In the December 1984 cover illustration of Mad magazine, Michael Jackson is front and center. Backing him are not his brothers, but a group of other famous Jacksons — the Rev. Jesse Jackson, former baseball star Reggie Jackson, “Charlie’s Angels” actress Kate Jackson and the ghost of President Andrew Jackson. The tongue-in-cheek “Mad salutes the Jacksons” cover is a favorite of Mark Kessler, the owner of Recycled Records which has been doing brisk business in Jackson memorabilia since the singer’s death June 25.

As television stations and Internet sites streamed footage of celebrities paying tribute to "The King of Pop," "The King of Pop Culture" warned radio listeners to beware of fraud.

Crank it up and grab the earplugs as the "Woodstock Experience" series continues with a rip-snorting blues rampage courtesy of Janis Joplin, packaged with a remastered version of "I Got Dem Ol' Kozmic Blues Again Mama!"

The film “My Dinner With Jimi” is based on the recollections of The Turtles lead singer Howard Kaylan, whose vocals were a big reason the band’s “Happy Together” knocked the Beatles’ “Penny Lane” off the number one position in 1967. The central tale of this memoir is the Turtles’ first trip to England in 1967.

Kathryn Bigelow's film "The Hurt Locker"  is based on the experiences of her friend Mark Boal, a journalist who was embedded with a bomb disposal squad in Iraq. The film focuses on a three-man bomb squad, members of an elite Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) unit.

Bad or blockbuster, movies opening on July 4 are some of the most unforgettable films of all time.

A holiday weekend plus warm weather plus lawn work adds up to me not focusing on a new movie for this week’s column. So here are some short takes and quick observations:

“How to Win A Cosmic War: God, Globalization, and The End of the War on Terror,” by Reza Aslan. Random House. $26. Hardcover.

Reza Aslan is a Los Angeles-based writer, commentator and Islamic scholar. His new book is, “How to Win A Cosmic War: God, Globalization, and The End of Terror.”

"Jerichow" is the story of two men and one woman with lots of secrets among them, mostly about things in their various pasts that they would rather remain hidden.

The first time Dave Alvin performed with the Guilty Women, last year at a bluegrass festival in San Francisco, the musicians did not rehearse until an hour before they went on stage. But with this particular group of pros, Alvin didn’t have any fears.

I laughed at some of the gags in Mel Brooks' "The Producers," but I also felt uncomfortable with many of the portrayals. I wrote this in my notebook: “Gay minstrel show.”

As a bank robber, John Dillinger  demonstrated some style. Unfortunately, these scenes don't appear in "Public Enemies." Director Michael Mann focuses instead on Dillinger's physicality as a bank purloiner, leaping on top of counters, threatening bank employees and blasting his way out of jams.

Stock your iPod, MP3 player or stereo with songs perfect for Independence Day celebrations.

When I was a kid, growing up and impressionable, Michael Jackson was the coolest person. I wanted to sing like him, dance like him, dress like him – I wanted to be him. My parents even got me a Michael Jackson coat one year for Christmas. I was the bomb, doing a little dance and turning around.