Singer makes TV commercials

Press, 9 March 1988, Page 19

Singer makes TV commercials

NZPA-Reuter New York The reclusive singer, Michael Jackson, held a rare meeting with the press recently, and said 18 words as he unveiled la new series bf television commercials that seem to portray his worst nightmare — being chased , by reporters. In the four 4 >/ 2 -minute spots filmed for Pepsi Cola, which pays him SUSIO million (15 million) to make commercials for the soft drink, Jackson does everything from jumping off a roof on to a waiting helicopter to soaring down a ski slope to

evade a horde of screeching reporters and photo- 0 graphers. - “It’s called ‘The Chase’ and we’ve designed it like 1 an old-time Hollywood Saturday-morning serial,” said Pepsi Cola’s president, Roger Enrico, be-’ fore introducing Jackson to about 300 reporters, photographers and cameramen at a Manhattan disco. Jackson, wearing a bright red i blazer, then appeared amid the popping of flashbulbs and declared in his trademark soft voice: : ,

“Thank you very much. I am very honoured. I am very thankful. I love you all. Thank you.” That was all he said — four words more than two years ago at a press conference thatl announced he was making ads for Pepsi. •!l The commercial is in four parts, the first three ending in cliff-hangers. In the fourth Jackson finally eludes the noisy press and returns to a concert to the cheers of thousands. Pepsi officials said a stuntman was used for the action sequences.