Super Bowl XXVII halftime show

The Super Bowl XXVII halftime show took place on January 31, 1993, at the Rose Bowl, Pasadena, California, as part of Super Bowl XXVII. It featured American singer Michael Jackson. The halftime show was broadcast on NBC. This halftime performance increased the TV ratings by a significant amount and has been claimed to be one of the most watched events in American television history with 133.4 million viewers.[1]

Super Bowl XXVII halftime show
DateJanuary 31, 1993
LocationRose Bowl (Pasadena, California)
VenueRose Bowl Stadium
HeadlinerMichael Jackson
SponsorPepsi
ProducerRadio City, Scott Sanders, Don Mischer Productions

Jackson's performance started the NFL's trend of signing top acts to appear during the Super Bowl to attract more viewers and interest.[2]

Background

After Super Bowl XXVI, where a special episode of In Living Color, broadcast by future NFL broadcaster Fox during the game's halftime period successfully attracted viewers away from the Super Bowl telecast on CBS (with viewership falling by 22% over halftime), the NFL began the process of heightening the profile of the halftime show in an effort to attract mainstream viewers. Radio City Productions, who would produce the halftime show, attempted to court Michael Jackson to serve as the headline act by meeting with him and his manager Sandy Gallin. After three failed negotiations, including asking the NFL for a fee of $1 million, Jackson's management agreed to allow him to perform at Super Bowl XXVII.[3][4][5]

Although the league does not pay appearance fees for Super Bowl halftime performers, the NFL and Frito-Lay agreed to donate $100,000 to the Heal the World Foundation—a charity that was founded by Jackson—as well as allocate commercial time to air an appeal for the foundation's Heal L.A. campaign, which aimed to provide health care, drug education, and mentorship for Los Angeles youth, particularly children affected by the aftermath of the 1992 Los Angeles riots.[6][3][7] Nine days later, Jackson would conduct a television interview with Oprah Winfrey, which garnered the highest ratings for a television interview in history.

Performance

Jackson started his halftime performance by first appearing at the top of the stadium's two jumbotrons (using body doubles). Jackson then rocketed from center stage and stood completely still and silent for almost two minutes before beginning his performance.[8] Jackson's performance included a medley consisting of "Jam" (with the beginning of "Why You Wanna Trip On Me"), "Billie Jean" and "Black or White". The finale featured an audience card stunt, a video montage showing Jackson participating in various humanitarian efforts around the world, and a choir of 3,500 local Los Angeles area children singing "We Are the World", later joining Jackson as he sang his single "Heal the World".

Commercial reception

The halftime show was a major success, marking the first time in Super Bowl history that ratings increased between halves during the game.[4]. This performance helped Jackson's latest album Dangerous rise 90 places in the album chart.[9]

Set list

The following songs were performed during the halftime show:

References
  1. Andrews, Travis M. (February 2, 2018). "From Elvis Presto to Michael Jackson: How the Super Bowl halftime show found its groove". Retrieved February 9, 2018 – via www.WashingtonPost.com.
  2. "Michael Jackson changes the Super Bowl halftime show". NFL.com. Retrieved February 9, 2018.
  3. Sandomir, Richard (June 30, 2009). "How Jackson Redefined the Super Bowl". The New York Times. Retrieved February 1, 2013.
  4. "Goal of spectacle colors NFL's thinking about Super Bowl halftime show". Chicago Tribune. February 6, 2011. Retrieved January 30, 2013.
  5. Weinstien, Steve. "Fox Tackles Super Bowl With Sly Plan : Television: The 'rebel network' hopes to siphon off viewers from CBS with a halftime show of its own featuring the gang from 'In Living Color.'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 15, 2016.
  6. "Heal the Kids : Rebuilding: Michael Jackson announces a $1.25-million program to help children in riot-torn areas. Drug education, immunizations and mentor services will be provided". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 26, 2017.
  7. Pabst, Georgia (February 8, 1993). "Jackson's Foundation Aimed At Helping Children". The Seattle Times. Retrieved August 12, 2009.
  8. "Seven surprising moments from past Super Bowl half-time shows". February 4, 2017. Retrieved February 9, 2018 – via www.BBC.com.
  9. Campbell, 1995, pp. 14–6.
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