Michael Jackson: Face Off

NBC News is ready to give Michael Jackson his prime-time close-up, novel nose and all, but the self-proclaimed King of Pop is not happy abou...

NBC News is ready to give Michael Jackson his prime-time close-up, novel nose and all, but the self-proclaimed King of Pop is not happy about it.

A special edition of NBC8217;s news magazine Dateline next month will focus on Jackson8217;s face and how the reclusive singer8217;s appearance has dramatically changed over the years along with the highs and lows of his career, network executives said on Friday.

Jackson8217;s publicist in Los Angeles expressed outrage. 8216;8216;I think it8217;s horrible that NBC is planning on doing a special on Jackson8217;s face, and the network should focus on more important issues in the world,8217;8217; she said.

Promotional material released on Friday for NBC8217;s winter showcase of upcoming programmes described the Dateline special, titled Michael Jackson Unmasked, as the 8216;8216;inside story8217;8217; of the performer 8216;8216;as told by some of the people who knew him best.8217;8217; But comments from network executives made it clear the Dateline segment, slated to air during ratings 8216;8216;sweeps8217;8217; on Feb. 17, would spotlight the Gloved One8217;s looks. In his opening remarks to TV critics gathered for the event, NBC Entertainment president Jeff Zucker described it as a special edition on 8216;8216;Michael Jackson8217;s face.8217;8217;

8216;8216;I just hope the folks at Sony Music don8217;t complain,8217;8217; Zucker joked in a reference to Jackson8217;s label, where ex-NBC president Andrew Lack assumed his new post as CEO last week.

An NBC News publicist later said the Dateline special would trace 8216;8216;the rise and fall of Jackson using the transformation of his looks as a metaphor for his career.8217;8217; She said the segment would include an interview with a plastic surgeon who treated Jackson.

The performer ignited worldwide speculation about his face when he was photographed during a rare courtroom appearance in November that left many with with the impression he had undergone too many nose-jobs.

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A number of plastic surgeons suggest that Jackson may suffer from a rare psychiatric condition, called body dysmorphic disorder, which renders patients dissatisfied with surgical results regardless of any objective improvement in their appearance.