mirror : The Michael Jackson Story Move Like Michael Jackson `` Stark Raving Dad '' ( The Simpsons episode ) Video games Michael Jackson 's Moonwalker Sonic the Hedgehog 3 Space Channel 5 Ready 2 Rumble Boxing : Round 2 Space Channel 5 : Part 2 Michael Jackson : The Experience Planet Michael Bibliography Moonwalk Dancing the Dream Specials Motown 25 : Yesterday, Today, Forever MJ & Friends Michael Jackson : 30th Anniversary Celebration United We Stand : What More Can I Give Live at the Apollo Michael Forever -- The Tribute Concert Assets Neverland Ranch Northern Songs Sony / ATV Music Publishing ( formerly ) Influence on society Heal the World Foundation Thrill the World Thriller viral video Thriller -- Live Michael Jackson : The Immortal World Tour Michael Jackson : One Related The Jackson 5 Moonwalk Health and appearance Personal relationships 1993 child sexual abuse accusations Living with Michael Jackson People v. Jackson Death Trial of personal physician Memorial service Cover versions Thriller jacket HIStory statue Michael Jackson - related games Quincy Jones Kenny Ortega Slash Mesoparapylocheles Bubbles Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award We Are the World Mind Is the Magic : Anthem for the Las Vegas Show Never Can Say Goodbye : The Music of Michael Jackson Queen Forever Michael Forever -- The Tribute Concert Relatives Katherine Esther Scruse ( mother ) Joseph Walter Jackson ( father ) Maureen Reillette Brown ( elder sister ) Sigmund Esco Jackson ( elder brother ) Toriano Adaryll Jackson ( elder brother ) Jermaine La Juane Jackson ( elder brother ) La Toya Yvonne Jackson ( elder sister ) Marlon David Jackson ( elder brother ) Steven Randall Jackson ( younger brother ) Janet Damita Jo Jackson ( younger sister ) Nathaniel Austin Brown ( nephew ) Tito Joe Jackson ( nephew ) Lisa Marie Presley ( ex-wife ) Deborah Jeanne Rowe ( ex-wife ) Paris - Michael Katherine Jackson ( daughter ) Book Category Portal The Jackson 5 / The Jacksons Jackie Jackson Tito Jackson Jermaine Jackson Marlon Jackson Michael Jackson Randy Jackson Studio albums The Jackson 5 Diana Ross Presents The Jackson 5 ABC Third Album Jackson 5 Christmas Album Maybe Tomorrow Goin ' Back to Indiana Lookin ' Through the Windows Skywriter G.I.T. : Get It Together Dancing Machine Moving Violation The Jacksons The Jacksons Goin ' Places Destiny Triumph Victory 2300 Jackson Street Live albums The Jackson 5 in Japan The Jacksons Live ! Live at the Forum Compilations Greatest Hits Anthology Joyful Jukebox Music Boogie Soulsation ! Jackson 5 : The Ultimate Collection The Essential Jacksons The Very Best of The Jacksons I Want You Back ! Unreleased Masters Come and Get It : The Rare Pearls Concert tours First National Tour Second National Tour Destiny World Tour Triumph Tour Victory Tour Unity Tour Television The Jackson 5ive The Jacksons The Jacksons : An American Dream The Jacksons : A Family Dynasty Specials Motown 25 : Yesterday, Today, Forever Michael Jackson : 30th Anniversary Special Related articles Discography Songs Chronology Jackson family Steeltown Records Book Category Portal Jackson family Parents Joseph Walter Jackson : 1928 Katherine Esther Jackson ( neé Scruse ) : 1930 Children Maureen Reillette ( Rebbie ) : 1950 Sigmund Esco ( Jackie ) : 1951 Toriano Adaryll ( Tito ) : 1953 Jermaine La Jaune : 1954 La Toya Yvonne : 1956 Marlon David : 1957 Michael Joseph : 1958 -- 2009 Steven Randall ( Randy ) : 1961 Janet Damita Jo : 1966 Grandchildren TJ Jackson : 1978 Austin Brown : 1985 Paris Jackson : 1998 Musical groups The Jackson 5 / The Jacksons 3T Television The Jacksons The Jacksons : An American Dream The Jacksons : A Family Dynasty The Jacksons : Next Generation The Jackson Family portal Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Jacksons:_An_American_Dream&oldid=803198656 '' Categories : Jackson family ( show business ) The Jackson 5 1990s American television miniseries English - language films African - American television American biographical films American films Motown Productions films 1992 television films Films set in Indiana Films set in Alabama Films set in Michigan Films set in New York ( state ) Films set in California Films set in the 1940s Films set in the 1950s Films set in the 1960s Films set in the 1970s Films set in the 1980s American Broadcasting Company network shows Films directed by Karen Arthur Hidden categories : All articles with dead external links Articles with dead external links from October 2010 Articles to be expanded from December 2015 All articles to be expanded Articles using small message boxes Articles which use infobox templates with no data rows Articles with hAudio microformats Album infoboxes lacking a cover Music infoboxes with deprecated parameters Talk Contents About Wikipedia Deutsch Español Français Edit links This page was last edited on 1 October 2017, at 02 : 40. 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Question: who played joe jackson in the jackson 5 movie
Answer: Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs