Craig is currently on assignment, so I'm temporarily taking over the To-Do List blog in his stunning absence.  I can only hope to make him somewhat not mad at me.

And, clearly, something needs to be said about the major losses the entertainment industry had on June 25.  Being 28, I have only faint memories of Farrah Fawcett's grinning molars on TV Land re-runs of "Charlie's Angels". 

She was only on the show for one season, but her impact on teenage boys' walls and the new female "it" ideal is undeniable.  Even Beth Hall can recall her brother having her iconic poster plastered on his wall and everyone here in the studio has a quaint memory of the woman who could melt millions with her smile.

Jill Monroe, as she played on Charlie's Angels, is what she will be most noted for, but for myself it will be her stunning turn in "The Burning Bed", based off of the book of the same name.  How many times did I dare watch that movie on Lifetime or TNT and realize that she was trying to reach thousands of women who suffered domestic violence in silence for too long?

Despite trying times in the last few years, she will remain in many hearts and minds as a beauty and a talent who struggled bravely against cancer.

Perhaps the saddest thing is that her death will be on the same day as the King of Pop, Michael Jackson.

We were talking about the shocking loss of one of the most prolific music makers of the late 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s and early 2000s this morning when we, the morning crew, realized the actual impact this unexpected loss will have on the world.

 As part of the Jackson 5, Michael enchanted people with his ability to sing into the rafters on such hits as "I Want You Back", "ABC" and "I'll Be There."

Disco was actually bearable with hits like "Blame It On The Boogie" or "Dancin' Machine."  If you haven't seen Jackson dance the "robot", click here.  It is a classic and his moves can never be duplicated.

Innovative in dance and music, Michael marched into the 80s with "Thriller" and other albums that pushed people to be better and greater than most dared dream.  With the invention of MTV and music videos, he created over-the-top, spectical heavy pieces of art, using cameos by celebrities and, for the time, high tech special effects to push forward messages of tolerance, hope, love and the occassional dancing zombie fest or gang fight.

When I was younger, I remember my sister, father and I, along with some friends, being held up as Michael Jackson was ushered in through a side door during a ride at Disney World in Florida.

He had a young boy with him, and some of our friends freaked out.  My dad, who is ever non-plussed by fame, nodded that, yep, it was the King of Pop.  Sitting in the lead car, Michael and his companion whisked away in an empty cart, into the dark tunnel.  I think it was a perfect example of how he had always wanted to have a childhood, but was unable to have that due to a life of constant scrutiny and work.  He was, in many ways, a child stuck in a man's body.

And what of it?  He was a human doing super-human things, like the Moonwalk.  The man made us believe that anyone could dance, no matter two left feet or skin color.  Everyone got on the dance floor when Michael records were spun.

Was he strange?  Perhaps.  Depends on one's definition of weird.  Monkeys, tigers, court cases and unusual practices with 'jesus juice' can lead the public astray of what you accomplished.  Odd to live in a amusement park with a mansion and zoo?  Sure.  He lived his life in the public fish bowl and paid a dear price.  It is something he tried to keep his children from experiencing.

An advocate for helping children around the world, environmental activism and racial tolerance, Michael often demonstrated his vision for a peaceful world through his actions, songs and videos. 

His image is slightly tarnished, but he was always confident of his innocence.  If anything, you have to give the man credit for marching to his own beat.

Just enjoy his gift to music.  He was an icon.  Enough said.  A king and an angel were lost, all in one day.